Exploring Zurich with old friends....

Hello, friends,

I've been back in Zurich for two days now. Yesterday, I returned from the mountains to meet Amanda in the city. We walked around, shopped for a bit and then settled in by the lake with sausages from the Sterner Grill (the famous sausage stand in Zurich) and some snacks purchased from the local market.  We had a few hours to burn until the time Sara landed on her flight from Berlin. We used that time to catch up on the time since we last were together - 4 years. 

Just as those last four years have, time flew by and soon it was time to go to the flughafen (airport) and reunite with Sara. Her plane arrived late that evening so we only had about an hour to catch up before going our separate ways - Amanda and Sara to Amanda's host family house and me to mine. 

Today we met up in the city before noon. It was quite rainy, again, so we sat for a while and had coffee at the main train station (Hauptbahnhof). After that, our first task of the day was to handle something that has been 6 years in the making for me...it was time to close my Swiss bank account. When I moved home, I left about 100 ChF (Swiss francs) in the account to use and replenish when I came back on future trips. Fast forward, I had lost my information to get in to the account online, hadn't used it on any past trips, etc. - it seemed time to close it. I had been dreading this. But with Sara and Amanda by my side, I walked in and talked to a very nice lady behind the glass. Within a few moments, the account was closed and I took away about 50 ChF - the only bit that was left after years of fees. It was such a cool thing to have - a Swiss account - and I'm sad that I don't anymore. :(

After that, we walked around a little bit and then had lunch by the lake. The weather was just not great. The highlight of the day was a  1 1/2 hour boatride we took on the lake. We enjoyed coffee, nice views and good conversation. When we returned to shore, the three of us shopped at some favorite spots, got cake at one of my favorite places, Cake Friends, and then headed back to the main train station. 

We decided to do a quick run by the grocery store for snacks and then went our separate ways to pack and prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow we are headed to Ebenalp!  Something I've been dreaming about for the better part of a year now. 

I will post again soon when I have more to share. 

For now, goodnight dear friends.

LuLu

Wanderweg nach Lenzerheide....

I am now to my fourth and final evening here in Lain. The day started out lazy for me and I slept in a little bit. Today the girls left with their dad just after lunch for a trip to the Tessin (the Italian speaking canton of Switzerland). So before lunch we played numerous games of UNO and I'm happy to report that I'm finally getting a little faster again :). Several of us walked to the shop for cheese and bread and I was able to snap a photo of the amazing cheese case but it's on my camera so I'll have to wait to upload that until later.

After lunch, we all went our separate ways - my former host mum on a long bike ride, the girls and their dad to Ticino and I finally went on my walk from here to Lenzerheide. I would lying if I said it was all easy. After the first 15 minutes I was ready to turn back for home but I made myself continue and the wanderweg soon turned to mostly flat ground, spectacular views and the trail went a good bit through the forest which was great both for the breeze and the shade. 

I have a few photos to share and some more I will upload later.  In particular, there are photos of drinking fountains along the way. I find them quite interesting. In Switzerland, unless posted, it is ok to fill your water bottle or drink out of any fountain. My walk took me all the way to Lenzerheide, looked in a few shops, walked by the lake and then turned back for home. It had rained a little bit on the way there but it was as I was on the way home that the cloud began to get that ominous look to them. I sped up my pace and started what I thought would be a race against time to get home and outrun the rain. I made it! But, in the end, the rain didn't start until several hours later, after dark. 

I came in, put my feet up and felt an all around feeling of accomplishment at the day's activities. When my former host mum arrived home we had a lovely dinner and nice conversation. Now, as I lay in bed listening to the rain, I'm excited for tomorrow's adventure. I'm set to meet up with Amanda Mango tomorrow afternoon in Zurich and I'm just hoping the weather will be half of how good it was today. 

Signing off for now, dear readers.....

Until next time,  

LuLu

UNO tournament and the market in Parpan...

