My journey with MS is quite cyclic with the seasons. Summer is always my most difficult battle. We are now in a turning point with the season, and my favorite season is heading our way, autumn. Autumn bright colors, falling leaves, fires, brisk nights and mornings. It has always been my favorite season. This past week, the temperatures dropped here enabling me to consistently run again. I was able to run 22.2 miles last week, and my first 10k in ages. This week I have continued to wake early and take in some 5k or more sunrise runs. Running… something I never thought I would ever do helps me focus, control stress and increase my health benefits.
I was also able to take my dog, Tela for a beautiful hike last Saturday to the SeeAlpSee https://swissfamilyfun.com/ebenalp-seealpsee-hike/. Prior to reaching the hike, I was stuck in a traffic jam of a mini-Appenzell cow parade that lasted almost 3 miles. Tela was not too happy as the cows were coming close enough to the car to sound the sensor alarms. But we managed to navigate without any issue but a delay.
Along the hike, there was full exposure to all kinds of Swiss wildlife. Cows, sheep, ibex, there’s nothing like hiking in the alpine areas and listening to the sound of the cow or sheep bell. It’s simple for me, the more activity and exposure to the outdoors, the greater my personal happiness. Sometimes circumstances drive us to put things on hold, but it’s important to take the time, and make the time to contribute to your own self happiness.
“Go outside. amidst the simple beauty of nature and know that as long as places like this exist, there will be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.”
Again it has been a long time since my last blog post… life and time flies by as usual. We have been enjoying life as much as possible, on the positive enjoying some cooler summer weather and enjoying the fruits of Chris’s labor in our garden. We’ve been able to make homemade pesto, salsas, and soups. As I grew up with a garden full of fresh fruits and vegetables as a child, I can still attest there is nothing like fresh homegrown tomatoes!
We had been looking forward to finally visiting Zermatt since moving to Switzerland. I was able to take a couple of days off from a public holiday and bridging day; so we spent four fantastic nights in this beautiful city. Zermatt, in southern Switzerland’s Valais canton, is described as a mountain resort renowned for skiing, climbing and hiking. This sounded like a bit like a perfect match for our mini- vacation.
I need to take a moment and talk a little about the town of Zermatt. First off, the town is considered car free, which means arrival is by train. There are electric taxis, horse driven carriages and bikes allowed for transport within the city. The hotel picked us up from the train station in their electric taxi, and we were welcomed with a glasses of Prosecco and light snacks. After a three hour train journey, this allowed you to take in the beauty and catch your breath. I can’t say enough about the hospitality and care we received from our wonderful boutique hotel, Hotel Coeur des Alpes ❤ (https://coeurdesalpes.ch/). This family run hotel makes you feel completely at home and goes out of their way to ensure you have the best experience possible during your stay. Once we were shown our loft, we were so excited to be able to end and begin each day from our balcony area with a view of the Matterhorn.
Since Chris’s birthday was coming up the Friday after our trip, we decided to take our first ever helicopter flight around the Matterhorn with #AirZermatt.
Flying in a helicopter was something I had wanted to experience for many years. I have flown in planes more times than I can count, but flying in a helicopter was a brand new journey, and I hope to take many more helicopter rides in my life! The weather was not perfectly clear, but the clouds, wind shifts, and slight moments of turbulence as we flew over the glaciers, surrounding mountains and directly close to the summit of the giant Matterhorn, only added to the overall excitement of this breathtaking flight. There are no real words for the scenery or the experience. Seeing the glaciers from above, the movement of some of the glaciers, and of course being so close to the Matterhorn we were able to see the variation of the climbing routes was stupendous. Our pilot pointed out all the various peaks, ridges, huts, glaciers, and gave us information on the Swiss route vs. the Italian climbing routes for the Matterhorn. Getting the view of the entire area from an areal standpoint was such a brilliant experience. They don’t call it a bird’s eye view for nothing.
“Feet on the ground, head in the sky, it’s okay, I know nothing’s wrong…”
Chris Frantz / Christopher Frantz / David Byrne / Jerry Harrison / Tina Weymouth This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
After coming back to the ground, we leisurely strolled around town, checking out the amenities, and all the wares. We enjoyed settling in and planning for the next day’s outdoor activities.
The next day, Chris set out on his mountain bike, and I set out for an alpine hiking adventure. Although I planned on a 3-4 hour hike, it stretched to almost 7 hours. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking throughout the hike. It began with wildflowers, steep elevation gain, stone and rock faces with waterfalls. One of the many things I love about hiking in Switzerland are these fantastic family run restaurants at the top of certain hikes. As I approached the second one on my hike, I decided it was time to purchase something and enjoy the view I had climbed to. Not only was I treated to a special homemade ice tea, but also the owner started playing the Alpenhorn for the hikers who had stopped to enjoy the view and take a small break. Kindness prevails in the mountains as I overheard a couple who did not have cash, but only a credit card ask for food and beverage options. The owner did not have the capability to take credit cards, but as mountain towns are small worlds, the owner told the couple not to worry, they could pay in the town of Zermatt by card and order what they would like. The couple was so grateful, and it reinforced something I love about the Swiss culture which is trust.
