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Published: June 25th 2013
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Indeed it was an early start. Up at 5.45 and leaving at 6.30 for the St Gallen Railway Station to catch the 6.42 train to Zurich to meet Karilyn and Neil. They were waiting and in fine form after their trip from Bangkok. After buying the Half Fare Card from the station for the rest of our time in Switzerland we started back to St Gallen where Bruno met us to take the bags. He left us for an hour while we visited the Textile Museum which I knew that Karilyn would enjoy. It wasn’t as good as it had been the last time we visited but the laces and purpose made fabrics for fashion were worth seeing. We had expected to see a lot more of the new developments in textile technology, like fabric for sports gear or astronauts etc, but not this time. But, still worthwhile. Bruno met us from there and took us all on a tour of St Gallen and it’s history. It was interesting but not made pleasant by the very cold weather which was lucky to be reaching 10 degrees. Add to that, the rain, and we could have sworn we were back in a
Our host, Bruno giving us a tour of St Gallen
Since the Froudes had not been to St Gallen before, Bruno gave them a quick tour of the city. New Zealand winter.
St Gallen is an interesting town historically. It has lovely old restored buildings, cobbled streets, the usual churches and ancient city wall. It was established by a monk wanting to live a solitary life but soon others came and the town grew and he became the Abbot. Live centred around the monastery and over the years, Protestants took hold and there soon became rivalry but not fighting – what’s changed? Now there is a mix of both, not like Austria where it is still a Catholic stronghold.
Back at Abtwil, Gertrud had made us a lunch of bratwurst, salad and bread – a typical St Gallen meal. Over wine and food there was much chatting on our activities, and it was soon time to say goodbye to our most excellent friends and hosts and head to Gersau.
Our journey did not get off to a good start. After spending a lot of time last night setting the GPS for Gersau with some interim steps, we could not get it to display so it was readable. Impossible. Poor Lindsay did not know what he was doing or where he
was supposed to be heading but just drove! We pulled over and persevered on how to lighten up the display which was driven by another setting – not the GPS. We were now well out of our way and had to go back, but we were finally on the right track. The road to Gersau was mostly on secondary road but through beautiful rolling countryside going back up into mountains with snow on the top. There were the large farm buildings and little villages until we got to Lake Zurich which was industry and housing all along the shores.
We settled into the house at Gersau which we were lucky enough to get the whole house since the people who had rented it, had had to return home. It is very comfortable, backs on to farmland and has lovely views out over the lake of Lucern. Bruno’s new garage which we have heard so much about was indeed a lovely new addition. He says we are welcome to sleep in it because it is soooo pristine, and soooo lovely and of such quality that it should have a much greater status that a garage.
To finish the day, we had to buy groceries, cook and eat dinner and let the travels get to bed to get into sync with the new time zone for them.
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