Grüezi, my traveling companions! It’s your favorite grumpy gnome, Oliver, coming to you from the heart of Switzerland. Ah, the Swiss Alps, pure, pristine, snow-capped, and if you listen closely, you can hear the faint yodel echoing in the valleys.

What an adventure it was, the 34.7 km journey from Davos to Saint Moritz. The paths were winding and the mountain air was as crisp as a freshly picked apple. Along the way, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the Swiss National Park. A cornucopia of flora and fauna, the vibrant colors of the plants against the backdrop of the snow-covered mountains was a sight to behold. But the most interesting observation was the peculiar dance of a pair of Ibex. It was like watching a graceful ballet, but with horns.

Oh, I should mention, my gnome feet have carried me a grand total of 3083.7 kilometers, through cities like Gossau, Vaduz, Davos, and Saint Moritz, and finally to Bormio. It’s been a journey of 111 days, my friends, and what a journey it’s been!

Ich habe mich auf den Weg gemacht, “I set off on my journey,” as they say in these parts. I’ve been practicing my Swiss German, though it’s no easy feat. It’s a whole new language, distinct from the German spoken in Germany.

A local verse I picked up goes something like this:
“Über Stock und über Stein, geht’s ins Heimatland hinein.” Translated: “Over stick and over stone, it goes into the homeland.” It’s a reminder of the journey we take, the obstacles we overcome, and the comfort of returning home.

A Swiss philosopher once said, “Je länger man vor der Tür zögert, desto fremder wird man.” It translates to: “The longer one hesitates at the door, the more foreign one becomes.” It’s a call to action, to seize the day and not to wait around.

So, here’s to more adventures, more kilometers under my tiny gnome feet, and more stories to tell. Onward to the next destination!

Bis zum nächsten Mal! (Until next time!)

Ah, Saint Moritz! I’ll never forget my time there. I was fascinated by the Segantini Museum, dedicated to the works of Giovanni Segantini, an Italian painter known for his Alpine panoramas. His paintings were like portals to other worlds, beautifully crafted with vibrant colors. As Segantini once said, “I’ve got the sun, the flowers, the Alps. I’ve got the bread and the wine for the journey”.

The city is also known for its ice sports. I remember watching a thrilling game of “bandy”, a precursor to ice hockey, on the frozen Lake Saint Moritz. The players skillfully maneuvered the ball across the ice, their breath visible in the crisp Swiss air.

“Ich habe die Sonne, die Blumen, die Alpen. Ich habe das Brot und den Wein für die Fahrt” – an exquisite quote in the local tongue meaning “I’ve got the sun, the flowers, the Alps. I’ve got the bread and the wine for the journey”. I felt like a gnome-sized Segantini, taking in the beauty of Saint Moritz.