I am a fan of this site and have asked and answered questions, borrowed ideas, places to visit, sites to see, and general information from the forum members. I appreciate the help and responses I received from members. For general info on Switzerland I like to thank, Chris F & Tim from Knoxville. Below is information on my time in Switzerland & Paris.
Flight & Arrival
Flew Premium Economy (I need the leg space) on Air France out of SFO – CDG – ZRH. Uneventful flight. Lucked out, just walked past another flight that was disembarking and made it through Security Check & Passport Control between Terminals 2E and 2F in less than 15 minutes. I think it took longer to tram & walk there than actually processing through. I forgot from 2014 how busy/crowded 2F was and how hot & stuffy it can get in there. I did remember that most gates in 2F supports two aircraft at the same time, so I was not worried that a flight showing a departure elsewhere twenty minutes before my departure time was still showing on the gate screen. Others were worried that they missed their flight or the gate had changed for our flight to Zurich.
Zurich airport was very clean and eerily quiet. No continued overhead pages, even the people walking through or sitting in the terminal seemed to speak in a lower tone.
Getting my train ticket to Murren & Half-Fare Card was easy and the train I needed was already at the platform. Sat on the upper level when I could and enjoyed the scenery. The transfers at Bern & Interlaken OST were easy. The SBB App showed me my departure & arrival tracks.
Murren
I stayed 4 nights at Hotel Alpina and had room w/balcony overlooking Lauterbrunnen Valley & the mountain range. I was in a single room, good water pressure & hot water. Did not need the heater on at all, slept with the balcony door slightly opened each night. Spent my arrival evening getting the layout of Murren, easy enough to do since it really is not the big of a village. Lucked out on the weather for my 3 full days. Two of them were clear skies and sunny & day three was overcast with some sprinkling. Rained at night when I was back in the hotel.
Day 1: I was up & out by 08:00 & heading up to the Schilthorn. Gondola not even half full of people. Clear skies all the way up and during my time there & at Birg. Had made reservations for breakfast at Schilthorn and enjoyed the rotating view as well as walking on the platform outside. By 10:00 the gondolas were getting full of visitors, but I was heading down to Birg. Enjoyed the Thrill Walk and scenery from Birg.
Headed back down to Murren & walked down to Gimmelwald. Cows, goats and cats were all out enjoying the sunny day. Easy stroll, since it is all downhill. Took the gondola from Gimmelwald down to the valley floor & walked to Trummelbach Falls. Lucked out here, a tour bus was departing as I arrived, so no real crowds to deal with while enjoying the 10 falls within and out of the mountain. The cool caves and mist felt very refreshing, especially after the walking I had done. Then I caught the bus in front of the Café at the falls & headed to Lauterbrunnen. Had a late lunch at Basepoint and strolled around the town.