The Top of Europe

We went up the Jungfrau today to the highest railway station in Europe - the Jungfraujoch. The blip is Chris' photo from the top.

We'd intended to break up the journey a little and drive part way from Interlaken, taking the train up the last really scenic bit. The SatNav was confident we could get quite a way there by car - albeit by a wiggly road, but they're always fun. However, once wey'd set off we found that the SatNav wanted us to complete the route via a footpath up a cliff-face. Helpful. We changed tack, Annie bought a trusty paper map and we went on the train from Lauterbrunnen. A fabulous trip.

The last bit of train, from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch was an incredible feat of engineering. A tunnel, climbing to 3,400m, straight through the Eiger and Münch.

At the top, a bit wobbly from the altitude, we spent ages gazing at the Altesch Glacier and surrounding mountains. We'd picked a cloudless day, so the sight was blindingly beautiful. In the ice caves beneath the station, where the walls and floor are hollowed out of the glacier itself, Annie discovered that her walking boots do not work as ice boots. Slippy.

You really appreciate Oxygen when you have it again.

We're on international 3G so will comment on our return to WiFi.