Neftenbach, Switzerland
The train ride through southern France up into Switzerland took us through some breathtaking countryside. Sweeping green meadows dotted with cattle, sheep and charming little villages. Then there were lakes set in a backdrop of rugged mountain ranges. Always changing and ever more beautiful. I was loving Switzerland before I even got off the train!
We were blessed to get to stay with this wonderful couple. Johannes & Ruth let us take over a room in their small flat and made us feel right at home. In fact in the four days we were there they spoiled us completely! We laughed a lot and made many wonderful memories. All three of us hope this wasn’t our last visit there.
After a welcome with coffee and cake Ruth took us on a little walk around the town of Nefenbach. The chalets were just as I’d imagined they might be and the countryside is quite beautiful, green and flourishing.
The vineyards here were even more beautiful and lush than the ones we saw in France. I was amazed at how they plant their crops right up the side of steep hills rather than just in the valleys. One reason may be that each plant receives more sunshine if they are on an angle along the hillside rather than on level surfaces in the valley.
On Friday morning we drove through some authentic Swiss countryside to visit Ruth at work. These are definite un-touristy places we would never have found or visited if it hadn’t been for friends like them! Some of the rolling hills and fields of corn reminded me of the scenery around home. I guess there’s a reason Sugarcreek is “The Little Switzerland of Ohio.”
Next we headed to Winterthur and found some fun little shops before catching a train to have lunch with Johannes and a few coworkers and to see where he spends his days. The many purchases of the day included this game which became quite a thing of competition over the few days. No evening was complete without a good round of Qwirkle!
We had planned to do a several mile walk around a nearby lake that afternoon but first we were distracted by some wonderful stores with wonderful products and yes, I admit, we spent an hour or two shopping. Even though we were in Switzerland and there was beautiful scenery to see we had an absolutely delicious time wandering around and ended up with some great finds! And then we did go on the walk and it was so pretty but somewhere along the way we missed a trail marker and got all confused and lost(ish) and after walking an extra mile in town instead of around the lake we gave up and took the bus back to where we needed to go.
Ruth had a delicious Swiss dinner waiting for us when we arrived at their home again. And then, sometime in the course of the evening they told us an amusing story in relation to these sunglasses so we all had to model a pair, just for memories sake!
And then the next morning we were off to the Alps! We even got to ride First Class coaches and decided it made us feel quite royal. But alas, in my haste to leave this morning, my camera battery ended up staying in the charger at home instead of in my camera! So, many of the remaining photos are either iPhone quality or compliments of the wonderful cousin and her Rebel T2i.
The first glimpse that one gets of these perfectly, picturesque mountains is enough to make you catch your breath and stand still in awe of our Maker. Although the last week here had been rainy and overcast (there were even snow flurries at one point!), our Saturday excursion dawned with blue skies and bright sunshine. It couldn’t have been more perfect!
There were woods and meadows, uphill and down.
Mooing cows with tinkling bells and wet, snuffling noses.
Beautiful friends to share the adventure with.
Perfectly clear, sparkling mountain streams that came singing and dancing down, down, down.
And the knowledge that you were surrounded by dear people who love you and delight in the adventure along with you! Hats off to Johannes for all the trouble (and thickets) he went through to take this photo!
The cutest villages sprinkled along the way or perhaps just a lone house with a herd of cattle and a field of hay.
And there must always be food! Ah, how good it tastes when one has gained an appetite in the crisp, mountain air!
And somewhere we met Mr. Shagg. There were several opinions passed about whether he was “so cute” or whether he was just “rather ugly.”
And yes, I did drink water straight from a mountain stream. Hey, I had to do it just to say that I had! Really, when will I ever get the chance to do that again?
After a long uphill hike we arrived at this gorgeous lake. The view was stunning behind and before, but we weren’t at our destination yet!
And this is probably an hour later, can you still see the lake below? Its the same one as in the previous photo. It was a long, steep way folks!
And then we arrived! All the way to Göscheneralp! Warm, sweaty and with legs of jelly but triumphant in our accomplishment! After a bus ride down, several hours on the train and a 15 minute drive, we arrived in Neftenbach, exhausted and ready for a good night’s rest.
We were blessed to worship with their congregation on Sunday morning. The message was preached in High German so we were able to understand a good bit of what was being shared. And then Ruth prepared another wonderful meal for us. I was quite certain I’d be gaining weight if we stayed and enjoyed her cooking for too much longer!
And after aforesaid dinner we enjoyed a coffee, served by Johannes, along with some perfectly creamy, dreamy Swiss chocolate on the sunshiny back porch.
And then we headed for the train again and went searching for Tschoppenhof! Its a tiny village, snuggled into the hills of northwestern Switzerland and apparently it was named after an ancestor of the Chupps of today. We were all quite delighted to be able to discover it with Mary, eat ice cream in its café and walk around its hills.
And as you know, one cannot visit Switzerland without buying Swiss chocolate. Imagine how foolish that would be! So we wanted to make the best of things and not squander the opportunity when we had it. Let me just clarify, this chocolate is not all mine. Only a third of it is safely packaged in my bag but I won’t promise how much will actually make it home to Ohio. 🙂
And as a perfect serenade to the end of this day and this delightful visit, Ruth played several songs on her flute just because we begged her to. It was amazing and so beautiful!
And then we had to leave. There was still much that could have been seen and done but our days had been well filled and well used. Thank you so much Johannes & Ruth for making Switzerland one of the favorite parts of our trip!
Rosetta Fern 