Murren...One year later.

On my 31st birthday (September 25) we attempted to go to Murren, Switzerland for the weekend. We made it about 3 miles from our house before we were stuck in a mega traffic jam and, on top of that, we got rear ended. Yes, someone actually hit us while we were going 1 kilometer an hour. Seriously. Needless to say, we turned around and went home with the intention of giong up the next week. Don't worry, "Beamy" (our car) was already hurt from being rear-ended back in July. Besides, how much damage can really happen at 1 kilometer an hour? Beamy is now fixed up good as new.
The next Wednesday, we (my mom and I) got the kids loaded into the car just before nap time and set off for Interlaken to fetch Brian (who was at a training) on our way up to Murren. As you can see, James slept most of the way. I admit that I did buy him fries to keep him happy until he fell asleep. It worked a bit too well. I was always proud that my kid had never fallen asleep in his food (I am a mega sleep stickler). Now, he has. Or at least he would have if he had been sitting at a table. I couldn't believe he fell asleep with a fry in his mouth. But it sure made the 2.5 hour ride with my mom much more pleasant. We enjoyed some beautiful scenery and good, adult conversation almost all the way there. When we got to Interlaken we decided to park and go to the store to stock up on some fruit and snacks for James and, more importantly, to do a bit of shopping. My mom was able to get a few things for her grandkids back home (and for my kids too) and we met up with Brian at around 5.
We then headed up to Lauterbrunen where we parked our car (you can't drive there) and took a gondola up to a train that took us the last of the way up to Murren. My mom was already amazed by the scenery around bend in the road but she hadn't seen anything yet! This is a view from the gondola looking out at the Jungfrau region mountains. The weather was awesome!!!
Here you can see where we came from.
We got to the hotel and got settled in (James and Brian watches some cows being milked) and then we put the kids to bed! When the kids are in bed then the adults play! There is a nice little restaurant in the hotel and we had a lovely dinner of Rosti (Swiss version of hashbrowns) and some chocolate fondue for dessert. Here is my mom enjoying her fondue. She really was in heaven with all the great Swiss chocolate. Can you tell?
The next morning (Thursday) we woke up to another beautiful day! We decided to head up to the Schilthorn to get a bird's-eye view of the region. A view from our hotel room.
And another one. I wish y'all could really appreciate it. You really do have to see it to really know what you are missing.
James hitched a ride on Daddy's shoulders rather than sit in the stroller.
My mom was amazed that there were still flowers blooming in October.
We found out from our local (well not local anymore) friends that our Migros card (like a Kroger or Smith's card) was good for one free ticket up the tram to the top. We used it for my mom's ticket and since Brian and I have half-price cards that get us a 50% discount on all (well, almost all) trains and trams and gondolas in Switzerland, it was a relatively cheap excursion too. Instead of over chf250 it cost us about chf70 to get there! Me and the John-Luke at the top.
Like I said, It was a beautiful day!
And quite clear.
My mom with the view.
James checking out the view and tasting the railing. Yes, James still eats anything he can get his hands on (except poop, thankfully). He still eats dirt, rocks, sticks, and apparently railings.
Brian, with the Johnny-Lu, is showing how not cold it was. I think it was 8C which is about 45F. So cold, but not frigid.
A self-pic with my mom.
Last year, (the exact same weekend) we (Brian, James and I) were here. It was a crystal clear day but it was freezing and there was tons of snow! Check it out here.
John-Luke decided to take a nap. This was while the rest of us enjoyed hot chocolate in the rotating restaurant up there.
Who do you think likes hot chocolate more? James?
Or my mom? I'm not sure but they are definitely related. Hot Chocolate (or cold chocolate milk or any form of liquid chocolate) is my mom's favorite food. She could live on it alone and be totally happy! Not an overstatement at all.
John-Luke woke up a happy little camper.
After the hot chocolate, we headed back down to Murren for lunch at the Stagerstubli Restaurant. My mom and I went ahead to order the most amazing cheese and mushroom fondue while Brian took James to play at one of the parks.
James is now into the DIY (do it yourself) phase of life. Here he is dipping his own bread in the fondue.
Then we headed back to the hotel for our daily nap. Love the daily nap! James and Brian playing "sack of 'tatoes."
Basically, Brian throws James over his back like a "sack of 'tatoes" and then pulls him back. James really thinks it is loads of fun.
After our nap. We took another gondola ride. This time we went down a bit. To the tiny little village of Gimmelwald. More flowers blooming.
Gimmelwald has what we affectionately call the "cheese hut." Me and the "cheese hut." It is a tiny hut where they have a bunch of cheese aging and which you can taste and buy. It is aptly called "Alp Cheese." My mom's second love in life (after liquid chocolate) is cheese. Can you tell? Look at that smile. She really could live happily ever after in Switzerland.
Brian and John-Luke waving to the camera.
James striking a pose. Brian and John-Luke posing in front of the cheese hut. Even I had to duck to make it through the door.
A view of the mountains across from Gimmelwald.
James doing his boy stuff. He found some logs to conquer.
This is what Brian looks like when he is traveling with his "peeps." For a look at him when he is without his peeps check here. Yes, we stopped to play at the park here in Gimmelwald too. James coming down the slide.See the cliff? Murren is on top of it. Yes, that is where we were staying. Now you know why it is a bit hard to drive there.
A closer look.
That night we had another amazing meal (while the kids slept). My mom and I shared a schnitzle and Brian had the most amazing Rosti with chicken that I have ever had. (I picked it out for him). We also had another round of chocolate fondue and hot chocolates. Why not? It isn't every day that we are in the Swiss Alps after all.
Friday we decided to take the funiculaire in Murren. It is called the Almendhubel. A funiculaire (for those who don't know) is a train that goes up a very steep mountain using either cogs or cables. It was steep.
At the top. A lovely little playground for kids. James quite enjoyed it. Coming down the slide.
On the see saw with Daddy and Mommy. He thought that was great fun.
Angel baby!
We also had lunch there. James had a schnitzle with noodles and the rest of us had Alplermakaroni. It is heavenly! The Swiss version of macaroni and cheese. It rocks! Don't you love the view?
We ate here last year too but it was so snowy that we weren't able to enjoy the outside seating. Our view while eating.
After lunch we went back down the mountain, checked out of the hotel. Took the train back down to the gondola which we took back to our car. We then drove back to Interlaken (for a tiny bit more shopping) and back to Geneva. This is my mom right before we left. Her sentiments were that Murren is her new favorite place in Europe. We had an awesome time!
There is a reason that this place is so highly recommended in the travel books. The next morning my mom flew home to Utah and we went to the Cow festival (but that is for another post).

