Grindelwald: First (1st) or First?

Grindelwald: First (1st) or First?

March 3, 2015|Adiek Sarah

Next destination after Lucern was Lauterbrunnen, where I booked my accommodation for tonight. Initially, I wanted to overnight in Interlaken, but the room and price in Valley Hostel really caught my eyes. The view in Lauterbrunnen (from the review) was amazing and beautiful.

From Lucern, I took a train to Interlaken Ost. It was 2 hours journey with really beautiful views along the way. I could see the mountains, rivers, lakes, as well as different type of community.

On the way to Lauterbrunnen

2 hours was considering a long journey for me. Unlike bus, train was not provided with any entertainment to fulfill my time. Before the journey started, there were two ladies on board the train. One of them sat in front of me. I suspect another lady was her daughter. I believed they were Asians based on their English accent, probably Malaysian Chinese or Singaporean. I was right, they were Singaporean and I knew it when she introduced herself and asked where I was from. The journey was not felt long at all unless you had someone to talk to. We really had good conversations, despite we really couldn’t afford to converse with the local or other tourists when the majority of them didn’t really speak English.

Interlaken Ost was the interchange station for us. They were going to Interlaken West while I also have to change the train to go to Lauterbrunnen. We said goodbye to each other and I continued the journey to the next destination.

It took only 20 minutes to reach Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken Ost. Lauterbrunnen also was an interchange station to Jungfrao. There was also Rail Information Counter in that station, but I just went there to ask the location of my hostel. It was 200 meters away from the station, quite near.

Checked in the room, get the bed sheet, took the shower, and ready to cook for dinner. It was single room with shared bathroom and the kitchen was just in the middle of my room and the bathroom. Also very near which I could hear the sounds from the kitchen if other guest were using it. I heat my Nasi Beriyani and made a hot chocolate. I had the dinner in my room and enjoying such a beautiful view from my window.

Upon checked out in the next morning, I carried the bed sheets and return in to the reception. I planned to go somewhere nearer for today. Therefore, I keep my luggage in the hostel’s locker. At least this one was for free. From the brochures that I took from the Rail Information Counter and the hostel, I decided to go to Grindelwald. I took the same train to Interlaken Ost but the changed the train at Zweilutschinen.

I could choose to just explore Grindelwald town instead of going to Grindelwald First. After asked for the information at Grindelwald train station, I decided to go up to First. For that, I needed to pay 29 CHF after 50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass. First (not sound as 1st) was another ski excursion. It was a long queue before I could enter into the cable car. It had few station and I guess it took about half 20 minutes to reach the final station, First. Too bad I could not ski, so I just sat down and enjoy the view while having my breakfast.

After an hour, I went down to go back to Lauterbrunnen and ready to continue my journey to the next country, Austria.

In the train, an old lady who sat in front of me asked where I was from. When I said I was from Malaysia, then started the conversation. She told she had been to Malaysia long time ago, before I was born. At that time, she was traveling to South East Asia, mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and ended the journey in India. Too inspired with her stories, I realized I was just missed my interchange station. After failed to open the train door, I went back to my sit and change the train at the next station, Wilderswil.

The train came after 30 minutes. I took my luggage and had to wait for another train to go back to Zurich via Bern. This is faster route instead of via Lucern, which will take longer hours, as per told by that lady. Bern was a busy station. Probably because it was working days and everyone was about to go home. I was lucky I didn’t have to wait for a long time to take the train to Zurich. It took another 40 minutes to reach Zurich, this a Bern-Zurich Express train.

View from the train. Somewhere in Interlaken West.

My overnight train from Zurich to Vienna would on 9.30 pm and it was only 6.00 pm when I arrived in Zurich. I went to the washroom once. Damn, the entrance fee was 2 CHF! Not much things to do, I walked around to buy some souvenirs in the station and sat in the waiting room for the train. As soon as the information about my train appeared in the Information Board, I went to catch the train. So, it was the last moment in Switzerland. I really enjoyed the beautiful landscape with the cold weather. Next, Austria!