Goodbye Autumn?

Autumn is fast giving way to Winter, so when I took a walk around our Village this afternoon I took my camera. It's so beautiful here at the moment, and, like I resented Autumn for taking over Summer, I'm also resenting Winter for stealing Autumn.

Perhaps too much resentment? If the seasons could just slow down a little bit, please. Thank you.








I'm off in the morning for Munich, or München, for the weekend. Hopefully there'll still be some leaves left on the trees there! I'll let you know...

WBSD: Burn, Böögg, Burn!

Wilkommen! Today I'm blogging as part of a World Blog Surf Day - a giant circle of crazy expats who choose to release their blogging powers into cyber space and allow some serious armchair travel.

More details at the end of the blog!

I want to share with you a celebration that is now very near and dear.

A year ago? Wasn't even on my radar. Now, I am hoping and wishing and praying and pleading that I will be around next year to experience it again.

The Burning of the Böögg. (Also known as Sechseläuten)

I don't care too much for the Böögg, so it's ok if he gets burnt.

Let me explain.

Somewhere back in April I had to come via the Zurich City on my way to a weekend away in the mountains. I was meeting friends briefly and I'd heard rumours of a giant snowman being burnt? What was that all about, anyway? But when I got off a very full train, I found myself in a crushing crowd of people.

I hate crowds of people.

Detest. Loathe. Abhor. Despise. Etc.

I couldn't understand the attraction. A big bonfire? A strange looking snowman thing made of wood and not snow?

Why were all these people here and where had they come from? There was so many.

The idea of the tradition if that they'll burn the snowman (false advertising - he is NOT made of snow), correctly know as the Böögg and depending on how long it takes for him to burn, depends on how good the summer will be.

I was skeptical.

At best.

It's just an opportunity to get out, party, and to eat and drink and be merry. Around a (albeit rather large) bonfire with NO marshmallows.

Go home, and let me through this crazy crowd.

Fast forward 6+ months.

I think I've been talked 'round. I've had a summer in Switzerland.

And it's been the most glorious, amazing, beautiful, glorious, spectacular, delightful, marvelous, splendiferous, and did I mention glorious, summer I have ever been a part of.

There is nothing like a sunny summer's day here in Switzerland - thousands of meters up, high on an Alp or two and being a part of such gloriousness.

Now I understand why everyone made such a fuss about Summer coming.

The Burning of the Böögg is now my absolute favourite holiday.

And next year? I will front of the crowd, throwing matches, and begging the Böögg to burn fast.

Oh Summer. How I loved thee. Who loved Summer? Hands up!

Thanks for being a part of the World Blogger Surf Day.

Next on the list is the World Wide Westfields and They too will be blogging on their favourite holiday/celebration.

But don't forget that the Burning of the Böögg is really the best :)

And the WBSD's events will be reported throughout the day on Twitter, by Karen of Empty Nest Expat - Karen is an American expat blogger last seen in Prague. The Wall Street Journal said, "Her blog makes a fun read for anyone looking for reassurance that change can be a wonderful thing--and also for anyone interested in visiting the Czech Republic."

A Royal Visit & A Plastic Silver Sword

I know I should be blogging about Greece. And Holland. Report of dream holiday is overdue. I know.
But I must admit the prospect of going through all those photos is daunting. And so I'm putting it off to the weekend. Somebody, make me do it on the weekend, please.
PS: Weekend, where are you? Why are you taking so long to get here?!


But in other news, I was picnic-ing at the Lindenhof (a beautiful park overlooking Zurich, and includes the oldest wall in Zurich) yesterday. Nicole and I were sitting on the wall, braving the cold weather (did I tell you it's winter here now? So rude!) and out of the corner of my eye I notice a man.
Nothing unusual.
Except that he's donning a cape/coat.
A red one with fur trim.
He's putting on a gold crown.
He's mumbling out over Zurich.
Maybe he's cold. Coat and Crown keeps you and your head warm.
He's taking out a plastic silver sword.
Holding it to the sky.
He's got a huge book. He's either got really bad eyesight and needs extra large print or he's stolen a prop from Snow White.
He's reading from the book, mumbling, waving the sword around.
The police drive by. Surely, I think, they must think this odd.
They slowly drive by, bemused looks on their faces.
Arrest him! I want to scream at them. Lock him away!
But they do nothing.
What if he's casting a spell over Zurich?
Perhaps winter will disappear. Please stay, strange kingly man. Bring summer back.
But then he closes the book and and puts it in a shopping bag.
The sword, crown and cape/coat soon follow.
Soon he is a normal man again.
A normal man surrounded by shopping bags at the oldest wall in Zurich.
I wait for winter to melt away and summer to return.
Nothing.
I give him the benefit of the doubt. These things take time.
Still, nothing.
Arrest him! I want to scream. Lock him away!
But now he's just a normal man.
A normal man with a plastic silver sword poking out the top of his shopping bag.



