1st of August in Spiez

Chilling in Spiez, our Suisse 2nd home, is sometimes like chilling at the French Riviera. From our lookout at the balcony we watch the boats come and go and the ferries bringing and taking passengers all around the Berner Oberland, preferrably to Interlaken and other main hubs of the region.

And of course here again the famous "Blümlisalp", the river steam boat, operating at the Thuner See. There are lots of boat running, sometimes we watch three of them at the same time, coming from all sides, but definately the "Blümlisalp" is the Queen amongst them.

It is an easy life you live in the Suisse Summer in Spiez, especially this year when the temps reached up to 35°C and the Thuner See was 21°C - an all time high for the region and even I waded in hesitantly for a swim. But wait until the 1st of August, which is national holiday in Switzerland (the Suisse Independence Day if you want to put it like that). Flags come out everywhere, homes are beautifully decorated and everybody in the area waits for the great fireworks that are supposed to take place in the night.

Even I was caught waving flags in the supermarket. Actually, I was just playing around not knowing that the paparazzi were sneaking up from behind, but when caught I gave in and waved for the crowd (and I am not even Suisse, mind! But the atmosphere definately catches you, lol). In case you want to know: the flag with the bear is the flag of the Berner Oberland, the one with the white cross of course is the National Flag of Switzerland.

For the evening we had our own preparations of course. It was fondue on the balcony where we have a 1st row seating for the fireworks but of course one has to pass the time until 10.15 hrs when it is finally dark enough for the fireworks to start. Days are long in the Suisse Summer, it does not get dark way before 10.00 o´clock p.m.

Here we have janitor Indy on the look-out for what the heck is going on down there. Curiosity kills the cat, ha? In this case: a White Shepherd.

Here we have our dessert of the night. Yum, yum - with Vanilla cream inside and really, really sweet.

The fireworks that started on the lake with lots of small lit boats surrounding it like dozens of fireflies was of course right on the dot at 10.15 hrs. It lasted for half an our (and it had lasted for 45 minutes the last time - economic crisis on display here in Switzerland, the European centre of money and economy) and it was grand to put it mildly. We were oh-ing and ah-ing all the time!

Afterwards all the small boats buzzed off again, the fireflies escaped into the dark, and we only could hear the happy singing voices from the partyzone at the bay of Spiez.

And the rest was silence......

Hasis Birthday lunch at the "Le Ciel"

It was Hasis birthday weekend, and to do something different for a change I had planned on inviting him for lunch to the famous "Le Ciel" at the ANA Grand Hotel in downtown Vienna.

This 5*hotel is situated at the Ring, right next to the Bristol, and what I told you about the "Sacher" ("don´t go there") is right the opposite here. I never felt so much at home at such a posh place before (well yes, maybe at the "Phoenician" in Phoenix, Arizona - but that is a different cup of tea) and I can really recommend (recommend, recommend!!) it.

You find the "Le Ciel" at the top floor of the ANA Grand Hotel, overlooking the Ring, and if you want to check it out a bit more here is the link http://www.leciel.at/.

When we got there early (we don´t like to eat late) we were the first to arrive, but when we left two hours later all tables were full. I recommend to book a table in advance, the Restaurant is not that big, and it is pretty well booked.

Champagne to toast with! After you are seated they instantly arrive with the drinks for you to chose from, and then they give you all the time in the world to contemplate on your courses. Honestly, I was never served by a more caring and more attentive staff! (And now I am also counting the "Phoenician", Phoenix, Arizona, the "Beekmans Tower" in NYC, NY, and the Raffles in Singapore.)

While waiting for our first course to arrive we had a quick peek at the terrace - another nice place to chill. It was a bit overcast so they did not lay the tables outside, but this is definately a place for next time!

Here we re-arranged ourselves a bit for the picture, otherwise it would have been too bright for the camera. Our table was table No. 12 - a big thumbs up, and a number to remember for next time.

The compliment from the kitchen was some cold "Asparagus and something soup". Then came the first course. Mine was "Spinach creme soup with quail´s egg" and some other things I can´t remember, Hasi had the Carpaccio, which was the best ever.

As a main course we both had the "Kalbsgeschnetzeltes" with Gnocci in a cheese crust. Yum!

Dessert was absolutely smashing! We had the "Petit four" (Stefan) and the "Selection of cheese" - for me the absolute highlight of a brilliant meal. The waiter who attends the cheese wagon will select the perfect choice of cheese for you - and it was a smash!! For me the best course of the meal!

 

And to show you how attentive the staff is: When I had booked the table I had not mentioned that it was Hasi´s birthday. When we arrived he told one of the waiters that I really had surprised him for his birthday - and that was all there was needed. After dessert suddenly the music was playing "Happy birthday" and the cheese wagon man arrived with a cake and a sparkler in it.... It was amazing!

 

 

We left happy and satisfied, knowing that we just had discovered a place worth remembering. We definately will be going again!

 

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