Hello, Friends!

It is evening now on my third day in Lain.  For most of the day, the weather was even worse than yesterday. As a result, we spent much of the day inside. I did to with the Swiss family to a market in Parpan. I'm told it is only held a few times a year. For me, it seemed mostly like a flea market. I've never been a fan of those or yard sales since it's usually just looking at stuff other people don't want anymore. But this was very interesting. There were some handmade items and several stalls selling local food specialities; I was especially interested in the old cow bells for sale - some were quite ornate.  My favorite part was getting to see three ladies playing alpenhorn (picture to be attached later when I can upload from my camera). Such a unique and special instrument...I've only ever seen one other played - on the top of a mountain once after I hiked to the top!

Afterward, we came back to the house, had lunch and proceeded to play numerous games of UNO and a new game I'd never played before - Hanabi. When I lived with the family, UNO was the game of choice. I have never in my life played more UNO with anyone than I have with these two girls. For me, it's such a treat to play with them when I come back for a visit each time. I wonder how long it will take for it to not be cool anymore to play games with their former au pair?! I will take all I can get. I would never want time to go backward or stand still but it is so special to me to be able to almost re-live those special times we used to share. 

In late afternoon, the clouds and fog lifted a little bit and we got a small hint of the sun. By that time, my former host dad had driven up to join us. We decided to take advantage of the break in poor weather and grabbed our stuff to head to the tennis court. Now, I am terrible at tennis and very much out of shape but I gave it a try and hit the ball around a bit. I was so out of breath after the exercise and then the walk up the steep hill back to the house. My face was beet red, I was overheating and sweating profusely. 

Tomorrow, I am hoping for a day with weather being at least a small amount better. If so, I plan to walk from here to Lenzerheide and back. There is also a chance I am going back to Zurich tomorrow but that is still up in the air, at the moment. I have had such a wonderful time visiting with the Swiss family but I'm super excited to meet up with Amanda, who is haven't seen since 2010, and explore some with her. Sara is flying in on Tuesday and then we are all headed to Appenzell on Thursday for our 3 day/2 night mountain gasthaus/August 1st (Swiss Independence Day) excursion. 

I will check in again soon. 

Until then...

LuLu

A case FULL of cheese!

Another day has begun, my friends, and I find myself again in the beautiful village of Lain. But more on that in a moment. First, a recap of yesterday...

When I arrived in Zurich yesterday, I had only a few hours free until I needed to head south, up to the mountains of Graubunden. I spent that time getting a few things together and wandering around the city of Zurich. Usually I would spend my time shopping but yesterday I resisted the urge since I don't have room in my pack for much more. Instead, I wandered the streets to see what had changed since my visit last March. I found myself at a high point overlooking the Limmat river and the "old city" across the way...a place I'd been before but can't remember the name of at this current moment. I took a few photos and sat to enjoy the calmness and the view for a while. The weather has even very agreeable and it was lovely to be outside in the fresh air. When I'm at home, I don't do enough of this...getting out, exploring, just being out in nature....but I digress.  Here's my favorite picture from yesterday in the city....

In the afternoon, I hopped on a train to the city of Thusis in the south. It was there that I met up with my friend (and former host mum) and went to see the girls at their horse riding camp which was finishing up. It is amazing to see how much they've grown...they look so much more mature and are both now taller than me! After the camp finished, we made our way to Lain. The drive was beautiful - overlooking ravines and rivers of the most beautiful minty blue/green color (I believe an indication that the water is super cold, probably glacier/snow runoff) with the mountains in the background. The last road we went up was hard on the nerves....very narrow and winding...up, up, up from what I'm guessing is the valley floor. I'm told in winter it's mostly impassable...I know for sure that I wouldn't want to try it!  

