16 Days Europe Vacation Package Day 9 Interlaken – Bern - Titisee – Heidelberg

16 Days Europe Tour – White Christmas Day 9  Interlaken – Bern - Titisee – Heidelberg

The impressive Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage

After breakfast at our wonderful Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage Interlaken, we departed for Bern instead of Schaffhausen.  Due to the weather, it would have taken us more than 4 hours to reach Schaffhausen and that would leave us only 15 minutes to view the majestic Rhine fall.

Snowflakes snow crystals

Car almost fully covered with snow

Our tour manager, Ricky Tiang, posing in the garden of  Linder Grand Hotel Beau Rivage

As such, our tour manager from Chan Brothers recommended that we visit Bern, the capital of Switzerland, a UNESCO World Heritage site for the most well preserved medieval city. 

 Check out Bern Tourist Information for more information and pictures of our visit to Bern medieval city.

The city of Bern was founded in the 12th century and grew to into a rich trading centre.  In 1848 Bern was chosen as the permanent capital of the modern Swiss state, a position it proudly holds to this current day.

Close up of the Moses fountain

  One of the many fountains in and around Bern.

15th century astronomical clock

Another Bern tourist attraction and one of the most recognisable features of this city is the Zytglogge clock tower.   

Another interesting place to visit in Bern is Einstein House, the apartment where Einstein used to rent.

Einstein House

On the way to Titisee, we stopped for a toilet stop at this place which had cute little decorations hanging from the ceiling, as can be seen in the next few pictures below.

Next we departed for Titisee where we drove through the Black Forest, the largest forest in Germany. We enjoyed a pork knuckle and sausage lunch with an original Black Forest cake, which most of us found too sweet and too much alcohol, at Restaurant Zur Muhle, which is owned by the Drubba’s.  We also visited the Black Forest cuckoo clock factory at Drubba’s and was given a short introduction to the world of cuckoo clocks.

Lunch at Restaurant Zur Muhle

Cuckoo Clock factory

On the way to Drubba's Restaurant Zur Muhle

Frozen Lake Titisee during winter

Notice the barrier lest someone unknowingly walks onto the frozen lake

Christmas season in Titisee

After a late lunch, it took us more than 3 hours to reach Heidelberg for a Chinese dinner at China Restaurant Asia.

China-Restaurant Asia in Heidelberg

Braised vegetables

Cauliflower with seafood

Tofu

Steamed fish

Belly pork

Vegetable soup

Simple decor

 Have to admit that the Chinese food in Heidelberg is far better than the one we had on our very first day of our Europe vacation package.

After dinner, we took a short walk where managed to see the ruins of Heidelberg Castle in Germany from a distance.  As it was already dark, we could not get a clear picture.

The Heidelberg Castle on a cold winter night

Upon strolling along the Heidelberg Old Bridge, we came across the Heidelberg Bridge Monkey where tourists love to have their photographs taken by sticking their heads inside the monkey's mask.

A very common pose...  :)

We finally arrived at our accommodation for the night, Hotel NH Weinheim, Germany.

Hotel NH Weinheim

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16 Days Europe Vacation Package Day 8 Interlaken To Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe

16 Days Europe Tour – White Christmas Day 8  Interlaken (free day) - Top of Europe!

Walking towards Interlaken Ost Station in the snow...

Today is our free day during our Europe vacation package.  However, upon the recommendation from Ricky, our tour manager from Chan Brothers, we were going to the top of Europe, i.e. Jungfraujoch.   Thus we were going to travel from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, top of Europe.  Our optional tour, including lunch, cost us CHF180 (USD209) per adult.

On the way up to the top of Europe

Views from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch

Scenery along the way

Beautiful

More scenery

Getting higher

A UNESCO World Heritage of the Swiss Alps, Jungfraujoch stands at 3,454 metres (11,333 feet) above sea level.  We rode the cogwheel train from Gindelwald via Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station and were treated to a wonderful view of the magnificent Alpine region, considered as one of the most scenic route in the whole of Switzerland.

At Kleine Scheidegg to catch another train 

Parking...

