I2. Kerns Alpabzug 1 Oct

Having missed a number of Swiss Alpabzug events (cows returning from their summer in the alps) last weekend we were pleased that the forecast rain held off and we were able to travel to the village of Kerns in Canton Obwalden. We arrived ahead of most of the crowds and secured a good vantage point where we stood for more than two hours while the farmers with their animals, bands, alphorn players and choir groups made their way around the village. I will let the pictures show the story.

In the afternoon we walked back to Sarnen station and around the station area where the interesting buildings are.   

Next we caught the train up past Giswil, Kaizerbuhl, Lungern and two lakes (Sarnersee & Lungernsee) to Brünig-Hasliberg at the top of the pass and got off to have a look in the antique/second hand shop which we had seen from the train many times before. Fortunately we were only tempted by a few inexpensive items as souvenirs of our holiday.

From here we took the bus down to Brienz and transferred directly to the waiting boat for the return trip to Interlaken Ost and then train to Thun and a quick sprint saw us onto the bus for home.

I1. Eriz 30 September

After keeping up a fairly non stop schedule we decided to have a late start and use the free 'Panorama card' to explore a bit more of the local area. We took bus 42 from Thun station to Schwarzenegg Post. Here we spent a pleasant hour walking in the forest. We then caught the next bus ti Innereriz and followed the river wanderweg back to Eriz Linden. Superb weather and the ever present mountains and farm houses made for a great day out.

 

H2. Griesalp Wildwasserweg 29 Sept

Bus 31 to Thun and a quick change to the Regiexpress Lötschberger for the 18 minute trip to Reichenbach I'm Kandertal. The train was full of 'mature age' people like our selves and older all equipped with strong boots and walking stocks. There were so many waiting to catch the post us to Griesalp that they added an extra bus.this is the steepest post bus route in Europe with a gradient of 28% and you can see some of it on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzsmMmy9BFM

This is one of the bridges it crosses

There are a variety of walks down from Griesalp and we chose the Wildwasserweg and the Talweg. 

The track leads through the Griesalp Canyon down to Tschingel. It passes a variety of waterfalls and whirlpools. One of these is called the Hexenkessel a deep bubbling hole worn into the rocks with a great force of water travelling down through it.

Tschingelsee is an lake which formed in 1972 after bad weather but has subsequently filled in with gravel and rocks. It looks quite impressive from above.

  One of the delights of the day was seeing lots of Autumn crocus not to forget the towering mountains and the first of the Autumn leaves.

 

H1. Triesen to Thun 28 Sept

Woke early for a walk around the hills above our accommodation. Great to watch the sun rising  and highlighting the mountains of Lichtenstein, Austria and Switzerland.

Our Triesen Airbnb host (who has the most well well provisioned unit ever) drove us over the boarder to Sagans to catch the train to Zurich and on to Bern. Gave us another opportunity to see the beautiful Wahlensee and Zurichsee again.

 

Arrived 'home' to Thun after the 1/2 hour train trip from Bern. Stopped into Manor resturant for a yummy lunch then a lap around Coop grocery store before caching our bus to Goldiwil and settling into the Airbnb for the next 10 days. Wandered around the local hills in the late afternoon and later enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

 

G2. Klagenfurt to Lichtenstein 27 Sept

An early start for the short drive to the station and an hours wait for the train departure time. Had coffee and a chat with Alex while waiting. A bit of a challenge with carriage numbers before we got to our reserved seats - which were facing backwards. Relocated to foreword seats which we managed to hold until almost at Salzberg. Quick train change there and more backward facing seats so I rode much of the way standing at the door with camera at the ready.  

 

We got off the train in Feldkirch Austria and found bus 14 heading to Vaduz in Lichtenstein. As adviced by 'Tripadvisor' we got off at Vadus Hofkelleri (the Royal wine cellars) for the best vantage point of taking photos of the castle.

   

From Vaduz we caught the bus 40 and got off at Triesen Post unfortunately this turned out to be a very long uphill walk away from our accommodation! We were rescued by a delightful young woman called Enkel who drove us in her little blue mini up to our Airbnb. A few minutes later we were coming back from photographing St Mamettenkapelle at sunset

 when we saw this sign on a house door. Very appropriate!  

 

The chapel St Mamerta is the oldest chapel in the country. It was built in the 9th or early 10th century. In the tower of the chapel are remnants of the castle from the 12 th century.

G1. Klagenfurt, Magdelenberg & Althofen 26 Sept

After a leisurely start Gabi drove us to central Klagenfurt where we spent two hours wandering through the shops before going to the grandparents home for an authentic Austrian lunch. 

  In the afternoon they drove us back out past Maria Saal and on and up to Magdelenaberg. Close by we saw the Roman Ruins which we visited on a previous trip. At the top there were deer, an old church and a popular resturant. Here we had afternoon tea of traditional Kärntna Reindling.  

 

At 6:30 Rene from Singkreis 'ars musica' choir collected us and drove to Althofen where we joined their choir practice. They are rehearsing typical Karinthian songs for Heimat.

F2. Sunny Kärnten 25 Sept

This morning we travelled past Feldkirken and Maria Saal to Mölbling. Here we attended the service at St Stefan's Catholic Church where Rene, from the Chor Singkreis 'Ars Musica' Althofen, sang with his quartet. After the thanksgiving mass we joined the congregation (who were wearing national costume) for an outdoor lunch. I especially love the Kubis Creme Suppe. Here we joined the quartet to sing a favourite song 'Is Schon still Uman See'. they also sang 'What a wonderful world' for us.

  After lunch the Perschak's drove us to Wörthersee to catch the Schiff across the sparkling waters to Maria Worth. Here we wandered up around the two churches we visited in 2007. 

For the next activity we drove the 8 kilometres up to the relatively new Pyramidenkogel a huge lookout tower.  Geoff went up with our friends to photograph the view while I took photos of it from ground level!

After a lovely dinner with the family we were of again to Maria Saal for a wonderful concert in the church where our Canberra Austrian Choir sang in 2007. We are being thoroughly spoilt by so many people here in Klagenfurt Austria