A Bit Windy, But Exciting

This morning Noah and I took our new friends, TJ and Jill, to the Robinson Crusoe-type park down by the River Aare. While they were exploring the boats, climbing the dragon slide, and riding tricycles and scooters, we saw a helicopter making multiple trips close to the park and dropping items off. After a brief snack, we packed up the boys and walked about 100 feet to where the bags were being dropped off. We have no idea what was in the bags.


Three or four men were on the ground waiting for the bags and making sure they were secure in a big bin, but other than that who knows what they were doing. They had the road blocked off with tape, but when they saw us strolling up, they made sure it was safe and let us pass through to get to the eastern edge of Old Town. Noah did not enjoy the helicopter wind AT ALL and started screaming, "I want to go home." TJ didn't seem to notice at all. We're all different.

Avocado Chicken--Not Pretty, But Tasty

Last weekend, we bought an avocado at the HUGE Coop grocery store we found. I had plans for yummy tacos or something, but the avocado could not wait another day. After a quick internet search this morning, I found a recipe for avocado chicken and had most, well some of the ingredients. It involved quick searing the chicken, making the avocado sauce from butter, cheese, flour, chicken broth, garlic, and, of course, avocados. The recipe also called for celery seed, white wine, and a few other items we don't have--I bunted. I was a little skeptical as it was baking. But yum, actually tastes really good. The garlic and avocado really blend well. Some oven-roasted carrots and rice and we have a complete dinner, which we enjoy separately because Noah needs his playmate (Colin) to play legos or go to the park.

And I think I've figured out the knack of cooking rice on my Swiss stovetop. The burners seem to stay HOT, no matter how low I set the temperature. I stood, watched the rice and water until it boiled. Removed it from the heat. Turned the burner off for a few minutes, then set it to the lowest setting and returned the rice.

The cooking experiments continue. Tomorrow: taking a second stab at making my own pizza crust. The first time did not go well...imagine cardboard.

First Swiss Injury--Cycling in Nature

Noah has generally gone through his life in parks, pools, and on scooters/tricycles/bicycles with little or no fear. He climbs, jumps, slides, scoots, and bikes at top speed without thinking twice. Until now, most scrapes and bruises have been minor. On Saturday, I heard a loud wailing coming down the street and recognized the pitch and tone. I thought, uh oh, someone has misbehaved and had to leave he park early. Nope. As he rode through the park he slid on some dirt and couldn't quite catch himself and a large scrape on the arm was the result. Luckily, not deep or serious, but enough to produce wailing and sobbing for more than a half hour. Even chocolate couldn't calm him down. Given the choice of a large, colorful bandaid or a even larger white bandage with adhesive tape, he chose the latter. His fear of bandaids is deep and has no known cause. The wound is healing and now makes for a good story to share. He regaled his friends and teaches at Gymboree with the details on Monday.

Of Sock Monkeys and Cable Cars

Oops - forgot to post these. During my first weekend here in CH, and before Alison and N. arrived, Asish and I went to Pilatus near Luzern. Here in CH there are 3-4 mountain top touristy trips you can take. Some are snowy, some aren't. Like Pilatus. Pilatus however boasts the steepest cogwheel train in the world. And lemme tell ya folks - it's steep. From Bern, Luzern is a little over an hour on the train. In fact, most things are about an hour or so away from here. But anyway. Luzern. About an hourish away. From the tourist center you can purchase a round trip ticket that takes you to the top of Pilatus via two cable cars, down the other side via the steepest cogwheel car in the world, then by boat back to Luzern.

In between the two cable cars, there is a restaurant, picnic area, playground and zip ropes and loads to do. It's so spectacular you really don't even need to go all the way to the top. I keep thinking I need to go back now that the family is here because the playground is one that you don't see in CH very often (if ever). And by "typical CH playground" I mean a broken down metal swing with possibly a slide. Which typically end up being used by teenagers who smoke and drink crappy CH beer out of cans. But this one! Big, wooden climby thing. The awesome kind.



