So Long, Farewell...

While tomorrow would technically be our last day in Switzerland, we left Bern today to head to Zurich where we would stay overnight for a morning flight out. With that, we considered this our last day here.

You know how Father Time is always yanking living experiences from us and shoving in our hands those ever-fading receipts with “Memory” stamped on them. I understand that those exchanges are not always to be rued, but giving up this Swiss experience for a “Memory Receipt” was going to be painful, and we knew it.

We began the day with our last trip to that delightful bakery around the corner from Pam/Brian’s apartment. We packed like we were under water - deliberate-like slow-motion - until we could put off the train no longer. Brian had started work early so he could join us for dinner in Zurich and Pam was left to deal with our sullen (in my case, probably surly) mood.

The hour train ride to the airport, the shuttle to the hotel to check in, confirmation of the flights the next day and a short walk to the Rumlang train station nearby to return to Zurich had us eating a small bite in the early afternoon at the city Bahnhof.

After that we set off on a small walking tour (any other kind in this place?) of the Bahnhofquai and the city. We went to Fraumunster cathedral with its stunning stained glass windows by Marc Chagall and across the river to Grossmunster where Zwigli reigned in the Reformation. (No pictures allowed inside so they could charge for their postcards.) The Swiss have no shortage of history but this was another beautiful day and we were by the river that had its sidewalk cafes calling us to enjoy their contributions to Swiss culture as well. We succumbed to sit and watch the idyllic scene until we started walking back to meet Brian for dinner. Again, we found an outdoor restaurant and we feasted. To be honest, I’m not sure what we talked about. The end was near. We all walked back to the station, Brian wanting to come with us back to our McHotel (not a joke - it really was!), we saying no, we had to try to get some sleep for the ordeal the next day.

And like that, Brian and Pam were gone. Twelve hours later, so were we.

For all these months - even years, I looked forward to returning to “The Place” I had come to love. My expectations were exceeded, and further enhanced because I could show off my past to Sherry so she could understand why I am, in part, as I am, and to Bree, so she can come back without us and finish this place off right! Even Dave got to be a part of the Act!

But I learned, as travel often teaches, that the highlight of my trip “home” was watching the adventure unfold through the eyes of others - especially Brian and Pam. Their appetite to experience everything this wonderful country has to offer is contagious. And for those out there who have not yet experienced their hospitality in Bern, you may rest assured that you wouldn’t remember so much how gracious they were (though they are) nor how funny they were (though they are) nor how accommodating they were (and, OH, they ARE!) You’d take away the sense that they truly want you to feel the excitement of this special time they are having. They want to Share!

To you, Brian and Pam, we can only say, “Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!” We offer the following as token remembrances, to make reading that fading print on the “Memory Receipt” easier in the future:

Blathering
Chief Monk
More Cow Bell!
Water Slides for Mice
Swiss Killer Swans
5-10 minutes. . . MAX!
Blinders

Lock and Load!
“At least you don’t snore!”
“They don’t give me responsibility.”


Thank you both so much.

See slide show of last day in Switzerland.