Once I reached the summit of Trift, I decided to continue on for a bit. The bit due to a long descent became about four hours, but that’s what we call adventure and eventual soreness. Along my extended hike, I was filled with amazement about how truly stunning the alpine landscape I was navigating through was. There were wildflowers all along the trail, and so many honeybees searching for their nectar. A few flowers were covered with various types of bees, so their nectar must have been delectable.
Along the alpine hike, I think I only encountered a total of six people. I did find friends, beautiful black nosed sheep in three different herds. As time started ticking by and my Garmin clocked more miles, I tried to pinpoint my path. Unfortunately, I did not foresee myself able to complete the journey to the Schwarzsee and make it back to Zermatt. So once I encountered more exposure from the ridge hike and waterfalls creating a small obstacle, I decided to retreat and head back. It was a wise decision, as coming down the mountain,my pace was slow. The beauty of the experience outweighed any pain I may encounter. Along this ridge line, there were many plaques memorializing the locations where someone took their last steps or breaths along the way of my hike and it reminded me of just how special and delicate the alpine land and environment I was exploring truly was.
After a long decent, I finally reached tree line again and turned my phone back on. Oops where had the hours gone? I assured Chris I was safe and finally made it back to the hotel for a shower and getting ready for food. By this time, we were both starving, and it was exciting to get some much needed replenishment.
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
John Muir
The next days of our journey included more mountain biking for Chris, one solo hike for me in Gonergrat, and then we both had one of the top five massages of our lives. The massage therapist as not Esther (my beloved friend and massage therapist in NC); but she definitely knew the best massage techniques for the money. We both left feeling like our muscles had regained full blood flow.
Our last full day in Zermatt, I awoke and then proceeded to awaken Chris to a magnificent site, the moon dipping just below the Matterhorn.
Walking across this suspension bridge was pretty cool, but it was not my favorite experience of the trip. We ended the day leisurely enjoying a nice chef’s sushi choice dinner and relaxing at the hotel. Yes, in these modern times, it’s possible to get fresh fish even in Switzerland…
After four nights of a wonderful holiday, we awoke on Monday morning to some rain, this somehow made it easier to leave this magical place of Zermatt. We packed our gear after one last breakfast and the hotel owner dropped us off at the train station.
We had been waiting to visit Zermatt since we moved to Switzerland, and I’m very happy we waited for a time where we had a few days to dedicate rather than rush everything. It was a magical time, and I hope I’m lucky enough to return for more adventures sooner than later!
It’s been almost a month since I last wrote! Terrible me! Life since returning to Switzerland has been ultra busy. When I returned sadly we were in the midst of the end of June European heatwave. Heat is kryptonite to almost eveyone with multiple sclerosis. Sensitivity to and intolerance of heat exacerbates the symptoms of MS. MS causes nerves to lose their myelin sheath, making them more vulnerable to heat and temperature changes. Heat exposure can cause or heighten fatigue, numbness, blurry vision, tremor, confusion, imbalance, and weakness. This is referred to as a pseudo-exacerbation as symptoms typically dissipate once the body is cooled, although this could take several hours, days or weeks to return to normal.
Heat is a major enemy of MS!
Therefore, I always feel like I’m a child being grounded now during summer heat. I can’t go outside with out risk, exercise the way I desire, or socialize how I want. Experiencing a heat wave here in Switzerland, is an extra layer of grounding vs. the USA, because in most places in the USA, even though it’s hot and humid, you can count on central Air Conditioning to cool you down. In Switzerland, I am extremely lucky that my workplace has an HVAC system, and that our semi-detached residence has two portable AC units, so it’s relatively cool in the main house, and in the bedroom allowing sleep. Thankfully, today at least is a much needed rainy cool Sunday with highs in the 60’s. Although we have had two heat waves this summer, I’m hoping we’ve seen the worst of it.
When I returned from the US, there was also a lot of understanding of how to help my husband post his cycling accident. It was really a blessing he was alive or not injured worse because of the accident. The Friday before I came home from the US, I exchanged texts with him and he told me he was in the hospital. My husband never goes to the doctor without being forced, so the hospital, what!?
Finally, I got the full picture that a truck with a trailer had turned left in front of him as he was finishing a ride. There was no opportunity to stop or avoid the inevitable crash in which his shoulder absorbed the 30mph sudden impact. The journey has been over a month of sorting out the exact damages to his body and most importantly the best treatment and recovery path. Luckily, the MRI finally was conducted and no tendons are torn. Although the scapula has a severe fracture, they do not think surgery is required, and physical therapy is helping regain the range of motion. So all signs point to hopeful positive recovery and getting back to baseline physical capabilities. Just as healthcare cases are difficult in the US when dealing with an accident, Switzerland has it’s own system with their insurance structure. So we continue to learn more about living and dealing with unique challenges while abroad.
I’ve been fortunate to take some small local hikes and enjoy this beautiful landscape locally, in the Jura mountain region. I’ve slowly been learning chess on our new board, but still am learning the strategies of the game. Chris will beat me until I study more strategic moves :), as long as he can keep his patience with me, I’ll be a novice for a while.
