It's easy to see how this seductive coastline gave rise to one of it's famous residents, Casanova. There's a laid back atmosphere with ample bike trails and parks along the meandering waterfront lined with cafes and ice cream shops. Lukas was feeling better when we suggested to to rent e-scooters to explore the neighboring villages. Deanna didn't hesitate to join him on the e-scooters vs the work of pedaling by bicycle. At least, one of us had earned a refreshment snack at the hilltop terrace restaurant with views over the bay.
The spring weekend road trip and camping is another of our annual family traditions. Selecting the destination within driving distance from Basel is always a difficult decision during the shoulder season. The Croatia peninsula of Istria had been on my watch list for a long time. The journey should have included a stopover in Venice since Lukas has never been (apart from the replica in Tokyo Disney). Sadly, he was feeling ill the morning we departed, and therefore we choose to leave it for another time. He wasn't the only one with a medical concern. Just prior to the trip I also received unfortunate diagnosis regarding a torn meniscus in my left knee. These minor life inconveniences are not going to stop us from having a good time. Normally we would go for a pitch with a tent, but given our collective health status I'm glad we opted for a bungalow at the 5 star Istria Premium Camping Resort. This seaside camping has many little cove beaches and lots on offer for the kids. It probably gets packed full in the summer, but in May there was loads of space to relax for a secluded picnic watching the sunset over the water. Unfortunately there wasn't enough wind for windsurfing lessons from the onsite lido. Instead the still Mediterranean coast was perfect for a morning kayak around the cluster of protected islands filled with nesting baby sea gulls. Also I feel obliged to share a public service announcement. Beware to avoid the little foot bath at the entrance to swimming pools and waterslides, and be sure to dry your feet properly. A little warning if you want to avoid a nasty foot fungal infection (just take my word for it). It's easy to see how this seductive coastline gave rise to one of it's famous residents, Casanova. There's a laid back atmosphere with ample bike trails and parks along the meandering waterfront lined with cafes and ice cream shops. Lukas was feeling better when we suggested to to rent e-scooters to explore the neighboring villages. Deanna didn't hesitate to join him on the e-scooters vs the work of pedaling by bicycle. At least, one of us had earned a refreshment snack at the hilltop terrace restaurant with views over the bay. The region is filled with good wine, delicious food, and beautiful scenery. My favorite seaside town was historic fishing port Rovinj. It's medieval cobblestone alleyways are a maze of shops and restaurants. Perfect for a lovely evening stroll before dinner. The largest city in Istria is Pula, whose most iconic building is the well preserved Roman colosseum. This is well worth the visit to see the underground museum showcasing artifacts of the ancient wine trade already some millennia ago. As with most trips lately, we had a stowaway axolotl squishmallow crash the party. Lukas continues to enjoy a youthful innocence and playful character even as a teenager. It was about 10hrs drive, so we needed to find a suitable pit stop en route back to Basel. Bergamo is a magnificent fortress town in Italy a short distance from Milan. The city center sits above the surrounding valley protected by imposing Vancian walls. Within are splendid art galleries and the exquisitely ornate cathedral, the Duomo di Bergamo. The town was particularly lively due to the cycling race event, part of the Italian Grand Tour. The speed of the cyclists was made evident by the support vehicles screeching around the bends as they chased the pack around the windy narrow roads. These little unexpected experiences are another reward for constantly exploring the many interesting corners across Europe and beyond.
