Wyles in Zurich summer 2010: Friday 30th July 2010

It rained again on Friday. Half of us slept in Herrliberg and the rest of us were in Zurich. We ran errands in the morning and eventually came to Herrliberg to figure out what to do with the rainy day. We “hung out” with the cousins, grazing on the awesome vegetables and salads for lunch, and eventually headed to the beach on Lake Zurich to play Frisbee, fly kites, play with r/c model boats, and go shopping down town. I took the oldest four kids to Bahnhofstrasse. We walked from one end to the other and back. It rained again in the late afternoon. We went into some of the stores but didn’t buy anything except Spruengli Luxemburgerli and Truffle du jours for dessert.

Eitana discovered the Asterix comic books

Second Breakfast in Zurich

A break in the weather, view from Herrliberg house (Right side)

View from Herrliberg house (center)

View from Herrliberg house (left side)

These three photos form a panorama (I hope).

Julian and a German contractor named “Andreas” have gutted and are remodeling a house two doors down on the same block in Herrliberg. They have already moved or removed four of the walls and they wired up the house for data, remote control, power, and track lighting. Julian is having a great time as prime contractor on the construction site.

View into the kitchen from the great room.

We finally got out of the house and walked along Bahnhofstrasse.

There was a huge crowd in front of the Apple store waiting to give Apple their hard earned cash for the iPhone-4 jewelry.

Elisheva and Adinah tried out all the perfumes

The crowd in front of the Apple store was undaunted by the rain.

A boutique bakery in the cobble stone Neiderdorf section of downtown Zurich had colorful displays in the window.

The oldest four in front of the bakery.

When the rain became steady and cold we got picked up at the Opera house, went back to Herrliberg where we played Whist and then ate a fantastic vegetarian dinner.

Tomorrow we plan to go speed boating and water skiing on Lake Zurich; Julian and I plan to buy fireworks for the Swiss National Day celebration on 1. August.

Wyles in Zurich summer 2010: Thursday 29 July 2010

We had to get out of the apartment in Zurich early because the cleaning lady came at 0800. We went to Herrliberg and spent time with the younger children, eating fresh-baked bread and drinking awesome espresso.

It was horrible weather, cold and raining.

Eventually (after lunch) we piled into two cars and drove to the chocolate factory near St Gallen. The GPS in my phone gave perfect directions. Although we looked on the WWW when the factory tour was open, upon our arrival 95 minutes later we discovered:

. . . that the factory and tourist center was closed for summer vacation. The nephews were inconsolable, crying and whining.

We stopped at a small grocery store to buy chocolate, use the washrooms, and re-plan. We asked the GPS for points of interest and decided to go to a local zoo.

The zoo had talking parrots that greet everyone with “hallo.”

A mongoose

In the tropical building they have free-roving monkeys who play and interact with you. They are somewhat shy but will put up petting for food.

Yofi charmed one of them. It was literally eating out of his hand.

When the rest of the kids arrived the monkey ran away.

There were (very unhappy) tigers.

There was a chimpanzee building with a large troop of chimps.

A petting zoo with goats, sheep, lambs.

At dinner time we piled into the cars and headed back to Herrliberg.

Wyles in Zurich summer 2010: Wednesday 7/28/2010 misc pics

On our way out to dinner

Juli discusses auto repairs with the local mechanic

The three cousins play a computer game together

Left to Right: Eitana, Livio, Pino

Restaurant bathroom mirrors: Vogue,

Rolls Royce ad,

French Chocolate advert circa 1922

Wyles in Zurich summer 2010: 25th Anniversary Celebration

Gabriella and I were married 25 years and we celebrated our anniversary at a restaurant. I gave Gaby a silver necklace and we had a delicious dinner and a quiet evening alone together. We looked back at the last 25 years and forward to the next 25.

Mitch and Gab in 1983

Mitch and Gab in 2010

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at the restaurant celebrating 25^th anniversary.