What a pleasant surprise this charming little town in the heart of Switzerland turned out to be. Just a rest stop along the highway traveling toward Bern, Interlaken provided spectacular views of the Swiss Alps and traditional architecture. Like all of Switzerland, the village was spotlessly clean and the air was cool and refreshing. This particular view at the entrance to the town provided the very best of everything that Interlaken had to offer with spectacular colors of the spring garden, the bright green field, the rays of the morning sun strong on the face of the buildings and of course the snow covered peaks of the mountain range. Interlaken is a small resort town in central Switzerland situated between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun in the first range of the Bernese Alps. Tourism is the major industry. Originally the site of an Augustinian convent (founded in 1130), Interlaken was virtually unknown until the 19th century, when interest in the Alps began to draw tourists to the area.