Postcard from Switzerland: Dinner with Nashville Predators had a Disney-movie vibe
BERN, SWITZERLAND – About 10 years ago, Nashville Predators forward Matt Duchene played in Switzerland briefly during the NHL lockout.
“I'd never been to Bern,” he said Monday, “but anywhere you are in Switzerland, it feels like you're walking through a postcard at all times. Here is no different.”
Accurate, that statement.
And I’m basing my agreement largely on the incredibly picturesque setting I was able to enjoy — along with Duchene and other Predators players and staff members — at a team dinner Sunday night. The scenic balcony outside the ballroom hosting the event was more popular than the food. And that's saying something, because the food was good, a multi-faceted buffet designed to please anyone.
But that view … man …
I mean, just look at Andrew Nelles' photo:
Not sure how well it’ll come across on a screen, but that’s snow on the mountaintops of the Alps off in the distance. Like a Disney movie. Or as Duchene said, a postcard.
The Predators – and everyone there – posed for photos while there, sending them out via texts and social media.
“It's been amazing,” Tanner Jeannot said. “This is a beautiful country.”
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Are the Titans winning?
During the dinner, I’ll admit that I spent much of my time checking the Tennessee Titans’ score in Indianapolis (and passing it along to others in the room). Couldn’t watch the game on television, though I made it back to my hotel in time to listen to a stream of Titans Radio and Mike Keith, who told me all about how the Titans somehow held on in the second half to win an important divisional game.
While I know Mike, I’d honestly not listened to him call a game live in my three-plus seasons covering the Titans for The Tennessean – because I’m usually at the games, too.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, they do televise selected NFL games here in Switzerland. I stayed up late to watch the Raiders and Broncos with commentary in German.
Taking the Tram
Something that has stuck out to me in a couple of days in Bern is how few cars you’ll see driving through the city, even near office buildings on a Monday morning. That’s because of the city’s cheap and wonderfully efficient public transportation system. Easy and fast. That’s not just a Swiss thing, either. I’ve been reminded how most American cities lag so far behind European cities in this area.
Next Up
After Monday night’s SC Bern exhibition game, the Predators will fly Tuesday to Prague, where they’ll set up camp in advance of Friday and Saturday games with the San Jose Sharks. Those are NHL regular-season games, y’all. They’ll count.
More postcards from Nashville Predators in Europe
DAY 1:Predators are feeling the Bern on first full day in Europe. So am I.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Postcard from Switzerland: Why Predators dinner had Disney-movie vibe
