Switzerland Summer 2022

With David and Scott traveling with the youth on mission trip, Charlene and I decided to make our own adventure with a trip to Switzerland this summer.  We were worried with all the stories in the news about flight delays and cancellations that we'd face some trouble.  Our flight was in the early afternoon and we had a 4 hour connection time, so we hoped it would be ok.  I briefly contacted United to see if we could take an earlier flight to Chicago just in case, but they said they would have to re-book the whole trip at the current rate (+$1000) so I said 'no thanks'. 

In the end, we didn't have any delays or problems.  We decided to carry on our luggage, so no worries about lost luggage.  The longest delay we had was coming through passport control in Zurich.  We came into the large processing space and it was completely filled with a long, winding queue that stretched out of the room and down a very long hall.  We could see the line was moving though.  Surprisingly it only took us about 30 mins to navigate the hall and winding line.  They had all 10 stations open and only asked us two questions, so I think there must have just been a lot of flights arriving at the same time.  High point:  we got a stamp in our passports!

We took the train straight out of the airport to Interlaken.  I love train travel in Europe, but Switzerland is a special treat: immaculate stations, great signage, exactly on-time arrivals and departures.

For the first leg of our journey, we accidentally hopped into the Family friendly train car.  I just stepped into the nearest door that opened near us on the platform, but apparently I missed the adorably carton decorated car signaling family friendliness.  

We got seated and looked around and their were kids all over: on the floor, in the aisles, literally swinging from the hand rails, and lots of squeals of delight (and frustration).  It didn't bother Charlene and I at all, but we were a bit out of place.  I walked through to the next car to go to the bathroom and it was night and day difference: total silence. 

(and there were A LOT of bare feet on the trains!  People taking off hiking boots at the end of a long day.  Mostly not smelly, but still...??)

The train was double decker and the lower level by the exit was completely crammed with strollers, bike buggys and toddler trikes!

Our first glimpse of the peaks on the horizon

We changed trains in Bern.  What little we saw from the train was beautiful.

The second train we transferred to was COMPLETELY full.  We walked down the platform trying to find a car that wasn't already standing room only.  We gave up toward the end of the train and forced our way into the door. We ended up standing in the stair well the entire ride (fortunately only about 30 mins).