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Appenzell, Switzerland
Appenzell, Switzerland
September 26-27, 2025
Diane's Journal
Diane's Journal
Since I haven’t really been journaling, today I decided to catch up on my thoughts and experiences.
The time has flown by—we have already been in Switzerland for 10 days. I have enjoyed every moment, even though five of those days were marked by back pain. Marc, Hans Peter, and Esthi were so kind and patient with my limitations.
I love traveling abroad. It’s fascinating to see how people do things differently—sometimes in smarter ways, and sometimes in ways that seem less practical. It reminds me that no place has everything figured out, and that there is so much we can learn from one another.
There are also challenges. While staying with Hans Peter and Esthi, they helped with countless details by interpreting for us. Now that we are on our own, things are more difficult. Ordering from menus written only in German can be tricky, as can be simply deciding what to drink. Today at a restaurant I ordered water, and the server let me know there would be a charge for tap water. I agreed, drank all of it, and realized perhaps that’s a good habit—I’d definitely get my money’s worth of daily hydration if I always had to pay.
Special moments and surprises in Appenzell
On our first morning here, we were awoken at 6:30 a.m. by four minutes of church bells ringing. It’s a traditional way of marking the start of the day. Interestingly, there were no bells on Saturday, maybe it means you can sleep in. We’ll see what Sunday brings.
Staying in the heart of this quaint town has been delightful. The streets wind in all directions, and I’ve been grateful for Google Maps.
As I sit in our hotel, I hear so many new sounds: voices in the street, a car passing by, children talking, a choir singing faintly in the background, and luggage wheels rolling along the cobblestones. And at anytime I can peek out and watch people.
The view from our hotel window.
The weather feels like Seattle—overcast and the same wondering whether the sun will appear. Yesterday we decided to take a cable car up to Hoher Kasten mountain. The experience was unforgettable. We began below the clouds, passed into a white mist where nothing was visible, and then suddenly broke through into clear blue sky and sunshine. Everyone in the cable car gasped and cheered at the same time at the sight. At the top, the views were breathtaking, and we enjoyed lunch before descending back through the clouds into the gray below.
We also met Christine Maynn from Bristol on this excursion (in photo with me at the top). At 86, she was inspiring. She and her husband had visited Appenzell every year until seven years ago, when he passed away suddenly at the London airport on their way here. The following year she returned on her own, and she has come back every year since.
Another surprise was our hotel’s six-course dinner last night. We hadn’t known what to expect, but each course was beautifully presented and full of incredible flavors. Many bites felt like a “party of flavor” in my mouth. (Lynn you would be proud of me I kept all my food enjoyment noises to myself or least minimized them.) The waiter was lively and engaging, and the entire meal lasted nearly three hours. It reminded me of Canlis in Seattle, but with a warmer, less formal atmosphere.
On September 27, we spent the day exploring the town. We visited local shops (a leather shop, an artisan and museum shop, and a chocolate shop), the farmers’ market, and a small carnival with swag included, and we wandered through the Catholic church with their unique cemetery. One of the most charming sights was a children’s used toy sale along the street where each family had a table full of their used toys to sell. I had the sense that for every toy sold, the children found new ones to bring home from another table. It was like a church bazaar. The whole scene was delightful.
We had lunch at a local restaurant, where the meat came from farmers in the mountains and the potatoes were grown nearby. The freshness made it feel like a home-cooked meal.
Overall, my heart is full of gratitude for these experiences—for the beauty of Switzerland, and for the people who live here.
The used toy market with tables manned by families parting with the old, looking for the new.
Appenzell is a "country" city, with more rural charm than sophisticated Zurich.
The graveyard outside of St. Mauritius is unique with each site like a little landscaped shrine.
Marc wondering if this spot is available for him.
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