Interlaken- “between two seas”

Words cannot describe our first weekend outside of Lugano, it was absolutely amazing-- but I will try my best.  To start things off, we are Eurail idiots.  The train station is a 5 minute walk from the Montarina, so we figured okay our train leaves at 2:11 so we can just walk down there around 2:00. Wrong. We did not take into account that our train is the only one coming in and we would have to go to a specific platform for our particular train.  We were on time but had no idea where to go so we were all freaking out trying to find out which one went to Interlaken.  Meanwhile, Megan goes to ask someone for help and they told her to show them her Eurail pass so when she goes to grab it she realizes she has mistakenly brought her flight boarding pass instead (they looked similar) with only 7 minutes until the train leaves.  She immediately dropped her things and took off in a sprint for the Montarina.  We are all waiting by the platform and Lindsey and Kerry waited in the tunnel to direct Megan when she came back when we see the train coming in—they literally only stop for like 1 minute so people can get on and then go- Megan, Kerry, and Lindsey came out of the platform and we all jumped on the train with only seconds until it pulled away.  It was quite the start to our weekend, I’ll say we all learned the important lesson of being early and prepared.  To make matters worse, we are in the mountains so the train was weaving from the start and the combination of sprinting and motion sickness did not do well for Megan. She had to go to the porta-potty type bathroom on the train and throw up.  She said it was quite possibly the worst thing she has ever done in her life sticking her head down and vomiting into a bowl filled with god knows what.  However, after some instant dramaine and time to cool off the rest of the trip went smoothly for all of us.  The first two trains we rode were quite spacious and we were all saying “this isn’t bad at all!” until we got on our third VERY tight train and realized that some will be much much better than others.  Riding the train through the alps was BEAUTIFUL. I spent the entire trip gawking out the window at everything.

            We arrived in Interlaken around 7 and checked into Balmer’s Hotel and Hostel.  The rooms were straight bunk beds all over but it was a little better than what we were expecting. 

Starving from the train we went to the only place we knew we could find food we would like and be able to MAYBE read and understand the menu—Hooter’s of Interlaken.   

After dinner we walked back to the hostel and went downstairs to the club that was also a part of the hostel.  One thing I learned from the club was that foreigners CANNOT dance.  It pretty much became an American dance party with everyone else standing and watching all 18 of us have a great time.  Somehow a dance off got started and there were two guys who were actually amazing dancers that kept going back and forth, but we all know Maureen…. of course she got in on it too. I wish I could post videos on here because it was quite a show.  Unfortunately for Megan, Kerry, and myself we got stock in the room with the boys.  I have never stayed in a more fowl smelling room in my life.  Not to mention the first night I’m on the bottom bunk and at around 4 am two snowboards, 1 set of skis, a suitcase, and Jack come crashing to the floor by my bed.  I screamed bloody murder.  He was dreaming he was falling out of a chair and fell out of the top bunk.  Luckily he’s okay, just a few bruises on his back but it was terrifying.

            The next morning some of the girls and I went paragliding while others went skiing/snowboarding or just walked around the town.  Paragliding in the alps was the most beautiful and amazing experience I’ve ever had.  Pictures and words cannot even describe how incredible it was.

View from the mountain

another view from the mountain

view from paragliding

After paragliding we went to Ex-Port Pizzeria and had our first Doner Kabob experience.  It was deeeeelicious.   

Then we just kind of walked around the town and admired the gigantic mountains surrounding us.    

Megan and I

Once everyone was back from the slopes we all got ready and headed back down to the club to finish off our weekend in Interlaken.  The dj was awesome both nights and everyone had such a great time.  Definitely a very successful first weekend away from Lugano.