Meiringen and Reichenbach Waterfall
After a wonderful trip to the Italian side of Switzerland, it was time to move on to another region. The morning couldn’t come early enough; we were ready to start our day. We visited the Sleeping Lion monument and walked around downtown on a foggy and rainy morning. Since Tuesday is farmer’s market day in Luzern, it was fun to see people setting up their shops. Nothing stops in the rain. We had coffee and breakfast in a local cafe, packed, and left the hotel around 8:30. We took the 9:06 Panoramic Express train to Interlaken.
The Panoramic Express had huge windows, including some on the roof, providing beautiful views. It was supposed to be a two-hour-plus journey. While chatting with a teacher who was taking 25 of her students on a camping trip to Meiringen, she suggested we see the Reichenbach Waterfall. Apparently, Sherlock Holmes "died" in this town. Compelled enough, we decided to see the waterfall instead of going all the way to Interlaken. At the station, we asked a group of guys for directions. They must have been in their late 20s or early 30s from Tannasee, on a 15-day Europe trip that took eight months of planning. They were going to the waterfall too, so we walked along, chatting. It was very interesting to hear about their experiences traveling in Italy. It was a good 20-minute walk from the station. If I had known, I would have taken the lockers at the station.
At the waterfall, the cable car takes you halfway up the mountain, and then you walk 30 minutes up to the fall, and it’s a 20-minute walk back down. We walked around for probably 20 minutes (about 80% of the hike) before realizing it wasn't so easy for us. We enjoyed the view from a couple of spots and then decided to walk back. We had a few things in mind to do in Interlaken and didn’t want to overextend ourselves. We took the cable car back to the base and walked to the station. There is a Sherlock Holmes museum and two statues. I plan to read more about Sherlock Holmes' connection to this town and maybe watch some movies set here.
During this hike, we saw many backpackers and felt a kinship. It was our first trip traveling this way. I cannot imagine doing all these adventures, getting off the train wherever we wanted, and going anywhere if I had those carry-ons. I am grateful to Ajey for giving me this idea. It’s really liberating. We could hop on and off the train anywhere we wanted. Next time, I will do a few things differently: I will carry rain/snow pants and wash-and-wear shirts, and I will need hand wipes and a hand towel.
Missed seeing The Aare Gorge - https://aareschlucht.ch/en/welcome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichenbach_Falls
Day -5 Second Half Interlaken
We took a train to Interlaken East (Ost). Interlaken has two stations: West, which is in a bigger city, and East, which is a larger station with more connectivity. There are plenty of buses connecting these two stations, about a mile apart (around a 20-minute walk).
For this trip, we didn't have any advance hotel bookings, but we found one near Interlaken West. The staff at SBB was not very helpful, possibly due to being overwhelmed by too many visitors. They gave us a bus number but forgot to mention that the route runs in two directions. We had a tour of Interlaken East and returned to the station, where the bus driver kindly explained the bus system to us.
Finally, we got to our hotel, dead tired, checked in, and after a bit of rest, walked back to the station area. It was bustling with energy and crowds, mostly Indians. I hadn’t seen this many Indians in the areas we had visited previously. Now it makes sense—Interlaken is a tourist hot spot, with everything happening here. Bollywood movies have made this region a fantasy land for Indians.
Things to Remember
- You don’t have to stay in Interlaken; hotels are expensive and it’s too busy. The nearby villages are better places to stay unless you are looking for crowds and busyness.
- Spend time planning this area; there’s a lot to do. Consider the crowd, mountains, routes, and pace while planning.
- A morning in Luzern
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