In between the lakes
The rain has finally stopped, and I'm sitting at a small café near the center of Interlaken, watching people pass by. It's just past 2:30 in the afternoon, and I'm enjoying a moment of reflection with a cup of surprisingly good coffee and a slice of apple strudel.
This morning started early - I woke up at 6:30, drawn by the promise of clearer skies after yesterday's persistent drizzle. The weather app showed partly sunny conditions, and I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. By 7:15, I was out the door of my modest hotel, heading toward Lake Brienz.
The early morning walk along the Aare River was worth every minute of lost sleep. The water flows a stunning turquoise color that seems almost unreal - like something digitally enhanced rather than natural. I stood on a small bridge for nearly twenty minutes, just watching the current and the way the light played on the surface as the clouds shifted overhead.
As the name suggests, Interlaken sits between two lakes - Thun to the west and Brienz to the east. I decided to focus on Lake Brienz today, and by 8:10, I was at the boat dock. The first cruise of the day wasn't until 9:15, so I found a small bakery nearby and had my first coffee of the day with a fresh pretzel.
The boat tour was magnificent. Even with the clouds occasionally blocking the sun, the scenery was breathtaking. The mountains rise dramatically from the shoreline, and there's something about the way they reflect in the lake's surface that creates a perfect symmetry. I took dozens of photos, but none of them quite capture the feeling of being there.
What struck me most was how the lake's color shifted from turquoise near the shore to a deeper blue farther out. A friendly Swiss gentleman on the boat explained that the color comes from "rock flour" - tiny particles of rock ground by glaciers and carried into the lake by mountain streams. Nature's own color palette.
After returning from the boat trip around noon, I decided to explore the town itself. Interlaken is small but charming, with flower-filled parks and views of snow-dusted mountain peaks in nearly every direction. I wandered through Höhematte, a large open meadow in the center of town that offers unobstructed views of the Jungfrau mountain.
There's a chocolate-making workshop that caught my eye as I was walking around, and I spontaneously signed up for a session tomorrow afternoon. I've been in Switzerland for over a week now and haven't properly indulged in the chocolate experience - seemed like an oversight that needed correction.
The weather forecast for the next few days doesn't look particularly promising - more clouds and rain coming. I'm contemplating whether to push through with outdoor activities regardless or focus on indoor experiences. There's something to be said for seeing these landscapes under moody skies, though. The mist clinging to the mountainsides creates a mysterious atmosphere that's completely different from the postcard-perfect sunny views.
I noticed a flyer for an exhibition at the Gallery Kulturpodium IHB Spectrum called "Blausee & alpine impressions" that might be worth checking out if the weather turns. I've also been considering a trip to the Harder Kulm viewpoint via funicular - the views are supposedly spectacular, and I could probably work in a short hike at the top if the rain holds off.
As I sit here at the café, I'm feeling surprisingly settled. Usually by day three in a location, I start getting antsy, but there's something about the rhythm of life here that feels right. Maybe it's the mountains providing a sense of stability, or perhaps it's just that I'm finally finding my pace on this journey.
Fifty-nine days in, 441 to go. The numbers still feel strange to contemplate. I've seen so much already, yet it's just the beginning. I wonder what version of myself will be writing these thoughts when the days remaining drop below 400, then 300, then 100.
The hot chocolate the couple at the next table just received looks incredible. I think I'll order one before heading back to plan tomorrow's adventures.
![Turquoise waters of the Aare River flowing through Interlaken]()
The almost unreal color of the water here never ceases to amaze me, even on cloudy days.