Forest walk

Today I went to the forest I love so much. Mum and Marge and I went to light some candles in the grotto, and then they came home, while I stayed on for a while. I walked back into the forest, and sat in my favourite spot, and did some thinking. No matter how long I come for, it is never long enough.

Today the trees are at the in-between stage. No leaves yet, and no snow either. Just tall stick like things with a stark beauty all of their own. No leaves to crunch under foot, and no slippery mush on the paths. They are getting ready to burst into colour again, and soon the mountain sides will be a host of different greens, but not just yet.

There is nothing I can add to the picture. It is just as it looks, only better in 3 dimensional real life. I never ever get tired of it. Never.
Here is where the forest ends, and the pathway widens. I sat on the far bench for a long while. You know, the only sound I could hear were the birds, and the water tumbling down the mountain side in a stream close by. Other than nature, it was so silent, and I was aware of just how noisy my life normally is. There is always a rumble of life in progress in the background, and I never notice it anymore, unless it is not there. Even through the nights in England, you can still hear that rumble. I am not sure I want to hear it any more. The quiet is so much more immense. I know what I mean. I hope you do too.
Coming over the hill back to the village, and the Kloster again. The monastery, but from the other side. That forest on the other side of the valley is where David and I walked down a few days ago.
This is so Swiss, isn't it?

Sitting in the forest, I let the peace seep into my soul slowly. I can't speed up that process. It takes time. And time is something I never have enough of. It is not like going to fill your car up with petrol. It doesn't click off when it is full, and I don't know if it ever can be really full. But sitting there, and letting nature work....using all my senses to absorb the beauty all around me and heal is something unbelievably precious.

I ask questions up there. I don't always get answers, but I know just why Jesus and many since him, have gone to the mountains in time of need. I just have such a strong conviction every time I am up there, that I am meant to take note of the pace of life, priorities, serenity and values I see so clearly while I am in the mountains. Which I lose sight of as soon as I get back to my normal life. I had a text message from a friend while I was standing looking down over the valley, saying that stillness was something they were appreciating on their holiday, and the slower pace of the community they were visiting. Sounds just like what I was experiencing myself. The need for silence and stillness and serenity.

Now, granted this is a village and not an urban sprawl. I am sure there are many stats and much data which would say differently, but here, I notice that everyone smiles. Everyone greets everyone else. They make eye contact. And let me tell you, it works. You cannot walk around here, and everyone walks all over the place, without smiling, and it changes everything about your day, and your attitude.

Tomorrow, we go home. I don't want to go.

Back from a stroll around the village

Here is the Benedictine monastery, around which the village grew up. It has a school attached to it as well.
Looking back toward the village centre, and I just loved the 3 little white haired ladies sitting together on the bench. The village is nestled in an amphitheatre of mountain peaks. You can turn 360 degrees and see mountains in front of you all the time.
This mountain "bowl" is called the End of the World. Up there is the chapel where my son's wedding was blessed. In Switzerland, it is the civil marriage that is first then the blessing in a church comes afterwards. I will tell you all about that magical summer soon. I will. And up there is the forest I love to walk in. I will go tomorrow. There is a grotto up there too, where I always light a couple of candles, and sit.
This is the mountain I sit and look at while I am on the computer in my sister's study. I walked along the river to take this photo. Now I have a mega headache, so am going to flop on the couch and snooze. I surrender. Too much in one day. Groan.

Sunrise

My camera cannot cope with sunrises like this, but here you are anyway. It is a very old little camera. And it did try.

We have been down the mountain today to Luzern to do some shopping. And it is another beautiful day.

What I neglected to tell you is that I arrived here as sick as a parrot. I picked up a flu type virus that has been doing the rounds, and all I could do once we walked in the door, was collapse on the couch and sleep. We had to get up on Sunday at 3 to set off for the airport, park the car etc, and get the plane to Basel, then 2 trains here. I did tell my son he had to stay awake or we could make an unscheduled visit to Milan, which was where the train was heading. He stayed awake. We got here. And I refuse to waste any time being sick, so we are walking and getting out, but not as quickly or as frequently as I would normally be doing, I confess. I am shattered after a couple of hours. Sigh. Another by-product of age....taking longer to bounce back. I don't do "sick". And I refuse to miss a minute when I could be out on the mountains.

Ok then....little old camera and I will toddle off to see what else I can show you. Don't go far. I will be back.

Sunset

I thought you may like to see the sunset from behind the mountain this evening. Have I mentioned how much I love this place???????

Yodel-Ay-Heeee-Hoooooooooooo!!!

