Settling In - Chelsea's Way

Tuesday morning got off to a great start: Pam and I went for an invigorating run along the Aare River, across the Nydeggbrucke Bridge on the eastern tip of Old Town, past the famous Zytglogge (clock tower), and over the Kirchenfeldbrucke Bridge on the way back home. We arrived just as the FedEx trucked pulled up with the computer we shipped from NY several days earlier (what timing!). We also met one of our neighbors, Irene, on our way up to our apartment. She was very pleasant and spoke enough English to recommend a swim in the river Aare this summer, “like the locals do” she said with a smile.

Just as we were beginning to savor the thought of a leisurely swim in the river on a nice summer day, we opened the door to our apartment and were greeted with a pungent odor – Chelsea had taken our absence as an opportunity to reliever herself for the first time in three days on the $1000 couch. Our disgust quickly turned to panic as we realized the owner, George, was stopping by in less than two hours to introduce himself and drop off the inventory list for our signature! I quickly ran (uphill, no less) to the local store to pick up air freshener, and anything else that could disguise the smell of cat urine in our apartment while Pam helped sponge down the couch. We managed to get the place in barely passable shape just in time. I’m sure we seemed quite nervous and edgy as George walked through the living room, but he didn’t say anything – phew!!

We spent the rest of the day trying to get the smell out of cushion and taking care of other administrative items like getting Pam’s paperwork in order for her residence permit, buying cell phones, and shopping for a proper litter box -- up until now we had been using a small cardboard box, which might explain why Chelsea preferred the couch. :) The day ended just as it had started – on a good note – as Pam and I polished off some Swiss Gruyere and wine while enjoying the partial view of the sunset over the Aare River from our balcony. Chelsea meanwhile spent the night sulking under the bench in the kitchen.