What a fun, marvelous day it was! Paula drove with her father, Hans Peter, to pick us up at the hotel. We then turned around and headed back to Bienne (or Biel, since it is a bi-lingual city of French and Swiss-German speakers), a total of about 3 hours for them!

Paula got "car sick" twice, so we had to stop for fresh air, and then we had to stop at a backerei for some vermicelles and cookies, but we made it to her home, where Hans Peter dropped us off and went to his home to help prepare lunch for us. We had our little treat - vermicelle is made from finely ground chestnuts pressed into vermicelli shapes and the resulting "spaghetti" is piled into a small cup to look a little like cupcakes. Topped with whipped cream, a slice of kiwi, it is quite good.

Her apartment is charming, decorated so nicely. She gave us the grand tour, we gave her some gifts we brought from Michigan and Virginia, we gave her all the news of the family, and she gave us some good news, too.

Then we hopped into her little Toyota Yaris to sightsee in Bienne: the River Aare, the Lake Bienne where, at the moment, a small gale was blowing across the lake. We walked though the old town with its cobblestones and fort. It is a very picturesque town, and we happened to see our first charcuterie (butcher) that offered viande de cheval, horsemeat! Then we drove by Omega where her mother, Marleny, works for the watch manufacturer. This is the watch manufacturing center of Switzerland, and we saw Rolex & Swatch headquarters as well. We saw the schools where she is a language teacher in the middle school and the private middle school where Claude, her boyfriend and roommate of 12 years, teaches all subjects. Sports are Claude's love, and he was coaching a city soccer team today, playing with his hockey team tomorrow.

Then we went to her parent's home for lunch. A lovely apartment, again so wonderfully decorated and comfortable. We sat on the enclosed porch for some lovely cheese, Tete au Moine (or Monk's Head), and Marleny showed me the gadget used to scrape around and around to make the frilly bites. It was served with green grapes and a delicious white wine from the region.

Then to the table for lunch: homemade broccoli soup, emince a la zurichoise (literally, minced meat from Zurich, or pieces of veal or chicken with mushrooms in a rich creamy gravy), rosti (shredded potatoes made into a crispy pancake in the skillet), marinated red & yellow peppers, red wine and a marvelous dessert of meringue, gruyere cream and raspberries (frambois).

Marleny & Hans Peter presented us with a gift of hand & kitchen towels, chocolate bars for D, and something to take to Sari (no, I won't tell you what, sis!). By then it was time to head back to Lucerne. We hopped into Paula's car again and drove to pick up Claude - you'll never guess where! - McDonald"s! He drove with us and we talked all the way to Lucerne. Then the two headed back home.

We were so elated to see Paula, spend some time with her and her family & Claude. It feels like we never were apart for so long, and I hope it won't be too many years that we will be able to see them again. God bless them all.

TOMORROW: Another trip around Lucerne, but I forget where - and dinner here with Paula!