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Certain trips and activities we've purposely waited to keep for when Lukas could better appreciate. The calculation for an engaging family itinerary continues to evolve as he grows older. During our spring break trip to Cyprus we could expose Lukas to some new horizons. We kick-off with a boys day since Deanna was arriving separately from a work conference in London. What better time to introduce Lukas to the thrills of a Jet Ski. Normally I avoid these noisy motorized water craft, but it's undeniable that these powerful machines are a blast to drive (a fact Lukas fully embraced). He's not the type to boast or show off, but there were several WhatsApp profile status update videos from this holiday. Once Deanna arrived, i had organized a kite surfing lesson for everyone. Lukas has expressed interest and really enjoys flying his trick kite. Deanna discovered her favorite part of kite surfing, relaxing in the beach bungalow waiting for the wind to pick up. Meanwhile Lukas and I kept busy testing other motorized water toys. This time it was an electric foil board. At last the wind came and Deanna joined me in the water for her first practice kite surfing. The instructor said she was a natural. Let's see if I can convince these nubes on boards to stick with it. Sadly Lukas again didn't feel well and had to sit out part of the lesson. The next day it was only Deanna and I which traveled over to Northern Cyprus crossing the demilitarized boarder of this frozen conflict zone. Lukas preferred to try and recover back at the hotel. We headed to the archeological site of Salamis, which was an city-state of ancient Greece. It's origins date back to the 11th century BC, and was founded after the Trojan Wars according to mythology. The port city remained of significant importance during the Roman and Byzantine empires until earthquakes led to the destruction of Salamis at the beginning of the 4th century. Touring the sea-side hill top ruins covered in blooming wild flowers was beautiful. Many structures have been excavated and can be freely explored including a gymnasium, baths, theater, statues and temple of Zeus. Not much for Greek and Roman history, the part which had Deanna most exited was the giant dandelion seed the size of her palm. We didn't linger too long, and wanted to return back to Lukas at the hotel. However, there are only a few designated crossings points monitored by United Nations peacekeeping troops. Google maps had sent us to one of these outposts where the polite British Soldier informed us that US citizens would not be granted access, but must drive around a couple hours to a larger border station. It was at this point that Deanna mentioned our sick child at the home. Then I preceded to show our Swiss residency permit as well as my Italian passport (which is still not yet been renewed). Overcome by our persuasion the kind soldier gave up and waved us past. Once everyone was feeling better again, we hired a couple kayaks to check out more of the coast along Cape Greco Peninsula and national park. There were strong offshore winds which led the concerned kayak company to call us a few time during the day, making sure we weren't adrift in the open sea. The coast and water is lovely. In particular the interesting sea spouts at blue holes and nearby caves. Cyprus contains a rich history from antiquity like the hundreds of remarkably preserved mosaics at Paphos and early Christian basilica where the Apostles converted Roman citizens. On Cyprus the artifacts from past civilizations stretch well beyond the Greeks and Romans. This island has Neolithic archeological sites from some of the early human agricultural settlements dating back to 7000 BC. These small communities consisted of circular dwellings built from sun-dried mudbrick and stone. It's a connection to a legacy that shaped much of the western world, and it's preservation is a gift to generations. Which is why I warned Lukas to be careful and not ruin it. He cracks up at a good dad joke. On a peaceful day it's difficult to imagine that this tranquil island in the Mediterranean has a reputation for treacherous seas and ship wrecks. Modern vessels are still not always able to safely navigate these turquoise colored waters and chalk white cliffs. One of the recent casualties has become a Instagram hot spot. There was even a wedding service taking place at the beach in front of the slowly deteriorating ship. The vehicle of choice to get around the rugged terrain on the untamed north east of the country is a dune buggy. There is some serious off-road driving in these hills, as well as some spectacular and remote beaches. Far away from any traffic or other people, we let Lukas have his first turn behind the wheel. His grin stretch from ear to ear once he got the hang of it. This was a different way to see the island rather than spending hours hiking these hot dusty trails. The stop at the blue lagoon was a picture-postcard beach. There were very few tourists yet as the season typically starts after Easter weekend, so there were hardly any others in the water. Luckily since it was hilarious listening to Deanna cursing having to wade across the deep water channel while trying to keep her hair dry. She's always a good sport. I believe at least for now Lukas still thinks he's got some pretty cool parents.