*I managed to take a photo of the strange kingly man. I needed it to prove my story.

One Big Giant Cliche

Craziness.

Swiss fam left this morning for their holidays.

Mum and Dad arrived this week on Tuesday and it's crazy that they're here in my little world over here.

Swiss fam has been lovely about having Mum and Dad here...and I was so proud of the girls for using the English with my parents and they have been so good at talking with my parents.

MLF3 even wanted to call them on the phone last night when they were out - to tell them to come home.

Have been showing Zurich to them this week and they've gone off exploring by themselves this afternoon (will they come back alive?!)


We're heading off to Venice tomorrow morning - (rather early, what was I thinking?!)


Had the most amazing weekend last weekend in the mountains. It was like one big giant cliche. Green hills, snow capped mountains, mountain huts, cows, cow bells....always cow bells....so many cow bells...



Seriously if I was a cow and I had to hear the bell in my face every time I moved I would want to hurt someone....




We cooked over an open fire, slept in the straw and didn't shower. Ahhh.
We had to apologize to the lady who had to sit with us on the train coming home...I learnt how to apologize for stinking in German!

We also went rock climbing - on real rock walls - out in the mountains! So crazy.
It's completely different to indoor rock climbing. You spend this time practicing at the climbing centres, but when you're out on cliff?! it's a whole other game.


You can't really prepare for it - you can try, but until you get out there and do it, it's hard to understand what it is like.


And it's so much better. The view is amazing - and it's worth it.
It's worth the effort, the sweat, the strength.


So much better!

Untitled.

After listening to an evening of both Swiss German and High German I had a couple of epiphanies.

1.0 High German is good. Swiss German is not good. Hochdeutsch ist gut. Schweizerdeutsch ist nicht gut.
1.1 Perhaps I have learnt something after all in German class. I actually understood parts of the High German conversation. I probably made up a lot in my head, but I think I actually understood stuff.
1.2 They actually change rules of pronunciation in Swiss German. Surely this is not legal?


I spent a couple of hours this morning enjoying the sunshine at a new-found spot by the lake. It was just perfect.
2.0 It was only 10 minutes walk from home.
2.1 Entry is via the cemetery. And I was amazed at the perfect condition in which the cemetery and graves were kept. Then again, it is Switzerland - they would not have it any other way.
2.2 You can swim here. There was someone swimming there but I didn't want to get too close - I don't think he had any clothes on. I guess when you enter via the cemetery....
2.3 I would show you photos of this beautiful spot but I want to keep it all for myself...and I forgot my camera.


And in other news, I have been spending quite a bit of time looking up travel plans for when Mum and Dad come to visit. Only 4 weeks today!! I booked Zurich to Venice and the ticket office gave me a box of pasta to 'get me in the spirit of Italy.' I love free stuff...even if it is just pasta...

He Who Hesitates is Lost (But Sometimes it's not Their Fault!)

Tuesday afternoons involve horse riding lessons.
Thankfully, they don't involve me mounting said horse or any such nonsense. We all know how that story would go.

It does however, include me driving a big car with 4 girls in the back for a half hour each way. This trip includes many MANY requests on CD, song and volume change (I now know why this frustrated my parents so much) but it is a spectacular view all the way there.
Not that I would *cough* know; I'm *cough* concentrating on driving.

Today it included a rather large detour. The turn-off for horse-riding was closed and apparently a detour was in place.
It wasn't.
I ended up getting further and further away on the highway having no idea where I was and the poor girls were a bit tense.
We were going to be late.
They show stress in different ways.
MLF2's body tenses up and she is very alert but very quiet. I hear an audible sigh when stressful situation passes.
MLF3 just sits there singing to herself. And repeatedly asking for more music.
MLF1 is most helpful when I have no clue to our location. She is remarkably clear-headed and sensible and clever for a 10 year old.

I finally exited the highway and after asking for directions from some poor unsuspecting Swiss farmers I followed my nose and we made it to the lesson only 12 minutes late.
I was quite proud of myself. My nose had worked quite well.

I think the horse hair or something affected it though, because the trip home was too eventful.
I missed the first turn off because I simply didn't recognize it. Walk it off.
I missed the second one because MLF3 says the next right when we are passing that next right.
I missed the third one due to a disagreement between MLF1 & MLF2 as to the correct path.

