Cheese, Church and Cable Car

Today it was time to learn about the making of Appenzeller cheese at the "Appenzeller Demonstration Cheese Dairy in Stein.  This was a real working dairy that allowed us to

get up close (well behind glass at least) to smell and taste the specialty the locals are so proud of.

One distinct feature of the Appenzeller cheese is its smell. Katie said is has a pungent aroma of dirty socks, I on the other hand think it smells like the abattoir on the Melbourne ring road close to Altona. It is however a smell that one does get used to and does in fact become likable.

We were able to get a loan of an iPad each from the center which guided us through the dairy and the process of the cheese production.  This iPad tour was included with the Appenzeller card and was well prepared and in English.

After having the tour of the dairy and a break outside in the beer garden, we were off to our next stop Ebenalp. This is the place where we saw around thirty para-gliders, learnt we aren't all that great at hiking, got to meet some of the hard working ladies of the region and saw some pretty impressive scenery.

Firstly the mountain top is accessed by cable car, and once again the cost was included in the Appenzell Card.

Within 8 minutes or so we were at the top and ready for the 12 minute walk down through a cave and then to the cliffside Guest house.

The walk down was on a goat track and actually took us more like 20 minutes, but there were many stops to look at the exceptional scenes.

Half way down is where we come across the hard working local ladies (as Katie calls them).  I do too see them as hard working, these beasts climb up mountains, where we take cable cars, they walk around on cliff faces and never fall, all in aid of making the prescious milk. They are very pretty too.

Further along the trail we went through some caves and then a cliff top church, before reaching the guesthouse attached to the side of the cliff.

The journey back up the mountain was to take 20 minutes according to the signs, but we knew it would take longer. How much longer, long enough for a well earned beer.

Ebenalp is one of the most natural, picturesque places I have ever been to and would highly recommend.

Tonight's dinner was at our apartment, and after seeing all the cows thought it best to have steak and salad.

Tomorrow, culture at the museum.