Chris’s garden has started slowly producing and we now have a small harvest. We’ve been blessed with fresh raspberries all summer- now time for my favorites squash and tomatoes, and a ton of Basil ;).
Pan fried squash and onions, and a caprese with our tomatoes and basil 🙂
In a few days, there will be some upcoming holidays, which are really much needed for a mental regroup. 01 August is Swiss National Day, similar to the 04 July, with many fireworks and celebrations.
I’m excited this year, as we will celebrate with two friends, their families and dogs, bbq time at a lake, enjoying fireworks, catching up and enjoying life. Hopefully the weather will lend itself to some hiking up in the mountains as well. I’m very much looking forward to a week of vacation beginning of 15 August “Assumption Day”. We will travel (finally!) to Zermatt and spend five days with beautiful nature and exploration in hopes of good weather and clear views of the grandiose Matterhorn.
A splendid time in the wonderland of Switzerland has been all the sunflowers in bloom! In the meantime- keep your chin up, embrace all the challenges and changes, and keep fighting, learning, experiencing, and keep L-I-V-I-N!
My last few days in the United States on this trip were filled with great times with family, friends and colleagues. It was a time where although I was missing my husband, I was enjoying the time of all the familiar things and easy life of my homeland.
Tuesday evening, I got more “mexican” cuisine with friends and colleagues. Aaron and I shared the parrillada, it’s a mexican bbq of meat! Jalapeno Margaritas to fight the summer heat were a must.
Thursday and Friday were Swiss holidays so I had worked Monday-Wednesday after the Blue Ridge Father’s Day Adventure, and then on Wednesday night, I spent my evening in complete Self-Care mode. One of my dear friends, and former massage therapist, the talented beautiful Esther Rodgers and I enjoyed an evening of catching up, massage (she is undoubtedly in tune with my body), and gave me the best massage as usual. Highly recommend her to all my friends and family. We shared a post massage dinner at our former stomping grounds but sadly the short ribs recipe, although still good had less red wine and more gravy, which let it in a state of less than the best short ribs I’ve ever tasted. I missed seeing the owner, Jeff apparently just by a few minutes. I’m always wishing him and his family the best though! The store (which is known as the five star gas station), is still a warm place in my heart. I was able to get my favorite Big Spoon products to carry back for my husband to enjoy as well! Sometimes, you don’t know what you miss until you relive it. I miss my Esther!
I was thrilled to have one last chance on the trip to see my family, and eat at our favorite local BBQ place, Stephenson’s BBQ near where I grew up. This place has fond family memories, as a child and adult. As a child, I used to play and climb under the tables as both my Granny and Mama were waitresses. The owner, Mr. Paul Stephenson (RIP) knowing my Mama was a single mom, would allow me to come after school and play in the office or chat with the diners while my Mama worked. What I continue to love about the establishment is the people are REAL. There is no sense of pretentiousness, just down-home good people. The art on the walls remain the same, the interior although totally dated is still just what I recall as a child. The food is still the same as it ever was, delicious. It gave me a chance to see all my aunts on my mother’s side minus one who we missed, and a few of my cousins! My childhood best friend and I got three chances to be together on my trip back, which was much needed therapeutic enjoyment. Again, I miss her so much.
After a delicious meal and great time at Stephenson’s I began my journey to the western part of the state, Asheville. I had rented an Airbnb in West Asheville, that looked super cool. My friend Lulu, was kind enough to drive from Nashville to come and visit and spend the night with me. We laughed, shopped around downtown Asheville, and discussed life, love and culture. We ate at one of my favorite restaurants which I have been going to for over 20 years, the Laughing Seed Cafe. While I am far from vegetarian, the establishment has grown significantly and expanded with fresh paint, art and additions, but the food quality has gotten even better! I don’t like beer, but I love Ginger Beer. We found a Ginger Beer Brewery, and had some samples to determine our favorite. My winner was the limited edition Serrano Lime Agave- fiery, made with Serrano Peppers and blended with Lime Agave. For me- magic. So at the old age of 43, I bought MY first ever growler. I have gotten growlers for others, but this was my first!
Minus a few encounters with some spiders in the AirBnB, Lulu and I had such a hilarious time together. Laughter indeed is a key medicine.
We slept through the night, dreams of black widows in our heads, and woke on the Summer Solstice morning quite early. We were to meet her friend Stacy for breakfast at Biscuit Head! Stacy came over to our Airbnb and we enjoyed the outdoor swing, and endless hammock options.
The day began super relaxed, but unfortunately for me took on a dose of shock and surprise. I received a text from my husband that he had been in a terrible cycling accident with a truck and I was distracted from everything for several hours. Thankfully he was managing this situation alone quite well, but I was able to secure assistance if needed from a colleague in case he needed help until I could get home. The outcome was no surgery and he would be released from the hospital, with a broken scapula and quite beat up and in some shock. Oh hi reality! As I was off in my tiny little corner I was swung back to how fragile this life really is. I was so super grateful the injury wasn’t worse, and this too shall be navigated.
