If we had to put a pin in a future home, it would definitely be in Appenzellerland. Well, we don't know anyone there and it's not always sunshine there either. And: the people in Appenzellerland are peculiar.
From today's perspective, I'm a little doubtful as to whether we'll be able to subordinate or categorise ourselves in this way. So it remains the same: we spend a few nice days here and celebrate our "coming home" with a hike.
But what characterises the region and its people?
The Appenzellerland is a picturesque region in eastern Switzerland. It lies mainly in the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden and borders on Lake Constance. Our Felix is surrounded by green meadows, rolling hills and the imposing cliffs of the Alpstein massif can be seen from our little house (when it's not raining like crazy). After our office days, we decide to go for a little hike. (Our bodies have to slowly get used to walking again, it's really sad...)
And the people here? They are characterised by a strong sense of tradition, community spirit and closeness to nature. They are proud of their cultural customs such as New Year's Eve chlausen and the Almauftrieb, actively cultivate village life and support each other. They say.
They love nature, go up and down the mountains and mainly farm. They are also said to be - let's put it politely - very independent and self-confident. The political culture is unique, with the Landsgemeinde as the traditional form of direct democracy in Appenzell Innerrhoden. It is often mentioned here that it really was the last canton to allow women to vote.
What's really cool is the musicality, the craft and the cheese. All unique and uncopyable. And we? Enjoying it all as guests and tourists. Simply beautiful.
As we sit there in the hills, I enthuse about the Aescherthe well-known mountain restaurant. Gerd, on the other hand, has no idea what I'm talking about. "Really now? You've never been up there?" Now my love for the day trips of recent years is making itself felt again, I've already seen more of Switzerland than my dear husband.
And it's immediately clear what we're going to visit in the early morning: the Aescher!
More precisely, the Aescher and its Wildkirchli, a historic mountain inn on a steep rock face of the Ebenalp massif with breathtaking views of the Alpstein mountains. Only accessible on foot or by cable car, it offers traditional Swiss cuisine in a rustic ambience. Nearby is the Wildkirchli, a prehistoric cave with archaeological finds from the Stone Age.
So early in the morning we sit up in the Aescher, meet an Australian couple and get talking. We talk about the IranShe talks about her many journeys through Europe. We talk about helpfulness and karma, about giving gifts to tourists and guests in our own country. The admittedly somewhat older gentleman keeps looking at my walking poles and then dares to ask if he can have mine, as he has forgotten his. Only I now have a problem: as we want to descend over 700 metres in altitude on a fairly wet path, I would like to have my own poles. We come to an agreement: one for him, one for me. And we agree that he will hang the borrowed one on my car later. His wife very sweetly writes our car number in her notebook and there is indeed a lonely walking stick on our Felix in the late afternoon.
At some point we say goodbye to the friendly Australians and the Aescher and set off on our descent. What a beautiful area we hike through here - simply marvellous. The lake in the lower third, I almost want to say, it could hardly be more kitschy.
Once we arrive at Felix, we reconsider our preferred place of residence: yes, the Appenzellerland is moving even higher up our list of favourites.
Merci for "travelling with us
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Date: 24 November 2024 4 pm (doors open at 3 pm)
Location: Germany, Landgasthof zum Mühlenteich 15345 Eggersdorf near Berlin
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