Ron and Ria left this morning. There were no tears at the train station because in 2 days it's my turn to fly to Oregon and I can see them again before the end of the week! It feels strange to be doing the trip in the other direction, going to Oregon for a vacation and to see family and friends - instead of just plain going home. I admit to some apprehension. I frankly don't know how I'll feel being back in the city where I have lived longer than anywhere else. Will it be hard to leave again to return to Zuoz? Knowing myself it will. As a friend remarked: I tend to live in the moment, and wherever I am, I am happy and can't imagine being equally happy somewhere else.
Yet, no earlier than yesterday, after one more perfect fall day in the mountains and a no less perfect meal of venison, spaetzle, chanterelles and chestnuts, I was wondering how I could ever move away from here, from all this beauty, from a life that is such a good fit for me. However, it is also true that the life I have known since the end of January is coming to an end. In the immediate future there's this trip to Oregon (leaving Wednesday, Sept. 15). When I return I'll have another 2 weeks before starting my job at the bakery. Since I'll be working long hours with no certainty that I'll have time for a visit to the lowlands before spring, I think I'll spend them on a new round of visits to my sister, my aunt and friends. I am afraid that with the start of the job on November 1, the times of fun in the sun and/or with friends will be over.
The day after Ernst's departure I was myself getting ready to take the train to visit my aunt in St. Gallen for a couple of days when the door bell rang. Nobody ever rings my door bell... An older gentleman whom I didn't recognize immediately stood there. As soon as he said my name I knew who he was: my high school German teacher! He was vacationing in the area and was dropping in for a visit. Obviously the timing was not good, and we settled on getting together a few days later for a walk. We had reconnected after Dad's funeral and stayed in touch ever since. He is one of the lead authorities on Swiss wildflowers and I have been using his 2" thick field guide all summer to identify alpine flowers. Both our walk and the visit to the pastry shop were very sweet (!). I led him and his partner to the strikingly wild and breathtakingly beautiful Chaste Peninsula on Lake Sils. Due to the late season there were not many flowers still in bloom, but he was able to identify several species by looking at the seed heads. The conversation was alternating between botany and life, our kids and the arts... Another privileged moment allowing me to tie the present back to the past. Like all my high school teachers, he was part of the glue that kept me together after my mother's premature death.
The visit to my aunt also was a lot of fun. She is doing so much better than in the winter. She has gotten back her sense of humor and her laughter, which make my stays there very rewarding. Since I don't have anything else to do, and as I am becoming familiar with her kitchen, I am becoming increasingly daring, preparing gourmet meals and baking. She and her friend are extremely appreciative, eating with evident gusto peppered with good conversation. These visits definitely are a primary ingredient to my Lemonade. What a treat to be able to spend all this time with her, to laugh with her, to pick her brain about the past, to be able to serve her a few good meals!
As to the visit with Ron and Ria - it couldn't have been any better. The weather was bad when they arrived, but it got better every day. I spent the last 2 days hiking in shorts, which I had not been able to do in at least 2 weeks. The high meadows are now tinted with fall hues: intense reds, ocher, tawny. I had never been here in September and was not expecting this symphony of colors. Since the trees all are conifers, the forest still is entirely green, although the larches will eventually turn golden. I am expecting to come back to a blazing valley - provided they keep their needles until my return on October 15! Although not expert hikers, Ron and Ria were great sports, following me without any complaints up and down more miles than they had bargained for. I know that the incredible weather, the sharp fall light on the forests, rocks and glaciers worked their magic and made them forget the sweat and the pains.
To all my Oregon friends: I'll have my computer with me and therefore will be reachable by email. I'll also have a cell phone but don't want to post the number on the internet. If you want it, send me an email and I'll respond with the number.
View of Lake Sils from Chaste Peninsula
Landslide in Val Roseg. I walked on this trail about 2 weeks ago - and the landslide had not yet happened. With the loss of permafrost due to global warming such events are much more frequent than in the past.
