where others come for vacation ...
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Only about 30 minutes beyond the hustle and bustle of the Gotthard motorway lies a quiet, rugged natural paradise, where cowbells and not car horns set the tone. Our friends Walti and Bettina have invited us for a Day Hike in Canton Uri. We begin the hike @ Bristen.. taking the tiny valley trail along the wild, rushing Kärstelenbach, past mountain meadows, through forest sections to the Hotel Maderanertal.. From there, another trail through gnarled mountain forests and wild flowers to a tiny Lake - a hidden gem - perfect place to cool off the hot feet before making our way back down to the Hotel.
We sit down for lunch at the the nostalgic Hotel Maderanertal (built in 1864 and located at 1349 m above sea level). I breathe in the intact and unspoilt Nature. Maderanertal is a quiet, yet wild mountain valley with rich flora and a romantic mountain scenery. The rock pyramids of Bristen, Oberalpstock, Hüfigletscher and Gross Düssi tower up against the blue sky canvas..
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It has always been our dream -- to live in a small house amidst Nature, a little garden to grow veggies, open meadows for Nellie and Skylar to run around in...
And it comes true! This 400 year old house (built in 1615) finds us.. and finally today we get the keys from the previous owner. We write the last messages in her guest book from "Haus Unterrüti", Lukas and Esther hoist the Swiss Flag and.. She hands us the keys and walks down the path...
We both sit in Silence.. breathing in the fresh air, letting the moment sink in.. 402 years.. This House must've seen a lot... and has probably lot of stories to tell.. lots of secrets.. will we be able to discover them? We feel a lot of respect.. for the House, the People who built it -- with their own hands - without the help of modern day machines, the Old trees surrounding the House..
OMG -- We Really DO own this Historic HOUSE!! Now all we have to do is -- make it our HOME!
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It's that time of the year again -- SU Beckenried has their yearly walk in May. This year it's on May 22nd. The destination is usually kept a surprise. We're only asked to bring something that might be necessary -- this year it is headlamps.
We carpool to Erstfeld (Canton Uri), where we park our cars and begin the walk along the river Reuss. Soon we arrive at the tiny 3 person aerial cableway "Ripshusen-Zieriberg".. Ooh.. I'm excited.. That's cool.. we're going up the cablecar to 900 m.a.s.l.!! But Na. Na... Na... Na... Nada.... With 30+ women, it'd take us all night to just get up there.
We continue on our walk slightly uphill, to the left of the path a steep rocky slope, on the right below the rushing Reuss. Since the trail isn't very wide..we walk in twos. I'm meeting "Regula" (walking beside me) for the first time. She starts to talk about her upcoming trip to the US. They're going to rent a RV and drive through the US, covering a couple of National Parks and some cities. I ask her not to miss the drive along the Pacific coast and Yellowstone NP, Crater lake et.. al.. We talk a bit about US, San Diego, Grand Canyon .. Suddenly we come to a tunnel and everywhere on the rocky outcrops and in the niches, porcelain and clay angels in all sizes are standing, kneeling and laying... AngelTrail!!
Read more: Along the Reuss, through an Angel Tunnel to a Medieval castle -- May 22
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Tina wants to gift her friend Susanne the gift of making cooking memories. Susanne likes Indian food, so Tina and her friends have come over to celebrate Susanne's Birthday with me learning to roll the perfect Rotis and spicing up the Dal.
5 Swiss girls, 1 Belan (Rolling Pin), 1 Tawa (Griddle), Pots and Pans, Lots of Spices, Some fresh veggies... throw in some Laughter and Sniggles, 4-5 hours of chopping, rolling, cooking, tasting... ..
What you have is One extremely Happy from the Inside Birthday Girl and five others who're proud to have cooked their first finger-licking delicious Indian Meal....
Such a Joy to share a part of my Tradition with my Swiss Friends! Thank you Tina, for the Opportunity!!
