Geneva Week 16 (8/23 – 8/29) – Natalie comes home from the U.S., Jason goes to the U.S. and a return to Davos

I’m back from my little summer break, my paws are all rested and I’m ready to share some great adventures from Week 16 here in Geneva.

I have to say the first part of the week was quite relaxing, thankfully. Natalie was still in the U.S. and would be until Thursday, so I just hung around the house and spent time with Jason after he arrived home from work.  I didn’t go to DDC this week due to Natalie and Jason’s travel and work schedules. At first I was annoyed, but I do enjoy sleeping in, and the opportunity for long, undisturbed naps on my couch.

On Wednesday evening, though, Jason and I did venture out - all the way downstairs to Christianne and Silvio’s.  Jason had a very tasty dinner of stuffed courgettes (squash) and great conversation, while I spent some quality time with Eliot.

Thursday morning marked the end of my ‘relaxing’ week. We were up before 6am to catch a 3-hour train to Zurich! Zurich would be where Natalie was flying into from the U.S. Rather than have Natalie catch the 3-hour train home (after close to 15 hours of airport and travel time), Jason thought it would be a good idea to meet up with Natalie and all take the train home together. I didn’t really think it was a good idea but I went along for the ride anyway.

I was certainly glad I did go along for the ride, since I was really happy to see Natalie! I caught of a glimpse of her sitting at the airport Starbucks wearing a gray shirt and the army green Gap khakis she’s literally had since she became part of my pack over 5 years ago. In my excitement, I pulled Jason towards her, completely forgetting I was in a crowded space and should have some manners.

I didn’t realize I’d miss Natalie so much given she’s spent 24/7 with me since she left her job in February, and she drives me kind of crazy sometimes. However, ‘absence does makes the heart grow fonder’ and the same goes for Jason when he travels – it is during these periods of time away from each other that I’m reminded how much I’d love to have both Jason and Natalie around 24/7 if I could.

After we picked up Natalie we got back on the train and ventured to the nearby town of Lucerne, where Jason and Natalie were going to have lunch. Once we arrived in Lucerne, we strolled around town a bit; however, it was a very warm day and Natalie, given her fatigue and the fact she hadn’t showered in over 24 hours, was grumpy. Therefore, we stopped at one of the first places Jason could find and Jason and Natalie ate at a non-Europe-like pace (i.e., quick.)

We walked at a brisk pace back to the train station and caught the train back to Geneva right before Natalie was about to melt down. After 3 more hours on the Swiss trains, we arrived in ‘Ge-90 degree-eva’ and Natalie got her shower and a nap.

Luckily, dinner that evening was a much better experience than lunch. Jason asked Natalie which restaurant she missed the most while she was in the U.S. and her response was none other than Café des Marronniers.  She had her usual mesclun salad and a mini-Parma pizza and she was even gracious enough to offer me a few bites.

Friday rolled around and, again, there was no sleeping in to be had! At least we weren’t up before the light came out, but we weren’t too far behind the daybreak. To make matters worse, it was pouring rain. The day before the heat was atrocious and now it was pouring rain! At least in San Francisco, the weather is generally consistent – foggy with a chance of more fog. Geneva is all over the map!

The rain wouldn’t have been a major issue; however, we were going to be walking in it. Friday was the day that Jason left to go the U.S. for a week and we were all going to the train station to see him off. Natalie hasn’t yet figured out how to get to the airport by car, so the best she can do is see Jason to the train station, where he then grabs a quick train to the airport.

I was quite upset to know that Jason would now be leaving me, just over 24 hours after Natalie’s return! However, I do understand and Natalie promised me a fun weekend ahead, although I didn’t know what that yet included.

We arrived at the train station mid-morning and were soaking yet. Jason and Natalie thought it would be a good idea to take the bus and walk to the station rather than drive. I think, after the rain drenched their clothes, phones and everything else exposed to the open air, they regretted that decision.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have an opportunity to say goodbye to my Jason since his train was leaving literally the minute we arrived and he had to run to make it in time. I tried to find him and I didn’t obey Natalie at her attempts to pull me along; however, I finally obliged. Rather than heading towards the exit back into the rain, though, we actually headed towards another ‘voie’ or train boarding area.  About 10 minutes later, we were zooming out of Geneva towards Natalie’s new favorite Swiss town, which is Davos.

We arrived in Davos that afternoon and immediately made our way to Kaffee Klatsch, which is also one of the reasons Natalie loves Davos. Kaffee Klatsch is a comfortable cafe that serves good coffee and a wide variety of flavorful and unique homemade baking and pastry products. 

After soup, bread and dessert, Natalie and I took the now familiar funicular up to the now familiar Hotel Schatzalp where we got checked in and settled in for a restful long weekend.

That Friday evening, we walked down to town from the hotel and back up, occasionally being accompanied by rainstorms. We enjoyed nice views from the hotel’s porch and had a most delicious dinner at the restaurant next door that consisted of a butter-roasted lobster amuse bouche, veal served ‘Zurich-style’ and a dessert of passionfruit and chocolate.

(The view of the mountains from the front porch of our hotel, the Hotel Schatzalp)

For those of you that don’t know, ‘Zurich-style’ veal is veal slices stewed in a rich mushroom-cream sauce. This veal stew was served with rosti and fresh green beans that were wrapped in bacon.

