But I am not done with Switzerland yet!
So I last mentioned the day that we walked in the rain to the waterfall. I don't think you got the picture that fully that we walked in the rain. So much so, that many of us found out our jackets really are not waterproof. But oh, being cold and wet just made Swiss hot chocolate even more wonderful. It was the perfect day to try out sweet potato red curry soup with sun dried tomato, mushroom, and chicken pie. The cafe I ate at, advertised Paragliding, Canyoning, Skydiving, White Water rafting, etc. a lot there.... plus when hearing of Amy's, G-man's, and Millie's experience of paragliding...all helped to fill us with desire to go experience Switzerland in a new way other than walking on solid ground. The way things worked out only two people, Chris and Kelsey, went Paragliding amongst the Alps. Their experience was great, so check out their facebook!
That same day we all took a gondola up past Briig (where a bunch climbed up to the other day) and to the Shilthorn (where a James Bond was filmed and a revolving restaurant sits). Yeah the restaurant was cool, but we spent our whole morning having a snow ball fight. It was anywhere from -1 to -6 degrees celcius (below freezing). Early on the clouds covered all the mountains. But later - when Dash, Mano, Chris, Stephany, Jimmy, Jason, and I went down on the actual mountain to play in the snow (one of my funniest memories on the trip) - the clouds started to open up. Words can not describe what our eyes saw. It was better than any imitation Disney could create. If you think about what Awesome means in all its worth - that would be a good word to describe it. But it is crazy how much the clouds can block out the massive mountains as if the never existed. So much so that is was always so shocking there "would be a rent in the veil of mist, and then, as though framed in an open window, would appear a dazzling whiteness". As Hinds' Feet on High Places records,
"For a moment one of the vanished peaks would gleam through the opening as if to say, 'Be of good courage, we are all here, even though you cannot see us'
The Shepherd said to Much-Afraid, ' When you continue your journey there may be much mist and cloud. Perhaps it may even seem as though everything you have seen here of the High Places was just a dream, or the work of your own imagination.
But you have seen reality and the mist which seems to swallow it up is the illusion.
Believe steadfastly in what you have seen.
Always go forward along the path of obedience as far as you know it until I intervene, even if it seems to be leading you where you fear I could never mean you to go.'
Later that day we were let loose to hike on our own (don't worry parents - we were in groups of at least 3). Jason, Jimmy, Stephany, Dash, and I ended up going on our own path (as opposed to the recommended Flower Path), where we met more of our cow friends as well as an older man in the tradition Swiss clothes (that one would imagine a Yooderler wear...like in the Grinch), with one dangling earing, sitting on a bench that over looks the town and mountains. As we tried having a conversation with him despite the gap of our languages, it ended up with him Picking up his 10 foot Alphorn instrument and played for us. It was beautiful. I was expecting it to be of a low pitch in which my heart would vibrate with it, but instead it was of a high pitch with a lovely melody - as if playing a lullaby to the town below. Other hikers gathered around so we left. After meeting and talking with other passing hikers, we ended up sitting on a bridge just enjoying each other's company - and laughing continuously as Dash blames our silly mindset on the altitude.
Over all Switzerland was just a lovely place. A little peace of Heaven. If one can not see God's magnificence in their own lives right now, taking a hike in the Alps will open your eyes to how narrow minded and short sighted we really are.
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