I never thought a location could insight a spiritual experience in me. Yes, a place of worship is a place for people to experience the divine and feel a connection with something bigger than themselves, but, I never felt that before inside a church.
Have you ever visited a place that you felt a spiritual connection to?
As soon as I stepped off the Jungfraubahn, set my feet down on the Sphinx observation deck, and looked out onto the Alps; I can genuinely say that something inside of me felt, in a sense, closer to God. As I looked out onto the massive white peaks, felt the cold wind whip against my face and looked down, onto the clouds I felt a connection to something more.
The Jungfraujoch is a saddle in the Bernese Alps and is affectionately called the "Top of Europe" by locals and tourists alike. The only way to access the saddle is on a cog railway serviced by the Jungfraubahn, the highest in a series of collaborating rail stations. When Mr. M and I were planning our honeymoon to Paris, we knew we wanted to visit Switzerland. When we were planning our trip we made sure to include a stop in Grindelwald so we could journey up to the Top of Europe.
To reach the top you need to take two trains. The first, Grindelwald to Klein Scheidegg. The second, from Klein Scheidegg to the Jungfrau. The journey on the trains alone is something that will strike awe in some of the most seasoned travelers. The train tracks themselves are exceptional marvels of engineering.
We sat there, in awe, as the train chugged up, and through the steep mountain, climbing above the thick clouds. During the ride the conductor allowed skiers off at any point to journey down the mountain. The higher you climb, the less and less people, chalets and skiers you see. The face of the Eiger looms above you, showing her jagged edges like badges of honor.
The first stop at Kleinn Scheidegg is a place to switch trains, grab a drink (or two) and enjoy the bustling ski hub. Several lifts meet at Kleinn so you will encounter dozens and dozens of winter sports enthusiasts. The next train, Jungfraubahn will stop at observation spots carved out of the rocks of the Alps. With each and every chug you feel the effects of the altitude but it is all worth it when you reach the top. You can spend several hours there just exploring. They even have an ice palace built deep inside the mountain.
