Today our plan was to go to the top of the Schilthorn mountain to try and see some views across the Alps and in particular the 3 big mountains in the area, the Jüngfrau, the Monch (Monk) and the Eiger (Ogre). We got prepared and headed downstairs to change shoes and our host caught us asking about finalizing the bill and seemed to think we were checking out. This was news to us so we asked him and he apparently had us down only through the 15th though we showed him the multiple emails where we talked about staying through the 16th. Unfortunately despite him trying there was really no option for us there so we scrambled to pack up our room and stored our luggage with him and raced to meet Cathy and Sam down by the cable car station to head up the mountain.

We got to the station just as the car was leaving (at an unscheduled time) so we sat to wait on the next one we expected at its usual time in about 10-15 minutes. Despite the signs to the contrary the next car left about 45 minutes later which we were afraid would put our breakfast reservation in jeopardy. We caught the next 2 cable cars with little issue and arrived at Piz Gloria on top of the Schilthorn a few minutes after our reservation but they seated us right away. The Piz Gloria station was built for the Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” and features a revolving restaurant. We enjoyed a great buffet breakfast with more choices than we could try and just relaxed watching the view slowly change.

It was overcast and clouds would drift through blocking our view entirely but then clear to let us see long distances around the area. After breakfast we went to the cinema/museum about the station and the Bond movie filmed here and around the region. We then went out to the viewing platform which at this height was windy and cold and looked around and took pictures before deciding to proceed back down to the Birg station which was slightly lower and we hoped might have some clearer views.

At the Birg station they have 2 “thrill” areas. One is a viewing platform that sticks out over the cliff and has a mesh floor. We all made various attempts to walk out on it and Becky and Sam were the most brave and made it out to the far railing. Becky looked down through the grate just in time to watch a bird fly under her, which was a very strange sensation. Chuck froze about halfway out and then retreated to the concrete steps to watch from there. The second feature that none of us braved is a walkway with a similar mesh or glass floor that wraps around the cliffside around the station. It even has an optional section that we saw from above that has a tightrope and a net under you can try and cross. The steps we decided to watch from looked out towards the big 3 mountains and we got to see their peaks 1 or 2 at a time as the clouds flowed past and it was sun just relaxing and watching the view.

We headed down the mountain again to the next stop at Murren and decided to do the Flower Loop trail we had missed the day before so we went up the funicular to the Allmendhubel area and walked through the pretty wildflowers along the Flower Trail. By the time we were done with this we headed back to Murren and grabbed some souvenirs and snacks. We headed back to Gimmewald and retrieve our luggage to move to the hotel we had booked in Lauterbrunnen.

Our hotel room was ready so we lugged our stuff up the 4 flights of stairs and relaxed in the room and on its balcony for a while. We had dinner reservations with Cathy back up in Gimmewald so we decided to take a different route up to Murren and do some last looking around before. This trip involved a cable car from near our hotel in Lauterbrunnen and then a train along the top of the cliff to Murren.

We commonly use Rick Steve’s guidebooks and especially his town walks so we decided we had time to do his Murren walk followed by the Gimmewald walk before dinner. Both were informative and kept us moving and seeing both towns from a new perspective.

Dinner was back at the Pension Gimmewald but this time we reserved for fondue. We were all newbies at restaurant fondue but got the hang of it quickly and sitting on the terrace overlooking the mountains I can’t think of a much better location and vibe for our last dinner in this area.

After dinner we went back to the hotel and did some minimal preparation for leaving the next morning and went to bed.

Today’s Highlights

• Learning that we can pack our luggage in under 10 minutes if the need arises
• A hearty breakfast in a mountain-top rotating restaurant
• Beautiful mountain views
• Birds flying under head
• A pretty stroll through wildflowers
• Fondue

Tomorrow’s Proposed Adventure

• Moving on to Luzern