Aug 1, Wed.: Oberstdorf (Germany) to Grindewald, Switzerland

Ready to enter our 4th country today --- Switzerland.
Travel day.

• Oberstdorf (8am) to Immenstadt to Lindau.
• Lindau to Zurich to Bern to Interlachen
• Transfer again to local train up to Grindewald
• Beautiful country. Mountains spectacular (13-14,000 feet).
• Went to bank and switched from Euros to Swiss Francs.

Stay at NaturFreundHaus (hostel) about 800m steep uphill from station.

• Very gracious hosts, our room looks right out at the face of the Eiger.
• 50Euro inc. breakfast (for two).

• Hang-gliders in front of Eiger.
• Eiger at night.
  

SWITZERLAND MAJOR NATIONAL HOLIDAY (like our 4th of July).

• Festivities all evening at the main Plaza.
• Hard to believe we hit this incredible scenic spot on this special day. Couldn't have planned it better.
• Entertainment (yodel, dancing, speeches, etc.)
• Fireworks that made the valleys sound like ongoing thunder. They just rattled.
• Imagine looking up at the stage, with fireworks, with the face of the Eiger in the background high up in a valley surrounded by 14,000 foot peaks.
• Every hutte in the upper regions set a large fire at the same time. Looked so cool from Grindewald. It also showed Lee and I where we would be hiking in the coming days as we explore the upper regions of the great region.
• The spokesperson on stage spoke 6 languages, so everyone was pretty impressed.
  

Walked back uphill to hostel in dark --- interesting, but we found it.

Another great day.