October 17, 1985 - Report from SwitzerlandPage 18 The Suffolk Times October 17, 1985
Report from S w�edand
By PAUL STOUTENBURGH
How easy it is to change one's world
today. Last week I wrote by kerosene
lamp light because of the power shor-
tage caused by hurricane Gloria and
today I'm writing aboard a Swissair 747
five miles above the earth on our return
trip from Switzerland, where we celeb-
rated our 35th anniversary. In my ear=
phone is the beautiful music of "Aida ".
Out the plane window it seems we are
suspended in a world of sunlight. Far
below one can see only clouds of white...
The hostess serves us a drink...
On our trip across, we landed in
Zurich after looking down on London,
the English Channel and Paris. As soon
as we stepped off the plane there was a
sparkle about the place and as we sped
to our small hotel in Unterwasser.
Mountains surrounded us as our bus
twisted and turned ever upward. The
clustered homes on the mountains
looked like scenes from a story book.
Each little farm, with its neat flower -
boxed windows, seemed to reinforce
that we were truly in the fairybook land
of Heidi.
The traditional beautiful brown
Swiss cows had already been driven
down from their summer pastures in
the skies and were now enjoying the
luxury of lush green pastures in the val-
ley. Their days of being shut in were
just ahead, for already there was a
crispness in the air that told of three -
or four -foot snows soon to come. Then
their mountainside pasture land would
once again be the mecca for ski en-
thusiasts.
For the next week we heard the tink-
ling of cow bells, for here every inch of
Focus on
Nature
ground is used; the pasture right
alongside of our hotel held 18 cows be-
longing to the neighboring farmer.
Each morning and evening they would
lumber through the parking lot to their
new pasture. Usually one of the farm-
er's children was at the head and one
at the rear. If any help was needed, the
grandfather would fill in wearing his
traditional black boots and holding his
walking stick. We were privileged to
visit two of these farms, one a relatively
new farmhouse, the other one built in
1901. Each had its neatly cut wood pile
tucked out of the weather under those
huge eaves that characterize the Swiss
homes. Later we found the big eaves
were not for the protection of firewood
as much as for protecting the open win-
dows from rain. The Swiss love fresh
air, and open windows are a way of life.
Many a window we saw had its feather
quilt and pillow draped over the window
sill airing.
Of Meters and Hectares
Land is so scarce that it's sold by the
square meter (approximately one
square yard). Most of the mountain
farms are small 15 -30 acres. They meas-
ure in hectares. We think our land
(continued on next page)
There are no strangers here ...justflends you haven't met.
i)J0rkP-V
Rtqtaurant
North Road, Greenport, N. Y. • 477 -1338
Closed Mondays
Now Serving Luncheon
Every Day from 12 -2:30
(except Monday)
Open for lunch and special dinners.
MB
_ 'RESTAURANT\
q • 34 FRONT STREET, GREENPORT, NY'
f 477 -9883
j FRESH LOCAL
S
71 ln-�
EAFOOD ..r1N
STEAKS 6 CHOPS
Plus Daily Blackboard Specials
7 Days* Lunch* Din nor* Cocktails
All Major Credit Cards Accepted.
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
HOUSE SPARROW - -The common house sparrow that nests in your
birdhouse came to us from Europe, where we saw it last week while
visiting therq.
THE �1AL -
Gi t x
BARGE
Besf Seafood
on the North Fork.
Celebrating Its 37th Year on Peconic Bay
Lunch Specials
Broiled Catch of the Day ................... $4.95
Grilled Ham Steak ......................... $5.95
Includes: Soup, Cole Slaw, Potato, Entree, Coffee.
Monday - Friday 12 - 4 p.m.
Early Bird Dinner Specials
Catch of the Day .......................... $7.95
Chicken Kiev ............................. $8.95
Fried Soft Shell Crab ...................... $8.95
Includes: Soup, Salad, Potato, Entree, Dessert and Coffee.
Monday - Friday 4 - 7 p.m.
A la Carte Dinner Specials
Linguini Primavera ........................ $8.95
Flounder Francaise ....................... $9.95
Sauteed Calves Liver w/bacon & onion ........ $9.95
Steamed Lobster ........................ $10.95
Includes: Salad, Potato, Entree
Monday - Friday 4 - 9 p.m.
• Shore Dinners . Cocktails
HOURS: MAIN ROAD, SOUTHOLD
OPEN DAILY C I�
Sun. - Thurs. 12 noon - 9 p.m. Reservations 765 -2691
Fri. & Sat. 12 noon -10 p.m. Major credit cards accepted.
October 17, 1985 The Suffolk Times Page 19
Report...