After we had a path forward for the short term for Chris, I could somewhat emotionally come back to a wonderful moment in time, the opportunity to meet my friends Isadora and Yuri’s sweet newborn, Iris and lion poodles Hugo and Sagan :). Although I was a bit still in shock over my husband’s accident and concerned, I was able to enjoy some moments of this special time.
The final journey of my experience on this US trip was quite special, as I was going to be able to see one my favorite live musical acts for the 206th time, Phish. My friend and colleague Aaron would join me, and my friend Esther and others for a much need healing musical journey. We arrived to the lot around 1600, and we walked around checking out some of the finest people watching around. I saw really positive things, the most spectacular were two guys operating the Big Green Eggs and cooking local steak and brisket. Ok, this brisket, may have been one the most succulent pieces of meat I have ever enjoyed. The best part was these guys were not charging any money, nor would they accept any money. They just wanted to see people smile. This was a special reminder of how giving this community really can be, and again, I miss being a routine part of that living abroad. We walked around avoiding the sun and seeking shade where possible. For dinner I ate the bacon grill cheese with Sriracha, amazing. We met up with my good friend Chad, who was kind enough to arrange face value tickets for some pavilion seats.
And then finally the time was near, we entered the venue and found our place and lots of ice as the sun was still beating down. I had asked a favor for a Tweezer inspired show since I don’t know when I will get to see Phish live again. The setlist was amazing, hitting all the feels I needed, and a blissful time ensued.
I definitely felt the feeling I forgot, left my new life behind for a while, and stepped into the freezer, and encoring with “More”(which for those who don’t know inspired the title of my blog followed by Tweeprize, the night ended in a special way. Oh what pure joy, release and bliss dancing again to my favorite :). Thank you #phish and all the friends who helped me enjoy myself!
ENCORE: More > Tweezer Reprise[1] No intro. This show was webcast via Live Phish. The first Tweezer included Walk This Way teases from Trey. Trey teased Mercury in the second Tweezer. Scents and Subtle Sounds did not have the intro. Trey teased If I Only Had a Brain and Mike teased Gotta Jibboo in A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing. Taste included a Scents and Subtle Sounds tease from Trey. Have Mercy was quoted in Possum. The Final Hurrah was quoted at the end of Tweezer Reprise. Source: http://www.Phish.net
The day after, Aaron and I grabbed lunch at one of my last NC favorites, Tupelo Honey Cafe. So let me tell you about a southern delicacy I forgot I missed, fried green tomatoes, and their famous goat cheese grits!
I was able to share some Olive Oil from Tuscany, and some Swiss chocolates with Chad, and then off to the flight! My time on this trip in the US was up. I must admit I was eager to get back to my husband, sleep in my own bed, but this trip was a healing process for me. A rebirth of inner awareness and strength. The next chapter once home meant trying to help my husband find the best path to recovery for his injury, dealing with a week long Swiss heat wave and infusion weekend- but more to come on that later. For now, it’s nice to bask in the memories of the last couple of weeks.
Last July, I left the US with my husband, off on our new adventure to Switzerland. We left with hopes high professionally for me, and personally as a couple to adjust and adapt to our new lifestyle. We both had goals to adventure, travel and see as much as we possibly could manage.
As usual, life throw it’s curveballs our way, and we fight to overcome them. What I realized is although you may take on the physical challenges and prevail, if you don’t pause to assess the impact on your emotional well being, you could be left with a void if you don’t address the elephant in the room.
Coming back to my home country, I realized many things quickly. I really miss my closest friends, who are primarily in North Carolina. My desire to move past the last six months has prevented me from being real with myself about my emotions. After a conversation where my husband gave some direct feedback on the process, I realized I had indeed lost some of my self-love along the way of my journey. It won’t be an easy process, but I am committed to rediscovering who I am and redirecting my journey, body, mind and spirit back on the pathway to find happiness.
Undecided, undefined Undisturbed yet undermined Relocated not retired Reprimanded and rewired Mystified and misshapen Misinformed but not mistaken Reinvented, redefined Rearranged but not refined Unrelenting, understroked Undeterred yet unprovoked Reinvented, redefined Rearranged but not refined Mystified and misshapen Misinformed but not mistaken Undecided, undefined
One place I can go to get grounded, and find my inner strength, is the beautiful area of Boone, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. No, they aren’t the Alps, they aren’t the Rockies, or big 14ers of Colorado; but there is something about the energy of this area that grounds my soul every time I visit. There is no doubt, in my mind that I will spend my last days retiring in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, hopefully hiking my life away. From the sunrises over my favorite overlooks, hiking peacefully through the forests on trails I have hiked over a 100 times after nearly 20 years on the same trail, it was clear to me, this doesn’t get old.
I am grateful this year that I was blessed to have my mother and niece visit me for Mother’s Day, and that I was able to spend Father’s Day in the Blue Ridge with my parent’s and my niece, who is more like my little sister. I’m so proud of her and her accomplishments. A parent’s love is unconditional and timeless. It’s difficult to watch our parent’s age, to experience the aging process ourselves. This is why once again, we must take every breath and every moment and LIVE.
