Next up is a scenic adventure to Thun. On our way to Thun, we made a spontaneous stop at a park along the Thun River. It was nothing short of breathtaking. The view was spectacular, an enormous lake stretched before us, surrounded by the towering Bernese Alps. It felt like we had stumbled upon a hidden paradise. After soaking in the scenery for a bit, we hopped back in the car to find our chalet.
As we drove into Thun, we noticed how the town seemed to hug the shore of the lake with a charming medieval cathedral sitting at the heart of the town. On the other side, a grassy mountain stretched up dotted with picturesque chalets as the road snaked its way up the hill. According to our GPS, our chalet was at the very top of this mountain. As we climbed higher, and higher the view below unfolded like a postcard. Down below we could see a bridge stretched across the river surrounded by a dramatic gorge, we knew right away we had to explore this!
Thun Bridge
Once we settled into our chalet, we set off on foot excited to get closer to that bridge. Interestingly enough, the bridge looked so much closer when we were in the car? As we walked the distance seemed to feel like it was going on forever. We also had to be mindful of the time. We didn’t want to be out after dark as it was mid-afternoon. Finding the path to the bridge took longer than expected. We ended up leaving the road to navigate the final incline. I still don’t know how the Swiss cows and goats manage to keep their balance on these steep slopes! I personally perfected a walk/slide method to get down without tumbling.
When we finally reached the bridge the view was stunning with the rushing waters far below and seeing the gorge close up. We were greeted by locals, some on their daily walk home, while others were heading into town. It felt so warm and welcoming. The town itself was tiny and quaint, but by the time we got there most places were closed. The sun was starting to set so that was our cue to start heading back.
Heading Up The Mountain – A Scenic Adventure in Thun
Standing at the bottom of the mountain and looking up we came to the realization that getting back wasn’t as simple as we thought it would be. The chalet looked like it was miles away, a perfect lego version of what we left. My friend’s husband, always the gentleman, offered to speed ahead and pick us up with the car. Forty-five minutes later, we decided to ditch the road all together and decided to take a more direct route up the mountain, straight up the grassy knolls! We paused often to catch our breath, stopping to search for car lights. The landscape was vast, landmarks were deceivingly far away.
At last, we made it to the top, and just then rounding the curve was our knight in shining armor, my friend’s husband with the car! Even though we were close to the chalet, getting into the car felt a little like a luxury after such a hike.
Exhausted but happy, we drove back down to find a place for dinner. We stumbled upon a wonderful German restaurant. The perfect place to end a day full of adventure and exploration. Tomorrow, we will be heading to one of the three car-free cities in the Alps, Murran.
Stay tuned for more!
Thanks for being here,
-Soraya
Want to read about more adventures with my dear friends? A Friend Through All Seasons: Through Thick & Thin
Leave a Reply