Above St. Gallen

To the Top

After all those steps and hills, we walked along a ridge, with a view toward the Bodensee/Lake Constance.

Sundown. Time for supper. 


Twisty trees. Getting closer.


Another holding pond, not just for ducks. People were swimming. 


Community swimming hole


And… around a few more corners, we arrived.



For a fine supper


With a view, which we followed all the way down afterward. A digestive walk, you could say.


Next week a couple of us will heading so the US, so that may or may not result in some posts.

St. Gallen Further

Onward and Upward

As I continuously say, Switzerland is ALL uphill, and St. Gallen is no exception. As is typical of every old significant city, it is built by a river - because that was crucial for transport before the Industrial Revolution - and usually there are fairly steep and high ridges on either side, up which the town grows. And one’s gents like to pick a restaurant with a view, so up we go. Yes, by foot. 

First one leaves the city center, outside the Cathedral grounds. 

And then STEPS, scores of steps, take one to this view over the city. 


That was just the beginning. More steps. More steep little roads. More steps. And pauses for pictures ( maybe a breather, too). 


Then, a choice: stay on the winding roads going up, or take the trail up the rocks. Well, of course…

A bunker (ubiquitous in Switzerland)

Hills, ridges, river banks come with waterfalls. These were put to use with whole collections of mills powered by the water.

A not-natural bridge 

A natural bridge, worn through by the water

Supports for the mills above

Steep? Yes.

A Weiher, that is, a holding pond, one of a series, high on the ridge. Downstream from it were many mills using the moving water. They produced all sorts of goods with machines powered by the moving water.  You can read the sign explaining it:

Noodles, Flour, and Bobbins. These mills were in existence since medieval times, and a couple lasted to the 1960’s. 



The top is getting closer, but we aren’t there yet, so to be continued. 

Autumn Equinox

Happy Fall

At our house

At Son’s house: thank you flowers from the neighbor’s garden

At Maria’s house: first snow on her mountain 

St. Gallen Again

Evening Stroll

A visiting son wanted to see the city, before we went for dinner. It was a pleasant end-of summer evening, before approaching rains.

We stopped in the cathedral and puzzled out more of the depicted Bible stories on the confessionals. 

Your guess for this one? Answer at the end. 



Switzerland has every imaginable sort of cheese and dairy product. Try this: “Chewing cheese” - like chewing gum, but these are for dogs. 


The end of the wall that once separated the Catholic monastery part of the city from the Reformed secular part in the 1600’s and following. (Pam, remember? We ate in this restaurant.)


From the same spot, looking the opposite way, toward a city church. 

Balcony garden.


City show garden 

To be continued….

Answer: The scene depicted is the parable of the lost coin and the sweeping that ensued. Of course the house had a golden dome! 

Just the View

At Dinner

We went to have lunch with the son’s visiting in-laws in a tiny town. The view was appealing. 

And the meal ended with quite scrumptious homemade fruit ice cream from the older couple who own and run the place.

But I didn’t get a picture. Just imagine delectable yourself. 

End of Summer

Fall is Coming

After a delightful and delicious Mother-Daughter lunch at the Goldene Schäfli in St. Gallen, complete with a little dessert and coffee….

A plate of Plum confections, and “one scoop of blueberry ice cream” - fully garnished

… one still can not resist a stop at the Laderach store nearby for the best chocolates in Switzerland (in my humble opinion). The assortment is signaling the beginning of Autumn.

An array of marvelous flavors in chocolate 

A treat for two

Or two hundred.

Excursion to Zurich

Tourist Season

 Busloads of people were everywhere. Tour groups filled the sidewalks. All the roads were bumper to bumper.  And all are enjoying their freedom to go and mingle and do. 

Look, no tourists… oh, wellll….because….

Happy September

Sun After Rains

In assessing the consequences of a couple weeks worth of heavy rains, almost no sun, and chilly temperatures….

The apples are still fine.

The fountain is flowing again.

And the slugs feasted on ALL of my older mums, both planted and in pots. 

The newer ones are spared thus far. I need to move them, but where? I even had to call St. George from his bed this evening to come downstairs to slay two dragons in the house! (Otherwise known as slugs)

But the wild Malve are happy. Lesson being: concentrate on native flowers.