Embrace life, those you love, and tell them. The past months of challenges have taught me who will be there for me, and who will not. Most importantly, I am trying to fully embrace, and hold close to me this quote-
The journey in the US is not complete yet, I have one more day of work, then some family and travel time, visiting with those who I have not seen in ages, and the chance to dance, indeed it sparks the feeling I forgot!
I work in a small industry. It’s big to the outside world, but in reality, it’s quite tight knit. I consider myself to do a somewhat decent job at keeping in touch with those professionally that I admire, that have taught me how to be a better person leading by example, professionally or personally.
What is this life without the opportunity to bond with others that you respect, can learn from, share your feelings, emotions, and passions? In my opinion if all of this were removed, life would not be nearly as enjoyable. In my career, I have been fortunate to form not just professional relationships, but friendships as well.
Social media outlets such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram have opened a networking opportunity for multiple generations to stay connected as everyone traverses life’s walls and cliffs sometimes outside of the domestic US and over to ex-Pat living.
Last fall, I was able to reconnect in person with my former colleague and friend, Pam, and her husband Steve. In the many years it had been since I had last seen them, our lives had both evolved. Not only had we both moved across oceans to experience work and personal life throughout Europe; but our families had expanded.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain
For multiple reasons, that I won’t elaborate on in this blog post, I never was able to have children of my own, (minus the dogs in my life) :). Through a few of my friends, I have experienced a glimpse into their family lives, and spent some real quality time playing Auntie to their children, and enjoying this aspect of life that I will never really own for myself. This past weekend was one of those times I was able to truly have submersion into the joy of the two children of my friends Pam and Steve. We read, goofed off, laughed, skipped, loved on dogs, I watched them be simply amazing in their flexibility with gymnastics, and exchanged many hugs.
Last week was Ascension holidays in Switzerland. Chris and I had been wanting to re-visit Tuscany as we did not feel we were able to spend enough time during our first visit last year. Learning our friends were closing this chapter on their journey in Italy, left in my heart and mind a clear quest. Even though, life was busy for all of us, we would seize the opportunity for one last visit with each other before they were 9 hours time zone difference away.
Sometimes as life goes, I was not able to leave work behind on Wednesday as scheduled, and we ended up leaving Switzerland via Snow White (the Scooby Doo Outback) two hours behind schedule. We were virgins traveling through one of the longest road tunnels in the world, the “Gotthard Road Tunnel” during a holiday.
We both had traveled it during Mother’s Day with no traffic issues. My coworker gave me advice to ensure we had snacks as the back-up could get quite intense through the tunnel and then to cross through border control. Our original plan, was we would drive four hours just south of Milan and get a decent meal and night’s sleep and then head down to Siena the next day… I learned of a cool car/train trick in case we take this trip again, but the path was set for our journey as reservations were required to take your car on a train. So we hit traffic indeed… for safety reasons several years ago where there was a fire in the tunnel, the Swiss government limits the number of cars allowed in the tunnel, so we were delayed a total of approximately 2.5 hours.
We arrived at our hotel south of Milan around midnight with some exhaustion, some delirium and frustration for needing to find the hotel parking in the deep darkness. Thursday began with sunshine and the promise of reduced stress, journey and exploration.
We made it to Siena got our things settled into Pam and Steve’s beautiful Italian home and ducked into a trattoria around 1430 for a much needed meal. Steve needed to pick his girls up from school, so we decided to adventure more around the Siena city and the Duomo di Siena. As 30 May was Ascension Day, it seemed more than fitting to explore the cathedrals and soak in the history. The rain stopped and the Tuscan skies began to clear as we walked around exploring the amazing cathedral. We waited in line for a long time for only what was labeled a panoramic viewpoint. The approach seemed odd as they were limiting the number of people who entered and then they would be escorted back. The rationale became all too apparent as we finally reached our turn. There were several single pass spiral stairwells to climb before we reached the landing which overlooked a breathtaking view of Siena and the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
The last time we were in Siena, we only had a day and a half to spend, so it was quite rushed. This trip afforded me almost all of Thursday, Friday and Saturday to spend with my friends prior to them departing Italy to begin their next chapter of their adventure. Minus the rainy start of our time in Siena, we were truly treated the rest of the time with magnificent sunny weather that was not too hot. I had often heard many people speak about the hues of the city of Siena, and depending on the time of the day, sunrise, sunset, twilight, you could see the magnificent glow of the hue change from ‘raw’ to ‘burnt’. Now that I have experienced this phenomenon with my own eyes, I would best akin it to experiencing the beauty of an alpen glow. It’s no wonder there are several colors named after this city, although spelled slightly differently.
We were delighted for Steve to take us for an adventure on Friday, when we went to explore the Tuscan history of Volterra. There is a lot of history to be shared about Volterra- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volterra. The walled city in the Tuscan hills is absolutely stunning, breathtaking, insert super positive adjective.
