Hello again
After more than a week of stunningly blue skies, misty horizons and icy nights, the weather is about to change for a wetter, warmer spell.
I'm casting my mind back to a couple of months (December 07/January and early February 08) when we had an ice rink in the heart of the city.
The Bundesplatz sported a small ice field that proved to be extremely popular. Bundesplatz is a fairly big square enclosed by the Federal Parliament Building (above, at night), the Swiss National Bank (below, left)
... the cantonal bank of Bern (below, left) ...
... and one large regional bank (below, right), as well as an upmarket restaurant (the white building with green shutters in the photos above and below) . The rink came with all the necessary infrastructure including a pavilion for a small restaurant, lockers and skate rental. Skating was free!
This was fantastically accessible, unlike the ice rinks at KaWeDe and at BEAExpo so I found my old skates in the attic and had a go. Could I still do it after at least thirty years off the ice? Well, it was great fun, both in the daytime and in the evening.
Here's Yours Truly looking silly but feeling happy, ...
... and my good friend, H.P., who joined me on one of the last nights before they took the rig down.
Glasgow last Monday evening, November 24, 2008, had a lovely surprise for me. The ice rink on George Square was opened with fanfare and music.
A 75-year-old lady skater inaugurated the smooth ice before two figure skaters captivated their audience.
Too bad I had to catch a train so there was no time to strap on some skates and have a go. The crowd were impressive, standing patiently in line for admission to the ice.
