The Walk from Train Station to Schnorfville

Many of you have hear about the walk to the house. Let me show you.

Full disclosure: Upon our arrival from home; as we are now Old, Old Very, Very Old someone from the Ville usually meets us with a car.

Nonetheless there are still multiple opportunities to experience The Walk

Leaving the train station

Top of the stairs

Rounding the bend to the street. We've only begun to climb.

Next to the street, still going up

About to cross over to the left, watch for turning cars.

Right here we're gasping for air, relieved the church is nearby in case we expire.

Turning to the right, after the stop to gasp for air ground finally flattens out.

Flat, 

We climb again!

Almost to Schnorfville; can't get there from here but I can see it behind the bike.

a turn to the left, the school is in sight.

across from the school, we arrive to Schnorfville.

More disclosure: I notice everyone of the 20-30 Something's have a car! Often parked right in front of Schnorfville.

Days Go By

This morning I realized we arrived a week ago. All the time anticipating the journey and now the days are flying by.

It's bone chilly cold here. Clear at night so the temps drop and then the lake creates a fog of moisture. The day clouds, the air is moist. I can feel the dampness thru my boots and thermal socks.

Covid rules change daily. It's a bit tense checking each day. So far, Switzerland hasn't locked down tho their Covid testing rate is about 19%. That's not good. Collan tested a false positive, causing them to loose their flight and € to Ireland. Yesterday the PCR showed Negative so they're trying again to get to Dublin.

Because the Covid rules are so flux, everyone's confused. We show a set of papers to one vendor, all is fine. The very next one says they can't take those, we need something else. We were tested, Negative, on Tuesday. Umpteen dozen attempts to upload to government web site failed. We went back to testing site; they also couldn't upload our results. Finally scanned and attached as an E-mail. Hopefully that's enough and we won't get fined.

I managed to cook a successful dinner - 5 spice chicken and rice. I held my breathe as the only other time I cooked for this group was a disaster of epic proportions. Back in the summer of 2003 we were at Aunt Marilyns. She was so weak, we were day to day. At some point she mentioned being hungry for cornbread and beans. Nothing soooo easy, i dashed to the store and started cooking. The beans remained hard as rocks and the cornbread was inedible. Neither of my aunt's could figure out how I was so incompetent; seriously messed up cornbread and beans!

Here's some pics, with thanks to Gini.

Gwen, Conall and Gyro

Kevin and Larissa (wedding of her sister)

Gini and Jay 

a sample of the work Kevin's company does. This beam is headed to China for an ice rink. There are no bolts, glued together. There are 3 companies in the world producing this type of work and all are located in Switzerland.

Kev is in charge of this project.

Energy

There's something so uplifting the energy young people bring into a room. I feel it when I'm with the daughters, grandsons, nephews and children of friends. No matter jet lag, travel tired or just general age; I find myself fascinated and engaged. From the time Kevin surprised us by stopping by after work, young people are coming and going. Laughter, questions, catching up time, admiring mine and Larissa's rings, both crafted by Anthea. Philip and I marvel how time flies. 5 years ago, we wondered if these kids would ever finish school. Today they're working in their chosen professions, with partners, living on their own apartments, owning cars. They come to visit, we're invited to their homes for meals. It's a lot to take in. Love this time.

Too busy talking, forgot to take pics, will do better.

We need to get Covid tested between the 4th-7th days. Just in case we forget, the Swiss government texts me 6 or 7 X's daily. Wow! 

This week end we stayed close to home, not wanting to be out among crowds. Chris made Oklahoma Cookies i.e. his mom's recipes. I understand he's turning over turkey 🦃 cooking and stuffing to Gini and Larissa. Both girls asked me to stay in the kitchen with them - probably to bolt the door. Larissa asked me.to describe our Christmas day meal. Hearing about a trifle, she talked me into making one,. assuring "there can't be too many desserts."

