Interlaken

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As I got to Bern very early in the morning, I decided to go straight to Interlaken. As I was on the train, I was passing amazing scenary of lakes and mountains. Once I got there I new I´d done the right thing, as this felt like real Switzerland (the Oberland).

Mountains all around the place and old style log houses. It felt a little like a vibrant ski resort, with no snow. I suppose it kind of is a resort in the winter. First thing I did was check into a Hostel, I found the recommended once called Balmer´s, apparently in the top ten Hostel in Europe. I was satying in their Tent village, so was sharing a big tent with beds, with five others.

"In Tents" in Interlaken

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I hired out a mountain bike and decided to go on a wonder up a bit of one of the mountain trails. It was a really hot day and well hard work, although I was pleased to be getting some fitness work in. I really don´t envy those guys on the Tour de France (cheating bastards). Got what I thought were some wicked views, but the next few days easily topped them.

Got back to my tent to meet an Aussie called Steve and some S. Koreans there. I joined in the conversation, which was slow as the Koreans spoke little English and my Korean is rusty. Before I knew it there was some Korean firewater or something going round and we were getting pretty drunk. Steve and I decided to take them to the bar for a few beers later, which turned into a large night in the local club. Those little dudes can really dance! Although by the end they were all slaughtered, not sure they are used to drinking that quantity, fair play to them though. Apparently if I ever go to S. Korea I can stay with them, which is always a nice gesture, very friendly.

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There were alot of Americans at this place also, who on the whole were just rude. They were loud and just couldn´t take thier booze. The Canadians I met there were different altogether, they were cool. Not every Američan was a dick, the more cosmopolitan ones from the cities were alright as they were more cultured. It was the "white trash" type that were really getting on my and other peoples nerves.

I went up the Jungfrau railway the next day, which is the highest railway in Europe. At the peak you could actually walk around in the snow. Those views were legendary, I will never forget them. It was a whole day out, and I wish I wasn´t so hungover, but the mountain air did help to wake me up.

Once I got back I had a moment of weakness and fell into the Interlaken extreme sports trap. I booked myself onto a skydive for the midday the next day. So I stayed one more night and had a quiet one, as didn´t want to be hungover for that.

I have to say I was surprisingly calm about this skydive, even when I was putting on the jumpsuite and that. It was´t until we were crammed into this small plane and it took off that I started to feel a little nervous. The idea sets into you that you are about to jump out of a plane at 4000m´s, it seems a little silly at that point. However, I was doing a tandem dive, so I had little to think about except to just enjoy it. Before I new it I was on the edge of the door and then we were out. The first few seconds were wierd and then it was just amazing, 45 secs of freefall, then a parachute down for about 6-7 mins. Got a good video of my landing. Again the views after we pulled the chute were incredible, it was also pretty calming floating back down to earth. Will definitely have to do it again at some point! Although doing into the Swiss alps is going to be hard to top!

Anyway next aim was to try and get to Prague, but I had left it late and only made it as far as Zutích that night. It was ashame to leave Interlaken, I really loved it there, but had to press on.