I am going to Switzerland in September.
To say I am excited about this trip is like saying the Pope is Catholic. It’s an understatement.
I can hardly wait. There is a village on the western edge of the Bernese Alps where I claimed home for several years growing up, but haven’t been back since 1997. Part of me wants to keep those memories in cerebral snow globe, unbesmirched by the footprints of time. Another part of me wants to go and live inside those memories when things were so different. So simple. And then there is a third part of me that wants to go eat chocolate croissants and watch a cow parade. Third part wins!
Back then everything seemed so familiar that I hardly ever took the time to take photos or tuck away touristy items to remind me of my time there. Nowadays, here at home, if I see a souvenir handkerchief with edelweiss in a thrift store (mystery stains and all) I snatch it up with Gollum-like “MY PRECIOUS” enthusiasm. Nostalgia is a powerful force.
Come September, on my list of must-get souvenirs is a cuckoo clock. I always wanted one, even before I lived there. Problem is that real Black Forest cuckoos, the fancy ones, are handmade by life-long specialists and cost about as much as a car. I don’t want a fancy one. Even just a little plastic one would be okay. Now I started looking online and am finding all these cool ones available here and now.
Hmm….I might need to get in on some cuckoo action early.
Eek! I’m so jealous! I named my daughter Edelweiss, if we ever run into you, you’re welcome to give her a high five. Can’t wait to read about your trip!
You have a daughter named EDELWEIS???!! That is the most awesome thing I ever heard. Wow. I heard of someone making it their wedding song (and a funeral song)….but a whole kid? WOW!
Oh wow, what town? I’ve got family in Meiringen. It’s a beautiful corner of the world!
Leysin….a bit more West, but I have been to the Grindelwald / Interlochen region — it’s beautiful!
I’m going to Belgium in June and visiting the Black Forest so I cna get a cuckoo clock is on my to do list. I’m so excited I can’t sit still!!!
Chris =]
Would you go visit the Arm Uncle for me when you are there? You could get a decent real cuckoo clock, then surround it with a collection of repainted ones that don’t work. I’m going to Equador in Sept. I want to see the middle of the world, then I’ll go to Antartica, then the North Pole. Ann
One of my big regrets from my time in Germany was not getting a cuckoo clock. I bought a cool wooden marionette, but no clock. When I saw a glittery, white (non-functioning) clock at Bronner’s last year, I snapped that bad boy right up!
So this may be helpful for you ;)http://www.eldrid.ch/swgerman.htm
Regards from Zurich
Justi
I just watched an episode of Rick Steves Europe: Switzerland over the weekend and have spent the last few days daydreaming about a trip there (I LOVE Rick Steves and DVR episodes). I’m in love with the 2nd clock and have never seen the website it’s being sold on before; I’m about to go waste some time and money on it so thanks for linking it!
You said “memories in cerebral snow globe”, that is one of the most visual statements I have seen on your blog and I love it. 🙂 So happy for your opportunity to travel. I love cuckoo clocks too. 🙂
What a terrific line-up of Cuckoo Clocks! Thanks so much for including ours – and we just love that Kate Sutton clock, as well! Longtime fans!
Always means a bunch when folks spread the word about Dolan + his artwork – so many thanks again!
Cheers!
Dolan & Ali Marie Geiman
my sister got my mom a nice cuckoo clock at christkindlmarkt in daley plaza a few years ago. there’s a vendor with all sorts of cuckoo clocks, from cheap-o but cute to master craftsman. i think she spent around $10-20 on it.