Laowai

We’ve taken in a bit of Swiss sport and Swiss culture recently. 

Last week the girls and I went to the Tour de Suisse bike race. It’s route came close by to our house – to Einsiedeln – so we had to go.

It’s too bad Brian couldn’t come because he makes things like this more fun. But we did bring along Claire’s friend Lydia and we were all smiles. 

There’s the race leader below – Peter Sagan.

The race ended on the cobblestones right in front of the big beautiful Einsiedeln Abbey.

On to our bit of culture. Yesterday we went to a Yodel Festival. Just saying Yodel Festival makes any non-yodelers laugh but it was fun and interesting. So we heard a bit of yodeling – there were performances going on all over the town. And then we went to the yodel village to get some lunch and a beer and take in the atmosphere. 

I got super excited when I saw all the costumes and I started creepily taking a bunch of photos. The details and fabrics were great. Lots of lovely linen, embroidery, wool and fine pleating details and interesting lace head decorations and delicate knitted stocking and shawls.

Oh and lots of traditional hair – put up in braids.

It was raining pretty hard but Bea and I took a ride on the ferris wheel and we could hear alphorns below. I want to come back when it’s not raining. Here’s a video if you’d like to hear a little yodeling and see some costumes.