Last Anderau day

As we were waiting to be picked up to go to lunch, we sat in the hotel lobby. We watched a family of 10 adults, 2 children and a large black dog, go into the restaurant at this 4-star resort. It seems strange that we have seen people everywhere with dogs—really large dogs. But in a hotel dining room? And he was not a "service" dog, just a pet.

Our ride came and we drove to the Hagenwil castle which has been in the same family since the Crusades.

The Castle is now a restaurant as well as the family’s home. We had a lovely meal with Viktor, his wife Eoma, his son Glenn, and his daughter Fiona accompanied by Viktor’s sister Felicity. It was a fantastic family dinner with some folks having chateau briand, others, veal cordon bleu, or venison, or a Swiss pork dish. The presentation of each plate was very artistic. We started with salad and or soup (pumpkin) The meal ended with some having sorbet and coffee.

Viktor took the picture, so he's not shown. Thanks to all the Anderaus for the lovely experience.

We looked around the castle taking pictures and talking in the rain.


Our next stop was the fair at St. Gallen. This is a large gathering and we had trouble finding a place to park. The fair had every booth imaginable from candies, to sausages, and gingerbread. There was more than one booth selling "western" items such as large belt buckles, cowboy hats and (of all things) American license plates. We found one woman whose name was Anderau selling a special gingerbread. We knew this because of the name printed on the pink sacks she used to sell the bread and cousin Viktor talked to her and introduced us as "Anderaus from America".



I mentioned that parking was at a premium –we finally ended up in a parking garage with several levels and my friends who know about my car, will not be surprised to know that when I saw a specially marked place for Smart Cars to park, I had to have a picture.


The Swiss use every possible inch of space, since space is at a premium here in this small country.

After the fair, we again went to see Agnes Anderau, Otto’s wife, in the hospital/ nursing home. This time the entire family, her son, daughter, daughter-in-law and grandchildren also went and it was really a little over whelming for her.



We talked for about 45 min and set out for Otto’s house. She did not remember our visit from yesterday, but we did not expect that she would.

The group sat in Otto’s living room looking at picture albums and talking.
Otto kept offering us something to eat, but after the enormous lunch we really weren’t hungry. Let me mention that I have never gotten used to drinking mineral water, which most Europeans prefer.. I really like plain 'ole un-fizzy water.

Otto got tired about 9 and we said our goodbyes, with the Swiss Anderaus promising to come to Texas for a visit..

Thus ends a wonderful chapter of this adventure.

Tomorrow --on to Interlacken