This is what the Schmukis' village, Neftenbach, looks like from
a nearby hilltop.
We enjoyed biking all over the nearby hills around Neftenbach.
They served us more delicious Bratwurst, as well as Spätzli topped with grated cheese. Spätzli are like small pasta or gnocchis with onions.
A traditional Swiss Fondue, with bread and broccoli to dip in the gooey cheese and wine mixture. Mmmmmmm!
For a special Christmas Eve feast, we ate Fondue Chinoise - chunks of every kind of meat you can imagine (ham, beef, veal, chicken, turkey, pork ... even horse!), which each guest cooks for himself in a bubbling broth in the fondue pot.
Daniel's favorite meal so far has been this: Raclette. You place large chunks of cheese in small frying pans which you place over the grill in the center of the table. You can add onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, and other goodies if you like. Then, when it's hot and bubbling, you pour it over a small baked potato. Mmmmm, again!
Do not limit your imagination to that one kind of "Swiss cheese" with the holes in it. That (Emmentaler) is their most commonly exported, but is only one of their many incredible cheeses! Swiss specialties include some of our favorite foods: bread (Brot), cheese (Käse), and chocolate (Schokolade).
After church on Sunday, the Schmukis took us to Mövenpick - a coffee shop/restaurant/ice cream parlor, all in one. We decided to split this sundae, called a "Tète a Tète" and costing 25 francs - about 20 US dollars (!).
All 5 of us were stuffed after the 9 scoops of their rich ice cream - called "Glacé" (including coffee, chocolate chip, caramel, vanilla bean, berry sorbet, and more); with chunks of pineapple, apple, and grape;, and waffle cones filled with real whipped cream and fruit syrups. Wow! I could have fit my head in that bowl!
(L-R: Debora, Elisabeth, Simon, Katie)
On Sunday we helped Debora and Simon decorate the Christmas tree.
Simon and Daniel lit the candles on Christmas Eve, according to tradition, after dinner.
It was a very special Christmas Eve, turning off all the lights but the candles on the tree, and singing Christmas carols before exchanging gifts.