Pilatus (extra pictures)

Pilatus

I like the top. We were with Grandma and Grandpa and I liked the view.

CAPTIONS BY T - He refuses to dictate a post.

On Grandma and Grandpa H's first full day we all went to Pilatus. You might remember that this was on our top ten wish list, and we were starting to get worried since we hadn't been. But we were lucky - Sunday was absolutely perfect weather.  We did the golden round trip: ferry ride from Luzern to Alpnachstad, cogwheel train up to the summit, then gondola part way down (to the mountain coaster slide), then a cable car a little farther (to the playground, where we planned to have lunch, but it was absolutely mobbed) and then the rest of the way down to Krienz. We had to wait quite a while for a bus back to Luzern, but E, S, and Grandma and Grandpa still had time to check out the bridges there before our train home.

I like ferries because I like riding things

Planes (part 2)

It turns out we didn't have to hurry on our walk around the airport. Grandma and Grandpa H's flight was half an hour late. So we passed the time hanging around the airport a bit, especially admiring the chocolate fountain at Sprungli  (T was invited to sample!) before making our way to the arrivals. Their plane landed and the board reported that the luggage had come in, but no Grandma and Grandpa. We waited so long that their flight was no longer listed on the board. Finally we got news that they were filling out paperwork and would come out soon. Their luggage was lost. (It was found a couple days later.) 

Planes (to be continued)

What to do on a beautiful day, when we only have half a day free before picking up Grandma and Grandpa H at the airport? We went to my favorite, Oerlikon Saturday market, for picnic supplies then hiked a few miles around the end of the airport runways. We had lunch at the viewing lot with planes coming in right over our heads. Everyone liked the biggest planes best, but the girls thought the private jet was "cute" and that Edelweiss had the prettiest planes.

News from S

Last Tuesday S came home with news that her class  was going on a week long trip to Parpan, much like R's crazy arbeitswoche. We must be getting used to the  Swiss way, because we weren't at all suspicious due to the short notice. We were happy to have a few days to get her things together. We did our best and bought her some good rain pants and packed all the wool socks we could find, but I am a little worried. Most of her cold weather clothes are deeply packed or already back in the US and the forecast is in the thirties with rain. Also, she forgot her gloves.

As of Monday  evening she was okay. She posted this message on the trip blog:

Am Montag sind wir auf eine lange Wanderweg gegangen. Wir haben bei einem Spielplatz Mittagessen gegessen. Nach dem Essen sind wir auf einen Weg, dort hat „Gefahr“ gestanden, gegangen. Als wir zum Haus gegangen waren, haben wir Abendessen gegessen und wir haben ein Film gesehen. S

They went on a hike then had lunch near a playground. After lunch they hiked more and encountered some sort of danger - we are having trouble translating that bit. It must not have been too bad, though, because they made it to the hotel for dinner and a movie. 

S has our camera. I hope she will post over the weekend, if her fingers aren't frostbitten!