Antje and i shopped Migros for holiday foods. Later Chris took us to the Lindt candy factory store (about 15 mins away). Elizabeth and Art are going to have a verrry nice birthdays.

Flight Across the Giant Pond

was, fortunately, uneventful. I slept most of the way - Philip did not. There's something about me and planes. I hear the roar if the engines, like white noise. I'm sometimes asleep before we taxi.

Since I tend to be slightly claustrophobic on planes, I found this one even more so. Because it's an overnight flight, seats are in little booth things. The seat folds down to a tiny little bed. You can't see your neighbor. At least mine did. Philip couldn't figure out the system and because i couldn't see him to help, no bed for him.

Awakening just as we passed over Paris, the light was gorgeous. Dawn over the Alps appeared.

we landed about 30 minutes later. Clearing passport control was a breeze. Picked up our luggage and met Chris. Sign of the times, Zurich airport is usually mobbed as it's also a train and bus terminal. It was eerily empty. We paused for a coffee. Our Covid and personal ID were immediately checked.

We spent most of the day trying desperately to stay awake and then desperately trying to be ready for sleep at 9pm, while our bodies are screeching but it's only 3pm, I'm not sleepy!!!

Antje was home from work about 4. She's an OT at the deaf school in Wolleshofen, currently has 23, ranging in ages from 5 - 15.  Kevin surprised us (we aren't expecting to see the kids until the weekend) by dropping by. 

Brief catch-up Gwen's specialty is hemotology. She has about 45 min commute to the hospital. She and Collan live in Wolleshofen, hoping to spend Christmas in Ireland. Depends whether or not Gwen has to isolate coming or going. Collan is some sort of weather forecaster for a company in Ireland working remotely. Kevin works for a timber construction company; they just shipped a 43 meter truss to China. He the head of a smaller project here in Switzerland. Kevin and Larissa also live in Wolleshofen. Larissa is finishing her art degree and applying for teaching job. Gini is a midwife at Trembly Hospital (where she was born 😏). She and Jay live in the next village - can't remember the name. Jay is with an insurance company in Zurich. They're currently on holiday in Val's. We'll see them this weekend.

Chris was off to his Italian lesson class, Antje had a Zoom meeting; we collapsed into bed.

On Our Way - with a few stops

We're sitting in the Dulles Polaris lounge. I could live here! It has private rooms with showers. There's even a sleep room with white noise.

There's a bar and restaurant, gratis.

Comfy chairs

amd best ever Lilly cappuccino machine.

Back in the days of my working life, I spent lots of downtime in various airline lounges - this takes Privilege to a whole new level. 

This is substantial payback for the months of isolation and worry, of missing time with family and friends. We earned this hour or two.

We're in hour 12 of this almost 24 hr journey. I was up at 4:15 and by 5:15 convinced Philip we should off-load his almost 50 lbs suitcase into a smaller case. 15 mins before the Uber driver arrives we're grabbing and slamming into the 2nd suitcase. Why i couldn't have had this inspiration 12 hrs earlier is beyond me.

The Lexington plane was delayed by 1+ hrs due to mechanical problems, meaning we missed our 50 min connection in Chicago. When we deplaned, Philip was 2nd off the plane. By the time i was back in the waiting room he and United rebooked us on a later flight. That never happens to me! I'd be delayed 24 hrs and headed home. Philip is a great traveling companion. I've seen him do the same in a busy Milano train station back in the day when English wasn't favored.

packing

Saturday

Stuff keeps appearing in his suitcase, having nothing to do with clothes. I see dog biscuits, bourbon, books, games, etc.   I understand he's WhatsApp'd Gini to start making extra ice for Porch Time. Given the unlikelyhood of seeing any temp above the 30's; drinks on the porch are unlikely. Drinks in front of the cozy fireplace will be just fine.

Ahh, but I do see snow boots - that's promising.

