Cheese making on the Alp Bommen

After dinner, we walked for another few minutes to the Alp Bommen. At this mystical place we spent the night in the middle of cows and cheese. We spent the evening outside together with the family Peterer with a good glass of wine. It was so calm and we could see millions of stars and even the milky way. The night we spent in a dorm in a little alpine hut. It is also possible to sleep in the straw above the animals. In the morning we got up at 6a.m. so that we could see the wonderful sunrise. Afterwards we went to the father of the family. He is cheesemaker and produces cheese out of the milk his 24 cows give every day. We could help him with the cheese production and learn about cheese making. It was very interesting. After this good start into the day, we could enjoy a good breakfast with fresh milk, homemade cheese and more.

Romantic Alp Bommen

Cheese making

Cheese making

The "Höhlenkäse" (cave cheese) is a speciality on the alp. The cheese rests in the cave for one year which gives him a very special taste. The family produces 3.5 tons of cheese every saison! And they all sell it directly on the alp. If you spend the night on the Alp Bommen and tell them our code word "TraineesOnTour" you will even get a piece of cheese to take with. 

Cheese 

Dawn on the alp

Good morning

Hiking in the Appenzellerland

After this good start into the day we begun our two-day hike. The way up to the Seealpsee took us a little bit more than an hour. We passed by free-living cows and goats and were impressed by the stunning mountains around us. At the Seealpsee we enjoyed a picknick and cooled down. If you want to stay at the Seealpsee for the night, you can enjoy a night at the Berggasthaus Forelle for just CHF 40.- Free use of the rowboat the next morning included.

Seealpsee with view to the Säntis

Self-timer photo

Cow

We continued our walk for nearly an hour up the mountain direction Ebenalp. When we arrived at the cliff, there was this nice alpine hut built into the rocks - the Aescher.

On the terrace we enjoyed a cold Ana's Spritz - the refreshing drink we knew from the morning - and the stunning view over the Appenzellerland. For dinner we ordered Rösti, the speciality of this place. Even though it is a quite touristic location, we were not disappointed by the food and service. More precisely, we were surprised by the delicious Käserösti (cut potatoes with cheese) and the friendly staff.

Sheeps 

At the cliff

Rainbow in the Appenzellerland

Cheers with Appenzeller Alpenbitter

The Grand Tour of Switzerland continues to the Appenzellerland - so did we. This region we like due to its picturesque landscape, alive traditions and authentic customs. Our first stop was at the factory of the Appenzeller Alpenbitter. A young lady showed us the whole factory and in the end, we could try all of their products. 

Inside the herb room

It was just 11a.m. but we had no other choice than tasting the Appenzeller Alpenbitter, the herbal spirit from Appenzell. Since 1935 this Swiss original is made with 42 herbs and was regarded as medicine against stomach ache. What we've liked even more was the summer drink Ana's Sprizz, a liquor with the taste of pineapple, and the 9050 - cream liqueur.  The Appenzeller Alpenbitter is widely known in the whole country but especially in the Appenzellerland people drink it very often.

Cheers

9050 and Appenzeller Alpenbitter