Apero

Tonight was my farewell party at the EBK.  In Switzerland, it is tradition that the person leaving buys all the food and drinks for everyone (or at least that's what my work colleagues told me!).  Anyway, it was a great time.  I was surprised at how many people came.  

I wanted to thank them for all their generosity and kindness in making our experience here so wonderful.  While there is no doubt my language skills did not progress as well as I had hoped (or they had hoped), the were very gracious in making me feel comfortable by speaking English around me.  I had the opportunity to work on many interesting and challenging projects, and I wanted to thank them for including me so openly as a member of their team.  I also wanted to thank them for all their great travel ideas.  No doubt, for anybody who ran into me on Monday morning over the past nine months knows that Pam and I have traveled A LOT!  We have criss-crossed Switzerland many times.  It is a beautiful country with so much natural beauty.  

But, most importantly, I wanted to thank them for not just treating me as a work colleague but as a member of the their extended family.  They invited Pam and I into their homes for dinner, they invited us out for a day of hiking, they even invited me for a swim in the Aare.  I have formed many lasting friendships here in Switzerland.    While I have many fond memories of my experience here, the most lasting will be the great times shared with others.  

When people ask me back home what I think about Switzerland, I would say:  the only thing more delightful than the Swiss countryside is the Swiss people themselves.

Here are a few pictures from my Apero.  

Snow in Bern!

It has been snowing pretty heavy here in Bern in recent days.  I am told this is somewhat unusual for mid-December.  I guess Switzerland is leaving us a nice good-bye gift.  Anyway, I took the camera along on my way to work this morning.   See pictures of the snow.  

Looking back through some old blog entries, it struck me to see how much the city and its flora changes through the different seasons.  I am so glad we were able to capture it for posterity's sake.

Gstaad - Day 2

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland!  The view from the balcony off our hotel room was amazing.  It looked like the entire village of Gstaad had been dipped in white frosting.  After breakfast, we went for a walk around town.  

Gstaad is best known for its skiing and spas.  While a few slopes were open during our visit, many of the luxury spas were closed (the high season was still a couple weeks away).  The Palace Hotel -- perched on a nearby hill, towering over the tiny village like Mad Ludwig's castle --  is one of the Gstaad's most famous spa resorts.  We decided to walk up the hill to see if it was open.  It wasn't.  But the views were still worth the trip.  

Pam was getting a little cold, so we walked back down to the village for some hot chocolate and enjoyed what appeared to be a junior hockey tournament being held on one of the outdoor rinks.  Hockey is apparently pretty popular in these parts.  Anyway, after the hot chocolate it was time to get back on the train to Bern.  So long Gstaad...for now!  See pictures from Gstaad Day 2.

Video:

"Bye Gstaad"

Train ride back home.

Gstaad

With only a few weeks left before our adventure in Switzerland ends, we decided to visit Gstaad for an overnight. Gstaad is located in the southern part of the canton of Bern in the Bernese Oberlands (Bernese highlands). Our guide book says it is a "see-and-be-seen spot" and one of Switzerland's most glamorous ski resorts. We just had to check this place out!

We left by train late Saturday morning and headed south via Spiez and Zweisimmen for the two hour ride to Gstaad. As it turns out, Gstaad is located along the "Golden Pass" -- a scenic train ride which links Central Switzerland and Lake Geneva. We snuck into first class at Zweisimmen and enjoyed stunning panaromic views as the train meandered through the snow covered mountain passes. 

Once in Gstaad, we checked into our hotel (Hotel Alphorn), and then quickly headed out for some delicious fondue and raclette. Yum! We had only enough energy left for a quick nightcap and a cigar before the cheese-induced coma took full effect.  We were soon out for the night. See photos.

Videos:

Heading to Gstaad.

Entering the tunnel.

Exiting the tunnel.

Plowing through the snow.

