We left Domi's home in Pierre la Treiche yesterday morning. We had spent a restful two days there, after a whirlwind two days in Paris, where my feet had barely touched the ground. The first photo tonight is outside the kitchen window of Domi's house. Those of you who have followed my Camino blogs will recognise the Camino symbols - the scallop shell that we pilgrims tie to the backs of our packs, the yellow arrow, and the blue and yellow shell symbol which mark the Camino routes of Spain and France. And of course his worn out boots.
There is a Camino variant route which passes just 30 metres from Domi's house - a route used very occasionally by pilgrims walking from Germany or Luxembourg to make their way to Vezelay or Le Puy en Velay. When Domi returned from his first Camino, 1700 kms from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostella in 2014, he decided to place these symbols outside his house to let any pilgrims know that they could find help or refuge there if needed. To a pilgrim, the symbols and the welcome they represent are unmistakeable. To date there has only been one pilgrim, from Germany, who has stopped as he passed by. But one is enough. Domi's friends Christian and Marise, who live in nearby Toul, have also given refuge to a pilgrim - more on that and Pierre la Treiche in a later post - we will be back there in a few days time.
So to Switzerland. We drove from Pierre la Treiche to Burglaunen (less than five hours drive) to visit my nephew Luke, his partner Ann, baby Fred (just turned one) and Joey the dog. The timing could not have been better as my sister Julie and brother in law Graham (Luke's parents) are also here on one of their fairly frequent visits.
We crossed the border just near Basel and the scenery changed almost immediately. It was exciting to suddenly see the alps come into view and that our route to Burglaunen would take us ever closer. By the time we reached Interlaken we were surrounded by the most majestic mountains. Thanks to 'la Madame dans la boite' - the lady in the box (Domi's name for the GPS) - we found our way to a beautiful valley and then up a narrow, steep and winding path to Luke and Ann's chalet.
Having previously split their time between Zurich and the chalet, Luke and Ann have now lived here full time for about three years. Little Fred arrived a year ago, Joey the dog about a year earlier - and now another baby is on the way, due in late August. Both working for themselves - Ann a graphic designer and Luke in some pretty high end software programming that I don't really understand. For the past 18 months he's been working on a project for Deutsche Telekom which is being rolled out across a number of countries in Europe. All this from their small office in a peaceful chalet perched on the side of a mountain in the alps. To me, this is how technology should be used to make our lives simpler, rather than more complicated - to give us more family and leisure time, not less. They have managed to turn the clock back to a peaceful and simple life using the power of a wireless internet connection.
After a lovely and lively dinner soon after our arrival last night, and a wonderful night's sleep in this cosy chalet, we woke to those spectacular mountains outside our bedroom window, excited to see the bright sunshine yet again. After breakfast, Domi and took Joey for a walk up through the forest that is Luke and Ann's backyard while the others got ready for our day's adventure.
I realise I've written way too much - so just briefly. We took the cable car high up into the Alps - with Joey of course. Dogs are welcome everywhere here. And from there, we walked and talked - though occasionally we did have to pay extra attention when the path became icy. Such a beautiful path. Such easy conversation. So wonderful for me to spend time with Julie and Graham, Luke and Ann and beautiful Fred, and Joey. And for them to get to know Dominique, The French. Graham and I talked about what a blessing it was that we were all here together in this beautiful place, in this brilliant sunshine ... just walking.
I think The French and I may go for another walk in the mountains tomorrow. Domi tells me that the sun will be shining again - and it will be another perfect day.
I'll write again soon. In the meantime, it was lovely to hear from you Helen (Mum), Helen C, Sue, Mandi, Marian, Judy and Edwina.
Sending love and best wishes
A bientot.
Me and The French
xx
