WHAT'S BEHIND THE DOOR????

Giorgia's future. In two weeks, she's off to the univeristy. Monday we went to the school so she could select her room. Giorgia was awarded a scholarship which includes her room and because she achieved one of the highest testing scores; she got to select her own room.

She was told to report promptly at 9:00 or her room would be given to someone else. So at 7:30, 4 very sleepy people got into a very smelly car (turned out to be rotten leaves which seeped thru a bag). We sped along the autostrada with Giorgia and I in the back seat, gagging and spraying air freshener - which had everyone gagging.

We were registered at 9:00 and then stood around for 2 hours. Always, we watched the door, waiting for someone to come out and tell us what was going on. Eventually, one by one students would appear and go thru the mystery door but new students stood and waited. Most of them waiting anxiously with parents who were becoming annoyed.


Finally, Giorgia's name was called and we got to go behind the door - it was an ordinary office with overworked, ordinary people in it. After phototcopying photo id, signing papers promising not to destroy the room, etc.... off we went to inspect the room possibilities. There are 100 rooms, 4 floors. We started on the 4th floor and immediately found the perfect room. The window faces east, overlooking a pedestrian street looking out to a castle on the hill and it's a single with a private bath. The kitchen is directly across the hall

She returns Friday for orientation and then a week later starts school.

University Name

THE DOOR

Entry to doom, lower floor

Having a coffee, trying to relax before going to the Hurry Up and Wait Dorm

Kil is going to try commuting via the train this year, This will be his last year at the university in Trieste. He will transfer to another university for his remaining 2 years. He'd like to come to the states but the tuition is prohibitive.

Morgan started school last week and Mikkie is teaching english Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. So it's a  busy time.

I've been working in the gardens - which Mikki doubled in size this spring. They look great, despite the extreme heat and dryness. Philip is reading and mowing grass. We'll be off on Friday to Zurich and home next Tuesday.

Tonight Mikki and I are going to start a pitch game.  Ciao

ONTO SUMMAGA

Leaving Montreux on a beautiful day. Discovered a small gliche in our plans. We expected to travel to Lausanne to connect to the Geneve - Venice train. Instead we realized the same train would be stopping in Montreux. Sometimes it helps to have a good map!

We arrived at the train station with time to spare...knowing we had to some how get our luggage up those 200 plus steps. The esculator still wasn't working (despite the hotel clerk's "oh of course, they always work!" Since we were 1.5 hours early for the train, decided to go onto Lausanne. I'm glad we did as we passed thru the terraced wine fields and I could see the terracing up close. 

The train was direct from Lausanne to Venice-Maetstre - heavenly! No frantic switching or missing a train in Milano. We had about a 20 min wait before catching the train to Portuguaro. We got lucky as we were the last train running before the train workers struck and stopped the trains for a couple of hours.

Mikki met us at the station. After stopping for a spritz and a couple of coffees, we headed home. Finally the traveling grocery stores could be unloaded. Philip did all the lifting and hauling and not once did he complain. Not even once did he suggest that I'd lost my mind. He left that for Mikki to say.

 

LAST DAY IN MONTREUX

As expected we awakened to cold, cloudy weather with temps in low 40's. After breakfast, where we learned we still didn't understand "continental" (coffee and roll -nothing else!) We went to the train station. Think Montreux; think Seattle. The land is either staight up or straight down - depending on your point of view. From the Gran Rue (which is the last street before you fall into the lake, there are a number of esculators - going up. Going down you take the stairs as we discovered hauling our giant Target/Meijor grocery store filled suitcases. We consoled ourselves that going back to the train station we could use the moving walk way. Sounds like a good plan except we've noticed 2 days in a row - the moving walk way going up seems to be not working. Hmmm, that's worrisome and the hotel clerk isn't reassuring - oh there's another walkway 5 mins from here. Yeah, but 5 mins is all up hill. Oh well, it is what it is.

Broken Esculator

Train Station

 Anyway, back to this morning. We rode a cog rail to the summit of Rochers-de-Nay. The views Lake Geneva, the alps and the Jura were spectacular. The rain in Montreux was fresh snow on top of the mountain so it was cold and wet - no tramping thru the famous alpine gardens.

 Lavaux is one of the largest vineyards in Switzerland. Monks were cultivating the vines here in the 11th century - on narrow terraces supported by stone walls. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 We cruised on the lake, viewing the villages and alps. A perfect day. Tomorrow we're off to Mikki's.

CHILLON

We awakened to a cool wet rainy day. Obviously, sight seeing from a train or boat was going to be a bust! The clouds practically touched the ground. We're staying at the Eurotel Riviera - right on the lake. Breakfast was continental (coffee, rolls, cereal, eggs for 14€ each) Antje told us not to miss the Chillon castle so jumped on a bus (hotel guests have free bus and train passes) in the now pouring rain and made our way to the castle where we promptly joined about 5 bus loads of tourists.

Fortunately the castle is enormous and it is entirely open for wandering around. We each had english translation head phones and spent 2 hrs learning the history of the dukes and family Savoy. Bryan wrote his famous poem - Prisoner of Chillon here.

The rain stopped, returning to city center we could see the peaks of the mountains - there was definitely Termination Dust on the top.

