GRINDELWALD 2013 Day 4

                         Tuesday, Sept 24, we decided to scratch something out on my bucket list. Ever since the zip line was build up in the alps in Grindelwald I liked to to take a turn and go down on it. It looked like great fun! Nobody ever wanted to join me before and for some reason I had no desire going by myself. So I was glad Amy became my Partner in crime, ha.

                          10:30 am we took the train up to Grindelwald. We walked about a half mile through the business district with all the souvenir shops all the way to the Gondola station. This Gondola brought us to Bort then Schreckfeld all the way to the top to First. 

This is the north part of Grindelwald and stays sunny all day long

The Grindelwald Gondola station with the " Flyer " advertising on the wall

They advertise vacation rentals on the roof of the house

On the way up. This is the only Gondola Bahn I know who actually 

is going around a 25 degree curve.

A herd of sheep with the Wetterhorn in the background.

Tony and Amy enjoying the ride

Only another hour before the zip line!

Donna observing the alpine playground for the kids. We decided  to stop

here on our way down.

On other view of the Eiger Northwand, always impressive

                          Again we had an absolute gorgeous day and it was really hot on the sun but we found a table under on umbrella and decided to have lunch. I loved my cheese tartlet with Salad, but Donna was not impressed with her Spaghetti Bolonaise, way to much meat and not enough tomatoes. O well, not every meal in Switzerland is perfect, beside she is spoiled from my cooking. 

                          The " Berggasthaus First " at 2168 meters, is newly renovated with a capacity of over 700 seats. The terrace  has a stunning view of  the Berner Oberland Mountains.

At the restaurant waiting for lunch

The relax station at the restaurant

The view of the Aletch Gletscher with a hang glider in the middle of it. You be able

 to to hire them and can glide  down to Grindelwald in tandem 

with on experienced pilot, if you are crazy enough.

                          After lunch the time came for me and Amy's Zip line adventure. Tony and Donna took the Gondola down to the Schreckfeld Station to take some pictures of us when we zip down. We claimed the starting station, payed 27.00 Franks each and signed some Papers. An attendant strapped us into some kind of harness with our feet against a trap door. After he got the all clear from the bottom station he pushed a button and the trapdoors fly open with us hurling out down the mountain.

                            This is the only one of this kind in the whole of Europe. It is a very exhilarating ride. You whizz down 800 meters from First to Schreckfeld with up to 85 km on hour. What a thrill!!

The Starting tower

The starting tower from the gondola

Amy was filming on the way down

Amy on the right and me on the left coming to a stop

                              It was a great experience and I can scratch it off my bucket list. Back on the gondola we descend to Bort and went straight to the Bar/Restaurant for some ice cold beer. Here we could actually rent some scooters to cruse down the rest of the way, but Donna did not let me because of my recent injuries.

Great Vacations

Alpine playground with story hour at Bort intermediate station

Getting back in to the gondola

                           For the next hour or so we had to go shopping on Grindelwald's main street. I think we visited every souvenir, t-shirt and sport shops, kiosks, bakeries and groceries included. Getting tired from all that walking Donna and I took the train down to Grund, Tony and Amy again walked down.

Back at the Grindelwald station

and of course at the Bahnhof Grund Restaurant

               
                                    Here we ordered two Pizza to go and went home. Tony fixed us up with Bacardi and coke and we hang around the home, relaxing in this beautiful weather and checking out our new t-shirts. 

Donna enjoying the Bacardi, the new t-shirt and her farming game

Amy is staying with Dole, a Swiss red wine

Still nice at 7 at night

Tony already planed everything for tomorrow

Day 5 will be up soon!