Rob & I just paid the equivalent of $165 to see a movie. Just a movie - no dinner (unless you consider a movie theater hotdog dinner), no drinks, - just a movie. Here's the breakdown:
$100 babysitter ($25/hour)
$38 movie
$20 hotdogs, popcorn & one coke
$7 ice creams
$165 total
Ugh. This is actually the first time that we've seen a movie together in CH & I'm sure it will be our last. We had planned to do an organized swim today in the Limmat River in Zurich, but it was cancelled due to high waters & we had already booked the sitter. So we opted for the movie instead. We saw The Dark Knight - good, but worth $165???
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Germany
We finally ventured into Germany for some sightsighting. Somehow, since we are living in German-speaking CH, it hasn't seemed all that interesting to travel to Germany - we always opt for France or Italy instead (where we can enjoy different food!). But we had a nice time in Germany & I definitely gained a few pounds with all of the knödel and schnitzel I ate.
We first headed to Calw in the Black Forest. A sleepy little town with timbered houses and a nice pedestrian only town center.
Grootmoe, Grandpa, Lukas & Rob in town square (Rob looking like a giant - standing on a parking pillar.)
We did a small hike in the Black Forest, mainly just to say that we've "hiked" the Black Forest and also to be able to enjoy a beer & big lunch afterwards without (as much) guilt. But mostly we just wandered around the town which was a quaint little town to explore. It is fun and much easier for us also to explore with Grandpa & Grootmoe along with us. Lukas was such a happy camper - trading off between riding on Grandpa's shoulders and holding Grandma's hand.
Our next stop was Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This town is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. It is ridiculously charming and picturesque, to the point that it feels a bit like a movie set or historical Disneyland. Apparently, Rick Steves has also raved about this city which has added even more tourists to the mix. But I loved it. And when we ventured just one or 2 streets off of the main square, the tour groups were nowhere to be seen. About 40% of the town was destroyed in WWII, but it was quickly rebuilt in historical style. I liked that since then I didn't have to imagine what it would have looked like.
Main square of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The entire town is enclosed by a city wall and you can walk on top of the wall for most of it - which of course, being with the Wiggers family - meant that we would walk all of it - about 1.5km. It was a nice vantage point to see the city. Also, one of my favorite memories of this trip is that Lukas thought that for some reason we should all be in a marching band whenever we came to dark sections of the wall - which was about every few minutes. So whenever we'd go into a tower, etc. Grandpa would pretend to play the trumpet, Lukas the trombone, Grootmoe the flute, etc. and we'd have a little marching band for about 20 seconds - any other tourist who we happened to pass must have thought we were nuts.
The Wiggers marching band takes a break
We also took an evening walking tour with the Night Watchman who told us little stories of what it would have been like to live in Rothenburg in medieval times - very entertaining. And mostly we just wandered around the town - stopping for coffee breaks with schneeballs (the local doughball specialty) and taking lots of pics.
Cute Lukas on a cute street
Our restaurant on our first night (Lukas would remember it as his "time out" spot when we'd pass it on later days ;-)
Rob, Lukas, Grandpa & Grootmoe in front of the castle garden gate
The other half of Rothenburg viewed from across the little valley.
Inga & Lukas on ANOTHER cute street/square.
Lukas takes aim from inside the city wall.
Grandpa, Lukas & Grootmoe enjoy a lunch break.
Unfortunately, at the end of the trip it was time for Grandpa & Grootmoe to hop on a train and continue their trip up to the Netherlands. Lukas was NOT happy with this plan. But we'll see them soon in CA and in the meantime Lukas is loving his "I love you" bear he got from them.
We first headed to Calw in the Black Forest. A sleepy little town with timbered houses and a nice pedestrian only town center.
Grootmoe, Grandpa, Lukas & Rob in town square (Rob looking like a giant - standing on a parking pillar.)
We did a small hike in the Black Forest, mainly just to say that we've "hiked" the Black Forest and also to be able to enjoy a beer & big lunch afterwards without (as much) guilt. But mostly we just wandered around the town which was a quaint little town to explore. It is fun and much easier for us also to explore with Grandpa & Grootmoe along with us. Lukas was such a happy camper - trading off between riding on Grandpa's shoulders and holding Grandma's hand.
Our next stop was Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This town is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. It is ridiculously charming and picturesque, to the point that it feels a bit like a movie set or historical Disneyland. Apparently, Rick Steves has also raved about this city which has added even more tourists to the mix. But I loved it. And when we ventured just one or 2 streets off of the main square, the tour groups were nowhere to be seen. About 40% of the town was destroyed in WWII, but it was quickly rebuilt in historical style. I liked that since then I didn't have to imagine what it would have looked like.
