GRINDELWALD 2013 Departure time

                         Saturday Sept, 28.  Our last day before departure back to Neerach. Of course we had one more day, but lots of plans. Our first priority was going to Interlaken and visit Andrea's mother, Rosli. She is 84 year old and in excellent spirit and shape. She lives in the middle of town in a forth floor condo. and as always we found her right away. It is always good to talk to her and see how happy she is.

Rosli and Donna

She is always so happy

                          We had some good laughs and stayed for a couple of hours before she accompanied us down to the main street and directed us to the right store. I had to get my Swatch repaired, the one I just bought 7 days ago. You think Swiss workmanship should last a little longer than 7 days.  The Swatch store owner was very accommodating and replaced the broken part.
                            After a last look at some great stores in Interlaken we headed back to Grindelwald to our home but not before a quick visit to the restaurant Grund for some Ice Beers and a Plumli and we took a pizza with us.
                              Donna started to clean the upstairs and had two loads of laundry going while I went back to the store for some Nussli salad and Epesses. We really enjoyed our last night up here with a good dinner, Epesses and a great evening scenery.

Donna on the way to do some laundry in the basement

Last evening on the balcony

The Wetterhorn (12000 feet)

A close up

The front of the house, a new addition.

The Eiger Nordwand from the back window of the house

                            Sunday, Sept 29.  After a good night sleep and a breakfast of leftovers we cleaned the rest of the house, stored the balcony furniture and closed the heavy shutters.  We left the house at 11:30 in direction of Bern.

                              We had an appointment to meet Heinz and Margaret at Grauholz, a Restaurant in Schonebuhl about 10 miles outside Bern on the highway to Zurich.

                              Heinz is a great friend of mine for the past 50 years. In 1961 we did our cook apprenticeship together in Montricher, a small village in the french part of Switzerland, and later we worked together in Switzerland, England and Acapulco Mexico.

We met Margaret and Heinz at Restaurant Grauholz

Heinz had some health problems lately and has a difficult time walking 

but he has adjusted well to his slower lifestyle and seems to be very happy

                             We had a great time reminiscing about our younger years and our professional accomplishments, leaving about 3:30 pm. 

                             Back on the road to Neerach we approached Turgi, the village where I was born and grew up. We decided  to stop and eat something in one of my favorite Restaurant. We veered off the highway and went to my old stomping grounds. It was Sunday evening  and I was looking forward to visit  a Restaurant I used to work on weekends when I was still in school. But we got surprised how everything changed just in the last 3 years.

                              The Restaurant Limmattal was under renovation, next the Restaurant Landhus was closed for vacation for 3 weeks, next the Restaurant Krone was replaced by a high rise building. Next the Restaurant Traube, once a gourmet Restaurant is now a refuge for immigrants. Needless to say, we are getting a little bit hungry. Of course I know more restaurants on the way to Neerach and we got lucky by the next attempt.  On top of the Hertenstein, a small mountain, we found the Restaurant Jagerhuus. It was open and we got served the best Cervelat salad of our vacation.

Finally something to eat!

Delicious, it cant get any better.

                            From here we had only 30 miles to go and arrived at Neerach at 6 pm. Toni and Andrea where surprised of our arrival, expecting us arriving on Monday.There just cooked some Zurich style Geschnetzeltes with rice and where afraid there was not enough for all of us. After a lengthy explanation that we just had a great dinner, they still made me eat a plate of there Geschnetzeltes !  I finally did and it was delicious.

                             Monday is Shopping Center Spreitenbach on our agenda. 

                             

                            

                             Monday, Sept 30. We drove to Spreitenbach to check out the Giant shopping Center we always  visit on our Swiss vacation. Surprise, surprise, the outside and the first floor was under construction and one huge mess! The rest was nice but changed, and I am afraid not for the better. Different stores and restaurants. 

You could spend hours  in here

Decision, decision, where to go first

                               Surprisingly we could not find a great chocolate store in here and we decided to go to Baden where I know some stores we will find some chocolate to bring with us to St Louis, like chocolate you will not find in the US.

                                We where walking on the main Street in a fairly big town (over 100000 habitats) and  Lilian, the wife of my older brother Heinz, surprised me by knocking on my shoulder. What are the chances?  She also let me know that she will see me tomorrow. 

                                Now I knew! Tomorrow is my birthday and Toni, Andrea, Donna and I planed on a nice dinner together. Obviously they invited the whole Family for the occasion and I think it supposed to be a surprise for me!! O well, it will be sensational to see everybody on my birthday party.

                                On the way home we stopped at Neerach's local restaurant "Zum Wilden Mann" for a few beers. 

The famous Stall bar, I celebrated my birthday in here 2010

Great tasting beer!

That night,  Toni and I walked down a steep hill  and back up, a accomplishment for me and my still healing ankle, to buy some rotisserie chicken from a street vendor for our dinner accompanied by Nussli salad of course. As always delicious!!

We had a great day and tomorrow is my birthday.