Yesterday, Nawal and I left Budapest - she heading to Amsterdam for a brief visit with her daughter before going home and me heading to Switzerland to visit friends. It was a short flight to Zurich and a 35 minute train ride directly from the airport to Herrliberg-Feldmeilen where Roger, Kathrin and their two children live. Thankfully, the weather in Europe is becoming warmer and sunnier so we actually got to sit outside in the garden for most of the afternoon, so nice after those cold Budapest days! It was when we went inside that things got "interesting". Tim is 6 and Alina is 3. Naturally, they don't speak English and, while I can get by in German, I certainly don't understand much of the Swiss dialect, particularly when it is spoken by young kids. However, I am very popular with them both. Why? Well, because I have gadgets, specifically an iPhone and an iPad! Last September when I was here, they discovered the toddler apps I have installed. So, they excitedly gathered around me saying things like "Was machst du, Maureen?", "Kann ich mit die iPad spielen?" and "Wo ist ihre iPhone?" Clearly, they weren't interested in me. They just wanted to play with my devices! So, I handed them over and suddenly there was no more clammering and it was quiet. They were sitting on the kitchen table totally engrossed in Doodle Jump and Tapping Zoo.
Today, it is sunny and warm. Midday we went for a walk in their 'hood, so to speak. Once you walk up the hill from their place, you get amazing views of Lake Zurich and the Alps surrounding it. This is such a special place and a nice break from the two cities where I've been. Of course, the better weather sure helps!
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