Ten things I learned in Bern and Küsnacht…

Featured photo is of the train as we left Bern…

Now that I’ve finished writing my exhaustive and detailed blow by blow of our trip to Switzerland, it’s time to write my usual ten things I learned post. I like to make these posts for those who just want a quick summary of our trips. They’re also kind of fun to write, and a nice way to sum up our travels. So, here goes…

10. If there is a heat wave threatening, reconsider traveling by train!

We got home last Saturday by the grace of God! A week ago, temperatures were north of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, our train was only about 12 or 13 minutes delayed. Other travelers were not as lucky. We’ve heard stories of people in East Germany and outside of Paris who were stranded for hours. Extreme heat affects train travel, and can turn your ride home into a nightmare. It turned out fine for us this time, but it could have been a real disaster. It’s best to leave in the coolness of the morning hours, if you must travel by train when it’s very hot.

9. Bern has an astronomical clock that was influenced by Prague’s astronomical clock!

Bern’s astronomical clock, located on the Zytglogge, is a centerpiece in the city. Prague’s clock, Orloj, is a bit older, as it dates from 1410. However, the clock in Bern has a mechanical system that still functions as it did in 1530.

8. You can easily go swimming in Swiss lakes and rivers!

Switzerland is very friendly to those who like taking a dip. We visited Lake Zürich and the Aare River, and we noticed both bodies of water hosted eager swimmers who sought to cool off from the blazing sun. I waded into the Aare River, wishing I had a swimsuit on. When we went to Lake Zürich, I enjoyed the lake every day! There are some areas that are privately owned and offer facilities, but I also noticed plenty of public areas, especially at the lake! You don’t have to pay at the public areas, but there also aren’t any facilities like changing rooms or lockers.

7. Tina Turner was a big fan of Rico’s cosi, and was a regular patron there, when she was still alive.

Bill and I dined at Rico’s cosi when we visited Küsnacht. The next day, I heard a woman covering Tina Turner, and remembered that Tina lived in Küsnacht for years. I ran across an article in People Magazine, and the owner of Rico’s was quoted. He said she was a friend, lived about 100 yards from the restaurant, and used to dine there all the time!

6. This cool Parmesan grinder is apparently only available in Switzerland… bummer. 🙁

*I hope to buy one on a future trip to Die Schweiz.*

5. Bern has a special relationship with bears. They even have cute little almond flavored cakes shaped like them!

*This one was a parting gift from our hotel, when we checked out.*

4. The Sonne Seehotel is NOT air conditioned. In fact, air conditioning is very rare in Switzerland.

This is actually not something I necessarily learned on this trip. I knew air conditioning was rare there before we went to Switzerland. However, air conditioning is especially uncommon in Switzerland, even though it is not outright banned. You can read about why by clicking this link to an article about the politics of air conditioning in Switzerland. Personally, I think they are soon going to have to change their ways. The hot weather is getting more severe every summer. Fortunately, the lakes and rivers are nice and cold.

3. I really like fregola sarda. I also like Risoni.

When we visited Zimmermania for my birthday, I chose a fish dish that offered fregola sarda as a side. I didn’t know what fregola sarda was until two weeks ago. I now know it’s a type of semolina pasta from Sardinia. It looks like large, pearl-like couscous, although I enjoyed it a lot more than couscous. The pasta has a nutty flavor that marries well with fish!

I also tried Risoni with my perlhühn dish at the Pavilion Restaurant at the Sonne Seehotel. Risoni is the Italian name for orzo pasta. It looks like grains of rice. In the United States, the pasta is called “orzo”, but in Italy, it’s called Risoni, which means barley.

I’m going to have to see if I can buy some of both of these pastas. I really loved them… especially the fregola sarda.

*The little round balls are fregola sarda.*

2. Sometimes less expensive restaurants offer much better dining experiences…

Dining at moderately priced Falken, and then dining at expensive Rico’s cosi, makes me realize that one doesn’t have to spend a lot of money for great service and good food. While Falken isn’t a cheap restaurant at all, we’ve been there twice and, both times, left there very satisfied. And it was significantly cheaper than Rico’s cosi, which is much vaunted, and priced accordingly. I didn’t necessarily learn this truism just on this trip… but it was definitely driven home by our different experiences at these two restaurants.

And finally, 1. It pays to double check a city’s event schedule when you decide to visit.

In Bern, there was a city party going on over the weekend of my birthday. I love a good party, but the city fest kept us awake at night. If I had known that event was going on, I think I would have chosen to go somewhere else and saved Bern for a different time.

Of course, this isn’t the first time something like that has happened to us. In 2019, Bill and I decided to go to Inverness, Scotland to meet a cruise. We stopped in Edinburgh, on the way… completely unaware that we booked during their annual Fringe celebration. The city was a total madhouse. The Fringe made our hotel very expensive and uncomfortable. I would definitely not want to do that again, even though the Fringe was interesting. Moral of the story– ALWAYS check to see what’s “on” in a city you’re visiting. I like a good party as much as anyone does, but I also like to sleep at night.

So that about does it for our latest visit to Switzerland. I will be writing another post later about last night’s wine stand!

adventure, Annoyances, C.G. Jung

Older and wiser in Die Schweiz… (part thirteen)

We finally reached Saturday, our day of leaving Die Schweiz. It was slated to be a very hot day, so we were somewhat worried about how we were going to make the journey back to Germany. My German friend had sent a warning from Deutsche Bahn about the heat, and how it would affect train travel.

I researched what it would cost to fly to Frankfurt last minute. Although we could have done it, it would have been very expensive. Renting a car was only slightly less pricey. Since there were no warnings on the DB app on our morning of departure, we decided to go ahead with our plans.

Before our last breakfast, we packed our bags. Then we went down to the restaurant for our last breakfast feast at the Sonne Seehotel in Küsnacht.

The wait staff invited us to sit on the actual deck of the restaurant, but I demurred. The chairs outside were the kind that were grooved, and I knew that because I was wearing shorts, the grooves would end up pressed into the backs of my thighs. 😏

Bill had already moved my big bag down the half flight of steps leading into our hotel room. I was grateful for that, since I worried about maneuvering the suitcase down without either falling down, or somehow damaging the steps, which appeared to be made of thick glass.

*One last look at the unique ceiling in room 410.*

We went down to the reception and paid the city taxes, since we had already prepaid for the room. I booked the room back in March, when we were staying in Paris, France. The bill came to 3,936 euros, which is a lot of money for six nights. But, for that, we got a very large room with a view of Lake Zürich in Switzerland, huge breakfasts every day, and easy access to the lake. And we booked it so long ago that the pain of the expense is forgotten. Switzerland is just plain EXPENSIVE.

The receptionist bid us farewell and gave us a small jar of jam from the hotel. I’m sure we’ll be back to the Sonne Seehotel at some point in the near future. It’s comfortable and convenient. I just hope next time we’re there, we can go when it’s a little cooler.

On our way out of the hotel, I took a photo…

*I think I’ve seen this car before. Küsnacht is starting to become familiar… almost like a second home. It’s how I felt about Ribeauville, France, when we were still going there frequently.*

Bill and I pulled our suitcases through a tunnel and up a gentle hill to get to the railway station, which is just a five minute walk from the hotel. We took the regional train to the Zürich Hauptbahnhof, which was the starting point for our ICE train. Our train began in Zürich and would eventually end in Hamburg, Germany, many hours later, and long after we got off at the Frankfurt Airport station.