And so it was no surprise when MLF1 kindly pointed out our street and said I should turn left.
And I proceeded to feel as small as MLF3.

Synchronized Relaxation

Spring has sprung and yesterday was so beautiful.
Problem was, everyone in Zurich thought so and they all apparently decided to come and picnic at the same place as I.

Just this last week, I was re-telling MLF3 the story of the Berenstain's Bears - The Bear's Picnic, from which the following illustration is from.
And then yesterday I felt like I was a part of the story (see above photo...)



For a country that has a reputation of citizens generally keeping to themselves, the Swiss don't seem to mind group relaxation. I find it bizarre. But I guess I come from Australia - land of the wide open spaces - where you can picnic in peace.
I'm thinking this could be the next tourism punchline for Australia.

Australia. Picnic in Peace.

I'm loving Spring here - it's such an obvious change. Having said that, today is an overcast grouchy day, but yesterday ... by the lake ... kind of covers for it.

Life with Different Sized Feet

I knew it was time for a visit to the Brocki House/Salvation Army/Opp Shop/Second Hand Store.
I know this because yesterday I was walking in our village and my heart quickened when it saw second hand clothing in the window of a shop. Thankfully I have a quicker brain because it was a Dry Cleaner's shop.
Close call. That could have been embarrassing.

It did make me wonder if many people ever go into clothing repair shops, dry cleaners etc and just browse through the items.

And so today i set out in search of a form of heaven on earth and went to one right next to the main train station in Zurich.
I did discover that my feet are not the same size as each other. Or perhaps that pair of shoes didn't quite match up.
I hope it was the latter.
I was pretty happy to discover a Europe travel book (this will of course save me money in the long run) and a cute little handbag (this will help carry my money for the long run).

And so for now I feel content. Until I see the next dry cleaner's shop.

Sliding Down a Fireman's Pole is Harder Than it Looks.

After my rather eventful night on Saturday night and morning with Mr winking Policeman on Sunday, I was ready for a sleep.
I said goodbye to the policeman and looked at the time and realized that it was much later than I thought.
I had a very important meeting penciled into my diary.

Well, actually I don't have a diary, but if I did it would have been in it.

I was meeting fellow blog people face to face. Yes, we do have faces. We were meeting at the Zurich Google Office for a tour and initial meeting and then heading to a coffee shop for a larger gathering.

And now, because of worst nightmare and follow up visit from a winking policeman, I was going to be rather late.

I got out of the house and onto the train after getting ready in record time and without really finding out where the Google office was. How hard could it be? I just had to look for a big Google sign, right?

I got to the station where I knew the office was and after having a look around, I asked a couple waiting for the bus.
When the lady said, "Google....hmmm...does that have to do with computers?" I knew it had been a bad choice of unsuspecting help.
I moved onto the couple next to them and they, again, wanted to help, but obviously had no idea.
Along the line I moved again (literally) and the next lady could tell me where the old Google office was and had a vague idea where the new one was and so I followed her vague directions.
She was right, it was quite a hike, but I was only a little late. I'm not Swiss, and I've only been here for 2 months so I tell myself this is a pardonable sin.

It was quite bizarre meeting people, who, before this point, had been no more than text on a web page. But such a lovely bizarre meeting. I really really enjoyed it. Much more than I thought I would (walking into a room of complete strangers is not one my favourite tasks!).
So good to put faces to names and meet so many new friends!

And the Google offices - ahhhhhh.
I have decided I think I should work for Google.
To help me with this decision, I have started a pros and cons list.

PROS

• Floors/Levels with themes - including a yellow one.
• Little conference rooms in old ski gondolas.
• A fake library with a fake fire.
• Computer IT help on site.
• Super nice people work there (well, the ones I met were super nice)
• White Kit Kat Chunky bars just waiting for people to eat them in baskets everywhere.
• 2 Firemen's poles and a slippery slide at different locations throughout the building if you're feeling the need for a lift-alternative.
• Kitchens everywhere with gleaming coffee machines. Mmm.

CONS

• No Engineering or IT degree.

After seeing it all so clearly laid out, I don't know why I didn't think of this before.

After the blogger coffee experience (which included us taking up half of the shop and a waiter who was obviously on a too-much coffee high) I met up with Ma and Pa and MLFs to take MLFs home via the train whilst Ma and Pa enjoyed some Cinema action.