Once at the top, you can obviously see a lot. But in reality, it's so far down there, you can't really see it. One of the more odd visual experiences was seeing an small airport. Imagine standing on the ground, and looking down at airplanes taking off and landing. Somewhat surreal. We hiked around a bit and had some rather delicious wurst, then waited for the next cogwheel train down the other side of the mountain.



After the cogwheel train we jumped the boat back to Lucern, hung out around the lake area for a while then jumped the train back home. In the end, a fabulous day trip that begs to bring the family along.

First Swiss Illness--Eye Virus/Infection

For a little over a week, my right eye has been extremely itchy and weeping and RED. Not swollen, though, so Benedryl did nothing to minimize symptoms, though I did sleep really well. After a particularly bad night, Colin called SWICA, our health insurance and after a few call backs, we got an appointment with an allergist this morning. With our Swiss insurance, unless it's preventative healthcare like immunizations or my prenatal visits, you need to call and get approval before seeing a doctor. I figured the appointment, like many Swiss processes would not be efficient, but quel surprise. We were in and out in less than 15 minutes from check in to prescription in hand. A quick walk home, stop at the pharmacy, and medication has begun. He wasn't sure if it was caused by a virus or bacteria, so medication covers both. Thank you Dr. Weiss.

And a final observation, while both physicians we've met with speak English, their reception staff does not seem to. All forms do provide information in English, though.

Tyler Farrar

Tyler - I have your water bottle. if you want it back, you will have to give me a ride in the team car during an upcoming stage. I'm sorry. That's just the way it is.

So today Asish and I headed out to see the Tour de France as it passed into CH. I had checked the map and figured it should be relatively simple to go to the feed zone near Gruyères and see what happens. Gruyères is a cute little town on the French side carved almost entirely out of cheese. It's true - look it up.

From Gruyères one can walk to Epagny where the feed zone was listed to be. Easy peasy ... rice and cheesy as we say. Ok, that's just me. And the Bowler hat guy.

We got to Epagny and realized it was all lies - the feed zone was actually outside of town 3-4 kilometers. No worries, kilometers are like 50 feet or something. There's something like a 100 of the in every mile (the metric is 100 based to make things easy). So we were glad we took the time and walked. Found a spot just to the south and plopped right down between the Astana car and the Garmin/Chopotle car (no burritos in there though ... we checked when they weren't looking). Again, the lies. I decided to ask the Garmin guy what the chances were of me helping out. Answer: none. He didn't even need to think about it. We both laughed.

What? What? Who are all these bikers all of a sudden?!? This must be one of the most lucky shots ever ... why, it's Lance, Alberto, George and Andy! Zoom! I also have a shot of Bradly Wiggins. Close up. He's all like "get out of my way." This is what you have to do to get the shots, man.



After the riders raced by, there is really little else to do but leave. Everyone stands around kind of hoping there is more. We did see a few stragglers ride by. And we saw Vladimir Efimkin abandon and get into his team car. We saw some gendarmerie get off their motorcycles and take tourist pictures of Gruyères.

So after the race had passed, we decided to head up and over the hill in order to get back to the train station. Gruyères ville is at the top - it's the touristy part. Very cute. In fact, super cute.

Oh, and for the record ... STUPID cable provided DVR ... I scheduled the DVR to record the tour every day as a series. It's been doing this every day. For quite some time. Except ... wait for it ... today. Obviously. The day I could have been on TV, it decided to NOT record it. So, if anyone recorded it, we're standing between the Astana and Garmin cars at about kilometer 100 or so.

First Cookies

This morning it is pouring rain, which I knew it would from all weather forecasts. So we got our ingredients last night to spend the day baking cookies. First batch, cakey chocolate chip, recipe courtesy of my dad, "Little Papa." Next, up oatmeal with craisins and chocolate chunks. First cookies have been approved by Noah.

Purchasing ingredients proved to be a little challenging for Colin. Instead of brown sugar, he brought home raw sugar. But we forged ahead and they turned out tasty. And the vanilla comes in cute little bottles that look like aroma you buy to make your own perfume.

