Well, we have returned to Ben's home country, Switzerland...only to find out from a legitimate Swiss person that he in fact does not look Swiss, but Danish, or Dutch...so from now on I will have to cease hassling Ben about looking Swiss, and call him Danish, (I can't go with Dutch, since that is what I pride myself in being).
How stunning is Switzerland! Ben used the word pristine to describe it, and I totally agree! It is much like NZ with gorgeous mountains, rock faces, rolling green grassy hills, crystal clear rivers, etc, but just a bit less rugged! And to top it off are the tiny villages dotted throughout the Alps. Little Chalet style houses, fronted with flower boxes displaying bright red and yellow flowers! Really something picturesque! I am truly in love...and to be honest, it's similarity to NZ had us both feeling a little homesick!
We are staying with a friend of a couple of my brothers and my Uncle, the most lovely girl, Sylvia. And talk about being totally spoilt! Her and her family have made us truly feel welcome! We spent this morning, in true Swiss style, by going into the Alps to collect their horse and donkey. The horse was particularly adamant she was not leaving the Alps, and her other horsey friends, meaning it took a good half hour to get her into the horse float. Pushing her butt, pulling her from the front, teasing her with carrots and bread and lifting her legs did not work. In the end, we had to wrap two straps round her back legs, a man on each end pulling, Sylvia's father lifting the legs, and Ben and Sylvia pulling from the front, to get her in. I think the saying 'stubborn as an ass' needs to be rethought. Ben and I have fallen in love with the silence and fresh air. Even the larger cities are clean and cutely styled, set in the midst of the mountainous Alps. We have fallen in love with Swiss food, and Swiss people. After dinner last night, a group of people invited us to their table for a drink cos they 'wanted to meet the kiwi's'. Ben lapped up the celebrity attention and was in full form, cranking out his knowledge on politics, Swiss banking and farming. He even told plenty a travel tale to get a few laughs. He has truly decided he is home...whether he actually looks Swiss or not!
I look forward to dancing it up in a Swiss club tomorrow night, and checking out more of what this stunning country has to offer!
No comments:
Post a Comment