Fierenze for a weekend

Michael had an Society of Gynecological Investigation meeting to go to in Fierenze (Florence, Italy)--I met him on Friday by train from Zurich and we had a great time seeing the Uffizi museum, the Arno, and today Bobili and Bardini Gardens. Warm, sunny and the best food!

Almost a week with Rolland and Patti

WE had a great week with Rolland and Patti who arrived March 20--we whisked them off to Prague for the weekend. We had one GlORIUS day and one rainy day, but it was great nevertheless. Patti had studied the Cech language and was pretty good at pronouncing words and helping us get around. We read Neal's poem that he wrote for Patti and Rolland's weddi

ng on the Charles Bridge. We also got tickets to the opera at the State Opera House--we saw La Boheme. Great production.

Zurich Opera does Aida

Another event with the girls was to go to the Zurich Opera to see Aida--done again in modern style with couches, television set, and scrims. A lot of commentary on war and post-traumatic stress in returning soldiers of war: Radames has it. No Elephants parading, but a dramatic ending where the "roof falls down" so to speak on Radames in the tomb and Aida find each other; Amnares comes on stage as the Angel of Death (non-singing role)makes peace with Aida and the two (Aida and Radames) end on a couch to die together. Very interesting and great singing by Amneris Iano Tamar, Aida Laonia Moore, and Radames Aleksaandrs Antonenko.

A week with Johanna and Gita

One highlight of our time here was having Johanna and Gita here for a week. We arrived together on Saturday March 8, having met in Atlanta to fly to Zurich (Michael and I had been at NANOS meeting in San Juan). We walked over 17 miles on Saturday seeing the Lake Zurich, the Frauenkirke Chagall windows, and the many streets of Zurich. We ended the day on top of the mountain behind us, Ablisberg, to watch "Horses on Ice" an actual sport of horses with special horse shoes running around an ice track being judged on style, speed, and attitude. Sunday we took the train to Luzern where we walked along Lake Luzern, saw the Luzern Lion statue (Mark Twain called it the saddest Lion in stone he ever saw), the bridges across the river. We treated ourselves to bratwurst and beer at a stube. Monday the girls toured around Zurich and the Zoo, and Tuesday they took the train to Murin and skied in the alps--under the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch (while Michael and I worked). Wednesday we went to Basel for Fasching--at least a 4-5 hour parade with flying oranges, confetti, hardboiled eggs while drummers and picolos filled the streets with their sounds. Thursday the girls toured Zurich, and Friday they headed to Mt. Titlis and Eidelberg where Michael had a ski day with his Obstetrics and Gynecology department. Friday night the girls and I finished our day with a glass of wine at the Dolder Hotel above our apartment. They left Saturday and Michael and I went to Bern to see the Bern Bears, and the Bernishcen Historischen Museum that houses the Einstein Museum--a real must for anyone interested in science.

Horses on Ice

Luzern Bridge

Johanna and Gita by the Jungfrau, Eiger, Monch

Fasching in Basel

Johanna and Gita at Edelsberg

A walk around a sunny Zurich on Saturday when we arrived

Milano La Scala

I am seriously behind in my posting! But we got to see Lucia di Lammermoor by Donnezetti with our cousins and good friends Krista and Guiseppe--a GREAT weekend for all of us February 16