Every fall the schools get a break for a week and a half. This year Barbara, the girls and I went to the Fribourg region of Switzerland for a few days. We stayed in the very little town of Schwartzee where the hiking was plentiful. We spent one day hiking and another day in the town of Gruyere…yes, like the cheese. We toured the Cailler chocolate factory, with an amazing tasting room! Then we were off to the Gruyere cheese factory. We began with lunch…all cheese dishes and then did a “tour” where we learned how cheese was made, why Gruyere cheese is unique and then watched them put the cooked cheese curd into the molds…35kilos each! We also got to view the aging room with the machine that flips every mold of cheese regularly. After the cheese factory we went to the Gruyere Castle, the main attraction of Gruyere. It was unlike any of the castles I have seen. It was fully furnished and landscaped. There was information everywhere explaining each room and everything in it. It also had SPECTACULAR views of the mountains. The third day of the trip we went to Murten, an original walled medieval city. We did a scavenger hunt with Clara that lead us all over: on the walls, into the towers, to a cannon! It was a great town, very beautiful and full of interesting history. We then headed home with a stop at the butterfly pavilion near Bern.
After we returned to Basel, I flew to Prague with my friend Amelia. We stayed with HS friends Lizzy and Allison. The first day, with the plan to go to Cesky Krumlov, bus tickets were sold out so we went to Plzen. Turned out to be a great idea! It was icky weather so we spent the day at a beer museum learning all about the history of beer and how it was and is made. We then proceeded to lunch at the museum, getting a free beer. Then off we went to the Pilsner Urquell brewery, one of the oldest breweries in the world! We got to see how it is made and packaged, tried the raw materials and of course had beer tasting. It wasn’t just any beer either; it was the unpasturized, unfiltered beer. Very good but very filling! Once we were all beered out, we headed back to Prague where we spend the night dancing with Lizzy and Allison.
Cesky Krumlov was awe-inspiring. A small town in the mountains, it is home to the 3rd largest castle in CZ and is a World Heritage area. With sunny skies and the colors changing, we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful place. Huge gardens to walk through and beautiful architecture, it was a great place to wander. We enjoyed lunch near the river, a very delicious lunch of pizza and eidam cheese (as if I hadn’t eaten enough cheese before!) The town was small, we wandered for a while, enjoyed sun on our faces and headed back to Prague. Once again we had a fun night out with Lizzy, new bars and dance clubs, and the Czech specialty, Absinth!
Adventuring around Prague was the best way to rejuvenate ourselves after a late night out. A beautiful walk through the park lead us right from Lizzy’s to the Prague Castle, the largest castle in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately it was Sunday therefore very crowded, but we still enjoyed the beautiful courtyards, unbelievable buildings and immaculate gardens. From the castle we walked down to the Charles Bridge. Famous for it’s statues, there was preservation work on many of them, but it didn’t keep us, or the crowds, away. With artists and performers on each end, it was a very fun way across the Vltava River. From there we headed in to Old Town Square. Beautiful churches and buildings surround the square full of people. Tourists and locals photographing, picnicking, and meeting friends everywhere; quite a place! After walking so much, we headed back home for an early evening.
Kutna Hora was the last stop of the “Czech Tour” I found myself on. Unfortunately Amelia had to leave early to catch her plane, I was able to go to the Sedlec Kostnice, also known as the Bone Church. Bones of over 40,000 people were arranged in pyramids, coat-of-arms, and chandelier. They were found when the church was built on what was a mass burial ground from the plague. A bit grotesque but quite the sight. I also met very interesting people on the way there and back…one of the best parts of traveling! Now that I’m back, all I need is a bit of recovery time…I wear myself out! I can’t wait to travel over Christmas!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Settling in and enjoying Basel
It has been a bit over a month and I am really enjoying my time in Basel. My family here is great. Alma (11mo) is learning everything so fast, Kaete (4) and I love to run around and have special Thursday nights together, and Clara (7) had a great birthday party and is known for having wonderful braids everyday (thanks to me!).
