Day 5 - Swiss National Day

Here is an American woman’s version of how Switzerland was formed, from what I can remember as told to me by my cousin’s son in English, his second language. The story starts with a man named William Tell who came into a village ruled by an arrogant man named Gessler. This man required everyone in town and those who came through to bow at his HAT which was perched upon a pole he had raised under a linden tree. William Tell was a stranger to the village, traveling with his young son and refused to bow at the hat on his way through. He was arrested with his son and both were sentenced to death. William Tell was known as being an excellent marksman with a crossbow, so Gessler gave Tell the opportunity to save his and his sons lives if he could complete one challenge. Tell was to shoot an apple off the top of his son’s head with a crossbow in one attempt. While this would have ended tragically for most, Tell was very skilled and won their freedom with one shot. The strife between Gessler and

Tell continued until Gessler was finished with one of Tell's bows. William Tell made an agreement with leaders from two other kantons (like US states) that they would bond together and form a new nation. These were the first three kantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy, the beginning of Switzerland. It turns out this story might be a legend or folk tale to some degree, the earliest mention of Tell comes from writings and a song from the 1400's. There is debate that this story is complete fantasy and William Tell was completely fictional, not a part of Switzerland's creation at all. We may never know.

We drove from Fussen, Germany to Kagiswil, Switzerland this morning through Austria and it was a beautiful drive. We stopped in Baar to see Bruno and enjoy the tasty pasta and salad lunch he had ready for us. Alexandra and Bruno's home is beautiful, light, airy and modern. Garret will be sharing Jan's room for the next week and settled right in.

It was a delight to see my other cousin Sabine with her family and her lovely home in Kagiswil. Shortly after we arrived a lightening

storm came through with pouring rain and loud thunder. We waited the storm out at Sabine’s kitchen table with good wine and delicious food. When the rain died down to a drizzle we made our way to the neighboring town of Sarnen, where Sabine's daughter Andrina attends school.

Along the shore of the lake was a large white party tent packed with locals listening to Swiss music provided by nearby farm kids. On the menu was raclette (Swiss cheese with bacon served over potatoes), good white wine and beer. The atmosphere was festive since everyone is celebrating the Swiss National Day (the birth of Switzerland as a nation some 700 years ago or so). It has stopped

raining so we walk along the shore and come across a nice fire next to another local organization making money selling crepes. Garret chooses nutella with bananas and Anna decides on cinnamon sugar, Jan and Andrina both choose their favorites, and they all must be good because none of them offers a bite.

As we walk along the lake, there are four men playing the traditional Swiss Alpenhorns together and the sound is beautiful. It is mellow and slow and lovely, I could listen to this all evening. We walk down to a beach club that is full with people dining and listening to music, then walk back to the alpenhorns and find a nice spot for viewing the fireworks. The fireworks show has been sponsored by a large local company, it lasts about 30 minutes and is spectacular! And since we have a front row seat and the music is playing behind us and it's not raining, it is the perfect welcome to our first day in Switzerland.