Hi folks
Sorry for the delay in sending this update - I planned to do it on the way to Venice but started reading a book - so here goes a consolidated update for days 6 to 10.
We got into Interlaken Ost (or East) station at around 1 pm - the train was about 10 minutes late. As we got to the platform, we saw a train headed for Interlaken West (which is where our hotel was located), and took the same there. Our hotel, the Chalet Oberland was at a 5 minute walk from the station. It was located in the midst of a bustling mkt street. Our friends at Thomas Cook were determined to ensure a varied set of experiences - hence after surprising on the upside at Burgenstock, they resolved to surprise on the downside here. I was aware they had booked a 3 star in Interlaken - albeit not thru the agent who was serving us. Given all the other problems, we had not made a fuss. But this probably was one of the lower quality 3 stars in town, with a tiny room and lousyu old bathroom. The view was that of other windows located 10 ft away, and there was only one 40 watt bulb behind a lampshade. Obviously, there was no AC, but the hotel kindly gave us a small table fan (against a refundable deposit of CHF 50)
The upside was that right outside, there was an Indian restaurant. Radhika and I hogged a meal of parathas, alu gobi, chole, jeera rice and raita (albeit for CHF 70 - rs 2800)
We then set out to explore the town. We thought of going paragliding but after spending 30 mins looking for the place, chickened out on hearing the cost of CHF 150 per head. We then went looking for a boat ride on the lake, but it was too late - the last boat ride was already over - so all in all, except for the scenice jourrney from Luzern, day 6 was a washout.
On day 7, we had breakfast (which was not great either) and then took the 850 train to Lauterbrunnen, on the way to Jungfraujoch. The train is a very interesting one - there are 2 ways to go to Jungfraujoch - via Lauterbrunnen and via Grindelwald. From either of these locations, you board a mountain train (with a cog wheel similar to Coonoor) to a place called Kleine Scheddig which is ~ 2200 mtrs above msl, and then take another train to Jungfraujoch, the highest station in Europe about 3500 mtrs above msl.
The train for Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald starts as a single train from Interlaken Ost, with the people for Lauterbrunnen boarding at the front and those for Grindelwald at the back. At a station called Zweilutschinnen, the train splits into two (during a 1 minute halt) with the front heading for Lauterbrunnen. We reached Lauterbrunnen at 910, and got off to wait for the train to kleine schedigg. We boarded the train around 930 (by which time the Lauterbrunnen train had left for Interlaken) and as we were settling down, radhika noticed that I was not carrying my back pack, which had all our woolens in it. We stepped off the train just as it was about to leave and spoke to the ticket attendant. She told us that railway officials wld not inspect the coach till that evening, and that after reaching Interlaken, the train we had taken may go to Grindelwald. We therefore boarded the next tarin to Interlaken and got off at Zweilutschinnen to check the coach we had been in. We entered the coach as soon as the train arrived and spoke to the TC. Just then, a lady stood up and told us that she had seen our bag at Interlaken and handed it in. We then waited for the next train (the 1030) to Interlaken, reached at 1040, and rushed to the ticket office where Radhika spotted the bag. We claimed it immediately without any bureaucracy, and were able to board the 1050 to Lauterbrunnen.
We thanked our stars - for Radhika having noticed before the train to KS started, for having met the lady in Lauterbrunnen and the general decency of the swiiss people. If any one of these legs had not fallen in place, we may have ended having to cancel the Jungfraujoch trip.
We reached Jungfraujoch at 115. Like Titlis, it was overrun with Indians. The first thing we noticed was hoardings for the "Bollywood" restaurant which serves an Indian buffet. However on reaching there, we found that all seats were reserved for the tour groups (Raj travels, thomas cook and kesari tours) who were there with us and that seats wld be available only after an hour.
We then headed out to the ice palace, which had ice walls and floors, and contains several ice sculptures. Next we went to the Ice Plateau to look at the various peaks. By this time it was 2 pm, and we went back to bollywood cafe for lunch. After a delicious meal (including dal bhaat and curd), we went to the top of the Jungfraujoch research station located at over 3500 mtrs above msl. As we reached there it started to snow, initially in light flurries but gradually getting stronger and windier. After we had spent about 15 mins there, the officials came and told everyone to go back in since they were closing the observation area down due to the heavy snow. We were thus very lucky once again - we got to see and enjoy the snow just before they shut the place down. We then boarded the train back, this time going to Gridelwald. We took an hour off at Greindelwald and had a walk around the quanit beautiful hillside town which reminded us of an idealized version of Coonoor. We then returned to our hotel, had dinner (Fondue, which I liked but Radhika didn't).
The next morning, we took a train for Spiez, then another for Milan and a third one for Venice reaching at around 3 pm. We stepped out and asked for directions to our hotel, and were surprised to find that we had to take a boat. Later we realized that the old city of Venice does not have motorable roads, all transport is either by water buses or water taxis, which ply on the canals. Our hotel was located just outside the Piazza San Marco (or St Mark's Square), the main landmark in Venice. Keeping with Thomas Cooks record, it was extremely nice - in an old bldg but with very nicely done rooms.
After freshing up, we headed out to the Piazza. The church of St Mark and the Palace Ducale, two of the land marks had shut for the day, but we cld go up the bell tower for a splendid view of Venice. Venice reminded me a bit of Kalbadevi, with the winding streets replaced by canals. We then had dinner (a very tasty Pizza) and then took a Gondola ride). We then went for a walk to Rialto, the oldest bridge in Venice before retuning to St Marks around 930. St Marks is a beehive of activity - full of tourists, with various hotels having bands playing sonorous Italian music.
The next morning, we set out by waterbus to Murano. We went thru various glassware shops, and also saw a glass making demo. Radhika of course freaked out (this is raj's usual exageration) and bought a few pieces (though the prices were too high for the really good stuff) we then returned to our hotel, had lunch and then went to see the Palace Ducale, which was the home of the Doge. Venice historically had been a republic, governed by a Governing Council and Senate. The Doge was the titular head of state, elected for life from among the Senators, but with ltd executive power (similar to the Indian president). The palace was beautiful, and made the palaces in Rajasthan and Fatehpur sikri seem quite ordinary. We then went for a ride around town on the waterbuses, stopping at a couple of places to take in the sights.
This morning, we started by visiting the. St Marks Church. It was exquisite once again - the highlight was a 10th century gold screen located in front of the altar. We then went to see a couple of other museums located in the Piazza. What struck us was the emphasis on learning in Venice, the public library there started with a large collection of books donated by a wealthy family in 1475. (And plans for a library had been made since 1372) there were also detailed maps of the world and Venice (which has not changed much since 1500!)
After lunch, we headed out to the railway station and are now in the train to Rome.
Ciao then
Raj and Radhika
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
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