A winter ski trip to Japan had been contemplated several years prior. However, it was only very recently that tourism was again freely allowed in Japan. Deanna and Lukas both immediately loved the idea (in contrast to the preliminary skepticism for our Norway trip last winter). Admittedly it is a long distance for a family living in Switzerland to travel for a ski holiday. For sure Japan and in particular the north island of Hokkaido have a mythical reputation for amazing snow, but the combination of snow sports with culture, art, and cuisine makes for a remarkable journey. Our two week itinerary began in Tokyo before driving to resorts of Nozawaonsen and then Mt Zao. Followed by a flight to the well known Niseko ski area of Hokkaido. It would be unacceptable wasting precious time to rent ski/snowboard gear as we moved from place to place. Hence we packed and carried all our equipment from Switzerland (which was totally worth the effort in my opinion). Upon arrival we had reserved several days to explore vibrant Tokyo and get over the jet lag. Lukas is usually not very excited about sightseeing in a city. Tokyo was certainly an exception. He's been a life-long Pokémon fan and loves sushi (although the less traditional vegetarian version). Together with Deanna, there was a long list of eclectic destinations to visit. Besides the Pokemon center, there was the Nintendo store (also a childhood goal of mine). Across for our hotel was the Tokyo Dome amusement park. Overall Tokyo is well suited to traveling with a teenager. Lukas and Deanna both loved trying all the different Japanese cuisine. Very few people and restaurants had English information. Even with Google translate, we were never exactly sure what to expect when we ordered. At least in most places I succeeded to find some form of meat and rice or noodles. For Deanna, Tokyo is an Instagram dream. There are many great art museums and immersive exhibits. We booked tickets for the Yayoi Kusama museum and Team Labs Planets exhibitions weeks in advance. The best part of the Yayoi Kusama museum was the obliteration room covered with her signature polka dots. However, it doesn't compare to the sheer scale of themed rooms at Team Labs Planets. We spent hours walking and photographing the beautifully curated spaces. Deanna was truly in her element. Each night at the hotel, she spent the sleepless jetlag hours composing her reel or stories from hundreds of images captured that day. As with any great adventures, not everything runs exactly according to plan. We've learned how to quickly adapt to the unexpected. Unfortunately Lukas was suffering from a cold the first couple nights in Tokyo. So we kept the excursions relatively short, and he was content to relax in hotel during the evening with some takeaway and video games. That gave Deanna and I the opportunity for quick date night to Japanese steak restaurant in a high rise tower with a marvelous nighttime view over the city. These minor inconveniences are progressively easier to accommodate especially now that Lukas is increasing more self-sufficient. The bigger dilemma occurred in the morning when I attempted to pick up the rental car. I discovered they would not accept a foreign driver's license without official international permit translated in Japanese. This was a minor fiasco since we had paid reservations at the next destination, and dreaded the notion of dragging our luggage and ski gear on connecting public transport through remote villages for the next week. It was 100 percent my own fault, and I was immensely disappointed in myself. The rental car confirmation email stated that my driver's license should have been valid. Nevertheless I should have double checked anyways and researched online since clearly the auto-generated template was incorrect. The unified response to resolve this stressful little holiday crisis is indicative of a key virtue in our relationship. We discovered the bad news at 8am as I am standing in front of the rental car counter (in a conversation with the agent only possible via google translate). By lunchtime the same morning, we would have completely pivoted our plans and be eating at restaurant in Disney Sea Tokyo, ready to make the best of the remainder of our day. Initially the sinking panic triggered a flashback to last summer when we missed our flight in Porto. Deanna and I began a furious internet search for alternatives. The clock was ticking to check out of our hotel, and we didn't want to be stranded. Logistically making the connections from trains and buses in Japan with little to no English was going to be a real challenge. The Japanese automotive federation (JAF) might be able to offer a certified translation, but was closed until the following day due to a national holiday. The only option was to find another hotel in Tokyo (as ours was fully booked), revise the reservations for our planned rental car and hotel (losing some non-refundable deposit) to depart the following day, and go to Disneyland (since most everything was closed from the national holiday). Retrospectively the problem surely is a bit trivial. Nonetheless, I am incredibly grateful to the compassionate, intelligent and capable partner with whom I get to share my life and adventures. The main attraction at Disneyland were definitely the Tokyo guests. They take the art of selfies to a new level with elaborate fashion costumes. Deanna was intent on stalking them through the park to stealthily document this captivating phenomenon. The following morning I was eventually