In a nut shell I think this weekend encapsulated everything being young is meant to be about- taking chances; backpacking, travelling with random strangers to unknown destinations, paragliding, beer, youth hostels… After much deliberation I decided to go on Sunday to Interlaken, stopping off at Bern, the capital of Switzerland, on the way.
I travelled with the new intern, an American guy, who is studying international relations, Judaism and Islam (or something like that) and promised to give me a brief history of Islam on the way. (still uncompleted) and a Polish girl, a friend of a friend who I didn’t really know to well and was well… a bit of a character. All I took was a backpack (ok granted a very big one but still a big step for a Sandton girl) and my backpackers guide (well actually I left it at my residence, spent the whole day mourning its loss-then managed to find another one at the youth hostel…) We stopped in Bern on the way where we spent the afternoon, as Switzerland’s capital felt had to see it but really not much there.., The highlight was meant to be a clock tour that chimes on the hour but after waiting in the rain for 15 minutes proved to be a great let down…
Anyway the train ride to Interlaken is truly magnificent (it seems each trip I take in Switzerland just gets prettier) the train travelling right on the edge of the lake there is no other way to describe it other than breathtakingly beautiful. The name Interlaken itself means “between the lakes” and is situated between Lake Thun and lake Lake Brienz and is known as the ‘adventure and fun capital of Europe’ (or at least according to my backpackers guide.) The town was packed with young people. I began talking to a girl on the train who recommended a youth hostel which turned out to be pretty famous and I can see why. For 27 CHFS you receive a bed, use of the relaxation room (a room filled with hammocks), free breakfast, happy hour from 9-10, a great party, 7 minutes free internet access, mini Toblerones, flyers for all the activities in the area and young people from all over the world (although I did have to pay an extra 2 CHFS for a bath towel.) What more could you want in life?
The night began with by bold assertion that I never get drunk from beer! And ended up with me collapsing fully dressed on my bunk-bed (something that I actually think is a safety hazard in such a place and far more dangerous than all the adventure activities offered in the area.) Another one of my friend and his friend from France met us in Interlaken that night and after Happy Hour I went with them onto the next party where I somehow allowed myself to get roped into a story about how they were Photographers who worked for UNICEF and conducted Fashion shows in Darfur to raise awareness and because “poor people need fashion too.” And being from South Africa I had met them in Darfur. ( I guess if the two blonds they were selling this two were dumb enough to buy it they deserved what was coming to them) I still am disgusted at myself for playing a long however…
Sunday morning, we went paragliding, it one of the greatest feelings and once you’ve taken off so tranquil- you can hardly call it an adventure activity- although before running off the cliff it didn’t feel that way. (I had made them promise that my life was totally in the pilots hands as apposed to my own and that the most I’d have to do was jog a few steps- because if it was anything more I’m not sure would have managed it.) However the view was amazing and I decided if it’s the last thing I do at least the view would have made it worth while… (see pics on facebook) In the afternoon we hired bicycle and rode down to the lake. It could have been from a picture book, meadows, the lake, mountains just magnificent.
It really was one of those weekends you just want to freeze and keep for someday when you old and wrinkly and need to remember what it felt like to be young…..
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