What do Rio, New Orleans and Luzern Have in Common?

CAR NI VAL

Train Station Entrance Luzern

Two weekends ago, we decided to go to Luzern, Switzerland.  We wanted to go away for the weekend, which seems to be something people do here-they leave Davos for the weekend.  We choose Luzern for no real reason, except it was a location that we could visit in a long weekend.  The travel time to Luzern is about 3 hours from Davos.

Walking Bridge from
Newer Luzern to Old Town

Like most European cities, Luzern has an 'Old Town' and a newer, more modern section.  It sounded like a good choice of a place to visit...so with no expectations (none) we went.

Well, what we experienced was more that we ever imagined!!!!

We departed Davos around noon on Friday, arriving around 3PM.  When we checked into the hotel we were told that Car-ni-val had just started.  Car-ni-val?  "Yes," the receptionist replied, "it began last night (Thursday) at 5AM with a big BOOM and a parade.  It goes on until Tuesday night."  We had NO idea what she was talking about, but she went on to say there would be music all weekend, food and a lot of people.

So we went out for a walk.  We were within a 5-8 minute walk to the 'Old Town', which has narrow, cobblestone streets.  From our hotel was, we had to cross over a river using a pedestrian bridge.  As we approached the bridge, we saw a large stadium bleacher stand.  Oh, I thought, that must be where people sat and watched the parade at 5AM (crazy!).

)

As soon as we crossed the bridge, we heard music - loud, brass music echoing in the street.  We followed the music and WHOA!  when we turned a corner, we saw another tall stadium bleacher stand filled with a huge brass band playing Drum & Bugle-type songs!!! This was late on Friday afternoon, people milling and fun music blaring!  Now we understood: the bleachers weren't for the people, they were for the bands!!

What Is It, By Golly?

So, what exactly IS Carnival or Fasnacht about??   We met a woman there who explained that Carnival in Switzerland (and I believe most of Europe) is held at the end of winter with the intention of 'scaring away winter, so spring will come.'  

In Luzern the idea is to make as much noise as you can.  I'm all for it! This woman told us that in Luzern,  brass bands come from all the surrounding towns to make joyful noise!  And it was joyful and happy and fun.

A Typical Saturday?

Feathered Man!

On Saturday morning we walked around 'Old Town.' It was quiet, stores open for business a lot of confetti on the ground from the night before. Then we noticed something unusual; people were wearing costumes. All sorts of elaborate costumes. As the afternoon progressed, the bands reappeared! Music filled the air, the streets became jammed with people and families, so many families-this was a family event! Children happily throwing more confetti. Families were dressed in themed costumes!  And the costumes were extremely detailed!  Each one looked like a Broadway production outfit.  From the top of their heads to their shoes, each aspect of the costume was perfect and coordinated.

Music & Laughter

And then the bands came out to play in their amazing costumes!  

Red, White and Blue Marching Band!

The music and fun continued all night.  We stayed until around 11PM.  It was only getting better and better.  One of the amazing things to me was there were so many families having fun.  Sure there was alcohol (Europeans like their beer) but there were no obnoxious people, no one getting sick in the streets and no public urination.  

Marching Band

Band Leader

I have never experienced such a good time.  We all have our preconceived notions of what an event like Carnival would be like.  I was so wonderfully surprised at the joy I felt coming from all directions in Luzern, Switzerland.  I learned what a good time surrounded with people who are so delightfully proud of what they can do.  I learned they make their costumes!  I learned they start the process for next year as soon as Carnival ends. 

If you are EVER in Switzerland during their Carnival (Fasnacht)  time, go to Luzern!  So much fun, so much joy, I loved it!

Auf Wiedersehen, Ciao!!!!

Marybeth

Trains, Planes & Automobiles (and other things!) Part II

Planes...
On December 23, our daughter, Christine arrived by plane from Chicago.  It was so good to see her and we had such wonderful plans for our time together.  She got to visit where we are living, see for herself the 'hike up the hill' to our apartment, visit our grocery, cook in our kitchen and...get ski lessons!!!

