Day 2
The View from the Chalet
Jill and I awoke at midnight to a couple of gunshots in the valley, or maybe it was fireworks. Otherwise, silent as a tomb. Jill and I both dislike the duvet concept, what’s under the duvet is broiling, what’s not is frozen.
When we awoke it was 10:00 – 14 hours of sleep! Kristen and I still couldn’t get out of bed till 11:00!
When we awoke it was 10:00 – 14 hours of sleep! Kristen and I still couldn’t get out of bed till 11:00!
Rain, drizzle, clear, 50 degrees – more of the same weather. Ham and eggs and baguette for breakfast – and before we knew it – it was 1 PM! We got our butts in gear and backed down the driveway.
Found the Hotel – Restaurant Ermitage and went inside for lunch. A mistake, since if we had looked at the menu outside we would have realized it was a bit more formal and expensive than we had in mind.
Kristen was on her best behavior, as we skipped the starter and had pork (Miss K) and Beef (mom & dad), though mom’s was supposed to be Veal. Kristen and I had some kind of home made sorbet that sounded like “Pistachio” but wasn’t – it was melon. Tasty for dad but not Kristen. Unfortunately, too much money at 120 CHF – about $90. And to boot, once we got home Jill found that it was a place she had decided not to go to, based on the brochure!
Found the Hotel – Restaurant Ermitage and went inside for lunch. A mistake, since if we had looked at the menu outside we would have realized it was a bit more formal and expensive than we had in mind.
Kristen was on her best behavior, as we skipped the starter and had pork (Miss K) and Beef (mom & dad), though mom’s was supposed to be Veal. Kristen and I had some kind of home made sorbet that sounded like “Pistachio” but wasn’t – it was melon. Tasty for dad but not Kristen. Unfortunately, too much money at 120 CHF – about $90. And to boot, once we got home Jill found that it was a place she had decided not to go to, based on the brochure!
After lunch it was on the road in search of either “Sommerfest” in Zweisimmen, or “Drinking Sunday” in Launen. We opted for Sommerfest but by the time we got to Zweisimmen there was no sign of Sommerfest, or Summer, for that matter. But the rain let up enough for a brief walk around town, and some photos of cows (plastic) in the traffic circle.
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Besides the cows, we did enjoy the spectacular scenery and a couple of churches we went into.
The Rougemont church was from around 1100 and seemed to have the original frescoes and decorations still in place. We pressed a button to turn on the lights, and they came to life. Also awesome was the organ, which formed one wooden ensemble with the vestibule. And the churchyard was nice, all the graves (recycled every 15 years or so) immaculate and flowered. |
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The Saanen church was larger but “only” from 1620. It too had intact frescoes, inside and (a fragment) out. The pulpit was a masterpiece of wood inlays. And Saanen’s organ was nicer, and more colorful. The churchyard had many flowered graves, and we enjoyed a stroll around, surrounded by the mountains.
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Then back home, all stores closed, for dinner of leftover potatoes, string beans sautéed with bacon, a little Cat’s Eye, awesome cheeses with OK bread, and soon – gateau aux fruits I got from the patisserie.
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Diana Krall on the IPod, which I have hooked up to the stereo. I must say I am very pleased with the technology we brought on the trip. The IPod – which hooks up to the stereo, or the car via an FM transmitter – adds a new dimension to our sonic adventures. The new Fujifilm F30 camera is awesome, like having an SLR the size of a deck of cards in your pocket. And it can show the pictures on the TV, or back them up on the IPod!
Day 3 >>>
Day 3 >>>