ELAINE’S WHEELCHAIR SWITZERLAND JOURNAL
2.Interlockken-Spiez
The village of Spiez is quaint and lovely, as is our Hotel Eden overlooking Lake Thun. We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Switzerland, with Lake Thun and Lake Brienz nearby.
Our journey began with our driver and guide, Rainer, who took us to the Aare Gorge. There, we entered a series of tunnels and narrow boardwalks winding through the gorge, while the milky-green glacial river-in-a-hurry rushed past us, and the towering rock walls seemed to close in around us. It was exciting and beautiful!
I would suggest that only experienced wheelchair drivers try this adventure because the boardwalk is narrow, and there are many tourists. My carbon fiber Kerdom power chair handled the boardwalk very well.
We had a most delicious lunch of Gruyère cheese fondue in the village of Brienz. Rainer found us a local restaurant and promised us an excellent Swiss fondue. Indeed, it was! Warm, rich, and delicious—the perfect lunch after our adventure in the gorge.
After lunch, we moved on to the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, which reminded me a little of Plymouth and Sturbridge in Massachusetts. Original Swiss homes and buildings from all over Switzerland have been brought here and carefully reconstructed. We visited a working farm with black pigs, chickens, and enormous Simmental cattle.
Later, we watched a craftsman at work and explored more of the old buildings. I was especially enthralled by the natural reed roof on one of the houses. The roof was about eighteen inches thick and swept dramatically toward the ground, reminding me of a giant circus tent.
What a fascinating glimpse into the Switzerland of long ago!
