Monday, April 29, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Wirehair Central
We just got back from the yearly spring hike of the local chapter of the Swiss Dachshund Club. It was our first time ever. I had no idea I had so many wirehair fellow dogizens. It was wirehair central!
Stay tuned to learn about the whole schnaa and see more photos of my Swiss relatives. The walk was wotten waven!
Stay tuned to learn about the whole schnaa and see more photos of my Swiss relatives. The walk was wotten waven!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Il Venticinque Aprile
Today, our neighboring country of Italy enjoys a national holiday to commemorate the end of the Nazi occupation at the end of World War II.
This graffiti at an abandoned checkpoint on the Swiss-Italian border
commemorates all those who lost their lives in WWII.
In southern Switzerland, the 25th of April is notorious for terrible traffic, because all the wealthy Italians who have stashed worldly possessions, including gold, in Switzerland come here to check on it. It's amazing how neighboring countries relate to the same day in different ways.
"Honor to those who fell for their country
25 April forever."
[Anyone know what the symbol means?
We're concerned the symbol may have negative overtones.]
In southern Switzerland, the 25th of April is notorious for terrible traffic, because all the wealthy Italians who have stashed worldly possessions, including gold, in Switzerland come here to check on it. It's amazing how neighboring countries relate to the same day in different ways.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Many Stairs to Climb
Stairs are bad for a dachshund's back, but these old and rather flat stairs in Morcote, Switzerland have a particularly dachshund-friendly design.
These stairs are fine going up or down. With steeper stairs, however, Dachshund Daddy always carries me down.
These stairs are fine going up or down. With steeper stairs, however, Dachshund Daddy always carries me down.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
A Study of Two Breakfasts
I've been exploring the deeper meaning of the concept of fairness. Here's a case study.
Mom's breakfast:
My breakfast:
Kindred hearts, gentle readers, and doggie kibble eaters, would you agree that this is not fair?
Mom's breakfast:
My breakfast:
Kindred hearts, gentle readers, and doggie kibble eaters, would you agree that this is not fair?
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Lucio's Commute - Part Two
Welcome to the second installment about Lucio, the fluffiest dog in the Alps who commutes between his fur-brother's place and his own place 3 miles and 1500 vertical feet away. Here he is with his fur-friend Figaro.
Figaro's parents explained to DD that Lucio lives in a mountain hut at St Lucio Pass...
and regularly commutes down to Buggiolo to see his fur-brother Pippo and get extra food from Pippo's parents.
Lucio always stops at this Chapel halfway between Buggiolo and St Lucio Pass to pay homage to his namesake Catholic saint. Saint Lucio has a very sad story.
St Lucio was a shepherd who lived in these mountains in the middle ages. Because St Lucio would give away food leftovers to the poor, he was fired by the greedy landowner who employed him. Another landowner promptly hired St Lucio and suddenly found himself showered with all sorts of unexpected blessings: his cows produced endless amounts of milk, his cheese rounds would self-regenerate after each cheese sale, and his sheep would continue to multiply. At the same time, the greedy landowner who had fired St Lucio suffered all sorts of calamities that drove his business into the ground. Eventually, the greedy landowner lost it and murdered St Lucio at the pass that now bears his name, where this chapel was later built in his memory.
Today, St Lucio Pass is a top hiking destination. Check out the quintessential Swiss signage listing out all the hiking options from the pass!
Figaro's parents explained to DD that Lucio lives in a mountain hut at St Lucio Pass...
and regularly commutes down to Buggiolo to see his fur-brother Pippo and get extra food from Pippo's parents.
Lucio always stops at this Chapel halfway between Buggiolo and St Lucio Pass to pay homage to his namesake Catholic saint. Saint Lucio has a very sad story.
St Lucio was a shepherd who lived in these mountains in the middle ages. Because St Lucio would give away food leftovers to the poor, he was fired by the greedy landowner who employed him. Another landowner promptly hired St Lucio and suddenly found himself showered with all sorts of unexpected blessings: his cows produced endless amounts of milk, his cheese rounds would self-regenerate after each cheese sale, and his sheep would continue to multiply. At the same time, the greedy landowner who had fired St Lucio suffered all sorts of calamities that drove his business into the ground. Eventually, the greedy landowner lost it and murdered St Lucio at the pass that now bears his name, where this chapel was later built in his memory.
