On our trip through Bulgaria we met Verena and Edgar. Sometimes you know immediately: it fits! It quickly became clear that we would stay in touch. At that time, they were on the road with their red owl, a VW Bus, and we were still on our motorbike.
We parted ways. That's how it is when you are on the road. The encounters are intense, but usually short. A firm hug, the exchange of telephone numbers and a laughing wave goodbye. And off we go to the north of Bulgaria, for them towards Iran. (Or something like that, no one really knows anymore).
At some point we were sitting in Georgia, the two of them in Turkey, and via digital communication the idea of spending the winter together in Lapland briefly germinated. Lapland? No idea what you can do there in winter.
On the return journey from Georgia to Switzerland, Gerd then spent a few beautiful days in Cappadocia with the two of them.
And the Lapland idea took hold in us, we moved high into the cold north in winterwhile Verena and Edgar preferred to stew in the Iranian sun.
Only one thing remained with us all the time: the quarter- to half-hour voice messages. We always listened to theirs in bed at night, the two of ours at breakfast. A nice ritual. So we could travel with them and they with us. And we felt very close.
Now, after more than two years, we meet again. They visit us in Bern and we get to stroll through the most beautiful of cities once again. We discover strangely disguised policemen from centuries past, stroll through the alleys of Bern, visit small flea markets and let Gerd's mum spoil us with Älplermagronen.
We even learn from them that there is an original metre in the Zytglogge. A standardised piece of metal that is supposed to show the most accurate of all metres. For years I walked past it carelessly, mistaking it for a handrail or railing.
The days pass by. We enjoy the peace and quiet with a walk through the castle gardens of Münchenwiler and a Nidlechueche break at Lake Murten. They sleep in the chalet "Felix", we in Gerd's old children's room.
We celebrate the end of this wonderful visit with a walk along the Aare, we "float" across the Aare, stroll back along the other bank and are completely satisfied.
It's just nice to be able to give something back. We have been given gifts and made happy so many times on our journey so far. So why not also spoil the travellers at home?
Thank you, you two wonderful people, for visiting us! And hopefully we will meet again. Somewhere. Sometime.
Merci for "travelling with us
We are thinking about taking another break from travelling in the summer and visiting our families in Germany and Switzerland. One of the ideas is to organise a Lecture about our long journey to the Persian Gulf to prepare. If you would like to, what would interest you the most? We will also tell stories here that don't find a place here on the blog. We're thinking of the Bern and Berlin area - simply because we have family there. But other places are also conceivable. Feel free to write to us.
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