*Waiting to depart… We spotted a bunch of people dressed traditionally, as if they were from another era of Switzerland’s past.*

For our ride back to Germany, Bill booked us at a four top table. He did so, anticipating that at some point, the direction of the train would change, and he wanted me to be able to face forward. He’s so considerate and kind to me.

The first segment of the trip back was fairly quiet. An elderly couple sat at the two top across from us, and they were pleasant.

But then we got to Basel, Switzerland, and a group of young folks got into our car and proceeded to have a little party, complete with wine. They were oblivious to the rest of us in the car, who weren’t necessarily wanting to listen to them carry on, or deal with them coming from one car to the next. But what can you do? Fortunately, they got off in Freiburg, and there was blessed quiet again. I got the sense that maybe they were going to a sports event.

A tiny lady was seated with us not long after the Freiburg stop. She sat next to me. Then, a couple of stops later, a large German man with an affection for chili and beer sat next to Bill. He seemed put out that there wasn’t room to stow his suitcase in the luggage rack. But, because he was a large, tall guy, he had no trouble lifting his back to the overhead rack. I was actually kind of amazed watching him so easily lift the bag.

After about four hours, we reached the Frankfurt Airport, only about thirteen minutes delayed. It was a good thing we took the train, in spite of the rowdy group in the car with us. I am really becoming an old fogey!

We stopped by the restrooms before making our way to the taxi stand. The restroom where I went was small, so there was a line. I was amused because the woman in front of me rolled her eyes when a MAN came out of there. 😁 She actually backed up and double checked the sign before getting in line.

The taxi ride back to Breckenheim was pretty uneventful, except for when the cabbie almost hit another car on the way out. Unfortunately, the house was extremely hot, thanks to the triple digit temperatures (Fahrenheit). I set about opening windows, turning on the air conditioning and putting out water for the dogs.

On the way home from Switzerland, I had read about the local fire brigade turning the Dorfplatz into a cooling station. They brought their fire truck to the square, so people could enjoy being soaked. I was sorry to miss that event, since we were still on the train when it happened. But we got to see the fire brigade anyway, because later in the evening, the neighbor’s across from us started a fire in their garden.

I wrote about the neighbor’s fire in my regular blog, so you can read about that situation here, if you want… Fortunately, no one was hurt, and it appeared that property damage was minimal. But we did get a show of about twelve firefighters, a drone, and a couple of trucks in our narrow cul-de-sac.

*There are a few more photos in my blog post about this…*

All in all, I’d say our trip to Switzerland, where I became older, and Bill became wiser, was mostly a success. I would have liked to have seen and done a few more things, but it wasn’t a bad thing to just vegetate by Lake Zürich, do some reading, people watch, and swim in the water. I finally got to see Bern, which was a treat. We need to go back and do that city properly. It’s really beautiful… especially the “lazy river” like Aare.

I would also like to have a look at the town of Olten, which we passed through on our way to Zürich. It looked like a very nice place to spend a few days. I’ll have to research it. Actually, thanks to this most recent trip, I’ve been getting a lot of ads for places to explore in Switzerland. I never thought that would be a place I’d get to know, but it appears that fate has led us there…

If anything, I want to go back and buy one of those cool round Parmesan cheese graters… Apparently, they are only available in Switzerland.

*These things are pretty hard to find outside of Die Schweiz…*

Anyway, that about does it for my blow by blow reporting on this trip to Switzerland. I will next be writing my usual ten things I learned post to wrap things up! As I was writing this, I listened to the peaceful album, In Breath, which we bought from the busker, Luke Gajdus, while walking through Bern. I wish we’d brought home a couple more mementoes, but if we only got to bring home one, I’m glad it was his CD. It’s very relaxing music. Here’s a sampling…

Thanks, Luke, for giving me something besides pictures to remember Bern by… and for being far less annoying than the DJs who kept us up all night! 🤣

I would pronounce this trip a success, in spite of some of the minor annoyances. We both learned new things, and we’re both now older and wiser. The trains did make the whole experience easier. And now, it’s time to think about where we’ll go next!

anecdotes, C.G. Jung, Celebrations, Funny stories

Older and wiser in Die Schweiz… (part eleven)

By Thursday, June 25th, I was looking forward to going home. I know that’s kind of foolish, given the beautiful surroundings and great food we were enjoying in Switzerland, but I missed the dogs. I also wanted to do laundry. Several days in sweaty conditions can make one’s clothes a bit icky.

Bill had two more days of class to go, so off we went to breakfast. The wait staff was getting to know us. A few folks seemed surprised we were still at the hotel. I don’t think it’s a normal thing for most people to book six nights… except for maybe some people who are going to the Jung Institute.

I didn’t get the sense that there were too many Jung Institute students staying at the Sonne Seehotel. The one exception was at breakfast on Thursday. An American man came in with a younger woman, and Bill said he later saw both of them at the Institute. He said the man was an author of a book he’d read, and also taught at the Institute. The woman was someone on the brink of getting her diploma.

As for breakfast, I decided to go for something conventional. I had scrambled eggs and bacon. (I thought) Bill had the Egg Royal– like Eggs Benedict, but with smoked salmon, avocado, and roe. The Egg Royal is probably my favorite dish at the Pavilion Restaurant during breakfast. But, of course I needed to try as many things as possible. On Thursday, we also got to try the fruit plate, along with the usual etagè and rolls. And that, my friends, is why I have so many rolls. 😁

After breakfast, we went back to the room, hung up the Do Not Disturb sign, and I got to work on my blogging. Bill went off to school. His schedule on Thursday had him attending classes until 5:30 PM. I think he had three that day.

It was another hot day, and once again, I noticed the canvas barrier was up at the lakeside. There would be another event. Actually, Thursday turned out to be a rather obnoxious day for hotel events. But, during the afternoon, I did my usual swimming and sunning under the shady trees. Below are a few artsy pictures I took from our room. There’s always something to see on Lake Zürich, especially during the summer!

*I saw this guy a few times over the week. He is very fit!*

Something funny did happen on Thursday. While I was sitting by the lake, enjoying the cool breezes and fresh air, there was some kind of private event happening on the other side of the canvas barrier. It sounded like maybe it was a work party, or something like that. A man gave a speech in impassioned German, having summoned everyone’s attention by striking a glass with a utensil.

I wasn’t really paying much attention to what the man was saying. I was trying to relax, and wishing I had ear buds. At one point, the speaker on the other side of the barrier said something, and the crowd cheered. At that very same time, a group of school kids– maybe about eleven or twelve years old– were passing by the garden.

Just as the crowd behind the barrier started laughing and cheering, the kids– egged on by one especially naughty boy– also started cheering enthusiastically. It was pretty funny, and the whole group of adults at the luncheon started laughing.

As I was sitting there alone, listening to the laughter, it occurred to me that the luncheon was probably “mandatory fun”. The people were dressed nicely, enjoying lunch on a hot day, next to the very cool and inviting lake. They sort of half listened to a speaker droning on about something, politely applauding at appropriate times. And then, all of a sudden, a cheeky boy broke the tension by letting loose with a hearty cheer.

