Lautenbrunnen... Interlocken Ost...

I was up earlier and went out for my run and it was much colder... But no rain... I had my quiet time in the lobby and ate a banana and drank two cups of coffee and then went out to run my 10K.

It was so nice... I won't be running tomorrow... I'll be running to the train station... 

After our breakfast at the Chalet, we took the train to Interlaken Ost. Suz had asked chatGPT for a walking tour... and what an adventure we had. We should have said, "Walking tour when it rains"... because this walking tour that it sent us on would have been much better if it wasn't cloudy and raining and COLD! I don't mind the cold... but it wasn't ask scenic with the rain and the cloud. We walked and walked and walked... and it was an adventure... We were out in the middle of nowhere, roaming with the cows... mooing as we walked... We finally made it to Weissenau Ruins... and that's what we saw... three pieces of a ruined castle... ha, ha, ha... We then walked for another 5 minutes and stood at the view point to see the Thunsee... ha, ha, ha... 

I was running out of battery, so we used Pam's phone and charted a course to the nearest bus stop! It was a fast ride back into town! What were we thinking?

I had to pee... and many of the restaurants were closed... and weren't going to open until 5:30! One lady took pity on me and let me use their restroom. it was a very nice restroom!

We then looked at many of the shops and decided to buy Swiss army knives... One nail cutter for Isaiah... one classic for Fenny. Isaiah was going to pay for both... I think it's a nice gift for Fenny's birthday! We then found a great bakery/coffee shop that started in 1818 called Schuh. It was delicious and Pam treated us... I felt like a royalty... I got apple pie and milk coffee! And I was able to join the prayer time! When we left there, we went back to the Victornox. I was trying to find another one of our great carry-ons as the one we have is quite messed up and can't be fixed. And we were going to buy the knives. But it was going to be an hour wait to get the engraving done. So we went to another store and met Ignasio. He did the engraving for free. Suz also bought two. 

We were back on the train, heading back to Lautenbrunnen!

We went to the coop and I forgot to buy Rivella... so for dinner, I had some. I will buy some for Alan to try. I also could not find the hot spicy pizza oil... 

We had dinner at Hotel Overland as it was one of the only restaurants still opened. I had goulash soup and it was delicious... and Suz couldn't finish her Rosti, so I ate some... YUMMY. I love raclette cheese! I will bring some back to Taiwan. So, I will definitely go shopping in Darmstadt!

We were back at our hotel and getting ourselves organized as we check out tomorrow. 

What a vacation this has been... I have no adjectives to fully describe my heart... To see Nancy and the house that's finished... To be in Heidelberg on the one year anniversary of my Mom's passing... To have my best friends, Pam and Suz, join me there and travel around... We definitely have elevated our traveling style... we didn't sleep in any train stations... and we had nice meals every day... 

It's going to be hard to say goodbye... 

Who knows when we'd have the chance to do something like this again... Truly... like our travel some 46 years ago... these past 'few' days have been another 'once in a lifetime' chance... Life goes on... and our mind might not be so clear... and we surely don't think we will live for another 46 years... but for today, this moment, my heart overflows...

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Lautenbrunnen... Wengen...

I was up and did go out for a fantastic run... 

I run so much faster even though it was chilly... I did the 10K almost within an hour... I am going to try again tomorrow... 

I had two coffees and a bit to eat before I took off... I love this little Chalet Rosa!

I got back and Pam and Suz were up! Breakfast was already being served downstairs. The gal I met last night was down there and she gave me a hug and asked that I send her the verses for today. While talking about the Bible, a man behind me said, "Oh Psalm 23... my favorite verse is Psalm 23:4!" We started talking and he is from Portland but lives on the Washington side! He's a pilot and is here with his wife. They've been married for three years. 

I finally went up to the room and had a nice shower and Pam and I went down for breakfast.

What an amazing spread of food... I love everything... little packets of Nutella... three or four different flavors of yogurt... Wow... Again, the breads.. the fruit... the cheese and cold cuts... We sat right by the windows... and the sun came out... 

We decided to take the train to Wengen and walk around there... Wow... it was spectacular... we didn't take the tram all the way up to Kleinschindegg... but it was delightful just to walk around the village. It even started snowing... We found a little coffee shop and had apple pie with vanilla sauce. Goulash soup with bread and a couple of cups of coffee... What a treat!

I was able to join/lead the prayer time... and Alan was able to get on!

Well... we headed down and we got back to our hotel room and I packed up the laundry and went to the 'wash salon'. Before heading out, I needed coins... Gabby, the chalet manager didn't have any coins... so, when I got to the wash salon, I asked the two people who were there and they didn't have any extra coins to exchange with me. On the way down, I had tried to get a coin... but no such luck.

