
Once I got rested enough, I boosted my immune system with exercise, biking around the medieval cobblestoned city, hiking up the Gurten Mountain (2800 ft above sea level) behind Uschi’s apartment to view the Alps, and --my favorite-- swimming in the glacial waters of the Aare River, bobbing downstream at a pace faster than a bicycle, only to climb out, walk back upstream, and float down again.
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The magical glacial waters of the Aare River. Swimming in this river is not for sissies! |
The pies of Switzerland. So many choices, so little time. |
Looking toward France. |
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Uschi's mom made a Schlafrockaepfel. An apple stuffed with sugar & nuts and baked in a "bathrobe." This was the most-viewed Facebook post on my trip. |
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Swiss Gothic. |
Lunch in the mountains was a cultural exchange: Uschi, Monika, Monika's mom, with American pie...and Swiss cake. |
In between all the outdoor adventures, I took in plenty of Bern's cultural offerings. Uschi and I spent an evening watching jugglers, musicians, acrobats and other street performers at the Buskers Festivals.
Then I went to a free outdoor concert with another friend, Bobi, and we bumped into an acquaintance of hers, an older woman named Susanne. When I told Susanne I was currently on a round-the-world trip she said, “Oh, I did that. For my 70th birthday.” Just when I was thinking I had overestimated my strength and stamina, wishing I had done this big trip in my 20s or 30s and not at 53, along comes this beaming ray of light who I am convinced was placed in my path to remind me: You are NEVER too old. It is NEVER too late. Get out there and do it. Keep going.
It was the message I needed to hear at exactly that time, because after being so ill, as well as drained from hauling my 50-pound beast of a suitcase from country to country, I was contemplating cutting my trip short. But Susanne’s positive energy gave me the impetus to keep going.
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This is the world traveler Susanne. She doesn't look over 70. She doesn't even look over 50! |
Continued in the next post....
RETURN TO THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PIE WEBSITE