successful to obtain the necessary paperwork from the JAF, and we were finally on the road to the charming village of Nozawaonsen. We had reserved a traditional hotel complete with private onsen (hot spring). Even in the winter it was surprising cozy and comfortable in the rooms with floor cushions and sleeping mats. Nozawaonsen is a fascinating resort to experience the true Japanese onsen. There are over a dozen of these public bath houses fed from a central natural boiling hot spring. It's important to be mindful of the etiquette when using the pools in these gender separated rooms, such as absolutely no soap or wash cloths in the hot spring. Lukas wasn't as confident with these nude bathing housing. He was much happier with the variety of unspecified local dishes served at our hotel for breakfast. Due to our unscheduled late arrival, we had to sacrifice one day and didn't get on the ski slopes. Instead we wanted to see the wild snow monkeys which have winter refuge with their very own onsen. Apparently the monkeys learned to use the hot springs in a nearby lodge, and the residents decided it was better to construct the monkeys their own pool to avoid any conflict. Now this behavior has been featured in National Geographic and tourists from all over the world travel to glimpse these animals taking a relaxing soak in their hot springs. Up to this point n life, Lukas hasn't had the greatest track record with wild monkey encounters. I was a bit nervous but surprisingly he escaped without incident. Based upon the poor prevailing weather, the next day we chose to make a 6 hr detour in order to visit the UNESCO designated shrines and temples at Nikko. These glistening, ornately carved monuments are tucked among a forest in the mountain foothills. It took a full day to walk through the vast complex. But by this point in the trip, my anxiety was getting overwhelming to strap into a snowboard. Our patience was rewarded with perfect conditions. We were greeted with fresh snow and blue skies during our first day riding in Japan. There are only a couple high speed chairs at the quaint old-fashioned resort of Mt Zao. Missing are also any long queue or foreign visitors here. Atop this sleepy mountain hides the remarkable snow monsters. Siberian winds travel across the North Japan sea. These freezing winds drop two to three meters of snow on the ground, and form a dense coat of freezing condensation on the trees. This rare atmospheric condition and tree variety creates a sustained cycle of ice accumulation that changes the scrubby fir trees into surreal oddities of snow and ice. It is a mystical feeling to ride between the neatly spaced icy blocks reminiscent of a scene from a Dr. Seuss illustration. In another delightful bit of Japanese ingenuity, there was no need to hassle with tire chains in Mt Zao as they cleverly redirect the runoff from the onsen to generate underground heating to prevent ice freezing on the surface of steep mountain roads. This absolutely marvelous hack makes sense given the snow banks along the highway were more than 3 meters tall in places. With such abundant snow, we noticed road crews dangling on ropes to trim the overflowing avalanche barriers. Japan sits along the Pacific ring of fire. These volcanic mountains are the source for the plentiful natural hot springs. From the resort of Niseko on the North Island Hokkaido, the view towards neighboring Mt Yotel looks like a perfect children's drawing. The gentle slope gradually reaching a pinnacle as it approaches the summit crater. Legendary backcountry ski and snowboard movies are filmed here with head high face shots of powder. Massive pillows of snow remain suspended in the delicate branches of birch trees. It was more like a beautiful spring weather day when I went with a private guide splitboarding up the south face of Mt Yotel. As a random coincidence, the guide which works part of the season in Hokkaido and part in Alaska attended the same high school in Bakersfield as Deanna just one year apart. This day Deanna wasn't feeling well, so Lukas spent his whole day creating a pretty legit ski jump on the side of the bunny hill. We all got a chance to test it before the ski patrol yelled at us. They strictly enforce the rules about not crossing any rope boundaries. We also hired a mountain guide for a family day together skiing off-piste at Niseko. It was useful to understand the layout and system of monitored backcountry gates used for safety at Niseko. As a departing gift we woke up to a fresh dump of the lightest snow on our last day. A plume of white puff would hang in the air behind every turn and carve. Naturally, I insisted we join the march of powder obsessed enthusiasts climbing up to the summit. A persistent gust was blowing snow across the ridge onto the leeward slope. Deanna and Lukas were less than thrilled while ascending into the near whiteout conditions, doubting again the rationale for my decision. I was as usual redeemed by the most spectacular virgin powder run, and the brief agony was shortly forgotten. There's a sense of fulfilling pride getting to shred together as a family down this epic place. Lukas in particular has become a skilled off-piste skier. We had one more night in Sapporo before starting our long journey back to Basel. The city's subterranean tunnel network ensures pedestrians can avoid facing the freezing cold winter temperatures. During rush hour stalls line the interior selling fresh home made yummy treats. Deanna wished she could export the strawberry mochi.