Today, St Lucio Pass is a top hiking destination. Check out the quintessential Swiss signage listing out all the hiking options from the pass!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Lucio's Commute - Part One
Yesterday we introduced you to super-fluffy Lucio.
Dachshund Daddy met him on his bike ride up and over San Lucio Pass, an unpaved border crossing between Italy and Switzerland where travel conditions can be somewhat challenging this time of year.
First, DD met Lucio's fur-brother Pippo in the town of Buggiolo, Italy. Pippo barked away at DD...
and then hid under a snowplow. Can you find Pippo?
Pippo is Lucio's fur-brother; DD met Lucio on the super-duper-steep four wheel drive track from Buggiolo to the Pass. DD was very happy to take a break from his bike ride to take pictures of Lucio and his fur-friend Figaro.
Figaro was headed to St Lucio Pass with his human parents, followed by Lucio.
As explained by Figaro's parents, Lucio often commutes between Pippo's place in Buggiolo and his own place up at St Lucio Pass. That's what he was doing when DD saw him with Figaro. Visit us again tomorrow to learn more about fluffy Lucio!
Dachshund Daddy met him on his bike ride up and over San Lucio Pass, an unpaved border crossing between Italy and Switzerland where travel conditions can be somewhat challenging this time of year.
First, DD met Lucio's fur-brother Pippo in the town of Buggiolo, Italy. Pippo barked away at DD...
and then hid under a snowplow. Can you find Pippo?
Pippo is Lucio's fur-brother; DD met Lucio on the super-duper-steep four wheel drive track from Buggiolo to the Pass. DD was very happy to take a break from his bike ride to take pictures of Lucio and his fur-friend Figaro.
Figaro was headed to St Lucio Pass with his human parents, followed by Lucio.
As explained by Figaro's parents, Lucio often commutes between Pippo's place in Buggiolo and his own place up at St Lucio Pass. That's what he was doing when DD saw him with Figaro. Visit us again tomorrow to learn more about fluffy Lucio!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
More on Île Sainte-Marguerite
Here are Mom and I on the north coast of Sainte-Marguerite, looking across at the stretch of coastline between Cannes and Antibes. It seems like they've managed to develop every single square inch.
Luckily, Sainte-Marguerite has been spared by the uncontrolled urban sprawl that plagues the mainland.
Little sausages like me can come here, enjoy the wind, and not worry about cars.
I could taste the salt in the wind - yummy!
We also stopped by the Fort where the Man in the Iron Mask was held prisoner. His identity was never discovered, but Alexandre Dumas posited he was Louis XIV's twin brother.
At the end of our visit, I retreated to my quarters.
My travel bag is my safe zone, and I never need to be coaxed to waddle into it.
Here I am inside my bag on board the ferry back to Cannes. The green blob next to me is my mom.
Follow-up:
Dear Lovable Lily,
Thank you for your questions from our previous post on Sainte-Marguerite!
The ferry ride takes about fifteen minutes. That's it! Each ticket costs about fifteen dollars (US) round trip, but I got on for free.
I'm not sure if the monks do something more than pray. I must ask parents to take me back and to take me to the monk's island to find out.
Keep on wagging, love,
Tootsie
Luckily, Sainte-Marguerite has been spared by the uncontrolled urban sprawl that plagues the mainland.
Little sausages like me can come here, enjoy the wind, and not worry about cars.
I could taste the salt in the wind - yummy!
We also stopped by the Fort where the Man in the Iron Mask was held prisoner. His identity was never discovered, but Alexandre Dumas posited he was Louis XIV's twin brother.
At the end of our visit, I retreated to my quarters.
My travel bag is my safe zone, and I never need to be coaxed to waddle into it.
Here I am inside my bag on board the ferry back to Cannes. The green blob next to me is my mom.
Follow-up:
Dear Lovable Lily,
Thank you for your questions from our previous post on Sainte-Marguerite!
The ferry ride takes about fifteen minutes. That's it! Each ticket costs about fifteen dollars (US) round trip, but I got on for free.
