The Week In Switzerland... June 3rd through 9th (Heerbrugg/Marbach...home of dear friends...)

 Ahhh, Switzerland!  What is there not to love about it? It is a beautiful country with beautiful, happy people! 


Although clouds often threatened rain, we only had a little of it one afternoon during a bike ride, and another day after we were cozily at home and enjoying dinner.... mostly, the weather was perfect: a cool spring temperature with an abundance of sunshine and light breezes!


The landscape is dotted with churches, their steeples elegantly framed against green hillsides and charming country houses.Vast green, rolling fields are filled with happily munching dairy cows. It is truly an enchanted land! 


 I have spent a wonderful week in the rural town of Marbach–a couple of hours southeast of Zurich–with my wonderful friends, Karin and Hans Huppi. (I met them in India, back in 2020.) Additionally, I have been introduced–at different times–to their five adult children… 4 boys and 1 girl! They are all truly delightful.  I have also enjoyed practicing my Spanish with Lluvia, girlfriend of Solomon, who came all the way from Mexico to visit with him for 2 weeks.


 I have partaken in delicious and hearty meals, which almost always included heavenly, hearty bread and Gruyere cheese, one of my favorites (and vastly superior here than in the U.S.!) The capper, though, was the cheese fondue night! The last time I had it was 33 years ago… basically, the last time I was in Switzerland (Montreux, to be exact). My memory of it was spectacular– 33 years later, it STILL is!! 


Now, you might be wondering, “but what about the chocolate?!” Yes indeedy, I have eaten a generous amount of Swiss chocolate as well–dark, of course–and have NEVER been disappointed! All of it has been absolutely divine…and I have sampled a great many varieties!


  Finally, there are the great, recreational opportunities: Cycling paths and bicyclists abound;  the drivers are shockingly polite and deferential to such riders. (I know this, because I was thrilled to be able to borrow one of the Huppi’s ebikes and galavant about the countryside.)  Marbach and its rural environs are bicycle heaven. I have ridden a bike thrice during my weeklong stay… once with Karin and Hans, two other days on my own. It has been great fun exploring the rolling hills and ending up at a public lake/swimming hole. The water was chilly but refreshing; I swam amongst lily pads, jumping fish and blue bottle flies… not to mention, a few ducks here and there. What joy to swim in nature, under blue skies and beautiful clouds, surrounded by greenery…and clearly all the fellow swimmers and sun bathers–adults and kids– were in agreement!  


Oh my, but I could live here SO easily!!!


That is, except for the winter time… then, I imagine it would be much too cold for me. Regardless, you cannot beat the springtime here in this magical country, and I will definitely have to return!! 



On the 9 hour train ride from Rome to Heerbrugg, via Milano and Zurich.
Below, 2 photos from the train, after entering Switzerland.





With my friends, Karin and Hans, in their lovely home...Marbach 

Hans' home made challah bread

Karin slices the bread for our lunch... 


A few of the gorgeous flowers in their very verdant garden... 


Hans cuts roses for a bouquet...they have 60 varieties growing in their garden!!

Son Salomon with Mexican girlfriend, Lluvia...enjoy luscious ice cream sundaes! 


On a different night, we all enjoyed an astral cheese fondue, a joint effort by Hans and Solomon. We ate on their gorgeous, covered patio... surrounded by the lush garden. One eve, rain fell... it was SO lovely to sit out there eating, with the raindrops pattering overhead! Truly amazing... 

I believe it was Lluvia's first time tasting fondue... she was as enthralled as I was, of course! 

It is a bit hard to see in this photo, but Hans is eating buttered bread with Toblerone chocolate on top of it! I thought this hilariously decadent... I mean, I love my chocolate too, as you all well know, but, well, that is going a bit TOO far with such a passion, me thinks!! 

He is also creator of the most decadent desserts! (As someone with a terrific sweet tooth, I could appreciate this about Hans as well... and, God knows, there are TOO many delectable sweet treats in Switzerland, and Europe in general!) 

The monstrous cat, Merlin, also greatly enjoyed eating... clearly, at least as much as the humans in his family!!! 


The lovely local lake for swimming... Karin and her friend went in the eve; I waited until one warm afternoon before venturing into the cold water myself! 



We all went for a bike ride and visited the homestead of two of the other sons, Jonathan and Ananda, in their mini village of vans, campers and container "tiny houses".  Cozy and creative, it was impressive to see how the young people find affordable living in an increasingly expensive world! 





















The creative entrance to the small "village"... the young residents here do their best to use recycled materials whenever possible. 



On another day, we went for a nice long drive in the gorgeous countryside...then visited a couple of charming villages... very traditional Swiss German style architecture... a couple hundred years old (or older) and quite lovely! 


In addition to cows, one sees many goats and sheep as well... and hears the wonderful tinking of the bells they wear, reminiscent of Heidi... one of my favorite books/movies as a child! 











Hilarious collection of gnomes in front of this novelty store!







On my final, glorious day, I took a solo ride out into the coutryside, climbing hills for the magnificent views, and eventually riding through farmlands to the lake that Karin and her friend swam in before. Since it was the afternoon and not the eve, it wasn't intolerably cold... I got in a good, long swim... and it was the perfect ending to a most wonderful stay! 

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