where others come for vacation ...
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It's late in the evening, after a lazy day, we're headed for a Swim in the lake.. Some ducks as usual and then a Swan gently glides by, leaving two gifts behind...
I make a beeline for them and grab them before they drift too far away. Such a blessing to have a fresh water lake practically at your doorstep to swim in. The ducks, swans and occasional dogs make it even more worthwhile :) A lady throws an apple into the lake, tempting her dog to go in after. The cold water does not merit a swim, he decides and stays put watching the Swan & the ducks fight over it. One's loss is always another's gain, isn't it??
Back home after the refreshing swim, it's concert time on the Balcony.. with Lukas on Guitar & vocals.. me joining in as & when i know the lyrics..
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It's ~12:30PM.. I'm expecting the doorbell to ring any moment now. My friend Amy and her family are stopping by for a few hours enroute to Fiesch. We're having a simple Indian meal at home & she's bringing the desserts over from Paris... mmmm.. yummy.. can hardly wait for those. The doorbell rings and Amy's two little girls, as cute as butterflies, are smiling at us with sunglasses on their noses & dessert bags in their hands! I'm meeting them for the first time and they start chattering away in French.. Too bad, i didn't do due diligence during my visits to Paris... i can barely get past the customary 5 words. So great to see you again Amy :)
Clara and Chloé happily talk to the cats in French who seem to understand the kids more than i do. Our cats are multilingual -- they understand Swiss-German, German, English, Hindi and now French.. or perhaps they only understand the language of the Heart!
Over dessert & Coffee, we discuss the idea of opening a French bakery here. The Pastries and Macaroons are simply divine.. I could finish all of them right here, right now 
Why can't the Swiss learn the art of dessert making from the French?? Guess we need to travel to Paris soon..
Later, a short drive to the meadow @ Sassi.. Amy & Seb enjoy the view whilst the girls delight themselves running around barefoot on the grass, picking flowers & following Butterflies. The air is filled with cries of "Papillons" "Papillons".. and the blanket with flower-bouquets which shortly thereafter end up behind my and Lukas's ears They're happy to jump up into Uncle Lukas's lap, much more comfortable than the bench or the blanket..
Soon it's time to bid goodbye. Clara and Chloé jump up to hug & kiss us. Amy and I decide to meet again soon.. either here or in Paris. Thank you Amy & Seb for the visit. Such a Joy to meet kids who are still Pure, unburdened by the political correctness of us Adults and just themselves..
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A sunny & warm weekend morning with a slight breeze on the lake.. Lukas suggests we enjoy the still tranquil waters of the lake on Dolfin in the morning before the speedy motor-boat owners wake up. Yippee... I pack the precious gift from India along with water and snacks.
Lukas dismounts the Swiss flag and mounts the Indian Flag. Perfect Fit... and what Gorgeous colours. Thanks to Vivek, Anju and Deepak, we now have the only sail-boat with the Indian Flag on Lake Lucerne. I even sing the Nation Anthem while Lukas mounts the flag.. I'm surprised that i remember the words after so many years.. and as i sing, i can feel the goosebumps on my skin... Vande Mataram!!
And we're sailing away...
Read more: Sailing with the Indian Tricolor on Lake Lucerne: July 10th
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With the sun becoming more of a regular fixture in the sky, cinema under the "Starry-Starry-Night" sky offers a tempting option to stay outdoors on these long, warm (or not-so warm) nights, especially if it comes with a view of the lake and the mountains.
I load my folding chair into the trunk & armed with a woolen blanket, I start driving to pick up Vreni. A typical Swiss, she is happy to see me arrive 5 mins early. One of things I've had to adjust to in Swiss is their punctuality, or dare I say - overly punctual. The typical Swiss will ring your doorbell 15 minutes before the expected arrival time.. So you'd better be ready to greet the visitor with a Smile, even though you may be adding the final touches to your dishes -- i usually arrive at the door with fresh coriander pieces stuck in my hands and with the smell of Tadka in my hair!
We drive on to pick up Martha & then Antonia. The ladies are happy to be driven in my car and as they talk excitedly about it's interiors in Swiss-Deutsch, i must admit that i beam inwardly... Ahhh.. My car -- my precious white Snowflake!
After getting my arm-band, i walk to the grassy beach of Buochs. The weather is lovely and scenic lake is sparkling in the evening sun. People lay on reclining chairs, beanie-bags and sleeping bags and are enjoying ice-cream, popcorn, some reading newspapers.. It has a lazy-easy feel - just like Summer evenings are supposed to be. We setup our chairs in the third row and walk over to grab a bite from the food stalls. After strolling by a bunch of grilled meat sections, I converge on the veggie option @ "African Taste". It comes with a fried banana. uhmmmm.. That was pure delish!!