Oompah-pah

Trumpeter : Swiss Army Band : Interlaken, CH

While we were watching paragliders in Interlaken, a battalion from the Swiss Army Band walked up to the corner of the park and started playing music. No clue why and I didn't ask. The conductor said a few words, but as he was speaking in Swiss German and his voice didn't carry well, I have no clue what he said. As far as military bands go, these guys weren't too bad. See a few more pictures here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Paragliders in Interlaken

On Approach : Interlaken, CH

Interlaken is a total tourist town, which makes it a little unappealing. One of the cooler things about the town, though, is its a landing zone for paragliders. Most of the gliders you see are flying tandem, carrying aforementioned tourist types. What makes it worth watching, though, is your ability to be close to the landing zone and the Jungfrau as a backdrop to their aerial acrobatics. Here are just a couple of photos and more pictures here.

Final Approach : Interlaken, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Mexican Food in Interlaken

Mexican food Swiss-style : El Azteca : Interlaken, CH

We left Lauterbrunnen and went down to Interlaken for lunch at a Mexican restaurant we'd read about. In our ongoing quest to find decent Mexican food in Switzerland, I've eaten at six Mexican restaurants in this alpine country. They rank thusly for me (out of five stars):

1. La Fonda, Schneidergasse, Basel ★★★★
2. Tres Amigos, Stadthausstrasse, Winterthur ★★★1/2
3. El Azteca, Jungfraustrasse, Interlaken ★★★
4. La Diligence, Chantepoulet, Geneva ★1/2
5. Fiesta Mexicana, Balexert, Geneva ★
6. Mañana, Cornavin, Geneva -10 ★. Dog food tastes better!

El Azteca is attached to the Hotel Blume on the Jungfraustrasse. It wasn't too shabby.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/10

Interlaken und Brienzersee

 Lone Fisher : Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland : Canton Bern, CH

Located in the Bernese Oberland, Interlaken lies midway between two Swiss lakes: Thunsee (Lake Thune) and Brienzersee (Lake Brienz.) There are a number of gasthofs for overnighting and lakeside villages worth visiting. If you're willing to go as far as Brienz, you can also see Ballenberg, a park which recreates the regions of Switzerland and features architecture, food, crafts, animals, industries, and costumes unique to each region.

 Winter fountain in Interlaken and the Eiger in the background : Canton Bern, CH

This area is home to three of Switzerland's most famous peak's: the Jungfrau (Virgin), Monch (Monk), and Eiger (Ogre) and is also the location of the Schilthorn, billed as "The Top of Europe." The Schilthorn featured rather prominently in the 1969 James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", starring one-time Bond, George Lazenby, and the beautiful Dame Diana Rigg.

To see a few more shots of this area in winter, please visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10