The Schwarzies in Europe: Switzerland, Austria and more meat

I write this from my bed in our little hotel in Graz, Austria. But before I recap on yesterday (our last day in Switzerland) and talk you through today (our journey to my homeland, Austria), as promised, some photos of our second day in Switzerland.

Jamie and half of my father overlooking a vineyard overlooking

the beautiful Lake Geneve - Swiss Alps in the background

Lake Geneve and Swiss Alps - breathtakingly gorgeous

View from breakfast table at Oliviers in Bex, Switzerland - not bad huh

First tasting with Cousin Benjamin - food accompanying tasting at front
- beautiful Swiss cheeses and cured sausages

Second tasting - 2 levels underground. Those are bottles hanging from the

ceiling filled with grappa

So, our last morning with Olivier was spent taking a stroll around his village. Like all our hosts, he was so generous. We have not paid for a thing since we have been in Switzerland. We have hosted all of these Swiss cousins on Waiheke Island, so I guess they may see it as pay back - we see it as wonderful generosity by some pretty cool people.

We hit the road at about 11am on our way to Teufen, Switzerland. This was not only our mid way point between Bex and Graz, Austria but also the home of the uber cool John and Daniella Carabain - Christine's 2nd cousins. The drive was a relatively short one, only 4 1/2 hours. Where previously we had been in French speaking Switzerland, we were now heading for German speaking Switzerland. We stopped on the way for our first "German" lunch then onto to the Carabains, arriving about 5pm. It was pretty cool to see my Father speaking in German. I have hardly ever had the opportunity to see him speak in his native tongue, so it was actually a bit surreal.

Swiss German lunch

John and Daniella (along with 3 of their 6 children - Anna Barbara, Ari and Jerun) looked after us like family. I realise that we are family, but my old man was there also and they were so, so kind. Dad was actually quite handy as a translator as Daniella spoke no English. Chris's Dutch heritage as well as her brief German studies at school meant she had a more than reasonable understanding of what was being said. I understood nothing. The conversation was a mix of German, French and English. The nice thing is that regardless of what language you speak, with enough effort, sincerity, wine and gesticulation, communication is not a problem.

Daniella made us all a beautiful 4 course meal and we talked and laughed deep into the night. I felt like I had known these awesome people for ages, I was so comfortable. John was particularly excited to have us in his house and had so many questions for Chris, so he got the full update on everyone in the family. The night was capped off with a few songs from Jamie and Ben and a film showing on an 8mm projector of very old films shot by John's Grandfather (so Christine's Great Grandfather). Very cool.

Dinner at the Carabains

Selfie by Ben as the night got late

We rose the next day (this morning) at 8am with an ETD of 9.30am. Today I finally got to go to the country of my Fathers birth - Austria, a mere 750 km's or about 8 hours away. Very exciting. So after a great typical Swiss breakfast (bread, cheese, meats, coffee, juice) and a more than emotional farewell, we were off. We cant wait to cross paths with these people again. I can honestly say that there is very little chance that we wont - either in NZ or in Switzerland. They are just too cool to not see again.

Swiss breakfast

The drive was long but manageable. We checked into our place and then met up with the first of my relatives - my Dad's sister Inge. She is 87 years old, a bit deaf, a bit blind and speaks no English. It was so sweet to see Dad with her. He spoke to her in German, argued with her over the bill at the restaurant and held her hand in the carpark on the way to the car. Its hard to explain, but this is one of very few Austrian experiences that I have ever had in my life. Very cool. Hard to put into words kind of cool. Dad speaking German to his Sister over dinner in Austria with me and my family. A life long dream realised for me