INTERLAKEN, EASTER 1957

On Monday, April 22nd, a party of sixteen boys, accompanied by Mr. Fudge and Mr. Carswell, assembled on Exmouth station at 6.30 a.m. Thirty hours later, after a crowded journey through France, the party arrived intact at Interlaken, which was to be our centre in Switzerland for the next seven days.

Interlaken itself proved to be an excellent centre for touring, though as a town it was of limited interest. Nevertheless the party appeared to find little difficulty in filling any free time there, and one souvenir shop became for some almost a second home. Berne was very different. We spent a whole day there and easily filled the morning touring the old part of the city with its cathedral, mediaevaI fountains and numerous clock towers. After lunch we crossed the river to see the famous bear pit and the Alpine museum. The arcaded streets of modern Berne were a striking contrast to the old city and the rest of our day was given over to shopping. The following day we visited Spiez and Thun, travelling one way by steamer and the other by rail, spending a thoroughly varied day: both were old towns situated between the mountains and the lake, with narrow, winding streets to explore. Some visited the castle at Thun, admiring the view from its towers; others took rowing boats out on the lake.

The most enjoyable days of the holiday were spent in the open countryside, and it was undoubtedly the Alpine scenery that made the holiday so memorable and so different from the tour of Belgium last year. Our great desire was to reach the snow-line and this we did on our last day, despite changeable weather and blistered feet, reaching on the same day the Oberon glacier near Grindelwald and the Trummelbach Falls near Lauterbrunnen. On other days we explored some of the river valleys near Interlaken, one day climbing up to Saxeton and on another climbing up the Liltchine valley and scrambling home over the rocks, which lined the river. Most remarkable was our ascent of the Harder. We spurned the funicular railway and thoroughly enjoyed the steep climb up to the top, regarding all the conventional railway tourists with enormous contempt. Even more remarkable was our descent, which proved in some cases to be swifter than the railway itself. Nevertheless, we were pleased to use the same railway line on our last morning in Interlaken. Visits were also made to Brienz and to a working model of the Swiss railway system.

Thinking back on our holiday two months later one recalls the snow and the alpine flowers, mountains and lakes, chalets and cowbells, the cleanliness of the country and the friendliness of the people. Our hotel was comfortable and most remarkable for its noise and its lettuce, both of which occurred almost daily. Language complications in Switzerland were few, but they produced their amusements and one member of the party enlarged his German vocabulary only by bitter experience. Accidents were avoided, though blisters were plentiful, and the nearest approach to a mountain rescue operation was the recovery of a packed lunch, which fell over a precipice. Enthusiasm in the party was always high, even in those last painful francless days, and some members, never before remarkable for early rising, appeared to find Interlaken most attractive before breakfast.

Seven days passed all too quickly, and before long we were back on the train bound for Exmouth. All of us enjoyed our tour and already some have started saving for a similar holiday next year. It would be impossible to find a better centre than Interlaken; it will certainly be difficult next year to find one to equal it.