Yep, the day after Christmas we took ski lessons.  I was on ski's one time about 15 years ago in Santa Fe, NM. That's it.  The day we arranged ski lessons there was a significant snowfall here in Davos.  The snow falling actually made the experience even more fun.  So remember, we are in the Alps.  People begin skiing here when they are 5 years old.  We had a ski instructor who actually asked Ray how old he was, because she could not believe that in his whole life this was the second time he had skied.  Oh well...

...see the little flags around us?  We are on the 'beginners slope'.  Remember who the 'beginners' are in Switzerland..they are 5&6 years old.  So we are learning with the children!  But, when you don't know how to make yourself STOP, this is the best place to be.

On the left is Christine and I at the top of the 'hill' getting ready to go down....








How on earth do you get the skis to turn??  Notice we don't have poles in our hands.  Not yet.  The poles get in the way when you are learning.













Christine got to use poles, because she did so well!

After a great day of skiing, we all felt victorious!  Of the three of us, Christine did the best.  The instructor said she was ready for the 'real' slopes.  We didn't have time for her to go up to the top with the ski lift.  She'll have to come back before the spring comes for that!


We had other things to do...we had to get home to pack...we were headed out of town...to ITALY!




Italy.  We love Italy.  Get ready for an Italian adventure in of Trains, Planes & Automobiles (and other things!) Part III!

Auf Wiedersehen und glücklich Skifahren  (Good-bye and happy skiing)

Marybeth

                                     
                                               

Trains, Planes & Automobiles - Part 1

A New Year!
It is a new year and I have a lot of things to share with you!  Some of which took place before the new year began...let's go!!

Trains
In my last post, I mentioned that we were planning a trip on the Bernina Express, which is a train ride through the Alps. The Swiss rail system has been around for a long time.  And as a system that travels through the country of Switzerland there are many tunnels and bridges through the mountains to make the trip possible.  Whether you choose to travel in the summer and experience the beauty of Alps meadows filled with flowers or the winter where you will experience frozen lakes and snow covered trees and valleys, the trip is wonderful.  Our journey began in Chur, the capital of our canton (state) of Graubunden and ended in Triano, Italy.







Snacks on the Train
It's a four and a half hour trip and people get hungry and thirsty.
On the train there is a cart that goes up and down the aisles selling drinks and snacks.  The cart on the Bernina Express is 'dressed' as a goat, which is a symbol of Graubunden.

Views from the Bernina Express
I wanted to share some of the sights as we traveled along the rails of Switzerland.  The number of tunnels and bridges is amazing.  And remember they were built a long time ago and are maintained in pristine condition.  See the roof over the tracks on the right?  That is to protect the train from avalanches!  Apparently wherever there is a location along the railway that is prone to avalanche snowfall, they construct 'roofs'.  We have seen the same 'roof' constructions on roadways, also.

Circles
This is a circular bridge that gets lower and lower as it goes around.  The gray line under the train on the ground is the track as the track winds around and goes under the track above.

Tunnels
See the tunnel entrance on the right?  The entrance is on a shear rock wall.  This is a famous tunnel.  The ravine that the bridge crosses is very deep.  I wonder how they built the bridge and and tunnel. (hint: remember this pic; you may see it again)

Glaciers and Frozen Lakes
The views are beautiful.  The Bernina Express trains have panoramic windows, which means that they go up over the roof of the train so you have a bigger, better view.

Italy!
The first 2 hours the train is steadily climbing the alps.  The last 2.5 hours the journey gently moves downward toward our destination, Italy.  When we arrive in Tirano, there is no snow and it feels kind of pleasant outside.  In fact, we saw palm trees!  The strange thing to us was we discovered that the town of Tirano closes (yes, closes) for 3 hours each afternoon, so when the Bernina Express arrives at 1PM the town is closed for their lunch break!!!  Notice I am the only person walking on the street.

Heading Home
After a two hour stay in Tirano, we board the train and head back to Davos.

What now?
This concludes Part 1 of Trains, Planes & Automobiles.  There are too many other adventures to put in this one post, so I leave you now.  But I have a question: what do you do with a Tannenbaum when it has dried pine needles, you live on the 8th floor and carrying it will make a huge mess?  Stay tuned.  The answer even surprised us!! (hehehe)

Auf Wiedersehen und Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr!

