Our First Visitors in CH - Aunt Barb and Uncle Shaun! - Part I

We were overjoyed to have some family come to stay with us for a bit. Barb being here for a week really helped Leah get very comfortable with the day to day duties associated with the little Drake. Whether it was taking little Drake into town on the train or being there for the first few times Leah had to breast feed in public - the support of family should never be underestimated and can not be replaced.

The extra set of hands around the house really helped Leah as well. Barb helped cook dinner (her specialty is Cajun ribs!) and helped with Laundry and this was very much appreciated.

One of the major downsides of living abroad is being away from friends and family so we really enjoyed having Barb and Shaun with us in Zurich.

Here is Aunt Barb saying hello to her Nephew for the first time! It was a great moment.

We didn't waste any time. Right to the Zurich main train station (Hauptbanhoff = HB) and a Weiss wurst and hunk of bread for Barb. It is one of our favorite treats!

Here is a picture of the Zurich HB from the Banhoffstrasse - the main shopping street in Zurich.

A view of Zurich from the Banhoffstrasse.

Here is Leah and Drake about to take a stroll down the Banhoffstrasse. Did somebody say shopping?

One mandatory stop is the Sprungli shop. This is the home of the Luxembourglis - another favorite Zurich treat.

The Banhoffstrasse empties out to the Lake. We had a beautiful day for a walk and we stopped here for a few pics with the Lake and Alps in the background.

Then it was back to Meilen. The sheer beauty of Switzerland is hard to explain but this picture helps. This is our town of Meilen. Here you have vineyards and farms, the lake, and the mountains. It is truly a beautiful place to live.

Grrrrr Baby, very Grrrrr. Time to eat!

This is the first time Leah fed out in public. She is now a pro. Here she is donning her flowered "hooter hider" and giving little Drake a snack. The Europeans don't even bother to cover up - on the train, in stores, on a park bench - they bear all. The concept of the "hider" is as foreign to them as we are!


The end result - out like a light! Well done Leah!


Not it was time for the grown ups to have a snack! This is at our favorite little bar / restaurant down on the water called the Lowen. The roof of this outside spot is actually made up of trees.


Aunt Barb was a natural. Drake loved hanging out with her!


Hey, look who we found! Uncle Shaun dropped in a week later. Here, he is admiring the giant sausage advertisement that you can find in many towns.


We took Barb and Shaun out to the old city of Rapperswil. This town, like many others in Switzerland, is perfectly preserved. The interesting thing is that unlike the Anglo-Saxons, the Swiss did not build very large, extravagant palaces to show their wealth. Maybe this is why they have been an independent country with no wars for over 700 years. Even today, flaunting wealth here is frowned upon - though there is a ton of old money here.


A view of the old city of Rapperswil.

Leah and Barbara in Rapperswil.


Barb and Shaun in Rapperswil.


Well, we just couldn't pass this one up! Most every city in Switzerland has public fountains like this and has had them operational for hundreds of years. You can still drink right from these fountains today.


A bachelor! They do things a tad different here in Switzerland. The bachelor has a list of things that he must complete. One is obtaining a young lady's undergarments. He was a bit disappointed to find out that the only undergarments the ladies were willing to share were diapers!


A bit of art in Rapperswil.

A much deserved treat at the end of the day in Rapperswil.

Meanwhile, back at the bat cave, we are slowly getting Drake's nursery together and decorated. Leah has put his name over the changing table and this has already provided the little guy with much entertainment.

Here he is on his play mat having a fun play session. He sometimes keeps himself entertained and other times wants someone to play with him. He is definitely becoming more aware of his surroundings!

We will post part II in the coming days. At two months, Drake is just under 10 pounds and just over 22 inches long. He had his first vaccines this week and he handled them like a champ. Leah and I just look at him in sheer amazement sometimes and can not believe that we made something so beautiful. He is truly amazing.

We look forward to introducing him to all other friends and family when we are home in December. Love to all, Derek, Leah, and Drake.