August 25th, 2010

August 25th, 2010

I was up early this morning at 6am to start my day. I told Ellie I would video skype her since it was only 9pm her time. I was tired and in my pajamas, but what a great invention. We talked for about an hour before I got dressed and headed for the train station. On my way, I grabbed some Swiss chocolate knowing I would be taking a break at Grandpa’s Statue. It only seemed right to enjoy some Swiss chocolate at his statue, because when he was staying with us, he always had some chocolate chilled in the fridge and ready to break a piece off for us. Besides the significance to Grandpa Karl, chocolate is a good source of energy to keep me going.
When I got to the train station, a train was leaving for Kusnacht 3 minutes later. I jumped on the first 2nd class car and started to get excited. I am not exactly sure why I was so determined and extremely excited to see the statue. Maybe because it is one of the best memories I have of when we traveled Switzerland in 99 as an entire family, or maybe that the last time I was standing next to it, Grandpa was still alive. In 99, I also couldn’t really comprehend or appreciate the fact that we had traveled vary far to see the town Grandpa was raised in and had left for a new life in the United States. Of course everything is going to have more meaning now that I am older. It definitely has more meaning this time, because I am doing it for me and not because the family was dragging me along. Grandpa has now passed and I see it as something I HAVE to do. There is no question. I could not travel to Switzerland and not pay my respects to the man who has given me the opportunity to celebrate many great years of being a Swiss. Also the man who I have had spent many special moments with and who was always over joyed to see his grandchildren. I am glad to say I have some Swiss in me, even if it is only one quarter, and he is the one to thank.
When I arrived in Kusnacht, I had no idea where I was supposed to go. I saw the ticket office and headed inside to ask in my best Swiss German, “hello, speak Englsh?” (Gruitzi, sprekin English) lol. She replied, “Yes, of course.” Haha. So I was off to a good start. I asked, “Do you know where Seebodenalp is? She explained to me where it was and which bus and stop I needed to take. This was great. It even got better when a different woman who was in the ticket office walked on to the bus for a second to tell everyone I was American and which stop I needed to get off at. This was quite embarrassing. When I got to my stop, an elderly woman came up to me and tapped me on my shoulder to let me know I needed to get off. Thank goodness, because I thought I still had one more stop. I guess getting embarrassed for 2 seconds wasn’t so bad after all. Better than being lost for, who knows how long.
The Seebodenalp cable car was right across the street from the bus stop. This cable car would take me to the restaurant Bobby told me about, and where the statue sits near. But I wanted to hike to the statue. I let the people there know this and they gave me a map. The lady inside even walked me to where she could point and explain where the trail started. -Geeze they are helpful here. Even when I speak, uhhh….NO Swiss German. Lol- Bobby taught me a couple words, like Wonderwag, pronounced, Vonder Veg. This was a key to know since random spots would have a sticker that said wonderwag. This means trail. I hit the first pole that had a little yellow sticker with a man hiking on it. I followed the sidewalk to the next sign that had an arrow pointing through someone’s yard and had Seeboldenalp on it. I made my way up through the dew grass and next to cows. The sun was still low and I was the only one on the trail. It was the perfect feeling. There was a cool breeze with the sun shining and serenity. It was perfect for the type of journey I was on. I found myself turning around every so many hundred yards to take in the great view. There were a couple times where I literally had to open a gate to someone’s cow pasture to follow the trail and again through one at the other side. The first one I came up to was just a rope slung across from one post to another. I lifted the looped end off of one post and walked through, placing it back again. As I did so, I saw the other rope across the pasture. I kept my eye on the gate and made my way through the pasture. After I passed through the gate and turned around to place the rope back on the post, I was facing the way I had just come. To my surprise, about 10 meters to what would have been my left as I walked through, was a bull with 2 very large horns taking a break from his meal to stare at me. I would have freaked if I would have saw him as I passed him. I didn’t even think to take a picture, but just turned and walked away letting out a deep breath. I stopped a few times on my way up to take videos and pictures of the view and get on film how excited I felt and capture the amazing views I was witnessing. I video blogged some of my feelings since there was no one with me, and so I could remember what exactly was going through my head. I had a lot of thoughts.
I thought a lot about how my Great Grandfather, Karl would be proud to know little Kurtie was making long journey and small hike to see his town and statue. All grown up I thought a lot of when I was little and when we were at the statue last. I was wondering if more memories would come back after revisiting the site. I thought a lot about Dad and the hikes we have done. The little sayings he blurts. Wondering how far behind he would be. Lol. I remembered the time I finally beat him up a trail and what an awesome feeling that was. I thought a lot about hiking in general and understand why so many people enjoy it. Why so many old men hike and hike. It felt good to be alone and have the cow bells in the background of my thoughts. The smells and sounds made it a very good experience. The silence and the faint sound of an alp horn in the distance. Thought a lot about Grandpa Karl and what he would think of me making the trip. How I would love to bring him back something, even if it was a story or two of me in his home town and how everyone was very friendly, just like he was. Did a lot of thinking how much farther of this thigh burning I had left. Lol. Wondering if I was ever going to make it up there. Lol.
The trail became well marked once I got into the trees and I put my head down and marched. I stripped my outer layer and felt the burn. It was great. I made it to a paved road where there was a cable hanging above. I thought at this point, I have to be close. I walked on the road for a little bit, looking for the trail to continue up into the trees. There was none. I kept walking and saw t restaurant and cable car booth. YES!! I am very close. I busted out the video camera and documented me looking and finding the statue. I said hello to a man who was carrying a shovel doing yard work and kept looking. Looking to the left of the restaurant. Nothing. I walked in front and aver to the right side like Bobby told me. I saw some trees that looked very familiar. I moved closer and past the line of trees to see the back side of them, and there it lay! I found it!