I observed a lot of kids in large groups, often with adults, heading to the pier so they could catch a ferry. Usually, the kids were really young– kindergarten aged or even younger, wearing orange safety vests, hats, and sunglasses. But sometimes, the kids were older, and traveled in noisy, unruly packs. Such was the case on Thursday, as the funny kids got on a ferry and continued to cheer… trying to prolong the joke. They weren’t quite old enough to realize when a moment had passed. 🤭 I can relate to that!

After the afternoon “mandatory fun” luncheon was over, the participants dispersed, and I got a brief respite from company. But then a family of four showed up. They were clearly Americans, consisting of a mom, a dad, a daughter, and a son. The son appeared to be about 13 or 14, and he’s the only one whose name I caught, because his parents had to keep correcting him.

At one point, the whole family decided to go into the lake. They were all wearing shoes of the Croc variety, which wouldn’t necessarily recommend for swimming. They might protect your feet from rocks, but they don’t let water flow out so easily, because they’re basically clogs.

The mom brought her phone into the lake, and her son said, “Why are you bringing your phone into the water? That’s a STUPID idea!”

The mom ignored the lad, took a few pictures from the water level, and then, maybe a minute or two later, exited the water with her daughter in tow. I think it was too cold for them.

Personally, I have to agree with the young man that taking a phone into the water, unless it’s highly waterproof, isn’t the greatest idea. The rocks at the bottom of the steps are pretty slippery. More than once, I almost fell down from a combination of slippery rocks, lack of balance from an awkward stance, and the odd strong current. Of course, it was none of my business, so I just observed in silence.

The boy soon grew bored with the lake and said he wanted to leave. He was clambering around near the rocks when the dad admonished him to be very careful and avoid getting hurt. He said he couldn’t afford for the boy to be injured. I’m sure that’s true in Switzerland, where healthcare is expensive. I don’t know if it’s on par with the United States, though.

The young man finally left, and soon it was just mom, dad, and daughter. The females seemed content to hang out by the lake, while the dad kind of paddled around, much like I did all week. 🤭

***

The day wore on, and finally it was time for Bill to come back from his classes. I was sitting in the hotel room, when a large boat pulled up to the pier. I noticed it, because it was blaring music. There was a sign on the boat that read LS Stäfa Festschiff (party boat).

I could see signs that there were more private events going on. I’m not sure if the people who booked the Festschiff were staying at the Sonne, but the boat turned up at about 4:00 PM and kind of loitered near the pier, sharing its music with everybody. After it departed, the cool looking Stadt Zürich ferry was back.

When Bill arrived later, he said the restaurant was closed, due to a private event. We hadn’t booked a reservation anywhere, and I wasn’t really in the mood to get dressed up… even if it meant putting on makeup that would melt off within minutes. We decided to eat at the hotel’s Biergarten.

I thought it would be good to go there as soon as possible, because I worried there would be nowhere to sit. When we were at the Biergarten on Wednesday afternoon, a woman got very excited when we stood up to leave, implying that she’d been patiently waiting to claim our table. 🙄 I feared something similar would happen Thursday night. But, actually, it wasn’t so bad…

Before we went down to the Biergarten, though, LS Scäfa returned to the pier with its loud music. I got the sense that this was where it was pickup up partygoers, as this time, there was a Tina Turner impersonator singing her hit songs. She wasn’t bad, although I don’t think Tina’s spirit came down to help her out. I could sort of see the woman from the window, and it looked it she wore a short dress and a leonine wig, just like Tina did, back in the 1980s.

It was not surprising to hear Tina Turner’s music blaring from the ship. Tina Turner became a Swiss citizen in 2013, when she married her longtime German boyfriend, Erwin Bach, at their home in Küsnacht, Switzerland. She famously lived at a lakeside estate called Villa Algonquin, and if I’m not mistaken, she couldn’t buy property there unless she became a Swiss citizen. So that’s what she did… and she later sold Villa Algonquin and rented it, with the arrangement that she would be allowed to live there until she died. She passed away in May 2023.

According to an article in People Magazine, Tina also dined at Rico’s cosi, just as Bill and I did on Wednesday, June 24th. And when she walked into the place, people’s jaws and eating utensils dropped! Apparently, she was a regular there, having celebrated her 60th birthday at the restaurant! Lionel Richie was also there, and sang to her. I recently read Lionel’s book about his life, and I think he’s got a Swiss girlfriend now.

I hope Tina got better service at Rico’s than we did. 😏 Apparently, she and Rico were friends, so I’m sure he took good care of her and Erwin.

Anyway, Tina’s impersonator sounded enough like her that I knew she was going for Tina’s sound. And the fact that I could see her hair from our hotel window tells me that she was also going for her look. I don’t mind Tina’s music at all, so I thought it was cool. In fact, the party boat looked kind of fun, although it appeared that the Tina Turner impersonator was probably hired separately.

***

Bill and I snagged a table in a corner, right by Lake Zürich. It was still very hot outside, but people were all dressed up for the party in the Pavilion Restaurant. They had a woman singing and playing saxophone, and later, there was a DJ. It looked like a classy party from our sweaty spot in the Biergarten. Of course, the partygoers were also sweating, because there was no air conditioning in the restaurant!

For dinner, I had short ribs, and Bill had a sandwich that was advertised as a burger, but was really more like a pulled beef barbecue sandwich. Of course, there were fries and beverages… and later, there was also wine. The ribs were kind of messy, but they tasted good. I think Bill was mostly happy with the “burger”, although he said they didn’t really melt the cheese on it. Bummer.

We hung out at the Biergarten until the sun went down. I got more photos, especially of the ducks, who came by to beg for food. I’m always surprised how the birds in places where tourists and water meet tend to attract waterfowl and songbirds who are almost tame. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, though…

And the LS Scäla came back to unload some passengers, but the Tina Turner impersonator had apparently retired for the evening.

I do already miss the sunsets on Lake Zürich. What a beautiful place. I can see why Tina was happy there… and why she had no qualms about giving up her US citizenship so she could be Swiss. The older I get, the more appealing that idea sounds to me, too.

adventure, C.G. Jung, Education, Military

Older and wiser in Die Schweiz… (part seven)

The featured photo is of a ferry boat stopping to pick up and let off passengers in Küsnacht. I took it from our fourth floor window.

Thanks to the abundance of sunshine at this time of year in Europe, Bill and I were awake bright and early for breakfast. It was to be Bill’s first day at the C.G. Jung Institute as an actual student, rather than just someone interested in Jungian psychology, or attending the Institute as a student.

Last year, Bill attended the “summer intensive” in Küsnacht, which were in-person lectures available for non-students to audit. The summer intensive course convinced Bill that he wanted to apply for full admission to the program. He did that in the fall, and we took another trip to Switzerland so he could be interviewed by training analysts who would be overseeing his study. After the last interview was finished, Bill was immediately welcomed into the training program. They even let him register for winter block classes and gave him credit for a few of the lectures he attended last summer!

I never expected that my Army officer husband would eventually decide to become a Jungian analyst. However, looking back on our history, I often encouraged him to seek therapy with someone neutral, to talk about his rather unorthodox past. I won’t get into the specifics in this post, except to state that Bill has had quite an interesting cast of characters in his life. Put it this way… as eccentric as I can be, and as many people don’t know how to take my rather outspoken personality, Bill has dealt with folks much weirder than I am, or could ever aspire to be.

