I awoke early and took the opportunity to get some laundry done including my sleeping bag which was long overdue. I also managed to unwrap my soaking wet tent and set it up in the garage to dry. I had a small breakfast and Charlene told me that we were going to Olies to have lunch with his son and then on to the Butterfly farm. They prepared a Lasagne in the style of Charlene's mom Linda and we set off. I initially choose a shorts and longjohns ensemble to wear since my pants were being sewed by Phillip's mom. The outfit didnt meet approvsl so I had to go out in the cold Swiss weather. I believe snow was forcast for the morning! Philips brothers, cousins, and parents all work at the farm/business which is connected to several houses. Again, this tight mix of community is unusual to see because right next to the lumber yard is the diary farm. Things are smaller and closer here. I got a tour of the farm and saw turkeys, dairy cows, and chickens. Lunch was good and got to meet little 3 year old Jannis.
We did get a snow hail combo but not for too long. The Papillion Pavillion proved to be interesting because the entrance fee was 18 Francs! More surprising was that Olie was going to cover us all. I knew that if I tried to give him the money he wouldn't take it so I gave it to his son. His son walked around with a 20 Euro note for about 3 minutes before his dad noticed. Dad was quite concerned and asked him where he got the money. Jannis tried to play coy and simply shrugged his shoulders, his 10 word vocabulary suddenly drying up. Dad grew more concerned about how he had got the money before a laughing Charlene told him what had happened. Victory!
The first module had Central American birds that were very colourful and not at all shy. The names escape me now. Big toucans and tiny red birds would appear from out of nowhere. The next part was a nocturnal exhibit. Sloths, porcupines, and Charlene's favourites-bats. They were all over the place and not at all shy. They came whipping past and you could sometimes feel the wings brushing your hair. I ran my hand past Charlene's substantial locks and she jumped and shrieked, thinking that a bat was nesting in her hair. Also saw crocs and freshwater stingrays! Krikey!!
Last and most interesting was the butterfly module. A tonne of brightly coloured butterflies were all over the place. Sometimes, you would stop by a tree and look over to realize that the leaf was a butterfly. Very cool. Butterflies usually live 2 weeks but some last as long as six months. There was also a mini module of tarantulas and stick insects as well as 20 ft long Anacondas. Where are Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez when you need them?
A mini zoo with goats and bunnies and donkeys finished off the visit. There was also a Swiss Butterfly section but because it was outside, none of the butterflies were going to be out in the cold. An interesting place. Found out that 4 years ago, the farm next door used to grow medicinal marajuana but has since stopped. They had signs asking people not to sample.
Came home and enjoyed a nap and then went grocery shopping and dropped a few more Francs on the local economy. Got to get out of Switzerland if I am going to be on an extended trip!
A light dinner since we had such a heavy lunch followed by Charlene and Phillip trying to find a way to get me to Leysin to see old university friend Audie Hazenberg. Found tickets and called Audie and setting up a trip for Monday. Have not seen her for 15 years now but great to talk to her. Made a half hearted attempt to get info on Auchwitz from France. Online train searching seems tricky. Might take another shot tomorrow. A good day!
We did get a snow hail combo but not for too long. The Papillion Pavillion proved to be interesting because the entrance fee was 18 Francs! More surprising was that Olie was going to cover us all. I knew that if I tried to give him the money he wouldn't take it so I gave it to his son. His son walked around with a 20 Euro note for about 3 minutes before his dad noticed. Dad was quite concerned and asked him where he got the money. Jannis tried to play coy and simply shrugged his shoulders, his 10 word vocabulary suddenly drying up. Dad grew more concerned about how he had got the money before a laughing Charlene told him what had happened. Victory!
The first module had Central American birds that were very colourful and not at all shy. The names escape me now. Big toucans and tiny red birds would appear from out of nowhere. The next part was a nocturnal exhibit. Sloths, porcupines, and Charlene's favourites-bats. They were all over the place and not at all shy. They came whipping past and you could sometimes feel the wings brushing your hair. I ran my hand past Charlene's substantial locks and she jumped and shrieked, thinking that a bat was nesting in her hair. Also saw crocs and freshwater stingrays! Krikey!!
Last and most interesting was the butterfly module. A tonne of brightly coloured butterflies were all over the place. Sometimes, you would stop by a tree and look over to realize that the leaf was a butterfly. Very cool. Butterflies usually live 2 weeks but some last as long as six months. There was also a mini module of tarantulas and stick insects as well as 20 ft long Anacondas. Where are Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez when you need them?
A mini zoo with goats and bunnies and donkeys finished off the visit. There was also a Swiss Butterfly section but because it was outside, none of the butterflies were going to be out in the cold. An interesting place. Found out that 4 years ago, the farm next door used to grow medicinal marajuana but has since stopped. They had signs asking people not to sample.
Came home and enjoyed a nap and then went grocery shopping and dropped a few more Francs on the local economy. Got to get out of Switzerland if I am going to be on an extended trip!
A light dinner since we had such a heavy lunch followed by Charlene and Phillip trying to find a way to get me to Leysin to see old university friend Audie Hazenberg. Found tickets and called Audie and setting up a trip for Monday. Have not seen her for 15 years now but great to talk to her. Made a half hearted attempt to get info on Auchwitz from France. Online train searching seems tricky. Might take another shot tomorrow. A good day!