Ende des Sommers in der Schweiz

Author:  Pete
Location:  Zug, Switzerland

Just because we’re back in Europe doesn’t mean summer is over!  We’re treating this as an Altwiebersommer, which I think translates to and Indian Summer in so many conglomerated words.  Switzerland can get a little gray in the winter, so the Swiss has honed the art of enjoying summer.  There’s a festival within walking distance every weekend throughout the summer.  Zug is all bedecked for Swiss National Day and the Zug Festival.  We generally amble through and get a wurst and a beer, and to listen to some music.  There’s often silly things going on like the bike-log ride (which I didn’t partake in) and the blob (which I did).

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The badis, which are beaches or baths, are bustling with people meeting to cool off during the hot days.  The Zugersee is inviting and most afternoons we walk down to our closest strandbad.  We’ve been dipping Leonie in the lake regularly; she doesn’t seem to protest.  I think we’ve got ourselves a water baby.

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The last Friday of summer we floated the Reuss river with a bunch of friends.  You can take a train to Gisikon Root, walk down the steps and jump into the river with noodles, tubes, and coolers of beer, and float to the next town, Sins, which is six miles away.  The float is a summer favorite with stunning scenery; the river is swift and clear, six feet deep with smooth pebble bottom.  At the pullout there’s an great Zollhaus pub and you can take the train back, dripping wet if you need.  It’s an ideal way to freeze out the heat of the day.  It also makes a great ending to summer!

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The First Months’ Blur

Author: Pete
Location:  Zug, Switzerland

It’s been a busy one.  At the same time that Miranda and I were trying to find our own traction in space, the newborn’s gravity pulled a tide of friends and family our way from the other side of the earth.  The subsequent month or two went by as a emotionally charged, sleep-deprived blur as we hosted favorite folks from all over, wrapped up the school year, and honed our baby systems in a trial by fire.  I can barely get out of the house with the same color socks on these days let alone enunciate my thoughts, so this one is going to be all pictures!

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And that’s the seven minutes of down time and single-task concentration I have allocated for this month!  Stay tuned for the next installment!

Calm Before the Swiss Baby Storm

Author:  Pete
Location:  Zug, Switzerland

Spring has rolled in over the Zugerberg.  Crumbling under our family’s prodding for baby-bump pictures, we took a photo shoot day in the hills.

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Miranda has been working hard to get the nursery finished.  We’ve been painting cribs, assembling furniture, and decorating the walls.  On my excursions biking and hiking, Miranda has me looking for pinecones, twigs, bits of string, feathers…  My transformation into a nesting critter is almost complete.

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Our school just broke for spring vacation.  Miranda and I aren’t traveling because she could go into labor at any point now.  Even though the weather improves I still feel like I’m standing on deck watching stormy skies roll towards us across the water.  The barometer indicates squalls and sleepless nights ahead.  So for now we’re battening down the hatches and enjoying the calm before the storm.

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