Switzerland 2011 Report

In July 2011, 14 girls and 4 leaders from across Staffordshire set off to Adelboden in Switzerland on a 10-day trip of a lifetime.
It began on the Sunday afternoon where we were picked up by coach from allocated points in Lichfield, Stafford and Hanley. In Hanley we had a group picture and when we left there our journey could begin, we were all so excited. We made our way to Manchester airport, where we checked in our luggage and then caught our plane to Geneva airport in Switzerland. When we arrived in Geneva it was around nine in the evening, so it was dark and we could not see any of Switzerland’s countryside. We collected our luggage and were then met by our coach driver, who would take us on a three hour journey from Geneva airport to the chalet we were staying in, just outside the village of Adelboden; most of us fell asleep on the way. We eventually arrived at the chalet, around one in the morning; the chalet was a traditional wooden Swiss chalet, with engravings on the outside. We hauled our heavy bags up the stairs, sorted out our rooms and then went to bed around two.
On Monday morning it was our first opportunity to see Switzerland in the daylight, we all got up and went onto the balcony of the chalet we were staying in and the view was amazing! There were snow-capped mountains and grassy hills dotted with traditional Swiss wooden chalets surrounding us and sunny clear blue sky. We used Monday to get to know Adelboden and our local area. The walk up to the village was quite steep and took about twenty minutes, we also went to the outdoor swimming pool, which was freezing, but it was an amazing feeling being surrounded by mountains. The actual village was really pretty, with lots of little shops down the main street.
On Tuesday morning we met our Venture Abroad representative, Charlotte, who was our guide and accompanied us on some of our days out. We then set off to the bus stop, which was next to a chalet with gnomes dominating the front garden, to take us to Engstligenalp, where we would see the Engstligen waterfalls. Once we arrived at Engstligenalp, which took around fifteen minutes, we had to travel on a large cable car to take us to the top of Engstligenalp, on the way up we could look down onto Adelboden and the views were amazing. We also saw the Engstligen waterfalls on the way up, which were very pretty. We had gone quite far up, as my ears popped and the temperature was noticeably cooler than when we boarded the cable car. When we got to the top, it was like we were standing at the bottom of a massive crater, as there were snow-capped mountains around the edge and it was flat in the middle, this is where there were a few chalets dotted around, where in the summer, families stayed to make and sell cheese, they were called a cheese community. Also on the flat area there was a lot of cattle, kept for their milk, all of them had bells around there necks, Charlotte told us that they associate the ringing of the bell to eating, so just keep on eating. We then made our way to one of the Chalets, the lady whose family owned the chalet was really friendly, she invited us into her kitchen, which was where they made the cheese and the smell of cheese hit us as we walked through the door. She showed us the process she goes through to make the cheese, which was quite tough and we tried some of the cheese she had previously made, which was really nice. Some of us bought cheese to take home and there was a whole drawer in the fridge back at the chalet full of cheese. After we had been there for a couple of hours, we made our way back to the cable car station and back down to the bottom of Engstligenalp. We decided to walk back to the chalet, it took us around an hour and we walked next to the river most of the way, it was very picturesque. We had lunch at the chalet, and then set out once again on a walk to the woodcarver’s workshop, it took just under two hours to get there and the walk was very hilly. We all needed a rest when we got there. The chalet had various statues outside, which had been brilliantly carved and there was a workshop inside, where some of us bought woggles and badges, with our name engraved on them.
On Wednesday we visited the Swiss world guiding centre ‘Our Chalet’, which was only a half an hour walk away from the chalet we were staying in. When we got there we had a group photo taken under the ‘Our Chalet’ sign, and we were then welcomed by an ‘Our Chalet’ volunteer and taken to a welcome talk where we were told about the history of ‘Our Chalet’ and lots of other information about it. Emily, one of our leaders, pinned onto a UK map where we had come from, and there were pins in the World map on lots of different countries, from which people had come  to visit ‘Our Chalet’. We were then taken on a tour around the buildings by an American volunteer, named Bethany, she pointed out Lord Baden-Powell’s birth certificate and a tea set that he and Lady Baden-Powell used when the centre first opened. After we had finished the tour, we had a pinning ceremony, this was where the ‘Our Chalet’ volunteers gave us each a metal ‘Our Chalet’ badge and we sung the ‘Our Chalet’ song. This was a very poignant moment for us all and was a highlight of the trip. Also, during the pinning ceremony, one of the girls, Faye, made her Young Leader promise and another girl Megan, was awarded her Baden Powell Challenge certificate and badge. We then were able to have another look round ourselves, swap some badges and go to the shop. After a couple of hours, we made our way back to the chalet we were staying at and had lunch. Some of the girls then went to the swimming pool and into Adelboden again, those that did not go stayed and played cards, wrote their diaries and helped make the dinner. Later in the evening, after dinner, some of the girls went to an ice skating disco, which they really enjoyed.
 
