A New Adventure and A Reunion!

A New Adventure

Train in Davos Platz Station

Tomorrow morning at 5:50AM I board the local train and head north on the two hour ride to Zurich.  Why Zurich?  Because that is the closest international airport and I am headed to Ireland!

The company that Ray works for is headquartered in Cork, Ireland.  We knew that he would take periodic trips to Cork.  And this is the first one.  We will catch the 10:30am flight to London and take the flight to Cork arriving at 3:30pm Cork time - which is one hour earlier than Switzerland.  We have most graciously been invited to dinner at the home of one of a colleague in Cork, so I will get to have a real Irish dinner!  While this is the first time I have been to Cork, it isn't the first time I have been in Ireland.

Low Tide Kinsale

Four years ago, Ray traveled to Cork for work he was doing with P&G.  While the business was in Cork, the group he traveled with decided to stay in the quaint town of Kinsale on the southern shore of Ireland. I arrived on the third day of his meetings and had an entire day to explore by myself.

I took a local walking tour, ate at a pub and watched the tide go out.  The tides in Ireland are so dramatic.  The water in the harbor disappeared!   While on the walking tour, I passed a book store.  For those of you who don't know, I love book stores.  When I enter a book store, I breath in the smell of the books.   I wander up and down the rows of books, then  I find my favorite sections and scan the shelves for something that interests me.  I select a book and find a good spot to sit and read, read, read.

Kinsale Bookshop

So, after the walking tour I searched the cobblestone streets of Kinsale and found the bookstore.  Once inside the question I had was, "what kind of books do they have in Ireland in the topic that I love?"  Again, if you don't know me, my favorite topic is metaphysics.  So, I wondered, what are the people of Ireland interested in around this topic?  Is their interest the same as in the states or is there something different here.  I found Louise Hay books.  I found The Secret.  Then I found a book I had never heard of:  What the Hell are we Doing on Planet Earth.  The title struck me.  I pulled it off the shelf and began to read it.  It was interesting, intriguing, and thought provoking so I did the next best thing: I bought it.  I went back to the hotel and continued reading.

Then I did something I have never done before:  I emailed the author of the book. I remember I wrote that I was from the US, visiting Ireland and wanted to share my thoughts about his book. I remember asking myself: 'why are you sending this email.  Authors don't read emails that people send them.  No one will ever reply to your email.'  So many thoughts that would have stopped me from hitting 'send', but for some reason I sent it. Within 20 minutes, I received a reply!!!  From the author!  He asked where in Ireland I was visiting.  I told him I was in a little town called Kinsale.  He replied that he LIVED near Kinsale!  He went on to suggest that we meet!  He asked where I was staying and he replied he knew the hotel and suggested that we meet for coffee the next morning.  I asked, "how will I know you?"  He replied, "You will."  I remember asking myself, "is this really happening?"  I have never been so brave to email an author of a book on a topic that I am so interested in.  And to receive a reply was amazing, but come on; he lives near where I am staying?!  Is this possible?

The following morning, Ray and I were having breakfast in the hotel restaurant.  From the window by our table we watched a car pull into the parking lot.  A gentleman exited the car and happily walked  toward the hotel.  Within two minutes, Roderic Knowles was standing by our table introducing himself.

Ray stayed a while and left allowing Roderic and I some time to talk.  We were like two old friends.  We talked about his work, the books he has written and the books he intended to write.  I talked about the spiritual cruises I co-produced and the working I do with Life Coaching.  I remember him asking me why I hadn't written a book.  And I remember replying that I don't know what I would write about.  I remember his smile and kind and gentle manner.

A Reunion
Over the last 4 years, Roderic and I have emailed each other and maintained our friendship across the ocean.  When Ray told me that we were going to Ireland, I emailed Roderic to see if it would be possible to meet and catch up.  Roderic and his beloved, Elly have invited me to come and stay with them for two nights in Kenmare, their new home.  I am so excited to visit with Roderic.  Today I received a 'Happy Travels' email from him and Elly.

Now I have to go and pack.  This feels surreal.  It feels exciting.  And it IS happening.

I'll keep you posted and you please keep my 'safe travels' in your thoughts.

Hugs and love,

Marybeth

Could That Be Snow?

Holy cow!  Snow!

When we awoke Wednesday morning and looked out our windows, we saw snow sprinkled on the mountain peaks.  There wasn't any snow on the ground in the valley where we are, but there it was, high atop the mountains.  We are told that these snow sprinklings is the way winter arrives here, slowly and intermittently.  Now it is Thursday afternoon and much of the snow is gone.

Snow across the valley atop the mountains

We are also told that the 'big' snow arrives here in the valley in November.  That is when the snow piles  3-4 feet high and does not melt.  The winter snows usually arrive during the nights.  There is supposedly an incredible system of snow removal, which, I am told, begins at 2AM while the snow is falling.  There is such excitement here when you talk to people about the winter snow.  People get this excited look and talk about the beautiful sound of the snow crunching under your feet as you walk.  My minds gets caught up in the fact of how much snow falls ...and stays!

I'll let you know how this Cincinnati girl feels about that much snow when that happens.


Glücklich Schnee Tage (Happy Snow Days)

Marybeth

How much was that?

Whenever I travel to foreign countries I love to walk through neighborhood grocery stores to see what food the local people like to eat and what products they use.  Well, now I am the one purchasing the food and products!

Produce Section of Coop

The produce here is beautiful.  It is grown in small family farms. Corporate farming is not a part of their culture.  They don't believe in it. We might get bigger peaches, but do they always taste good?

There is also organic produce, which is labeled 'Bio'.  See the word 'Aktion', that means it's on sale.

