TRUMMELBACHFALLE

The roar of water cascading through the Corkscrew chute at Trummelbach is tremendous, where it is one of ten glacier-fed waterfalls inside a mountain.  We accessed them by initially riding a tunnel-funicular to level six, and then by mounting another four sets of stairs.  It is difficult to believe the funicular and 140 metres of illuminated stairs were built in 1913 with the rock excavated by hand before the funicular could be installed.  Trummelbach creek drains the glacial defiles of the Eiger and Mönch mountains and carries up to 20,000 litres of water per second.  Inside the mountain, you can get a bit damp and it is chilly even in summer.

Bring cash (either Swiss francs or Euro) as they don't accept payments by card (CF11) at the Falls or the nearby cafe.  Our discounted travel fare of CF16 allowed travel by train to Lauterbrunnen and by bus to Trummelbach passing by very pretty sloping pastures dotted with sheds used to house cows during winter.  Upon return we turned in for a couple of hours, we were pooped!

Visitor cards from our hotel receptionist entitles us to free local transport, discounts and an introductory free gift at Bucherer Watch and Gift Shop.  How do they do it?  Surely the rental alone at their two stores must be poisonous, let alone their high priced lines of watches.  Sadly I never enquired of their neighbourly generosity.

I'm afraid I previously sold Interlaken short.  It is more than just a glitzy tourist trap and a low-rent strip of cheap bars and bistros.  North of the Aare and railway tracks is the old town where hotels and traditional wooden houses are supported by shops, bars, and a billiard hall.  Each corner is marked by a triumvirate of flags ~ national, canton and municipality.  Bypassing our favourite Baren, we fortunately chose Italian restaurant Citta Vecchia.  A shared minestrone and zablione were delicious as were our fungi risotto and tagliatelle.  A leisurely stroll back home revealed smart homeware and apparel stores.  Extensive roadworks led us to a lowered rail barrier where an Inter City train barreled past.