Cow bells and tunnels!

September 3, 2013

Wow! What a day! Last year in the Rockies, there were bears; this year there are cows in the Swiss Alps!  We learned yesterday that at 12:30 today the cow herders in Appenzell, where we stayed in Switzerland, were bringing their cows out of the mountains and through the streets—a twice-yearly event (spring and end-of-summer). After we checked out, we decided to hang around for that. It ended up that we saw several such events---these beautiful creamy brown cows with huge bells hanging around their necks clomping through the village with herders and their children in costume leading and herding them as they went.

It was really quite a fun racket. It ended up that we actually saw four herds of 15-20 cows each within the village.

 

 

 

 

 As we headed out of town on our way to Italy, no matter which road we took, we encountered cows being herded to their farms, and we had to follow them through the back roads. Needless to say, this delayed our trip quite a bit; however, we wouldn’t have wanted to miss it.

While waiting for the cows at the fondue café (from yesterday), we noticed hordes of children and young people with backpacks speeding on their bikes in different directions. It was nearing noon, and we still wonder what time school begins over here. After 12 noon, they vanished. Bikes in Switzerland were a major means of transportation—not just a sports workout, but a way to get around.



After we twisted our way out of Appenzell, we got on the autobahn and thought it would be a three-hour trip to Italy. Not quite. Robin drove, and we encountered the big Alps, not just the foothills around Appenzell or the ones in the distance and along the roadway yesterday as we drove to Liechtenstein. I keep trying to think of the right preposition to describe how we crossed the Alps and our relationship to them, and almost any preposition I could think of was dead on. We went under the Alps, through the Alps, in the Alps, between the Alps, among the Alps, over the Alps, by the Alps, to the Alps, and so on. Needless to say, we were very involved with the Alps and what an experience it was! Some of the tunnels through the rocks were at least three miles long, and there were so many tunnels that we lost count. What an awesome experience! Yesterday I said they reminded me of the Rockies, although the vegetation on and around them is different. The green is a lighter, more vivid green, and the mountains surrounded us. I have never experienced such a ride. Robin was relieved when it was over—four high-speed lanes of traffic going over bridges that seemed to be thousands of feet up in the air and tunnel after tunnel after tunnel after tunnel after tunnel!  We were exhausted when we arrived in Lake Como, Italy, but also exhilarated for having experienced it. (To stay young, “they” say to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. We have certainly done that in the past several days! We should look like teenagers!)

Our lakefront hotel is old, elegant, and very well kept. It is across the street from Lake Como (Lago di Como); however, there are several obstacles blocking our view. First of all, our high-ceilinged room has three huge windows draped in gold peau de soie; one looks out on a wall; the other two face a very utilitarian courtyard/parking lot. If we stand on the vast veranda of the hotel, we should be able to see the lake; however, there are tall hedges blocking the view. Finally, if we were standing on the sidewalk in front of the hedges, we still couldn’t see the lake because it is obscured by construction barricades. Oh, well, we know it is there! The lake is vast (third largest in Italy), and we will venture out tomorrow and see it all. This is quite the place really. Reminds me somewhat of Nice, France, although the Mediterranean is more of a draw there. Trendy, expensive villas “grow” up the mountainsides. I didn’t do my research—I expected it to be more rustic than bustling, but we will have a great experience, I’m sure. It is quite the cultural shock after coming from a little Alpine village and the old city of Stuttgart!

We rested a bit after the long haul over the mountains and then hit the street, looking for a sidewalk café and quickly found one—enjoyed some pasta and the busy town square of Como. One bit of good news that I forgot to mention yesterday—Robin found his phone wedged under the seat of the car. We’ve been thinking about our grandchildren starting school today and wishing them all a happy school year.