Switzerland 2010

Brian and I visited Markus and Monika and their daughters in Switzerland this October.  The schedule was so full that it felt much longer than the 9 days we were there.  Some highlights follow.

Day 1 - October 8 - Farmer's Market

Monika and I visited the farmer's market in Zurich - just a few minutes' walk from where she grew up. Veggies, meat, cheese, breads, and flowers were all available.  Who needs a supermarket with the variety and quality available on Tuesday and Friday mornings?  (Of course, M&M no longer live in downtown Zurich, so they too must go to the grocery stores.)




Day 2 - October 9 - Kloster Kappel

While Brian and Markus returned his rental car, Monika and I drove to see the Monastery Kappel.  Brian saw the monastery on a previous trip.  Building began in 1185.  It was used as a monastery until the 1527 reformation.  Since then the buildings have been used for many purposes, but an atmosphere of contemplation remains.  It's pretty much impossible to capture the size and history of the buildings in one photo, but this picture illustrates the feeling I experienced.

Day 3 - October 10 - Off to Adelboden

On 10-10-10 at 10:10:10 we were sitting at the table in the dining room enjoying a cup of tea/coffee.  Soon after we were on our way to Adelboden.  However, there were several stops along the way!  First we stopped in Lüngern where we took a gondola up the mountain Schönbüel.  At the bottom of the mountain we were below the clouds - it was cold, rainy and windy.  But when we emerged from the clouds, it was a different world!

The next stop was at a waterfalls at Giessbach.  We walked up to and behind the falls, then down the other side.  We enjoyed coffee (tea) and pastries at the Grand Hotel before continuing.  After a brief stop at a "tropics museum" of sorts, we continued to Adelboden to the apartment we called home for two days.

Day 4 - October 11 - Sillerenbuhl Mountain

We arrived in the fog in Adelboden, and although I knew there were mountains out there, I imagined they were far away - like those we saw at Schönbüel.  However!  At 7:15 a.m. when I looked out the window I was truly shocked to see how close the mountains were.  We were in them, not gazing from afar.  Amazing view.  No wonder Monika wanted clear days!

After breakfast we walked to the gondola which would take us up the mountain.  There were actually two gondolas - the first took us half way up and the second completed the trip to the summit.  This is significant because we walked back to the "halfway" point on our return trip.  At any rate, at the top we had coffee/hot chocolate and pastries at the lodge as we enjoyed the amazing view.  Walking down the mountain was quite challenging for one who has not hiked in more than 25 years, but it was not as bad as I had expected!!  What amazing sights.

Day 5 - October 12 - Falls and Another Mountain

From the apartment we could see a waterfalls (see earlier photo).  Markus thought it would be good for us to get a closer perspective, so we got up at 7:00 to drive to a parking lot near the falls (perhaps a mile away).  This early morning walk rewarded us with both a closer look and a view of the sun hitting the more western mountain tops as it rose in the east.  It was cold! 0°C and frost on the grass.

After packing up the car, we drove to another gondola that would take us part way up another mountain.  This time the hike was up and down.  Sometimes quite steep, but not as difficult as the previous day.  The goal was to get to a little lake where we would make a picnic lunch.  As it turned out, there hadn't been a lot of rain and the lake was quite depleted, but it was all worth it.  Another coffee/water and pastry/ice cream were enjoyed at the restaurant before going down the mountain again.


The day was not yet over!  We stopped at the Glasi Hergiswil (glassworks) before returning to Stallikon!

Day 6 - October 13 - Zurich for Melissa - Markus' Dad, Metal Store, Hobby Store, Mall, and Kybürg Castle for Brian

Monika and Larissa took me to Zurich to do shopping and sightseeing, while Markus and Brian took a different path.  We took the train into Zurich and had hoped to also get to ride a boat, but the timing wasn't right.  Another climb ... up the Gross Münster (church) tower this time to get a view of Zurich from a bird's eye view.  After much shopping we returned to Stallikon where I had 20 minutes to change before going to Selina's for dinner.

The photo to the left is of a bakery that has been in operation since 1626.  Unfortunately, they were on vacation the day we were there.

I took a photo of another house which had a date of 1430 inscribed near it's door posts.  That's before Columbus discovered America.  Puts things in perspective a bit.

Day 7 - October 14 - A More Leisurely Day

After a delicious breakfast of spelt bread, cheese, and yogurt, I was able to organize our "stuff" and receipts, etc.  That felt good.

Then about noon we headed to Schweitz and saw a cheese factory, the knife factory Victorinox, and the Parkhause Kloster.  The latter was an amazing cathedral.  We weren't able to take photos inside, but even photos would fail to capture the grandness.  I remember it being pink, which seemed odd for the interior of a church, but it was truly beautiful.

The trip from Schweitz to the Kloster meant driving a windy, narrow road over a mountain pass.  Zach would have loved it!  On the other side of the mountain we stopped at a little hotel/restaurant for coffee/chocolate and a local pastry.

Day 8 - October 15 - Curtains and Trains

After breakfast, Monika and I went to a curtain store where I learned a bit about making curtains and wished we had similar stores at home.  We also went to a bakery and the Coop.

After a lunch of leek and cheese tarts from the bakery, Markus, Brian and I went to visit Markus' brother and then continued on to a train show.  First we saw some steam trains housed at a local train depot, then we continued to the model train show.  These folks do amazing work.

We stopped for bratwurst at the food tent between buildings.  The tables were set up as if for a banquet!  Very nice.

Back at the house we had a dessert of plums and pears on flan and carmel sauce.  Then we watched TV to see the replay of the final drilling/breakthrough of the new Gottard Tunnel.  It was a full day.

Day 9 - October 16 - Happy Anniversary!

This was the day we returned home.  We had our usual breakfast of bread and cheese, etc.  Then we finished packing, etc.  Larissa then showed me how to make origami hearts, and Monika showed me how to crochet little flowers.  Not enough time, alas.  And suddenly it was time to head to the airport.

Due to a little reservation snafu, we ended up on separate airplanes on our trip home.  Fortunately, we ended up in Boston only 15 minutes apart and Zach picked us up shortly after that.  We told him our stories and he endured the telling.

Happy anniversary Brian!

As always, it is good to be home.