Switzerland

2 Comments Posted on 19/10/2014 Menu, Photography, Voyage

Shining gem

During my visit to my family in my homeland, despite not so good weather, we managed to do a few good hikes…We would check the weather forecast on the evening and organize our walk for the following day.

This is Emosson Dam, on the border of France. This is quite re-known for its dinosaurs marks or traces, which are really impressive (for the non-dinosaur-marks-specialist that I am!). The other gem is the omnipresence of the magnificent mountains and lakes…

We hiked for a bit, had a break and then continued, leaving my parents behind. I tell you, we suffered. The mountain girl that I used to be has walked too many flat lands… and it is already something to go up and up and up, as we were motivated by the view from the top. But then, we had to go down…..oh my….

2 Comments Posted on 01/10/2014 Menu, Photography, Voyage Gallery

a moment in time

“to live in this world

you must be able
to do three things
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go”

― Mary Oliver

Leave a comment Posted on 20/09/2014 Menu, Voyage

Essence

For the next few posts, I will bring Switzerland to you… and a bit of Venezia as well…

To start with, a few pictures of Greg, my cousin who inspires me so much! Greg does cheese traditionally up at the ‘Alpage’ each summer. Four cheeses per day, using 1400 liters of milk each time!!! Seriously!
Every time I witness this, I am amazed and humbled by this ancient knowledge continued. Simple hard work really!

and the reward…Macaroni de Chalet with home made cheese, fresh cream…

3 Comments Posted on 22/02/201422/02/2014 Menu

Balthus et Rossiniere

Balthus, his wife Setsuko and their daughter Harumi arrived in my home village, Rossiniere around 1977-78 and established themselves at the Grand Chalet, historical monument of the region, magnificient wooden chalet built around 1754. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Chalet.

I was 7 and I remember the sight of this Japanese woman bringing her child to the village school for the first time. Setsuko was dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono and looked like coming from another world to the seven year old child that I was. After a while, a few girls of the village, including me, became friend with Harumi and occasionally we played at the Grand Chalet.

Photo from arlindo-correia.com

I got to look at Balthus’ work only later in life. Art is like poetry I think. I had to mature to be able to access and appreciate.

Balthus, who in the early years of his life, had a strong connection with Rainer Maria Rilke (one of my favorite author), had many artists and poets visiting and walking the paths of my little village.

The Mediterranee Cat by Balthus (Wahooart.com)

Balthus died in 2001. His wife Setsuko still lives in Rossiniere.

Grateful for this culture and art enrichment and for my Swiss roots!!

Leave a comment Posted on 24/12/201327/12/2013 Menu, Settling in Darwin

Christmas build-up

I have been missing writing on the blog. I miss the blog-type conversation, the spaciousness of reflecting at loud on a keyboard, the pride and the enthusiasm.

I am still at work (and almost the only one). No big Christmas dinner or lunch to organize. No family around.

It is slightly sad. Christmas in the heat of the Tropic isn’t Christmas! No snow. Just the heat. And the humidity. And the frogs singing at loud in the moonsoonal rain. Sad, or just different?

But I also look forward to it. A simple Christmas. To reflect and to be grateful.

Joy. Simplicity. Gratitude.

How Christmas morning looks like in my heart!

Leave a comment Posted on 01/08/201301/08/2013 Menu, Settling in Darwin

1er Aout

Happy 1er Aout.. Happy Swiss day!!

Yesterday I found this Deli in Parap, Darwin… And I got very excited by this:

Cheeses. All sorts, from around the world.

Spotted some Gruyere but haven’t found yet the L’Etivaz cheese..

During the 1er Aout – Swiss day, a few rituals to enjoy (that I’ll miss):
Swiss cross buns. Delicious.
‘Rebibe’ – large shaved slice of old dry cheese to enjoy with a glass of white wine and bits and pieces of dry meat.. And so on..

And then, with the night will come the multitude of fires set alight on top of the mountains around..

And fireworks of course!!

Salut les Suisses..

3 Comments Posted on 22/12/201215/01/2013 Prelude

Christmas spirit

When I was living in Switzerland, I used to love Christmas. Always with my family. The cold and dark nights. A huge pine with lights in each village. Spice bread. Vin chaud. Christmas markets. Special.

As kids, we were hoping for the snow to come early enough to cover the ground and stay for ever, but at least for Christmas. The sweet memories, through the years, of Christmas preparations with my family. The tree, the decoration always led by my dad. the simple dinner and the presents on Christmas eve, the preparation of Christmas lunch, and yes it’s late enough..let’s pop a bottle, laugh here and argument there, and pop another bottle…It was loud and fun, and yes it was stressful but enjoyable and memorable in the same time. So alive!

The Christmas period is now a reminder of my choices. Living far away. The week before Christmas is always a tricky one for me. I try to avoid it, pretend that I don’t care. Totally impossible with the amount of decorations and advertisements everywhere. And then, I just wait until it’s over..

This year, it is different…

Two weeks ago at work, I made this comment that I was only looking forward to the 26 December, so that Christmas would be over. It didn’t go into a deaf ear. One of my colleague instigated a week of surprise for me, calling for a team effort…of surprises. Every day, I would feel more at home, and feel the cold and the snow…

Let me explain:

Monday, an orginal painting of a winter mountain scene, from a work colleague who is a wonderful artist, was on one of my window. Beautiful. Next to it was a print of my village emblema. So thoughtful! Tuesday, I had ice at my windows, paper cut into ice shape and sticked to my windows around me. So clever. Wednesday, someone changed my computer screen while I was away from my desk. I discovered a picture of the ‘Grand Chalet’ of my village under the snow. Speechless. Also, snowfall of shredded paper on the floor (spread by the manager herself). Thursday, silver stars all over my desk, more ice on my shelves, snowflake shape cut on my window (another piece of art) and Swiss chocolates. And Friday, a few snow flakes and silver stars suspended on top of my chair.

This made this week very special. Each morning, I had tears in my eyes, touched by the gifts and surprises, friendship and joy that were flowing towards me and between everyone. What a wonderful spirit! I felt so grateful..

Very special. A new memory.

Below, a few pictures from our last trip in Switzerland, snow in my village.

sur le chemin du zigodor