Marybeth

Winter Is Here - Christmas Markets, Playing Outdoors - and other things

Zurich!

Last weekend, Ray and I spent in Zurich.  Why?  Well, a graduate student was defending her thesis, which means she was officially graduating from the University of Zurich.  She had completed her research at the institute Ray is working at, so everyone here from the institute went to Zurich to celebrate with her.  The celebration is called an Apero, which means a spread of finger-foods with lots of wine and because the student is from Poland, there was Polish Vodka.  Reminded me of growing up.  I am Polish.  Every New Year's Eve, my mom and dad would have a toast with Polish Vodka.

Zurich Christmas Market in Train Station

Ray and I decided to spend 2 more days in Zurich. We stayed in the Old Town.  Most European cities have an 'old town'.  Remember, 'old' here is much older than we are accustomed to in the US.  The streets are cobblestone and the churches are sometimes a thousand years old.

Christmas Markets

December in Europe is all about Christmas Markets.  A Christmas Market is an opportunity for people to sell their local specialities, whether it's food or crafts.

The main Zurich Christmas Market is held in the train station.  At the same time there are smaller markets scattered all around the city, held in small parks.   One of the famous aspects of the Zurich Christmas Market is the huge Swarovski Christmas Tree.  The tree is decorated completely with Swarovski crystal ornaments and white lights.  It is beautiful.  I just had to get a crystal ornament for myself!!!  WooHoo-a Christmas gift to me!

Glühwein

A Warm Wine Drink

When you visit the Swiss Christmas Markets, you've got to try the traditional winter drink: Glühwein.  Glühwein is warm red wine with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and mace.  I think you have to grow up drinking this beverage, but I can say I tried it.

River in Downtown Davos

White Days

We now have snow filled days, crunchy paths, brisk air - and no chill.  That's correct.  The air is dry.  It does make a difference in your ability to spend time outdoors.  The last two weekends Ray and I have taken long walks and it is so wonderful outside.  The sky is clear blue, not a cloud can be seen and there are droves of people skiing, sledding, snowboarding and just walking along the river.

Making Snow

So while there is snow on the ground, it's not enough for the skiers.  See the white 'mist'?  That is snow blowing out of snow making machines.  These machines blow out clouds of snow 24 hours a day.  On the top of the mountain, the machines line the ski slopes.  Each machine has a spot light.  When the lights are 'on' during the dark hours you know they are making snow.   It is beautiful at night to see the lights illuminating in a zig zag pattern across the mountain top as they are making snow.




A Place to Rest & Play

At the bottom of the ski area is a restaurant.   This is where the skiers rest and eat snacks, drink hot chocolate and/or beer.  This is also where parents stay with their children.  There are wooden, beach-like chairs all around the restaurant.  Each chair is cushioned and has a small retractable visor and footrest.  You claim a chair and sit for hours, people gazing and being warmed by the sun.  At the foot of the chairs, children busily dig in the snow, some pretending to be shoveling their walkways and some building snow castles.  There is the murmur of adult conversation and the giggles of children running from each other as they attempt a snow ball frenzy.  It feels like a cold-white-winter beach scene!

Children learning how to ski-how cute!!

And believe it or not-it feels warm.  There is this phenomena that when you feel the sun directly on you, you are warm, but the moment you are shaded, the temperature drops.  That is why the skiers begin skiing as early as they can - 8:30AM, because as soon as the sun dips behind the mountain, the temperature drops!  Many ski lifts stop at 4:30PM.

Oh, Tannenbaum!

It was time to get our Christmas Tree, our Tannenbaum!  She was purchased in town at Coop (pronounced 'coop', like where chickens live)....

.....and lovingly carried up the hill.  I am in the process of making our ornaments.

 So this is our Tannenbaum as of today.  More ornaments on the way.

A Cho-Cho Ride

Stay tuned.  On Friday, we are going on a train ride.  A day trip on the Bernina Express.  It's like the Polar Express through the Alps.  From Chur to Tirano, through many tunnels and across many viaducts.  It is supposed to be spectacular!