A rush of emotion filled my body and I felt Goosebumps all over my body. For me it was an accomplishment. It was not the longest or hardest hike, but the one with the most significance. It meant a lot for me to see his statue. To hike it and take in every aspect of the Swiss culture and atmosphere.
I quickly moved towards the statue and immediately found Ulrich, Karl on the base. A huge smilecame over me and I steped back to see the statue in the foreground of a very beautiful view of green hills spotted with houses up high and densely arranged in the town, an open lake to my right continuing far into the distance and a lake to my left with sailboats and it bordering beautiful mountain peaks beyond Luzern. It was a breathtaking view.
I sat down on the bench next to the statue and busted out my chocolate and water. The raspberry filling was delicious. I took my time to reflect and have a moment at the same time sipping on my water and enjoying the chocolate. I thought about Grandpa as a kid and what it was like when he was here. What I would be doing if I grew up here. How I would love to live here. It was a great feeling. It was an emotional time at the same time having a smile on my face looking out at the view. I had A man who was sitting on the bench down a ways take a photo of me next to the cross. I was eager to tell him my story of why I was there and what the statue meant to me. He was intrigued and asked me a few questions and went on his way. A few moments later as I was packing up my stuff, he came back to ask me some more questions. He asked me exactly who it was that put the statue there. I told him my great grandfather and I think his brother donated it after he had moved to the states. I am not sure exactly how true that is, but I saw two Ulrich names and Puyallup Washington under them. Gave it my best guess. He was very impressed that I had come from the Stated to Visit Kusnacht. When I was talking with him, I saw the higher peak of the Rigi behind him. I saw a huge antenna and asked if there was any way to get up there. He said,” Of course there is. Do you want to hike up there?“ I replied, Well I wasn’t planning on it, but I have hiked this far and have no idea when I am going to be here again.” HE told me it would take me 2 hours max….I was convinced. I made my way to the trail head and saw that there was 2 ways up. I approached a man who was putting on some boots and asked him which the best way was. There was the 4 hour route and the 2 ½ hour route. I chose the 2 ½ hour. He told me that there is a hotel and trains at the top. I told him I had no idea. I think he got a little affended andsaid something along the lines of “We are modern, ya know?!” I laughed and told him I new that, but didn’t see any cable car or train on the mountain. The peak was far to far away to tell if there was a hotel on it. He told me there are two trains that run up the other side of the mountain and the hotel is out of site from our vantage point. With that, I thanked him and headed up.
It started off the same as the first leg through pastures and what not, then quickly led to switchbacks. As I approached the switchbacks, I slowly passed three Swiss Gents. One of them had very god English and told me, “You sound English!” I told him I was American, but I will take English any day. He said “Oh, hell. Same thing.” I laughed as he continued to interrogate me of why I was in Kusnacht on the Rigi. I shared my story and he quickly responded “Ahhh, A home sick Swiss!” I laughed again and he said he is doing the same thing, but for 3 weeks in Switzerland. He now lives somewhere on the east coast, I can’t remember.
I made my way to the top while taking more photos and saying hello to everyone who passed in the opposite direction and those I passed. I was very surprised to see the age, size and shape of the people on the trail. It really made me think of myself as a puss for experiencing the aches and pains I was. Lol. I made it to the top though, and the views were stunning. I took lots and sat down in the grass to enjoy a song of three men on their alp horns. It was a great sound. I don’t think I have ever heard multiple alm horns harmonizing before. It was great. I then treated myself to a lunch off fries and a bratwurst outside and gazing at the amazing view of the alps. After walking around for a bit, it was time to make my way back. On my way back I saw a sign that had the profile of the alp’s skyline. I saw that one of the peaks was the Matterhorn. I had no idea it was visible from where I was and thought it was pretty cool. I trucked it down and on my way got passed by two old timers. This got to me a little but and from there on, I ran all the way down. It was a lot of fun and took me no time to get to the cable car by Grandpa’s statue.
I walked inside the booth, and there was no one manning the booth. I saw a schedule of running times that was in all German, but I was able to figure out that one list of times was for week days and the other for weekends. The time table listed that the next time the car would leave was in 5 minutes. The cable car was open for anyone to go into. I was the only one there and took a couple steps inside. The thing moved a bit and I was completely unsure if I was supposed to be inside it or not. I really didn’t want to walk the rest of the way down. I spooked myself out and left the car. As I did I saw a sign that said doors close automatically. I thought to myself outside, “If I am in the car resting and the doors close, it wasn’t my fault” lol. I sat back down inside and waited a bit to see if the car was even operating, since there was no one at the booth. Exactly 5 minutes later, the doors shut and closed me inside. Haha. I was like, NO WAY! I hope I didn’t have to pay or anything. I enjoyed the ride down and couldn’t believe what just happened. When I got to the bottom I was greeted by an old fart who spoke no English. I told him hello in German and acted like I knew what I was doing as I walked off. He quickly stopped me to see my ticked. Of course I had none. He called me over to the ticket booth and asked me for 13 Eurose. I only had my Debit card. Silly me. He told me to take a bus to the bank and come back. The direction of the bank was conveniently in the direction of the train station where I needed to catch my train back home. I jumped on the bus and contemplated just heading home and saving myself the 133 eurose. I think anyone would. But, I of course did not do that. I didn’t want to be “That American.” I know Grandpa would not be proud of that, plus the fact that it would fill my conscience. I took the man his money and headed home. I was very tired and made the walk back to my hostel.
I ended up eating dinner and having an early night to bed. Of course today was gorgeous! Tomorrow is is supposed to cool down a bit. Thanks Grandpa for my amazing day. You are very missed by us all.

Kurt