Several life memories were made on this day, as Steve took us for a tour off the beaten path, and taking us to local artisans including a shop that we made a purchase of art and functionality. I decided to stop fighting to learn a game that I’ve only attempted a few times and that Chris really loves. So I vowed with Steve as my witness to fully commit to learning how to play chess, and we purchased a handmade alabaster board that inspires me and makes me want to learn and enjoy the game so many others have loved for years. Steve also introduced us to a Tuscan painter, Vanna Spagnolo, who was pure passion and energy, walking through her shop and speaking with her, I was overwhelmed with a special connection and happiness that comes along rarely in life. This artist, so beautifully talented was pure, connected and inspired by nature in the same way I am, but unfortunately for me, I am not artistically talented. Chris and I chose the painting together, and I look forward to hanging the Tuscan landscape in our home to brighten any day or moment.
We enjoyed good food and Tuscan wine as Italy does not ever disappoint me from a food and drink perspective.
As someone who has moved international understands fully, there are a million and one things to accomplish. Steve needed to drive to Pisa to sell one of their cars on Saturday morning. We had never seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Pam and Steve wanted to show us their favorite sea side town. We went along for the adventure, saw all we ever needed of Pisa, for anyone questioning themselves, it’s not worth other time that you can spend elsewhere in Italy. We were happy to go because there was a need to get something accomplished, and we saw an important historical sinking building but… trust me, skip it. You can look it up online and get the picture. Visiting Catiglione della Pescaia was a lot of fun, especially watching the girls play along the water and in the sand. I do not get my energy from the ocean. I love the ocean and appreciate the power of the ocean, but it tires me out usually, the sand, the sun, the salt… but I do enjoy very much small doses of exposure to the sound of the ocean and walking along in the water.
To end this time together, we made homemade pizzas and relaxed from the long day. My next day I headed back to Switzerland, with a long day of train travel. I was happy that Chris could stay a few extra days to spend time with our friends and explore some Tuscan biking, including the Strade Bianche.
I can not thank Pam and Steve enough for being the wonderful souls they are, allowing us to be a small part of their family, and wishing them all the best in life’s next chapter!
When I moved to Switzerland last April, people would often ask, do you think your family will travel to visit you? I would often pause, think about the long plane flight, the fact that no one had ever traveled internationally to date, and the hesitancy when I would ask them if they would take the opportunity…so the answer to that question was often, “I don’t think it will be possible”.
For those who know me, I am stubborn, determined and strong-willed. When I get an idea in my mind, I will try everything in my power to make it happen. Sometimes I am successful. Sometimes, not… This trait is not something that I just happened upon, it is something that was instilled in me from my Mama and Granny.
This time, my Mama decided it was time she showed her strong will. Over text message on 28 March, she asked if she and my niece could fly over and visit so we could spend Mother’s Day together. The catch was the dates were set for when my niece had a break in school, 07 May-14 May. My mind begin racing on how this could be achieved. They didn’t have passports yet, my Mama had never flown internationally, and only one trip domestically. My niece was afraid of flying and had not flown yet domestically, could we work with the dates and the tight timeline? My mind was a flutter with obstacles and concerns. After expedited passports were received, and several phone calls were made confirming logistics, it was set. There are no direct flights to Switzerland from NC, which is a pity, so they would travel through Washington Dulles to arrive in Zurich! It was all going to happen, something I never thought was a possibility.
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
Rosa Parks
As the time drew closer, I thought about how we would maximize the short duration of this visit. The weather forecast was not looking great for most areas of Switzerland. Rain where we live, snow in the mountains, and then I found the one place where the weather looked most promising in the country, the Ticino region, near Lugano.
My husband and I had never taken the opportunity to venture to this area, so why not? A few hours of searching on Airbnb, I found a bit of an oasis that matched our dates. I didn’t know how they would respond to international travel or Jetlag, but decided to plan nothing the day they arrived, and leave for Ticino the next day, spending most of the time there. This would afford me to also have them experience a tiny part of Italy in addition to Switzerland, which was fantastic.
The views from the Airbnb
We arrived via “Snow White” my Subaru, to the very top of our Airbnb with panoramic views that were more idyllic than a camera lens can capture. We spent lots of quality time together, enjoying morning espressos on the terraces overlooking the lake, days adventuring to castles, cathedrals, markets and mountain tops, and played games to our hearts content.
Alpen Glow For the Win!
There’s no better medicine than laughter
We had the most wonderful covered terrace with a stone fireplace, patio table, and enjoyed sharing the Swiss tradition of raclette from the canton of Valais we purchased at the farmers market and drank local wine.
To close out the visit, we took the train back home and a boat ride across Lake Luzern. We finished up their last night with a light dinner and a game of Cards Against Humanity, which is always a hilarious time.
I was able to ensure they were all set at the Zurich airport and gave them a farewell sendoff back to the US! It was indeed a magical time to share the beauty of Switzerland and a small meal in Italy with two of my favorite people in the world! I look forward to doing it again, next time, to show them the beauty of the Vatican and Rome ;).
Roadtrip through Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France
Greetings fellow bloggers, family and friends! It’s been a while since my last blog post, as we have been out on our first true European Holiday. Although I still use the term “vacation” instead of the European term, “holiday”; I tried to live this one as a holiday, by true European standards. I barely did any work as a US native, turning off work is quite hard, but I only responded to a few emails, which is a true accomplishment for me! We did have an agenda on this roadtrip holiday, experience new things, see unexplored beautiful scenery, cultures, countries, eat amazing food, and relax and exercise our bodies as much as possible.
