Travel Plans

We hoped to end our European visit here in Bulle…but business dictates that we return to Biberach, Germany this afternoon so Doug can complete his training there. We’re advised of a driving route that involves crossing Lake Constance on a ferry (hopefully we can avoid Bob and JuJu’s experience…), which should shorten the trip to ~4 not 8 hours that we spent driving here. After Doug finishes work Friday, we’ll need to drive back to Switzerland and spend the night in a hotel at Zurich airport, where we’ll catch our flight home Saturday morning.

Dining in Bulle

For a village its size, ~15,000 residents, Bulle seems to have quite a few restaurants. Since we’re staying in a hotel here, we’ve enjoyed a variety of styles and menu options offered by the restaurants…from fondue to Continental to French cuisine.

Last night we walked into town and stopped by a very modern bar/restaurant – Création Déco B” Art - for a drink. It was decorated in black and white with deep red accents, lit by candles and contemporary lighting, and surrounded by mirrors and shiny surfaces that reflected the soft lighting. Colorful cushions were casually placed on the seating lining the walls. Sounds of our own American Blues completed the relaxing atmosphere. After comparing notes of the day’s activities, we walked further north and selected a more classic restaurant for dinner – La Cabriolle. Stone walls, a feng shui stone fountain with gold fish, soft lighting, and beautifully carved wood tables created a totally different feel and enhanced our dining experience. The food was nicely presented and delicious! It won’t be long until we return to dinners at home…but then, that doesn't seem so bad.

Doug’s Liebherr Training

While I’ve enjoyed a European “holiday” these past couple weeks…Doug has been working diligently at various Liebherr sites in Germany and Switzerland, training for his new Sales Management position in the Components Division. Although Liebherr is not well-known in the States, in Europe the company is highly recognized. (As we drove from city to city, we spotted hundreds of Liebherr construction cranes...) The Liebherr family business was established in 1949 by Hans Liebherr. Over the years the privately-held family business has grown into a group of companies employing a workforce of 32,600 in more than 100 companies on all continents, with sales of ~$12B/yr.

While here, Doug has visited all of the Components centers and learned the various Liebherr technologies that he’ll be selling in the US: Biberach (roller slewing connections, drive technology and gear boxes for wind energy), Kirchdorf (hydraulic cylinders), and Lindau (electronics) in Germany. And here in Switzerland, Bulle (diesel engines and hydraulics). As a side note, Bulle seems the most scenic center. As someone at the facility told Doug, “We work where people come to vacation.”

Doug has learned a lot, and I think he'll have his work cut out for him when we return home…

Sunday in Gruyères Switzerland

We were blessed with a beautiful sunshine-filled day yesterday for our visit to the much acclaimed village of Gruyères, near Bulle (where our hotel, le Rallye, is located). As we drove amidst the stunning Swiss Alps, we reached our destination and joined many other visitors in parking our car and completing the journey by foot up the mountainside. No cars are permitted in the village. When we reached Château de Gruyères, it was the most visually perfect place I could ever imagine…colorful Swiss buildings, a stone street leading to a castle, tourists enjoying outdoor cafés, and all framed by picturesque snow-capped mountains. After walking around for a bit, we selected Gruyère Traditions for lunch. There was a small table available in the back of the restaurant, on an outdoor deck overlooking the magnificent Alps (see attached photos). It was so warm in the sun that we could take off our coats. The restaurant was known for fondue – freshly baked bread dipped in a pot of melted Gruyère cheese – so we of course ordered this for lunch along with a glass of locally produced white wine. The only thing that could have made this most memorable experience any better…would have been to share it with our family and friends!

The Town of Ummendorf

Ummendorf, the town where we’ve stayed the past two weeks (Doug three), is representative of villages and bergs scattered throughout the German countryside. It is also reminiscent of the town where I grew up…Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. Steep streets lead down to the town center. (No wonder my German ancestors chose southeastern Pennsylvania as the place to settle and call home…) A large church and high steeple provide a visual guide to the center of town, and a brew pub, restaurants, banks, and bakeries line the main street. Speaking of bakeries…we’ve greatly enjoyed the fabulous hard rolls, soft pretzels, and a variety of baked good while staying here! (I see many workouts on the horizon when I return home…) While on a walk, I found a small Freichmarkt on a side street...a good place to buy groceries. The front section offers a limited assortment of fruits and vegetables, the center section is stocked with packaged goods and dairy products, and the back section has three connected cases of meats, cheeses, and baked goods. It’s fun to try and speak a bit of German as the clerks try to speak a bit of English. I’m quite intrigued by all the new and unfamiliar food products... After gathering my purchases, I pull the nylon shopping bag from my purse, fill it with the grocery items, pay the cashier in Euros, and depart for the long uphill walk back to the apartment.

