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Wrestling with Time
Forever Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1872 – 1906 I had not known before Forever was so long a word. The slow stroke of the clock of time I had not heard. ‘Tis hard to learn so late; It seems no sad heart really learns, But hopes and trusts and doubts and fears, And bleeds and burns. The night is not all dark, Nor is the day all it seems, But each may bring me this relief— My dreams and dreams. I had not known before That Never was so sad a word, So wrap me in forgetfulness— I have not heard.
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A New Hang Out
A few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon our family decided to take a train to the city of Thun so we could jump on a boat to visit a castle that sits on Lake Thun. It is a place that we have seen many times but never gone. Well, we finally did. And then I had to go back!! For those who have come for a visit or have experienced the Swiss transportation system on your own you know that the efficiency and quality make traveling around this beautiful country very easy. We have become very accustomed to the accessibility of all forms of transportation that taking a trip…
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Finding Freedom
I recently read an article that suggested that those over the age of 70 feel more content and are happier now more than at any other point in their lives. Some of the reasons proposed were more free time to do what they enjoyed such as hobbies and spending time with family and friends. Other reasons suggested worrying less and not caring what other people think anymore. What freedom. Freedom to do what you want, and whom to do it with, yet more importantly experiencing an interior freedom as well. I am a few years from 70, well 30 to be exact in September, but I long for the interior…
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Year Two
And just like that, the second year has come and gone. It is hard to believe that we have been calling Switzerland our home now for two years. This year was a wonderful year of travel (5 different countries), many great family visits, and tremendous growth and experiences for our two boys. Although there is much that is the same from our first year (here is a link to that list), namely, the beauty of the country, the balanced pace of life, and especially making sure that we have 2 CHF on us at all times for the WC, things have definitely changed a bit during our second year. Things…
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A Quick Day Trip to Luzern, Switzerland
With one sick child at home over the weekend, and the other not wanting to leave the house because the only thing that he wanted to do was to ride his bike, I decided to take a quick day trip to Luzern, Switzerland. After missing the 8 am bus to our village, I began the journey on foot down the hill to catch the train. One of the great aspects of living in Switzerland is not only its proximity to other neighboring European countries but the size of the country itself. Living relatively in the middle of the country in Bern, it allows you to virtually go to many different…
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Solothurn, Switzerland
What a beautiful little city Solothurn turned out to be. Located in the northern part of Switzerland situated on the Aare River, the town of Solothurn is the capital of the canton of Solothurn and sits at the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains. I have been meaning to take the short 25 minute train ride to Solothurn ever since we moved here. (Solothurn is just north of the closest IKEA which we visited frequently during those early days.) I walked the streets of its old town and had a great lunch at one of its many small cafe’s. The architecture and the way the town was laid out was…
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Tissot Peak Walk, Glacier 3000
I have never been much of a thrill seeker but I must say that I am completely drawn to the many mountain adventures and excursions in Switzerland. Maybe I trust the “Swiss Made” persona, or maybe I am getting older and I am gradually letting go of fears and inhibitions. Either way, the Tissot Peak Walk was something I wanted to do for months. I took the one and half hour drive to Les Diablerets, Switzerland which is a mountain village in the heart of the Vaud Alps. It just so happened that on this beautiful clear early morning I was met with not only a stunning sunrise but a…
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The Swiss Alps from Another Time
Every year during the last week of January the Swiss village of Kandersteg transforms itself to the time period around the turn of the century, namely 1884-1914. The week is known as “Belle Epoque”. I have always secretly wanted to live during this time…the fashion, the decorum, the culture, the etiquette, and it all comes alive in the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
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Opposites
It’s summer. Which means less structure. Late nights. Travel. And time to enjoy the warmth of the sun. For many of us we have spent the last few months counting the days until the first day of summer. Yet, after spending one week with our children in the house all day, it can also be the time when we count the days until school begins again. I am currently experiencing the second summer in Switzerland comprised of these types of days with my boys. Days in which I am both very grateful for and don’t ever want to change. For I know it is time that I will never get…
