Ich bin nur ein armer Wandergesell... (Othmar Schoeck)

Vo Lüzärn gäggä Wäggis zu...(Melanie Oesch und Andy Borg)

Roulez Tambours....(Ruedi Wachter)  

Paperback published July 1, 2024
kindle direct publishing
ISBN 9798329880533
ASIN: B0D8JBT4L8
Amazon Link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8JBT4L8

Synopsis.

A smarter, older gentleman goes on a hike from Zurich to Geneva. On hiking trails, whenever they exist. But the declared goal is to reach the destination, the Café de la Place in Meyrin, as soon as possible. The adventures and encounters are more unforeseen than expected. The experience brings smiles, laughter, and a sense of achievement. But also unpleasant, teeth grinding and suffering. He has much time to explore his thoughts and follow the associations caused by the actual events. He inevitably ends up in complex, exuberant pipe dreams and bizarre, surreal spheres. Very often, he is sent into the virtual desert for his thoughs. Which he isn't concerned about. He continues to hike, ponder, and provoke, undeterred.

"When someone goes on a trip so he can tell something." (Matthias Clausius)

Impressum


This book is based on the 2022 in German published title 'Die Wanderung des älteren Herrn' by the same author.
This version, written in American English, was prompted by the author's conversations with his two sons and English-speaking friends.

Please note: English is not the author's native language.

The original version has been shortened and streamlined. End notes were added to make the text more accessible.

The book contains the actual description of the trip, socially critical provocations, challenging ideas and daring personal theses.

Expressions like foreign words, reflections, ambiguity, irony, and provocative statements are kept between apostrophes to highlight their significance in the narrative. This stylistic choice adds depth and nuance to the text, inviting readers to engage with the ideas presented.

The services from Google and Wikipedia were much appreciated. The help from Grammarly, LanguageTool, and ProWritingAid was pertinent.

The author extends his heartfelt gratitude to his partner, Germain, for her unwavering patience and attentive listening.

Text and cover:
Hans Bodmer
Copyrights
Hans Bodmer

Publisher Hans Bodmer           
.

Index.

Vision/Prologue.                                                                              

Day 1:  Zurich - ‘Grapingen ’- Baldegg - Schinznach.     
Day 2: Schinznach - Aarau - Schönenwerd - Olten.
Day 3: Olten - ‘Southwall’ - Kappel’ -  Egerkingen.                                
Day 4: Egerkingen - Oensingen - Attisholz - Solothurn.   
Day 5: Solothurn - Grenchen - ’Slutigen’ - Biel. 
Day 6: Biel - ‘IT Valley’ - ‘Petri-Heil’ – ‘Saint Bluff’.
Day 7: ‘Saint Bluff’ - ‘Horgen’ - Neuchatel - ‘Eden sur Lac’.        
Day 8: ‘Eden sur Lac’ - ‘Karlstadt’ - ‘Nobruegge’ - Orbe.
Day 9: Orbe - ‘Poste’ - La Sallaz - ‘Massacre’ - Lavigny.                       
Day 10: Lavigny - Signal de Bougie - ‘Orage’ - Dullier.   
Day 11: Dullier - ‘Paradies’ - ‘Puzzle’ - Ferney-Voltaire.  
Day 12: Ferney-Voltaire - ‘Havana’– Café de la Place.                          

People involved.
Leaps of thought.
The Author.
.

People involved.

The elderly gentleman, the ‘crazy’ Hans.
Gabriel, his guardian angel.
The devil.

Day 1:
1. The pastor in ‘Grapingen’.
2. The friendly lady at the Baldegg.
3. The two boys with their skateboards in Birr.
4. The evil Valkyrie with the vinegar bottle.

Day 2:
5. The competent waitress in Schinznach.
6. The unfriendly dog owner lady at the Aare River.
7. The sad lady in Schönenwerd.

Day 3:
8. The Hunchback of Notre Dame in Olten.
9. The junior soccer players near Egerkingen.
10. The beauty at the company’s party.
11. Beni National, the TV sports reporter.

Day 4:
12. The pastor and the lady in black in the back seat.
13. The campsite warden in Solothurn.
14. The naked ballerina under the shower.

Day 5:
15. The brutal waiter at the five-star restaurant.
16. The wealthy, gracious lady in the Rolls-Royce.
17. ‘Greti’, the slut from the railway station pub.
18. The lady from the air traffic control with the red rose.

Day 6:
19. Kunigunde, the long dryness of the Old Testament.
20. The voiceless saleswoman in the self-service store.
21. The quirky landlady in Nidau.
22. Pierre, the social dropout.
23. The admirable, friendly, and lovely lady at the kiosk in nowhere.
24. The bad, lousy hotelier and informer.

Day 7:
25. Two incompetent crime police officers.
26. The slut 'Greti'. Now, as Margaretha and future Dr. Phil.
27 Australian teens on an adventure trip in western Switzerland.
28. Mrs. Holle, the motherly fairy tale lady.

Day 8:
29. The incarnation of Gilberte de Courgenay.
30. Roughneck Rübezahl with his fence post.
31. The disbelieving landlady of a failing hotel.
32. Liz Tailor, who got lost in a provincial town.

Day 9:
32. Inspector Pelier, the friendly police officer.
33. The motorcycle-riding innkeeper Jean-Claud.
34. The baroness with the violet Peugeot cabriolet and in black nightwear.

Day 10:
35. The drunk racing cyclists.
36. Socrates on the tractor.

Day 11:
37. The friendly, helpful boy with the Appenzeller dog.
38. General Guisan. Out of service.
39. Maria Stuart and her maid.
40. Puzzle-solving aristocratic children.
41. Mere Royaume’s sister and her husband.

Day: 12:
42. The suspicious, seductively sexy, pretty lady at the four-star hotel.
43. The most beautiful of all ladies in this world: Juliette

The last sentence:

I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar)

Reviews/Comments.

Comments from a publisher:
Your manuscript was chosen for publication from hundreds of others we receive each year because our editors greatly enjoyed reading your work.

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Review from Onlinebookclub.
Everything fits perfectly in the story, and I read it quickly. Fast readers would be able to finish it in one sitting. There is nothing I disliked about it. That’s why I rate the book five out of five stars. I highly recommend it to people who love travelling and love reading about it. It would inspire people to go out there and do what they have always wanted to do. Everyone should read this book, from teenagers to adults and seniors.

Review from Literary Titan.
At the age of 82, Hans Bodmer intricately blends his rich background in IT and passion for creative writing, taking readers on a trek that transcends physical boundaries. His character's walk, spanning twelve days, explores scenic trails and the complex terrain of human emotions through unexpected encounters and surreal experiences.

"The Elderly Gentleman’s Ulyssee" is not just a travelogue but a canvas of introspection and social commentary. The protagonist navigates through charming and challenging interactions with people ranging from delightful women to less savory characters. His journey is punctuated by vibrant and often whimsical narratives and profound philosophical insights. Each step and each thought invites

the reader to ponder life’s larger questions and the myriad of human emotions that accompany our quests for meaning.

Literary Titan praises the book, stating, "The narrative is a blend of personal musings, social

commentary, and surreal adventures experienced during the twelve-day trek. The writing style is distinctively personal and occasionally whimsical, which adds charm to the narrative. This review highlights the unique voice of Hans Bodmer, who captures the fluctuating emotions of his protagonist in a manner that is both genuine and relatable.

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