A New Year, A Fresh Start...

As you are well aware, it has been a long time since my paws have scratched pen to paper. I could make a lot of excuses, such as being busy entertaining friends and family from the U.S., to being smoked out of our apartment in Chevrens, literally.

But, I won’t. Instead, in the spirit of the New Year, I am going to start over. My blog will no longer be a weekly recap of our life here in Switzerland. In its place will be a collection of stories organized by adventures, not by time.

It was Natalie’s silly idea to structure this blog by week (that’s what I get for listening to a former accountant, whose life is all about structure.)

I just don’t work that way. My whole existence is based on the sights, sounds and smells I come across each and every day; therefore, it only makes sense I write this blog based on my viewpoint of life.

So, from now on, I may write a post 2 times a week, or 2 times a month. It wholly depends on what I experience and what I feel is useful to you, my reader, and to me, for my memories.

And, even though I generally don’t like to look back (except to make sure my people are nearby when I’m running around), I thought I would include below a collection of pictures from the last few months. It has been an adventure so far – one that Jason, Natalie, and I will never forget.

Paws,

Sabrina

December 2010 - Jason's parents invade Europe and Amy Schmidt pays a visit!

The holidays in France and Switzerland wouldn't be the holidays without cheese and lots of it. While dining in Chamonix, Jason's dad, Mike, ordered the most delectable-looking cheese dish yet. A wooden bowl full of melted, gooey, and tangy cheese. I just wish that bowl was placed at my paws for my dining pleasure (it would've saved Mike from my constant begging, at least.)

For Christmas week, we parked ourselves at a cozy chalet near La Clusaz, France. Here is a picture of the beautiful view from the deck of the chalet.

La Clusaz is near Annecy, so naturally we made a day trip to show Jason's parents this magical town. One of the things Annecy is best known for is its beautiful lake surrounded by the French Alps. I contemplated jumping off this dock into the icy lake, but just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Jason's parents, Mike and Kathleen, posing for a Holiday photo in front of the picturesque Palais de l'Isle during our visit to Annecy!

La Clusaz was full of snow and Jason and Natalie took well advantage of it. After 10+ years of being dormant on the skis, Natalie and Jason spent part of Christmas Eve re-discovering the joy of skiing on the slopes of La Croix Fry and Merdassier, which were just a short bus ride away from the chalet. Now, if they can just find a way to make doggie-skis...

My Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa Potesta! Who doesn't love a fleece blanket?!

Yes, it snowed quite a bit in La Clusaz and I took every advantage to play in it!

Since the kitchen at our Chalet was a bit limited in oven space and cooking tools, Natalie decided to buy a traditional 'Buche de Noel' for Christmas dessert.  Even though I didn't get any of this treat, I heard it tasted as good as it looked.

After we left the chalet, we gave Jason's parents a tour of Geneva for the remainder of their visit. We (well, they) strolled through the Old Town and the Chateau of Montreux, we ate chicken at Chez Ma Cousine (best rotisserie chicken in Geneva, by the way) and visited the bakery where Natalie has staged on occasion. We took a picture in front of that bakery - unfortunately, I wasn't in the mood for a photo and Natalie clearly decided it wasn't necessary for her to see that day.


About Amy's visit - Natalie's cell phone crashed and Amy's froze a bit so a few pictures from her 5-day adventure in Switzerland were lost. Fun was still had, though, which included homemade fondue for Christmas Eve, a walk in Chamonix, and Jason and Amy braving a 5 mile sledding run in Grindelwald!


December 2010 - Fête de l'Escalade!

Escalade is an annual festival held around the 12th of December in Geneva to celebrate the defeat of the surprise attack by Savoy (French) troops during the night of 11–12 December 1602. 


According to Genevois legend a mother of 14 children, who lived above the La Monnaie town gate, took a large cauldron of hot vegetable soup and poured it on the head of a Savoyard attacker, killing him. The commotion this caused helped to rally the townsfolk to defend the city. 


To commemorate that cauldron of hot soup that saved Geneva from the French, all the patisseries in town make Chocolate pots of varying sizes. Included in the chocolate pots are marzipan vegetables.

As a kick off to Escalade, there is also a road race held the weekend before. Natalie, who loves to run, entered the 3 mile race - she finished in just over 25 minutes, and was glad to avoid slipping and falling on the icy streets. Here are Natalie and I after the run on the snowy streets of Geneva.