The train - a fun experience with MLF3. She kept repeating our station over to herself and then to me to check she had it right, and whenever the voice-over would come on she would sshhhh us so that she could make sure we got home ok.

I did spend half the trip ready to make a run for it if Mr Ticket Inspector showed his face. I didn't have a ticket for MLF2 and didn't realize until we were halfway home. And I know an au pair who got caught with her ticket-less child on the train and they had to go to the Police Station where they accused her of kidnapping. And slapped with her with a large fine.
Needless to say, this story was present in my mind but thankfully we got home-free.
Phew.

I plan to include a list of these wonderful blogs on this blog soon...so keep an eye out.
Also keep an eye out for white Kit Kat chunky bars and fake-order-online Engineering or IT degree certificates. I'm keen for either. Or both.

The Real Reason I Came to Switzerland.

It is here I feel my people calling me.
The car almost has my name on. Literally.

















This makes me happy.













There are giant gold rabbits just sitting around.
I wanted my photo taken with them.
But they just hopped away whenever I went near them.
















This one is not real. It is just a blow-up one.























I get excited over the hanging eggs. Or some other such delight.












Aisles and aisles of goodness.
A glass and a half in ...every...bunny?
Or is that the competition?
Cadbury who?












Trolleys. This made me laugh.
Just as if you were grocery shopping.












The street smelled like chocolate.
I'm not joking.
And they were sooooo good.


















And so I set my sights on bigger things.
But - my eyes were too big for my stomach.
I couldn't get through it all.








Location: Kilchburg, Switzerland.
Date: March 18, 2009.
Dedicated to My Mother - who first got the (red) ball rolling on Operation Eat Lindt.*



*Am I funny or what? I think I hear Les calling my name!

Toto, We're not in Kansas anymore.

I've spent many hours wandering around Zurich in the last days and seen many strange and wondrous things.
Some I've understood.
Some I haven't. Actually, most I haven't.
Mostly I've just been reminded that I'm quite far from home.

Yet again, surprised by the innovation of the Swiss. So clever. I almost wish I were Swiss.




I said almost. Imagine having to deal with the best of Swiss gastro!

It wasn't that good. Quite disappointing actually. Still, a McDonut was hard to resist.

It was a bowl of broccoli. I'm serious. And I don't think it was for eating.

Zurich has a giant toy store. Floors and floors of toys and things and lollies and fun and crazy kids whining and cranky parents and declined credit cards and stuff and stuff and stuff.
But who cares? I got a photo next to a life sized unicorn! How cool am I?

And - something not so far from home....Charlie & Lola! (Actually Clarice Bean, but same dif). Hooray for me! I would have bought the card for myself, but I'm feeling fine so not really appropriate.

And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street

I love the Dr Suess book - And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street. I was telling a friend about it the other day. In it, a father tells his child to be aware of what he sees throughout the day so that he can come home and tell his dad all about it. Some pretty amazing things happen in the book - and I had a few little inner laughs today as I explored some new streets of Zurich.


A lady dressed in red with a very large basket of strawberries. I think she chose strawberries because they matched her outfit. And she ate them in the space of 15 minutes. From Zurich HB to about Kusnacht Goldbach.
I couldn't believe it. I was wishing I was wearing red so that she might offer me one. Or two.
Then she unwrapped a beautiful box of chocolates. But she was just looking. She re-wrapped and put them back in her bag.
They wouldn't have matched her outfit.

A young punk with a musical instrument case on his back. A violin perhaps? I started to follow him as I had been searching for the Zurich Music Conservatorium. Just to have a look. I followed him for a few minutes - inconspicuously of course. He'd stop and turn around. And I would be engrossed with my watch.
Or oops! My shoelace needed tying.
Alas, he lead me to ... his motorbike. Not the Music Con.

A man in black - the national Swiss colour. He was wrapped up in so many layers, in fact it was hard to find him. I asked him if he knew where the train station was. He apologized - he didn't speak English. And then I apologized - I didn't speak German. So I put my hands in a questioning pose and asked for the bahnhoff. He then rattled off a big long list of directions - in German of course. After many wild gestures, I set off in the general direction. I think I need to take an express German course.

Peter Dinklage - only much taller. You know the actor who plays Trumpkin in Prince Caspian and the dwarf in Death at a Funeral? Today he was running really fast towards me. Except he was much much taller. And he was huffing and puffing and looking really angry.
Ok, so if it wasn't Peter Dinklage, then maybe this man needs to team up with him - so that he can play both short and tall characters.
I tried to tell him this as he shot past me, but he didn't seem to keen.
His loss.