I saw a psychologist for a few years when I was in my 20s, and it was very helpful for me. So I figured Bill might similarly benefit from seeking some guidance from a counselor of some sort. Unfortunately, in spite of the lip service the US military pays to its members about asking for psychological help when they need it, there is a genuine risk in actually doing so.

Anyone with a security clearance might be putting their military careers in jeopardy if they need help for mental health conditions. And if they seek help, and it’s on record, they might lose their clearance, or otherwise lose out on professional opportunities. This short-sighted attitude about mental health care has been devastating in some cases. Sometimes, the lack of qualified care leads to suicide. One of Bill’s former co-workers did, in fact, take his own life a couple of years ago.

Military service is demanding, and service members tend to build their lives around that vocation. When they lose momentum in that career, it can truly be catastrophic.

Bill finally decided he wanted to try counseling during the height of the COVID pandemic. He got in touch with Max, an analyst who was in training when they met in 2021. Bill and Max developed a great rapport, and soon Bill was talking to him weekly. He started feeling better about himself, and understanding more about what makes him tick.

My husband eventually told me that I had been right about his need to speak to someone. He became fascinated by Carl Jung. The fact that our dogs, Noyzi and Charlie, were rescued by an Army veteran woman who was also in the program further sealed the deal. It was as if it was meant to be. So here we are… Monday morning, he was really off to school as a student. But… before he could do that, we had to have breakfast.

***

When we stayed at the Sonne Hotel last fall, it was during the main restaurant’s renovation. We ate breakfast in the Stübli, which was a smaller facility near the hotel’s front door.

When we walked down the stairs from our hotel room, we started to head for the Stübli, but then thought to ask where to go. The receptionist started to say we were going the right way, but then corrected himself and said, “Actually, no, breakfast is in the Pavilion now.”

I’m not sure, but I think we might have been among the very first guests to try breakfast in the new restaurant. To be honest, it kind of showed that the system had significantly changed, because they are now doing breakfast very differently than they did last fall. There is no longer a buffet. Instead, they bring you an etagé– three tiers of serving plates with cold cuts on the bottom, cheese in the middle, and smoked salmon and trout on the top.

Then, they bring out filled croissants, and a basket of breads. You can order a cooked dish– eggs, pancakes, waffles, crepes, or French toast– or you can have cereal and yogurt. There are also other things offered… they had delightful chilled egg salad on a couple of mornings, fruit plates, and one day, we even got the power shot smoothies, that I got used to in the fall. Of course there’s also juice, water, coffee, and tea.

The service was a bit confused/confusing on the first day, as the wait staff seemed to be trying to figure out how breakfast was going to go. By the time we left yesterday, they had pretty much gotten it down to a science. Below are some photos from our first breakfast. I had Egg Royal (smoked salmon, roe, avocado, and a poached egg on brioche). Bill had avocado toast with a poached egg. I love the presentation on these treats!

Egg Royal

Avocado toast

I noticed for most of the week, the juice came from little plastic bottles. However, yesterday morning, the juice tasted better, as if it wasn’t prepackaged. So, I expect that if and when we stay at the Sonne Hotel again, breakfast service will be totally smooth sailing.

I also noticed on the first morning, the music they were playing was light jazz stuff. I distinctly remember hearing a lot of Norah Jones playing, and the manager sort of humming along. But as the week wore on, they switched the music to something more pop oriented, with less famous musicians.

In fact, yesterday I Shazamed one song and was amused when I saw it was a song by Muse Petal called “half a plan”, which came from an album called Morning Chill. 🤣 I guess there is now a market for bland background music that is meant to set a certain mood. Yeah, I’ve heard of Muzak, which was created for that purpose, but Muzak isn’t like the more pop oriented schlock that is played in restaurants and hotels nowadays. The newer stuff is only marginally less annoying than Muzak is.

I guess I can understand why they’d use that crappy mood music, though. We’re all at a hotel where many people are vacationing, so we want pleasant background music that people will enjoy, but won’t actually know, or be tempted to sing along to (which might annoy others)… and will put them in a “chilled out” mood, so they won’t complain about dried out or overly runny scrambled eggs. 😂

Yikes… I don’t think this is an improvement over Norah Jones… But it’s bland and “AI perfect”. Yuck. It sounds like the lyrics were composed by Chat GPT. Just dreadful!

Also, I’m sure playing this kind of boring music is also financially motivated. In some places, one has to buy a license to play music, in order to comply with intellectual property laws. That’s especially true in Switzerland, as I have come to find out this morning. It probably costs more to play music by Norah Jones than Muse Petal. It’s a shame, though, because I’ve found some really great music in bars and restaurants, and it almost always leads to my decision to buy the albums for my own personal use at home.

After breakfast, Bill and I went back to the room. I slipped back into my nightie and hung the “Do Not Disturb” sign. He grabbed his stuff and walked to the Institute, and I started blogging. I know a lot of people don’t think the blogs are that important. I am level-headed enough to know that for the vast majority of people, my writing isn’t important. But blogging gives me something constructive to do, helps me preserve memories, and satisfies a few folks who do like reading my thoughts. A few people have even told me that sometimes I present perspectives they’ve never considered. So, that alone, means that my efforts mean something to someone.

By about 11:00 AM, I was finished writing, and decided to head down to the lake. Since this post is getting long, I will continue with that in part eight!

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Ten things I learned in Küsnacht…

Featured photo is of that amazing soup we had at Falken last week. I need to seek out a recipe for that. It was a mind blower!

It might not be easy to come up with ten things I learned in Küsnacht, since it is a part of Zürich, and this was our third trip to that city since 2021. But, I’m going to do my best, because people seem to like these quick and dirty wrap ups of our travels. So here goes…

10. Sonne Hotel is very convenient to the C.G. Jung Institute.

When Bill and I visited Zürich over the summer, we looked into book the Sonne Hotel, since it was so highly recommended by others. It was booked solid! But now that we’ve stayed there, I know firsthand how easy it is to walk to the Institute. Tina Turner’s former estate, Villa Algonquin, is also very close!

9. The Junior Suite at the Sonne Hotel is huge, and offers lovely views of Lake Zürich.

I’m glad I sprang for that room, if only so I could watch the boats on the lake. I could have sat in that room all day and watched activity on the lake and the changing weather. I don’t think I would have ever gotten bored.

8. The Stadt Rapperswil steamboat is worth the price of admission.

When we decided to take our lake cruise last week, we didn’t know that we would be on the Stadt Rapperswil, which is a steamboat that was built in 1914. It was really fun to take that particular vessel around the lake. I also thought it was more comfortable, because instead of hard plastic chairs, there were wooden benches to sit on. But it’s not a shuttle boat, so if you just want to go from point A to point B, you should take a shuttle boat.

7. Sometimes being a go-getter pays off!

Both Bill and the dark haired lady at our hotel showed me that sometimes in life, you just need to go for it! Exciting things can happen that will change your life.

6. Küsnacht is relatively peaceful.

Compared to Seefeld, where we stayed over the summer, Küsnacht is like an oasis of calm. I noticed there was a lot of traffic there, but it wasn’t nearly as noisy!

