A suprise for Pam's Grandma's birthday.

Pam's Grandma opens a big giftwrapped box,
see all photos »

Pam and I spent yesterday hanging out around Thun so Pam could meet up with old friends.  We started by taking the city bus to the other side of town so Pam could drop by her old High School to hopefully say, "hi" to a few of her favorite teachers.

We had luck as we arrived just in time for her teachers to be on a break, so we chatted with them for around 15 minutes.  Pam was thrilled to see them.

Pam jumps out of a box!

Suprise! Pam is inside the box!
see all photos »

After that it was off to meet her friend, "Bruno" who she has not seen in years and we met him at a small bar where he works and shared some red wine.  Her brother Pascal and Adriana joined us a little later and we had a great time.

When we left the bar, we walked to the Thun Castle that overlooks the city, but it was closed so we could not get inside.  So instead we walked around the vibrant shopping area of Thun.

What strikes me about Thun is that for a city with only 50,000 people, it has a shopping district that rivals anything Portland has to offer.  There are no enclosed malls like in the US, just outdoor storefronts, and lot's of them.  In addition, despite it being below freezing the streets are abuzz with people walking around like it was a summer day (just bundled up).  Cold weather does not daunt the hearty Swiss people.

Pam and I with her Grandma and Grandpa.
see all photos »

Later that night, Pam's father Walter arranged a suprise for Pam's Grandma who came over to Pascals flat with her Grandpa to celebrate her birthday and have dinner.

Walter and all of us kept it a secret from Pam's Grandma that Pam and I had already arrived in Switzerland a few days earlier.  She thought we were arriving on the 19th of December.  So, Walter brought over a large empty wrapped box and placed Pam inside a minute before her Grandma walked in the front door.

When her Grandma walked in, Walter walked her into the living room where Pam was hiding in the box and told her he had given her an early Christmas present and to lift the box.  Out popped Pam to her Grandma's suprise!

Needless to say her Grandma was overjoyed, and we all shared a good laugh and sat down to dinner.  It was a great night with her family, and tomorrow we will be doing more family stuff at her Grandma's and her fathers homes.  The next morning we are off to Germany to see the Christmas Market in Stuttgart with Pascal and Adriana, so we are really looking forward to that.

I realize I have not posted any pictures of the beautiful scenery here, so I will do that today.

Ciao!