Yvoire with my mom

On September 28th my mom and I decided to take a little day trip. It is a day trip that I have done once before with some friends here. Basically, we drove to Nyon, Switzerland and got on a boat (Barely made it. Had to buy the tickets on the boat.) to Yvoire, France. Yvoire is across the lake from Nyon and so it is only a 20 minute boat ride. It was a perfect day! Here we are on the boat. My attempt at a "self-portrait" with James. An even worse attempt with my mom in the picture. Do you like the view up my nose? At least my mom looks good.
Lukey-Lu is just happy to be alive and along for the ride. Seriously, he was very good the whole time. I was shocked!
James and my mom looking at Yvoire as the boat is about to dock. James loved exploring the boat. He loved the horn and the huge ropes. And the French and Swiss flags.
Just off the boat and James is already straining to get out of his stroller. The flowers were just beautiful. Yvoire is known for having amazing flowers/gardens.
More flowers.
Just outside the mideval city. Inside the walls it is a pedestrian only area (exept for locals). The wall was originally built in the 1300's.
Just an example of what the village looks like. Beautiful old buildings (I mean really old) and lots of flowers.
We got to Yvoire at about 10:45 and just looked around for a bit (and shopped a bit). Then we bought some bread and cheese at a little shop and had that for lunch. It was good. J-L decided he would be kind enough to sleep for a while during lunch so that we could all eat.
James trying to climb a tree like the "big" kids.
After lunch we wandered some more and checked out the churchwhich was my first time. There is a map inside that you can put a sticker on to say where you are from. We were not the first from SLC or Dallas on the map. Then we wandered down to the lake where James and my mom fed some swans and I fed John-Luke.
More feeding the swans.
My mom and the lake. The shoreline in the background is Switzerland.
Me and my boys.
My mom with the chateau which dates back to the 1300's and is still a private residence. Not open to the public. When it comes up for sale I'm going to buy it. Unfortunately it has been in the same family for almost 400 years. Figures.
James having a refreshing drink of eau potable.
More flowers.
Please, do not disturb.
Waiting at the dock for the boat.
A particularly bad attempt at a "self-portrait."
We took the 1:45 boat back across the lake. The view as we were leaving.
It was a bit windy on the boat ride back.
After we got back to the car, James was asleep before we even made our first turn. J-L did great and it was an awesome day! Oh, and Thanks, Mom, for the great souvenir! Come back soon!