Liebe zu Ihnen alle.  Frohe Weihnachten! (Love to you all.  Merry Christmas!)

Marybeth

Ready, Set, SKI - or whatever winter sport you like

Swish!

That's the sound heard on top of the mountains now.  It's the sound of all the people whizzing by as they ski and snowboard down the slopes.  Last weekend one of the mountain top ski lifts opened.  The don't all open on the same day.  This weekend, the ski lift that I see directly across the valley from my apartment window will open.

Incline ( in Summer) to top of mountain

There is a 'routine' to going to the slopes.  The skiers gather all their equipment and take an incline train to the top of the mountain.  Once at the top, they ski down to the midpoint of the mountain, where they take a ski lift back to the top and ski again, to the midpoint. They don't ski all the way down to the valley.

In the warm sun, watching skiers

Sitting in the sun, resting, drinking hot chocolate, beer, wine

At the top of the ski run there is a restaurant, where the skiers rest drinking hot chocolate or beer and can get lunch.





Ray and I took the incline up to the top to just be there and enjoy the energy of people out skiing. While it gets colder the higher you go, the sun made it a perfectly warm day to sit outside and watch the people.  Actually it felt hot!  I had to take my scarf off and unzip my coat!










The day was beautiful.  Clear sky, no wind, just sunshine and people having fun.

Ski Poles plunged into the ground while the owners sat at restaurant

Ok...looks like I published a YouTube video of skiing that I had intended to put in this post!!!  Still on a learning curve with blogging.

Little Ones Learn to Ski

In any event,  you can see what a great time everyone has here in the winter wonderland of Davos, Switzerland.  One of the cutest things I saw was the way children learn how to ski.  Lessons begin when children are very little, maybe 6 years old.  They are given a pair of skis, no poles.  They are then attached to long straps - like a leash.  Mom or Dad holds onto the leash and they both ski, the little one ahead of the 'teacher.'  It was so fun to watch.  Remember there are sometimes cliffs on the sides of the slopes!  And no railing.  You have to guide that new skier on a straight path!!!  Or else it's a huge woops!!!

Ok...that's all for now.  Our friends ask us when we will ski...not sure about that.  Maybe snow shoe or cross country.   What would you do??

Hugs from the white spaces of Switzerland,

Marybeth

Skiing in Parsenn!

Preparations for Snowy Days!

Transformations Abound
Remember all that snow I showed you in the last two posts?  Well, it is all gone.  Amazingly, it has evaporated, melted, vanished.  As quickly as it arrived, it departed.  The landscape is as naked now as it was the moments before the slight drizzle transformed into snowflakes.

In the days immediately after the snowfall, I took a trip outside the Davos valley and venture back to the land I came from.  Yes, I had a return trip to the US.  What fun I had!  In the 10 days I was gone, some changes had occurred in Davos.

Preparing for The Snow!

Red Snow Pole

Blue/Yellow Snow Pole

Snow is a thing big thing here in Davos Platz. People talk about it and anticipate it with great glee. What I didn't realize was the way the town prepared for it. The first thing I noticed when I arrived back in Davos was there were now 'poles' lining all the streets, parking lots and mountain pathways. These poles surround the perimeters of the parks and walkways up to front doors. Some of the poles have blue paint at the top, while some have red.  We have not figured out what the different colors represent, but we smiled when we realized the true meaning of the poles.  These are the markers for the snow plows to know where the edges of the streets are when the real snow, the permanent white stuff arrives and show us how deep the snow will be.  Woah.

Red Snow Poles on the Street up to our Apartment Building

Sleeping Trees

I am familiar with snow.  I grew up in New Jersey and lived in Cincinnati where snow happens each year.  Sometimes it lingers and most times it melts in a few weeks.  In Davos, Switzerland the amount of snow and length of time is stays in more, more and more.  Not only are the streets prepared for the amount of snow, the young trees are, too.

