Niesen

I went to Niesen today. Niesen is one of the mountains at the end of the valley. It has a stair case with thousands of steps, but you can't go on them because you'd die. Only those trained to take on that many steps or those working on the funicular can use them. So the funicular is a good way to get to the top. Cuz I'm not walking up another damn mountain if I don't have to.

Antonia gave me Our Chalet's pass to ride the funicular to the top for free, so I figured why not. The funicular is an inclined railway, and they have a few here in Switzerland seeing as how not everyone wants to kill themselves by climbing all these Big Ass Alps.

So I set off and found the funicular station easily and went for a ride. It was a little wierd at first because the train is built for an incline so it was sort of like reclining in a lounge chair that is stuck between no tan lines and tan lines caused by your stomach rolls.

But we soon started the steep climb and all was right with the world and my orientation.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The climb was slow and there were some sound effects. Perhaps the funicular was hitting a few gnomes on the way up. (Ok bad joke. Sorry.)

We switched trains about half way up. Up until that point the view was unimpressive. There wasn't much besides trees and the village below to look at it. And let's face it, I've seen that view a few times.

But after we switched trains and came out of the dark tunnel in which we switched them, suddenly we were above the clouds and the view was...absolutely breathtaking. Well, you can see from the pictures.

And when I got up to the top, it was absolutely, possolutely silent. There was no one to be found. It was just me and the clouds and the Big Ass Alps and silence.


It was wonderful.

I went to the peak and still I was alone. I took my time drinking everything in.

Then I played on the playground. When there is a slide, I must slide.

Then I had an amazing lunch - haushamburger with rosti. Hamburger patty's and hashbrowns translated. But it was more than that. Combined with the view, the thin Alpine air, and the large amount of caffeine from the cup of European coffee I had, it was the best meal I've had yet. I just sat, staring at the mountains around me, and I felt on top of the world.

Then I hopped the funicular again for the descent. Which was slow and gnomeless. And took the train back to Frutigen. And caught the bus to Adelboden. And on the way to Adelboden, I was lucky enough to sit beside a tour guide in the form of a darling blonde 3 year old Swiss boy. He would point things out and explain what they were to me in Swiss German. After a few minutes of that, he got bored and noticed my ipod. And so we jammed the rest of the way until his stop.

It was an excellent day.