2 Pictures

Playing at the Rosengarten

View of our little Bern Village from the Rosengarten

2 Hills East of Bern

And here be my newest find (although I haven't actually ridden it in its entirety yet). Can you believe that?!? 9%!!! 300 meters of climbing elevation! Woo hoo! I'm so excited. I saw a rider climb up that road last weekend but decided (thankfully) not to follow. So now I'm thinking this will be my new TCBC Gears Tears and Fears ride. It's not as long but I think the climbing will be far better.

No Park Today ...

Today we simply sat out on the balcony and played with our trains and legos. It was a spectacular evening for such a hot day. Now I'm just sitting out here listening to a light thunderstorm pass by and watching the lightening off in the distance. We can sit outside under the canopy on the balcony and stay perfectly dry. Nice.

Friday's in CH

I had read a blog by some MN girlie a long time ago, and she was talking about her new Freitag bag. Having looked it up, I was of course fascinated by its awesomeness - the company takes old truck tarps and makes messenger bags out of them. They also have a cool application that allows you to cut out your own personalized bag from existing tarps.

I of course wanted one.

Because they are actually kind of cool.

Until you get here.

And realize ... everyone in Switzerland has one. It's ridiculous. Literally. Every. One. Has. One. In the bike shop where I saw this awesome "wall-o-Freitag", a girl who got one quite literally forgot her credit card in the store she was so excited. Probably because after purchasing it there was no more money left in her account so it didn't really matter.

Because ...

They cost like a million bucks each. Seriously. At CHF 300 for a basic one ... like a handbag with nothin'. An iPod case is 50 bucks! The dudes who started this company must be richer than snot by now. Can't spit without hitting one everyone here has one. Have I mentioned that? Everyone has one? So, you're Swiss? Here's your Freitag bag.

So now I'm making Alison bring back the old chrome bag on her trip home in August.

Little late night N.

Today was hot - sweltering hot. So hot ... the city pours cold water on the tram tracks on the bridges to keep them cool. Ok, I really don't know why they do this, but they do. Ok, and it really wasn't all THAT hot, but it was 87 degrees (31 in Disney Land metric). So N. and I went to the park! Like we always do - this blog has quickly become a bike/park blog, sorry.

This evening's events found our hero N. and his little buddy Timo playing in the fountain. Yep ... IN the fountain ... while his mom and I translated their conversation back and forth. N. learned how to say "nach oben" which is "up" as in to "go up" (as opposed to just simply "oben" which is also "up" as in he is "up there" ... but I digress). He wanted Timo to go "nach oben." Which promptly found them both "oben" in the little attic of the play house. From there they had a way good time laughing at us both WAY down there.

Bern - Oberburg - Walkringen - Bern

And now with elevation! Just found the elevation button on the ride mapper. From km 6 to 9/10 are SUPER hard. My granny gear is not granny enough. But then ... 10 km downhill. Two sections have spectacular downhill runs. Very fast - easy to keep up with regular traffic. Longest ride here so far. Legs - very tired. I'm sure overall my average speed is going to go way down. On the other hand, back in MN I used to do a Tuesday hill ride. Here, everything is a hill ride. So I suppose that makes up for it.

Cranky Expat Syndrome or the Expat Flu

Apparently, after a few weeks in your new home abroad, the excitement of the move and exploration phase of the city/country abated, the average expat enters a cranky, negative phase of life. The real comparison between the new place and the old home kicks in and disappointment can be found around every corner. We're there.

We're struggling through understanding what seems to be unfriendly, judgmental attitudes and behaviors of the locals. And, for good or bad, accepted a "screw you" mentality. If Noah is loud on the always very quiet tram, I think "good." When people don't step aside even though they see me struggling with a stroller and bags, I think, "Really? Really?"

The best advice I've found is to power through, look for the sunny side of the street, and find the happy parts of the new life. This can be a difficult daily task, but I'm beginning to see that there really isn't another option. I definitely don't want to waste the next year or two being upset or bringing that home to my kids. We may never have this chance again and who knows where it will lead. Why miss any of the sunshine, despite the 20% chance of rain that is here in Bern every day?

