So what do you miss about the place that is home to you – excepting those of you for whom Switzerland is (or has become) home? In spite of being perfectly happy to be in Zurich there are still one or two things that I guess I will always miss.
Summer Solstice - every year at this time I feel homesick for Seattle and the Freemont Parade. Freemont used to be the hippie neighborhood where artists and lefties could afford to live, before a lot of folks got priced out of the area. The parade is a leftover from those days. It’s a come-as-you-are (even if that’s only body paint) celebration where pretty much anything goes – dress in drag, wear a superhero costume and a wig, whatever turns you on. The parade always starts with the very popular naked bicyclists who wear anything from body paint to strategically placed flowers. People wander in and out of the parade, chat with neighbors, leer and get leered at, make fun of the folks from the suburbs who have braved the big, bad city in order to take in the wild sights. Man, I really miss it. I’ve put in a couple of links to last year’s event – enjoy!
It being Seattle, there’s no need to be one of the beautiful people to participate. Just as long as you are offering something interesting to look at: giant lizard costume ... A pink tutu and nothing else but glitter ... A group of friends all dressed like tropical trees, including birds ... Of course, the young and nubile certainly get their share of attention but this isn’t a version of the Love Parade – much more slow-paced and low key. A friendly crowd sharing joints (and that was even before it was legalized) or drinks, free indie bands, a display of art cars, all sorts of dancing ... Sigh.
Not criticizing or moaning about life here. Just waxing nostalgic.
http://vimeo.com/68953239
The Abbotts Bromley horn dance.
... and a pint at the Goat's Head afterwards.
things are a bit more staid around here, but we will have a parade on this
Saturday 21st June 2014. (Every year it is on the 21st June)
http://www.murtentourismus.ch/en/solennite.html
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...olennit%C3%A4t
About 100 years ago a school master decided to have a festival celebrating
winning the battle against the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, in 1476.
Murten was in a siege for about 3 days, then Bern's army came to the rescue.
.
Oh man, I LOVE Seattle! Mom and I stopped there once, on our way back from Alaska, and met up with my colleagues. Among other fun things, they took us to that parade! I remember wondering whether my mom would be shocked by the naked cyclists, but she didn't even flinch. She was however totally shocked by seeing a giant statue of Lenin!
What do I miss from home...proper espresso, for one. The hype during the World Cup games. Sitting in my parents' backyard, looking at the lake, and the Alps at the distance. My grandma's hugs. Time with my dad, tending to his 8 tortoises, and "stealing" recipes from his kitchen. His rose garden and his vegetable garden - "hey, can you go get some tomatoes?" "sure, let me put my shoes on, I have my feet in the water!". Hearing different dialects and languages spoken in the house at any given time. My aunts+grandma harassing me because I am not married (I will deny this one if questioned, I always roll my eyes and pretend to be very annoyed, but I love the lot of them!).
I miss my people.
Yes, things might be staid these days but things were pretty lively in the past when local battles happened, weren't they? It's so cool how you'll see plaques along trails or in towns describing armies pouring through or engaging the next canton, etc.
Have fun at your local festivities this year!