Half a dozen little kids on little kiddy cars trying to cross the road. With only one adult. They all looked about 2. Apparently kids develop early in Switzerland. But seriously, I really wonder what they were doing. First one across is the winner??

Lots and lots of people at Brocki-Land. I felt somehow connected to them all. I walked in and instantly felt at home :) It seriously is the thrill of the hunt for me at second-hand stores. I love it. It was huge - I kept rounding corners and going down stairs to find aisles and aisles of stuff. So much stuff. I didn't really need anything but it was therapy just to look...
But of course, I couldn't leave empty handed.
I left Brocki-Land quite some time after I entered and when I left it was snowing. I need to become more swiss and carry an umbrella. I've never carried an umbrella in my life!

Ruby Tuesday

Last night we were exploring a few side alleys walkways on the outskirts of Zurich. (It's amazing - so much history everywhere. Tiny, skinny walkways are well-used thoroughfares and there are little hidden shops and cafes to be found.)
At one point my ears pricked up and I could hear some good acoustic guitar. And so we followed the sound until we found him in a corner.
He was in his own little world and singing a song that I can't quite remember. He had his face painted and was just playing away by himself.
It is the festival of Fasnacht here at the moment. I don't quite understand the full meaning but it literally means 'fasting eve.' It falls before the beginning of Lent, I think, and they traditionally 'let their hair down before they have to put it up (for Lent), so to speak.
I think.
Anyway, there have been some pretty weird and wonderful costumes and processions and crazy music happening around Zurich. *Side note: today I was stuck following a yak (I think it was a yak) who was wearing a red coat and a pretty dress and he was walking with his wife (or lady friend) who was dressed normally. Awkward. And then awkward later on when the same yak wanted to use the train ticket machine at the same time as me and I was trying to translate German and I was slow and trying to work out money and just awkward.

Anyway.

I went into all that because I assumed the guitar man had his face painted for Fasnacht.
When I first found him I had tears come to my eyes because his music was so beautiful. I don't think he was particularly musically talented, but somehow it was so beautiful.
The acoustics of the narrow but high passageway were amazing.

I mentioned to my friend (the out-going au pair) that I found it hard to take him seriously - with his face paint and wig. It was beautiful but bizarre.

And then he began to sing Ruby Tuesday.

We listened in silence and then she said that maybe his disguise was the reason he could play. Maybe it gave him the courage to put himself out there like he was.
Or maybe he was Keith Richards, the Rolling Stone who wrote the song.

And I've had Ruby Tuesday in my head most of the day. And it's been good to be reminded not to take people at face value, to judge by appearance.

This is rather relevant to me at the moment - for a time and place when everybody I meet is new to me. It's overwhelming. But I still need and want to make an effort with each one. Perhaps to even use my disguise of anonymity to give me the courage to put myself out there. And to treat people like Jesus did, as Donald Miller mentions in his book Blue Like Jazz (favourite quote of last year :))

"Jesus - didn't just love me out of principle...
I think I realized that if I walked up to His campfire, He would ask me to sit down, and He would ask me my story...He would look me directly in the eye, and He would speak to me;
He would tell me the truth,
and I would sense in his voice
and in the lines on his face
that
He
liked
me."

So thanks Mr. Anon Guitar Man, or Keith Richards - whoever you were. And not just for some really great music.


----And I've almost eaten an entire block of Lindt chocolate whilst writing this. Living with Swiss benefits eh? -----

Freitag on Wednesday

On my first excursion into Zurich we went to... Actually I don't really remember - so many trains and trams and footsteps and I really don't have much of a clue where I was. I'm hoping future aimless wanderings around the city will orientate me better.

BUT
we did go to this store - the Freitag Store. They sell bags. Apparently these bags are currently all the rage in Switzerland.

They are made of tarps -only used tarps - tarps from trucks - no two bags are the same - they're all hand cut - you can wash them in the washing machine -
They're not cheap by any standard - approx $200AU for a standard bag, but I guess you get an original bag? And the admiration of your fellow Swiss. And, my stare. Now that I've been acquainted with Freitag, I can't help but see them everywhere.

So they're all made of recyclable materials - and not just the bags - but the store as well.

Check it out - the store is made of shipping containers. How bizarre. Bizarre, but very cool.
Brings a whole new meaning to green.


I climbed all the way to the top - surrounded by bags, bags and more bags. I took photos of the view - but not the bags. Oops, sorry.

And, somewhat appropriately - next door I spotted the Brocki - the Salvation Army Opp Shop. If I can find my way back there (slim chance but I shall definately try!) this is my next stop.