Andy’s recent blogs suggest a strong focus on biking, stats and activity. I agree with Jane’s recent comment that it is tiring just reading about it. What he misses is all the incidentals that make the trip interesting. No mention for example of the preponderance of garden gnomes through the Bernese Oberland as we came down to Bern. Or the range of exuberant moustaches worn by German Swiss chaps, some also smoking pipes. When did we last see a pipe smoker in England? It looked so bizarre I almost like the eccentricity of it. And crucially no mention of the almost inedible cheese sandwich lunch, the one where the bread is smothered in mustard, so ruining any flavour from the cheese, and where a pickled gherkin is seen as a garnish of distinction. In a different land we have certainly arrived.

The day in the lovely city of Bern began with a pleasant stroll through the Rosengarten at the top of the incline overlooking the old town. How pleasant to hear a cornet player practicing their music I thought, no says Andy that’s a French horn. Well no, it turned out to be an alpenhorn, a huge thing and quite a sight and somehow a fitting start to our wanderings.

We managed to explore the Paul Klee museum, nodding sagely in front of minimalist depictions of shape and form (Klee’s later period for those who needed to know). I do love Klee’s colourful works though we seem to have hit upon an exhibition of his secret works, not necessarily ideal for two beginners in art appreciation. I found myself, not for the first time, appreciating the footwear of those around me. Hurrah for red shoe wearers I say, adding a cheery nuance in the mix I always think. Anyway it was all very calming, and thankfully not as minimalist as an art exhibition I took the family to in Aalborg, Denmark on one holiday. There an artist, as invited curator, had taken all the paintings off the wall except for one, stating that he aimed for art appreciation in the mind, so we should look at the bare walls. We all found that a bit difficult – and refunds were not allowed, though I do remember the cafe being quite good.

Anyway, Bern – we went on to explore a museum about alpine climbing, where Andy was in his element amongst maps, relief maps of the Swiss mountains, cross sectional diagrams of the geology of the alps, honestly he is now ready for Mastermind on Swiss Mountain features, though he may need a bit more practice on which mountain is which….

After trolley bus rides, the biggest salad lunch possible, a check on the Bern brown bears, still a tourist sight here and in their new enclosure next to the river, we are now getting ready to get back on the bikes.

My new friends in the tourist office have rung ahead to the Jugendherberge in Langnau to reserve a place there, so tomorrow we will be getting down with the kids.