Monday AM

Ok, starting to see why all the Entry Forms nearly brought my friends to tears. United sends E-mails and texts urgently reminding us that we haven't uploaded the needed forms. We must do this or we can't board the flight. OK, I got that but we couldn't get the Covid PCR test until 7:16AM (very precise requirement) yesterday. We were in the UK drive-thru line at 8:00 (when it opened) along with 19 other cars who also waited for opening. Negative test result came last night. This morn, i started to upload but Noooo, wait .... Swiss want a Destination/Entry Form completed - which they already have but need yet another one completed 48 hours before we arrive. That clock doesn't start ticking until tomorrow morning at 7:55am; give or take the 6hr time difference. Meantime United keeps flagging us "Not Complete." Sigh!

Friends returned from Zurich last night and report the US forms are equally tedious and even more confusing.

However we made packing progress:

You may notice chocolate chips in Philips suitcase. Yes indeed, he has a plan. Premeasured salt/baking powder, walnuts, chips and a measuring cup. The man will be making his famous chocolate chip cookies. 

I don't even know how to explain the lure of these cookies. He exactly follows the recipe on the Nestle's package, no deviation - none! When we were 1st married, I saw he was baking them at Christmas, my comment was - Really? All this good stuff, who's going to want chocolate chip cookies???" 

Apparently, everyone. In 41 years; they've rarely lasted a day. I don't get it. It's a Philip Christmas phenomenon.

Christmas in 2nd Year of the Pandemic 2021

Penelope ask me to revive this blog and to post lots of pics and stories ... Or at least stories which could be shared.

Early last summer being vaccinated, Covid #'s dropping, we decided to resume our lives making plans to travel to a favorite destination - Adliswil/Summaga. By the time we made plane reservations, Covid was surging. We now have our booster, decided we're tired having our lives on hold. Felt travel to 2 countries was pushing our luck so we settled on Switzerland.

Travel fun begins. Airline international flights were flying mostly empty. We got American business class for a little more than coach. Then American cancelled the flight from Philly to Zurich, routed us thru London. No Thanks. We switched to United, Chicago to Zurich, same class, same price. United cancelled the flight, routing instead Chicago-DC-Zurich. Oh by the way, you'll leave Lexington at 7:30am; have a 7 hr layover in DC, all in all about 24 hrs later arrive in Zurich - we can refund your tickets. (Airlines are again flying full and want those cheap expensive seats back) Not happening.

If we aren't having enough fun, we spend hours on-line, completing Swiss entry forms (which are mostly in German or a difficult translation.) We got a negative PCR test. 72 hrs before the flight we'll be tested again, then spend more hours uploading the results to United and Swiss. (I know the hours involved because friends traveled to Zurich 10 days ago, tell me time/frustration spent uploading brought them both to tears.)

I am mostly packed:

Philip is not:

We're excited with a healthy dose of nervous. As we all are. Chris tells me vax rates in Switzerland are about 60/40 - Kentucky is the same. He also reports ICU's are full - again, same in Kentucky. 

We decided we'll feel as safe in Adliswil as we do in Lexington. We'll continue masking, washing hands, avoid indoors and crowds. We'll laugh, catch up with each other's life's. Antje and I will, maybe, finish our glorious bottle of Scotch Whiskey. Several years ago we went on a search for the perfect bottle of Scotch whiskey. Several shops and tastings later, discovered the perfect whiskey comes at a dear price. We never hesitated, placed our CHF on the counter and vowed to tell No One how much we spent, mostly hysterically giggling all the way home, being ultra cautious not to drop the whiskey - so yeah, we had a few tastings prior to our purchasing. 😄

While I'm anticipating the visit; it will be strange not to have the kids coming and going. Instead, Chris tells me we'll have the downstairs apartment - actually I've been angling for that little haven 12 years. But their kids played like musical beds.  Everytime I was there one moved out and another moved in. They don't take me seriously enough when I say I want to move in. If they next election is a dismal as I think it will be my stay could be permanent.

Ok, next installment, from Adliswil!