Daley Ponderings

Once again we took an early tram to thetrain station, meeting Janet and Stephan there. Then we rode to Zurich and the first thing we did was walk to the historical museum. We saw ancient gold, medieval and more modern weapons, and costumes, elaborately panelled rooms, banners and medals from Reformation times, battle reenactment scenes, giant globes and more. There was something wrong with the heating system that day and the museum was cold! While we decided what to do next, we sat in front of a working radiator to warm up.

 

Our plan was to buy food at the grocery store and eat it while riding on a train around the lake. After getting our groceries, we discovered that we missed the train that goes next to the lake, but if we hurried we could get one that goes near it. So we ran down the platform and jumped on the first car. This was first class, so we had to walk through several first class aisles before finding our second class seats. But the train began moving before we got there, so we would have missed it if we walked that distance on the platform.

We found a nice spot and sat down to enjoy our lunch of bread, meat, cheese, jelly and special drinks. Then we got off the train and took another one back to Zurich by way of the lake route. Then we found a park and saw people playing chess on two large boards on the ground, with large wooden pieces. We watched one game and when it finished Jon and the boys played. This was an interesting game of chess. Jon allowed each boy to have a turn before he got his turn. At first, the boys were not coordinated and Jon made progress. Then, with some hints and tips from Aunt Janet and Uncle Stephan, the boys found out that if they worked together, they could really do damage to Daddy's pieces. Noah had a blast knocking over pieces with the killing piece. The queen was his favorite. At some point, Noah had had enough and it was just Daddy and Jonathan playing. It ended up being a draw.

Then we walked back to the train station and headed home. At the Basel station, the boys walked all over the place trying to find a bathroom. At first, Jon did not want to pay 2 Franks to use the restroom, but after wandering far, they finally came to a ½ Frank bathroom, but they didn't have a ½ Frank piece, so they ended up paying 2 Franks for it anyway.

While I was waiting for them I saw a pigeon do something I'd never seen before. He was sitting on the ground, penned in by two walls, a sign, and a dog. He seemed content enough until the dog moved. Then he flew straight up into the air like a helicopter to avoid his entrapment. Amazing!

After our tram ride home, we had dinner with the Dutlers - pasta, shrimp, and vegetables.