The blog is back! After a brief suspension, all was saved by the brilliant Valerie from Lion Face Studio.
I apologize for the unexpected delay in our journey, but Switzerland awaits so grab your things…here the trains wait for no one.
We’ll find a quiet row on the top level of the train and lazily doze in and out of consciousness as we watch the landscape transform from cities to hills to mountains. Our ears will perk up as the first Swiss German words are spoken over the loud speaker. We’ll practice saying “Danke” and “Merci vilmal” as the red and white Swiss flag appears in the distance.
When we arrive in Zurich, we’ll drop off our bags and set off to explore. We’ll climb the cobblestone streets, gaze out at the colourful cityscape, and soak in the centuries of history. We’ll walk up to Lindenhof and reflect on the brave women who have walked this path. As friends and neighbours clink glasses and share laughs, sitting on the edge overlooking their city, we’ll savour the civility, the quiet, the sense of contentment that thrives among the Swiss.
Sauntering in and out of stores as we stroll by the river, the scent of roasting chestnuts will call to us. We’ll pick up a bag to share and continue on to admire the beautiful boutiques along Bahnhofstrasse. When the chestnuts run out we’ll find our way to Hiltl for a fancy meal of refined vegan fare. Wandering the beautiful buffet we’ll load our plates with stunning dishes, full of colour and flavour. Plants are perfect.
After dinner, we’ll continue to wander. When the pedestrian path leads us to a courtyard full of bars and revelry, we’ll slip inside for festive Capiriñhas. The fresh mint and lime will counteract the chill in the mountain air and our cheeks will flush, all warm and pink.
When we’re ready to leave the tram will be waiting. As the sky turns black, we’ll pull down the blinds, pull on our warm socks and climb into bed. I’ll tell stories of Heidi and her adventures in the alps until we laugh ourselves to sleep.
The next morning we’ll hike up the hill to catch the train to Mount Rigi. Despite the bite in the air and the risk of rain, we’ll pull on our toques and venture forth. Our resolute attitudes will be rewarded with astounding views of snow capped peaks and whispy clouds. When the tram first pulls out of the valley, we’ll both gasp at the heart-stopping beauty this world has to offer. I’ll look at you and you’ll look at me and once again, without a word, we’ll know – this was worth it. 
At the top we’ll play with the feeling of living on the edge. 
Perhaps from lack of oxygen, or the spiked coffees we find at the snack bar or the dizzying views, our silly side will take over again. We’ll pose in front of the mountains, in cut-outs of Heidi and her friends and take turns blowing the giant alphorn. Once the giggles subside we’ll find a cable car to carry us down the mountain, through the thick foliage and to the port where we’ll catch a boat to Lucerne.
We’ll sit backwards on the deck of the boat watching the mountain peaks disappear in the distance. The water, the mountains, the clouds will envelope us all in a feeling of cool, blue calm.
Birds will appear to dance on the wind currents and escort us on to new discoveries. 
Once in Lucerne, we’ll find a shop selling beautiful, dark, Swiss chocolate. Together we’ll sit, splitting the bar into bite-sized squares, and close our eyes as we savour each bite. We’ll breath in the clean Swiss air and breath out any tension that has survived the trip.
There on a bench in Lucern we’ll make a pledge. We’ll commit to living the rest of our lives with the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson echoing in our hearts “live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink in the wild air…”
xoxo