The guy said, "Try the train station." He had tried at five places and finally he got a place to give him some coins. I went and could not find a machine to give change and went to the ticket counter. The lady was so gracious to give me two 5 francs coins... I ran back and had to figure out how to get the machine to work. Another lady was there... and I finally decided to put the coin in to see if the door to the washer would open and it did!

There were soap 'pills' there for free... and while I waited, I chatted with the lady... She's from Utah and they seem to be quite wealthy. Anyhow, her husband and daughter came in and he is a runner... So I went back to the room and got the Soochow Ultra Running shirt and gave it to him! Another couple from Australia came in...They are from Brisbane... The waiting time went by very quickly. 

The laundry was finished and I packed everything up and ran back to the room. Pam and Suz helped me to hang everything around the room... and we were off to dinner.

We made a reservation for the restaurant at Camp Jungfrau... 6pm! I ordered the pizza with Raclett cheese and pickles. It's a local favorite... And it was so good... All the meals that we have had have been so delicious. 

We walked back, going into the cemetery and it was quite 'beautiful'. There were freshly planted flowers and the gravestones were so interesting... 

Oh... I forgot to mention that in Wengen there was a Hotel Regina with a sushi restaurant. It was as if Mom was right there. We had a hotel in Pomona called Chalet Lodge... She could have come to Switzerland and opened a Chalet Regina. People would have loved her!

After dinner, we came back to our hotel and just rested... 

What's on the plan for tomorrow? Well... I for sure will go for another run!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

A Day of Bus & Train... and Yes Lots of Walking!

I was up early and had breakfast after my time with Jesus.

It was going to be a day of travel...

We got a taxi to take us to the bus station and the FlexBus was late... and we were worried that we won't catch our train from Zurich to Interlaken Ost.

We barely made it... and the train was very crowded!

The Swiss train had no WiFi... so at 2:45 I used my data and had a call of prayer with House of Praise! Before 2:59 (which was the time that our train was to arrive to Interlaken Ost, Pam and Suz were getting their suitcases as people were getting off. The sign said Interlaken West and I kept asking, "Is Interlaken Ost the same as Interlaken West?" Pam kept saying, "I don't know what Ost mean..." 

Well... I should have just said "It is not the right station1" But my brain wasn't working... 

Anyhow, we got off one station too early and had to wait for the next train... but we were able to catch our original scheduled train from Interlaken Ost to Lautenbrunnen and we walked to our Chalet Rosa! It's a delightful place... with breakfast each morning. 

The room is so nice... 

After settling down, we got ready to hike as the weather was so splendid!

We hiked for more than 2 hours and had dinner at Hotel Overland. It was kind of expensive and I ordered Oberland Rosti... unfortunately, it was more cheese than potato pancake. Suz ordered curry rice and that was so good. I ate quite a bit of hers as I love basmati rice!

We walked back to our chalet and I noticed a gal reading her Bible. So, I went to talk to her. She lives in Geneva but is originally from Rio de Janiero Brazil. I shared with her the verses I love: Matthew 6:33 and Psalm 23 and John 15:5. After reading Matthew 6:33, she started to cry. I don't know why. But I think it was God. When we finished reading all the verses, I asked her about her children and her husband. And we pray... She hugged me and thanked me... and tears continued to flow... We exchanged our contact information as I went up to the room.

Pam and Suz were up in the room already... and after Pam took a bath, I went and had my shower. I will consider doing a load of clothes tomorrow. 

We were all exhausted. 

Tomorrow... I hope to go for a run! It will be the same trail we hiked today!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Tubingen... In A Day!

I was up and did not go for a run... I wanted to go and enjoy the splendid breakfast... BUFFET...

There were five different kinds of yogurt, fresh fruit, 10 different kinds of bread, hot dishes, hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs... ratatouille (very delicious), bacon, sausage links, meatballs... And a coffee machine that had 10 different choices. They even provided soy bean milk or oat milk! Oh... and three different kinds of juice... And I'm sure I'm forgetting what else... like cheese and cold cuts and salad... Trust me... I ATE A LOT!

We sat and talked and enjoyed our breakfast! We finally left at around 10:30 and did our own walking tour! We hit all the spots and walked and shopped... We had a delightful time... and ended the evening at the best dinner restaurant! It was Stevie's treat for "Mother's Day".

I bought China Oel, more gummy candies, Ritter sports, and saw a pair of shoes at the second hand store: Doghammer... usually 180Euro for sale for 63Euro. The pair was completely brand new and my size. But I don't need a pair of shoes... even though it was in green. I'd spend the money for running shoes, but not for hiking shoes... plus, the arch was just not perfect! Maybe I will regret not buying them... but still... I'm glad I walked away!