Liechtenstein

Pam and I had talked about visiting Liechtenstein since we first arrive, but we never made it -- until now!  Honestly, there was not much to see.  The country is only slightly bigger than Manhattan, but it actually feels smaller because two thirds is covered by mountains.  The country is 5km wide and about 30km long.  The Rhine River plain that runs along the western border is really the only inhabitable area.  

We took a bus from the Swiss city of Sargans to the capital of Vaduz (no border control).  The bus ride itself basically took us through the southern half of the country.  We did not see much of interest except a quaint castle in the village of Blazers.  So, we decided to spend more time exploring Vaduz.   After the obligatory visit to the post office, where we bought some souvenir postage stamps and mailed several post cards, we walked to the Vaduz Castle (a.k.a. Schloss Vaduz).  

The castle looms over the capital from the hill above, although it is closed to the public because the royal family is still living there (Liechtenstein is a monarchy).  The views from the castle were worth the climb, but we didn't stay long.  We were hungry, so after a few pictures, we walked back down to the city for lunch.  I discovered a delightful beer from the Liechtensteiner Brauhaus, which proudly displayed the logo: "Eins Land, Eins Bier."  Pretty cool.  Doubt I'll be able to find that beer back in New York!

After lunch, we got back on the bus and headed north toward the villages of Schaan, Nendeln, and Schellenberg.  Nothing compelled us to get off the bus at those places, so we just stayed in our seats until we crossed the border into Austria.  When we finally got off the bus in Feldkirch, it was official: we had stepped foot in all five countries bordering Switzerland -- Italy, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Austria.  We walked around Feldkirch for a little bit and stumbled across a street fair, where I enjoyed some fried dough before we got back on the train and headed back home.  See slide show from the day.

Videos:

Schloss Vaduz

Austria!!

Zibelemärit

While Thanksgiving spirit over here may be lacking, the Bernese have their own traditions to celebrate. Today is "Zibelemärit" (onion market). It is a traditional folk festival where farmers from the surrounding area bring more than 50 tons of onions into the capital to sell. It is only celebrated in Bern. According legend, the Bernese awarded the people from the nearby city of Fribourg the right to sell onions in the city as reward for their aid after a fire destroyed much of Bern in 1405.

I'm told as darkness falls, the streets of central Bern erupt with partying that includes confetti battles, street jesters, and locals in onion costumes. Very strange. I'm thinking I know a few people that might fit right in with this crowd! :)  See pictures.

Videos:

Zibelemarit

Berlin Calling

We got off to a late start on Sunday after our whirlwind tour of Berlin the day before.  Leaving Austin behind at the hotel (he was still recovering), Pam and I decided to return to the Riechstag to see if we could visit the dome.  The Reichstag dome is an iconic glass dome constructed on top of the Reichstag building.  If nothing else, it looked like there might be some nice views of Berlin from up there.  We stood in line out in the cold for about 45 minutes before finally getting in.  It was getting dark by this time, but I was able to get a few pictures off.  

After walking around on the top of the Reichstag for a little bit, we decided to head to a nearby restaurant called Die Eins.  The food was ok, but the real attraction was the nice location right along the river.  Dorthe and Austin met us at the restaurant afterward.  

We crossed into east Berlin and visited the Tacheles -- a squatting artists' paradise.  Dorthe explained that artists (illegally) moved into the building after the Berlin Wall came down 19 years ago and turned it into one of the best-known exhibition spaces in the city.  To be honest, it kind of felt like squatters had been living there for 19 years.  The central stairwell smells of marijuana and urine. The structure is missing its back wall, and what remains of the building is covered in graffiti and peeling posters.  It was no doubt an interesting place to visit.

After our tour of Tacheles, we decided to go see a movie at a nearby theater.  The movie was called Berlin Calling, an independent german film with english subtitles.  It wasn't bad.  After the movie, we said goodbye to Dorthe and thanked her for her wonderful hospitality.  Then Austin, Pam, and I headed back to our hotel for some rest.  We flew back home the next morning -- us to Zurich, Austin to LA via New York.  All in all, it was a great weekend.

 

See photos of second day in Bern.

Videos:

Tour of Tacheles