I'm not sure if the monks do something more than pray. I must ask parents to take me back and to take me to the monk's island to find out.
Keep on wagging, love,
Tootsie
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Île Sainte-Marguerite
Mom and Dad took me to Provence! Here I am on board of the ferry from Cannes to Sainte-Marguerite Island.
And here I am, exiting from my travel bag after we landed on Sainte-Marguerite.
The water was too cold to swim...
but the weather was perfect for hiking! We hiked the full perimeter of the island, all five miles of it, and then some. Here I am at the westernmost tip of Sainte-Marguerite looking at the Esterel mountains across the water.
I also enjoyed birdwatching...
I perused the information panels along the trails...
and I enjoyed the Land Art exhibition De l’Arctique à la Méditerranée (From the Arctic to the Mediterranean), featuring works by several French and Finnish artists. Here's Ban Pour Amoureux by Jean Jacques Castex.
Just South of Sainte-Marguerite lies the smaller island of Saint-Honorat, which is home to a monastery and about 30 monks.
We did not visit Saint-Honorat, but I have more to share about Sainte-Marguerite. I really enjoy my twavels. Would you like to read more about our time in Provence?
And here I am, exiting from my travel bag after we landed on Sainte-Marguerite.
The water was too cold to swim...
but the weather was perfect for hiking! We hiked the full perimeter of the island, all five miles of it, and then some. Here I am at the westernmost tip of Sainte-Marguerite looking at the Esterel mountains across the water.
I also enjoyed birdwatching...
I perused the information panels along the trails...
and I enjoyed the Land Art exhibition De l’Arctique à la Méditerranée (From the Arctic to the Mediterranean), featuring works by several French and Finnish artists. Here's Ban Pour Amoureux by Jean Jacques Castex.
Just South of Sainte-Marguerite lies the smaller island of Saint-Honorat, which is home to a monastery and about 30 monks.
We did not visit Saint-Honorat, but I have more to share about Sainte-Marguerite. I really enjoy my twavels. Would you like to read more about our time in Provence?
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
A Wee Bit of Jet Lag
We are reunited with Dachshund Daddy in Switzerland. It feels so good to be all together in Casa Burrow. Thank you, Grandpa, for taking such good care of me in Idaho!
Here's a wee bit example of my jet lag.
Here's a wee bit example of my jet lag.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Premium Denim Tootsie Bed Set
My own wotten waven doggy bed from L.L.Bean!
Fur Disclosure: this is not an ad. Mom splurged on this doggy bed, and I love it.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Top of San Diego - Part Two
We're back with Dachshund Daddy on Cowles Mountain. Ferdinand was the first fur-friend to send me a doggy-gram.
"Guess what?," Ferdinand wrote, "I just ran into Dachshund Daddy!"
"It's easy to spot DD on a hiking trail," explains Sparky. "Not many people bounce around taking pictures of dogs as they hike up and down a mountain."
"Dear Tootsie, DD took several dozens of pictures of me as he shared your life's story with my parents," recalls Dachshund Brenda.
"When he asked my folks whether he could take my photo, I knew I had to put on my best smile!" says Waldo, who's been taking acting classes in L.A. and has learned a lot about posing.
Joe also wants to become an actor. He already knows how to rattle an audience.
"I'm not the biting type, but if you invade my personal space with your snout I really don't have many options," explains Joe.
Joe reminds all Cowles Mountain trail users that there's a reason for those leash-up signs at the trailhead.
"Guess what?," Ferdinand wrote, "I just ran into Dachshund Daddy!"
"It's easy to spot DD on a hiking trail," explains Sparky. "Not many people bounce around taking pictures of dogs as they hike up and down a mountain."
"Dear Tootsie, DD took several dozens of pictures of me as he shared your life's story with my parents," recalls Dachshund Brenda.
"When he asked my folks whether he could take my photo, I knew I had to put on my best smile!" says Waldo, who's been taking acting classes in L.A. and has learned a lot about posing.
Joe also wants to become an actor. He already knows how to rattle an audience.
"I'm not the biting type, but if you invade my personal space with your snout I really don't have many options," explains Joe.
Joe reminds all Cowles Mountain trail users that there's a reason for those leash-up signs at the trailhead.
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