Single Step

It’s been a full couple of days attempting to cram everything in before we leave this beautiful part of the world.

Yesterday, our intrepid guide (a.k.a. Dave Hatherly) and friend since my Tauerhof days 34 years ago, took the lead in gentle Dave-like-style and looped us from Biel to Bern to Murten in one of the most enjoyable days of our trip. Dave is married to Joanne and a good thing too! Together they listened as we processed the past six weeks, shared some of their fascinating internationally flavored lives, and talked the stuff of life in general…all the while pointing out interesting sites and sounds of Switzerland.

Thank you both for your genuineness, faith in Christ, generosity and Canadian-ness! Next time it’s on us at the Crow and Gate.

Bern is a class act and one we hope to revisit. The architecture, attention to detail, riverside setting, gardens, and people made it near impossible to pay attention to where I was going. The place even has bears! The expansive and natural bear enclosure let us view them at close range while they swam and snacked on green apples.

The streets were busy with families and shoppers. The cellar doors along the sidewalks opened to a set of stairs descending to underground shops where buyers could find everything from gardening gear to clothing. An ingenious use of space.

The Italian eatery where we stopped for lunch served a delicious array of pasta, fish and salads so we ate and people-watched.

Next stop was the walled village of Murten where we walked the ramparts, happened upon a flea market and strolled along the lakefront.

By the time we boarded the train, we were all ready to head back to Biel where we walked another lovely lakeside promenade, ate a delicious dinner and called it a day. It was 9:00 pm when we said our good-byes and agreed to meet again on home soil.

The alarm rang at 6:30 this morning for the 7:00 am train to Frankfurt. Two guys joined us in our enclosed compartment; one a jazz musician turned improv actor and the other a famous German actor (whom we did not recognize). For the next 3 hours the conversation was lively, hilarious at times, politically enlightening, and just plain fun. They wished us a warm farewell as we arrived in Frankfurt and we shared our chocolate, as is our habit.

After checking into the hotel, we hopped on the train to the city Centre and explored. The 300-400 steps to the bell tower in Romerberg Square gave us an excuse for Hasselnuss ice cream, my favourite. An all male choir broke into song as they clashed their Heinekens together, families walked the Rhine shoreline, church bells rang and we recalled the best memories of our time away.

Tomorrow we fly home, arriving an hour after we leave. The time change and jet lag will require a few days rest but it looks like the weather back home will at least be conducive to it.

Auf Wiedersehen, Europe. We hope to see you again soon. In the meantime, Canada looks like a pretty fine place to hang our hats!

Thank you for joining us, friends! Shalom!

Are you ever overcome with a sort of giddiness you can’t explain? I feel that way when I’m in Switzerland.

It’s just such a joy to be in the mountains, everything in its place, shuttered houses with flower-laden window boxes, and the renowned Swiss stack of firewood ready for next winter. Cows are making the annual trek toward higher pasture, with bells as big as their heads clanging as they go. Meadows are lush, snow still caps the peaks in places and the ice cream is still the creamiest. I love this country.

Early this morning we boarded a train and went east toward a hidden gem we heard about the last time we were here but had to forgo, well, because you just can’t see everything!

The 3 hour train ride took us nearly to Liechtenstein but we stopped just short of it and took a tram ride up the cliffside. Hiking part way down took about 20 minutes meandering through the meadows, along the edge of the hillside, into a cave and out along a narrow trail. The tiniest church came into view as we rounded the corner and pulled out the camera. It was wet with recent rainfall but no less adorable.

Beneath the overhanging granite and tucked closely into the rock we saw the warm glow of lights and a fire in the woodstove. I had not realized the strength of my appetite until we passed the kitchen on our way to find a table. Oh my! Rosti with gruyere never tasted so good.

Mid way through lunch the sky cleared some and the alpen view wowed us all. More torrential rain, more clearing skies and we took our queue to hike back up to the tram, hop on the train and explore the charming nearby town of Appenzell.

Photos don’t tell it all that well but we hope they allow us to share some of the effect of Switzerland’s charm on two happy wanderers.

If you have done even the smallest amount of travel by public transit, whether it be plane or bus, train or boat you know firsthand the business of hurry-up-and-wait. Today was that kind of day.

After showering and packing, we ate breakfast by the pool then waited, waited, waited for the right time to check out and catch the bus. The bus schedule said to be on board by 10:10 so after a quick 15 minute walk to the depot, we settled into our seats and more waiting, waiting, waiting.

The 45 minute ride landed us at the airport 2 hours ahead of our flight but it was a rush to go through the initial security, then a dragging hour line up to get our boarding passes, which Turkish Airlines doesn’t seem to do online. At 1:45 the plane left for Istanbul and we arrived within the hour. We boarded another bus, settled in and more waiting, waiting, waiting until it took off for Taksim Square in the newer part of the city. 45 minutes later we were walking down an insanely crowded street to look for a 9 room hotel. It’s all a bit of a blur but I do remember walking for 90 minutes in our search and later covering the same ground in 15.

The thing with small, locally run boutique hotels is that they are frequently difficult to find. No exception for the obscure Peradays Otel.

Gord has gone to the “office” to print the boarding passes and I am doing what I have become accustomed to; wait, wait, wait.

Tomorrow is our final full day with the tour and these last two days have proven themselves to be nothing short of spectacular.

How do I begin to describe the ancient ruins of Ephesus? 250,000 people once lived there, the amphitheatre seats 10,000 comfortably. The streets are paved with marble and the terraced housing includes mosaic floors, wall frescoes, and views of the city. The Roman bath house heating system kept the floors warm 24/7 and the library held over 20,000 books. Ephesus in its hayday was a happenin’ place!

The Apostle Paul spent a year and a half there and we have an entire epistle addressed to its believers in the Way. John the Evangelist wrote to the church of Ephesians in one of his seven letters and was exiled not far away on a small island called Patmos. The place is a land mine of ancient history and because the valley silted so thoroughly the ruins are incredibly well preserved. With archeological work ongoing it is a place to return to again and again. I hope we will.

We spent the night, the first of three, in Bodrum. There is a law here that all buildings must be square, only three stories high, and white washed. Blue water sailboats and luxury liners anchor lazily in the turquoise water of the harbour and the pace here is slow.

This morning we boarded a wooden sailing yacht and set off to find a quiet cove away from the sun seeking crowds. We anchored in a small bay and spent the day swimming, puttering from cove to cove and eating the delicious food prepared for us by the crew.

We came back just in time for snacks around the pool where Gord and I tucked into our private cabana with our lemonade to read and enjoy the luxury of doing nothing.

The moonrise found us on the terrace enjoying dinner with new friends, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and thanking God for His grace and the joy of His presence.