Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 16: Driving in the Alps
"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train." --Oscar Wilde
Best Moments
1. Early morning walk in the Cinque Terre
2. Watching the men comb the beach and get ready for another day
3. