Saas Fee

Next stop - the lofty heights of Switzerland. Our Belgian friends had rented a chalet in Saas Fee, so we thought we would join them. We have previously been to Switzerland and loved it, so the opportunity to visit with friends and go back somewhere we love seemed to be a win-win situation!

On our train ride from Lausanne to Visp I remembered the last time we were in Switzerland. We traveled through Montreux, a small town by Lake Geneva, with some vineyards. Penny and I were walking through the vineyards when we came upon a split in the path. While trying to decide which way to go, a nice couple came up to us to ask if we needed help. We ended up walking with them and chatted away towards our hotel, when they said, "This is our house, why don't you come in for a drink and lunch."

The gentleman had worked for Nestle and asked if we wanted to go for a tour of the factory. We thought he meant at the place in Montreux, but turns out he meant in Broc which is 40km away. It was amazing to see the extensively long mirror top long tables full of so much chocolate. They also took us to the Gruyere cheese factory. I should mention they sat in the coffee shop while we toured the factory.

They dropped us off at our hotel and apologised for not being able to go to dinner with us, even though they changed their afternoon plans to take us out.

This has got to be the best show of generosity and selflessness I have ever encountered. They spent most of a day with us, complete strangers, to show us parts of a country they are proud to live in and we couldn't get to easily by train. I remember that day so well and try to give help to others when they are looking at a map confused in Sydney.

Now, back to our current holiday. The last part of our journey to Saas Fee was on a bus up the side of the mountain. This trip included sheer drop offs on the cliff edges, beautiful scenery (waterfalls, mountain side houses), little towns with cute little wooden houses with colourful flowers under shutter covered windows, a fearless bus driver who has driven the route often, and snow!

It was a late arrival, and after a quick catch up it was time to watch the Netherlands/Argentina World Cup game. The outcome was not great for a new Dutch supporter.

Thursday started out a bit overcast, so we couldn't see all the 4000m+ mountains. After a leisurely breakfast, we went for a 2 hour hike with Jan and Leo (Jan's Dad) around to Saas Grund. A little damp and cloudy but still a gorgeous hike.

A lazy lunch gave way to another short walk around town and a ride up in a gondola to check out the upper mountain with Jan, Hilde, Marie, and Anna. Luckily some of the clouds had lifted a bit so we did have some pretty good views.

Saas Fee is a tourist skiing town, but it is also working town year around as well. No cars are allowed in the town, only little electric vehicles. This allows for easily walking around looking at shops and restaurants. There are these buildings built on short stilts with a large round flat rock under another shorter stilt. These buildings were used for storing grains and the rock was to keep the rats from being able to get into the storage. A very different looking building, but great solution to a big problem.

On a somewhat overcast afternoon, what are you going to do? Penny played games with Marie, Hilda, and Jan's mother, while I kept entertained helping Anna with loom banding and watching some TV. A nice relaxing afternoon, hoping the clouds clear a bit to see these mountains.

Leo and Scott talking oil.

Marmot

View from our chalet

Friday was another easy start to the day as we said good-bye to Jan's parents. There were overcast skies, but the forecast was for clearing clouds in the early afternoon. When the sun came out, we decided to hike on the sunny side of the valley. We took the lift up and walked down. A completely different experience hiking with 6 and 8 year old girls than we are used to doing. A bit slower walking, but way more entertaining, starting with the play ground and goats. At the top, before we even started down the hill we ended up going down an enclosed slide heaps with the girls. Penny and I took turns with going down with the girls, and it was reported that the whole slide shook when the adults were in it! The girls were also completely fascinated with feeding grass to the local goats.

We stopped part way down at another park and small pond for some playing on the teeter totter and looking at the tad poles. We also found a set of rings along the path and the girls did some gymnastics then I showed them a strict muscle up, so there was more playing on the rings.

Scott and Jan start down the mountain

Marie, Hilde, and Anna

Marie with her long walking pole, taller than her!

No rat problem with these stilts and rocks.

The afternoon was looking good, so we decided to continue up the other side of the valley. It took two lifts, but we got to the top, Hohsaas, which was at 3200m and had PLENTY of snow. Needless to say we weren't really dressed for that weather, so after a quick snowball fight and snow angel, it was back down to the middle of the mountain (Kreuzboden @ 2400m).  There was a good playground and great views, so we hung out here for a little bit. The clouds even lifted just a bit so we could finally see the top of the big mountain, the Dom!

Since this was Jan, Hilde and the girls last night of holiday (lucky people had two weeks in Saas Fee!), the girls decided we should all dress up for dinner.  After dinner, the girls had the most amazing fashion show. It was hilarious, and Penny got to play fashion designer for part of it.

Nice scarf Scott!

Saturday meant saying good-bye to the family, but then we traveled on to Spiez. It is a little lakeside town on Lago Thun. Not quite the dramatic peaks of Saas Fee, but very beautiful none the less.  We arrived around lunch so we still had time for a nice walk. We opted for the 14km circular route from Spiez. I think we may have missed a bit of it at the end, but was still plenty of walking. It started along the lakeside to Faulensee, and then ventured inland and upward (though not sooo high) and around back to Spiez.

We didn't leave until later on Sunday so we also opted for a morning hike that day too. Since the tourist office was closed the whole time we were there, we had to find them on our own, so we opted for the "37" route.  This was a diverse route that took us through wilderness, fields, along a river and eventually up an amazing valley.  Got a little hard to find the route markers towards the end, so we were happy when we found the train station for a quick ride back into Spiez.

After an amazing seafood lunch by the lake, our final stop was Spiez castle. It is not so spectacular, but still pretty nice. There were some great views from the top of the tower as well!

Now, we had a 2.5 hr train ride back to Geneva for our flight. Everyone knows the Swiss rail system is amazing and works like clockwork, right?  Well, surprisingly enough, they also have issues. We took the first train to Bern, all good. However in Bern we saw that our train to the airport was cancelled.  Much to our surprise there was absolutely NO information person there to help. Bern is a big train station! Couldn't believe there was no one there.  Regardless, we got someone to translate a sign for us. We had to travel to Biel (the opposite direction to the airport) and then transfer (with at least a 30min transfer time).  Needless to say, Penny was a little worried, but turns out the second train was faster so we did make it in time. Although instead of 1.5 hrs of time at the airport we had 30min! Good thing I checked in online beforehand.  

This was an amazing trip in an amazing country. We think we just might need to come back for a longer proper hiking holiday sometime soon.....anyone want to join us??