The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
During my semester abroad in Paris, I took advantage of my week off of school for fall break and ventured outside of France to visit another European country. After watching the popular K-Drama Crash Landing on You, I knew I had to visit the famous dock in Iseltwald, where the iconic piano scene was filmed. After spending all night looking up places I could visit, I finally bought the train tickets to Zurich, not even realizing that it was two in the morning.
Going up the Mountain to Harder Kulm
After surfing through the internet looking for things to do in Zurich, I came across a day trip excursion with a 2-hour bus ride from the city that visited Interlaken and Grindelwald. This was the perfect opportunity for me to enjoy the views of the Swiss Alps in Grindelwald and then head to Interlaken by train and go up the mountain of Harder Kulm. The scenic views visible from the cable car took the passengers all the way up to 1,300 meters (or about 4,265 feet) above sea level. The view of Interlaken and Lake Brienz were absolutely beautiful, and a view that I will never forget. The lake was a beautiful teal blue color, even in the cold month of October.
Cheese Fondue at Harder Kulm
After going up the mountain by cable car, a singular path directed me towards the only building standing in sight, the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant. They are known for their delicious and authentic Swiss cuisine, which I knew I had to try out, so I eagerly ordered the cheese fondue, which came with bread and potatoes to dip. The potatoes came in a sack but were warm from being freshly boiled. As I dipped my bread and potatoes, the rich, melty cheese would stretch as far as my arm would go, but I quickly learned the trick: spinning my fork until the cheese finally detached from the bowl. Sitting and eating while enjoying the view overlooking the town of Interlaken and Lake Brienz was like nothing I’d experienced before. After my delightful meal, I enjoyed the view for a little while longer before heading back down to Interlaken.
Visiting the Dock from Crash Landing on You
A quick bus ride from Interlaken took me to the quaint village of Iseltwald, where the dock was located in Lake Brienz. As I walked towards the dock, I instantly recognized the surrounding scenery from the piano scene of Crash Landing on You. Walking up to the dock was like walking into the very scene where Jeong-hyeok played the piano in honor of his late brother. I stood by the edge of the water near the dock and soaked in the views. The dock itself was barricaded by a metal gate that only let one party on at a time. I would’ve gone on, but the line was long and costed 5 CHF (or about $5.50 USD). Also, don’t stress if you don’t have any Franc coins, the gate takes Apple Pay!
Endless Chocolate at the Lindt Museum
After an eventful day visiting Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Iseltwald, the following day started off with a train ride to Kilchberg, which took about 22 minutes, including the walk from the station to the museum. The first thing I saw once entering the museum was the 30-foot-tall chocolate fountain. At first, I thought it was all fake, but I soon realized that it actually flowed real chocolate from the whisk down to the middle of the giant truffle. I had purchased a museum ticket beforehand and had it ready as I followed the crowd towards the entrance where the museum began. I learned about how chocolate is made and about the history of Lindt. Did you know that Lindt has opened 410 chocolate cafes and shops around the world? I should definitely go visit one soon! Towards the end of the museum, three chocolate fountains stood in a room, crowded with people, especially children, running from fountain to fountain. Signs all around the room wrote that visitors were allowed as much chocolate as they wanted! I took about 5 spoonfuls going back between white, milk, and a bit of dark chocolate before giving up from all the sweetness. At the gift shop, I bought some souvenirs for my chocolate-loving parents, including some limited-edition chocolate flavors and Zurich themed chocolate tins.
My solo trip was truly an experience that I will never forget. From the breathtaking views of Lake Brienz from Harder Kulm to eating spoonfuls of chocolate until my stomach couldn’t take any more, I truly enjoyed my time in Switzerland. I most definitely recommend everyone do a solo trip at least once in their life.