We were back at the hotel by 7:30 and started packing... We have an early day tomorrow... Onward to Zurich and then to Lautenbrunnen via Interlaken!

I was able to join the prayer time this afternoon! YEAH!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Moving On...

I was up and did not go for my run... the day looked just marvelous... 

After my time with Jesus, I went down to breakfast... We could sit from 7-10... feasting... I just loved sitting there, looking out to Haupstrasse... the food was just fabulous and no one rushes you...

Pam and I went to the Castle... and walked around. But just before we got to the Castle, we saw a nice souvenir shop and we went in. I saw this simple wooden Christmas ornament that says Heidelberg and had a manger scene. So, after we walked around the castle, we went and bought the souvenirs. I just got that ornament whereas Pam got a few nice items and gifts.

Suz was already back at the hotel and having a cup of tea. I went and walked a bit more before our taxi arrived and we were headed to Haupbahnhof. The taxi was 20Euro... but it was raining... so... the gals thought it wasn't good to take the public transport... 

As we waited at the platform, the train got pushed back again and again... and finally, it said -- CANCELLED!

So, off we went to the information booth and had to re-route. And because of that, I could not join the Heaven's Bible study but I did make it for the prayer time!

We had to change several times and arrived at Tubingen by 5:40! Wow... We took another taxi that was 12Euro to our hotel. 

It was still raining... sprinkling... 

We settled into our room... and we headed off!

We will be in this quaint place for two nights, three days... the weather looks wet... please pray!

But overall, the trip has been most fantastic!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Sunday in Heidelberg... Enchanting... Blessed...

I was up early and enjoyed having my time while the gals slept... But we had an early start as church was at 11:15 and we had a walk...

We had our breakfast in the room and packed up and checked out... 

We walked with our luggage to the Goldener Falke which was about 100 meters away! They let us drop off the luggage right in the restaurant... very safe! And we took off... I had brought my laundry thinking that the laundromat right next to the church would be opened. But it turned out that the supermarkets and the laundromats all closed on Sunday. 

We arrived at the church by 10:50 and it was nice to just sit. The service was one hour and the worship team was a group of young adults.

After the service, we found a Bakerei and bought these delicious sandwiches and ate at a table set up right on the Haupstrasse. Pam used her phone to buy the Nekar River Cruise tickets... 45euro per person. And it started at 2:30. The cruise went about 15 kilometers down and then back, taking about three hours. Drinks were free... and we had nice bread with us to munch on!

After getting off, we walked to our hotel, which was right on the Haupstrasse... VERY VERY NICE... and we get a full on breakfast tomorrow morning from 7-10am. That's going to be so enjoyable!

The room is absolutely fabulous. We opened the windows and can hear the bells from the Holy Ghost Church and a violin player right on the streets below. 

Stevie, Suz's son, wanted to treat us to dinner for our Mother's Day Celebration. We are going to have dinner at a place with table cloth... that means it's going to be super super super NICE! We also want to walk up to the Schloss for an evening view...

I'm so glad we extended our stay in Heidelberg... 

I will go for another run tomorrow morning... and there is no rush as our train is at 13:56.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Funicle & Castle Courtyard...

 I was up early... and did go out for a nice 10K run... Absolutely enjoyable...The path was much nicer with fewer obstacles... I still had some stairs but overall, it was delightful!

I got back and the gals were up... and getting ready. But still... we took our time before taking off at around 11am to take the funicle up to the castle and go inside the courtyard and see a few 'museums' before taking the funicle up to the highest point. The cost of everything was 17euro per person. We didn't get back down until 4pm and had Doner for our "lunch". We ate the whole thing and could not imagine eating more for dinner. We decided to go to the bakery and buy a few desserts for our evening 'meal'. Then we walked back to our hotel room to rest. There were so many tourists around that it was quite crowded... and the weather got really warm.

So... it was nice to be in our room... but we plan to go out again for another walk on the other side of the Nekar River.

We will check out and be in another hotel on Sunday... which includes breakfast for Monday. It's a great treat... as we head to Tubingen on Monday afternoon... it will be our final day in Heidelberg at a fancy hotel with our breakfast at the hotel.

I hope to get another run in on Monday...

So, we did leave at around 6:30 to walk across the Old Bridge and through the Winding Walled Path that comes out on Philosophen Weg and we sat there and talked until we had to go back down as it's difficult to walk down in the dark.

We were back around HaupStrasse and Suz and Pam got Eis (Gelato) but I'm not into sweets... and there are no pomme frites stands... We sat at the ice cream shop and finally walked back to our hotel at around 10pm. The place was still filled with people eating at outdoor cafes...

Walking by the Schloss is always special... no matter what time of day it might be...

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!