Rescue dog, St Bernard, on patrol

Tepee on Kleine Scheidegg

This unique round trip by modern cogwheel railway takes you first to Kleine Scheidegg, altitude 2061 metres, at the foot of the notorious Eiger North Wall.  From here the Jungfrau Railway climbs to the station at Eigergletscher, well known for its mountain restaurant and polar dog kennels.  The trip continues through the Eiger tunnel to the stations at Eigerwand and Eismeer, with a five minute halt at each.

Station stop

Eigerwand station

Kleine Scheidegg is the spectacular pass linking the famous valleys of Lauterbrunnen and Gindelwald in Switzerland.  A hive of activity starts here where it is a abuzz with activities for the winter-sport fans and the starting point for some of the stunning hikes in the region.

Enjoy spectacular sightseeing through large observation windows hewn from solid Alpine rock.  And then the arrival on the Jungfraujoch, in the heart of a glorious glacier world on the very roof of Europe!  Superb views extend as far as the summits of the Vosges Mountains in France an the Black Forest in Germany.  The Great Aletsch Glacier, at 22 km the longest ice-stream in the Alps, begins on the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe.

Finally... Top of Europe

Jungfraujoch is one of Switzerland's most attractive excursion destinations and vantage points.  Be prepared for clean fresh air with little pollution.

With the in-depth knowledge of our tour manager, we had a great time visiting the Sphinx Observation Terrace at 3,571 metres and were amazed at the breathtaking views.  We had lots of fun snapping pictures in the minus 20 degrees Centigrade temperature.

Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe at 3,571 m (11,782 ft)

Feeling on top of the world with the Sphinx Observation Tower in the background

The temperature at that point of time

Brrrr.r.......

A closer look at the rock

Adolf Guyer-Zeller, a colourful and charismatic figure in the history of Swiss transport,
the man behind the Jungfrau Railway project

Holding up the Sphinx observatory with neutron motor

Sphinx Observatory

Lunch was served in the restaurant at the top of Europe where we had soup, roast chicken and ice cream.

Ice-cream with the depiction of the Swiss flag

Restaurant on Jungfraujoch

Eagerly waiting for lunch

Holiday travel tips:-

Walk slowly when at high altitude as the air is very thin and some people may tend to feel groggy and dizzy.  If you do feel that way, drink some coca cola to get your sugar level up.

Some souvenirs

Jungfraujoch souvenir

Feeling the lack of oxygen?  Fear not...  Buy a can!  :)

After lunch, we had some time to shop for souvenirs before taking the train down to Kleine Scheidegg where we had about an hour and a half of free time.  Again we took as many pictures as we could of the wonderful scenery and the kids and the young at heart had a fun time playing on the sled which could be rented for Chf10 for an hour.  This is really worth the amount for the fun and wonderful memories that they had.

Whole group having fun

Riding the sled

At Kleine Scheidegg

Kleine Scheidegg remains one of the top holiday destinations in Europe.

Kleine Scheidegg at 2061 metres (6762 ft)

Counting down to 1st Aug 2012, 100 years celebration of Jungfraubahn

Going down Jungfraujoch

Part of our scenery 

Cozy feeling

Stunning views

Snow covered

Simply breathtaking

Our tour manager curling up in the luggage compartment

Next was the trip back down to Interlaken where we proceeded to Bucherer to collect a free souvenir teaspoon once again.

Look out for this Bucherer's City Map

Back of the envelope

The voucher for your free souvenir spoon is inside

Holiday travel tips:-

Whilst in Interlaken/Grindelwald, look out for Bucherer’s city map which comes with a voucher for a free souvenir as well as a Rolex catalogue.  There is no need to purchase anything and we did not face any hard selling when we went to redeem the voucher.

As the adults in our group of six were feeling tired, we went ahead to the supermarket, Coop to purchase some items before heading back to the Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage for an early night’s rest.  The kids continued playing with whatever snow they could find and went with the rest of the tour group for a pizza dinner.

Shoping at Coop

Who's the next target?  :)

Having fun

Isn't he cute?

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa Interlaken

This legendary hotel, Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa Interlaken, was built in 1864 and is instrumental in making Interlaken one of the world's most attractive destinations for those seeking rest and repose.  Majestic looking, we passed this on the way back to our hotel just a few minutes' away.

We had a most memorable time today making our way from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, top of Europe.  This is definitely one day of our Europe vacation package that we will always remember, especially the fun time at Kleine Scheidegg and, of course, not forgetting our stay in Interlaken Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage. 

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