Hiking In The Spring

Mountain Trail near Giessbach falls

Last weekend we spent some time in the Alps in the region of Switzerland near Interlochen. While interlochen itself feels too commerical and touristy the surrounding areas provide great places to hike and enjoy nature.

We took a hike with friends near the Giessbach falls and the scenary at this time of the year when the leaves are just coming out in the Alps is amazing. As we were climbing one of many hills, I noticed that the light coming through the trees was illuminating the fresh new leaves in a unusual way.

The light during our hike was amazing. There are plenty of great photographs that I have yet to explore from my trip.

Swine Flu Comes to Town

I am a little confused at the level of threat we should really expect from this current Swine Flu Snoutbreak (I can't take credit for that, I saw it on the Daily Show). But in any case, I am happy to report that my town, Baden, has the first reported case of Swine flue in Switzerland! (Here is the story in German)

Fortunately, my sister-in-law works at the CDC, so I can talk to her and get the real story on this thing. I'll have to see if I can get some news from her this weekend.

Spring Time Weather

Strange Spring Weather in Baden

The spring in Switzerland brings strange weather, rainstorms, fog above melting snow fields, and once in a great while a rainbow. Tonight was one of those really awesome evenings to be at home with a camera, a tripod, and some free time on my hands.

We were cooking our dinner, some relatively tastless premade lasagne from Manor, when a glance outside the kitchen window revealed some amazing things happening out over the roof tops of Baden. We both grabbed our cameras and ran for the balcony. Well, I should say, I grabbed my camera, tripod, remote, and a host of other accessories before I 'ran' to capture the perfect photograph. I think the extra rummaging through the camera bag was well worth it.

After a pre-dinner photo pause, we found ourselves back out on the balcony just after dinner as the clouds and light had changed and brought a totaly different look to the skies over Baden. A moment of calm after the storm.

Catching Up On Photos

Notre Dame, Paris France

So now that I have my computer back I am catching up on some old photos that I have archieved since my computer dilemma began. As a temporary measure I was storing a bunch of images on my work laptop. Now I have had a chance to move things back over to my personal computer.

Here is a fantastic photograph of Notre Dame Cathedral that I took in early April. I had business trip to Paris at the time. We had decided to stay for the weekend to enjoy the weather and try to get some good photographs.

This image is another example of an HDR image. It is a composition of 3 images put together into one.

First Post From the New PC

Just checking how it is running. I have gotten quite a bit of software already installed. Adobe Lightroom, Firefox, Photomatix, QNAP Finder, iTunes.

I restored my photo catalog and it worked really well. I guess my QNAP network storage device did its job.

Next up I need to move some hardware over. Extra DVD drive (For Region 1 Coded DVDs), PAL TV tuner card, and I might try to move over my old Hard drive as well just to see I can use it to store additional video files from the TV tuner.

Time for a power down so I can open her up, and do some surgery.

Getting Back to the Connected World

So my period of internet abstinence will be coming to and end shortly.  My brand spanking new computer is supposed to arrive tomorrow, including English operating system.  Lets wait and see.

The computer is actually going to come 3 days later than originally planned due to the pure face that UPS is more American than Swiss.  

When I was order the computer, there was a disclaimer that said they would only deliver to an address if the person who ordered or a family member would be present to claim the package.  Makes sense to me.  Since my wife works parttime (50%) I figured I would order and take my chances.  Of course, like clockwork the first delivery attempt was when she was not home.

I looked at the slip and figured they came at 2:30 in the afternoon so if I went home at lunch and worked from home for the afternoon the next day I should get the package.  Of course arriving around 12:00, there on my door was a slip, then had tried to deliver the package at 10:30.  Doh!

Why aren't they more Swiss!?  If they came at 2:30 yesterday they should have come at 2:29, or 2:31, but no earlier or later, what do they think they were doing!?!  Alas, UPS is an American company, and even here they act American.

So, I went on to the internet and rescheduled the next delivery attempt for Friday, my wife's day off.  I should have my new toy by the time I get home tomorrow.

Stay At Home Vacation

Today marks the fourth and final day of my 'Stay-cation'.   I will be sad to see it end.  Unlike other 4 day Easter weekends in Europe this time we decided to stay at home for the duration of the holiday.  It was the first time I have stayed at home for such a long period with nothing to do since college.  

There are a lot of people in Europe that will take a week to vacation at home.  I never really understood why they would want to do that.  I would try to imagine what you would do, cleaning, making diner, sitting around.  It sounded kind of strange.  Until I tried it.

After 4 days at home with no agenda, I can admit that I do like the idea of the stay at  home vacation.  Everyday I slept as long as I wanted.  Got up and wasn't worried that the kitchen was had stopped serving breakfast.  I knew the bed would be comfortable too.  

The weather was beautiful and unseasonably warm for this time of year.  We had 4 days of sun and temperatures near 70 F.  I was outside on our balcony most of the weekend reading, eating a meal, gardening, or just taking a nap.

