I awoke feeling surprisingly fresh and well rested, and thankful that I'd drunk a lot of water before going to bed.Luckily it was 7:45 when I woke as breakfast ends at 8 and the others were still sleeping. No leg pain and my ankle seemed to be holding up well. The breakfast, like dinner, was very impressive - cheese, bread, muesli, yoghurt, cereal, etc. And the elderly lady running the hut brought us a huge pot of steaming coffee; probably she could still smell the whisky from us.
After breakfast we all enjoyed the clear views of the village and surrounding mountains. And I had a nice chat with the lady running the hut. She told me that it was all built by hand between 1903 and 1906. It took so long because everything had to be carried up. After construction it was a hotel for ten years. She told me that funding fell through in 1916 (maybe she meant the hotel wasn't making profit?) and it lay unused until 1920. Then it was bought by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) and has been used as one of their huts since then. The lady I spoke to has been working at the hut for thirty-seven years. For the first thirty she and her husband ran it and for the last seven she has been helping her children run it. But this will be their last season as a neighbour from their village will take over from next year.
When breakfast and the bill were settled, we four hiked further up the mountains behind the hut for views of Eiger and Grindelwald. And then headed down the mountain and back to the village. Lukas had to go home to his wife and kids, but Carol, Nadine and I checked into a hostel for one night. A fantastic, but expensive place called Mountain View Hostel which was very clean and well-equipped with pingpong, beer, nice lounge, etc. We washed and rested and then hit the town.
During the 8 weeks of summer season, Grindelwald has a street party every Wednesday night. Luckily for us, today was Wednesday. I tried the traditional Swiss breakfast - Rosti, which similarly to the traditional Irish breakfast - the full fry, could be described as "a heart attack on a plate". It was definitely a bellyfull and a little too salty for my liking, but enjoyable none the less, and I proved myself a man once again by clearing my plate.
At the street party I met a German called Christian who's been coming here for holidays for seventeen years despite not hiking, skiing, or doing any of the activities on offer in the Alps. i guess he just likes Switzerland and street parties. He was hanging out with the hunters who were selling "hunters coffee" - a lethal concoction of hot brandy, spices, fruit, and uh, other alcohols. I tried a cup from the steaming pot resting on the fire as one of the hunters asked for an introduction to the girls I was with. Seemingly it's not just animals they enjoy hunting.
After breakfast we all enjoyed the clear views of the village and surrounding mountains. And I had a nice chat with the lady running the hut. She told me that it was all built by hand between 1903 and 1906. It took so long because everything had to be carried up. After construction it was a hotel for ten years. She told me that funding fell through in 1916 (maybe she meant the hotel wasn't making profit?) and it lay unused until 1920. Then it was bought by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) and has been used as one of their huts since then. The lady I spoke to has been working at the hut for thirty-seven years. For the first thirty she and her husband ran it and for the last seven she has been helping her children run it. But this will be their last season as a neighbour from their village will take over from next year.
When breakfast and the bill were settled, we four hiked further up the mountains behind the hut for views of Eiger and Grindelwald. And then headed down the mountain and back to the village. Lukas had to go home to his wife and kids, but Carol, Nadine and I checked into a hostel for one night. A fantastic, but expensive place called Mountain View Hostel which was very clean and well-equipped with pingpong, beer, nice lounge, etc. We washed and rested and then hit the town.
During the 8 weeks of summer season, Grindelwald has a street party every Wednesday night. Luckily for us, today was Wednesday. I tried the traditional Swiss breakfast - Rosti, which similarly to the traditional Irish breakfast - the full fry, could be described as "a heart attack on a plate". It was definitely a bellyfull and a little too salty for my liking, but enjoyable none the less, and I proved myself a man once again by clearing my plate.
At the street party I met a German called Christian who's been coming here for holidays for seventeen years despite not hiking, skiing, or doing any of the activities on offer in the Alps. i guess he just likes Switzerland and street parties. He was hanging out with the hunters who were selling "hunters coffee" - a lethal concoction of hot brandy, spices, fruit, and uh, other alcohols. I tried a cup from the steaming pot resting on the fire as one of the hunters asked for an introduction to the girls I was with. Seemingly it's not just animals they enjoy hunting.
Eiger in the top right wrapped in mist.
Glacier.
Mountain flowers that only grow above 2000 metres.
Lukas, Naine, Carol and myself.
Gleckstein Hut at 2300 metres. Home for the night.
Lovely views.
Cheesy views.
More views.
Go Switzerland!
Back across the snow.
River-chilled champagne to celebrate finishing. Not as classy as it sounds since we forgot the glasses.
There were many cyclists.
More celebration drinks.
Dinner time.
Rosti - traditional Swiss breakfast.
The waitress.
Christian - my new German buddy.
A little slice of the street party.
1 comment:
That inbuilt timer always works mate, never miss a breakfast when in a hotel.
David
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