Interlaken 1998

Jo-Ann
8.7.98 - Had a lazy morning and noticed that it had snowed on top of the mountain last night.  Drove to Hergiswil and visited a glass factory, very interesting.  Bought a nice plate at the shop.  Spent 2 hrs here then drove to Brienz, Interlaken, Grindelwal. Lovely little Swiss villages with lots of Japanese tourists.  Had dinner at a pub in Interlaken - local fair, Rosti, potatoes, onions, salamis, cheese, tomatoes, all fried together - very greasy.  Christian feeling much better today.  Lakes of this area have blue/green water.


Christian
Day 13 - Today we drove to Interlaken.  Interlaken is one of the centre cities of Switzerland.  We stopped off in a little town called Hergiswil which is famous for its glass blowing.  We watched them blow the glass into ask trays, bowls, 
vases and ornaments.  We went on a tour of glass and found out how old glass is.  Glass was first made by the Egyptians for the pharaohs.  A glass furnace lasts for three to seven years and cost 1.5 million dollars, so they try to get as much glass as possible out of them. The place we went to had three furnaces.  In Interlaken we just walked around and looked at shops and priced things.


Joshua

Day 13 - Today we drove to Hergiswil.  We parked our car and went into a glass factory and it was free.  We saw the man blowing the glass and making vases and out the back you saw the vases come out of the cobbling oven.  Then we went on a tour and they had the oldest glass pot known.  There was a book there that I signed and Christian signed it.  Out the back of the factory you could make you own waterfall.  After that we went to a cafe and I bought an ice block and we went back into the car and then we went to a town called Interlaken, where there was a carving shop and watch shop and there was a jewellery shop, where there was a watch with diamonds on it for 61,560 dollars.

Lucern 1998

Jo-Ann
7.7.98 - Rain, Rain, cold and overcast.  Drove to Lucern about 30mins from Engleberg.  Looked at the shops and walked over the covered bridge.  Found out it was burnt down in August 1993.  So it was a whole new bridge built exactly the same.  Christian was sick most of the day so we came home about 2 pm and rested.  Had a quiet night watching the soccer.


Christian





Day 12 - Today we went to Lucern.  After the fondue night I didn't feel to well.  In Lucern there was a covered bridge which we thought was really old, but we later found out that it had burnt down and rebuilt.  In the middle of the bridge is a Swiss Army Knife shop where I bought a knife.  We also saw a huge lion carving made out of rock which was made in 1792.  It was for the swiss soldiers who died fighting the Spanish revolution.  The water in Engelberg is an Aqua colour, I think it's because of the minerals in the water it collects from the top of the mountain to the bottom as the snow melts.


Joshua
Day 12 - Today we went to Lucern which is a city that is in the centre of Switzerland.  We were walking around the shops when it started raining so we went under a covered bridge.  There was a shop where I bought a Swiss army knife and in the train station Christian bought a Game Boy with a light.  Then we went to a carving that was a lion done in 1792.  After that Christian was sick so mum and Christian went back to the car and we went to another old bridge and then we walked back to the car and drove home.  When we got home everyone went sleep but I didn't and mum woke up and mum took me around town and I bought a Game Boy game.

Mt Titlis 1998

Jo-Ann

6.7.98 - Stephen took the boys to the top of Mt Titlis.  They snow walked, snow tubbed and cable carried.  I stayed in the room and wrote letters and post cards and went grocery shopping.  Had a fondue night at the hotel - they cooked it especially for us as fondue is normally done in winter.  the boys weren't over-fussed on their first and probably their last fondue.  Had a walk around town and came back and talked to the owners and a couple from Geneva.  He is English but works in Geneva.


Christian
Day 11 - we went up to the top of Mt Titlis, there is snow and snow rides to go on.  I went on a half pipe tube ride which was free.  We also had a snowball fight and killed each other.  When we picked up the snow it was so cold that our hands almost dropped off.  To get to the mountain you have to catch a gondola that has flags painted on them.  When we saw an Aussie flag we'd yell out Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy,Oy,Oy.  For tea we had a fondue night which I didn't really like.


Joshua
Day 11 - Today we got dressed to go up to the snow.  we went in a cable car and then we went in a bigger one and then an even bigger one.  When we got to the snow it was fun, we went in a little tube that takes you up like a cable car and drops you down and then you go sliding really fast down a tube like a half pipe.  Then we 
went back in the cable cars and we went on scooters halfway down and I fell over.  When we got down we looked for a pool and found an indoor one but it cost one dollar per four minutes.  Then we went to an outdoor one and we swam there.  At the pool there was a soccer game and I won both of them we played.  Then we went back to the hotel and we had a fondue night.

Engleberg 1998

Jo-Ann
5.7.98 - Quite a long drive today, didn't stop at many places.  Had lunch at waterfalls Rinefall.  Very expensive food.  Drove through some beautiful Swiss country.  reached our hotel at about 5 pm Hotel Eden near centre of town, right opposite rail station and post office.  Went for a walk through town, typical Swiss shops.  This place is right at the top of the mountain in a little valley.  Very small community, food in the hotel is very nice.


Christian
Day 10 - Today we drove to Switzerland to stay for 4 days.  We are staying in a town called Engleberg.  The town is surrounded by mountains covered with snow.  The mountains are only partly covered.  Tomorrow we are going up to the top of the mountain to see the snow.  In town you can do lots of things.  You can; bunjee jump, ski, swim, go on the flying fox, rock climb, golf, roller blade, scoot on scooters, motor bike ride and heaps more.  


Joshua
Day 10 - Today we drove to Switzerland and when we got there we had to drive up a steep hill and when we got to the top there was snow on the mountain and a town called Engleberg. We booked into a small hotel, after that we went for a walk in the town.  Then we went to the information centre and there was a little movie that shows what you can do on the mountain.  Then we walked up an alley and we saw a toy store but it was not open, so we went back to the hotel and we had tea and for desert I had a Pingu and Christian had a Max and you get a little case for your ice cream.  After that we went upstairs and went into our room and went to bed.