Well, here we are in Switzerland. This is where my sister lives, and this is what I see in the morning when I open my eyes. Mountains all around. Stunning, stunning scenery, and a quiet like you cannot believe.
David and I went on one of our "walks" this morning. Well, we always set out to do the simple thing, and then get sidetracked by wondering what is "up there", or "on the other side", or "what the view is like from up at the top" etc etc etc. This usually involves precarious descents sliding leaves, or ankles deep in snow. Today was no different. But we made it down intact and it was breathtakingly beautiful. This is my favourite place on earth, I have to say. Repeatedly, for those who know me. I fell in love with Switzerland when I was 12 and nothing has changed about that. (I am using a European keyboard, and all the letters are in the wrong place).

This is the view of the village from the side of the mountain.

I took 48 photos this morning. This is normal for me. I must have more photos of Switzerland than anyone on earth. But just LOOK at the beauty!

The sun shining through the trees in the forest on the side of the mountain. Sigh. Now I have shown you a little bit, I will be back later with more walks and more photos.

David and snow= snowballs and wet hair, and lots of laughter. I asked him to make footprints in the snow and he sank down a foot. Oops. He was wearing trainers, not snowboots. Oh well, he is tough! And he dried out quickly enough.

Home tomorrow

This was the view from the garden yesterday. Amazing, isn't it?? And that is exactly the colour of the sky.

I went out early this morning to see the sun rise over the mountain. So here it is, with a halo! De Hahnen used to be Engelberg (angel mountain) and there is apparently a move to rename it Engelberg. I think that would be perfect. The sun reflected in the clouds makes it even more beautiful. Can you see the angel wings?

Well, tomorrow we leave for home. I don't want to go , I freely admit, and those of you I speak to will know this. This is an incredible place, and being with my sister and her family (she laughed at that.... Peter and Nax) is just what we needed. Reality awaits. But, we need to start on the next phase of our lives now, and David has just one year of school left. So I will report in once we get home, and unpack, and do the washing, etc etc etc. My friends will be there. That will be good. And I have a zillion photos I can look at and remember the peace I find here. I will come back soon.

50 Today!!

My little sister is now 50. Half a century. The fact that I am older is irrelevant. Today has been another stunning day, and we all went to Eienwaldli for an early lunch together, while Anita came and decorated the house with helium filled balloons, and messages we had all written for her. We had fun with the helium too. I think it must be a second or third childhood.

Talking about lunch.... the restaurant helpfully informed us that they had english menus as well, so I had a look. I was about to order a schwein schnitzel. Pork schnitzel, as we all know. Then I saw the translation. Pig scraps, breaded. We fell about. I absolutely refused to eat pig scraps, breaded or not. Marge had a large cordon bleu of the pig. We kept gazing off into space then muttering pig scraps... breaded!

Marge and Peter walked back with the dogs while Mum, David and I came back to help Anita with the decorations, and she and Tony also brought the garden arbour Marge had wanted, which they bought together with Peter for her. Toni has been assembling it at the Bellevue for the past week. He did mention at one point that they should put it all back in the box and wrap it up for Marge to put together. It was beautifully decorated, and the cakes were out, and glasses ready to celebrate. Anita did a great job. Marge was delighted with it all.

Her friends popped in all afternoon, and we sat in the garden while the babes played. Here she is with Anita in the arbour thing. That balloon, by the way, was one of 2 Anita put in the arbour from her and from Peter. Peter's one took off almost immediately without Anita noticing, and then the other one flew away too. It went straight up and over the mountain, and we could see it for ages. I think she has had a wonderful day, and she deserves it. She is a great sister. I am very lucky! ( She has been snoozing on the couch since 8pm.... a sign of age?)

At the top of the world

This morning David and I went to the top of the mountain. It is the most beautiful day. There was a lot of snow 2 nights ago, and it is just awe inspiring. We went up in the gondolas, then the cable car(with coachloads of tourists from Taiwan and Japan) and then the Rotair, the world's first revolving cable car. At the top, the Ice flier chair lift was not running because of ice on the cables, which David found hilarious.

Me on top of the world

Looking down from the climb through the snow ot the highest point

David looking at me with evil intent!

The view over the valley

We had hot chocolate and something to eat, walked through the glacier grotto, which is amazing when you think you are in the middle of a glacier, and then came down as far as Trubsee, and stopped to walk round the lake a bit.

We left the gondolas at Gerschnialp, and walked down home through another forest I had not explored before. There was the most death defying mountain bike trail there too..... I cannot believe people are mad enough to try it! This could be one of my new favourite walks.

So there you are.............. a perfect day in the mountains.

Rain

1. Warm houses
2. Dreams
3. Sisters
4. Lazy days
5. Time

Yesterday it rained again, and we stayed round the house. I made a fire and that was excellent. I curled up on the couch with a book and relaxed. Today was cloudy at first, and I drove Marge and Anita to Ikea in Bern. It was nice to wander about looking at things here, and compiling a wish list for "one day"! Marge has tomorrow off too, so we are taking Mum to Emmen again. And hopefully the weather will improve for the rest of the week.

