The CountDown

The morning starts checking the weather; hour by hour. How hot, how much rain? Yesterday was almost a wash out, unnecessary plans cancelled. Seemed like everytime I left the apartment, rain. Chris reported Adliswill was getting rain and hail.

However, today is sunny, cool looks like a beautiful day. Mikki reports the Schnorf's are getting ready. She and hers are staying quiet in the apartment until they're on their way. Kil arrived last night. We're looking forward to a quick visit before he and Georgia return home tomorrow. Morgan's hotel owners said it was high season, they couldn't let their manager go, even for a night.

Later:

By law, couples complete the legalese

In the civil office. It's a smallish area so only family and two witnesses. The rest of us waited outside. 

The government house is directly left of the Fraumünster church. Friday's rain turned into a perfectly beautiful day.

Waiting

First came the family:

So begins a 13 hour party! We headed to the square for.a series of pics.

Then we were off to a 90 min tram ride thru the city of Zurich. Antje's sister and family provided endless champagne from the family's French vineyards as well as food. It was fun to watch the startled city people as we rolled thru the city streets.

Kevin and Larissa made the wine holders

The tram let us off in Wolleshofen. From there everyone rushed to their cars as we had an hour before the next party started. Chris imitated an Indy 500 driver, delivering us to the hotel (WITH AIRCONDITIONING !!! 🤗) 

By 4:30 party was in full swing. Champagne and wine were flowing.

More later

Family Gathering

We're lucky to be Elders in a city with  young & younger family who check in on us. Someone who comes to our door with the missing coffee, warm croissants, homemade jam and juice. Later in the day, while shopping my bags and back pack are in someone else's arm or back. Another picks up the tram pass, makes sure we know which trams to take. We're delivered by one of many autos to and from. Life is good. 

PB and I are capable of managing, tho we have our moments. Still why not save our energy, let others do the heavy lifting?

Yesterday was all about Family. Chris came early to share breakfast. A little later Mikki and Gorgi arrive. Later we walked 5 minutes to have lunch by the lake. 

Afterwards, PB headed back to the apartment to rest. (Yes the temperature humidity still stifling) Mikki, Georgia and I headed to Niederdorf district, me shopping for yarn. I'm making a sweater for Gwen's baby.

Along the way, we stopped at Cafe Schober, introducing Gorgi to a family favorite. 

We hopped on a tram, headed back to the apartment to collect Philip. Then off to Adliswill for a family dinner. It was so much cooler on the mountain, after spritz's dinner was outside.

Hmmm, just realized I took these pics before Gwen arrived. She looks charming and healthy, excited to welcome her baby.

Delivered back to the tram about 10:30, we got off at the wrong stop; aimlessly wandered about on dark street before we got our bearings; got back on a tram, got off at the correct stop - almost across from our apartment building. 😵‍💫

I added pics from the dinner:

OMG the Heat and Humidity!!!

No, it's nothing like the southwest - no, not, nada. But ... most places in Zurich don't have air conditioning. Certainly the very little at the Zurich airport was useless. After the 15 min walk, tram ride to Passport Control, I could barely breathe, my head was soaked - i wondered why I didn't get a buzz cut instead of a trim when I had the chance.

Reality check, high temperature was 86*, humidity 41%, altitude 1339' BUT THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING. I'm from Kentucky, we sit in 78* rooms with the HVAC sucking out the humidity. Ceiling fans in every room.

I'm trying not to visualize Saturday when the festivities start about 10AM and go until ???? My initial expectation was men in suits and women in long flowy dresses. That plan died with the heat and the early morning start. I  didn't see PB dragging a suit (which he'd have to buy - come on, we're retired!) in his newly purchased 21incher. Mikki and I both agreed, long flowy dress was out until evening. Daytime, hopping on and off trams, in and out of cars; flowy loose pants will be fine.

Oh by the way ... I'm not the only one exclaiming about PB's new suitcase. Both Antje and Mikki immediately noticed it. I heard a "oh Phillip, how cute!" Seriously, they never met him without his trunk. On the flip side, there's no more carrying the American grocery store across the pond. He's honored the "could you bring" request more times than I can count.