The loss of permafrost requires extensive protection above towns, roads and train tracks. Here are some contraptions protecting the UNESCO Wold Heritage Bernina train line at Alp Gruem.
The irresistible reward at the end of a tough hike: Hotel Val Roseg.
Yet, no earlier than yesterday, after one more perfect fall day in the mountains and a no less perfect meal of venison, spaetzle, chanterelles and chestnuts, I was wondering how I could ever move away from here, from all this beauty, from a life that is such a good fit for me. However, it is also true that the life I have known since the end of January is coming to an end. In the immediate future there's this trip to Oregon (leaving Wednesday, Sept. 15). When I return I'll have another 2 weeks before starting my job at the bakery. Since I'll be working long hours with no certainty that I'll have time for a visit to the lowlands before spring, I think I'll spend them on a new round of visits to my sister, my aunt and friends. I am afraid that with the start of the job on November 1, the times of fun in the sun and/or with friends will be over.
The day after Ernst's departure I was myself getting ready to take the train to visit my aunt in St. Gallen for a couple of days when the door bell rang. Nobody ever rings my door bell... An older gentleman whom I didn't recognize immediately stood there. As soon as he said my name I knew who he was: my high school German teacher! He was vacationing in the area and was dropping in for a visit. Obviously the timing was not good, and we settled on getting together a few days later for a walk. We had reconnected after Dad's funeral and stayed in touch ever since. He is one of the lead authorities on Swiss wildflowers and I have been using his 2" thick field guide all summer to identify alpine flowers. Both our walk and the visit to the pastry shop were very sweet (!). I led him and his partner to the strikingly wild and breathtakingly beautiful Chaste Peninsula on Lake Sils. Due to the late season there were not many flowers still in bloom, but he was able to identify several species by looking at the seed heads. The conversation was alternating between botany and life, our kids and the arts... Another privileged moment allowing me to tie the present back to the past. Like all my high school teachers, he was part of the glue that kept me together after my mother's premature death.
The visit to my aunt also was a lot of fun. She is doing so much better than in the winter. She has gotten back her sense of humor and her laughter, which make my stays there very rewarding. Since I don't have anything else to do, and as I am becoming familiar with her kitchen, I am becoming increasingly daring, preparing gourmet meals and baking. She and her friend are extremely appreciative, eating with evident gusto peppered with good conversation. These visits definitely are a primary ingredient to my Lemonade. What a treat to be able to spend all this time with her, to laugh with her, to pick her brain about the past, to be able to serve her a few good meals!
As to the visit with Ron and Ria - it couldn't have been any better. The weather was bad when they arrived, but it got better every day. I spent the last 2 days hiking in shorts, which I had not been able to do in at least 2 weeks. The high meadows are now tinted with fall hues: intense reds, ocher, tawny. I had never been here in September and was not expecting this symphony of colors. Since the trees all are conifers, the forest still is entirely green, although the larches will eventually turn golden. I am expecting to come back to a blazing valley - provided they keep their needles until my return on October 15! Although not expert hikers, Ron and Ria were great sports, following me without any complaints up and down more miles than they had bargained for. I know that the incredible weather, the sharp fall light on the forests, rocks and glaciers worked their magic and made them forget the sweat and the pains.
To all my Oregon friends: I'll have my computer with me and therefore will be reachable by email. I'll also have a cell phone but don't want to post the number on the internet. If you want it, send me an email and I'll respond with the number.
View of Lake Sils from Chaste Peninsula
Landslide in Val Roseg. I walked on this trail about 2 weeks ago - and the landslide had not yet happened. With the loss of permafrost due to global warming such events are much more frequent than in the past.
The loss of permafrost requires extensive protection above towns, roads and train tracks. Here are some contraptions protecting the UNESCO Wold Heritage Bernina train line at Alp Gruem.
The irresistible reward at the end of a tough hike: Hotel Val Roseg. 
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