5th

We left the others and drove towards Bern (capital of Switzerland) to have a look around to find some cheap activities as the wallet felt very empty after the previous day. We found the old part of Bern where there was three bears in an enclosure. The symbol for Bern is a bear even though there are no wild bears in Switzerland. After walking down the Main Street of old Bern dreaming of the Rolex watches that could be brought we take off to a truck stop to set up for the night.

6th

Head towards Malters, but first stop in Lucerne to relax by the lake. We noticed the ground was very wet and later found out they were having a very wet summer. We head to Laura's friends place, Nadia and her partner Bruno where we were staying for a few nights.

7ths

During the morning we get the much needed washing done and waited for Nadia to return from work as she was taking us to her family farm in Entlebuch. We arrive to a very typical Swiss dairy farm, a lot smaller than the average nz farm. The total of 20 cows were inside for the day waiting for the afternoon milking. There were only four cups that could be pulled to each animal. At the farm there were cows, chickens, rabbits and Nadias dad run a small breeding unit of pigs where he grows the piglets through to 100kg. Nadias mother also had a very large vege garden so they are very self sufficient. All the cows have which sounds so cool. Little animal orchestra.

We had a traditional Switzerland dinner where you cook raclette (cheese) under a hot plate where small amounts of meat (bacon, chicken and sausage) are being cooked. The melted cheese is then poured over hot potatoes. This has Margot wanting to buy the appliance to have in nz. Margot asked the Bruns where to purchase a Swiss bell that goes around the animals as we had been wanting to make the ultimate tourist purchase. Turns out they are actually very hard to buy as they are usually just passed down through the family so Nadias brother went into a room and came back with two bells for us to take home, which saw a very stoked Margot. The evening was finished off with coffee schnapps, a traditional dater dinner night cap. Wasn't too sure in it, might be an acquired taste as they all loved it and quite often get on the piss drinking it.

8th

We end up staying another night at Nadias where we cook dinner. This stay was very good for Margot, helping her to recover from her sickness. Very lazy day, went for a walk to he supermarket. Got Ben and jerrys cookie dough ice cream -life changer.