We just got Nathaniel’s passport in the mail today. Just in time! Sydney’s parents arrive for a ten-day visit on Monday, and we’re planning a three-day holiday to Switzerland so we can all get a small dose of the Alps. (Lisa E., this is just to whet my appetite so that I’m keen to return once you settle in there!) Sydney’s parents are going to stay in the other half of our house, which the college has kindly let us rent for the week, and we’re all hoping for both relaxation and some fun sightseeing. The weather is great: seventies and lots of sun. More importantly, the markets are filled with good fruit, and Sydney’s been coming home with paper bags filled with peaches, plums, strawberries, and apricots.
Things on our street are rather busy at the moment. If you’re at all familiar with the Inspector Morse or Inspector Lewis television series, some of it is set in Oxford, and they’re filming scenes on our street and in a house a few doors down. Katherine’s loving the excitement. She has been entertaining some of the bored crew while she stands at the window with rapt attention. Sydney and I are, admittedly, less keen on the noise and bother, but then I realized that the film crews were keeping motorcycles from zipping through our area at high speeds, so now I’m somewhat mollified. From what we’ve seen, I’m very glad not to be in the movie business. There’s a lot of standing around while passersby gawk. I think Faulkner, who worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood for several years, was right in dismissing movies as “the new art” on grounds that they required too much collaboration–and therefore too much compromise.
Erin
Alan Schmierer
Have a great time in Schweiz! Where are you going? If you guys do anything great, let me know, because I’m planning on spending a few days being a tourist in the German-speaking part with my parents before my official “move in” in Lausanne.
-L
Definitely will, Lis! I don’t yet know where we’re going (Sydney’s in charge), but we’ll be in largely German areas (I will be the only non-German-speaking adult in our group). Right now I think Sydney’s torn between two plans and wondering how much we can realistically enjoy in just 2 1/2 days! For us, it just needs to involve mountains 🙂 Oh yes, and chocolate.
Yeah, I figured you’d probably be hitting the German-speaking part (and it’s like 70% of the country, so also a fair bet, hehe). If there’s a way to catch them (maybe PBS online?) Rick Steves did a segment on Swiss cities (and one on the countryside in the Alps). I’ll be curious to hear your itinerary when you go. And this is good, b/c then I can show you the French parts when you come visit me. 🙂
The chocolate is all fabulous. On my last trip, an old man at the market (Migros?) saw me staring at the chocolate aisle looking overwhelmed, and said, “They all taste the same, so I buy the cheap one.” and grabbed a bar off the bottom shelf. The store brand is unfortunately called “Budget”, so I couldn’t bring it home as a gift, but at 60 centimes, the price was right & it was delicious for eating in the hotel. 🙂
GAH! Inspector Lewis! I’m so jealous! Lauren and I are both green with envy about your brush with one of our favorite Masterpiece series and the adorable DC Hathaway.
Jenny and I are huge Inspector Lewis geeks and were super excited to hear this, Faulknerian objections notwithstanding. (how can one not love Masterpiece Mystery?) Hope the visit and your travels are wonderful 🙂
Have fun on your trip and with the in-laws! 🙂
Lauren and Jen, you are hilarious. We will have to rent the Inspector Lewis/Morse videos from the library while we’re here so that we can properly appreciate the excitement. Now I’m intrigued!