Unforgettable Switzerland

My body, but not my mind and spirit, has just returned from three unforgettable weeks in Switzerland, with home base at Frau Bucher’s historic home, “Oberkirchen,” overlooking Sachseln. While there I was given a copy of Jerry Hulse’s article of Sept. 18, 1983, and was struck with my incredible good fortune to have stumbled into this storybook setting, knowing almost nothing of the village or home previously.

The church bells still chime the hour as well as all manner of celebrations, the baker still makes the most tempting bread and sweets, water still rushes in the stream through the center of town, and Birit and Albert Greutert still entertain their guests with local song and silliness.

There is a sad note, however. Herr Bucher left this heaven last December and his widow misses him greatly. She takes in guests and tends her garden and cats. After a few days she dropped her formal air and showed a warm, loving nature. When I told her I would write to Jerry about staying with her, she said, “Tell Mr. Hulse this house is not for overnight guests.” Perhaps she has had calls from people expecting to stay a short while, and she hoped that you would tell your readers that she usually rents for two or three weeks.

My Swiss vacation developed from seeing a very small reference to the Untour in The Times about last January and contacting Idyll Untours (P.O. Box 405, Media, Pa. 19063). My three traveling companions and I found this to be the perfect blend of organization and freedom, and plan to take other trips of this kind.

MURIEL DANDY

Bakersfield