Switzerland absolutely amazes me. It is so clean and pristine.
In the Summer, the Alps look like someone has carpeted them in a plush green carpet. The grass is so green that it almost doesn’t look real. If it doesn’t look like carpet, then it looks like someone has mown the grass so that every blade has been measured in equal height. It’s pure perfection.
I kept feeling like I was in The Truman Show and someone was going to roll the movie set back-drop up. Imagine the green hills (yes, you will want to sing “The Hills are Alive”), beautiful cows with cow bells and wooden chalets dotted around. Don’t be surprised if you have a strange craving for cheese and chocolate (not together though.)
In Winter, it’s a Winter Wonderland with the whitest of snow, twinkling lights, gluhwein, hot chocolate and cheese fondues. I can’t wait to return with Sox one Winter for him to experience that magic.
They love their flowers and there are flowers in every city, on the streets and on every chalet window sill. They also love a good fountain. The churches are beautiful and you can hear the church bells every hour and half hour. It really is sensational.
Gran, Sox and I head out in my uncle Paul’s car to Appenzell. Sox was driving and I couldn’t help laughing at his concentration face. I was in charge of reminding him to “Keep right” and directing him thanks to Google Maps.
I also managed to snap a few photos from our moving car…
We made our way to Appenzell, a town that’s 30 minutes away from where my Gran lives. We found parking and walked around the town…
If the buildings aren’t wooden, then they’re painted brightly…
The town was so quiet because it’s Summer holidays and most of the town was away on their own vacation.
You can wander the streets looking at all the souvenirs… Cow bells and Swiss Army Knives are plentiful, but shop around for the best price.
Don’t you love the names on the souvenir cups? Told you we were in Heidi land.
Best friends…
After a good walk around, being careful not to overdo it too much with my Gran, we headed back to the square. That square is a parking lot now, but it is also where the locals gather to vote. Only since 1971 have women been allowed to vote in the elections. Crazy!
We headed to Hotel Santis for lunch…
I didn’t feel like anything heavy so I had a selection of cold meats and strong cheeses. So strong, you only need a little nibble between eating the cold meat slices and pickles.
My Gran had the Welsh Rarebit – the cheese was so gooey…
Sox had the winner – Schnitzel and salad.
I ordered a Rivella, a Swiss soft drink, for Sox to try.
After lunch we drove back to Bulgach. We dropped my Gran off so she could rest and we went exploring the village in search of Swiss chocolate. If I was going to cheat on my sugar free lifestyle, I was going to do it with this…
This is the view from my Gran’s home. Those mountains in the distance are Austria. We spent the night chatting over tea and going down my Gran’s memory lane… Again, we didn’t want to go to bed but eventually I couldn’t fight the sleepy urge anymore.
The following morning, we packed our bags and gave my Gran a huge hug. Both Sox and I felt really emotional leaving my Gran… I’m so sad we only had 2 days with her, but at the same time, thanks to New York falling through, I’m really glad that we even got to visit her at all!
We packed the car and set off to drive the 2,5 hours to Zug, but not before we did a little detour to St. Gallen, where we visited a 1000 year old library! More of that tomorrow…
7 Comments
Wow…Switzerland is really something out of a postcard!!! Your photo’s have left me mesmerized 😉 x
September 19, 2016 at 8:15 amThanks Megan… Wait until you see the next parts of Switzerland – simply incredible!!
September 19, 2016 at 9:44 amWow…looks so good. You are right picture postcard perfect. Awesome photo’s by the way. Your trip so far is wonderful. Makes you just want to go inside the photos and experience it for yourself.
September 19, 2016 at 1:53 pmI’m thrilled the photos invoke that feeling! I’m so glad! Thanks for reading xx
September 20, 2016 at 9:33 amAbsolutely spectacular and just unbelievably beautiful. My “Brunner” side is Swiss and I can’t help feeling drawn by this heritage when reading your blog. Thank you for sharing this special trip with all of us.
September 19, 2016 at 6:36 pmI’m so glad you are enjoying this – makes me so happy!
September 20, 2016 at 9:32 am[…] If you have missed out on the other Swiss posts, I’d suggest you go back. Part 1, Part 2 and Part […]
September 21, 2016 at 3:01 pm