Under the table

Today it rained, so we didn't do much. The Amrheins came for the afternoon, and Anhina and I spent the last part of a super time under the table. Yes. Under the table. She informed me in German that I would not get under the table because I was too big. Well, of course I had to prove I could fit, (It was a matter of pride!) and so we sat there chatting amid many giggles. She is 4. She wanted to play with my hair, so I took it down, and she draped it over her head to pretend she had long hair. More shrieks of laughter. I even managed to get up again without needing a crane.

Naxos had a good day too. He ate June's lunch she was preparing for Henry. He is very partial to ham it seems. Then he tripped Mum up and only David saved her from doing a nose dive down the stairs.
So.......nothing much really!

Brunni walk

Today David and I took Mum up Brunni in the cable car, and had coffee with her on the terrace, and watched the roedelbahning for a while in the sun. And the cows dancing (yes they were dancing, galloping, head-butting each other too, bells clanging. I wonder if they get headaches from the noise......) And the llamas. There are llamas on Brunni. Do not ask. Clearly very Swiss llamas. Then we waved her off on the cable car down, and we walked down through the forest. Another forest. This is the first one I ever walked through here, or climbed, and I absolutely love it. You know when you are in a place that you feel you are meant to be? That is how I feel in this forest.

The view from the terrace.

On the path to Flüemat

David heading down to the forest

The valley

In the forest. Just the best place.

A couple more photos

My mountains. Or some of them. beautiful.

Waterfalls

It is another stunning day, and I walked up past Furenalp to where the kids landed when they did their paragliding. Lots of people are out walking today. I can sit and gaze at the mountains for ages, and I never get tired of them.

Then I walked to the waterfall, and I was the only one there, which was great. I sat on a rock and watched the water, and wished I had a video camera to capture the movement and sound. There is something about the sound of nature that is so peaceful. On lovely days, that is, not during storms and hail and wind, I hasten to add.

Then I walked through the forest and crossed the river, and here you are..... you can see what I mean for yourselves. I hope you are all booking holidays here as I speak. Winter is stunning too, but in a very different way.

Trotti bikes

1. Trotti bikes
2. Laughter in the rain
3. Meeting a challenge
4. Beautiful silence
5. Awe inspiring scenery
   

Trübsee hike

Today was supposed to be rainy all day, but when I woke up it was great weather, and so I leapt out of bed at the hotel, and raced home to wake David, and we took the gondolas up to Trübsee for another alpine adventure. I had never walked down from Trübsee before, though we have been around the lake, so it was another tick on the list of walks I wanted to do.

The sun was out sporadically after about an hour....... the walk took over 2 hours, and part was easy and part a bit more of a challenge. But then, our walks always seem to become challenging along the way!
The water was so blue and clear, and I did not go and feel it, but I am certain it would have been freezing. It is good to be able to spend some time with David, and we have some great chats while we are walking.

Here is a Swiss cow who is clearly used to posing. Most obliging. Just a little was along the path, there was a bath. As in one from the bathroom, sitting there, full of water! Fibreglass is perfect for a cattle trough, I suppose, if not all that aesthetically pleasing! It did make us laugh.

Here you can see down to the valley below Engelberg. For those of you who have been here, Grafenort is in the far distance. We took the path clearly marked to Engelberg, and it sort of arrived in a building site for a road for a while. Hmmm. We walked on and found the path again, heading steeply down the mountain, and it started raining as well. I was keeping a good eye on the clouds and the speed they move in the mountains, so we didn't stop for as rest on the way. When we got to the main road at the bottom, the trail we had walked down was marked closed for construction. There were no signs at the top, but it had red tape across and no-one was supposed to be on it. Oh well..... that is the sort of thing we usually find outselves doing! Oops. We survived. I am sure there must have been an easier track somewhere. We like a challenge though. Not intentionally, might I add.

At Untertrübsee, we hired trotti bikes, and zoomed down in the rain, past Gerschnialp to Engelberg, where we met Mum for lunch at Linie 8. Trotti bikes are like kids' scooters, but they come in adult sizes, and you wear a ridiculous little helmet, and can go very very fast downhill. They do have brakes. That is good as there are S bends all down the mountain, and then you get young kids flying past yelling "Achtung!!!" as they pass you. Quite demoralising, when you think you are going at the speed of light anyway. At least we didn't get so wet going fast.

I stayed on to help Marge for the afternoon, pricing things, and doing some quality control. And practicing my german some more. Now she is sawing and sanding, and I have got some coffee so I am going to be a slug for the rest of the evening. I will be back.