I live in Dornach, a town outside of the city. Dornach is beautiful. There is a castle ruin just up the road where we had Clara's 7th birthday party. It was a knight's games party, with archery, jousting, catapult and scavenger hunt through the ruin that ended at the Dragon's nest full of "eggs" (paper mache balloons with sweets inside). We ate cake like a castle and chicken with our hands and had to throw the bones over our shoulders. Clara's entire class was invited and it was a blast.
At first it is easy to think that Switzerland is quite similar to the US. Very developed, similar money, education and careers alike. But as I have been here I notice and appreciate the differences. The language barrier is the most obvious. Although I can usually say that I don't speak German and they know English, I am making an effort to learn German. The problem is that you are taught hi-German, which is what Barbara and Norbert speak, but in Basel all I hear is Swiss German, which is REALLY different. Oh well, I'm trying!
The food is also great. Although I can get just about everything that I would eat in the States here, the "local" fare is AMAZING! I eat so much bread and cheese and chocolate! I went grocery shoppping with Norbert, which includes going to France and Germany. In France I was told to go to the cheese counter and get a few things. I was so overwhelmed! After I finally got three, I turned around to find Norbert and the entire wall behind me was ALSO cheese! I went to a Raclette party...you use a special grill and make veggies and melt cheese under a broiler in a special tray. Then you put the veggies on potatoes and top it with the super melty gooey cheese! WOW!!
I have been exploring in Basel a lot. I have finally become very comfortable on public transport...to go from my house to Basel city I take a bus to a train to a tram...and I have to time is all just right so that it only takes 25 minutes! I went with a friend to go to many of the recommended sights in Basel to take photos...we had both been but alone or without a camera! Basel is really beautiful; it is right on the Rhine river and has so many beautiful, old buildings. The Marktplatz, the market in the center of town, has the beautiful old town hall building and just from there is the Muenster cathedral. There are also towers and gates from when the city was walled which are very large and ornate...especially for a wall! There is the Tenguely fountain made by a well known artist/inventor with crazy water everywhere and children playing in it on warm days. There are cobblestone walk ways and "roads" barely wide enough for 1 car. It is quite enchanting.
I also went to Augusta Raurica, an area that was settled by the Romans hundreds of years ago and the amphitheater still is there. For the RomeroFest I attended, there were gladiators fighting and stalls with people doing trade work as it would have been done long ago. Bakers, weavers, wood working, metal working, marble carving, artists, and more. There was also chariot racing. The best part was that everyone was dressed in costume!
I am really enjoying my time here. Fall has arrived and the fall festivals are beginning. Weather is cooling off too. The girls have begun after school activities, so I'll be helping out with Clara's Girl Scout troop and volunteering in Kaete's preschool class. Clara also has violin and Kaete has soccer one day a week! I have been hanging out with a group of AuPairs (or former AuPairs). We have had dinner parties, nights out at the bars, and tourist adventures! I also go climbing 2-4 days a week before I go pick the girls up from school and have met a couple of nice people there too. I also can't wait for upcoming things, trips, parties, festivals! So much to do...I'm not sure how I'll get it all in in one year!
I live in Dornach, a town outside of the city. Dornach is beautiful. There is a castle ruin just up the road where we had Clara's 7th birthday party. It was a knight's games party, with archery, jousting, catapult and scavenger hunt through the ruin that ended at the Dragon's nest full of "eggs" (paper mache balloons with sweets inside). We ate cake like a castle and chicken with our hands and had to throw the bones over our shoulders. Clara's entire class was invited and it was a blast.
At first it is easy to think that Switzerland is quite similar to the US. Very developed, similar money, education and careers alike. But as I have been here I notice and appreciate the differences. The language barrier is the most obvious. Although I can usually say that I don't speak German and they know English, I am making an effort to learn German. The problem is that you are taught hi-German, which is what Barbara and Norbert speak, but in Basel all I hear is Swiss German, which is REALLY different. Oh well, I'm trying!
