Day 8: Paragliding, St. Beautus Caves and World Cup
The whole family went paragliding this morning! We met our "pilots" in Interlaken (after a bit of a delay with a broken down train...the first we've experienced in Switzerland) and drove up to Beatenburg to the take-off point. There were 7 pilots for the 7 of us and we all went tandem.
They laid out their parachutes, strapped on their gear and our gear and then hooked us together. Without much pageantry (or instructions), they step forward and the parachute feels with air and then when they say "go," you start running down the hill and within 4 or 5 seconds you are in the air, soaring! It was pretty magical. Isaac was the first to take off and when his pilot stood up to start running, Isaac's feet weren't even on the ground, so he was just running in the air. Same with Mikey! Everyone absolutely LOVED paragliding over Interlaken. The views were incredible with the turquoise lakes and rivers and the red roofed houses and the green, carpeted hills and the snow-capped mountains. We landed in a large landing field, filled with yellow wildflowers, right in the middle of town. What a thrill!!
After a yummy Italian lunch, we caught a boat on Lake Thun over to St. Beatus caves. It was a good 30 minute hike up the mountain to the entrance to the caves where up until 1900 years ago a terrifying dragon is said to have been up to mischief. Only the wandering Irish monk Beatus succeded in driving away the dragon. Now it's lit and paved and we walked through the grottos and winding paths past stalactites and stalagmites and waterfalls. It was pretty fun!
We were home in time for some soccer at the town field and a hike for Jeff and I before watching the World Cup match (France vs. Belgium) at a little bar in town with Isaac's friends, Maxim and Max and his dad, Renee.
They laid out their parachutes, strapped on their gear and our gear and then hooked us together. Without much pageantry (or instructions), they step forward and the parachute feels with air and then when they say "go," you start running down the hill and within 4 or 5 seconds you are in the air, soaring! It was pretty magical. Isaac was the first to take off and when his pilot stood up to start running, Isaac's feet weren't even on the ground, so he was just running in the air. Same with Mikey! Everyone absolutely LOVED paragliding over Interlaken. The views were incredible with the turquoise lakes and rivers and the red roofed houses and the green, carpeted hills and the snow-capped mountains. We landed in a large landing field, filled with yellow wildflowers, right in the middle of town. What a thrill!!
After a yummy Italian lunch, we caught a boat on Lake Thun over to St. Beatus caves. It was a good 30 minute hike up the mountain to the entrance to the caves where up until 1900 years ago a terrifying dragon is said to have been up to mischief. Only the wandering Irish monk Beatus succeded in driving away the dragon. Now it's lit and paved and we walked through the grottos and winding paths past stalactites and stalagmites and waterfalls. It was pretty fun!
We were home in time for some soccer at the town field and a hike for Jeff and I before watching the World Cup match (France vs. Belgium) at a little bar in town with Isaac's friends, Maxim and Max and his dad, Renee.
Walking out to the paragliding launching field.
Waiting for trains, playing "concentration."
Waiting for the boat.
It's amazing how fast Kira can fall asleep anywhere! (She was never like that as a baby or toddler!!!) ;)
The entrance to St. Beatus Caves.
The view from the entrance to the caves.
The Irish Monk, St. Beatus's "home" just inside the beginning of the cave.
Kira napping.
Mikey outside of the cutest little cheese shop in Wengen. The owner is the cutest, smiliest, little, older Swiss woman.
On the road up to our apartment.
Isaac has made some new friends! They meet at the soccer field and play soccer for hours every chance they get! Left: Maxim, right: Max. Both are from Switzerland.
Jeff and I hiked to another viewpoint of the Lauterbrunnen Valley tonight. It was beautiful!
Watching the World Cup match with Isaac's new friends. I think both parents were a little nervous about having the boys go to one of our houses, so Renee (Maxim's dad) suggested we meet at the bar (which was more of a small restaurant) to watch the game on their big screen TV.
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