5. It’s fun to have a boat stop right outside of your hotel.

I loved that we could hop on and off the boats right outside our hotel. Talk about convenient!

4. Falken is currently my favorite restaurant in Küsnacht.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at this restaurant, which is within a six minute walk of the Sonne Hotel. I learned what Cassata and Crema Catalana are, and now I want to learn how to make creamy red pepper based soup that tastes of nachos…

3. Don’t try to smuggle meat, tobacco, or booze into Switzerland.

We weren’t trying to do that, but we’ve heard horror stories of people who were caught doing it. And we were stopped by a border guard on the way in, wanting to know if we had any contraband.

2. If you dine in Switzerland, you will be able to tell where everything you eat was sourced.

I noticed on all the menus, there were notes about where everything came from. Perhaps your fish was from Germany, or you ordered a steak from Ireland. I guess that’s a local law. Maybe it has to do with this…

And 1., Every time I go back to Switzerland, I like it a little bit more.

The first time I visited Switzerland, back in 2008, I didn’t really like it that much. I thought it was clean and beautiful, but something about it seemed a bit soulless. But since then, I’ve been back a bunch of times, and every time I go back, it appeals more to me. Maybe it has to do with having a lot more money now than we did in 2008… But then, I guess the C.G. Jung Institute might change that for us… not to mention the U.S. government.

Well, that about does it for my Küsnacht series. I did enjoy visiting Switzerland again. I have a feeling I’ll be getting to know it even better, if things go the way they look like they’re going. But we’ll see what happens. For now, I’m grateful for the memories of this past trip, and the beautiful photos and videos I managed to take, not to mention the people we met and the smiles we enjoyed. There seemed to be even more smiles than ever this time. I hope it’s a good omen.

Thanks for reading!

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part five)

We woke up early on Sunday morning. I think we were both eager to get on the road and head home. I was missing the dogs and running out of clean clothes. Unfortunately, on this trip, I ate a few things that dripped… some drippings ended up on my shirts! I was also feeling eager to write and play my guitar. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of music videos, which I find helps me maintain some serenity.

We packed up our stuff and loaded most of it in the Volvo, then went down for our last breakfast at the Sonne Hotel. On Sunday morning, it was quieter and much less crowded in the breakfast room. I guess people were sleeping in a bit.

I noticed service was a little slipshod on the last morning. No one brought us little mini smoothies, as they had on the other three mornings. The chafing dish that normally had eggs and bacon was empty. That was okay with me, but a German woman complained about it to one of the young staffers. Maybe Sunday is the day when new people learn the ropes. I noticed the friendly seasoned waiter who had taken care of us on the other mornings was a bit later coming in on Sunday.

At one point, as I was enjoying a mini cinnamon roll that I hadn’t quite finished, a young man grabbed my plate from in front of me! I was a little shocked, since that’s the kind of thing I would expect in the United States. I don’t think I’ve ever had a plate cleared in Europe before everyone at the table had finished eating. I guess there’s a first time for everything. I didn’t protest, though, because I’d had enough, and really had only wanted to taste the roll, anyway. I’d been admiring them every morning, but only tried one on the last day.

We saw the dark haired lady again on that morning, as we were finishing breakfast. Like us, she was checking out that morning. She told us she’d gone back to the cafe at the Lindt Factory and noticed that they had a “help wanted” sign up. They were strictly looking for part time help. This lady– a US citizen from Los Angeles– went up to the manager and asked to apply for the job, even though she doesn’t speak German. And they actually offered to interview her! What a go-getter!

She said that since she works for her family’s business, she can do remote work. And she likes Switzerland so much that she’d like to move there. If she has a part time job, she can establish residency. Then she started talking about apartments, and how she’d had trouble finding something in her price range that wasn’t snapped up immediately. I’m not sure if she meant short term apartments or long term ones, but I did clue her in to the Apart-Hotel Hugenschmidt, where we stayed in the summer. It’s not meant for long term renting, but she could stay for a short time and have a kitchen. It wasn’t necessarily a cheap place, but it was less expensive than the Sonne Hotel. They also have regular rooms.

I also told her about the B2 Boutique Hotel, although that’s in another part of the city, and maybe not that convenient. It has a great spa and cool library, though. That’s where we went the first time we visited Zürich in 2021.

We explained to the dark haired lady that we were in the city because Bill wants to study Jungian psychology and become an analyst. He said it was a totally new direction for him, which it is… I mean, it seems surprising that a career soldier would want to become a psychoanalyst. On the other hand, there is a real need for people like Bill to be able to relate to servicemembers who need mental health services… or even just someone to talk to who understands that life.

While we were talking, the dark haired lady spontaneously gushed about Bill and me being good people. As if she was compelled, she looked at Bill and said, “I can tell that she loves you very much.” I was taken aback, since we still didn’t even know her name. But she said she could tell there is a lot of genuine love between us. I have to say, she’s right. My mother-in-law told Bill the same thing about me. It was kind of surreal, but it’s not unusual at all for us to have surreal moments when we travel. If you’ve been reading this blog, you probably already know that!

I don’t know what to make of the dark haired lady blurting out that she can see that I love Bill. I know that I sometimes have a tendency to blurt things out– sometimes it’s things that other people are thinking, but don’t want to say out loud. Sometimes the message goes over well; sometimes it doesn’t. But it does my heart good to know that people can see that for all my faults, I do genuinely love my husband very much and want the best for him. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, and together, we have been so blessed to be able to enjoy many wonderful adventures. If not for Bill, I could not share these stories.

So, we said our goodbyes to the lady, and wished her luck on her plan to reside in Switzerland. I hope things turn out the right way for her. I have a strange feeling we will run into her again. This isn’t a crazy notion, either. I have a habit of running into people… sometimes I bump into folks I haven’t seen in decades. I also have a habit of meeting people who know people I know. There have even been times when I’ve met people from other continents who know people I know. So, if we run into the dark haired lady again, I won’t be surprised at all. Maybe we’ll visit the Lindt Factory again and see her in the cafe, perhaps even as an employee!

After we said goodbye to the friendly waiter who had taken care of us at breakfast every day, Bill got the rest of our stuff from the room, while I did one last check to make sure we had everything. After a quick visit the to WC, we checked out of the Sonne Hotel and mounted up. A man with a slightly Germanic accent asked if we were leaving our prime parking spot. Bill answered affirmatively, and he quickly got in his fancy gas powered SUV so he could vacate the spot he was in. It was a spot for electric vehicles. It’s just as well we were leaving, as the restaurant is going to be closed at the hotel for a couple of weeks while they renovate.

The weather was still pretty crappy as we made our way out of Zürich. I took a few shots from the car, wishing we’d ventured deeper into the city. But I have a feeling we’ll be back soon. Bill has one more interview. Last night, he had a session with his analyst, and the analyst said, “It sounds like you’re in.” I will be shocked if he doesn’t get accepted.

Sorry about the quality of these pictures…

It was relatively smooth sailing leaving Switzerland, but once we got to Germany, the weather got rainier. There was also a lot of traffic, as it was a holiday weekend in Germany (German reunification day), and lots of people were returning home. There were also transportation strikes at the airports, which probably also affected traffic. The GPS kept adding time to our estimated arrival. I think we were originally supposed to get home at about 1:30 PM (without any stops). But thanks to traffic and a rather long lunch stop, we were on the road until about 4:30!

