sitomania

noun: An abnormal craving for food.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek sito- (grain, food) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze). Earliest documented use: 1882. The opposite is sitophobia.

And here when I read it this morning I thought that it perhaps referred to my activities yesterday, i.e. sit-all-day.

And that was actually the one thing that I didn’t have yesterday – sitomania – good thing too as it all started one day last week when on a “coup de tête”, or a whim if you will, I decided to buy what is known as a “day card” on the Swiss train system. One can obtain these through the SBB/CFF, but also – at a much more interesting price – our local communes.

I had rather thought that I would discover Olten, Neuchatel and Yverdon so having had a decent breakfast at home, minus the coffee, off I went to catch a bus (they also cover all the bus systems and many of the smaller trains, or on private trains give a reduced rate) to my main train station.

There I almost wavered as the first train up was to Brig in the Valais – a lovely ride, but one that I have done recently both by train and by car; the second train up was to St.Gallen. Four hours away it is also a well-known-to-me destination so I decided to stick by my original plan and get off in Lausanne to find a train to Olten. The first possibility was still the one to St.Gallen, but as it was passing through Yverdon and Neuchatel I figured that was good enough. Had coffee in luxury in the restaurant (one of my favorite upgrading tricks is to board the train on a major route then simply head for the dining car and according to the time of day order coffee, a snack or even a meal as the food is surprisingly good).

In Neuchatel the next track over had a RE (Regional Express) for Le Locle so that’s where I went. The views along the way were lovely even if it was overcast, especially at Les Hauts Geneveys where one could see wide and far. Traditionally in La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle the watch industry thrived. Today there is even a new stop “Le Crêt sur Locle” as many other factories have joined the ranks. Spent 15 minutes in Le Locle then retraced my steps (having blindly gotten off in La Chaux-de-Fonds and boarded the train on the next track over only to discover that I had boarded a train back to Neuchatel). 

The train station has been abandonned in Le Locle

OK, another chance: in Neuchatel grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water then hopped on a regional train to Buttes having absolutely no clue as to how long, nor what I would find along the way, or in Buttes for that matter. A beautiful ride in one of the folds of the mountain through the Val de Travers, including Môtiers where my former housemate had begun her life in Switzerland. Fun as we had gone there by car on one of our other adventures.

Along the way

The castle in Neuchatel

Return to Neuchatel than an IR (Inter Regional) to Bern – the federal capital of Switzerland. As I intended to stick strictly to nature I hopped on the next tram down to the Bear Pits where Lady Luck accompanied me: the bears are out of winter hibernation and mom, dad and junior were enjoying the lovely spring weather just as much as we humans – it was sunny!

Spring has sprung near the train station in Bern

Maman foraging for food

Father scratching that itch (the same way I do!)

Maman decided to cool off and take a nap

Father and son trying to return to the inside

By the time I took the lift down to the Aar and walked along it back to another bridge nearer the Federal buildings it was well past time for coffee. A half-hour of shopping and back to the train station where I decided that it had been a lovely day, but was perhaps time for the trip home, via Fribourg, Romont, Lausanne and on to Geneva.

Our Federal Palace

The roofs rival with the trees for color

Along the Aare looking back towards the bear pits

Such a lovely way of seeing Switzerland and in spite of the many hours of sitting in trains I still managed to clock almost 11’000 steps as well!  To be repeated.

“Gone somewhere, back sometime”

That was the note I left my younger son, my housemate and her husband last Saturday.

I had come back from Zurich early – too hot, no air conditioning in the room and a sudden yen to be home – but still had the day card for the Swiss trains and decided that it should get used.

Hopped on a bus at just past 8, breakfast at the train station then checked to see how far I had to go in order to get my money’s worth: very easy, only to Fribourg and return. That knowledge in mind I decided to head back to Bern having not had time to visit the main church, nor the bear “pits” when I had accompanied my cousin on Monday.  When I asked at the Tourist Office I was told that the bears weren’t there due to renovations and was given a city map with instructions for the bus to the Münster. Unfortunately, as in Geneva, as in Zurich, summer is when all roadwork is accomplished – who cares about the tourists – so the bus that should have taken me there didn’t.

Never mind, by wandering around the back alleys with map in hand I came across some other spots of interest where there were no tourists – worth it! 

 

The main bus and tram lines start here - under shelter!

Civil Engineering since 1865

Making visible that which takes place underground: amongst others electricity, sewers, traffic lights, communications, etc.

"Zytglogge" or the Clock Tower

Detail of the Clock Tower

House on the Junkerngasse

Arcade sidewalk - Junkerngasse

A painter's house on the Junkerngasse

Mini restaurant on a side alley

Eventually did reach the Münster, only to find out that one is not allowed to take pictures inside.  

The Münster cathedral seen from the Junkergasse - behind

A flower shop - very original displays

detail of the display

The Zeerleder House

 This house has been owned by the Zeerleder family since 1806: it is the only one of its kind in Old Bern: a Unesco heritage building it is post-1612 - two house facades in one, the facades were painted by brothers Rudolf and Hans Münger in 1897 - neo-gothic.

One of many elaborate door knobs

Another door knob

After circling back round the Münster enjoying the views over the Aar River - and with no pictures - never mind quick trip inside then down the alley where an open-air market was slowly being packed back up.

 

Terraced gardens and beehives leading to the river

 

The Aar river goes in a u around Bern city

One of many bridges, restaurant on the Aar and the old houses along the banks - often flooded

Read and Play

A great concept that could and should be copied by many other  cities and parks: a medium sized hut - and tent in the park - where one could borrow a book, a magazine or one of many games to play whilst whiling away a few hours.

The flag of Bern, amongst others, along the market alley

Too cute!

Sausages and dried meat sliced on the spot

One of many cheese stalls

 

 

Typcial cellar

Many statues to Bears in Bern

 Formerly used to store things in front of the arcades, many of these cellars are now used as shops and restaurants: Loved the name on this one: "Wine and Be"

A Vegan restaurant duly noted for another trip

Way too typical of all Swiss cities this summer: Bus stop not served!

 

On a whim decided to return to Geneva via Thun, Spiez, Visp, Sion, Sierre, Martigny the other way instead of back tracking.

typical countryside near Spiez

Vineyards from the train in Valais

more vineyards in Valais

Some of the mountains - alps out of sight - in the Valais

In spite of also having to wait on busses and improvising once back in Geneva as it was the Geneva Festival’s firework’s night and the main bridge was shut from 5 p.m. until 3:30 the next morning, I arrived home in time to take my younger son out for dinner. “Life in the fast lane” has nothing on me! Mind you, four train trips in seven days was perhaps a bit much.

Finale Fireworks - the Mont-Blanc bridge is shut in between 5 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.

 P.S. This one is dedicated to sisters Irma, Evelyne and Eliane - who lived in Bern many years ago... enjoy the memories!