Wednesday Mornings in Bern

We have Gymboree every Monday, American Women's Club of Bern Moms and Tots every other Tuesday, and St. Ursala's every Wednesday morning. St. Ursala's is an English-Speaking Anglican Church just a twenty minute walk from our apartment across two windy bridges. It's a nice walk to a relaxed, though loud room, in the church's basement filled with legos, trains, ride-on, and more toys for the kids. By the end there are probably 15 kids and babies running around. Snack is provided and everyone sings songs at the end of the two hour play/chat time. We leave right before the songs start. Our squiggly boy is never interested in sitting and singing for that long and they sing A LOT of songs. It's a comfortable environment to meet other parents, get advice, and learn about the city and country. Most of the moms are from England, but there is a sprinkling of Americans. 5sf for two hours of entertainment and refreshments--best deal in town.

It's Tour Time!

The big question is whether to watch in French, German, Italian or English. The English version only shows the last hour or so. Dumb! And even the French channel will not stop talking about Armstrong. Double dumb! Let's just move on people! There are other racers you know!

Gymboree Week Three

Mondays provide me with my only "time off" when Noah goes to his Gymboree English-Speaking Playgroup for 2.5 hours. I was a bit skeptical at first because it seemed a little young for him. A teacher, sometimes two, lead a group of 5-7 kids in singing songs, making a craft, dressing up, and then running around for an hour. Luckily, we have three year old Matias in class and Noah LOVES him. They are both super excited to see each other and I can leave a happy boy. I pick up a very sweaty and tired boy to walk home for lunch.

Bern - Wikartswil - Bern (21 miles / 34 km)

Today I took the precious out for my first ride in CH. I was scared to death as I had no idea where I was going really as well as not really knowing how the roads would be or how I would be treated out there - roads here are pretty narrow.

It also proved that I could disassemble my bike, ship it across the ocean and reassemble it. And it actually worked!

I chose something seemingly easy as my first ride, and tried to make sure I avoided any major traffic areas. Which essentially means heading east from our place.

The route ended up being spectacular and seemingly impossible. CH is a hilly country. 20 miles felt like 50. I had originally intended to do a loop of 30 miles. Seemed pretty simple. Nope! Very hard for my first time out. There was one stretch I had to get off twice and catch my breath (between Metzgerhüsi and Wikartswil).

So here's my route. Looks longer that it is. 20 miles. The small loop off to the east was quite literally straight up then straight down. 1 mile up, 1 down. As steep if not slightly steeper at times as Ramsey Hill in St. Paul. There was a public fountain at the top thank goodness because I was almost out of water. The entire area north of Wikartswil is at the top of the huge Hügel (hill). But it's really a smallish mountain. My next ride will be down in the same area but I'm hoping to go all the way to Utzigen then back down and back to Ostermundigen/Bern.

No seriously, you can be honest

And today ... we went to a BBQ for the "4th of July." On the 2nd. Don't know why it was a bit early. Who knows.

So the US Marines, the guys who protect the US Embassy here in Bern, throw a ball every year. Costs TONS of money - because it's Switzerland. In order to fund the party they host events throughout the year and raise money via donations and raffles and such. This evening we had our first BBQ in what seems like a million years. They bring in all the traditional stuff you'd expect and charge hardly anything for it: Samual Adams, budweiser, Corona, Sunkist, A&W Root Beer, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad.

Delicious.

And where is it hosted? At a veritable mansion as far as Swiss houses are concerned. You'd think the US ambassador lives there. Nope. The Marines do - 5 of them. This must be like hitting the jackpot for those guys. 5 Marines, huge house, back yard, bar, HUGE TV, pool, BBQ, pool table. Awesome.

The BBQ brought in all sorts of people from government "political analysts" to folks like us - all Americans who happen to be living in Bern. Of course N. met a little buddy his age. They ran around and splashed in the sad looking kiddie pool.

Speaking of political analysts ... we met one there this evening. "How do you like Switzerland," she asks Alison, "it's ok ... you can be honest, I understand."