"Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine." W. Goldberg

We’re back to “normal” here in Zurich. Or as I often refer to it … “my other normal”. After being back in the States for two months, enjoying the luxury of much time spent with family and long-time friends, I wondered how it was going to feel to be back in Switzerland. Well, I miss the folks back home very much, but I am happy to be here, enjoying this unique time in our lives, and all the pleasures it affords. And I think Lucky is too! He missed the long walks we enjoy together here; yet he made himself right at home on his old couch in South Elgin. Jesse joined us in mid-December, and spent as much time as possible in his darkroom, naturally. Below you’ll find a few snapshots of Anchorage, Alaska (my original home) and my family there; as well as photos from Illinois and our immediate family. Which is growing, by the way! Toby and Melissa shared the happy news with us that our first grandbaby is coming in June! Thanks for looking at our blog, and Happy New Year.

Pizza before Susan returns to Switzerland

Susan and Luck shovel the snow in Illinois
Allison and her rice paper painting. Jesse brought it back from Hong Kong.

The entire family in the same place at the same time.

Amberly and Nate love "The Office"

Melissa, Toby and baby on the way

View from Jesse's office, Zug Switzerland

Nancy and daughter Katelin, Bellingham Washington

Susan and Katelin, Bellingham Washington

Katelin's dog, Bellingham Washington

Moose playing in the snow, Anchorage Alaska

Susan, Amberly and Allison playing in the snow, Anchorage Alaska

Mt. Susitna across the Cook Inlet, Anchorage Alaska

Alaska's equivalent to squirrels

Nate getting a shot of a moose, Anchorage Alaska

Susan's parents, Dick and Carol, at the Arctic Roadrunner Restaurant, Anchorage Alaska

Famous Alaska Banquet Burger from the Arctic Roadrunner

Now that is a regular customer
Just a light snack of tree, Anchorage Alaska

"Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet..." Rudyard Kipling

Susan and Lucky headed west to Chicago November 1. Susan, then went to Alaska to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Jesse headed east to Hong Kong on business.


Hong Kong is a nice place, however, the air has been spoiled by the factories and power plants in southern China. The food is excellent and varied.



Below are a few photos, taken into between business engagements.

"Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet..." Rudyard Kipling

Susan and Lucky headed west to Chicago November 1. Susan, then went to Alaska to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Jesse headed east to Hong Kong on business. Meanwhile, Toby split the difference and went to Egypt.

Hong Kong is a nice place, however, the air has been spoiled by the factories and power plants in southern China. The food is excellent and varied.

Below are a few photos from Hong Kong, taken into between business engagements.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”John Muir

What have we been doing in the past month or so? Spending as much time as possible in the mountains! Including …staying a few nights, at the end of September, in Zermatt and getting great views of the Matterhorn; taking the mountain train up Rigi in October, with it’s spectacular circular view; staying overnight in Muerren and waking up to see the mountains from our balcony; not to mention taking a boat ride on Lake Luzern surrounded by too many mountains to list. In the midst of all these wanderings, my friend Karen came from St. Charles to soak-up some mountain beauty for herself. I will try to encourage Jesse not to post too many photos below, but it’s probably a waste of time! Thanks for viewing.

Lord Lucky looks over his realm, Bellizona Switzerland

Grand Castle of Bellinzona Switzerland

Coffee with a Castle

Moonrise over Lake Lugano, Lugano Switzerland

Susan and Lucky enjoying the sun in Lugano Switzerland

View of Lake Lugano from San Salvatore, Lugano Switzerland

Outside our hotel, Lugano Switzerland

Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau mountains from Muerren Switzerland

Jesse and Karen photograph the Eiger, Muerren Switzerland
Sunrise over the Eiger, Muerren Switzerland

Karen at Schilthorn
Alphorn player atop Schilthorn

Susan and Karen visited Appenzell on the Susan MaySwitzerland Tour

Luzern, Another stop on the Susan May Switzerland Tour

Ready to launch

Mountain high
Karen and Susan on top of Rigi

Lucky loves late leisurely lunches lakeside in Lausanne

September 16 - Yesterday we hopped on a train and headed to Lausanne, which is the second-largest city on Lake Geneva. As you can see from the photos below, it was a glorious day. We walked from the train station down to the lake, stopping along the way to purchase freshly made sandwiches from an Italian deli. After lunch, we walked along the lakeside, stopping at the Olympic Museum, the world’s largest information center about the Olympic games. Lucky wore himself out walking along the promenade, and slept like a rock the entire train-ride back to Zurich. This evening we took a more leisurely stroll down by the Lake of Zurich – once again, the weather was beautiful, and Jesse snapped a few photos along the way. Scroll down to view them, and enjoy!

Lake of Thun, with Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau mountains in the distance

Zermatt, Switzerland with Matterhorn in the background
Which way to the Matterhorn?

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop." - Lewis Carroll, from Alice in Wonderland

September 8, 2007 - The Jungfrau Marathon this year also served as the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge. http://www.jungfrau-marathon.ch/ws/jm/en/marathon/pictures-galerie/2006/

The weather was beautiful and therefore the views were spectacular. It almost made me forget that we had to ascend about 1900 meters (6200 feet) through the course of the marathon. The total distance covered was 42.1 kilometers (26.2 miles), with most of the elevation gain in the last 17 kilometers.

Susan played the role of photojournalist. There were spectators throughout the course, with large numbers in the villages with train stops. Susan rode the trains up the mountain, along with hundreds of people crammed in like sardines, to watch the progress. The course went along alpine trails, through villages, and mountain trails.

Along the final 10 kilometers there were points where we came to a full stop because the mountain trails were so narrow that we had to go single file. From 38 to 41 kilometers the altitude (2200 meters / 7200 feet), unsteady footing on the trail, and general tiredness made this the toughest part of the course.

The largest crowds were at the start and the finish. Since the only way down the mountain was on trains, we had to cram into them. On the second train we and others squeezed into the baggage car. Susan was almost overcome by the body odor (not her own).

Photos are below.

Jesse

"I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life." - Barbara Bush

Since our last blog update, we welcomed our older daughter Amberly and her husband Nate, who traveled from Chicago to spend some time with us here in Zurich. We crammed a lot of travel into two weeks! In addition to nearby day-trips (to the Rhein Falls and Appenzell), we hit the rails and spent a several nights in Salzburg, Austria; and then journeyed to Zermatt, Switzerland. We enjoyed excellent weather in Salzburg, but Zermatt was a bit cloudy at first. I was worried we would have to return home without viewing the Matterhorn. Thankfully the clouds left on Friday morning and we had a lovely time at Gornergrat, feasting our eyes on all the surrounding mountains, including the famous Matterhorn. Both Jesse and Nate took many wonderful photos (and even I got a few good shots!) so it was hard to narrow the choices for this blog. As a result, there are quite a few to view, if you scroll down. Enjoy!