Switzerland and changing weather

And so we arrive in Switzerland and what's the first thing that happens when you enter the country? Check passport? No... You have to buy a Swiss vignette to pay for travel on their motorways,last year we paid by credit card and it cost 40 CHF (about £27), this time I paid by cash in Euros - I was asked for 50€ and was given 7.50 CHF in change - it didn't feel like I got a very good deal so if we come again next time I think I'll pay by credit card!

The Swiss motorways are quite good and at least you don't have to keep stopping to pay tolls like in other countries, there are numerous tunnels and driving through the really long ones is a strange experience, it makes you feel a bit spaced out!

We arrived at our campsite 'Alpenblich' on the outskirts of Interlaken and the young lady on reception was very friendly, speaking excellent english. We had to chose a certain pitch on the site that was designated to ACSI discount card campers, but we were still pleased with our location although the pitch was a bit smaller than others on the site, luckily there was no one nearby so we could spread out a bit. All around us were distant mountains with snow on the summits and the turquoise lake only a few yards away.

Thursday morning and we set out on our bikes with a picnic lunch to explore. Our first destination was the town of Interlaken- a bustling town full of expensive hotels, Swiss watch shops and Japanese tourists. We visited the Tourist information and a very helpful lady advised us of the local trips up into the mountains. The 'Top of Europe' trip to the top of Jungfrau (4158m) is amazing but too expensive for us this time, and the Shynge Platt was still closed because of the snow so we opted for the funicular railway up to Harder Kulm and what a treat that was! Glorious views of the lakes, the towns and the mountains Junfrau, Monsch and Eiger all topped with snow, and of course the weather was sunny so no clouds to obscure the fantastic views.

We were certainly well advised in the Tourist information - we were told to go up the mountains on that day and not to leave it until Friday. Well..... as I write on Friday we are stuck in the van with torrential rain and no sign of it clearing..... But at least it's not snowing as forecast.

Oh dear! What did I say???

We have to decide where to go next, do we stay in Switzerland or head on into Italy??