The views from Lain are fantastic - you can see right down the valley and so many mountains. Last time I was here in very early spring but it may as well have been winter because it snowed a good bit. Last time I went skiing, I'll spare you the details and just say it did not go that well!  This trip, assuming the weather holds up, I plan to go for some beautiful walks/hikes and enjoy the fresh mountain air. To my mind, there is no more beautiful place on earth than Switzerland. Being here and enjoying life, I'm not sure it gets any better than this!

In the evening we had a raclette. It is my favorite Swiss meal and of course it involves eating massive amounts of cheese....so, girl aged 11 and I were tasked with going to the shops for a few needed items.  This was just the local village shop but walking in the door I was already in heaven!  A case filled full of different types of cheeses. We're talking probably 40 or more different kinds...all unpackaged. You walk up and try something or a few things and then tell the shop worker which you'd like and how much and they cut you a block, however big, and wrap it up for you to take home. Sensational!  I tell you I love cheese, good cheese...I was in heaven!

So on to today...I am trying hard to get used to the time difference. I made myself get up at 7:15ish and sat down to enjoy some quiet time and write to you all (started this post in the morning and am finishing it now after dinner....). The weather started out only just ok but not great and deteriorated from there....as a result, we decided on a day of shopping in Chur and then we went to the pool. The day was full and fun but nothing too exciting to report. 

I've managed to stay up an hour or so later tonight than last night so I'm proud of that. I think now  I will head to bed with the wish of better weather for tomorrow. If it's not, my new rain jacket and I might just go for a walk anyway. 

I will check in later....tschuss for now....

LuLu

10 years of travel....

Good morning, Dear Readers,

This morning I arrived in Zurich and went through the normal routine to exit the airport. It hit me when I came through immigration how fitting it is that Switzerland is my first stamp in my new passport...

10 years of travel...it's gone by in a flash!  It seems only yesterday that I received my very first passport for my very first international, "once in a lifetime", dream trip to Italy with BP.  There's no way either of us could have known how that experience would affect me. I was hooked from moment one. From my very first passport stamp in Florence to the one I received earlier today - each one holds such excitement for me, such endless possibilities...  

But it was living in Switzerland that forever changed my life. Each time I come back I see new and exciting things that I didn't experience in my 2+ years of living here. This first stamp in my new passport represents all the adventures and new experiences yet to come. 

As I've not left the airport, I don't yet have any pictures to share....but I will. Oh, I will!  So stay tuned. 

I'm taking care of a few housekeeping items for starters and then I'm off to explore for the day and then meet up with the Swiss family this afternoon :)

Signing off for now....

LuLu

Many, many reunions.....

Hello dear readers!  

It has been such a long time since I last shared with you. In these past years, I have been back to Switzerland a few times, visited Prague and Munich again, took an amazing Caribbean cruise with my friend Brian, I've explored Paris with Jess, my good friend and co-worker, and I've worked A LOT!  I've made several position changes within my company and overall found myself so blessed to work with great people at a job that challenges me but still allows me to explore the world which is still my greatest desire!  

In less than two days I will board a flight back to Zurich for yet another adventure. I'm very excited to see the Swiss family and most especially the girls who are now ages 11 and 14!  I'll be staying with them for a few days in a village located in the mountains of the Graubunden kanton.  I'm so looking forward to the fresh air and time to be out in the mountains and disconnected from the rest of the world. 

A few days into the trip, I'm meeting up with Sara who now lives in the amazing city of Berlin and Amanda who will be flying in from Montana. We plan to stay for two days in a very special guest house on the side of the Saentis (a mountain in east Switzerland). After that we are off to Southern Spain for a week-long road trip. 

So, now to the point of why I'm writing this post. Well, I guess there are really two reasons...1- I'm hoping to write several posts and share pics on this trip and putting it out there now will hopefully encourage my diligence with this goal and 2 - I'm hoping to make you all extremely jealous. I hope each and every one of you are out there enjoying this summer. Please check back for my updates and feel free to pressure me into sending out pictures....

Hugs to you all!

LuLu