The food is also great. Although I can get just about everything that I would eat in the States here, the "local" fare is AMAZING! I eat so much bread and cheese and chocolate! I went grocery shoppping with Norbert, which includes going to France and Germany. In France I was told to go to the cheese counter and get a few things. I was so overwhelmed! After I finally got three, I turned around to find Norbert and the entire wall behind me was ALSO cheese! I went to a Raclette party...you use a special grill and make veggies and melt cheese under a broiler in a special tray. Then you put the veggies on potatoes and top it with the super melty gooey cheese! WOW!!
I have been exploring in Basel a lot. I have finally become very comfortable on public transport...to go from my house to Basel city I take a bus to a train to a tram...and I have to time is all just right so that it only takes 25 minutes! I went with a friend to go to many of the recommended sights in Basel to take photos...we had both been but alone or without a camera! Basel is really beautiful; it is right on the Rhine river and has so many beautiful, old buildings. The Marktplatz, the market in the center of town, has the beautiful old town hall building and just from there is the Muenster cathedral. There are also towers and gates from when the city was walled which are very large and ornate...especially for a wall! There is the Tenguely fountain made by a well known artist/inventor with crazy water everywhere and children playing in it on warm days. There are cobblestone walk ways and "roads" barely wide enough for 1 car. It is quite enchanting.
I also went to Augusta Raurica, an area that was settled by the Romans hundreds of years ago and the amphitheater still is there. For the RomeroFest I attended, there were gladiators fighting and stalls with people doing trade work as it would have been done long ago. Bakers, weavers, wood working, metal working, marble carving, artists, and more. There was also chariot racing. The best part was that everyone was dressed in costume!
I am really enjoying my time here. Fall has arrived and the fall festivals are beginning. Weather is cooling off too. The girls have begun after school activities, so I'll be helping out with Clara's Girl Scout troop and volunteering in Kaete's preschool class. Clara also has violin and Kaete has soccer one day a week! I have been hanging out with a group of AuPairs (or former AuPairs). We have had dinner parties, nights out at the bars, and tourist adventures! I also go climbing 2-4 days a week before I go pick the girls up from school and have met a couple of nice people there too. I also can't wait for upcoming things, trips, parties, festivals! So much to do...I'm not sure how I'll get it all in in one year!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Riding the REAL Matterhorn!
After a week in Switzerland, I feel like I have done so much already! I have come to know the family pretty well. After the first few days here, we all went to Zermatt, a very small town in the Alps, by the Matterhorn.
Getting to Zermatt was an adventure in itself! We drove for a couple hours, then took a train...in the car. Yes, we drove the car onto a train and then went THROUGH the mountain. We continued to drive for another hour or so and then parked the car in Taesch. From there we loaded all the gear onto passenger train and went up, up, up into the Alps to the town of Zermatt. There are no cars there except the bus and very small electric taxi bus things!
We spent the first day walking around town. I got to hear some Swiss men playing horns, which is pretty rare! We ate at a beautiful Italian restaurant sitting outside and drinking wonderful wine. The town is full of people and horse wagons. There are so many shops and all of the buildings have spectacular geranium planters hanging from balconies.
We spent the next three days skiing! This too was quite an adventure. We took a bus to a main gondola at the bottom of the mountain. Then we took a gondola and 2 cable cars up to the top of the Little Matterhorn (12,200ft)! We went from summer hiking and bike riding to skiing and ice climbing in a few lifts! From there we were on the glacier. You could take an elevator to an observation deck on the Little Matterhorn with great views of the Alps and the big Matterhorn (when it was clear, only on Saturday!)
You then skied down a long cat track to the wide open glacier where there were runs and lifts. There was SO much race training...teams from Switzerland, Russia, Austria, Poland, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, and even Canada. There was a huge terrain park and a long, open run, like Buddy's Run. The lifts to the top of the runs were all t-bars. Because it is on a glacier, which moves all the time, they have to be able to move the lifts, which they can't do with chair lifts.
