October 21st 2021 our first trip to Europe since February 2020. I had a really intensive week behind me. Our beloved neighbors Pam and Don by no fault of their own (we feel) were asked to leave our Marina. I was heart broken. I know people move on in life and that is sad but this normally presents new opportunities to go and visit friends. However Pam and Don were our next door neighbors, they were like our adopted parents, best friends, advisor, mentor, inspiration all in one! They looked after Luna when we went away and also kept an eye on our boat! Pam and I were absolutely devastated.
I was also nervous if we are ready with all the correct paperwork to visit 4 countries between Marcus and myself.
First we flew together to Switzerland and the flight was empty – I can’t remember the last time we had so much space. This was still before the US let any European tourists into their country.
We planned to arrive on October 22nd so we could surprise our wonderful friend Susanne who originally wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday in New York on October 1st.
We had a grand plan…. After we arrived our good friend Tanja picked us up and we spent a few hours with her and re-arrangin our luggage so we only had hand lagguage left for the next 10 days. Susanne’s partner Davide convinced Susanne to go shopping so we were able to arrive at their apartment unnoticed. I love to suprise others even more than I love to get surprised…. I was looking forward to see Susanne face like a little child and Susanne had no idea :-). Not even that we were coming to Switzerland.
We organized a surprise dinner in a E Tuk Tuk (https://www.tuktuk.ch/en/) and were driven around Zurich old town.
The next day it was our turn to be celebrated. Otto and his partner Rabe, they invited us to an adventures tour. Marcus with the motor bike and me with Rabe BMW convertible. We took all the country roads and had a beautiful drive in the most amazing weather one can wish for. Marcus and Otto enjoyed cruising off the beaten path as well. The girls arrived first and we had to take a gondola to get to our destination for the night which was called Niederbauen near Emmetten. What breathtaking view we experienced on the top!
We never have been here and truly enjoyed the walk, dinner and early morning run. It was especially spectacular because of the morning fog above the lake below us.
On Sunday we made our way back. Rabe asked if I would like to drive and my heart bit faster and I happily agreed. We wanted to take a different route back and we saw that the lake Vierwald Städter See has a car ferry so we went for it, but sadly the car ferry stopped working for the winter in early October.
Despite this little setback we enjoyed the drive back in gorgeous sunshine. About 15 minutes from my sister Priska farm, I got a bit distracted around a roundabout and I took it a bit wide…. Suddenly the beautiful BMW convertible notified us that there is something wrong with the pressure of the right front tire….sure enough I sliced the tire of my friend’s convertible…. I was devestated….. Lucky she had great insurance and a service truck was near by and picked us up to the next garage…. Never knew such a place existed in the country side. Super lucky… after 2 hours delay we arrived with two new tires at my sister place – Grateful to Rabe and Otto forever for the beautiful weekend!
We enjoyed self made pizza in the pizza oven my oldest nephew Robin built himself with the help of his Dad. So happy that my Mom, my friend Patricia and her partner could join us.
Before the Pizza delight outside my sister’s and her husband’s farm 
My sister’s farm
On Monday after a delicious lunch at my Mom’s place we travelled to Zurich to stay at an airport hotel before I took a flight to the UK to visit customers and Marcus to Norway to visit clients with our business partner and friend Vicki.
On Friday we reunited and moved to a lovely hotel in Thurgau near where Vicki lives.
Vicki was celebrating her 65th birthday and she had organized a whole party weekend.
Friday night we attended a wine tasting walking distance from our hotel. Besides learning about the delicious local wine we learned about Napoleons extended family owning a big estate around the neighborhood. After we enjoyed a delicious dinner at a local delicious fish Restaurant
Saturday night was the actual birthday party from Vicki. The theme was Caribbean night. Of course we came dressed in style and boogied the night away.
On Sunday we went for a hike with the fittest guests. We even climbed a tower with 1000 steps….. least it felt like that. We had a breathtaking view. In the mean time Marcus flew the drone to everybody’s delight. Lucky I didn’t kill anybody when i dropped my pink water bottle rolled off from the top and fell….to be never seen again.
After the delightful walk some friends of ours went to our friend Michelle’s place for afternoon snacks, another walk and tower climb and dinner. It was so beautiful to catch up with old friends and the weekend ended as beautiful as it started.
On Monday, Michelle, Clara and I travelled to Hergiswil at the Lake Luzern for a Sonnet networking camp &wellness/hike week. My sister Priska also joined us.
We were lucky to experience one of my most memorable hikes. The weather forecast predicted beautiful sunny weather, we ended up in a snow storm and a rather adventures hike where we lost two friends, but lucky got reunited on the top to celebrate our survival.
On Friday I traveled to Germany to meet Marcus and celebrate my father-in-law’s 83 birthday. It was a beautiful celebration with friends and family.
On Sunday we squeezed in a visit to Mainz to visit our wonderful friends Ute and Christian which we know from England
On Monday Marcus flew back home to New Jersey and I took a train back to Switzerland to work from the Swiss office and to spend time with my Mom and catch up with my sisters, God Mother and friends Patricia, Brigitte and Tanja. On the weekend I even was able to attend a school reunion!
I didn’t realize how much I missed traveling until I arrived in Europe. I felt so re-charged, energized and inspired after my visit. I had amazing talks, even went to a free flow dance event where one dances as they wish or better like nobody is watching – they played yoga type music to my favored 80ies and you could go as still or wild as you like….. it was so liberating….. like a lot of worries, concerns which where on my shoulder melted away