Blogs from Switzerland, Europe - page 8

When I was a girl, my parents and I would always spend three weeks during the summer holidays in Samedan in the Engadin region in Switzerland. Engadin is a valley at an altitude of 1,800 metres located in the canton of Graubünden in the southeast of Switzerland, about 2.5 hours from Zurich. The most famous town in the region is probably St. Moritz, where the rich and famous used to spend their holidays and still do. I can completely relate to why they picked this region for their holidays: The valley is surrounded by stunningly beautiful mountains, such as Piz Bernina, and glaciers, such as Morteratsch Glacier. There are four wonderful lakes in the valley: St. Moritz Lake, Silvaplana Lake, Champfèrer Lake, and Lake Sils. Silvaplana Lake is particularly popular with windsurfers. In general, the region ... read more

Despite the March cancellation of our initially planned wedding, due to travel restrictions, lock-down and virus dictatorship, we have finally been able to say "yes" on July 3, 11:00 AM in Wil, Switzerland. Nui has decided to be called Butri Benko, keeping her nick name Nui of course. And I have also decided to continue to be called Benko :-). We are pleased to send you some pictures taken at the wedding. It was a small ceremony (bigger ones are not allowed yet anyway) with close friends and family. Alfred Koecher a friend Nenad knows since 1986, acted as Nenad best man, Sirinya Hauser, a university friend of Nui, was her bridesmaid. It was absolutely lovely to see the two Thai ladies being dressed in their traditional silk robes, something the Wiler community does not get ... read more

After several farewells in Bangkok and Buriram, with an especially emotional farewell in Sole Mio Restaurant Bangkok, we have packed up and left 28th June with 8 check in bags and 4 hand luggage on Swiss LX 181 to Zurich. An near empty flight allowed us to get away with no extra charges on our 180 kg check in mountain. With us came a cuddly Aussie called 'Neno Baer', Nui's companion of the last 7 years and Nenad's first present to her. After the lock-down and all the Covid craze, going for a commercial flight became a weird experience. An empty Suvarnabhumi Airport, usually teaming with life, fare welled us with wide open spaces and a spooky atmosphere. Zurich awaited us with summary temperatures. The reunion with Nenad's parents and Carmen was special. Never before was ... read more

Pfingsten und super Wetter, was will man mehr. Wir benutzten den Pfingstsonntag für eine kleine Wanderung zum „Biotop Uehlinger“, welches im Wald oberhalb von Neunkirch liegt. Die kleine Wanderung starteten wir an einem Wanderparkplatz im Wald, von dem aus das Biotop in Rund 40 Minuten zu erreichen ist. Die ersten 20 Minuten führen über einen schmalen Trampelpfad, der als Wanderweg markiert ist - was aber die Mountainbike Fahrer nicht abhält diesen auch zu befahren. Die restlichen 20 Minuten führt der Wanderweg über eine nicht geteerte Waldstrasse. Da man (glücklicherweise) nicht bis zum Biotop mit dem Auto gelangen kann ist man dort meist alleine. Im Biotop befinden sich viele ehemalige Bohnerzgruben, die durch das ausgraben von *Bohnerz im vorletzten Jahrhundert entstanden sind. In diesen sammelt sich nun das Regenwasser und lässt so kleine Teiche entstehen. In denen ... read more

This is all Switzerland. More to come later.... read more