[I apologize that all my posts are going up so far after the fact. Basically, I’ve discovered that it’s really hard to be a full-time SAHM while also doing freelance social media writing and looking for a job here in Switzerland and trying to write my blog. I can manage to do about 2 of them at the same time and the SAHM part is pretty necessary. G has started preschool, though, so I will have a little more time to myself. I will be trying to split it between the other three tasks that I need to do.]
Back on August 2nd, we got ourselves up and dressed and on the tram to France. The little girl from this post was turning 3 and G had been invited for her birthday hike and Flammkuchen. We armed ourselves with IKEA birthday gifts, water, and comfortable shoes and were ready to face the day.
This is as good a place as any to discuss the France-Switzerland border; it’s really kind of hilarious.
I definitely understand why they don’t do passport control along that border.
The first time we went to L’s house for a playdate, I actually worried about having G’s and my passports on us but hoped that our resident cards would be sufficient. Now, obviously, I know that I don’t have to worry about that.
It started out pretty cool that morning, so we dressed G in capris and a hoodie over her t-shirt. Andy was in shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. I was in capris and a long-sleeved shirt. We all ended up being quite warm by the end of the hike! I had also vastly underestimated what this hike would be like. I figured it was for a 3-year-old’s birthday and there were going to be lots of kids; surely it would be pretty short and easy? No. I logged nearly 19,000 steps that day and there were quite a few hills and some muddy patches (which the kids loved). We also briefly lost the trail and had to double-back and cut through the woods to get back on course, so that added to the excitement, haha.
It was absolutely lovely, though. For all my minor complaints about living in Switzerland, how hard it is to be an expat, especially when you don’t speak the language, etc., you really can’t beat the scenery around here.
Just hideous.
I think this was G’s first official hike.
I thought this was a gravestone at first, but then I’m not sure what the significance of “167” would be.
Andy was teaching G about tree rings.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day. If it hadn’t been for the shade, we all would have been roasting for sure, though.
I barely managed to catch this picture; I tried to focus better and the butterfly took off.
“62”
L had gotten out of her stroller so she could splash in some mud puddles and G had taken her spot. Here they were trying to share.
Our destination was a farmhouse in Alsace where they have a few picnic tables set up and run a kitchen with a limited menu. It was very rustic and a unique experience.
They also have their own church.
G made friends with the chat de ferme.
She and the birthday girl (not pictured) also fished in the trough.
Here’s G showing off her mighty catch.
And here’s Andy enjoying a beer while overseeing the fishing.
After we all ate a ton of Flammkuchen, we sang to the birthday girl (in several languages, obviously) and then had cake!
There was time for a little bit more running and playing before heading back to town.
Everyone walked to Rodersdorf where the plan was to get gelato and then head home. The gelato place there was closed, so we rode/drove to the gelato place in Flüh instead, which was conveniently right next to the tram stop. G had banana gelato, which she loved, and I had Nutella, which was delicious; I have no idea what kind Andy had (oops).
After we three finished our gelato we wished L a happy birthday one last time and then caught the tram back toward Basel and home. It was a great morning and afternoon. We met a lot of nice new people (some expats, some locals), got to see some awesome scenery, and tried some delicious food that we probably wouldn’t have ever stumbled upon by ourselves.
It was a day that exemplified why we moved to Switzerland, the types of experiences we’re hoping to have here.
