Interlaken

After another train ride filled with Ba Shi Fen fun, the quartet checked in at Interlaken, the home of the highest mountain in Europe.

The magical power of the Swiss pass seemed to faulter at certain altitudes and only a 50% discount was available for the trip to the Top of Europe. After the discount, this came to 78.50 francs per person (around 35 pounds). Later, looking down on the clouds, Dave decided it was worth it.

The Top had plenty to see and do.

Dave was having a snow fight whilst England was having it's annual heat-wave-week it likes to call summer. The view was blinding. The lack of clouds allowed the sun her true majesticity, the purest snow-white snow reflected this brilliance some more. Sun-glasses would have been advisable. Having no sun-glasses to hand Dave stayed outside just long enough to finish the battle, create new life in the form of a snowman and watch a new death as Jean booted it's little head across the horizon.

Back inside the quartet ventured into the frosty realms of The Ice Palace, a building made purely from Ice, walls, floors and all. Scattered around the Palace lay ice sculptures of various shapes and sizes. Dave's study of "Narnia" told him these all used to be living creatures. He was therefore very thankful the giant mouse was no longer walking around.

There were also restaurants, shops and skiing available, though the quartet lacked the time. Instead they lazily sat at the uppermost point of the lookout station in awe. Dave wondered how much effort must have gone into creating this building. What did people say to the man when he first suggested the idea?

"See that mountain, the big one? I'm gonna build a shopping centre up there."

Dreams can come true.

After sending out postcards to various corners of the world the quartet returned back down the mountain side, watching out for mountain goats and cows with bells.

Where ever they were going next, how could Lin Yin possibly 'top' that?