Six-hundred-thirty-ninth Post
Day 2
Waking in the early morning-even before sunrise-I planned my day (which couldn't begin until ~9:30, because my first destination didn't open until 10). Breakfast was plain, but free, so I had no complaints.
Then I made my way to the Castle Habsburg, of the Habsburg Dynasty fame, and spent some time touring the grounds. Then I ate at the castle restaurant, opting for rib-eye to see what Swiss beef was like. On the whole? Pretty good.
The real show-stealer though was the pumpkin risotto balls: they were truly excellent and one of the best things I've eaten in recent memory.
After that, it was off to France, to the Ruine Landskron, which were the ruins of an old castle. They were lovely, but it was a real trek to get to, with parking a 15-minute walk down some terribly steep paths. Got my heartrate up to 150bpm and by the time I got to the top, I was really feeling my age and lack of fitness.
I know most people wait until at least their first heart attack before becoming serious about getting into shape, but I might have to try and do something when I get back to Texas. Who knows, though...it is me we're talking about.
So after enjoying dilapidated French stonework, I headed off to my night's accommodations: a working farm nestled in the rolling hills north of Neuchâtel, back in Switzerland.
At least, I tried to. Road construction meant that near the end of my hour-long drive, I suddenly had to hop onto a side-path that wended up and over some hills, giving up on the idea of "paving" about a quarter of the way in. I bumped and jostled over stones, but managed to avoid anything untoward happening.
Also got to see some lovely vistas of Swiss lowland countryside (since I'm not into the actual mountains, yet).
Arrived safely and found that the farm-in addition to all the cows and chickens one would expect-sported a doofy-yet-lovable cat with a permanently askance tongue. Adorable.
The Swiss seem to go in for toilets that project from the wall, instead of standing on a foot like American toilets. I am always worried they will break free under the tender ministrations of my copious American ass.
They do, however, have amazing toilet paper: it actually gets the job done, instead of just being soft and useless like American bathroom tissue.