My Balcony "Jungle"

This is the view from our living room out over the balcony. Much more pleasant than in the winter. Except for the poor Edelweiss on the right. It is living, or rather, dead proof, that Edelweiss do not like rich soil...

Pimp my what???

I had to laugh when I saw this ad. A "Sparschwein" is a piggybank. This is an ad for a bank, promising higher interest, free e-banking, free credit card, etc. (Credit cards usually have annual fees here.)

Back to School

School has started here. Steve wanted you to see this sign with its Swiss German dialect, saying, "You'll stop for me, right?"

Another sign...

This sign adjacent to a public swimming area and park, says, "Men's section. No women or children." I thought that was interesting when I first saw it in May. Then we walked by during the height of swimming season, and I caught enough of a glimpse of one man to see why they have the sign. (Some men like to sun ALL of themselves...)

Welcome to CAJAF in Lenk

We were invited to the "Conference Annuelle des Jeunes Adultes Francophiles", the Young Adult Camp for French-speaking young adults, in Lenk in the Simmental, to play our alphorns for the opening night, and to give an alphorn workshop the next day. Since the Swiss were hosting (the young adults were from France, Belgium, and many other countries besides Switzerland), they had a welcome table set up, with samples of fondue, chocolate, other treats, and a mannequin head with an apple on it and toy crossbows to use to try to shoot the apple off. We played our alphorns off and on all afternoon, as people arrived.

Our view in Lenk

We had this lovely view from our window, whenever we were in our room (which wasn't often!).

Accommodations in Lenk

This was our room with a view. The bathroom was down the hall and around the corner. The heat was turned off for the summer, and it was chilly! Fortunately, the quilts were warm.

Our Alphorn "Classroom"

Here is where we set up for our Alphorn Workshop.

We Made It!

Here we are, loaded down with four alphorns, two backpacks and two waistpacks, having ridden one tram, two trains and a Postbus. We have arrived successfully at our destination of Sportcamp Melchtal, where we got to spend four days working and serving with 600 wonderful young adults.

The View from our Window

This made all the preparation worthwhile. I could sit forever and watch the mists rise and fall over all the wonderful shades of green.

Young Adult Camp at Melchtal

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The Austrian Girls

Besides classrooms, our Institute building had three bedrooms, and ten Austrian girls were staying there. Here are some of them ready to attend "Swiss night." Don't they look great!

Beaten but Unbowed

This tree symbolizes making the best of a bad situation! It has been knocked down for some time, as you can see the newer branches reaching skyward, but it is growing, and doing the best it can. There is a lesson in there somewhere...