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Solar power on Mont Soleil

August 13, 2009 in travel by George | 4 comments

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 <i>Funiculaire St Imier–Mont Soleil</i>.

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 start out at 828 metres…

We started out at 828 metres… Read the rest of this entry »

Severin joins the family

August 7, 2009 in personal by George | 2 comments

Yesterday we visited Lucerne, a picturesque and lively city in the heart of Switzerland. It was very, very busy with people everywhere. Dad and my grandparents spent a solid five hours shopping! I mean, how much shopping does a human being need?!

Anyway, while I tried not to yawn myself to sleep, I kept looking out for fellow teddies. As incredible as it sounds but there were hardly any bears in Lucerne! Well, I guess, I can’t blame them, can I? Tourists and visitors everywhere, too much noise, very few trees, lots of asphalt and cobblestones… Seriously, what sort of a teddy would want to live there?

But then, in a quiet, narrow backstreet we came across a house called Spielkiste which means something like “play box”. We looked through the window, and there, look! A grey teddy with a big smile on his face frantically waved at us!

We went in to say hello. He was so adorable and cute, as was his name: Severin. He told us he was tired of living in the city and he wanted to travel, see the world and make new friends. He was soo sweet that we adopted him straight away

Teddy Severin today, at our holiday home.

A very happy Teddy Severin.

Welcome to the family! Pumpkin with Severin, Chalky & George

Welcome to the family, Severin! Pumpkin, Severin, Chalky & me.

Views and ice cream at Maiengrün

August 5, 2009 in food, travel by George | No comments

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Espresso & dark chocolate—a match made in heaven

August 3, 2009 in food by Bertram | No comments

This is my debut on teddy.net.nz. My name’s Bertram and I come from Sylvia Park in Auckland.

In a few weeks’ time I’m going to move to Nelson, to a new home and family. In the meantime I’m on holiday in Switzerland, a beautiful country in central Europe.

Switzerland is a truly amazing place, and the food is absolutely delicious! Take cheeses, for example: I’ve never tasted so many different ones—and they are delectable

And today I tasted some of Switzerland’s best chocolate, Lindt Excellence Noir Prodigieux 90% Cacao.

Bertram with a bar of Lindt Excellence Noir Prodigieux 90% Cacao

Noir Prodigieux translates to extraordinary black. Add an espresso and you get a heavenly duet. My taste buds tingle just thinking about it…

Wow, 90% cocoa, powerful stuff I tell you, just divine!

Mmmh… 90% cocoa… powerful stuff I tell you, just divine!

I found Felix, my long lost brother

August 1, 2009 in personal by Pumpkin | No comments

It’s high time I introduced myself: I’m Pumpkin, and this is my first post on this blog. You may have read about me in some of George’s stories.

Yes, I know, I became a teeny, tiny bit infamous as stowaway bear. But it was too good an opportunity to be missed! If George hadn’t been cheeky enough to pack me up in his bag, and if I hadn’t dared, I wouldn’t be in beautiful Switzerland right now, hehe Sometimes you have to risk everything to get somewhere, don’t you think?

Anyway, I can tell you that it was meant to happen. Not long after my arrival in Switzerland, Dad & I went to the local post office to post a birthday card to my Granddad-in-law. And who should I bump into? My long lost brother Felix! We couldn’t believe our eyes and snout!

Brothers Pumpkin & Felix reunited under a palm tree at the holiday home in Switzerland.

We were still cubs, Felix and I, when we were separated to go to different homes. They were tough times back then. It took a long time to adjust to the fact that we could no longer be together, play together and enjoy each other’s company *sniff*

But the universe had a plan, looked out for us and brought us back together.

Every morning when I wake up, I quickly check whether Felix is there, just to make sure it wasn’t a dream, but a wonderful dream come true

Pumpkin & Felix—very lucky to be together again.

Spiral staircase to the top of the world

July 31, 2009 in travel by George | 2 comments

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 door at the bottom—should we go in?

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.