There's something quirky and endearing about Japan; the unique video game style melody at each metro stop. glittering advertisements with adorable cartoon characters, plus a warm and helpful welcome. This spirit was fully embodied by the funky over-styled rooms at the BnA_WALL Art Hotel in Tokyo. My goal while planning a trip is to cross off places from an ever growing bucket list of ideas around the globe. At the conclusion of this holiday, there remains a longing attraction to come back again. It wasn't quite Valentine's Day, but Deanna and I coordinated around a work conference trip to Paris for a short couple's getaway. We Just had a few nice meals since I was there on work without much time for anything too extravagant. Deanna wandered through city during the day while I was obliged to fulfill my obligations as speaker in a panel. This was my first work related conference event after the pandemic. It was a weekday trip, so Lukas stayed with some friends and had to go to class. It's no secrete that Deanna's love language involves bread and coffee. That's the reason her Christmas present came with a baguette and voucher for private Parisian bakery tour. We learned about the strict regulation on this artisanal trade in France. There are officially two types of baguette's distinguished by the flour and their marked pattern which must be precise in weight specifications. The apprentice period takes years for the chefs to be certified. It's demanding work in a bakery where the shifts start early and a typical shop will sell over 1000 baguettes every day. They quickly put us to work rolling hundreds of croissant and different breads. At the end they sent us home with bags full of our tasty handiwork. Now that I earned few points with the wife, it was time to cash in for the annual boys alpine ski trip. Gene and Andreu didn't know what to expect from the night time, Mario kart style, sledding course in Lenzerheide. Actually Gene was going at granny pace when he got rear ended by another sled, so unfortunately sat out the second lap. Andreu gave his best effort to beat me as reigning champion. He let it fly to the point of nearly launching sideways. However in the end he came up well short, and only had a face full of ice to show for his efforts. There's a bit of pressure when hosting these alpine novices in my backyard. I've got to show them some decent pockets of great snow, while making sure no one could get too seriously hurt. They have a love-hate relationship with my out-of-bounds approach. It's all smiles and good times until one of them gets stuck literally to their waist in a deep snow drift. Then after about 15 to 30 minutes of swearing and sweating to dig out, it's usually time for a drink. Somehow the only pictures I have of Gene are when he was chill'in at the après bar. The last day we swapped the ski pistes for a try at air boarding instead. They had a blast, eventually figuring out how to steer and avoid falling off any cliffs. No thanks to my so called friends for failing to warning me about the hole as they filmed my run directly into a ditch. It says a lot about our male friendship. I'll pay back the favor next year.
This winter in Switzerland was relatively poor when considering the below average snowpack, Nevertheless, there were still enough good days if you knew the right spots. With so many choices, it's taken time to learn how to judge when the conditions will be better in south such as Champéry, Grindelwald in central switzerland, or in the eastern part around Davos. That local knowledge has been earned over countless trips in the swiss mountains seeking out exhilarating adventures. Top on that list for Lukas is Air Boarding. It's basically a reinforced inflatable pool toy designed for sledding head first off-piste in deep powder. And the day we went in January was certainly deep powder. It was tough work if you were unlucky to get tossed or stuck in the knee to waist deep snow. This unconventional sport is only allowed in a couple places. There's a remote mountain in Davos with only one gondola that has become dedicated to peculiar winter hobbies. From the top you'll see folks snow kiting, descending on fat tire bikes, and all other manner of contraptions. While Deanna and Lukas bounced down the mountain on their Air-Boards. I tried out snow surfing. This reemergence of the concept from the original snowboards lacks any of the bindings which essentially give you control (or the ability to brake). It's a blast as long as there is plenty of soft fresh powder to catch you after the inevitable bail out. An important lesson is to have a firm grip on the leash. Otherwise the board will continue to fly down the slope, and learning from experience, it can travel a long distance before hope of possibly coming to rest. Another benefit of our extensive exploration is getting to know some great local food spots. The mountains are dotted with charming huts and chalets offering delicious food. The hardest part can be finding these gems scattered in the frozen wilderness. If you are fortunate enough to stumble upon one, it's advisable to bring cash as it's not possible in may places to pay by card.