December 2010 - a visit with a friend in magnificent Budapest

Natalie's friend Molly was traveling to Budapest for work and Natalie got the chance to visit her! Here's Molly on their first night in Budapest with the largest piece of Wiener Schnitzel she's ever seen!

The view from the hotel room was magnificent. This is the Fisherman's Bastion, which was just steps from Natalie and Molly's hotel in the Castle District.

Natalie and Molly quickly learned during their visit that Hungary has many flavorful, yet filling dishes! During a stroll through the annual Christmas Market, Natalie could not help but take a picture of these massive paella-type pans of meat stews, ham hocks, sausages, potato pancakes, etc., etc.

The best treat found at the Christmas Market - thinly rolled out sweet yeast doughs wrapped around a rolling pin-like object, placed over burning coals, roasted until toasty, and then coated in toppings such as cinnamon-sugar. This dessert, which is Hungary's version of the funnel cake, is then wrapped in plastic and served steaming hot. Below is a picture of Natalie's hand holding the finished product!

November 2010 - a fire runs us out of house and home

October was a busy month, but nothing compared to our November. At 2am on the 3rd day of November, I frantically woke up Natalie, because our house was rapidly filling with smoke.  Jason was in the U.S. for work that week, so, luckily, I only had to get one of my people out.

After she and I scurried downstairs (Natalie in nothing but pajamas), Natalie found the home next to ours burning down and quickly. Throughout the course of the night, we watched our neighbor's home burn to the ground and ours dangerously close to joining that same unfortunate fate.


In the picture above (thank you Tribune de Geneve!), the burned roof is our neighbors and the roof next to it is ours.  In order to save our building (you can see how close the fire was!), the firefighters had to punch a hole in our ceiling, so they could reach the fire more directly. As a result, our place became completely drenched in smoke, soot and water. In addition, part of the roof of our building caved in.

Due to the repairs needed on the roof, our apartment, and all of our personal items, we can not live in the apartment for a while. We are currently living in another part of Geneva, called Carouge. I am obviously sad to not be in Chevrens, because it is truly a canine paradise; however, I am just so happy that everyone is safe (including our neighbors!)

October 2010 - my paw injury, Halloween at the AIWC and the Giants win the World Series!!

October proved to be a busy month, which, of course included an injury on my part. During an exhilarating jaunt through the creek behind our house in Chevrens I stepped on something that resulted in my paw bleeding profusely...and all over the floor. A vet visit and a thick bandage later, here I am pouting on my favorite rug, knowing that playtime would be scarce for the next few days.

The American International Women's Club (AIWC) held it's first ever Halloween Cocktail Party and Natalie and Jason were right in the middle of the action. Jason helped bartend during the event and Natalie was responsible for spooky treats and 'blue finger' ice.

Of course, the first year Jason and Natalie live abroad is the year the San Francisco Giants go all the way! For the first time since 1954, the Giants (finally!) won the World Series! Here is a picture of the palm trees outside the park all decked out for Game 1 of the series (which Jason got to attend!!)

A shot of our favorite baseball field during Game 1 of the series!

Mike Krukow ('Kruk') and Duane Kuiper ('Kuip') broadcasting outside the stadium after a victorious Game 1 of the World Series!

October 2010 - A marathon in Palma, Mallorca

When Natalie and Jason visited Palma, Mallorca in the fall of 2007, Natalie saw signs for the Palma de Mallorca marathon and committed then and there to run the thing. A few years later, Natalie and Jason are taking their first trip on EasyJet to spend a weekend in Palma and run 26.2 miles!

Beautiful Palma! 

Here is Natalie at the end of a rainy and difficult race - 4 hours and 30 minutes later, Natalie finished the Palma Marathon and was ready for some Iberico Ham and Spanish Wine!!

Shortly after the race (and after a long shower), Natalie and Jason were at a quaint, yet trendy wine bar in Palma enjoying plates of Iberico ham, Manchego cheese, Padron peppers and some fruity Spanish wine. Here is a picture of the Iberico hams hanging in the wine bar waiting to be consumed!

September/October 2010 - Natalie's parents invade Europe

Natalie's parents visited us for three weeks between September and October. During that time, Dennis and Karen enjoyed the food and sights throughout parts of Italy and Switzerland. The first stop...Venice! Here is Karen relaxing in a gondola ride that wove itself through the narrow canals!

A view of picturesque Venice from the water shuttle as Dennis, Karen, and Natalie head back from Murano Island.

