Early on 11 October 2019, we left Barcelona for a weekend trip to Switzerland to visit old friends and see new places. The trip started with an adventure at the airport unlike any I’ve had since I last traveled to Israel in the 1980s. We arrived at our gate approximately 45 minutes before departure to discover the crew was already boarding! We quickly queued up and made our way downstairs to a bus, jammed with other travelers who, like us, had tried to keep their luggage to only the hand baggage allowed in cabin versus checking a suitcase for a costly sum. So, we were all smushed in a hot bus with backpacks, rolling bags, purses, pouches, duffles and various other personal items, idling curbside until the last passenger finally squeezed on board. Then, we were delivered to our plane, which was waiting for us in-between the two airport terminals in an unidentified location but among a row of other similar planes with two portable staircases available for boarding (front or rear). I felt very much like I was being secreted away, although I got the impression from my fellow travelers that this was not such an unusual occurrence. Eventually, we boarded and departed for Zurich. At some point afterwards, I believe Allita finally woke up. It was an early departure after all.
We traveled from the Zurich airport to Rorschacherberg by car. It’s a lovely drive, but I enjoyed the return trip we made by train on Sunday much more. We were able to see, from our higher seats, a great deal more of the countryside and, of course, worry less about the traffic proceedings and general navigation. That’s one of the great advantages of public transportation – you just ride. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, it’s very liberating to be a passenger. Until we moved to Spain, I had forgotten what it was like as a child to put all my trust into the driver and simply stare out the window at the world passing by.
Rorschacherberg is a little farming community in the canton of St. Gallen on the edge of Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Switzerland. Family friends from our time in Germany in the 1980s live in a modest house that overlooks the village and the lake. It is with this lovely family that we have spent our entire weekend. We had so much fun!
On Saturday, we traveled by boat across the lake to the small island town of Lindau. It was a lovely, cool morning, perfect for a nautical journey, and it evolved into a fantastic, warm fall day with sunshine and a gentle breeze. We spent the entire day walking around the little island community, exploring the markets and various shops and stalls, eating and drinking all the yummy German (Bavarian!!) delicacies, laughing at the street entertainers, enjoying an unexpected food truck fest, and even helping some locals remove a boat from the harbor! What an adventure!!
We were sad to leave on Sunday, but we had enjoyed exactly what we set out to accomplish: a fantastic and fun weekend visiting old friends and new places. It was perfect! Just what we needed!
P.S. The return flight from Switzerland was much less dramatic and cloak-and-dagger. We boarded our plane using a jet bridge directly from the airport gate. Maybe the bus is just a Barcelona thing?
Fantastic trip! I’m so glad you went !☺️