We Missed the Ferry Back to Interlaken Ost

Our adventure to Giesselbach Falls on Lake Brienz was magical. After seeing these little dinky waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen, this was spectacular, forceful, full of power and might.  There is a walkway with platforms under the water that take you up to the top.  Oh how much fun! Felt like a kid running up and down in the cool mist.

We took turns running ahead under the water for perfect photos

See David in blue shirt with hands up?

You take a funicular up to the Grandhotel.  Little did we know how important the Grandhotel Giessbach would be

Only one problem.  We didn't have lunch and the outdoor cafe with the great waterfall view only served dessert.  Was really seeking a prosecco and salad so we begrudgingly followed the waitress' advice and went into the restaurant.  It was the best move we made all day.

View from restaurant balcony.  We were those happy people walking across the platform

As we sat down for our meal [oh the joy of finding out they had white merlot] we checked the ferry schedule and went in to SHOCK & DISBELIEF because the schedule kept showing boats for tomorrow.  Wait, where are the later ferries?  WHAAAAT????  Last ferry is at 4:51 or 16:51 and after taking ten minutes to count on my clock to "military time" (which the rest of the world uses, why doesn't the US?) we realized, correct no more ferries today.  We finally got the waiter's attention and he went to print out the ferry schedule only to come back and say, YES, you have missed the last ferry.  Options are to take a taxi (too expensive), or the hotel shuttle can take you to Brienz and you can take the train from there to Interlaken Ost.  JACKPOT- he arranged for the shuttle at 7pm (18:00) and it was 16 Francs (vs. 13.50 for the 1 hour + 15 minute ferry ride).  Low & behold this actually turned out better timing wise as the train to Interlaken was only 30 minutes.  We wasted 10 Francs on the funicular back down to the ferry but oh well.....

There goes the last ferry.  Dreams of being stranded at a luxury hotel....

I want to go back to this luxury hotel

  

Since we are stranded let's take pix with the aqua water Lake Brienz

We checked our luggage in a locker at Interlaken Ost and had 5 minutes to catch our train from Interlaken Ost to Thun.  A scene right out of the Amazing Race, David said give me the locker key and I'll run and get the suitcases out.  I ran to catch up to him, grabbed my suitcase and off we ran to track 5 (which was right next to track 4 where the previous train dropped us off, so basically we just had to run back).