After a very restful night’s sleep in the cool and comfortable room, Natalie and I were ready to start our Saturday. Saturday’s adventures consisted of running to and around Lake Davos (Davorsersee in German).

Lake Davos is a small lake in the town of Davos Dorf, which is right near Davos Platz (our hotel is in Davos Platz.) It’s a beautiful blue lake with wooded trails surrounding much of it. It also has a small beach perfect for tadpole fishing.

We started our descent towards Lake Davos at around 10am that morning. I ran Natalie down the hill to Davos Dorf and then through the downtown and we finally reached the lake about an hour later.

(An exciting rushing stream we found on our way down to Davos Dorf)

Although rainy, the run was a majestic one. Surrounded on one side by the lake the entire time, we ran and walked through forest, along meadows and even over a bridge. At one point, we found a little beach cove where I got into the sparkling water to fish for invisible tadpoles (there are no tadpoles in Lake Davos but I refuse to accept this truth) and be tempted by squirrels, all at the same time!

(Crossing the bridge, which is at Lake Davos - my 'tadpole cove' is just below this bridge)

(A view of Lake Davos from my tadpole cove!)

After 3+ hours of walking and running, we ended up at Kaffee Klatsch again! This time Natalie helped herself to a large Greek salad with a generous portion of crumbly Feta cheese and for dessert she had a fresh raspberry tart. This tart had a flaky crust, sweet and smooth pastry cream, plump and flavorful raspberries and a glaze that was like a thin layer of raspberry Jello. According to Natalie, this glaze was a perfect compliment to the fresh raspberries.

(That delicious raspberry tart from Kaffee Klatsch)

We cleaned up (well, I slept and Natalie showered) at the hotel and then made our way back towards downtown (this time on the funicular) for a fondue dinner that evening.  The weather, although cleared up from the afternoon rains, had the first hint of Fall in it, including the slightly icy chill that just begins to hit your bones. It was perfect weather for a pot of gooey and tangy Emmenthaler-Gruyere fondue!

Natalie thoroughly enjoyed every cheese-soaked piece of bread before making our way back to the hotel and back to that ever so comfortable room where a long night’s sleep was enjoyed.

Since we were planning on staying in Davos until Monday, the entire Sunday could be spent hiking and further exploring this magical town. For our Sunday adventure, Natalie decided to take the two of us on a Swiss Alp hike up to Strelapass.

According to the well-marked Swiss trail markers, this hike would take us about 1 ½ hours and by the end of it we’ll have reached about 7,500 feet above sea level (from about 4,800 feet!) Therefore, needless to say most of the hike to Strelapass would definitely be uphill.

After a hearty breakfast of kibble (for me) and croissants and yogurt (for Natalie), we started out on the hike at around 10am. Lucky for us, there was not a cloud in the sky and rain was not in the forecast!

1 ½ hours later and after climbing from within the tree line to well above the tree line, to being the only ones on the trail to seeing handfuls of happy hikers, and to me being the only 4-legged creature in sight to coming nose-to-chest with true alpine cows, we arrived at Strelapass!

(On our way up to Strelapass - the village below is the town of Davos)

Strelapass had a quaint little restaurant with an outside patio, which was perfect for a quick rest prior to heading back down the mountain. I laid out in the sun on the warm patio after a few healthy gulps of water and Natalie marveled at the fantastic views and the very happy cows lazily munching on grass right below the restaurant.

(Taking a break on the warm patio at the Strelapass Restaurant)

(The amazing view from Strelapass)

(An Alpine cow taking a break from munching on grass to pose for this picture)

We rested our legs (and lungs) for about a half hour and slowly started to descend the mountain. Thanks to all of my efforts the day before to get Natalie down the hill towards the lake as quickly as possible, Natalie’s legs were burning at every step she took down the hill. Needless to say it was a slower walk down than up, with Natalie begging more than once, ‘Breena, please slow down.’ I tried to obey, but there was way too much to explore and sniff.

(A glimpse of Lake Davos caught during our descent from Strelapass)

(We saw many things on our hike including what appeared to be a mountain made of rock)

(Here I am looking towards Davos during one of the rare moments I actually stopped pulling Natalie down the mountain)

After we made it down the hill, we continued walking and even found ourselves back at Lake Davos. By now, Natalie’s legs felt like they really were going to fall off and 6 hours later from when we first started out on our hike towards Strelapass, we found ourselves at Kaffee Klatsch (again!) enjoying soup, lemon cake and a well-deserved beer (for Natalie, of course).

(Lake Davos is beautiful, but it is even more magnificent on a sunny day, as was the case during our hike on Sunday)

Given the incredibly long hiking and walking day we had, we certainly deserved the nap both of us took when we got back to the hotel that afternoon.

Dinner that evening was had at the same restaurant as on Friday night with Natalie getting the exact same dish – Veal strips Zurich style. We went to bed early in preparation for our final morning in Davos and our 5-hour train ride home.

As I reflect on our weekend in Davos, It is certainly times like these that make me so thankful to be living in such a beautiful country as Switzerland. There really is nothing like the Alps and the naturally majestic beauty of those mountains. Not to be forgotten, of course, there is also nothing like the many scents lurking in the Alps and the many squirrels waiting to be chased....if only I could climb trees.

Paws,

Sabrina