Evergreen outside our Apartment

The small, delicate trees of Davos are wrapped and sheltered in preparation of the weight of the anticipated snow. These two evergreen trees are outside our apartment building. 

Smallest Evergreen outside Apartment Building

All the young shrubs around the town are bundled in winter cocoons.  Like bears going to sleep for a long winters nap, these trees and shrubs will be awakened and unwrapped in the spring when the threat of heavy snow ends.

Where Did All the People Go?

One of the first things I had to do when I returned home, was head to Coop (the grocery store).  As I walked along the street, it was eerily quiet.  I looked around and suddenly realized that I was the only person walking in the town!  Many restaurants and a number of retail stores were closed.  What was going on?  

I walked up to a restaurant that had been open and bustling with patrons before I left and read a sign (I am learning some German), Closed Until November 22.  Apparently from October 31 until November 21-22 is considered 'down time'.  Too chilly for the hiking tourist and devoid of snow for the skiers.  The town shuts down creating it's own 'resting time' waiting for the whiteness to arrive and with it the throngs of tourists.  We are told over and over that from December through the middle of March this small mountain town will be transformed into a traffic jam of cars, pedestrians, hikers, skiers, snowboarders, skaters, sleigh riders (now THAT sounds like fun), tobogganers and Swiss who just want to be in the most amazing mountain town for the holidays and ski season.  We'll see.  Right now it is quiet.  Even quieter than it was when I arrived at the end of July.  Remember this is the Swiss Mountains - it is naturally quiet, but right now - well, it is asleep.

Morphing Our Shoes

One more note:  This is snow related, but foot focused.  We live on the top of a very steep hill; the side of a mountain actually.  We have been informed (many times with a smile) that we will need 'spikes' on the bottom of our shoes when the snow and ice arrive in order to walk up the street to get home.  (Did I forget to mention that we do not have a car here?)  Spikes on our shoes?  

Spikes on the bottom of sneakers

Well, today as we were walking through town there was a sporting goods store open.  We went inside to check it out and lo and behold they sell spikes that you put on the bottom of your shoes to prevent you from slipping on the snow and ice!  Remember the people here LOVE the ice and snow.  They hike in it, run in it and play in it.  So, they have created a cover for their shoe that help them stay snow bound in all conditions.  The 'spikes' are pulled over shoes like a rain boot is pulled over shoes.  It was quite a surprise for us to actually see these 'spikes' for sale.  Now we know that people weren't joking.  We didn't buy any yet.  I think we are putting off the inevitable. 

Knowing There is Always the Unknown

I never know what unexpected thing I will see or experience here in my new life in Switzerland.  From street poles to cocoon trees; a sleeping town to spiky shoes.  Whether we realize it or not, our lives offer the answer to questions we have had, maybe for a long time.  When I was a child, I always had questions - how does that work? Where does that go?  You see, I always wanted to know-not anything in particular, everything in general.  My experience here is offering me the answers the the many questions I have had, maybe without even realizing on a conscious level about how other people live.  Not only that, but I have created an experience where I actually get to live with another culture.  What questions did you have as a child?  How has your life offered you the answers?

Utto---I better hurry up and post this.  I feel a snow storm brewing.

Genießen Sie das Leben

Enjoy Life!

Marybeth

A Snowy Mountaintop

A Beautiful Day in Davos Dorf

Because it had snowed the previous day, Ray and I decided to go for a hike on top of a mountain in the neighboring town of Davos Dorf.  Davos Dorf is only a 25 minute walk from our home.  In the center of the town, there is a mountain train or lift that takes people to the top of the mountain.  Some people go up to hike, others go to ski (when it is ski season, which has not started yet), some go to play in the snow and some to paraglide.

Who Said That?

As we were walking to the town, Ray was telling me about a colleague, Mirko, he had met while working at this new job.  Mirko has been a great help in getting Ray settled and explaining the rules and regulations of Switzerland.  Ray talked about him for quite a while, when we finally arrived at the entrance to the lift.  All of a sudden Ray heard his name being called out!  It was Mirko!  He was waiting in line to go on the lift.  We were both startled,

Mirko in the sky!

as we don't really know anyone here in Davos Dorf so to meet someone you know (and someone you were just talking about) can throw you off a little!  This guy was headed up the mountain too.  He told us he was going to Paraglide.  Paragliding is a huge sport here in the Alps.