OK, enough whining about the heat. The trip was smooth. Swiss Air took care of the passengers, very attentive. Tho I'm always puzzled why a large meal is served at 8:30-9pm. I can easily sleep on a plane, sometimes I'm asleep while we're taxing. There's a 6 hr jet lag, knowing we'd have to hit the ground running, I only wanted to sleep.

OK sounds like more whining...

Antje met our plane, saving us at least an hour checking tram/train schedules reaching our apartment in Seefeld, schlepping our suitcases, backpacks behind us. I also had a full sized quilt made by my granother, being gifted to Mikki. 

Luck would have it, Mikki and Gio's plane arrived 30 mins after ours. We had an ecstatic reunion. When Mikki and I said goodbye in Bordeaux 4 yrs ago, we never dreamed Pandemic would hit. Before then, I'd visited at her farm the past 20 years. We came to Zurich 2021, with plans to visit Mikki but many Covid restricts were still in place. Even the Zurich visit was tense with the constant need proving to authorities we were Covid free.

Our apartment is great. 1 bedroom, all rooms are large and airy. There's tram stops to and from city center either right in front or a 2 block walk. 

Tomorrow we have a family dinner at Chris and Antje's. Gwen's husband  arrived from Ireland. Connal is a meteorologist for Ireland's weather service. Killian will miss the dinner as he arrives Friday.

So ends our 1st day - hugs and laughter so outweigh the weather shock.

Kevin's Wedding

We love this kid! Only for him are we doing this. Well not really, the chance to be with Schnorf's and Bravins too much to pass up. And Zurich? It's our 2nd home.

The past 48 hrs I watched Mr. Never-Leave-Home-Without-A-Trunk Phil, stuff everything in his new 21" carry on. AND ... pause for drum roll ... his suitcase is 5 lbs lighter than mine!!! I blame my swishy long gown and the extra shoes to show off my newly painted Pedi.

The new suitcase is due to the last trip. We missed an earlier flight home because we couldn't pick up our luggage, return it fast enough, resulting in a lengthy airport wait, midnight arrival home. We vowed carry-on size suitcases ONLY!

Our friend MF dropped us at the airport. I rarely use a cane these days but it's handy on the long crowded terminal walks. I left it in the car - Me, Mrs-Always-Organized-For-A-Trip. Fortunately, we were the usual hours early, 10 mins later, MF returned with the cane. Thank Goodness! We're now at O'Hare, in the lounge, enjoying snacks and glasses of wine. My Fitbit shows an impressive 7,999 steps. That's mostly O'Hare! Thank you MF!!!♥️

This wedding has been in the planning for a couple of years. Larissa is dear to us. I taught her to play Morgan Pitch many years ago (after threatening Chris & Kevin, with Hell & Damnation, to keep their opinions to themselves.) By the end of the set, Larissa and I were friends for life. And Kev? Kevin's one of ours, along with Mike, Matt, Jacob, Ben and Kil. He's planning a party; not a chance we'll miss it.

Until We Meet Again

Sitting at the airport, Covid clear, boarding pass in hand. We should be home sometime tonite EST.

I don't regret the journey, despite the Covid worry. However, It's going to take some getting used to this type of travel - being cautious and alert. It's the new reality and probably will continue thu my lifetime.

The joy of being reunited with Chris, Antje and Fam is not in any way compromised. We were welcome, exchanged so many laughs and caught up with each other's lives. It was worth the momentary stress and worry. Still, I was relieved to get the Negative Covid test and know I can board the plane home. It's time for everyone to resume our lives.

Sunday was another glorious day.  The 4 of us meandered along Lake Zurich with views of the city and Alps.

Gyro provided laughs. At the start he bounded along, checking out smells and people. Returning, he suddenly became aware he was on a boardwalk. Apparently sharks were swimming below him as he suddenly went into a belly crawl and tail tucked. The original warrior, Geranimo would be aghast.

Schnorfville Rocks January 1, 2022

The Mayor of Schnorfville gathers his subjects:

Something about Chris always reminds me.of Uncle Joe.