Even though I didn't get to see Venice, Jason and I got to meet up with everyone as we made our way to our next destination, which was Tuscany. We met up in Bologna and here I am sampling the local specialty of pasta with bolognese sauce!

We arrive in Montepulciano, Tuscany and the first thing Natalie does is scope out the Twilight sights shown in the New Moon movie...this one is the famous clock tower where Edward waits until the clock strikes noon and the sun shines brightest to step out and show the world that he is a sparkly vampire.

Snore.....more Twilight. One of the cafes near the clock tower put up a billboard containing some of the scenes from New Moon's movie production.

Our first night in Montepulciano! You can't see me, because I'm taking the picture (just kidding), but here we are in a little Osteria near the hotel enjoying the first of many bottles of Vino Nobile de Montepulciano!

On our way to Siena to pick up the rental car, in which we had to take the local (and graffitied!) bus. Unfortunately, Italian law requires my kind to wear a muzzle on public transportation...I was a very unhappy canine, to say the least.

With the newfound freedom of a rental car, we visited many wall-surrounded towns in Tuscany, including Volterra. And yes, Volterra is the official home of the Volturi in the Twilight book series, which leads me to the next picture....

Sure enough in the windows of the Volterra Tourist Center is an advertisement for Twilight's New Moon tour! Unfortunately, Natalie was visiting on a day that did not have the tour scheduled, otherwise she would've been first in line! (especially since I had Grandma and Grandpa Potesta to 'dog-sit' me.)

Our next Italian stop after a restful and scenic few days in Tuscany was the famously coastal Cinque Terre. Here is a classic picture of the colorful architecture along the cliffs lining the Mediterranean Sea.

On a visit to one the lands of Cinque Terre, Corniglia, Natalie promised her mom she wouldn't take her up 250 steps and she held to her word....Jason, Natalie, and I took Dennis and Karen up 382 steps instead!  Quite an accomplishment that warranted some well-deserved pasta and wine afterwards!

Out of Italy and into the beautiful land of Switzerland and red trains! Our first main vacation destination in Switzerland was the St. Moritz area. Almost as soon as we arrived, we were zooming along beautiful countryside on the famous Bernina Express! 

One of the stops along the Bernina Express included Diavolezza. Diavolezza ('she-devil' in Italian) is a gondola ride away up to the breathtaking glacier shown in this picture. This shot is one from Jason and Dennis. Karen, Natalie, and I decided to hang back and shop in St. Moritz for the afternoon.

Hiking, hiking, hiking - that seemed to be the theme of the summer and this vacation was no exception! While Karen and Dennis relaxed at their hotel in Pontresina, Jason, Natalie, and I took to the Alps and met some rugged terrain surrounded by postcard picturesque mountains.

Jason and I taking a break along our hiking trail. There might be nothing better than being in the wilderness hanging with my people (some roasted chicken and salmon wouldn't hurt either!)

Begging for food (roasted chicken, or salmon anyone?) after a long days hike.

Our second and final major destination in Switzerland was Zermatt. Natalie and Jason had to take Natalie's parents to this beautiful part of the country and it did not disappoint. Here is the very grand Matterhorn and there in the corner of the picture are Natalie's parents enjoying the fabulous view.

Whoever said Karen wasn't a hiker and an efficient one at that is sadly mistaken. After a fantastic lunch at Chez Vrony, we all worked it off by hiking down the hill back towards town. Karen found a walking stick along the way and for a short while down the mountain (or, at least long enough to take this picture), the walking stick became a welcome hiking companion.

Even though our journey home from Zermatt to Geneva was a long one, it was done in style! Here I am enjoying a bowl of fresh spring water while we all chugged along on the Glacier Express!

September 2010 - A welcome visit from our friends, Peter, Julie, and Leo

Peter, Julie, and Leo Handel visited us in the middle of September. The first place we took them...the beautiful lakeside town of Lavaux, Switzerland. After a breathtaking walk up a paved path that snaked through vineyards, Natalie captured a snapshot of the beautiful day!

Our friends Peter, Julie, and Leo! We also took them to Chamonix, France during their visit and here they are before we grabbed a gondola down and walked 300 steps into an ice cave built within a glacier!

The three of us in the ice cave! Yes, that backdrop is completely made of ice! 

Our last adventure with Peter, Julie, and Leo consisted of an overnight visit to Zermatt, Switzerland. We hiked, ate delcious food, and stayed in a comfortable hotel. Most of all we enjoyed the majestic sight only the Matterhorn could provide!