Friday 1st July Glass Factory

 This was a day for close to home activities. Home being our remaining short time in Horb. It was raining intermittantly after a stormy night with wind, thunder & lightning. Maria took us to the Glass Factory Museum which has an  excellant audiovisual display of the history of glass making from earliest times to the operarion in Switzerland. It had a chequered career in Switzerland. At first the immigrants who brought the skill from Germany were welcomed in the small forest communities because they brought work opportunites and increased prosperity.  Although the pay was poor it provided a cash economy. However the furnaces were wood fired and in time the villagers recognised that their forest was almost gone. The owners were forced to find new forest.  Automation then introduced  more change and the factory was relocated to Fluhli until the wood supply became an issue again.The ultimate solution was achieved by again moving to Hergiswil where a lakeside location allowed easy delivery of wood. 

Walking around the musium it was well displayed how the early products were luxury elegantly designed products. With the increase of competative mechanisation elsewhere the products became more utilitarian. The second World War saw production focussed on preserving jars to efficiently manage short food supplies.  In 1975  the factory lost the viabilty struggle and closed. It reopened under new owners and had a more streamlined process. In 1988 the owner died and his son took over converting production to a craft/training operatiion and Museum. We saw the operation by workers young and old with the trainees undertaking the simple preparation tasks, graduating to uncomplicated vases and the seniors doing the more skillful glass blowing tasks. Bob immediately noticed that the footwear ranged from sturdy shoes to socks with flipflops . As he said anything short of thongs. 

We then adjourned to the SHOP. Ooh that was hard. The range of products from elegant to functional was impressive and  I envied Maria's freedom to purchase items she had been  hankering after since her last visit.

Ater lunch we drove back to Bulach and after purchasing the necessary spices I made Thai Pork Curry for dinner. Bob was delighted to discover that Maria had rice noodles in her cupboard so the meal was quite authentic.

A day in the mountains at Stoos.

 Yesterday we had beautiful fine weather but the threat of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. So we were up and off early to make the most of the day. The funicular railway is the only one in the world that climbs at 110 degrees. The carriages are within circular frames and rotate within them so that as the climb they are above one another. There is a spectacular view from each unit. At the top there is a transfer to 4 or 6 seat chair lifts and part way up there is transfer to a second longer one. To get to the highest point we had to hike up a couple of steep climbs with yet another chair lift in between. We thought the views from the first peak down over Lake Luzern were stunning and spent quite a while wandering around various view points.  By then it was looking like rain and we retreated to a hotel for a bowl of Leak and Potato Soup. Though we had to rely on Maria to translate the menu to know what we were ordering. 

It rained quite heavily while we were eating but fined up by the time we went back out. We debated whether to risk going up to the further highest peak but  since Maria hadn't been up there we allowed ourselves to be persuaded that it would not rain any more. It was definately worthwhile. The peak was the 1900+ metres mentioned with the photo and much more rugged. We eyed the footpath leading back around the crest to our previous location with disbelief. it was literately a footpath; i e one foot in front of the other with serious consequences to any misstep. A challenge for younger hardier souls.

It was a wonderful experience and we listened with slight envy to Maria and Roland's descriptions of what it was like with a deep layer of snow over the entire area.   Then it was time for home and a good nights sleep.

Photos from the Mountains

View of Lake Luzern

View from the Mountain Top at 1900+metres

This is part of how we got to the top. Two tunnels and even more track than this

Then a walk to get to the chair lift. Yellowblob.

Then a second chair lift after yet another hike. We slept well last night.

WED 29 JUNE - Alpine Pastures & Stans

 This morning the weather seemed a bit doubtful as rain was forecast for about lunchtime. Maria decided it was too dodgy to head  for the real mountains so decided we would go up to the Summer pastures about an hour away.  Google said we would be there in half an hour but that was just to get to the base of the hills we were to climb. The winding unsealed road that Roland drove us up had more hairpins than old fashioned pin curls. It took half an hour of careful driving alongside sheer drop offs to cover the 15 verticle kilometers. Passing the few on coming vehicles was a breath holding experience.

Once we arrived close to the top of what we would classify a mountain we found grassey pastures dotted with basic Summer bungalows, a little white chappel and lots of "Swiss Browns". This is the breed of the most common dairy cows. Their colour ranges from creamy caramel to dark brown and they almost all wear a loud but not unmusical cow bell.

Once we had taken in the scenery we headed off on a medium scale walk. The first stop was the significant marker for the Geographic centre of Switzerland. We of course stopped for the obligatory photos which I will try and post at a later date because I stupidly deleted a whole batch of my photos. I had sorted them into separate groups and then became confused as to which file I was in and whiped them.