Below are a few photos from the road trip. When the GPS alerted us to a Stau, we stopped at a place called the Schwarzwald Stube and had lunch. It was surprisingly good, although the service was pretty slow. I was glad we hadn’t gone to the very crowded McDonald’s across the street. And bonus– they had a vending machine that was selling sex aids in the ladies room!

Bill went to get Noyzi and Charlie. I wasn’t with him when he picked them up, but he said that Noyzi actually gave him a hug. He got on his hind legs and wrapped his forelegs around Bill’s waist. Charlie was running around all excited to see “dad” again. They were glad to go to the Birkenhof… and they were just as glad to come home.

So ends my commentary about our latest trip to Switzerland. Bill is going to go to Bavaria next week, and he’ll be gone for three weeks, so this blog may get a bit boring… or maybe not. It might be time for a few culture posts.

Anyway… I’ll try to wrap this up with my usual “ten things I learned” post, either today or tomorrow. Stay tuned!

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part four)

By Saturday morning, I was starting to look forward to going home. But we still had a full day in Switzerland and no big plans for how to spend the time. Bill said the weather would probably be turning later in the day, but on Saturday morning, it was sunny and temperate.

We went down to breakfast and sat in the first dining room, as the breakfast area was full of people. Obviously, Friday was a big day for people checking in, as the room was bustling! The family with the German Shorthaired Pointer was also there. I got a kick out of the “grandpa”, a funky guy maybe Bill’s age, who was rocking red socks and bright orange shoes. Once again, I admired their beautiful dog, who was lying on the floor near their table. We heard him and another dog before we went down to eat. Later, we saw the family with a Schnauzer, who I guess wasn’t as laid back as their GSP was.

The table where we sat wasn’t the best, since people kept coming in and out. But at least no one slammed into my back, and I didn’t have to look at myself in the mirror!

After breakfast, we decided we’d just hop on a boat and take another boat cruise. Yes, it’s true that we took a boat cruise when we visited in July, but I really didn’t feel like going into the city and pounding the pavement. I wasn’t in the mood for crowds. Given that the boat stop was just outside the hotel’s doors, it was just too perfect to get on a long lake cruise and take photos. So, that’s what we did… but the coolest thing about that decision was that we took the 12:47 cruise from Küsnacht, and it wasn’t like the last boat we were on. We lucked into taking the 100 year old steamboat “Stadt Rapperswil”. In almost all ways, it was better than the last lake cruise we took, back in early July.

A short video showing the machinery of the boat, as well as a later boat in the swells of the lake during a storm!

I took some photos on our four hour cruise, which started and ended at the Küsnacht stop, rather than Bürkliplatz, which is the big pier near the inner city of Zürich. While we were waiting for our boat to arrive at 12:47, we noticed the dark haired lady from breakfast. I don’t think she saw us.

There was also an American couple, the female half wearing a Budapest sweatshirt. When we got on the boat, she annoyed the purser by asking if they could get off in one stop, as they wanted to go to Zürich. What they’d hoped for was a shuttle boat going to the city, but they got on the long cruise going to Rapperswil, instead. The guy was willing to work with them, but I could tell he was irritated as we paid our first class fares. This cost about 86 francs (for both of us), but it was basically a pass for ALL boats and trains until 5AM Sunday morning.

The below photos were taken before the weather turned to shit. We had lunch onboard. I made the mistake of having a burger, which I didn’t enjoy, as it didn’t taste like the Angus beef it was supposed to be. I think Bill had a salad. I wish I had, too. At least the fries were good. I didn’t finish the burger. The Stadt Rapperswil was much more comfortable than the other boat we were on, back in July. I really liked the bench seating.

We were getting close to Küsnacht when it started to sprinkle. We responded by moving inside, sitting at the end of the dining area with a half liter of white wine. Looks like Halloween is catching on in Switzerland, as there’s a costume party planned for the boat…

We made dinner reservations for a restaurant in Küsnacht called Falken. To be honest, I kind of wasn’t in the mood to go there. The weather was bad, and I was kind of wanting to just spend a quiet evening in… But, as it turned out, Falken was a really excellent restaurant, well worth the trip in the rain. By the time we started walking there– maybe about a six minute walk from the hotel– the rain had mostly ended.

It’s good that we made reservations, because the restaurant was pretty full, a good sign of its quality. And Bill and I both really enjoyed the food. He had scallopine with a light port sauce and a side of roasted potatoes, and I had chicken with lemon and garlic and a side of herbed risotto. I loved the “amuse” they sent out, a rich, creamy red pepper soup that had kind of a “nacho” flavor. I’d love to learn how to make it for the rainy, cold weather that is coming soon. And the best part of the meal was dessert– Crema Catalana for me, and Cassata with maraschino for Bill. Falken was definitely my favorite of the restaurants we visited on this trip.

We finished up dinner at a reasonable time and walked back to the hotel. Then we got into bed and listened to a video made by Bill’s daughter. We responded to her while in bed– at about 9:30 PM– and then enjoyed our final slumber at Hotel Sonne.

The next post will be the last one of this series, and it will include the story of the most “surreal” thing that happened on this trip!

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part three)

We woke to partly cloudy skies on Friday morning. I had been thinking maybe we could go somewhere outside of the city, but those hopes were dashed when Bill made an appointment to have his second interview with one of the analysts on his committee. Not that I was disappointed… It put him a step closer to completing the application process.

We went down to breakfast and chose a table by the wall. The day before, a guy had sat in the chair right behind mine in the dining room. He kind of slammed into me while I was finishing up. I was determined not to let that happen again, so I sat on a bench against the wall, facing away from the mirror that offered unwelcome reflections of people eating. Seriously… why put mirrors in a dining room? Who wants to see themselves chowing down? 😃 Not me.

We saw the slender, dark haired lady we had talked to the day before. She came in as we were finishing and waved hello to us. We also saw a family with a toddler aged boy and the most beautiful male German Shorthaired Pointer. The dog was very sweet, but his owner seemed a bit uptight. I noticed when the dog moved, he didn’t put weight on one of his forelegs. He held it up and hobbled on three legs. But he was otherwise very bright and beautiful, with a gorgeous shiny coat. He was also pretty well behaved.

After breakfast, Bill and I made our way to the train station. He had purchased two first class tickets for us to go a couple of stops, then get on the tram, which is not as fancy, but would take us straight to the analyst’s office near the Opera House in Seefeld. As we waited for the train, I looked up at someone’s balcony overlooking the tracks. They had big plants on the balcony, maybe to make it look more inviting as an outdoor space. I couldn’t help but think I’d hate to live by railroad tracks. I did that in South Carolina, and it got old pretty fast!

The train came and we made our way into the city. The analyst, a guy I’ll call J.J., shares his office space with another therapist. As we were walking into his building, a lady with a dog came out. We later found out that she’d had to bring the dog with her to her session. I immediately liked J.J. for accommodating his client’s dog!

I waited for Bill while he had his interview, sitting in a rather uncomfortable straight backed chair. I passed the time with games and reading my latest book, which is about Alexei Navalny. It’s a fascinating book, but a bit depressing. I have to take it in short stints. I look forward to finishing it.

