Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

We started the day early with a peep out our cabin window. If you can see the snow from the bottom of the valley, it will be a good day to climb the 4000+ metres to Jungfraujoch, the top of Europe. We chose to come here as we had asked the kids one night over dinner where they wanted to go on a trip post our USA trip falling through a few years ago with Covid. One said to see the Eiffel Tower, one said to see snow and one said to go to the mother land, Italy. We remembered Jungfraujoch has snow in summer and things began to fall into place.

The first leg is a 1km walk to the train. So much easier in the morning with no bags! And then a few trains up the mountain. The last one being on such a

steep angle that you feel you’re on a roller coaster. The kids couldn’t contain their excitement. It was on this steep train that we realised Kayden’s super warm puffer jacket had been left at the cabin. Crap! We scrambled and swapped things around. Mike and I sacrificing bits and pieces. Priority was hands and head covered. We settled on him looking like an English teen thug in all black raincoat, trackies, shoes and tshirt. We gave him the warmest gloves with a side of “this is ridiculous, you need to be responsible for your own belongings”.

So here it was, the moment we arrived at the Jungfraujoch. We got sucked into the mania of a Chinese tour group and got swallowed up as we were shuffled along with them through tunnels and wet paths. Abort! Abort! We all headed to the side like we were stuck in a rip. The altitude also makes your chest tight and head light. It was a funny feeling at first.

Right! Let’s try again. To the snow! We spoke with a staff member for directions. She took one look at us and said “no way you should walk to the xyz lookout with the footwear you have on”. We laughed and explained no way we would want to treck through the snow anyway, we just want to see it! She loved that we were Australian and the kids hadn’t see snow before.

We could tell the kids were on a mission for who would touch snow first (it was Max by the way). And it was everything we wanted it to be. Besides cold. We were not prepared! Even after a trip to Aldi in Perth for the snow sale! We were freezing. Well I was ok, but the bald guy and his tiny comrads couldn’t get warmth to their hands and heads. Right! Let’s head to the gift shop to remortgage our home. We were careful with how we spent the money. The only way we can get through the trip is to be mindful of our spending. This was not in the budget! Who really needed what? We decided Kayden needed proper snow gloves. And Isla needed a beanie. She has 3 at home she refused to bring. However quickly realised this wasn’t a time for how you look! We played musical clothing once more and Max and Isla purchased souvenirs with their own money. Off we went again into the snow. Oh and we changed into our merino snow socks! Thanks Aldi!

Back on the snow we sat in sun lounges and the kids had the “best hot chocolates ever”. They better have been for 10 aud each. Mike told me to stop converting the money! Then the three boys decided they wanted to zip line 200 metres across the snow. Mike was pooping his pants. Also a good thing for the boys to witness. Not literally of course. They loved it!

We visited an ice palace with amazing ice sculptures. The ground was so slippery you had to hold onto the sides. We also went to the highest chocolate shop in the world. Max was really keen to do this and buy some Lindt hot chocolate mix. Did I tell you he is a lover of hot chocolate? The staff told the kids that their job is quality control and gave us all free samples. Kayden thought he’d like that job too.

We built a snowman! I knew we wouldn’t find anything to decorate the snowman up there so I foraged for sticks, pine cones, and rocks the day before in the valley. It’s all in the prep work right fellow teachers? Slightly embarrassing when Kayden and his new deep voice we’re all not quite used to roared across the train earlier that day “What the heck!? Why is my backpack full of rubbish and sticks?!” The snowman was a success and we took turns trading the proper gloves to give it some height! Other tourists asked to take a photo of it. The kids were stoked.

After this we made our way to the snow fun park. Here Kayden decided to snowboard while the rest of us snow tubed. The staff member warned us he’ll spend most of his time on his butt and nobody was available to give him a lesson. He was pretty insistent it was a bad choice of activity for a kid from Australia.

Kayden was determined. And determined that boy is! We paid for the time slot and off he went. The rest of us had a great time snow tubing. After a while, Mike went over to check on Kayden. I felt bad. I stood there thinking he should have just come tubing with us. The next minute Mike reports that not only is Kayden doing it, he’s doing it really well! Making it all the way to the bottom each time. All those skateboard lessons a few years ago prepared him for it!

When our time slot was up, Kayden was freezing to the bone. Isla needed the

toilet and Max was suddenly squatting on the floor holding his head. They had warned us about this. He had altitude sickness. Max explained it as a headache that’s really light and bright. He had to lay down. The staff told us the quicker he goes back down the mountain the better he’ll feel. The good thing was that we had managed to spend the day up there and achieve everything we wanted.

We boarded the train and Max was green. Mike starts telling me quietly across the train “he’s gonna blow….yep he’s about to spew”. We scramble through our backpacks full of sticks and rubbish. What could he spew into? I gave him an empty cardboard box and a Lindt shop paper bag. I tried not to think about how that would end up. At the same time a ticket collector came through. She rescued us with a vomit bag and handed over 5 Lindt chocolate bars. Only in Switzerland!!! She told us we should get off at the next station and ride the gondola down as it was only 15 minutes and he could get fresh air.

As we quickly disembark the train with all eyes on us, she quietly passes me some plastic gloves. She’s says she’s a mum too. And then she gave me 5 more chocolate bars. Danke Shoen. The gondola rides down into a valley. The 5 of us pack in. 4 of us are excited! It’s huge, air conditioned and free with our travel pass. I stand guard at the door ready to advise others not to get on with us. We’ve got a live chucker on board!

But nobody came and suddenly there’s 5 of us in this huge Charlie and the Chocolate Factory type glass room. The views take my breath away and Kayden and Isla are literally running around in this thing, it’s huge. Max vomits and vomits. But at least it’s with a trillion dollar view, privacy and some air conditioning. He feels better immediately but remains quiet. We all joke and thank Max for vomiting. If he didn’t need to spew, we would never had

experienced this incredible gondola ride.

At the end of our journey we arrive in Grindewald. We all need to eat. Even Max has an appetite. We buy some rolls in the CoOp and some dinner for the evening. We also purchase picnic food for the following day: dark seeded rolls, Swiss cheese, Italian salami, salad, apple tart and a berry crumble slice. We get a loaf of rye bread for the following breakfast and some juice. And beer. Always beer.

We boarded the train to head back to our village. And who walks out the train? The same conductor as before. She comments to Max he looks a lot better and he beams at her. She asks if I needed the gloves? We laugh! She hands Max another 5 Lindt bars. We then realise we got on the wrong train. But who cares? We just had a day in the snow. Our hearts are full, our tummies are full, we’re dry and warm and we have 15 chocolate bars for dessert!

That evening Mike and I do some laundry while the kids relax. We suggest a stroll on the river. We secretly hope they all say no. They do. So we pack some beers and a picnic rug and we cross the bridge for an evening walk on our own. We reflect in private. The kids have done amazing. So far! They’re getting on, they’re waking up when we need them to and little Isla is becoming more brave and resilient in front of us. We cheers on the side of a river. Just us. We look up at the snow capped mountains and plan our day ahead. We make plans for clothes drying, food shopping, online banking, ironing and train schedules. It’s busy being the tour guides for three young explorers. So we soak up the time alone and take our time walking to the cabin.