The wild flowers along the way were quite beautiful and I was chuffed to find some Alpine Orchids. These are like dainty versions of our Leek Orchids only in varigated shades of mauve. On the home run we stopped in at a home cheese  making business and bought butter and cheese which we sampled later. Both fairly mild in flavour. We also spotted a couple of wild goats grazing and running along a high ledge.

Arriving back at the restaurant near the car park we stopped for coffees before braving the long road back. I must say Roland manages these roads with great skill. Halfway down we stopped at a roadside BBQ  shelter. This had everything needed  from a trough with constantly running mountain water, to a huge stack of firewood, an axe and bbq tongs, to first aid equipment and a bottle of Schnapps. All of this was to ensure the safety of people unexpectedly caught in a storm. Because everyone up there recognises the importance having this equipment in an emergency it is all left clean and tidy and not exploited. Maria had brought German Style sausages , salad and bread so we cooked up our snags and enjoyed our lunch.

On the way home we stopped in  small town called Stans for a wander around the and the most delicious iced coffee with ice cream. Dinner was a strange Vietnamese take away because no one needed much. It ended up being quite tasty but a long way from it's Viet roots. 

Tuesday 28th June To Horw

 After our usual liesurely breakfast when we tried out some of Maria &Rolands jam making activities we packed up and set off. We went first to Zofingen to take a walk  around the park which overlooks the town. We also saw about three different varieties of deer which are in adjacent large grassy runs for the benefit of visitors.

Then we went down into the town for a walk around the old town. The town was settled prior to 1571 because we saw the toll house was built then and they were obviously in a position to defend themselves. Roland has just Googled the origins and first time it was mentioned historically was 1271. The old buildings are beautifully restored and we had a fascinating time seeing the variations of design.

Our wandering took us up until when we realised that it was 1pm and we needed to find some lunch. Fortunately  Roland scoped out a small cafe tucked in under a huge Linden Tree. Appropriately it was called the Linden Cafe. 3 of us ordered chicken cooked in a Tagine Moroccan style which was delicious and Bob had an interesting array of salads and samosas. We then completed our circuit and headed to Horw , pronounced Horb.

This is where Erich and Caterina live in a comfortable apartment and they have loaned it to the 4 of us while they are away on holiday. They have taken their caravan up to the NW coast of France so Erich can surf and 2 1/2  year old Neil can play in the sand. Hopefully Caterina can have some down time too.

Bob and I were blown away by the view from their balcony of Mt Pilatus.

House with traditioal  song written across the from with illustrations in Zofingen.

View of M

               View of Mt Pilatus from balcony in Horw.

House built in 1371 in Horw and recently restored.

Houses around the main square in Zofingen with local particular roof style.

us. Fortunately we took photos immediately because it is now shrouded in cloud. We then went to the nearby shops for a few essentials  and then a walk to the lake. Now we are sitting down to fondue for tea. 

Monday 27th June Zurich

 Today we did some photo management chores and I placed all the Wedding photos in one file. We then messaged Elise for her birhday.  It was 5 pm her time and she was busy organising dinner ready to go to the Churchlands big anniversay concert. So it was a short call just to wish her Happy Returns.

Bob and I then gave Maria and Roland some space by going into Zurich on the train for the afternoon. We had a lovely walk through the twisting lanes and alleys of the Old Town. Enroute we went into the Reformed Kirke of St Peter. This was very simple in it's decoration but was fitted out with lots of beautiful wood. As we looked around and took a seat to soak up the atmosphere the organ began to play. There was a prerecorded short sample of the music it can produce from the thunderous to the gentle. It was fabulous because it was a magnificent organ.

We then ambled on down to the waterfront of Lake Zurich and caught a Ferry which took us on a 1.5 hour trip around the Lake. It was calm and sunny and very pleasant. We then successfully caught the correct train home and walked up to M & R's in the quiet but steady rain. Maria and Roland had spent the afternoon making jam. Red Current, Black Current and Nectarine.

Sunday 26 june

 Today was a relax and recovery day after all the excitement. Roland and Maria took us on a walking tour through the Old Town of Bulach. The town was founded in 1385 after a couple of earlier settlements ( circa 811+ ) were burnt down by the invading Austrians. It still has the remnants of the Town Wall incorporated into the boundary walls of the homes built there. We then went to the Museum where there was a display of the history of the Fire Brigade. They still have an early fire fighting set up which was a Bentley Wagon towing a trailor. The Bentley can be hired for Weddings and other special occassions. Maria and Roland used it for their Wedding.

Last evening Roland and Maria cooked a roast of pork for dinner and the bridal couple joined us. It was great to have time with them for a decent chat.