from Ascona to Liechtenstein to Frankfurt and beyond....

We spent the weekend in Ascona ( see previous post)
Thank you Julie for booking such lovely accommodation. Do you remember what a great sense of humor the manager/owner had? hotel-garni.
we'll be back.

2 meter from Lake Maggiore....
Monday was a bank-holiday and we strolled through/ around town before getting back into our vehicle and setting off over the St Bernardino Pass to Liechtenstein.

Now; The St Bernardino pass turned out to be an event / sight / memory on its own. Magnificent veiews, cute little restaurant right at the top of the mountain and plenty of intruiging little piles of rocks, like miniature altars of joy.

There is a photo of me putting another ( smaller ) pebble on an (existing) stack....




freezing cold !!!


There is no time like play- time

Happy Happy like children playing in the St Bernardino-pass "pause" facility




Liechtenstein was a fantastic little gem of a ... mmm........ country... ..? Principality ? yes



We spent some time in Vaduz and climbed a hill ( felt like a mountain ) to see the prince's castle. Striking & Special viewing point.


Vaduz - castle


Then from Zurich (with my heart in pieces like a 16-year old who got dumped for the first time) we set off on the ICE- train to Frankfurt... and along the 4 hour- train trip I had a chance to "gather" myself and write in my journal (THAT is how smooth the train goes at 260 km per hour !) and by the time we pulled into Frankfurt, I was so excited to meet little Dylan (3.5 month old son of Gail and Karl Deicher)

C U T E . . . .

We took a "regional bahn" train to Langen (Hessen) and Gail picked us up.

They live in a lovely apartment in Leukertsweg, Langen.
The German- hospitality and consideration is something which shouldn't go unmentioned.

With baby on the hip: Gail was a fantastic hostess and we were spoilt (good food, good wine & good company!) Thanks Karl also for taking the days' leave and driving us to Wiesbaden.
What a lovely town! This was Gail and Karl's previous address.


The town is centered around "wellness" and natural hot springs and baths. Yes there is a nudist bath in the centre of Wiesbaden. No I did not go in.

Here are some pics ( not of the nude-folk) but of the vibrant Frankfurt.


We visited the Frankfurt Zoo the next day. Dylan loved it!!










Gail and I are doing the slow-motion Chariots of fire.... why again Gail?? !!




















the charming Deicher- Family !


♥ ♥ ♥











at the zoo: we found the "bar" or "bear" ...

Africology and Ascona

shop window... pretty Pretty !!!


Hi There

I've just had the most amazing- pamper experience:
Thanks to my dear sister Maggie, who is a manager at The Pepper Club Hotel & Spa.
The Africology Pedicure...(gift from Maggie ) complete with hot stone foot & leg massage.. 1hour bliss... Thanks Bianca ( good luck at Crystal Towers spa!)
Now my feet are all pretty for the 3- day strat session (ie: strategising, drinking red-wine and seeing how we fare at horse-riding) at Lanzerac...
starting tomorrow ( I can't wait !)

ok, back to the subject line: Africology and Ascona...
the similarities:
both types of pleasure starts with an A,
both are A-class and they have the same effect on me... a feeling of such total well-being that it is absolutely intoxicating.

Ascona...aaah... magical ex-fishing village at the southern tip of Switzerland, dipping its Swiss toe in the lake which represents the Italian border.

Julie and Steve rented a car and we drove over the Gotthard Pass to Ascona.
some pics :)





every shutter, every lock & key, every little cobbled street is like something from an old prose- selection.



the superlatives escape me.... it's pure poetry



café style weekend.... like Paris... only cleaner and by Lake Maggiore.
You can refill your water bottle at any of the many public, free, crystal natural clear Swiss-water fountains....






yachts Moore







cute little courtyard- a real taylor. I waited outside and was reminded of my childhood- Sonstraal "skillie". Look mom!

From Gatwick to Zurich... in 50 minutes....

Chris took some awesome photos from the aeroplane-window. The clouds were magical... little did we know that P L E N T Y of magic was still lying ahead.
( I mean, I guessed, but my little brain had no idea!)

The type of "connection" you experience seldom in your life (Julie & Steve) , the epic U2- concert and the power of an organized and powerful country settles in your heart... and warms it.

EasyJet: cheap-airline of choice....





so civilised... we'r on the tram ( In Zurich )






no shortage of yummy-little edible artworks


√ Julie and Steve guided us on an introductory tour of Zurich. The clean water, the view of the alps, the sunny-Saturday: all added to an unforgettable, lazy-Lucky Saturday. What a priviledge to see your friends, have a beer (which turned out to be my default order from this point on) and smell & taste this amazing city.
If there is one country which has its act together . . . this is it.

Then the boyz took the monster-sized camera home (Witikon) while Julie and I had .. yes.. another beer with friends of theirs. Fellow- State Street employees, U2-concert-goers, I met Alex and Sheila, I met Paul, I met another Alex ( very fit & sporty ) as well as the charming couple Louis & Maria (their son Tiago did not get a U2- ticket :)
oh yes,
and Louis' cousin ( also Swiss-Italian) joined us and once Chris and Steve caught up, we hopped on a tram to the Concert-venue.
Oh; of course in Zurich your U2-ticket is also your tram / travel pass.

so organised.. I've started to get used to it :)



the three musketeers getting pre- beers


♪

the before-act was 1 Republic... very catchy & recognized a number of tunes ♪


and then Bono ROCKED !!! U2 forever !!! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪






U2 was awesome - good mix of new & legend tracks, they conquered.. the heart of Zurich...


U2 !!!! ♪ ♪ ♪






our lovely-party animal- fun loving hosts, Julie and Steve Fallon.



afterparty:




as if this holiday needed another high.... High altitude was the order of the day.. after a BIG night out, we hopped into the rental-van and headed for Gottard-pass.
pics says it all

chapter 1B

London Chapter 1B....

Ok, so I've forgotten to talk about the shopping spree we had in Oxford Street.
In my earlier post (bigger than huge) I skirted the event... as my credit card is still a wee bit unhappy with me and its best to just whisper about it

I'll just upload some photos and smile.
First stop: Marble Arch






an old favourite... even if just to look.
spoilt for choice...





trying on and trying on.... like when we used to play dress-up when we were 6 !














I also helped a bit, made suggestions, brought the appropriate sizes to the change-rooms...






oh Chris... please may I have it ???








z a r a



We were exhausted from all the sights & sounds.
Thanks Fran: you were awesome company.
See you soon (December!)

x

Person of the week= Pablo Neruda ♥

Cotapos says your laughter drops
like a hawk from a stony tower. It's true:
daughter of the sky, you slit the world
and its green leaves, with one bolt of your lightning:

it falls, it thunders: the tongues of the dew,
the waters of a diamond, the light with its bees.
leap. And there where a long-bearded silence had lived,
little bombs of light explode, the sun and the stars.

down comes the sky, with its thick-shadowed night,
bells and carnations glow in the full moon,
the saddlemakers' horses gallop

Because you are small as you are, let it
rip: let the meteor of your laughter
fly: electrify the natural names of things.

Pablo Neruda.


and yes- so it is that I've broken the rule of " I have to personally know the" PERSON OF THE WEEK" as this man just speaks to me.
Pablo: you are the person of the week.
well-done.

Enjoy the weekend all!
Love
Maria