What should we do

With the early retirement yesterday of sister number 2 the plan for today has fallen to manure , the rule for this trip were spelt out a long time ago. Shape up or get left behind sister 2 decide to shape up thank god . Good old WADDA worked long into the evening on a activity plan which included a 1800 franc helicopter flight to the Matterhorn which I thought was a tad expensive. My preference was a FREE walking tour of Interlaken it also got voted out(I wonder why) , Grindelwald gets another chance. This small town sits at the base of the northern face of the Eiger another famous Swiss mountain and there are plenty over here ,full of fun we catch the 8.05 to Grindelwald. Arrive early to catch the gondola up to a plateau to take on a walk around on some terrorising footpath attached to the side of the mountain. This may be fun for some but I’m not sure of the others, some happy faces at the tourist information centre when they say this stuff is closed today for maintenance. Plan B is to go to St Beatus caves instead now this sounds like fun, we catch the boat at Interlaken for the short trip across the lake. The remote location we were dumped at pricked WADDAS senses I know trouble when I see it, we take the trail which is listed for mountain goats and fools only. Sister 1 sets a cracking pace right out of the blocks and WADDA and sister 2 bring up the rear. With our lungs screaming for air on this death march we continue to move forward, as we round another corner sister1 has surcumbed to blisters. That now means that the sprinter is back with the stayers and we arrive at St Beatus cave as a family unit , to WADDA caves are for bats and bears not for people and pretty soon I wished to god I never entered this cold and eerie hell hole. The fear of a cave In is on my mind constantly until sister1says she has had enough , the speed I left this place would have blown poor old St Beatus out of bed. Anyway it’s still a nice spot to visit if you are ever in Switzerland, I’m done and dusted for the day so goodbye...........WADDA

T

Outside st Beatus caves 

WO

To the top of Europe

As daylight breaks over the beautiful Interlaken WADDA is out and about walking the streets road testing his new Jack Wolfskin coat,the air is brisk  as daybreak creeps over the alps . As Interlaken is not yet awake I have all this beauty to myself, looking at these snow covered peaks as daybreaks over them is truly amazing. As breakfast nears we had better fuel our bodies for what will be probably be the the biggest day in my 68 years, this will be special . This 2 hour journey takes us on some of the steepest and most spectacular scenery you’d you would ever wish to see, I can hardly believe that this is not a dream. As we climb higher the air becomes thinner and the scenery more beautiful, looking skyward you can see our final destination it seems an impossible task. On arrival you take a few big gulps of the crisp mountain air and go WOW ,we head outside to the viewing area it’s minus 2and a fairly brisk breeze but not a cloud in the sky . So button up for this is what it’s all about and we spend about 30 minutes exposed to the elements then head for cover. We tramp around for awhile gathering a few trinkets before starting to make our way down, altitude sickness has struck down one of the Twisted Sisters so the decent will be sooner than later. The going down was just as good as going up until we reached Grindelwald a small village sandwiched between a couple of mountain ranges, sister  2 wasn’t yet ready for any more shopping so we headed home. Now I’ll never know if I liked Grindelwald or not, maybe it’s just another village .A decision will be made later regarding tomorrow’s action. That it for today good by........WADDA

Inside the ice cave on the Jungfraujoch Mountain marker

Me and them

Off to Interlaken

While we prepare for the next leg of our trip to Interlaken by rail just let me reflect on my time in Zurich. This city ticks all the boxes for the savvy traveler ,knowing that Switzerland is not the cheapest place to launch your European holiday Zürich is a good starting point because they have a great transportation system excellent range of food and reasonable accommodation, and a great starting point to tackle the beautiful Swiss alps . Today we will be heading high into the majestic alps for a 4 day adrenaline rush, the twisted sisters have wiped the sleep from their eyes and assure this fearless leader it’s game on. Gotta catch a train be back later, it now later and we have departed Zürich headed for Interlaken. We are not far out Bern we started the O MY GODS this eye watering scenery seemed it would never stop and by the time we reached Interlaken we were virtually speechless, it was so beautiful. Like a dog with 2 tails we just we didn’t know what to do next so it was off to the Harder Klum which is a scenic lookout high above lnterlarken. More eye watering scenery from high above the valley floor, and the snow is everywhere.Back in town we head to the tourist information centre to plan for Wednesday activities and decide on an all day trip to the Jungfraujoch some 3454 metres high or 11333 feet into the rarefied air high in the Swiss alps. To Ramon my work mate back in Australia your country tops my list by a long way of must see places in  the world. More on Jungfraujoch tomorrow, the Twisted Sisters conned poor old WADDA into opening his purse at the Harder Klum see the results below ,time for dinner so must go now.........WADDA

