Mefisto

Courier M had the pleasure of reuniting Mefisto with owner Sabina in Zurich.

A very happy Sabina with Mefisto

A very happy Sabina with Mefisto

Overnighting outside Zurich

He then drove to his hotel just outside Zurich, which had booked in advance by the Animalcouriers office. It was dark when he arrived and, after a very good meal, he headed off to bed.

The next morning, as he wandered somewhat sleepily into the breakfast room, he was warmly greeted and asked if he’d slept well. Very well, was his reply. “Oh good, so the wolves and the bears didn’t wake you up then?” he was asked. This unusual early-morning question was enough to rouse him completely and ask for more details. It turned out the hotel he was staying at was in Zurich’s wildlife park (Wildnispark Zürich) — an area of natural forest which incorporates a wildlife zoo.

So after downing a very healthy Swiss breakfast, courier M stepped outside for a quick look around.

Cute and cuddly marmots

Cute and cuddly marmots

Ibex, in their simulated mountain environment

Ibex, in their simulated mountain environment

A stag with several does

A stag with several does

A somewhat sleepy brown bear

A somewhat sleepy brown bear

A map of the whole park

A map of the whole park

Not quite Goldilocks and the three bears — a chart that shows how big bears are compared with humans (pretty big, actually!)

Not quite Goldilocks and the three bears — a chart that shows how big bears are compared with humans (pretty big, actually!)

Next stop: Greece

From Switzerland courier M crossed into Italy, stopping in Milan to deliver Charles’s cats, Paco and Rocky. He then made for the port of Ancona, where he boarded the ferry for Patras in Greece.

The busy port town of Ancona

The busy port town of Ancona

Here comes the ferry!

Here comes the ferry!