We ate lunch in Italy and the food was UNBELIEVABLE! The top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (the area we were skiing in) is on the border of Switzerland and Italy. If I went down the wrong run, I would end up in the town of Cervenia, Italy! The view of that town was great. Being on a glacier in the middle of the Alps was amazing! We had views of SO much; We were usually above the clouds at 12,300+ feet above sea level! And the snow was fantastic! I thought glacier=ice, but it snowed every night making for beautiful groomers, and warmed up quickly making great mashed potato snow! I even tele-skied one day! Boy am I a clumsy mess on skis!
We had to be off the runs every day at 1:30 so we spent the afternoons in Zermatt walking around, eating GREAT food and drinking great wine and beer. I played with the girls in the pool at the hotel and relaxed a lot too.
After getting back, Monday I went to the girls' schools to meet their teachers. Tuesday I went to Freiburg, Germany. Norbert is from Freiburg and his parents still live their. The girls call them Oma and Opa, German for Grandma and Grandpa. We did some shopping, rode the tram and saw some of the sights, including the cathedral, which was the center of a great plaza, and the beautiful towers that are still standing even after the war. Unfortunately we faced a huge downpour and ended up in a cafe getting a snack and rushing to the tram with all three kids, trying not to get soaked!
What an amazing first week! The girls start school tomorrow and I will begin my routine...
Getting to Zermatt was an adventure in itself! We drove for a couple hours, then took a train...in the car. Yes, we drove the car onto a train and then went THROUGH the mountain. We continued to drive for another hour or so and then parked the car in Taesch. From there we loaded all the gear onto passenger train and went up, up, up into the Alps to the town of Zermatt. There are no cars there except the bus and very small electric taxi bus things!
We spent the first day walking around town. I got to hear some Swiss men playing horns, which is pretty rare! We ate at a beautiful Italian restaurant sitting outside and drinking wonderful wine. The town is full of people and horse wagons. There are so many shops and all of the buildings have spectacular geranium planters hanging from balconies.
We spent the next three days skiing! This too was quite an adventure. We took a bus to a main gondola at the bottom of the mountain. Then we took a gondola and 2 cable cars up to the top of the Little Matterhorn (12,200ft)! We went from summer hiking and bike riding to skiing and ice climbing in a few lifts! From there we were on the glacier. You could take an elevator to an observation deck on the Little Matterhorn with great views of the Alps and the big Matterhorn (when it was clear, only on Saturday!)
You then skied down a long cat track to the wide open glacier where there were runs and lifts. There was SO much race training...teams from Switzerland, Russia, Austria, Poland, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, and even Canada. There was a huge terrain park and a long, open run, like Buddy's Run. The lifts to the top of the runs were all t-bars. Because it is on a glacier, which moves all the time, they have to be able to move the lifts, which they can't do with chair lifts.
We ate lunch in Italy and the food was UNBELIEVABLE! The top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (the area we were skiing in) is on the border of Switzerland and Italy. If I went down the wrong run, I would end up in the town of Cervenia, Italy! The view of that town was great. Being on a glacier in the middle of the Alps was amazing! We had views of SO much; We were usually above the clouds at 12,300+ feet above sea level! And the snow was fantastic! I thought glacier=ice, but it snowed every night making for beautiful groomers, and warmed up quickly making great mashed potato snow! I even tele-skied one day! Boy am I a clumsy mess on skis!
We had to be off the runs every day at 1:30 so we spent the afternoons in Zermatt walking around, eating GREAT food and drinking great wine and beer. I played with the girls in the pool at the hotel and relaxed a lot too.
After getting back, Monday I went to the girls' schools to meet their teachers. Tuesday I went to Freiburg, Germany. Norbert is from Freiburg and his parents still live their. The girls call them Oma and Opa, German for Grandma and Grandpa. We did some shopping, rode the tram and saw some of the sights, including the cathedral, which was the center of a great plaza, and the beautiful towers that are still standing even after the war. Unfortunately we faced a huge downpour and ended up in a cafe getting a snack and rushing to the tram with all three kids, trying not to get soaked!
What an amazing first week! The girls start school tomorrow and I will begin my routine...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
