Tuesday August 26, 2008

Final Entry on Germany & Switzerland

Memories That Will Stay With Me For a Long Time…

The people – especially those in our tour group (Jim, John, Arlene, Cerwin, and Pam in the background were part of that group) and those who made us feel welcome at Schwarzenau.

I loved the story of the two women in the foreground – the lady on the left was (from the USA), and had lost her glasses. The woman on the right (from Germany) found them and turned them in to authorities. Neither knew about their connection until they sat next to each other at the Brethren Celebration. There were close to 900 people – and they sat next to each other.

This lady was one of my favorite German friends in Schwarzenau. I first met her at the Alexander Mack home/museum – holding flowers for a gravesite. We met and talked many times throughout our two days there.

The Schwarzenau folks (all 800 of them) went out of their way to welcome us (all 600 of us) and helped us feel that we were spending a few days in the 1500s.

I understand that living the 1500s is not an act for this family. This is how they live.

This young boy was learning to make small objects with a pedal lathe. I think we have a few grandsons who would have enjoyed this.

Making slate roofs.

My one purchase (I am not a souvenir person) was a long-handled wooden spoon with Schwarzenau, Germany, burnt into it.

These holsteins made me feel at home – and I wondered if any of them had lineage in our area. My grandfather was part of the Heifer Project and helped deliver holstein heifers to Germany following World War II.

Walking across Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland.

I just must post a few more photos of our hike on the Alps

If I listen carefully, I can still hear cow bells.

This photo makes me miss our tour friends.

A riverboat ride on Zurich Lake took us by beautiful scenery and this amusing scene of one seagull per post.

This pretty scene of Limmat River in Zurich gave little hint that this was the spot where Felix Manz was drowned for his beliefs.

A magnificent Benedictine Monastery in the village of Einsiedein, Switzerland. We were privileged to listen to evening vespers by the monks who live here.

Bicycles! I will never forget the bicycles, blowing horns and zooming around and between us.

I was most suprised at the many women who rode bike while dressed up for work or shopping – many wearing dresses or skirts.

Breakfast was another neat memory – not bacon and eggs – but smoked salmon, fish, cheese, and lunch meat.

And, oh, those wonderful breads and rolls that were available at every meal.

This was one of my favorite lunches!

None of us in the tour group will forget the delicious spaghetti ice cream, and that Bruno (bus driver) found this great restaurant for us. (It is ice cream pressed through a strainer.)

This Sprungli chocolate pie was “to die for.” Cerwin and I shared it – eating it slowly and carefully tasting every morsel.

This is how beds were made up each day – with coverlets that reminded us of light sleeping bags. They were almost too heavy during the early days of the trip when the evenings were very warm, and there was no air conditioning.

There were Gideon Bibles in almost every motel room. Good for you, Gideons!

I will always remember the narrow, cobblestone streets.

The beautiful vegetables and flowers sold in street markets.

Little cars on sidewalks!

The autobahn was sometimes full of vehicles like above, other times we had open road. Trucks must stay on the right. Cars and buses were usually in the middle, and passing cars (sometimes very fast) were in the left lane.