It's National Day!

Before you wonder what all the fuss is about, the 1st of August is said to be the day when men of the three cantons, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden  "swore eternal allegiance to one another, promising mutual help and assistnace" thus giving birth the country that we today, call Switzerland. Although you might like to visit the Rütli Meadow in Canton Uri where the pledge was originally pronounce, and where, every year, a representation of the events played out, almost every town in Switzerland both big and small, will be holding their own celebrations - Interlaken is no exception. Here, they play things out in grand style,combining folklore and tradition with a very modern firework display on the lakes of Thun and Brienz.
Festivities start at 11 am at the Casino Kursaal (in the grounds if the weather is nice) with the traditional Rugenbräu aperatif and speech by the director of tourism, but things really take off after 3 pm, starting with the folklore parade through the town. After that, on Stadthausplatz in Unterseen, the National Day party begins, so if you missed the Jodelling Festival, here's your chance!
The children aren't left out either. At 9 pm, their traditional lantern parade starts at the Hotel Sonne in Matten and ends at the Stadthausplatz. Then, full of anticipation at 10 pm, the bonfires are lit in the mountains, and the fireworks begin. Festivities continue until midnight, so don't expect to be in bed early.
The little town of Ringgenberg too, will be celebrating the 1st of August, in a slightly less spectacular way perhaps, but certainly more traditional.  If you have never taken part in a communal breakfast (starting at 9 am) or seen a traditional village market, here's your chance!
The 1st of August, whether the celebrations be grand or small, carry the message of unity and brotherhood, of upholding values and remembering the past. It is the diversity of the celebrations that make this holiday unique and where ever you are, will show you a side of Switzerland you will may never see again.

Edelweiss in Bloom

A trip to the Schynige Platter needs two things - time and good weather. The historic, cogwheel train moves slowly from Wilderswil up a winding rail, taking  steeper and higher, like a roller coaster that only goes up - at 12 km per hour, it takes a while. Once you've passed the four forest levels - linden, beech, silver fir and spruce, got past the only stop on the way at Breitlauenen and made it through the Grätli Tunnel, you finally see what you came here for: 

Nor do the views stop when you get to your final destination, at the Schynige Platte. The Eiger, Mönch and the Jungfrau offer themselves from every possible angle, never out of sight and on a clear day, more majestic than can ever be imagined. 
Mountains aside, another reason to visit the Schynige Platte is the Alpine Garden. Unlike other botanical gardens, there are no greenhouses here, grow lights or fancy contraptions. It's a purely natural garden, with 600 labelled species growing in their natural enviornment, high above the tree line. It's also a truely seasonal garden, wholly reliant on the irratic alpine weather, so there can be as much three weeks difference in the blooming times on the flowers. It is a fragile environment, with many of the species now rare and many more under threat of extinction. 
Take the time to walk through the garden, (it's an easy walk, on well-prepared paths, and if you rush, won't take more than an hour) and contemplate this beautiful place. 

And yes, before you ask, they do have Edelweiss.