Visiting old friends and old haunts in Switzerland - Part 1

Tuesday, July 9th/10th, 2018

These are days in transit as I leave the lovely place of Fort Smith and fly to Edmonton where I have to spend another night in a hotel. This time, I'm staying near the airport as I have to leave early the next morning for Toronto.
Luckily, I am able to send the big suitcase right through to Zurich.
In Toronto, I have quite a few hours to kill at the airport, but I am traveling business class for the long distances, so at least I can get a meal and sit around in comfort in the lounge until I can board my flight for Zurich.


Wednesday, July 11th, 2018

We made good time and arrive in Kloten 20 minutes early. Cousin Juerg duly arrives to pick me up and bring me home to Volketswil. Since today is the day that Yvonne goes to Aquafit classes, we all decide to take a trip to the pool. A very relaxing start of the day.

Now I have to begin organizing my next two weeks, carefully dividing my time between all the people I want to see.
We end the day with a cheese platter of local cheeses.


Thursday, July 12th, 2018

This evening, I am visiting my niece Francesca in Hinwil for dinner. Yvonne and Juerg drop me off as it is quite close for them.  Husband Christof has a business engagement and son Philip is going to the end of school year party, so it is just the two of us for most of the evening.

On the way back from dropping the boy off, Francesca shows me around the area which is beautiful - but then isn't everything in this glorious weather.

Coming back home, I'm given the grand tour of Francesca's studio. She even gives me a glass bead making demo.

Her Harris Tweed products are on display together with the glass beads. It is all very tempting.

Impressive array of coloured glass

My beautiful niece fixing up a necklace for me

Findus the cat is enjoying the terrace

After a platter of totally different local cheeses for dinner, Francesca produces a homemade chocolate cake for my birthday. It's good to get a bit spoiled for a change.

Christof comes home and soon after, it is time for Francesca to go and fetch 12 year old Philip,  and then it is goodbye everybody as Juerg arrives to drive me home.


Friday, July 13th, 2018

This morning, I pack a little case and take a train to Thun where my friend Karin picks me up and brings me home to their farm in Forst.

One of the first things we do is take a walk around the garden, munching on raspberries, gooseberries, blueberries and apricots straight from the tree. What a treat!

The vegetable garden and the ornamental gardens are always a treat too, as is, of course the sight of the cattle.

The biggest treat is yet to come however, as the family gathers for a cheesy lunch. Daughter Livia helps with the preparation, husband Urs comes in from his work on the farm.
Again, the platter is filled with local cheeses which are totally different again.

Karin and I have a bit of girl time until my friends Heidi and Urs pick me up on their way from Gunten.

The next two nights, I am staying with them in Ittigen - and yes there is more local cheese for dinner tonight..
I am definitely cheese-tasting my way around Switzerland.


Saturday, July 14th, 2018

This morning, I get driven to Thesy's place in Ostermundigen. We set off on foot to catch a bus to the Rosegarden. I never visit Bern without a walk around the Rosegarden.

 Rather than wearing ourselves out with too much walking early in the day, we take the bus to go back to town, so we can stroll through the Saturday market. That's something else I try not to miss when I visit my old hometown.

After this short section, the market continues down the next road all the way down to the Cathedral.

We have a quick look in and around the cathedral and then proceed onto the terrace beside it for some special views of the river and the gardens behind the big old houses.

We continue all the way to the Nydegg bridge, from where we can see across to the new Bear Park. It is very hot today and we can't see any sign of movement from here.
However, it is lunchtime, so we decide to settle at the Tram Depot Restaurant by the old Bear Pit and have some lunch while enjoying this postcard view.

After lunch, I just have to have another look around the Bear Park - and lo, suddenly, one of the 3 resident bears puts in an appearance. Thesy recognizes her as the young female, born there about 9 years ago.
She takes a leisurely stroll and then disappears in the bushes. A moment later, she comes back out, goes down to the water and has a good swim and paddle.

 

At this point, my camera battery goes flat. Thank goodness, I have the mobile phone with me.
The young lady has a bit of a play for a while and then climbs out and walks off into a shady spot.
I've seen my Bernese Bear. I'm happy.

Since it is still very hot and it is quite a distance from here to the Daehlhoelzli Zoo, we take the bus again.

The first animals we see there are the Wisent Bison, or European Bison. They have two calves, one of them only a few days old.

Wisents' sense of smell is very well developed, unlike their sight. If an animal looses its herd, it can find fellow members of its species by following its olfaction. It can cover several kilometres on the trail of its colleagues.

 The only other animals who don't seem to be bothered by the heat are the pink flamingoes. They have eight chicks as far as I can tell.

As we walk down towards the river, we see more and more areas where animals reside but are currently hiding in cooler places.

By now, Thesy's partner Urs is catching up with us, so we sit on the terrace of the restaurant, under the huge old  horse chestnut trees and have some ice cream.

We don't feel like doing anymore walking only to find the animals are all elusive. And anyway, my poor old broken toe has done quite well today as it is.

Before getting into the car, we quickly have a look over the Schoenau bridge where swimmers get into the river Aare to swim down to Marzili. Some swimmers come from farther up and there are quite a few boats on the river too.

I learnt to swim in this river and used to be one of those swimmers, occasionally one of those boaters too. It is very tempting.

 

Thesy cooks a lovely meal at home and later on, Urs gives me a lift back to Ittigen. I am so tired that at one point I actually wonder where I'm sleeping tonight.

What a wonderful day it has been!