They have a very efficient way of weighing produce.  On the tag below the particular vegetable or fruit is the price and a 'number'.  This number corresponds to the same number on a chart above the scale.

Simply put the vegetable on the scale, press the corresponding number and presto, a little sticker is produced which you stick to the bag.  So much more easier that the produce check out I have seen anywhere in the US.

Produce Scale

I also search grocery store shelves for familiar US brands and to see how much that product costs abroad.  I had heard that the prices in Switzerland were high.  I did some research before I came and learned that the Swiss balance their high prices with really good salaries.  I read that cashiers make 'really good money.'  Now I really wonder what that means!  Today I am going to share with you my latest 'grocery store finds' and their prices.  Ready?

Mayo similar to Hellman's

Thomy is a Nestle Brand of mayonnaise.  It is CH8.50 for the large jar.  That translates to about $8.60 a jar.  We buy the small jar and use sparingly.  Mayo is also sold is what looks like a toothpaste tube.  We bought one and took it on a hiking excursion.  It made making a sandwich really easy!  Just felt weird squirting it out!

Tobasco

Ajax

Like Tabasco sauce?  It is  CH3.30 ($3.50) for a little bottle.


Need to clean something?  Try Ajax.  At CH7.35 ($7.50) you might not clean as often!






Now I am not sure about Pampers.  I am a long time removed from that world, so you will have to help me here.  I only know that a 24 pack in Switzerland is CH14.50 (about $15.00)  How much are they in the US?

Mascara

Want to get beautiful?  Maybelline Mascara is CH14.50 (about $15.00) a piece.








And corn on the cob is $2.10 EACH!

It has been a really shocking experience to see how much things cost here.  And I haven't even talked about the cost of meat, which is sold in small amounts.  I'll get to that in another post.  But I have to tell you, I am in a field of appreciation for the cost of living in the US.  I don't think we can really appreciate what we have until we can compare it to something.  Is that a feature of our minds?  Until we have a comparison, we really don't know.  I can say I am grateful for my life in the US, but let me tell you, I have a new level of 'knowing appreciation' that I did not have before.  I never realized how easily I shopped at the grocery at home.  Sure I looked for bargains and sales, but here when I am at the checkout I am always in a state of amazement (I hope it doesn't show on my face), when the total of the purchase is shared with me and I only have 4 items.  And then there are NO grocery bags, unless you buy reusable bags.  They do not believe in paper bags.  You bring your own way of carrying your groceries home or you carry your loose items in your arms.

Did I say this is an education?  Every minute I learn more about life outside the boundaries that I was used to.  My ability to adapt, to stretch and be flexible are put to the test daily.

Until next time...froh Einkaufen (happy shopping)

Marybeth

Things Experienced, Things Learned

Today is Monday, September 2.  In the USA, it is Labor Day.  In Switzerland, it's 2.9.13 (that's how they write a date: day.month.year).  Just another Monday here.  But while the Swiss, and the entire rest of the world, do not celebrate this day as anything special, I wanted to share a special evening we had on Friday.  

Friday was Museum Night in Davos.  There are six local museums.  A Medical Museum, Winter Sports Museum, Kirtchner Art Museum, Historical Museum, Mining Museum and the Wiesen Local Museum.  From 7pm until midnight a free shuttle bus took us to each of the museums and allowed us to visit the museum at no charge.  This event takes place every two years, and lucky (!) for us, this is the year it takes place!  So Friday evening Ray and I spend visiting the museums and learning more about our new home!

Did you notice on the sign that the time of the Museum Night is displayed in military time.  That's what we Americans call it: military time.  Around here they just call it Telling Time!  Something I am getting used to.  Most all of Europe displays time this way.

Our Apartment is tall building on other side of valley

Saturday was a kind of celebration, too.  There are chair lifts on both sides of the mountains.  In the summer, the lifts are used to take hikers up to the top of the mountains.  Hiking is a major activity here in the summer.  People come from all over Switzerland,  to hike in the Alps surrounding Davos.  Sometimes I have to remember that I now live in a 'tourist town,'  a resort community, a place people come to visit because there is so much environmental beauty.  The main street of the town is crowded with people either getting ready to hike or having just finished.  People of all ages, walk around with their walking sticks.  These sticks look like ski poles. I have noticed so many elderly people that I would most likely see using a walker in the US, using these hiking
poles.  I have not seen one senior using a walker.  My mother-in-law resisted getting a one.  She needed it for balance, but as she said, "only old people use walkers."  By the way, she was 88 when she said that.

MB on top of the world

Here, in Switzerland, people start using a 'balance devise'  as soon as they begin hiking as a child.  There are many children walking around with their hiking sticks!  People never stop utilizing their hikiing sticks as they get older and use them in place of walkers when they are seniors.  Hiking is so loved, we watched seniors dragging their oxygen tanks with the hoses under their noses, hiking!  Nothing stops them!

Well, this past weekend was the last day of the chair lifts for the summer hiking season.  The chair lifts are closed now for about two months, getting ready for the S N O W!  When the snow comes, they carry skiers up to the mountain tops to ski!  So, because Sunday was the last day of the summer chair lifts, para gliders used this opportunity to do their thing.  Paragliding is another huge sport here.  There were so many para gliders on top of the mountain that from our balcony, they looked like a swarm of mosquitos flying above us.

I have loved seeing families walking together with all their gear, climbing up, up up and then heading down, down, down.  There is such a feeling of togetherness and appreciation of nature.

Next time I write, I'll share my grocery store experience!  

Bis bald!  (See you soon!)

Marybeth