July and August 2016
Lauterbrunnen
Rick Steves Lauterbrunnen
Scheduled Events:
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Dinner
Informally Schedule Events:
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Trümmelbach Falls
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Gondola ride to the Schilthorn
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"....Simply Intoxicating-The crisp air, the steep mountains, the green sloping landscape, the charming, sturdy dwellings dotting the countryside….A photographer’s dream".....Michelle
Michelle's Lauterbrunnen
 Centuries of Architectural Innovations |  Inside Notre Dame |
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 Notre Dame Apse |  Wine barrels at Clos de Langres |
 Clos de Langres |  Burgundy Countryside |
Strategically (no doubt) no formal activities were scheduled for our time in Lauterbrunnen. Nonetheless, we were busy taking in the scenery our entire stay.
Our tour guides wonderfully set up a group excursion to Trümmebach Falls, a water fall inside the mountain. We took some pictures, but they could not do it justice. Visuals cannot convey the feeling of having running water move the ground beneath your feet.
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Our guides also set up a group gondola ride to the Schilthorn for the entire group, saving us all a
Trümmelbach Falls
Alpenhorn players
Drinks with the band!
View from the gondola
The stairs down to the Thrill Walk
Houses in Mürren
Michelle and Carol shopping in Mürren
A local in Mürren
A nice vista on the way to Munich
reasonable amount of cash - I think $40 per person. Again, our only commitment was to arrive bright and early.
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Another memorable experience arranged by our guides was after dinner entertainment. A trio of alpenhorn players came to play and educate us on the history of alpenhorns. Michelle is often moved by live music and these majestic yet melancholy instruments literally brought her to tears. Her emotions were noticed by the band and it seemed to generate a bond. They offered to stay and play their instruments outside, in situ. And they stayed afterwards and had a few beers with us.
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Doug's Lauterbrunnen
Our interaction with the Alpenhorn band on our first evening had special meaning to me. I barely speak German, but was able to be translator for the group. Two of the three players spoke nearly no English, but I was able to (mostly) understand topics they were trying to convey. This left me with a good feeling on the inside – to be able to get by in a situation where no English was spoken and to help facilitate a meaningful and entertaining conversation was both challenging and rewarding.
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I did learn that one of the alpenhorn players had special interest in Michelle and had offered her a proposal that he hoped she wouldn’t refuse. When he found out Michelle and I were a couple, he became my buddy, even sharing with me videos on his phone normally shown only at a bachelor party. “Nicht so klein und nicht so groβ, ja?” Everyone has their preferences!
Our early morning activities left no time for a morning walk through Lauterbrunnen. No complaints from us though.
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Our time on the Schilthorn was about as visually stimulating as one can experience. We took several stunning photographs and I don't think they effectively convey the exhilaration we experienced.
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Our guides had purchased gondola tickets down to Mürren, then another ride on the gondola above Lauterbrunnen. Our new besties Jen and Carol accompanied Michelle and me in Mürren before completing our descent. Carol stumbled upon the Regina Hotel. It’s kind of an understated building, but has a very elegant dining room. It also has a spartan deck, but it has a view of the Jungfrau that is hard to beat. We sat there for a few hours having drinks and admiring the mountains and hang gliders. Gemütlichkeit indeed!
 A look up at our next destination |  On the Schilthorn |
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 Doug on the Schilthorn |  On the Schilthorn |
 The entrance to the ladies room |  The Eiger from Mürren |
 Jen, Carol and Doug |  A shot from our walk back from Mürren |
 Avalanche breakers above Wengen |