Or rather the perfect hosts! When you turn up for a visit after four years, nursing a cold and sore back (night time coughing fits and limited exercise) and your hosts are 15-50 years younger…you try to put on a brave face and roll with the fun activities! Which is easy to do when the sun is shining, as it was for the first three days!
But when the cold turns a little gastric, and you dare not venture too far from the bathroom there is no pretending!!! Florian, Verena and Benjamin had taken a half day off yesterday afternoon….to go exploring with this old gal! But my body decided otherwise and an afternoon of naps all round was the great adventure! The day also bringing rain and thunderstorms, mirroring my condition!
Today, my last day, feeling a little better, a full work/school day for the hosts, and I had the energy to repack, and take a lunchtime walk with Verena (who works from home).
Again five minutes from suburbia to the country….
Over the motorway and into the forest, no motors allowed…
And out to the farms….this time apples…
One which I pocketed (off the ground) and enjoyed on my return…the rows of rosy red and orange apples still laden on the trees.
Another Northern European Staple (food) the cabbage – rows upon rows, and as the lane winds through the farmhouses, the seldom seen (in my country now) roadside stall…
Next to the owners barn, and their homes…
High on the hill, in a perfectly manicured (as all things Swiss are) garden….and
I found some Gnomes! Together with chickens, rabbits and other carefully placed treasures!
Doing a full circuit and back to the down of the uphill bit…looking down at my neighbourhood (for the week).
Zurich being a city of around 1.4 million and quite spread out its is a city of green spaces and tall trees, vegetable and fruit gardens, Roses and very well behaved children! (At least young Benjamin is – age 9 – very independent, half an hour homework the minute he walks in the door!)
Verena had some more work to do after our walk so I thought a back rest and book read would be a pleasant way to pass the afternoon! Consequently I fell asleep and treated Verena to my last (hopefully) party trick and snored the hour away, lying flat on my back!
The last family member is Ginger…
20 years old, and deaf, which, in light of my state this week, had probably been a blessing for her!
All who wander are not Lost girls 