In 2022 we've made two trips back to California, previously in April and now again for Christmas. These trips pass by so quickly as Deanna schedules a tight itinerary to see as many friends and family as possible. The time we spend makes a deep impression upon Lukas to hang out with his Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. In addition to visit our favorite places like Santa Monica and Malibu, we were successful this year to organize some different adventures to build new memories. The Airbnb in Joshua Tree was an exciting base to explore the desert rock gardens together with some of Deanna's family. It was our first time hiking and climbing on these famous boulders. I was hoping to also do some star gazing in the desert. However, the weather and astronomy had other ideas. Apparently even if there had been clear skies, the milky way galaxy is only visible during the summer months. As an added bonus this year, I snuck in a quick trip up to stay with a friend living in Bend, OR. This place has a special personal significance as the location where Deanna and I were engaged. However the true motivations for my solo trip to Bend weren't driven by some romanticized nostalgia, but rather focused on the extraordinary snowboarding at Mt Bachelor. Riding down from the icy summit with it's volcanic crater is a very special experience of it's own. (For the record, Deanna and Lukas would have been more than welcome to join. Although, it was a safe bet they wouldn't forego a minute with friends or family)
Another winter was approaching, and the start of the season began with a severe cold snap. Temperatures were below negative 25 degrees C (- 15 deg F) when I convinced a friend from work to try a winter assent from Saas-Fee to the "easy" summit of Allalinhorn (4,027 meter / 13,200 ft). We arrived well prepared with ropes, crampons and snow shoes to traverse the glacier. The extreme cold and avalanche risk as well as absence of adequate snow bridges to safely cross the main crevasse caused us to abandon our objective part way up the route. Instead we found refuge and warmth in the rotating restaurant at the top of the gondola. During the same chilly weekend, we also braved a family snowshoe tour around Zermatt. The temperatures were not significantly warmer than the day before. This was evidenced by the early season snow making cannons blasting freezing water pellets at our faces as we set off. Luckily the trail soon turned away from the ski piste and through the woods. The gentle downhill grade made a perfect slalom run for Lukas to sled using a throwback binding-less snowboard (just one in the many accumulated winter toys from my collection in the keller). Deanna was lured by the promise of lunch on a sunny terrace with views looking out towards the iconic Matterhorn. She was not disappointed. The restaurant even provided guests with blankets and hats to help enjoy the experience. A milestone at the beginning of each season is to rent ski equipment for Lukas. We have a local shop with excellent selection. The difficult ordeal is for me to determine the best materials depending upon our probable winter escapades. This year the pre-requisite was proper powder skis. Then Lukas and I went for a test day riding in Lenzerheide, followed by night-time walk through the fascinating illuminated forest exhibition. Overshadowing these various diversions was the momentous achievement of the Argentinian football team to win their 3rd world cup during my lifetime. The first was in '78, the year I was born. The second was with Maradona in '86 and now in 2022 with Lionel Messi. In between these dates were many heartbreaking disappointments (most often versus Germany). Eating empanadas from my favorite new shop in Basel, I watched with agony as each game would precariously verge on disaster. For a country which has suffered from decades of economic turmoil, it was joyous event to see football fans around the world embrace Argentina and the G.O.A.T. Messi.
Often it can be a struggle to find inspiration during the shoulder season in Autumn. Frequently we take this opportunity over the October school break to escape the impending cold, and seek out a far away sunny destination. However, it has been a stressful year with big changes in expectations for Lukas at secondary school and lots of uncertainty as well at my work. Nevertheless letting any precious vacation time pass by rubs against the grain for me, and I just cannot endure sitting idly at home regardless how nice it is. Fortunately the Alsace wine country is a short 1 hour train ride. We tunned up our bicycles (as best as possible for 10 plus year old Target bikes), and headed out for a daytrip to Colmar. The Colmar covered farmer's market is open on Sundays which was perfect to load up on fresh picnic ingredients. Then Lukas and Deanna got in a good warm up racing along the contemporary looking playground obstacle course before setting off to the countryside. The fall season is an enchanting time to explore the many Mediaeval villages and vineyard covered hills. The colorful leaves on the vines hint the grapes are ready to harvest. It's stress free riding along the well maintained network of bicycle roads weaving between farms from village to village. There was a dense fog in Basel when we boarded the train. Deanna and Lukas were skeptical of my prediction for clear blue skies. One side effect of a constant pursuit in outdoor sports such as snowboarding, mountaineering, kitesurfing, etc is an equivalent obsession with forecasting