Where off to Lichtenstein and Hiediland

I’m up and about early as my body struggles with this time zone thing so I walk the deserted streets of Zürich looking for coffee. The time is 5 am it’s raining and it’s also a public holiday over here so between me the homeless and the garbos life is not moving very fast. Unable to satisfy my thirst for coffee I make another plan , this time to tackle a ATM to line my wallet with some of this funny money. In a small dark side street I spot what I’m looking for, as I peer at this necessity of life and it seems to peer back at me daring me to attempt the money removal I decide to abort this mission and wait for the twisted sisters . I return to the Sorell hotel and await the breakfast bell at 0630 , we crash the doors open right on time. The 30 min feeding frenzy is over and what a delight it was, we are now off in search of the spot where BOOGG the snowman gets burnt tonight. Today we leave this lovely old city and head to Lichtenstein on a 7.30 hr return bus trip through the countryside,I’m sure we will be impressed. The twisted sisters haven’t raised a yelp yet and we are just beginning ,bed seems to agreed with them at the moment  but WADDA is still strong . We board the bus and head out of town in what seems a northerly direction to a place called Rapperswill, this old town sits on the edge of Lake Zürich. Have a quick look around this lovely place and lunch is called, and what a lunch it was at the Rosenstaedter cafe. The beef with pepperoni sauce potato sticks and colorful vegetables was absolutely delicious. Back on the bus heading to Vaduz the capital of the principality of Liechtenstein . Another passport stamp to add to the collection and we are on the road again sitting back on a super coach just watching the most stunning countryside slip by. The snow covered Swiss alps are just impossible to describe ,this postcard stuff is something I’ll never tire of . Arriving at Heidiland in this big coach was no mean feat as the narrow winding roads... steep slopes and hairpin bends left some of us just a bit concerned. We have finally finished the tourist trail for today and sit back for the 90 minute chauffeur driven trip home (we are buggered ) so hoo roo .........WADDA

Sunday in Zürich .

We board the A380 bound for Zürich but not before making a beautiful night landing at Changi international,this place is so so busy even late on a Saturday night. This long haul flight into Switzerland is not without some danger , yes you may have guessed it’s  overeating on these long flights and it has become a bit of a problem for dear old WADDA. I just can’t say no to this never ending procession of food, when I see the flight attendant heading my way I hide under my blanket refusing to make eye contact. But my will power is not what it used to be and I weaken munching through fruit nuts muffins and ice cream. My sleep pattern is a bit erratic on planes and I’m soon watching the first rays of light appear on the horizon, the time is 2 .40 am, wow. Our long awaited approach to Zürich is nothing short of amazing as we follow the snow covered Swiss Alps the lower the plane got the more you appreciated the absolute beauty of this vast winter wonderland. We make our way to the city centre by a very clean and fast public transport system to hunt down the hotel Sorrel, not wasting any time we hit the streets of this beautiful city trying to fight off any jet lag with some shopping therapy This weekend just happens to be the Boogg festival ,sounds different and why wouldn’t a small band of Aussies decide to check it out. The boogg is  the one in white and it’s head is full of fireworks and when set on fire the quicker it’s head explodes the better the season will be. Hey I’m just telling you this story , a quick report on the twisted sisters after their not so lady like behaviour at Changi airport . One has crashed and gone to bed the other has taken over WADDAS room to drink my coffee and eat my food, such is the way . Tomorrow we are on a day trip to Lichtenstein so see y’all then...............WADDA

Will I ever be the same again

Welcome every one to what will be Waddas fourth European trip in as many years. Adding to this high powered adventure there will be some difficulties as I will be accompanied by my 2 daughters, by the way they are aptly named the Twisted sisters. With the odds stacked against me the positions of power have changed, this once proud team leader has been relegated to head Sherpa who should be seen but not heard. With 37 days of travel throughout Northern Europe I will plan my revenge carefully. As the team gathers at the spritual home of this fallen leader the rest of the families turn up for Bon voyage drinks and dinner. With my luggage packed and as nightfall approaches I wait, it is now Saturday morning early and the sun is yet to rise so I’ll continue with this blog. The weather has turned cool prior to our impending departure but not as cool as some of our intended destinations. Last minute adjustments to our luggage with some stuff coming out and different stuff going in ,we zip our cases up for the last time and it’s time to head to the Tullamarine airport. With check in complete we await our departure on this 20 hr flight to Zürich, our 90 minute stopover in Singapore produces some early signs that the twisted sisters will not stand up to any sort of high octane adventure. See photos below ( maybe) and as we board our flight for the 13 hour segment to Zürich I shall curl up in bed and dream of the beautiful Swiss Alps........WADDA

What's been happening..

As many of you may know Wadda returned to Australia about 3 months ago after galavanting around Europe for 5 weeks. With 3 months of thinking time behind me I'm ready for more overseas action, the traveling party this time will include my 2 daughters. This pair of seasoned travelers are taking Wadda to few more places on his bucket list ,this should be fun for all involved. These shopaholic sisters don't think I can cut it with them ,only time will tell. The plan is to fly to Zurich in Switzerland  and to Bern then to St Moritz on the glacier express, then back to Munich. Maybe a couple of quick trips to the shops then it's off to Riga in Lativa by plane then a train trip to Tallinn in Estonia. Stockholm in Sweden is our next stopover for a couple of days. We then intend to cross Sweden by train stopping off at Oslo to break our journey, before heading to the high country of Voss and Flam taking in some of the prettiest scenery in the world. Bergen will be our our final stopover in Norway, and just maybe a quick flight to the Arctic Circle. The final leg of this trip will be spent in Copenhagen before touching down at the now very familiar Tullamarine Airport . The time spent with 2 daughters will be special so we had better make the most of it, these chances don't come around very often.............WADDA