We all boarded the train-lift and headed up, up, up.  When we got to the midpoint of the ride, the train stopped and the paragliders exited.  We got off too as we wanted to watch the paragliders, especially since we actually knew someone who was going to jump off the side of the mountain.  Here are pictures of our friend gliding in the breezes of the Alps.

Mirko had such control of the winds, he could find warm drafts and climb and circle around us overhead.

Well, there are no words to describe how beautiful it was on top of the mountain, so I am going to offer some pictures:

Marybeth in the snow

Children Playing

Remember we are on TOP of the mountain.  But the snow does NOT stop these people!  They bring babies in strollers up to the mountain top!  I think I am the wimp.

Playing

Mountain Climbing Ray!

Train tracks going back down to the valley

Ok...gotta go catch a train, then a plane!  I am off on a trip!   You'll never guess where.  The USA!  An amazing and wonderful opportunity to visit the states...I am coming your way!

Later gator...happy snow days, fall days, or what ever days you are having.  They are all wonderful.

Smiles across the miles,

Marybeth

Has Winter Arrived?

What's a Little Rain?

Davos in the morning

Yesterday morning began as some October days here in Davos cool and a little drizzly.   I went to the grocery (as I do almost every other day :))  and got a little wet from the light rain.  When I returned home I began checking email and got rather engrossed with my messages when I received an email from Ray.  He mentioned how it was snowing outside.  I thought he was joking as I knew it was lightly raining.  But I lifted my eyes from the keyboard and turned my head to look out the living room windows.  Holy Cow!!!  It was blizzarding!  The light rain had become the first winter storm in Davos!

Davos around 4PM

All the snow that we saw in previous weeks was on the mountain tops only.  It never reached the valley.  Well, in a matter on moments all that changed!  I cannot tell you how startling it was to see not only snow falling, but the amount of snow falling - it was a white-out.

Check out my video on YouTube; http://www.youtube/PXdZdTEvcGg

The video was taken late last afternoon, around 6PM.  We went to bed wondering what the morning would look like.  The on-line forecast says it is going to snow until 9AM tomorrow.

OK, here we are.  Friday morning.  Let's see how much snow is out there now!

8AM

It is still snowing...and it looks like there is about 15 inches already.    It looks like a magic land.  The temperature is about 28 degrees.  So it's not that cold.  And the forecast says that in two days it will be 50!  It's hard to imagine that this will melt, there is so much snow!  

Heavy Snow

8AM

Because we are just at the freezing mark, the snow is heavy. The evergreen trees hold the snow on their branches and create what looks like icing weighing them down.  It is beautiful.  The streets are plowed and sidewalks shoveled.  Yes, they do have an amazing and effective snow removal system.

Trees Covered in Snow

The pictures hardly do justice to the vision that I see.  It is so bright outside.  The sun in rising behind the mountain and casting a warm glow onto the snow.  And it is still coming down.

Trees Covered in Snow

Crunch Time!
Well, whatever the forecast said,  it's 9:30AM and it is still coming down.  I am getting my snow boots out and taking my first crunchy walk.  They say the snow crunches under your feet.  Now I will find out!

Time for the Gaze
Enjoy your day, wherever you are.  This whole life 'thing', this journey we are on, is one amazing adventure.  Look out your window today and give yourself the gift of gazing at what's out there.  Gazing is different than looking.  When we 'look' we are determining something: Does the grass need mowing?  Is it time to rake the leaves?  When we gaze, it's as though we open our eyes and remove a veil that is there that we didn't realize was there.  In a gaze, we allow our eyes to refocus and look deeply, with wonder, not to determine anything, but to simply appreciate what our eyes fall upon.  There is a sweetness to gazing.  Try it.  One deep breath and one full gaze.  Your 'AH for the morning.

Love and hugs from a winter wonderland,

Marybeth

PS  Please share your thought by leaving a 'Comment' below.  I love to hear from you.