Day 27 - Lauterbrunnen and Trummelbach Falls

Before we left Germany, we stopped at the grocery store to get food for our next five nights.  We stocked up on our German favorites:  biscuit cookies, beer, liverwurst, and bread.  The car is big enough to hold our luggage, a growing stash of souvenirs, and a picnic - but no groceries.  So we had them at our feet and in our laps, except for the driver, who complained about the resulting impact on the car's acceleration.

For those of you who would like an update on Greg, he has recovered from his bad cold.

As we drive on the two-lane road into Lauterbrunnen, we have an overwhelming feeling of deja vu... have we been here before?  It looks and feels just like Yosemite!  But it isn't - it is Switzerland.  Yosemite is my favorite place in the world, my happy place.  Lauterbrunnen is even better, more majestic!  Plus our view of the valley has absolutely no one in it - as if the world hasn't even discovered it yet!

Wow!  I think I can handle this for the next 5 days!  This is the view from our bed and deck.

It is t-shirt weather here!  (Jeremy has a jacket on to go into the cold waterfall mountain)

Upon arrival to our flat, we unloaded the car and immediately left for nearby Trummelbach Falls - before they closed for the day. They are Europe's largest subterranean waterfalls, which alone carry the meltwater of the glaciers from the Jungfrau down to the valley.  

The waterfalls are accessible by this underground lift which brings you to the galleries, tunnels, paths and platforms.

Trummelbach Falls

Inside the tunnel of the falls.

The falls are too twisty curvy to get a good view of how spectacular they are, but we could tell by their deafening roar and the glimpses we got.  The water that flows out at the bottom - and continues through the valley - is turquoise blue glacier melt.

Back at the flat we sat on the deck for the rest of the evening, staring at the view and watching the base jumpers and para gliders who land in the field in front of us.

I would love to try this!

Jeremy's perfect pad - he doesn't want to leave it!

This is a very comfortable flat!

Logistics:
- You probably know this, but we didn't ... We knew you either bring your own bags or buy them - that is common.  But we didn't know you unload the cart and then fill it up again.  Then you move your full cart to the packing station at the front of the store.
- To drive on the main roads in Switzerland you need a vignette.  It costs 42 euro.  They actually stand on the border and check for your vignette as you cross.
- Switzerland's lodging options were blowing our budget.  Increasing our itinerary to stay for 5 nights opened up more affordable options for us.
- We are staying at Homeaway rental #805985 owned by Helena Francis.  She is by far the best landlord we have worked with on our trip.