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After an eternity of counting down, I had just one more sleep until the big trip to the other side of the globe. One final check:
Checklist complete, I’m ready to fly!
Here I am, ready for the big trip to Switzerland.
I know it’s been a while, my dear friends and followers. Here I am—I’m back on the teddy blog with some very exciting news: In four week’s time my Dad and I are on our way to Switzerland!
All set for Switzerland.
Ah, Switzerland, the chocolate capital of the world: milk chocolate, hazelnut chocolate, daaark chocolate, pralines, chocolate cake, chocolate biscuits … hold on, I need some now, I’ll be right back …
Today's flavour: Frey's NOIR Special 72% Cacao—thank you Grandma & Granddad for sending it over!
Mmmhh, (munch, munch) that feels better. Anyway, as I was saying, we’re going to Switzerland to see Grandma & Granddad, who are currently in the process of selling their house. They are going to move into a brand spanking new maisonette (how exciting is that!) and I’m going to be there when it happens. That’s right, I want to be the first teddy in Grandma & Granddad’s new maisonette!
My suitcase really isn't as big as it looks!
That’s why I’m all packed and ready to go. Dad tells me I packed too soon, and too much. I don’t think so! I’ve been really, really careful not to pack too many things, and besides, suitcases come in certain sizes and may as well be filled!
Even so, I can’t fit everything in. My tricycle for example, it just wouldn’t fit in my suitcase. So I wrapped it up in plastic bags to take as hand luggage, but Dad won’t let me. He says it’s too big and it would cost extra and that I wouldn’t need a bike while we’re away anyway. But how am I going to keep fit and trim? After all, I’m going to be holidaying in a chocolate mecca—let’s have another piece …
Sooo nice!
Have you ever thought of going to an airport for the purpose of sightseeing rather than travelling? That’s exactly what my friend George and I did.
Going by the number of passengers, Zürich Airport is Switzerland’s largest airport. This year, in a poll conducted by British consulting firm Skytrax, 8 million passengers rated Zürich Airport the best in Europe. Worldwide, Zürich Airport ranked fourth, behind Singapore Changi (third), Hong Kong International (second) and Incheon International near Seoul (first).
Our guided tour started near the main airport building. We hopped on a comfy bus, or a coach rather, that drove us past enormous hangars, through airport service and maintenance quarters, along taxiways and runways, and even through a 73-hectare nature conservation area—all of it within the airport premises!
The whole time an experienced guide gave us a running commentary with lots of figures and facts on what we were looking at.
One of the tour’s highlights was when we could leave the coach next to two runways and watch one takeoff after another. Being so close to aircraft that take off at full thrust was exhilarating!
At the end of the tour we were given the option to visit the observation deck on top of Dock E, which is also known as Midfield terminal. Of course, we jumped at the chance!
Here are some photos George and I took on the day:
Lufthansa Boeing 737-530.
In Switzerland it’s easy to climb mountains. All you do is hop on a cable car and up you go! The other day my Grandparents, Dad and I did just that. We travelled to St-Imier in the French part of Switzerland and took to the sun.
Bottom station of the Funiculaire St-Imier–Mont Soleil.
The cable car from St-Imier to Mont Soleil started operating in 1903. In 2002 the line was completely overhauled and a brand-new car was put into operation in 2003.
The car with three compartments with a total capacity of 60 passengers.
We started out at 828 metres… Read the rest of this entry »
Today was my first visit to Maiengrün on top of a hill range in the lowlands of Switzerland, not far from our holiday home. Upon our arrival I was surprised to see another lookout tower, just like the Esterlitower and yet quite different. Rather than concrete this one is made of steel.
Maiengrün lookout tower, 35 metres high.
The tower is privately owned and it costs a franc to get through the gate (I was lucky, because of my size I got in for free).
162 steps to the top.
Here I am, with Aunty Ruth and Dad on top of the tower.
A couple of days ago, my grandparents, Dad, Felix & I went for a walk near Lenzburg, a small town in the lowlands of Switzerland. After a steady, 30-minute climb we arrived on top of an area called Berg. There, in the middle of the forest, was a strange structure that looked a bit like a spaceship on a huge pillar. Had the Martians finally landed?
What on Earth is that?
When we got closer, I noticed a big entrance at the bottom of the pillar, but no Martian in sight.
It's huge! There's a big entrance at the bottom of it—should we go in?
Grandma went ahead and was quickly swallowed up by the darkness beyond the entrance. Then Dad, Felix & I went in, followed by Granddad. Honestly, I was a bit scared. The first thing I saw beyond the entrance was an array of thick, solid steel rods in the middle of the pillar.
Steel rods in the centre of the pillar.
It’s been another beautiful and warm summer’s day in Switzerland. My friends and I played in the park of our Swiss holiday home all day.
I dragged Dad’s camera along and took some photos to show you what our holiday home looks like. Here they are:
Our Swiss holiday home
There are some big trees, like this magnificent fir
Satellite dish and barbecue
Sunroom
Small orchard and pergola
Pergola and tulip tree
Tulip tree leaf
Tulip tree leaf
What do you reckon? Isn’t it a fabulous place for a holiday?
