Both sides of Mom's family and Dad's paternal side all come from Switzerland. We did the Kaufmann side when we were in Thun and today was the Burkhalter family in Hasle (south of Burgdorf). It's in Emmental country. We rented a car and had a lovely drive through the Swiss countryside. The hills looked so lush and green and they were dotted with cows and sheep. There is a constant jingle coming from the fields as the cowbells swing while the cows munch on the grass. Another very soothing sound!
After stopping and talking to several very nice people, we found what we thought was the Burkhalter family home. This is typical of the Swiss style of architecture and had the barn attached to the house as do many of these homes. They can be quite extensive, giving the home a "rambling" feeling!
A woman was returning home next door and told us the home belonged to her brother but he would know the Hans Burkhalter we were looking for. He spoke no English so between the two of them and Mom's photos we figured it out. The nice man came with us to show us the way then I drove him back to his farm. At several corners, he'd say "ACHTUNG!" to warn me to check for traffic! I DID know that word!
Hans Burkhalter also speaks no English but his wife did so was able to translate while Mom and Dad visited. We noticed that in many of our encounters, the woman are able to speak some English but the men aren't?! Makes me think of my own former classes and those who paid attention and those who didn't!!
Mom is the ninth generation that has been documented in this family line so it was quite amazing to see where it all began! The farmhouse is over two hundred years old (and also has the barn and many other "outbuildings" attached)
and Hans is still farming a large portion of the hundreds of acres that the family originally owned. Very pastoral country! 
The religious persecution that sent the ancestors fleeing to North America must have been incredibly severe to force them to leave such a beautiful area.
Just across the field from the farmhouse is the cemetery with many Burkhalter names on the tombstones. 
Again, the tendency towards the aesthetic that seems to be a Swiss trait was evident. Each and every plot was surrounded by a small boxwood hedge and filled with pansies, tulips, daffodils, primulae etc. 
Even the markers themselves were prettier than the uniform granite slabs we have in Canada. Carvings of sheaves of wheat, or blacksmith's tools or a plane and wood shavings seemed to denote occupations.
After lunch in a pretty little restaurant in Hasle, we drove to the neighbouring community of Ruegsbach and the Burkhalter Church. The building dates back to the 13th century and is still in use today - although services there are only once a month.
A simple but pretty little church 
but the highlight was seeing the Burkhalter crest in one of the stained glass windows!
And there was another pretty little cemetery with its well tended and colourful graves. 
It wasn't only the humans who were interested in our progress! 
So it was a very moving day - for Mom especially. It is such a gorgeous country and it is quite easy to call it "home".
