From Lakes to Peaks - the Magic of Lake Como & Lauterbrunnen

Buongiorno!

Nice marked the end of our France journey, though it felt too brief. From there, we needed to take a couple of trains to reach Como, but little did we know that our journey would begin with an inspiring encounter.

Meeting 70-year-old grannies

On the way from Nice, we spotted two vibrant Indian grannies in their seventies, their colorful sarees fluttering as they struggled with oversized suitcases in the railway station.

We rushed to assist them, and what unfolded was a conversation that would change our perspective on travel forever. "We're going to South Italy", the other explained, her eyes twinkling with the excitement of a child. Their contagious joy and bold energy instantly captivated us. 'In Andorra, we hitchhiked with complete strangers', one shared proudly, as if describing a trip to the local market. They admitted feeling a bit nervous, yet their 'just do it' attitude shone through.

They also revealed they hadn't eaten since morning. "If nothing else, we'll find french fries" one of them said in a dismissive wave. They also shared how much they loved sitting on the train, mesmerised by the coastal views passing by. They didn't have confirmed accommodation in southern Italy, planning to figure it out once they reached their destination. We loved their just-go-with-it attitude towards travel.

After bidding farewell to our inspiring grannies, we continued our journey to Como, ready to explore this charming Italian town.

Our experience in Como

Upon reaching Como, we settled into our homestay, eager to explore this charming Italian town. Como, famous for Lake Como, promised to be a delightful stop on our journey, before traveling to Switzerland.
We absolutely love Italian cuisine and couldn't resist diving into some authentic pasta, pizza and gelato. The rich, creamy sauces and the many varieties of pasta reminded us why Italy is the culinary capital of the world. We strolled along a boardwalk to the centre of the lake, and the view was absolutely stunning. The crystal clear water reflecting the surroundings mountains created a surreal scene.

Afterwards, we climbed aboard a funicular to Brunate, that slowly carried us up the mountainside. As we ascended, the town below shrank to miniature size, and we were rewarded with a spectacular bird's eye view that made our hearts skip a beat. A winding trail led us to several hidden vantage points of Como lake.

After our magical Como outing, we left for the country we absolutely adored - Switzerland. Our journey to Switzerland was about to become quite the adventure.

Pickpocketing in the train

Upon reaching Zurich, we needed to transfer to another train to reach our homestay in Wengen. When the next train finally arrived, it was packed with commuters. We squeezed our way through the crowded carriage, a middle aged woman blocking the narrow passageway.

After the train started moving, Suneela's instincts kicked in. She became suspicious of the people who had crowded around us and asked everyone in our group (we were accompanied by a couple of elders) to check their bags immediately. Our hearts sank when we discovered that one of our elderly companions had their bag zip open, and their phones were gone. Thankfully, their passports were safe (they had wisely kept them separate from their bags). We reported the incident to the train staff, who seemed genuinely shocked that such a thing could happen in Switzerland. They made an announcement and advised us to file a police report, as the thief had likely already left the train.

Despite the unsettling theft incident, we were determined to reach our destination. Wengen awaited us, promising the peace and beauty we had been seeking.

Staying in a remote mountain town

Wengen is a charming vehicle-free, hill town in Switzerland's Jungfrau region. Our homestay was quite remote, and we had chosen it precisely because it was in the middle of nowhere. Wengen is located on top of the valley of Lauterbrunnen, and we could see the Lauterbrunnen valley as we walked around Wengen. Upon entering the house, we noticed that it had no curtains. Every window offered a breathtaking view of the Jungfraujoch mountains. We stood there in awe, completely speechless. The trail leading to the house was equally beautiful, used primarily by locals. It was quite empty of tourists, and offered us glimpses of the Lauterbrunnen valley as we made our way to the homestay.

From our peaceful base in Wengen, we decided to explore the nearby Lauterbrunnen valley.

The valley that inspired Tolkien

On one of the days, we decided to explore more of Lauterbrunnen. It is said that JRR Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, spent his twenties in Lauterbrunnen, where he found inspiration. He based Rivendell, the majestic valley of the Elves, on his experiences there. As we walked from the railway station through the Lauterbrunnen valley, we could see why Tolkien was so inspired. Waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs on both sides, creating a scene straight out of a fantasy novel. It was absolutely magical. We spent nearly three hours walking through the valley, chasing seven different waterfalls, each one more spectacular than the last. As we strolled through the valley, we noticed many locals walking their dogs and taking leisurely strolls. We couldn't help but feel envious of how blessed they were to call this place home. The peaceful atmosphere and the gentle sound of waterfalls created a sense of calm and serenity.

We absolutely love Switzerland for its raw and beautiful nature. However, we are also aware of the practical aspects of tourism. Even robbery can occur in a place as safe as Switzerland. In the next blog, we will write more about our adventures staying in a remote village, even unknown to locals.

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