Romantic Salzburg Austria

In celebration of Valentines Day, Doug treated me to a week-end in Salzburg, Austria, located at the northern boundary of the Alps. Saturday morning we caught an 8 a.m. train in Biberach, and arrived in Salzburg around noon. After a short walk through “old town”, we located our hotel – The Amadeus. Our room on the top/fourth floor was small but very charming. Windows faced a mountain backdrop behind buildings across the street. We took a walking tour of the historic district, and then crossed the bridge over the River Salzach to reach the walled “zentrum” (center) of the city. Towering statues were enclosed in glass triangular domes to protect them from winter weather, but we were able to see the statue of Mozart, born in Salzburg.

If the weather were warmer, we might have taken one of the “Sound of Music” tours. That evening we opted to have dinner in a nearby Japanese restaurant, and took a break from the traditional pork and bratwurst German dishes. The shrimp stir fry was delicious! Sunday morning we took a “funicular” (tram) to the mountaintop Hohensalzburg Fortress. Built ~1050, it’s a medieval Fortress that has survived and evolved for centuries. Views of the city from this vantage point were just spectacular! After exiting the tram, Doug bought me a beautiful amber ring in the gift shop for Valentines Day. This area is known for amber jewelry.

After check out, we returned to the train station and headed to Munich. Hundreds of people partied in the city center, and once again we saw many costumes (similar to our Halloween) in celebration of Karnival. Many food/beverage stands and performance stages were set up. Loudspeakers projected U.S. classic hits sung in English by German entertainers! It was a snowy day and we were freezing after a long walk, so a local Rathskellar provided us with welcomed warmth…as well as a tasty lunch of brats and beer. From Munich, we took a train to Ulm and eventually back to Biberach. Trains were so crowded with travelers and skiers during the week-end that we took refuge in train dining cars…an excellent place to relax and occasionally converse with other travelers. Truly a Valentine’s celebration to remember!

Village of Biberach

Yesterday I walked down the hill from the apartment to find the bus stop in Ummendorf and catch the 1:02 bus to Biberach, where Doug spends his workdays. When the bus didn’t arrive on schedule, I asked a couple of English-speaking women about the bus delay, and found out that the time was for Sonntag…which is Sunday! The M-F pick up was 1:52 pm. False start number 1, as Doug’s dad would say. When I returned to the stop at the correct time, I met a delightful couple…also going to Biberach. They invited me to join them and even paid my fare! For the next few hours I enjoyed shopping in the town square area, where there’s a magnificent church. A funny incident occurred when I tried to buy Tums from a clerk who didn’t speak English. After lots of hand gestures, she suggested pills that I figured out were for weight loss! Finally I showed her the word “indigestion” in my German phrase book. Ahh…she got it. Doug met me after work and we ate dinner at a cool restaurant – Ente. It was suggested to Doug, as Mr. Liebherr (head of the multi-billion$ company) eats there when he’s in town, and even keeps his line of Liebherr wines there! We were tempted to try one, but the price of a bottle was a bit more than we wanted to spend. Food was fabulous – I had white fish from the Bodenze and Doug had grilled lamb. For dessert we shared homemade coconut ice cream with pineapple sauce. Yum!!

Karnival in Munderkingen

While staying here in Ummendorf, we were introduced to the German tradition of Karnival by Franz, a business colleague of my husband. It’s a celebration held on various dates in various villages in advance of Ash Wednesday. We were invited to meet at his home for a “snack” which his wife prepared, consisting of various brats, hard rolls and soft pretzels, and champagne. Then it was off to Munderkingen for his favorite event – Karnival! Upon entering the village we began to notice bizarre masks, which he told us were hand-carved and symbolic of specific regions. We found a front row position on a bridge crossing the Danube, and he warned of various shenanigans that could occur…such as a hat that could wind up on the head of someone else. For the next 2-1/2 hours we saw incredible sights – costumes that were occasionally reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz, high spirits of groups shouting chants to the crowd such as “Narri” to which we would respond “Narro,” and German bands playing instruments that in many cases were unfamiliar to us. Some merrymakers carried inflated balls on a stick that they used to bonk front line watchers on the head. I was personally bonked a few times and another grabbed an end of my neck scarf and knotted it to my friend Maria’s scarf. Handfuls of confetti and sometimes grain were thrown our way, but wrapped candy was thrown to the children. My favorite groups were adorned with bells, from small to large cow bells, which were played by rhythmic stomping. Here it was, only my second day in Germany, and I had a thrilling, totally unique experience that I’ll never forget.

Sarah's Turmoil

To prepare our condo for the installation of hardwood flooring and a new decorating style, the entire main level was stripped of furniture, carpeting and wall art. Furnishings were replaced by drop cloths, paint cans and boxes of wood planks.

Our cat Sarah’s favorite sofa, where she napped throughout the day, was gone. The carpeting on which she lay was ripped up and discarded. Her comfy home was ravaged. What did Sarah think? That a move was imminent? That her owners invested with Bernie Madoff and were now destitute? That her food supply might become rationed?

As with Sarah, we don’t always understand why certain things happen in our lives. But with good faith and the passing of time, life eventually returns to normal and perhaps for the better.