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FUN EXPERIENCES
THE ALPHORN
In the 1970s a Swiss band made the
alphorn famous but we know it from the popular Ricola TV commercials. In
Switzerland a visit to the only alphorn factory in the world was most interesting. A factory guide told us
that the factory manufactures two horns a day, or about 250 a year. The small
factory has only a few employees.
Half of the horns manufactured remain in
Switzerland; 25% of the horns are exported to the US, and the remaining 25% go
to Asia, mostly Japan.
Holding a horn the guide explained that
it has no holes or valves, so the length determines the pitch. The longer the
horn the deeper the pitch.
Then surprisingly he pulled the horn
apart telling us that the horn breaks down into three sections to fit into a
manageable carrying case. Narrow brass rings connect the horn when it is connected.
The average price of a horn is about $2000. The longest horn in the world is 47
meters (approximately 153’) and is in the Guinness Book of Records.
In the show room we were given a chance
to try to blow an alphorn. A couple of the fellows had some success, but you
really have to know how to blow a horn instrument. I huffed and huffed into the
horn with absolutely no success.
The alphorn is an unusual and unique
instrument, and the visit to the factory was fun. I have kept an eye peeled for
the instrument ever since, but so far have not spotted one except on TV.
OPIUM ICECREAM
One evening in Vienna leaving a
restaurant where we’d enjoyed a really good, if different, pizza my traveling
companion said, “An ice cream would be perfect for topping off a great meal.”
“Good idea! This afternoon I saw an ice
cream kiosk a block from the hotel. Cross here and then turn right should bring
us right to it,” I answered.
We joined a short line at the kiosk. It
was hard to make a choice of the twenty or so flavors displayed. They were
labeled---in Austrian or German. It didn’t make any difference as neither of us
read or spoke either language.
I asked the young man behind the counter
what flavor the vanilla-looking ice cream with tiny dark specks in it was. I
thought likely chocolate chip. I was
totally unsuccessful, as the fellow didn’t speak English, which was a surprise,
as most often I’ve found young people, and especially young males, speak
English overseas.
I gave up the conversation and just
ordered the ice cream. For this ice-creamaholic, I knew it would be good, no
matter what its flavor. Licking our cones we walked away. Suddenly a young man behind
us said, “Ladies, that ice cream you are eating is opium ice cream.”
“What!” we exclaimed simultaneously.
“Yes, you know like from the poppies grown
in Afghanistan. Opium ice cream.”
After a minute a light went on in my head
and I said, “Oh, you mean poppy seed.”
“Yes. Yes.” He strolled past us licking
on his cone.
He had been standing behind us in line and
I wondered why he hadn’t jumped in to interpret for us when we were trying to
converse with the vendor.
We
had a good chuckle over my opium ice cream, and I’ve had a lot of fun relating
the story ever since.
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