We stopped at the train station to check tomorrow's cog train schedule and to check the schedule for the Lusanne train. After picking up sandwichs, local wine, chocolate, and chips we dined on our terrace and now it's time for a siesta. Later: hard to believe yesterday was so hot we were ready to throw ourselves into the lake. We ran the room's air conditioning all night. After the rain, a cold front moved in and we're wearing layers of clothes and are still cold. This afternoon went for a walk along the quay. The gardens are magnificent - wonderful combinations of color and texture. The gardens stretch the entire length of the quay, some 13 kilometers. I stopped at the statue of Freddy Mercury (he lived here the last 4 years of his life.)

 Along the way I could see glimpses of the Dents du Midi mountain range.tomato We had an ok meal at Le Metropole - bottle a of wine, 2 plates of sausage, pomme frittes, tomatoe with pesto, corn soup with shrimp and a salad - about $100. Geesh! And I still haven't had fondue and this is the famous gruyere home. Well enough. Love this area but the expense is overwhelming.

MONTREUX

Wow oh Wow!!!! The Golden Pass train - not to be missed. It was worth changing trains 5,yep - 5x's to see the scenery we saw today. Chris dropped us off at the Monegg station where we picked up the S4 to Zurich Bahnhaf; transferred to SSB to Luzern; transferred to BLS to Interlaken; transferred to BLS Zwepisimen; and finally transferred to BLS Montreux.

Philip is being such a good sport as my suitcase still contains 15 pounds of salsa, a couple of pounds of Anaheim chilis, 4 pounds of cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses (chili rellanos at Mikkis on Satuday!) He has not once complained since we left home.

We're in a nice hotel - with airconditioning - on the 11th flr; overlooking Lake Geneva. We were upgraded to a suite - bed, sofa, chairs, dressing room - lovely.

We had lovely visit with Chris and Antje's family. Hard to believe Gwen's starting her 3rd yr of med scool. This year she'll be more at the hospital instead of classroom. Kevin finished his appenticeship in June. He is not going into the army - which means he'll be paying the Swiss government until he's approximately 40. Meantime he's working for a contractor. Ginny tells me she likes school - her english is excellant and she's such fun to be with; a good sport with a great sense off humour. Chris and Antje are both blowing and going. How they keep up with the schedules, much less the kids is beyond me. But they do and we look foward to visiting again before we head home.

KNABENSCHIESSEN

At last I experience the Zurich canton celebration - translating roughly "boys with guns." When we came to visit in 2004: Philip came 3 or 4 days before I arrived. Chris and Antje took him to the faire. He's talked about it ever since - mostly because he loves pronouncing the name knab-ben-schie-ssen. 

Best I can tell,it's a big outdoor carnival with lots of scary rides, shooting booths, food vendors and all kinds of little shopping booths - candy, clothes, plants, kitchen wares, anything you could want. AND most of Zurich shows up.

It was bordering on a warm day and you add a few thousand people and we're talking hot hot. Ginny took on Antje and Philip in a camel race and won handily. Kevin lost, only because he was backing Philip. Perhaps you understood that the camels weren't real - I missed that part as I was looking forward to camel races and horse races. Dah! 


We rode a ferris wheel - just my speed, lovely views and far above the maddening crowds. 

A quick tram ride and then to the S4 train and we were walking up the hill to home. We agreed, somedays the hill beteeen the train station and the house gets steeper.

Ginny warming up for the camel race

Ginny winning 

She won by LOTS

We're going how high?

What a view!

WEST_WÄRTS

Another beautiful day - sunny; temperatures in low 70's.

Kevin made waffles and with the addition of breads, cheeses, smoked bacon, coffee - it was a delicious brunch. Kevin and Gwen headed to Seil City to shop and Philip and Chris went to the train station to arrange our tickets to Montreux and Summaga. Later Antje, Ginny, Gero and I met them at the train station and we headed into the city.

Zurich West is a former heavy industrial area - fallen on hard times. Instead of tearing it down; city planners had the good sense to see the potential = museums, arts, theaters, shops, baristas, restaurants have moved in. A new tram line was extended to the area. Now it's a funky interesting destination.

ADLISWIL 2012

For a change, flights were on time. We left Lexington about 4:00; arrived in Chicago on time; a few hours later we were on our way to Zurich where we were greeted by Gwen. Chris arrived a short time later after a coffee, we were off for home. Big relief to have the car. My suitcase weighs 48 lbs; Philip's 42; it's mostly salsa & candy. Even off loading some of it with the Schnorfs, not looking forward to the 5 or 6 train changes between here, Montreux & Summaga. 

After a lunch of cheeses, breads & interesting condiments (olives, hummus,garlic horse radish, jellies, pickles) we decided to avoid the desire for jet lag naps and to drive to Einsiedeln about 40 mins away. It's known for it's monastery with the Black Modanna & horses. I've been there several time. Philip went in 2003 - we spent an afternoon there, returning to Aunt Marilyns, Philip announced that he was disappointed not to see the the Black Modanna, Chris & I are astounded & Aunt Marilyn is glaring at Chris & me. How could you not make sure he saw the Black Modanna??? We were wondering how he could miss her. So, finally!,Philip has seen the Black Modanna. 

Returning home, Ginny was home from school, Kevin was having a belated birthday celebration with Antje's parents & Antje arrived home after long (9hrs/6kids) day. It's wonderful to be here again; so much talking,laughter & questions about one anothers life & news about all the family. And now my 6 hr jet lag is catching me - night!

Cathedral at Einsiedeln

Coffee & sweet stop

The hospital is where? (more about that later)