We headed out on 11 April with an impromptu decision to visit the Neuschwanstein area. It had been over 15 years since my last visit to the region. Although the weather was misty and chilly, we still enjoyed hiking up and around the area to the Marienbrücke and Neuschwanstein Castle. Our one planned agenda reservation was to get to Holland to see the tulips by the 13 April, so we had to push on and only stayed one night. I foresee a longer trip to Bavaria and the Black Forest in our future as it is truly a spectacular place for hiking, biking and taking in the beauty of Germany.
‘I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.’
Bill Bryson
The second short leg of the journey led us closer to the Netherlands, to the western German “Romantic town” Heidelberg. We had a long journey due to traffic on a Friday during the rush hour, but made it to our lovely quaint hotel, the Hirschgasse. This historic hotel has been in existence since 1472. Our room was charming, the location was perfect for hiking, cycling or exploring the castle area or old town. It was the first of many dining experiences for our holiday, starting out at Le Gourmet, a Michelin star restaurant specializing in French cuisine. The atmosphere was cozy, warm and inviting. After a tasting menu of delight, including a succulent duck and steak course, we retired for the evening. A fabulous breakfast experience started our next day, and we set out our seperate ways for some exercise. Chris went for a cycling experience, while I chose to experience the Philosophers’ Walk. On the northern side of the Neckar is located the Heiligenberg (Saints’ Mountain), along the side of which runs the Philosophers’ Walk (German: Philosophenweg), with scenic views of the old town and castle. Traditionally, Heidelberg’s philosophers and university professors would walk and talk along the pathway. Farther up the mountain lie the ruined 11th-century Monastery of St. Michael, the smaller Monastery of St. Stephen, a Nazi-era amphitheater, the so-called Pagan’s hole and the remains of an earthen Celtichill fort from the 4th century BC. As I begin the hike billowy snowflakes began to fall, creating the most wonderful morning journey. I love visiting “cities” where I can escape to nature without effort. This was truly a wonderful zen experience.
Our road trip then continued on to the only destination we really planned out, to the Netherlands to see the tulips! This has been on my bucket list since I was a young girl. After a long drive, we reached our base camp in South Holland at the Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, along the North Sea. This hotel provided us with excellent access to plenty of biking through the tulip fields in Lisse, Keukenhof, and easy train access to visit Amsterdam. Typically, we seek out geographic altitude for holidays, the more diversity in landscape with mountains, the better. Although lacking in mountains there is something uniquely special about the Netherlands. The people, the bike culture, beautiful sand dunes (and of course the tulips!) provided me with a greater appreciation for this magnicent country. Although the roads were flat, all around me was beauty and color. I had the chance to speak to the tulip and flower farmers, and immediately felt the pride in their work as their end product painted the landscape with brilliant colors, and amazing fragrances while cycling through the farms.
Riding your bike, you are overcome with not just the visual beauty of the tulips, but also the olfactory bliss of daffodils, narcissi, irises, and hyacinths. I can say my soul and cup was filled with happiness. Biking around 50 miles to see this beautiful landscape, was a highlight for me, and I would totally revisit this gorgeous land and do it all over again.
Since we had never visited Amsterdam, we dedicated a day to see what the city had to offer. An easy train ride from our hotel and we were in Amsterdam Centraal station. We succumbed to the ease of eating some of the better takes on American cuisine Europe has offered in the city. Finding a decent cheeseburger in Switzerland has been really difficult, and Mexican cuisine even more challenging. Although we did not really get an authentic Mexican fix, we did endulge in one of the best cheeseburgers I have eaten since I left the US, at Lombardo’s, and a step above Qudoba’s Mexican bowl. Walking through the city, checking out the Jordaan neighborhood, canals and culture, made for a fun day. Retreating back to the calmness of our hotel overlooking the North Sea offered a calm, relaxing evening.
Our last day in the Netherlands including more bike riding, exploring the coast of the North Sea and sand dunes, and ending with another food tasting extravaganza at Latour. This resturaunt has been awarded an annual Michelin star since 2005, and our experience was great. We were really surprised, but the best part was the dessert! Overall, we felt very at home in the Netherlands, the people, the culture, the pride of the farmers was quite welcoming. Neither my husband or I are “beach” people, but overlooking the North Sea and sleeping to the sound of the ocean every night with biking and tulip fields by day far exceeded my already high expectations for this segment of our journey.
So, where to next!? We had planned to visit Belgium, and were toying with visiting Bruges (Brugge) or Ghent. We finally decided on Bruges, which would afford Chris to go ride his bike on the famous cobblestones of the classics, including the Koppenburg and Paterberg. We were supposed to also meet some of our friends in Belgium, but unfortunately fate did not work out in our schedules. They call Bruges, ” The Venice of the North”, and we stayed in a small boutique hotel, Hotel de Orangerie right along the picturesque canal of the medieval city in the very heart of the centre. We feasted on the delights of the Belgium cuisine, I visited too many Belgian chocolatiers and I even found a beer I enjoyed. From dark chocolate waffles, mussels, and fries, we feasted until our stomaches were full.
