Biked 30 km from Iseltwald to Thun and 30 km from Thun to Bern


Switzeland Pictures



Thun



Today we reached Bern, this time the views were of the familiar city view. Our hotel window looked into the windows a business building next door. Yesterday’s hotel in Thun was also in the city but it did have a view of a fantastic castle on top of the hill. The view of the castle from our room can be easily seen when you stick your head out the window and look up to your right. I didn’t get the chance to make a log entry yesterday, due to the fact that when we finally arrived at the Thun hotel, we were really tired and stressed out from riding through the city’s busy traffic. That morning we left Iseltwald in the rainy morning on a primarily uphill ride into Thun. The scenic views of the countryside and simple life in the mountains near the Beinz Lake slowly merged into an urbanistic and toursity environment as we approached Interlaken, which was a city situated between two major lakes, the Beinz and Thunder Lake.

Our bike trail instructions suggested an alternative route to avoid the busy traffic, which took us, again on an uphill climb. In addition to experiencing fewer traffic flows along our biking paths, we were lead into beautiful panoramic overviews of the villages below which flanked on both sides of Thunder Lake companied with snow capped peaks and lush green mountains as the perfect finishing touches to this picturesque experience. By then, the rainy weather had long cleared exposing the bright blue sky leaving behind only to cool temperatures. When it did rain, Rana and I were very thankful for the cool breezes and the covering of the sweltering sun that came with the rainy weather. While making our way into Thun, we made a stop at Beatusburg and visited the St. Beatus caves up in the mountains. Rana and I carried our bikes up the stone stairways up untill we got tired. We didn’t know how much further the stairs would continue and we had made it far enough that we didn’t want to the abandon our search for these “legendary” caves. We locked up our bikes, left them behind on the side of the mountain and we continued up the mountain towards the St. Beatus Caves. The tour up took us about 1 km back into the caves. The St. Beatus cave tours began in 1901 and our tour guide, a Canadian, had been in the caves sixty years ago as a young boy. The legend of the caves pertains to how Saint Beatus helped spread Christianity throughout the world by slaying a dragon in the cave thus freeing the local pagans from fear and evil. The dragon was plunged into Thunder Lake and the lake engulfed it, never to be seen again. Yay St. Beatus! Besides the interesting and clearly fictitious tale, the caves were filled with waterfalls and flowing streams.


To avoid the busy weekend (Sat.) traffic we again took an alternative route which took us and our bikes onto the ferry boat from Oberhofen completing the remaining distance to Thun. Our way from the ferry station to our hotel was quite stressful as we rode our bikes on the streets which shared with the busy traffic all the while searching for directions towards our next hotel among the speeding vehicles. Our hotel in Thun was fine but not as impressive as our last two hotel stays. Obviously people in the city were not of the same type as the ones in the country. After traveling a distance of about 30 km, and shuffling around the busy streets, Rana and I slept simply retired for the rest of the day. Rana and I were eager to leave Thun the next morning and, thankfully, our bike trip from Thun to Bern was once again peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. The route took us away from the cities and highways into the back gravel trails running along the Aare River, and paved paths that weaved between farm fields, city parks, and small rural towns. Most businesses, restaurants, and shops were closed since today was Sunday. The city and towns were all quiet and closed up for the most part. We were not crowded nor rushed on our trip, except for the occasional old people passing us up on their bikes…twice . We took some time out throughout the trip and stopped just about anywhere and everywhere for a good picture. Unlike me, Switzerland is very photogenic! The hotel in Bern was nicer and cleaner than the hotel in Thun, however the view was nothing near the impressive spectrum. Actually our room window looked straight into the building next door where city transportation vehicles parked during the nights.
Before we retired for the day, Rana and I walked into the center of Bern where we discovered where everyone went on a Sunday evening. The shops remained closed, but the park cafes, restaurants, riverside parks, and outdoor eateries were packed with locals and tourists. People continued to come in by the bus loads. Many people ate, socialized and window shopped; while kids were running and playing around fountains where water spit up from the floor, and still many others admired the views the town had to offer among the cobbled stone walkways and bridges flanked by traditional Swiss architecture. One word, WOW! Instead of the natural wonders, I was wowed by the artistic character of the town, the undulating old buildings on the banks of fast rolling currents of the Aare River, towering steeples and bell towers of the Parliament building and again with blue snow capped jagged mountains, now in the far distance, as the backdrop. I do have to admit however, that a large part of my excitement for Bern could be attributed to the endless streets and alley ways of shopping. As recommended by our travel agent, we are scheduled to stay an extra night in Bern, and we have plans to continue shopping as well as visit the Switerland Kunstmuseum (art museum), Botanical Gardens, as well as Albert Einstein’s home. Again everything here closes early so we have to plan accordingly. Everything offen (opens) around 10:00 und gesclossen (closes) 17:00 hr. (5:00pm)