A Family Tradition

When my sisters and I were young, our family would gather together at bedtime and say a prayer together.  It was a prayer my father learned as a child.  Angela and Jeff grew up saying the same  prayer at bedtime.  The next generation also says the family prayer, and have added  laying their hands on each person's head, starting with the youngest to the oldest, asking God to bless that person.  Tonight, at the children's bedtime, everyone gathered on my bed, and we prayed that prayer together.  As the last (and oldest) person to be blessed I was overcome with gratitude for this opportunity for all my family to be together, sharing this prayer that has now been passed down four generations.  Tonight is New Year's Eve and I can't imagine a happier way to leave the old year!

Father we thank Thee for the night, and for the pleasant morning light; for rest and food and loving care, and all that makes this world so fair. In all we do in work and play help us to grow more loving every day. Amen

 Y

Up to the Snow!

There must have been a message there - both Angela and Jeff gave me warm gloves and packages of hand warmers for Christmas. Jeff even gave me an oven mitt for my bandaged hand! They know only too well my propensity to cold hands. But where we're those hand warmers when I needed them most? back in Basel!! On Friday, we walked the few blocks to the train station, boarded a train for Lucern, caught a boat across Lake Lucern to the small village of Weggis, hiked a considerable way up the mountain to the aerial tramway, where we were carried seemingly straight up to the mountain community you see in the picture, called Rigi Kaltbad. We were greeted there with powder fresh snow and the kids had a wonderful time! But my hands were getting COLD. After repeatedly climbing a hill and sliding down it in every configuration, and after flopping in the snow to make snow angels, the kids were gathered up for a little walk. Meanwhile my hands were getting COLDER. We walked down a trail and encountered the most remarkable sight. A narrow passageway between two enormous boulders revealed a good sized church built in the 1800's. Inside, the altar and it's surroundings we're constructed with ornate wood carvings, and the most beautiful manger scene was featured on one side. The church was lit with candles, and Christmas music played. Certainly a moment to pause in reverence.

Back outside, I was reminded again that those wonderful hand warmers were back in my room in the O'Connor household! Now my hands are PAINFULLY COLD! I headed to the station where we were to take a train down the hill. Once we were down off the mountain, we caught the boat back to Lucern, and the train back to Basel. What a wonderful day filled with beautiful scenery and great memories. We are packing tonight (New Year's Eve) for a trip to Interlaken where we will stay two nights in a lodge. Guess what was the first thing packed? HANDWARMERS!
love, Liz

Park and Ride - European style

Many hundreds of bicycles are parked in this underground storage area, awaiting the return of the equally numerous commuters who have travelled to work by train. What a concept - riding a bike a mile or two, then taking mass transit to locations far and wide. the trains are beautiful in their their modern day streamed design and paint jobs; roomy, comfortable and quiet on the inside; and conveniently scheduled.

Cities formed in the Middle Ages with no concept of wide roads make driving and parking a real challenge. Only the most compact of cars can navigate through these towns, so our family, now numbering eight here in Switzerland, will use the trains, trams, and busses.

Today we took Jeff and his girls back to Colmar, France to see this quaint city and the Christmas markets that stay open until the last day of December. We had a wonderful day - cold, but not raining or snowing. It is such fun to see my four grandchildren laughing and playing together, sharing this traveling experience they will remember all their lives.

Jeff and Angela are in the dining room planning tomorrow's excursion - to Lucern, I think, with snow in the forecast! Stay tuned! love, Liz

Lunch at the BIS

Why is the building owned by the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) round? My guess is that in the 1950's or 60's when it was built its intent was to represent the full circle of its partnership: the Central Banks of most countries in the world. Security measures to enter the building are considerable. I was allowed to enter because Angela was sponsoring me, which meant her ID card, one she must wear visible at all times, and my passport were offered up for 10 minutes of scrutiny, my picture was taken, and I was issued my own ID card. Next, we had to scan the ID cards individually and in front of us before a green light allowed us to pass into the stall and through the electronic gate. The next barrier is a big glass circle. Standing in front of the doors, they electronically open, then must completely close behind us before the doors into the "inter chambers" of the building are opened. Meanwhile, one has ample time to read the "no photography" warnings.

The interior of the building is nicely appointed and the wide halls run in an inside circle, opening up to the offices, all along the outside of the circle, with great views of Basel. Angela's office is one of these, with two 4X7 windows, looking out over the city. Angela's title is " Member of the Secretariat - Monetary and Economic Department, Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems" Have you wondered why I have not attempted to describe her work?

I had come by myself (my first solo outing) to the BIS to have lunch with Angela. The dining room is elegant, and the offering of food is impressive! Another member of the Secretariat, a man named John, joined us for lunch. John is here from Turkey, and speaks French and English fluently. This workplace is so international! As I walked through the dining room I heard multiple languages being spoken, but English is the requisite language - lucky for me!

When I returned from lunch, I took a new route home. I need to start getting my bearings, as my phone does not work here, and all signs are in Swiss German. If I were to get lost, it would be a challenge! This is a wonderful city, and I hope to get to know it like I now know New York City.