When Bill was finished, he came out of J.J.’s office with a huge smile on his face. I knew the session had gone well. He told me that J.J. had said he would make a “fantastic” analyst! I don’t think that was flattering bullshit, either. I have always thought Bill would be good in such a role. He’s a natural healer, a kind, caring person, and a good listener. Maybe it’s time for a change in direction. I know that eventually, it will be time for him to do something new.

We decided to have lunch at a place called Brasserie Schiller, which is a bustling restaurant by the Opera House. The place was full of patrons, but we managed to score a table. Our waitress was a friendly older woman with a lot of personality. She struck me as a worldly type of person who would be a lot of fun to hang out with outside of work. She seemed like the type of person who swears a lot, enjoys a drink, and probably smokes, too.

We were in a celebratory mood, so we had a nice big lunch… I had entrecote (rib eye steak). Bill had venison. We skipped the starters, because we wanted dessert. That was a consistent theme during this trip! For dessert, I had chocolate mousse, and Bill had a lemon tart.

*They put my steak in a pan with sauce and kept it on this burner.*

Our lunch was very luxurious and leisurely, and we were among the last patrons to leave before the pause. Our waitress told us she had to set up for a special event that evening. I looked outside and saw that it looked like they were setting up a stage for some kind of festival. We paid her and got out of her hair. Having been a waitress myself, I understand the pain!

Instead of taking the tram and train back to the hotel, we decided to take one of the shuttle boats. It took quite a bit longer, but we had the benefit of lake views and watching people… I also watched a spider make its way down from the ceiling, spinning its silk just behind Bill’s head. He doesn’t like spiders, so I smirked when I told him there was a spider climbing down its silk. The lady sitting at the table next to us seemed horrified as she looked for it.

*A gymnast shows off her moves… I think they were Ukrainian.*

When we got back to the hotel, it was late afternoon. I laid down on the bed for a rest, and soon fell fast asleep. I think I was out for about two hours. We were so full from lunch that we skipped dinner and went to the bar, instead. A group of Americans were in there, being pretty loud… But that didn’t stop us from enjoying the bartender, cocktails, and the bar that looked like the bow of a boat. To be honest, I would have preferred beer, but besides an unremarkable Helles on draft, they only had Erding Weissbier in bottles, and I didn’t want that. Our ex landlady is from Erding, and I didn’t want to be reminded of her.

I also got some nice images of the sunset. Lake Zürich is like an ever changing canvas.

Saturday was our one day with no plans. I will write about that in the next post.

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part two)

Featured photo is of the C.G. Institute in Küsnacht.

On Thursday morning, we woke up to partly cloudy skies. I looked out the window and saw a group of youngsters emerging from the shuttle boat. I assumed they were headed to school, and for a moment, I thought about how interesting it must be to take a boat to school every day. Below are a few photos I took before bed on our first night, and the first photo I took on Thursday morning…

We got dressed and went down to the Gaststube for breakfast. The Sonne offers a generous buffet with prosecco and juices, but they’ll also cook eggs to order. They even offer Eggs Benedict for an 18 Franc upcharge. Maybe I should have tried them one morning, but I was too enthralled by the Swiss breads. They also brought out little smoothies most mornings. We didn’t get one on our last day, but I think it was because some of their help was a bit incompetent.

*These little biscuits were part of a welcome gift in the room.*

About halfway through breakfast, a tall, very slender, dark haired woman came into the breakfast area. She was obviously American, and I noticed she was very kind and polite to the wait staff. Every request was buttressed by a “please” and “thank you”. At some point, she struck up a conversation with us. She told us she came from Los Angeles and had booked the Sonne after having to move from her original hotel in Zürich. I think she said her previous hotel was undergoing renovations, as was the Sonne. She mentioned she usually works from home for her family business, which apparently takes her to conventions around the world. She also said it was her first time in Switzerland, and apparently, she was smitten with it. She even mentioned how clean the air was… I thought that was amazing, since she was in the city. Imagine her reaction to the Swiss countryside!

During our conversation, we learned that she’d be checking out the same day we were. She also complimented me on my blue eyes! I told her she should take one of the long cruises around the lake and get some photos.

Before long, we had to excuse ourselves, because Bill needed to get to Seefeld for his two interviews. As we were saying goodbye, I noticed a distinct look of discomfort on the woman’s face. She grimaced as if maybe she had stomach pain. I said, “Do you need the ladies room? There’s one right there.” I pointed to the WC in the dining room.

She said she was okay, but I did notice that she slipped in there as we were leaving. I hope she was okay. I got the sense that maybe she was a bit high strung and/or maybe had digestive issues, although she definitely enjoyed the breakfast buffet. She was very thin, but otherwise seemed healthy and rather joyful.

Bill and I said goodbye to the lady, and I decided to take a walk and take some photos… There was a peaceful park near the hotel, where I saw lots of ducks and a hungry swan. I sat there and watched the lake for awhile, enjoying the peace and quiet as I doomscrolled Facebook…

I spent a couple of minutes observing this Swiss swan…

While I was sitting in the park, I heard the joyful shrieks of small children, all wearing their bright orange safety sashes and matching blue baseball caps. The small group of youngsters were shepherded by two women. They all held hands until they got near the trees, where they were allowed to play. It looked like maybe they were collecting leaves to observe. The kids were so cute, and seemed so carefree and happy just to be alive, enjoying the beautiful fall morning by the lake. I wonder what it must be like to be a child in Switzerland. It seems idyllic to me, but maybe looks are deceiving.

After a bit more time in the autumn sunshine, I decided to head back to the hotel. Bill sent me a message letting me know that his first interview had gone well. I decided not to have lunch, because after an hour break, he’d have his second interview, and then be done for the day. I did some reading and writing, and chatted with our friend, Meg, who was offering suggestions on things to see. Before long, Bill sent me another message to tell me he’d finished his second interview and was on his way back to the hotel. He said his interviews had gone so well that one analyst invited him back on Friday, so he could get both of the required chats done with him.

By the time he got back, we were both starved. We decided to walk to Küsnacht’s centrum, such as it is. Getting there involved walking through an underpass and up a hill, then passing through another underpass that ran past the train station and the COOP (supermarket). I was getting really cranky as it got later. Just when I was about to go into a supermarket to buy a Snickers or something, we noticed a cafe called World of Bonnie. I had noticed it on the other side of the train tracks, too.

I looked up World of Bonnie, because it was kind of an unusual place. This business is part cafe, part gym, part wellness and beauty salon. You can go there, work out, get your nails done, sit in a sauna, and then have lunch! Only in Switzerland, right?

We walked into the cafe, and a handsome, smiling young man invited us to have a seat. The place was mostly empty, except for a couple of men who were rather loudly discussing investment opportunities in Bermuda. One of the men was particularly animated and sounded a bit like a shyster.

I noticed the menu was heavy on healthy options– smoothies, sandwiches, quiches, and the like. They also had beer, and that’s what Bill and I had. I ordered a delicious club sandwich that had to be eaten with a knife and fork. Bill had a wrap. Both were really good, and the waiter was friendly and didn’t rush us. Like most of the Swiss people we encountered, he thought we were “on holiday” and was intrigued when we said we live in Germany. After I ate, I felt a lot better, and my mood was much more agreeable. The waiter beamed at Bill when he gave him a ten franc tip. He said, “This never happens in Switzerland!” Bwahahahaha! They probably don’t get a lot of Americans there.