Main square of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The entire town is enclosed by a city wall and you can walk on top of the wall for most of it - which of course, being with the Wiggers family - meant that we would walk all of it - about 1.5km. It was a nice vantage point to see the city. Also, one of my favorite memories of this trip is that Lukas thought that for some reason we should all be in a marching band whenever we came to dark sections of the wall - which was about every few minutes. So whenever we'd go into a tower, etc. Grandpa would pretend to play the trumpet, Lukas the trombone, Grootmoe the flute, etc. and we'd have a little marching band for about 20 seconds - any other tourist who we happened to pass must have thought we were nuts.
The Wiggers marching band takes a break
We also took an evening walking tour with the Night Watchman who told us little stories of what it would have been like to live in Rothenburg in medieval times - very entertaining. And mostly we just wandered around the town - stopping for coffee breaks with schneeballs (the local doughball specialty) and taking lots of pics.
Cute Lukas on a cute street
Our restaurant on our first night (Lukas would remember it as his "time out" spot when we'd pass it on later days ;-)
Rob, Lukas, Grandpa & Grootmoe in front of the castle garden gate
The other half of Rothenburg viewed from across the little valley.
Inga & Lukas on ANOTHER cute street/square.
Lukas takes aim from inside the city wall.
Grandpa, Lukas & Grootmoe enjoy a lunch break.
Unfortunately, at the end of the trip it was time for Grandpa & Grootmoe to hop on a train and continue their trip up to the Netherlands. Lukas was NOT happy with this plan. But we'll see them soon in CA and in the meantime Lukas is loving his "I love you" bear he got from them.
Miss you & love you Grandpa & Grootmoe!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Engelberg
Grandpa & Grootmoe are visiting...
.....so we all ventured to the Engelberg Valley for some hiking last weekend. It is a large valley with several choices of lifts, gondolas & cogwheel trains to take you up your choice of mountains. On the first day we took a cable car & then a chair lift up to Brunni. At the top we did the Kitzelpfad trail which is a barefoot trail. You take your shoes off & then follow the trail over changing surfaces: pinecones, rocks, water, mud, moss, etc. The trail goes around a little lake & also has great views - a really fun little hike.
The Wiggers walk over woodchips, pebbles & sticks.
The Wiggers walk over woodchips, pebbles & sticks.
Grandpa & Lukas walk through the water section.
Lukas loved it all - except this knee-high (thigh-high on him) section of mud.
Fun walk & beautiful scenery
The little lake also had tons of tadpoles that Lukas could catch and a nice picnic area near a small waterfall. A nice spot to spend a morning even without doing more hiking.
Hundreds of tadpoles - fun & easy to catch
Hundreds of tadpoles - fun & easy to catch
We then hiked back down to the midstation. There was a nice playground there & a rodelbahn that we all tried out.
Grootmoe on the rodelbahn
The next day we headed up the gondola that goes all the way up Titlis. Lots of people, but we got off at an earlier stop & avoided a lot of the tourists that only go to the peak for pictures. We did a tough, but beautiful hike to Trübsee.
Easy meadow walk before the climbing began
No hike is complete without wurst grilling!
Lots of uphill hiking - most of which Lukas did himself
Reward for off-the-track hiking - beautiful trails all to ourselves!
Reward for off-the-track hiking - beautiful trails all to ourselves!
The town of Engelberg is nice in itself with a monastery dating back to 1120 that houses the largest church organ in CH (9000 pipes). We had a little time to walk around the town after dinner, but mostly we were just there for the hiking - which was great!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Jura Region - quick trip
We travelled to the farthest eastern part of CH last weekend, so this weekend we headed to the farthest northwest - the Jura Region. We waited to the last minute so we couldn't find a hotel before we left, but our plan was to drive to St. Ursanne & check with the tourist office once we got there.
St. Ursanne was a picturesque medieval little town, but it was VERY little. Even if we could find a hotel with availability, we didn't think that it would be very interesting to spend the night there. So we ate lunch in the little square, walked around a bit & then headed to the nearby town of Saignelegier where we had picked out a hike. We thought that if Saignelegier looked nice, we'd look for a hotel there.
On the 30 minute drive to Saignelegier - Lukas once again lived up to his nickname - Pukey Lukey - and vomited ALL over his clothes, carseat, etc. Ugh. We cleaned up as best as we could & then continued on. The hike we did was recommended by our Swiss neighbor and was actually around a little peat bog. Definitely different than our mountain hiking. The pond was black - Lukas thought it was pretty funny that when he stuck his feet in the water they looked all orange/brown. Some people were actually swimming in the pond - when they came out they were covered in black sludge - yuck - no thanks .
Lukas & Rob checking out the bog
After the hike it was early evening & Lukas was stumbling tired. Although the area was pretty - rolling hills, green pastures - it didn't offer the dramatic views that we've gotten so spoiled with here in CH. So we decided to save ourselves the 200+ CHF for a hotel & dinner & drive home. (We also didn't like the idea of leaving the stinky carseat in the car overnight!) So it was a quick trip! But we are still glad that we got a chance to check out this part of CH.
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