(continued from previous page)
values have gone out of sight here on
the East End. In Switzerland, they are
much higher. If the farm or home is not
passed down from father to son, it is
almost impossible for the young to buy
land. Eighty percent of the population
rents and even this is expensive.
Tourism is big business and new
chalet hotels are going up everywhere
in this mountain ski country. One never
sees junk or even old cars. At each
supermarket there is a container for
glass, each color having a separate com-
partment in the container. Each garage
-- and there aren't that many of them
-- has a special container for metal. Ev-
erything is recycled. We could learn
much from them.
The week was spent going from one
interesting spot to another. Around
each curve was another vista that
would take your breath away. It is a
picture book country filled with scenes
of valleys, tranquil little villages and
green mountain sides spotted with tiny
farms. 1 can we11 imagine the winter
wonderland it must turn into when the
snow starts to fall.
We had fun with the currency. At one
time after we had visited Germany, Au-
stria and Lichtenstein we had a great
collection of moneys -- Swiss francs,
German marks, Austrian shillings and
oh, yes, American dollars. They were
good almost anywhere and we spent
quite a few of them.
We were in the home of many of our
wildflowers. Our roadside escapes from
Europe like the daisy, king devil, dan-
delion, and cranes bill came to us from
overseas. These flowers are actually im-
migrants from Europe.
I saw the common house sparrow and
starling that are as much at home in
America as in their native Europe. The
mallard, was in every pond and lake,
along with the swan that we see in our
creeks and bays. There were hawks like
our redtails and kestrels that flew and
soared, and high above were buzzards
that reminded me of down south. But
this was Barbara's trip so we spent more
time sightseeing than birding.
Thinking back to those old castles
and churches that were still standing
reminded me of how relatively young
our own country is. We visited a church
built in the 1400s. We passed a dozen
castles in ruins that saw their glory be-
fore the concept of America was even
in the minds of men. It was an exciting
and glorious week, one I must thank
Barbara for suggesting as a way to cel-
ebrate our anniversary.
Church Drama
SOUTHOLD - -Jere Jacob and Anne
West will present "Uncommon Unita-
rian Universalists" at the First Univer-
salist Church, Main Road, Southold, at
11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20.
The program will trace American his-
tory, the development of the Unitarian
and Universalist movements and the
growth of The First Universalist
Church.
As part of the church's celebration of
its 150th anniversary, Joella Vreeland
has written a journal entitled "The
Southold Sisterhood -- Sociables and
Serious Business," based on minutes
and reports of the church's Ladies' Soci-
ety. Illustrated with drawing by Linda
Burke, the journal will go on sale Oct.
20. For information, call 765 -3494.
�isherrnan's Rest.
734 -5Y55 rc ,Cony ial'a Scuuc'liadh fork
MAIN ROAD, CUTCHOGUE
I Closed Monday
1 Hours: Tues. - Fri. 3:30 - 11:00
Sat. & Sun. Noon - 11:00
THURSDAY -- TONIGHT Whiskey Sours $1.25
Linguine & Clam Sauce or Bluefish or Pot Roast $6.95
SUNDAY SPECIAL -- noon till 4 p.m.
Fresh Ham or Pot Roast or Bluefish or Flounder $6.95
All specials include salad, dessert and coffee.
Ln
ZCLLC
_IRANT FRANCAIS
s
Unhurried excellence.
LUNCH BRUNCH DINNER MAIN ROAD, SOUTHOLD 765 -2656 CLOSED WEDNESDAY
File photo
Walking for Hunger
The 10- kilometer CROP Walk -Run for Hunger takes place this Sunday,
Oct. 20, between Mattituck and Cutchogue. For further information, call
298 -4918 or 722 -4910.
Save Time, Gas and Money --
Shop Locally!!
Zellers Restaurant
RTE. 25 a GREENPORT a 477 -2155 •Open Daily at 5 a.m.
Ever Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
`TWO- FOR -ONE'
Two entrees of the same kind for the price of onel
Served from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (no substitutions)
DINNER SPECIALS FROM $ 5.95
To complement your meal... Half- Carafe of Chablis, Rose
or Burgundy Wine $3.75
& Bakery .
Our Bakery Dept. Features Cakes & Other Baked
Goods For All Occasions.
/ ALL BAKING DONE ON OUR PREMISES.
JOANTHONYP
MAIN ROAD, SOUTHOLD
DAILY SPECIALS
19 Very Special Burger Selections
Plus Roast Beef, Steaks and Seafood.
Sun. - Thurs. 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun., Tues., Wed. & Thurs. 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Fri. and Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Closed Monday • 765 -5282
Open Year Round
Gift Certificates -- Take Outs