Jeff and his girls are arriving any minute from Arizona. Needless to say, they will be experiencing a climate Change, and soon they will be enjoying this wonderful travel opportunity with the rest of us! Love, Liz

Zurich - Where the Elite Shop

It makes sense. In this city where the wealthiest of the world come to bank, the highest caliber of shopping is available. One travels everywhere by train. While in most cities in the United States, the railway stations are on the "wrong side of the tracks", the central railroad station of Zurich leads one right out to the Madison 5th Avenue of Zurich, exquisitely lit up for the holiday season. A 50 minute train ride from Basel drops us off right there - great high-end items at great post Christmas discounts. For me, it wasn't the buying so much as the looking that captured my interest. Shoppers in this district are dressed to the nines. My wonderfully comfortable boots are absolutely frumpy compared to the stylish boots running up long slim legs and ending in beautiful fur coats. No animal activist rights folks here: just the most beautiful fur jackets and coats I have ever seen. The Christmas decorations are remarkable. Not so much the window displays like NYC features, but the streets are decorated with real Christmas trees bigger, greener, and healthier than anything I have seen; all the building pillars are covered with pine boughs and lights and the lights cascading down all the tall buildings offer their glow to the festive atmosphere.

Back home again in Basel, I am babysitting the kids so that Derek and Angela can have a well deserved night out to dinner. David, Hannah and I read "Heidi" for our bedtime story. Jeff, Lauren and Katelyn arrive tomorrow night, and David already has his priority list of games to play with Uncle Jeff. We are so blessed as a family! Love, Liz

[Liziz Log] Basel!

Time has stood still in Basel since the 1600's.  The buildings and cobblestone streets curve, wind, go uphill and downhill.  The shops are all one of a kind, offering handmade soaps; custom made jewelry; one-of-a-kind fashions, bags and shoes; candles; and, of course, pastries and chocolates.  Renovated industrial factories  dating back to the turn of the century (1800 - 1900's) now contain a bicycle factory; a puppet museum; a stone carving workshop; a chocolate factory; a circus school, complete with the high wire; and a micro brewery.  Very narrow trams dominate the streets and the transportation system, they have the right-of-way, and cars, all understandably small, can slip in wherever they can.

Today we went to a movie - Alvin and the Chipmunks in English.  As an example of how expensive life is in Switzerland, Derek paid the equivalent of $100 for the five of us to get in to the movies.  Switzerland is on the honor system, so even though we bought our tickets in a building a block away, we walked into the theater, wandered around to find the right theater room for our movie, and went in - no one anywhere asked to see if we had tickets!  After the movie we visited the zoo for the rest of the day.  Love, Liz

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Liz Meyer <liz.meyer.920@gmail.com>
Date: December 26, 2011 8:02:54 PM GMT+01:00
To: lizmeyer920@hotmail.com
Subject: [Liziz Log] Basel!

Sent from my iPad

--
Posted By Liz Meyer to Liziz Log at 12/26/2011 11:02:00 AM

Basel!

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Colmar, France

Right out of Dickens' "a Christmas Carol", we were swept back in time as we we stepped off the train In Colmar. Dressed in its Christmas finery and featuring festive booths clustered in every square, this city immersed us in the excitement of the season. As we wandered through the streets, we thoroughly enjoyed looking at charming Christmas decorations and ornaments for sale and tasting the seasonal specialties: sauerkraut, sausage and spaetzel, French pastries, hot chocolate, and hot mulled wine - yummy! This Yule market lasts for the week after Christmas, so we look forward to visiting again when Jeff and his daughters arrive.

This day we traveled on two trains, three busses, two trams, and walked over five miles. Angela is a master at navigating in new places in French, German and Swiss German, with Swiss Franks and Euros, figuring out train,bus and tram routes, and figuring out how to buy the tickets. Throughout all this travel, Hannah and David were little troupers!

Basel City Hall

Basel City Hall built in the 1500's. The streets and buildings remind me so much of the novel "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett.

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Liz Gmail <4mzliz@gmail.com>
Date: December 22, 2011 8:57:18 PM GMT+01:00
To: "lizmeyer920@hotmail.com" <lizmeyer920@hotmail.com>

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Arrived!

The domino effect applied to my travel plans - a delayed flight from Phoenix to Heathrow England Caused me to miss my flight to Zurich, which necessitated a three hour delay, which meant the the O'Connor family, all four of them, had to hang out in the Zurich airport for three hours, which seemed like a very long time for David (5) and Hannah (4). They had driven down in their new car, a Suburu. We then drove about two hours home to their lovely and spacious apartment in Basel. It is wonderful to be here!

What a wonderful country to experience at Christmas time! We journeyed to a Christmas outdoor market today, each booth so wonderfully decorated for Christmas, and such detailed and ornate crafts for sale! We stopped in a stall for hot mulled cider and fondu. To make the fondu, a half wheel of Swiss Cheese is slid under a flame burner to melt just the top, which is scraped off on the plate, two small boiled potatoes, a small dill pickle, and a few small pickled onions are added to complete the plate. Yum!

Basel is a very ancient city, all cobblestone streets and ornate buildings. the Rhine river divides the city. Our walking tour took us across the river, giving us the opportunity to see both sides, and the promise of wonderful things yet to explore! Love, Liz

The Next Big Adventure

Off I go for Christmas in Switzerland! A mishap 3 days ago is adding to the travel challenge. A bone injury and six stitches in my right thumb requires a half cast around my thumb and up to my elbow! Right now I am In the Phoenix airport, about to leave for
Heathrow airport in England change
Planes and terminals, then fly to
Zurichw, then, after going through Customs, I will be met by Angela, and we will take the train to Basel.

The airport is full of holiday travelers. I remember as a girl driving all the way to San Bernardino and taking the Santa Fe Railroad all the way to New York, a three day trip. I remember being dressed in our best clothes to travel. Not so today! But on the other hand (my GOOD hand) I am older than 90% of these travelers, and grateful I can travel with such ease. I am am so excited about this trip, and sharing it with you, my friends, adds to the pleasure! Love Liz