the weather. The photographs serve as evidence to the benefits of traveling with a self-described meteorology nerd. Tucked away a few steps from the tiny hamlet of Kaysersberg with a view of the castle ruins, we settled down for a delicious picnic among the vineyard. I purchased a bottle of local wine from a cave cellar. They were kind enough to open the bottle, but I forgot to ask if we could borrow a couple glasses as well. Basking in the sun with a full bellies, Lukas was content to read his book while Deanna took a nap. The following weekend was a bit more adventurous with another train ride, this time to the highest station in all of Europe at Jungraujoch. We did the scenic loop from Lauterbrunnen up to Wengen and then return down to Grindelwald. The circuit is a favorite amongst American tourists, although we hadn't done the full loop before. The most impressive section of the journey is the steep cogwheel tracks dug directly through the iconic Eiger. Amazingly, the railway was built in 1912 before the first mountaineers had succeeded to summit the notorious north face. There is a good exhibit to the history of the railway and the mountain. The main attraction is the view over the immense glaciers. As with many of our trips lately, we had a plush stowaway. Lukas has brought his squishmallow Axolotl tucked safely in the makeshift kid carrier. With so many visitors, there are plenty of activities to keep folks entertained. The glacier makes for a year round sledding spot. It's even more interesting to explore the tunnels carved into the ice. Lukas might be officially a teenager now, but he's still very silly and playful. One constant remains his dissatisfaction with having his picture taken.
After almost 10 years at our apartment in Basel, Deanna has been itching for change. She's been actively hunting for a another flat for several years. we've even tried to tour a few places. But given our selection criteria based upon the convenience, size and position of our current home, there's never been a compelling enough justification to make the change (Especially considering the hassle and cost to relocate given the large crane required when we first moved in). We adore the view and feeling of relative privacy on our large terrace. Although the busy street noise in front of our house can be annoying, it's compensated for by the proximity to picturesque pedestrian Altstadt (but far enough away from the Fasnacht piccolo music). This has been the singular longest permanent residence in my lifetime. While it would be nice to have a change of scenery or a bit more space as Lukas is getting older, we have all the amenities that matter to us. Therefore we decided to invest into renovating instead of spending the money just for the sake of moving. It was essential to enlist the services of a professional which did a great job conceiving an optimal layout with suggested pieces. Deanna does not do well with the overwhelming amount of choice. The whole project took a long time to come together. Now that everything is finally delivered and installed, we are super happy with the feeling and flow. Also having proper electricians to install the lighting is a luxury worth it's weight in gold (coincidentally, gold bars almost feels like the Swiss labor rates). For Lukas, this apartment in Basel has been his childhood home. The place he shall remember where he's grown up hosting birthday parties, backyard slip-n-slides, and summer nights camping on the terrace. Over that time the furniture and paint accumulated the wear and tear of being well loved. So while it was time for something new, it's bitter-sweet milestone to retire his former playroom in exchange for a grown-up living room. At least for now the Legos still hold a dedicated spot in the remodeled family room.
What should you do when the weather's too nice to stay home? This was a frequent dilemma this year. Normally we've been to Grindelwald in wintertime. It's a very different experience basking in the warm sunshine on the green alpine meadows. Some friends from the US were visiting and adventurous enough to try the mixed use hkiing/mountain bike trial down from First. Don't let the smiling faces and grassy fields deceive you, this is no walk in the park for relative nubes like us. As always, there's the opportunity to sit on a terrace to settle your nerves with a bit of food and drinks. Also re-traced my footsteps with a short business trip to my former work site in Kufstein, Austria. It was only a short stay, but lovely to come back after a few years. Another old favorite (rather ancient really) was the return of the Pfifferdaj nearby in Alsace. The festival originated in medieval times, and was back after cancellations due to Covid. The performances and procession are impressive with costumes, music and choreography. People must spend an immense amount of time intricately decorating the floats. Whoever picks the theme has a good sense of humor. The crowd favorite was definitely the Viking beer hall, complete with complementary samples. The six weeks of summer flew by with a lot of wonderful and the occasionally painful adventures. Lukas's first day in the intimidating new secondary school arrived. He would have to begin still with the cast and crutches. It definitely wasn't an easy start due to additional unscheduled trips to the emergency room for his broken leg. I swear at one point we felt like either he's incredibly absent-minded or he has to be doing it deliberately.
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