Ken and Elise's trip

DAY 12: From Vienna to Wengen by train

   Not a lot to report on this day. We left Vienna station around 9:30 and had an easy, but long trip to Zurich. I tried to get some updating on the blog done as we had Internet on the train. It was hard to keep working away though as the scenery through Austria was just simply beautiful. The Austrian countryside is stunning and the entire train journey was a joy. A woman from the Balkans sat across from me and her camera clicked the entire way and I didn’t blame her. I didn’t do the same though as I’ve learned that the reflection from the train window will show up in every one.

  Ken wanted to eat in the dining car just for a new experience. He had had breakfast at the hotel, but I had had nothing so was quite hungry. He ordered a sandwich which he pronounced delicious. Well, what he actually said was “I don’t know what this is but it’s good!”

  I tried out the apple celery soup and it was spectacular! I hadn't been sure, but thought, “Oh what the heck, I’ll try it.” I was so glad I did.  I wish I had the recipe. Lynda, maybe you can figure it out. Or Donna. You two are great cooks. There was a group of Americans at the table behind me and I heard one of the men say “Well I ordered this apple celery soup. It might be just awful, but here goes.” I waited impatiently as he put spoon to mouth wondering if he would have the same reaction as I did and I was pleased when he said, “Oh yes! This is wonderful. They really have the recipe for this down pat!”  I also had a nice curry and rice dish.

  At last we were in Zurich and the fun began. We had to take 4 more trains to get to Wengen (Switzerland) and most of them were short hops with very little time in between. This was going to test Ken’s and my skills pretty intensely. I am happy to inform you that we made all of them.

  It was dark from Bern on to Wengen and I wish we could have seen what was outside on the last couple trains. I know we climbed almost straight up and we could see a wild, raging river on one side of us.

  One of our trains had been held up an hour, so it was well after 10 when we finally pulled into Wengen. I knew that our hotel was a hike downhill from the station, but that’s all I knew. I did manage to ask someone who pointed us the right direction. We began the steep descent with our bags,

  Wengen is in the very heart of the Swiss Alps, and is not a large town although it is famous. I had not expected so many chalets, and as it was dark it was very hard to read the names.

   Fortunately the good God was with us again and a group of people passed us. A man stopped and said “Are you lost?” I told him we sort of were and the name of our hotel. “Just keep going around that next hotel and it will be there,” he said adding that he comes to Wengen often and knew where our hotel was, He was right, we found it right away. Martin, one of the staff, greeted us very happily (he had been waiting to shut down the desk for us to arrive). Showed us the breakfast room, etc. .and pointed out the snacks area. “The prices are listed” he said. “Everything is on the honor system--just throw the money in that tub for what you take.” We thought that was pretty nice.

  We found our room and couldn’t be happier. They gave us a corner room with a wrap-around deck with our view facing straight out to the Alps and the magnificent famed Jungfrau Mountain. It was too dark to see anything by then, but were pretty confident we were going to be wowed in he morning!

End of Day 12

My apple celery soup--Lynda how I wish you could figure this recipe out