Switzerland!

    

I have finally found the time and words to describe my travels. Switzerland is beautiful, very different from England. I have been staying with my Aunt Fay and her family for the past week. They live in the village Rothenflu, about 45 minutes outside of Basel. The village is very small and they live right across from the school, I can watch my cousin play in the school yard through the window from the dining room table. It has snowed since I first arrived, giving me the chance to see the beautiful mountins covered in snow. I have been kept very busy by my three young cousins Frankie who is 10, Audrey 8, and Tristan 4. Fay and I went on an amazing hike through the Swiss countryside right after the snow storm, it was like a winter wonderland. Of course I was hiking in borrowed shoes and jeans. I do not have enough cloths to keep me warm in this weather.

Here is a picture of Tristan, he is so cute and sweet. He has worked very hard speaking in only English to me with a cute Swiss accent. He loves the new words I've taught him like frig , and hot coco. 

It has been nice getting to know my family who are always so far away.  I will be leaving in a couple of days for Italy. Fianlly going to head out

 on my

 own and really do some of the traveling that I had been hopeing to do when I decide to take this trip.

Not sure when  I'll have a chance to use the internet and post again. 

But I will try and keep in touch.

 

Back in York

I have spent the last few days out in the East Yorkshire countryside, visiting with a friend that I made at the meditation retreat. Marian was so kind to invite me for a couple of days to stay with her family, husband Brian and son Ben, in the small village Skerne outside of Driffield, a little town south east of York. It was such a nice visit, amazing to think how kind people are to invite strangers into their homes and share their ways of living. Marian is like my English mother, I hope some day she will be able to visit America and I can return the amazing hospitality. We spent the days walking around the village visiting some local churches that are almost 900 years old. I talked with some local Yorkshire folks, was invited in for many "hot drinks" or "cup'a". It is so damp and cold here that it makes sense the English either have a cup of tea of coffee in their had as often as possible. Another funny English terminology for the weather, "sunny spells" to describe when there might be glimpses of the sun, but of course there are really no sunny days here. If you see the sun it soon is covered up with a large passing rain cloud for a nice little shower.
The Picture
Last week the river even flooded out in front of Marilyn's house, it was quite surprising to find the ducks and geese right out front of her yard. But it is something, I'm told, that happens quite often. In fact the next day I was walking the dry path into town.

I am anticipating the election and hoping that I will be able to have up to date coverage. I think I'll be staying up all night on Tuesday, and of course the next day is the 5th of November Guy Fox(sp?) day here, I've been told there will be lots of fire works and bonfires in the streets and along the river, lets hope that the Americans abroad in England can also use the occasion to celebrate the "right" President being elected!
That's all the news for now from York,
I'll try and upload some pictures from my visit next time so look for those!