We decided to make dinner reservations at a restaurant called Steinburg, which was very close to our hotel. I didn’t think I’d be too hungry for dinner, after I ate that big club sandwich for a late lunch. I was right. Steinburg turned out to be a nice place for dinner… Bill had veal cheeks and I had more fish– salmon trout on that occasion. I didn’t have a starter, but did opt for a “Colonel” for dessert– lemon sherbet with vodka. Bill had pistachio ice cream with cherries. We also enjoyed another bottle of Swiss wine– this time a red blend from the same winery as the previous night’s bottle.

Steinburg was a pleasant place for dinner, with views of the lake. I noticed another smiling face there, as a man who had originally been seated by the window moved to a table near us. His lady friend showed up a bit later, and seemed very happy together. That was a theme of our trip to Switzerland this time. I noticed a lot of people who seemed relaxed and contented. I took it as a good sign.

Perhaps against our better instincts, we stopped by the hotel bar for a quick nightcap. I was amused by the provocative artwork in there, along with the 90s era pop music. The bar looked like the bow of a boat!

After our nightcap, we went to bed. Although I had been looking forward to having a full day with Bill, I was glad he’d have the chance to have his second interview with one of the analysts. I decided to go with him and wait in the waiting room, rather than hang out alone in the hotel. More on that in the next post.

Baden-Württemberg, C.G. Jung, Education, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part one)

If you’ve been following my travel blog, you might know that my husband, Bill, has an interest in the Jungian approach to mental health. For the past few years, he’s been undergoing psychoanalysis with a Jungian therapist, reading a lot of books about Jung’s theories, and auditing courses at the C.G. Jung Institute in Küsnacht, Switzerland. For about a week over this past summer, we even spent a week in Zürich, so he could attend the summer intensive course at the Institute.

Although I earned a master’s degree in social work, and had been in therapy for a years before I met Bill, I have never been particularly interested in Jungian psychology, but it’s something that fascinates Bill. This year, he decided he wanted to apply for admission at the Institute and potentially become a qualified analyst himself. This is something he feels driven to do, and I’ve noticed that he’s a lot happier and surer of himself since he started therapy. So, aside from the fact that it’s his life, and his money, I am all for Bill becoming a Jungian analyst, if that’s what will make him happy. The bonus is, I get to tag along with him to Switzerland.

For this visit, we found ourselves at the Sonne Hotel in Küsnacht, a lovely establishment on the banks of Lake Zürich. The people Bill knows from the Institute have always suggested a stay there, because it’s within walking distance of the Institute, and Carl Jung himself used to like to drink beer there. We were unable to book a room at the Sonne Hotel over the summer; it was completely booked during our dates. However, for this visit, I was able to book a junior suite, which was a real treat, as the room was huge, and had amazing views of the lake.

The funny thing is, over the summer, Bill was traveling to Küsnacht to attend classes, and we were staying in part of Zürich known as Seefeld. This time, Bill had appointments with two Jungian analysts– both of whom have offices in Seefeld– but we stayed in Küsnacht! It didn’t matter that much, though, as the two areas are easily connected by train and tram, boat, or car.

Bill had already traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland to speak to one of the three analysts who each needed to interview him twice before he can enter the Institute. He did a second online interview with the analyst in Lausanne, and then scheduled one interview with each of the other two analysts in Seefeld. As we were preparing to go to Switzerland for the fourth time this year, Bill was planning yet another visit for later this year, as one of the two Seefeld based analysts prefers in person interviews. Still, in spite of the six total interviews he needed, Bill was very excited about getting started with the process of starting this program, which attracts people from around the world.

On Wednesday, October 1st, we loaded up the Volvo and headed down to Switzerland, with a stop at the Birkenhof to drop off Noyzi and Charlie. Noyzi especially loves going there. We had to wrap his left hind leg, because he has a touch of dermatitis.

Noyzi loves his “second home”! He barked all the way there!

Once the dogs were dropped off, we headed south. The GPS sent us down A81, which passes through our former stomping grounds of the Stuttgart suburbs. On the way there, we stopped for gas and a pee, and I was astonished to see parts of a windmill loaded on trucks. It’s hard to fathom how huge those things are when you’re driving or flying, but up close, they really are enormous!

We ended up stopping for lunch in Herrenberg, a little town not far from either of the villages we lived in when we made the Stuttgart area our home. Bill parked at the Bronn Tor parking garage, and when we exited, we found ourselves immediately confronted by Ristorante Rado, an Italian place we somehow missed on our many previous stops in Herrenberg. I’m not sure when this restaurant opened, but we left the Stuttgart area about seven years ago, so it was our first time visiting. I’m pleased to report that the food and service were excellent. It sure beat the hell out of eating at McDonald’s or Burger King, or having a cheap schnitzel at a rest area!

After lunch, we got back on the road, and passed a few familiar sights, including the huge elevator testing tower in Rotweil…

You never know when the border patrol is going to stop you for a check. This time, the Swiss did stop us, wanting to know if we were bringing meat, alcohol, or cigarettes into the country. We said no… or, actually Bill said something along the lines of “ohne” (without), when he probably meant “kein” (no). In spite of the flub, the Swiss guard got the message and waved us on to Zürich.

We arrived in the city in the late afternoon, and after several nervewracking moments navigating through rush hour, we finally pulled in at the Sonne, where there was a prime parking spot waiting for us. I snapped a few photos along the way. Sometimes they turn out okay.

*I spotted a man buying a glass of wine at this imbiss, which he no doubt meant to enjoy lakeside.*

A tiny young lady welcomed us to the hotel and checked us in, assigning us to room 310, which is a junior suite located in the hotel’s tower overlooking the lake. The door to the room is halfway down a flight of old stairs between the second and third floors. It would not be suitable for people who can’t manage stairs, but for us, it was a very nice place to spend four nights. When I compare it to where we stayed in Budapest last month, it was quite an upgrade! Of course, it also cost about twice as much per night! At this writing, prices start at 435 CHF per night. But that’s still cheaper than a lot of hotels in downtown Zürich!

The bathroom in the suite was a bit strange. Its walls didn’t go all the way to the high ceiling. It also had a bath/shower combo, which meant climbing over the tub to shower. But there were good toiletries, and the toilet was separated by a door. The room also had generous closet space, a small fridge, a TV, and a desk I could actually use. I also liked the mattress, which, for once, wasn’t way too firm!

The best part of the room was its windows, which were on three sides and offered stunning views. Of course, since they overlooked the boat stop for Küsnacht, they were also a source of noise. But that was a minimal complaint, especially given how noisy Seefeld was when we stayed in July, and Budapest last month. Compared to those two places, Küsnacht was blissfully peaceful.

We decided to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. We were lucky to be able to do that, as right now, one restaurant is closed for renovations, and the other closed yesterday for two weeks, as the ventilation system is overhauled. Bill and I both enjoyed fish dishes in the hotel’s charming Gaststube. We also had Swiss wine… a local blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Sylvaner.