On Thursday we had a day trip to the capital city of Bern, we got the bus to Adelboden, then another bus to Frutigen where we met Charlotte. We then caught a train to Speiz and then another to Bern. When we arrived in Bern it was very busy and it was made up of lots of stone buildings. We were given a map and a few hours to have a look around Bern, have lunch and do some shopping. Then at around two we met up by the bear pits, where there were four brown bears in a large enclosure next to the river. After a while sitting in the sun, we began our journey back the chalet, which involved travelling on a double decker train!
On Friday morning we set off on a half an hours walk to an adventure park, we were split into two groups and harnessed up, the first activity my group did was abseiling down from a road bridge, we had to climb over the edge and lower ourselves down, I was quite scared about doing this, but when I reached the floor, I was really proud of myself. The next activity was zip wiring over a river, this was so much fun, and we were given a trial run on a practice course before being harnessed up to the real thing. We just had to jump from the platform and you went really fast, it felt as though you were flying. There were three wires altogether which got higher every time. Our final activity was a high ropes course going over the river, we had to clip ourselves on going along it, we had to walk along planks of wood, tightrope wire, wooden beams and a monkey swing, it was a lot of fun. Some girls then went back to the chalet and some went to the swimming pool. After a few hours we got ready to go to a local hotel for a Swiss Fondue evening, this consisted of melted fondue cheese, bread, chips and salad. While we had a fruit salad, four Swiss people came into the room, wearing traditional dress, two were playing Swiss Alpine Horns and the other two were playing accordions, they were very good. Afterwards we went back to the chalet and had a campfire.
On Saturday we went to a nearby town called Interlaken, to get there we had to get a bus and train and have an hour and a half boat journey and the views were beautiful. When we got there we walked to the park, where the Para gliders were landing and sat to have our lunch. We were then given a few hours to look around the town and do some shopping. At around four, we met at a local chocolatiers, to be given a demonstration of how they made the chocolate and how they made some chocolate figurines, it was very interesting and the chocolate was very yummy.
On Sunday we caught a bus to take us to a town called Kandersteg to visit the Scout Centre; we had a tour around the centre by an Irish summer volunteer, there were lots of people there and it was quite interesting. We then walked to the cable car station, which took us to the top of a mountain, the views going up were spectacular, as there was a clear blue sky and the sun was shining. Once at the top we had a half an hour walk to a place where there was a clear blue lake surrounded by mountains and grass, it was beautiful. Most of us stayed sitting on the grass sunbathing, as it was very sunny and hot. Some of the girls hired a rowing boat to take out on the lake and some went for a swim, but they said the water was freezing. After a couple of hours we started our walk back to the cable car station, some of us decided to have a go on the metal toboggan run, it was lots of fun and went quite fast. We then went back down in the cable car and caught the bus to take us back to the chalet.
On Monday we had to give the chalet the big clean and pack our bags, we allocated different jobs out which meant it did not take as long as we thought to clean the chalet, we all decided to walk up to the outdoor swimming pool as it was so hot and sunny. Some girls went into the swimming pool, some stayed at the sun lounger’s sunbathing and others walked into Adelboden, for some last minute souvenir shopping. This was a very relaxing afternoon for us all; at around four we decided to go back to the chalet to get ready for the Swiss National Day celebrations and to have dinner. At around seven we walked up into Adelboden to get our positions before the local people arrived. We had a group picture taken in front of the Adelboden emblem and display. At around quarter past eight the evening began with an introduction and then there were performances by the Scottish Boys Brigade, playing bagpipes and drums. Alpine horns were then played, with Swiss dancing and male yodelling choir. The Swiss National Anthem was then sung and there was a parade down the high street of Adelboden. We then went back to where we were originally standing to watch the magnificent fireworks display and our group got all the other Girl Guides that were there to stand in a circle and to sing Taps, this was a very special moment for all of us and a perfect end to an amazing trip.
The last day of our trip had arrived; it had gone so quickly, we finished packing our bags, made some lunch and finished cleaning the chalet. We then had another group photo outside the chalet with our bags and waited for our coach to arrive to take us on the three hour journey back to Geneva airport. When we got there we checked in our bags and then waited to board the plane. We arrived back in Manchester early so had to wait a little while for the coach. When it arrived we began the drop offs where we said goodbye to each other.
This trip has been the most amazing experience of my life, thank you to the international team for making it possible for us all, I have made some great friendships and memories that I will always cherish and stay with me forever.

Joanne James, Young Leader at 4th Glascote Heath Brownies, Tamworth

 






 

Share |

Girlguiding Staffordshire, County HQ, St Peter's School site, Church Lane, Hixon, Stafford, ST18 0PS
Tel: 01889 270757

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Web Kit provided free by BT