The Trip and First Day

We arrived at Vancouver airport shortly before 6 pm on Friday the 11th. While this seemed very early, it actually worked out quite well. Our flight was not full, so we were able to all get seats together. Then we Menaries ate supper in the food court (because by this time it was getting close to seven and we didn't want them too tired to eat!) before heading through security. Dad and the boys ate at a Milestones we didn't know existed on the other side of security.

There was a little play place right next to our gate so the kids amused themselves there while the rest of us vegged. Our flight was late loading, though I don't have a watch but I think maybe close to 1/2 hour late? Which made our 9:25 pm flight time seem even later.

As soon as we were in the air, the flight attendants moved Rob, Dad and Dave to the section behind us. They got seats in the middle section near the exit doors...with massive amounts of leg room but a flickering big screen above their heads. Then supper was served and the kids dug right in. Davey finished off quite a bit of his food but Tink took more pleasure in trying to spread all the other parts of the meal onto her roll. Broccolli, Key Lime Cheesecake and butter all mushed on to her stone hard roll. Yum?

The kids finally fell asleep. Tink would only sleep if she had our row all to herself. Luckily Davey and Andrew scored Dad, Dave and Rob's empty row and we tried to get comfortable there. Elisabeth had to be secured with a seatbelt so every time she wanted to turn over she would wake up and cry until I had her resettled and soothed back to sleep. It felt like every time I managed to drift off she would do this, so I didn't get much sleep.


Finally we landed in Zurich and rented a 9 passenger van to make the 2-3 hour drive to Lenk. We stopped just the once to stretch our legs and Davey and Andrew did a bit more colouring.

Our first night passed pretty well. The kids were up early (davey at 3:50 am, Tink at 430) but other than that it went pretty well. After breakfast we walked down to the village to get some snacks for in our suite. Grossi and Anny's chalet is up on the hill behind Davey in this picture below. This is the local cheese store on the left - where we get my favorite, Hazlenut Yogurt. Locally made. MNNNNN

Across the road is a flower store with this table in the front yard.

And these kittens/mouse in the window.


This is the chalet where my grandma (grossi) and Aunty Anny live. While we four kip in the bottom, Anny and Grossi are sharing the top floor suite.
We went for another walk in the afternoon and came across the HUGEST snails I've ever seen in my life.

The shell must have been at least two inches long.

Yes, so far the weather has been pretty crummy. But the kids don't seem to mind, they love getting to play with umbrellas.

This is one of the first corners as we walk into the village. On the right is the butchers and across is another cheese store. Across the road from these (on the far left where I'm taking the picture from) is the train station.

Dad and Anny, deep in conversation :)

We stopped at the train station kiosk for some coffee. Rob and Dave were mesmerized by the interesting things in this machine. Including a drink which promised to be naturally relaxing and was cannabis flavoured...hmnnn....