Merry England

We arrived back here last night, to find a sizeable in-tray.

We opened the Christmas cards that have been sitting here since December. Very nice.

This morning we need to call upon the breakdown service to get the car started.

That was sorted out very quickly, so Val headed for the shops, and I went out for my run.

Storm

The weather forecast isn’t great, so we head down to the valley before lunch. The wind is blowing from the south today. It whips away the water in the Mürrenbach waterfall.

Just for once, the wind gives me a helping hand.

Cows lying down – rain to come?

By the time we got back to the station at Lauterbrunnen the storm had forced the closure of the railway above Wengen.

The rain arrived while we were having lunch, which is unusual, as it normally stays dry during a föhn.

The building begins

In order to preserve the tranquillity of the village, construction is banned in Wengen during the main tourist seasons in summer and winter. Today marks the beginning of the low season when building is allowed. The station is getting a new canopy above the platforms.

It’s a breezy day, but dry and bright. We had a walk down to Zweilütchinen. Lots of water in the river as the high temperatures melt the snow up in the mountains.

When the wind blows

It’s warm again, with temperatures well into the twenties, and a strong wind is blowing up the valley. The water in the Staubach fall takes a right turn as it falls.

It’s Monday, so that means running for me, and needless to say the wind is blowing against me. Almost at Lauterbrunnen.

Despite the traffic Lauterbrunnen manages to look quite nice on a sunny day.

Lake walk

It’s warm again. Time for a walk around the lake. The steamers started their summer services this weekend.

We walk from Interlaken West station along the canal that the boats use to access lake Thun. Then we follow the lake shore through a nature reserve to a place called Neuhaus. A bus picks us up here and takes us back to Interlaken.

Back to the eighties

Colin likes the beer at the Three Tells down in the valley, so we popped down for dinner last night. On the way home we walked to the Horner pub in Lauterbrunnen, where Beves and Ibe have a last minute booking. They’re playing in the upstairs bar – we’ve never set foot in the place.

It’s like going back in time. There’s a flashing disco ball on the ceiling, and it looks like nothing’s changed for years. Some of the youngsters even wore period outfits.

It turned into a pretty good night out.

Today the weather’s glorious again. There’s still lots of snow in the village despite the high temperatures.

Lots of new growth in sunny spots.

Wengen looks as lovely as ever.