Switzerland - Wengen (cows and karaoke)

The next morning, we took the CC 63 train to Wengen. Then we took a cable car to the top of Mannlican, opting to pay extra for the “Royal Cable Car,” which allowed us to ride on top!! 

After that we did the spectacular Royal Walk to the very top, where we had incredible views of our now favorite and familiar Swiss mountains - the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

Then we had a picnic next to the incredible Alpine Herdsman’s Playground: balance beams, rolling slack lines, swing circles, a wooden bowling alley, and an oversized cow made of steel and wood that you can climb up the backside, work obstacles to show, um … digestion, and then actually slide out the cow’s mouth in a plummet that may or may not send you flying to the ground. 

It was awesome!! Did I need to mention that the views are spectacular and there is a restaurant with an outdoor terrace for folks who would rather a have a glass of something than risk the injuries that may come with this advanced level of play. 

Allison going slow out the slide after she saw Tom hit the ground.

Then we took on the Liselotte Trail. This was a kid-friendly hike that started at the Alpine Herdsman playground and worked its way downward to the Holenstein gondola stop toward Grindelwald. It involved a story about a cow named Liselotte and it had tasks that we could complete for stamps and a prize at the end. 

It was a beautiful hike! 

Allison trying to find the starting point. The route was not well marked.

But much a much steeper decline than we were anticipating, so it ended being rather long for us. 

We did, however, get to have fun with the Ricola horns.

everyone taking a rest with a view!

And then found another great playground right at the Holenstein stop. 

This had a rather exciting playground zip line!

Along our hike we kept spotting the Ricola karaoke gondola. Tom found out that it didn’t cost extra to use, but you had to time it right to catch it. So, with an 8 minute warning, we took off for the Holenstein gondola stop and made it with a minute to spare.

It could be said that if you haven’t sung “ain’t no mountain high enough” while cruising up the alps that you haven’t lived … or maybe you just aren’t that great of a singer.