In addition to the laying around I did manage to get a few useful things done around the house too.  I washed the windows, which takes quite an effort, cleaned out the garden, and did some other general cleaning around the house.  So while it wasn't all fun and games, I did get a good deal of stuff done and I feel wonderfully relaxed. 

Easter Traditions In Switzerland

Flower Festival in Locarno

Switzerland is filled with traditions and this week I got my introduction to yet another. This time it was the Swiss tradition of Easter egg breaking. A game that is played by children during the Easter season. It is a fun way to take your colored hard boiled Easter eggs just a little bit farther.

The tradition stems around a game of breaking the eggs. There are a few variations but the ground rules seem to be similar. One person holds a hard boiled egg in there hand, plam up, exposing the end of the egg. A second player grabs his egg and crashes the pointy end of his hard boiled egg down onto the opponents egg. Whoevers egg breaks loses.

Usually the game is done in a larger group and the game continues until there is only one unbroken egg left in the room. The person with the solid egg wins.

Talking to the Swiss there are a few known advantages and common rules

• The schlagger (person who hits) usually loses.
• Fresh eggs are better because they have smaller air pockets.
• Have a bottle of Aromat around to enjoy your egg when you lose.
• brackets or other formal organization of the breaingk rounds are welcome.

When the game is over, everyone enjoys there egg. Common condiments are Aromat spice mix and mayonaise. I myself prefer a little horseradish.

Happy Easter and now you'll have something new to try with your leftover Easter Eggs.

Swiss Electronics Recycling

As part of the 4 day Easter holiday here in Switzerland I have been doing some cleaning up around the house.  Yesterday I spent a good bit of time in our basement storage area rummaging through things looking for items that can be trashed.  

I found an old suitcase which I packed with garbage and will toss this weekend.  I also found an old laptop computer I had bought back in about 2001 which needed to be recycled.  

Given the complexity of the Swiss recycling system I was a bit fearful of how in the world I would be able to recycle a computer here but after a quick search online and reading through a few websites I found a note on the Baden town website that said all electronics will be accepted back at the place of purchase.  

It is a similar policy to the U.S. regarding things like car oil, and car batteries.  If you buy new from the garage they accept the old and recycle it.  The difference in my case is I did not buy the computer form a local store.  Before walking over to the local Migros store, which sells electronics, I took the time to remove and destroy the  hard drive to make sure no personal data was available to anyone.  Then a short walk to the store and the service desk where I inquired about recycling the laptop. 

The customer service person politely told me to walk down to the electronics desk where I could leave the computer.  I had half expected to be charged a small fee, 5 or 10 Francs for the recycling service.  I would have gladly paid, but instead the gentleman took the computer and without asking me for any money bid me farewell.  

The ease of the entire process was great.  I didn't have to get in my car and drive a million miles, or find a special location for recycling, just back to the store and drop it off.   I have to give the Swiss credit on this one.  They have it figured out. 

The American Lunch

The 'American' Lunch

A couple of weeks back the resturant at the office did one of its cultural awareness events. These typically include a decorated resturant with themes from a particular cultural group with a matching menu. The last two weeks were 'American' weeks.

The walls of the resturant were covered in rifles, chaps, bufallo heads, and spurs. All the things that represent the true entirity of Americana. It never ceases to amaze me how it seems that Europeans generally think that Americans are all cowboys. We all wear boots, big hats, have Harley-Davidsons, ride horses, and have native americans living in Tipis nextdoor.

Apparently there is the same level of diversity in our food selection. Although I generally do not eat in the company resturant I somehow felt it my duty to represent the nation and sample the menu. I found myself standing in front of the American buffet with choices like boiled salted potatoes, overly cooked zucinni, strange looking fried fish nuggets and fried onion rings. While I can give them credit for the onion rings, I do have to question the other items.

I do not disagree that such items are not eaten by Americans, its just that I don't think they truly capture the essensence that is Americana, and particularly American lunches. So as an exercise let me give my own top 10 list of what should have been.....

10. Sub sandwich / bag of potato chips / free drink refills
9. Sweet and Sour Chicken / Ramen Noodle Cups / and a fortune cookie
8. Southern Pulled Pork plate / Baked beans / sweet tea
7. White Castles Hamburgers / Onion Rings / Diet Soda
6. Anything Mexican, with the right cheese / pitcher of Margaritas
5. Fried Chicken / Mashpotatoes from real potatoes / Corn on the Cob
4. BBQ Beef Sandwich / Home style fries
3. American Pizza, both Chicago and New York style without a fork and knife
2. Philly Cheese Steak / seasoned curly fries
1. Hotdog bar with chile, cheese, and all the chicago style hotdog fixings / Old Style Beer

Mountain Putzers

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This was one of the better April fools jokes I have seen in quite some time. It was a joint effort between the local newspaper and the Swiss tourism department. On April 1st the front page of the Zurich newspaper included an article about the mountain cleaners. Towards the back of the paper there was even a job posting to hire new cleaners. The fake ad had a link to the above video on the Swiss Tourism site.

It was pretty clever. And I love the accent of the guy who is narrating the clip, he has a great Swiss 'English' accent that really captures the 'Swiss' melody in the way Swiss speak English.