On our last night there, we wandered around the beautiful canals, listening to the sounds of the horse carriages and stumbled upon another food paradise. Being a southerner, bbq and ribs are a part of my heritage. When I think of foods I miss, I don’t necessarily think of ribs, but we found this amazing eatery, called Ribs n’ Beer. After reading some reviews, we decided to give it a try. This place was truly a culinary delight. Although we did not have reservations, the staff advised they were booked until 2000, but that left us an hour plus to eat. For 19.99 EU, we ordered all you can eat ribs, spicy bbq sauce for me and regular for my husband. The food was amazing and our last dinner in Bruges left us more than satisified.
For our last adventure, there was a lot of brainstorming and debate. Should we head to Bavaria, the Black Forest now that the weather had improved, head back to Switzerland to Geneva, or? After seeing most places were indeed booked up due to the Easter holiday, we chose to visit a place neither of us had seen before, but always wanted to venture to, Versailles, France. We were lucky enough to find accomodation in the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace, and get reservations to enjoy dinner at the Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay au Trianon. The meal was again fantastic, but the best part of the last segment of this holiday was spending a beautiful day biking around the estate of Versailles, exploring the farmer’s market and picnicing under the shade of trees. We ended our holiday with massages, and headed back to our homeland of Switzerland.
If you made this far in the blog, I’m impressed! This is just an overview of this amazing holiday- more thoughts in the next blog on my thoughts of each country and the culture, what I learned about myself and next adventures in this beautiful thing we call life!
“Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.” -Roy T. Bennett
Although my home country, the USA went through Daylight Savings time a few weeks ago, today marks time change in Switzerland. Now that I have full clearance to physically to enjoy life in my own way, yesterday was indeed a true sunshine daydream. Physically and mentally challenging yourself to get back into what you love is uplifting bliss.
Two of my dear friends and colleagues are visiting Switzerland for the weekend, and we were quite blessed to amazing weather and the ability to truly enjoy the beauty of Switzerland’s great outdoors. Due to the funicular up to Harder Klum not yet being operational, we were forced to begin the hike from the bottom of the valley, adding quite a bit of elevation and hard work to our journey. Once we reached the top of Harder Klum, we realized why the funicular is not so operational, as the trail to Augstmatthorn still has snow fields, and dicey sections with washed out ridge trails. We used our “A team” skills with agility to navigate as far as we could, and ended the day with a respectable 10 mile hike with over 3,500 feet of elevation gain.
The first of many sketchy narrow crossings
Spring is often a time of re-birth, new beginnings and enhanced perspective. As I’m close to celebrating a new year of life and the anniversary of living one year abroad, yesterday was a reminder that although we have many challenges on our journey, it is indeed our responsbility in life to live the best life we can, spend more time with friends, and do the things you love. You cannot control what life throws your way with obstacles, but you must keep your mental and physical focus through the challenges. Stay positive, believe in yourself, and keep on moving!
A-team reunited overlooking the beautiful Brienzersee
So on this last day in March as we spring forward, I’m feeling quite happy. Keep living your best life! Inspiration song of the day- “Three Little Birds”… 🙂
I recall as a child, eagerly wanting to ‘grow up’. I would tell my Mama, “I can’t wait until I’m X years old”. As children we tend to think we understand how the world works, the concept of time, and somehow maybe that we know more than our elders.
As my husband and I were reflecting on the concept and relativity of time last night, it became clearer than ever before to me the old saying is so true, time does fly, and not only when you are having fun!
I have been living in Switzerland now for almost a year, but in many ways, it feels like years. I thought about just how quicky 2019 has moved thus far. Do we as humans measure time by what is happening in our life, or what we are ‘waiting for’? This past year living abroad, I have experienced so much personally and professionally, including some unique challenges, breathtaking moments of natural beauty and experiences, and facing obstacles it’s hard to wrap your mind around.
Yesterday, I took a day trip to quite possibly one of my favorite areas in Switzerland for deep reflection and meditation in nature, the Flims area of Switzerland.
Tela enjoying life in some slushy snow
The week ahead in my world will be quite intense, and I am blessed to have experienced a day like yesterday to meditate on all the beauty that I was surrounded by, reinforcing how grateful I am to be on this journey abroad, even if things don’t always work out the way we planned or anticipated.
Clouds covering the Grisons Mountain Range
As Tela and I hiked through the slushy snow, postholing in spots, I was surrounded by birds singing and mild temperatures, it was quite clear, Spring is coming, where did Winter one of my favorite seasons go already?!
The experience reminded me that I must seize every moment and chance I have to live my best life here in Switzerland. There is so much beauty and nature to take in throughout planet Earth, and I vow to soak in more moments, and create them as possible.
Life is indeed fleeting and short my friends, do not take it for granted. If we just stand by and do what we have always done, we will always end up with the same result. So, challenge yourself, whatever that looks like for you. Try something new, make the most of your day and if possible get out in nature. It’s healing for the mind, body and soul. Sometimes you just have to go belly up in the snow and surrender to the flow.
Adventures in this thing we call Life 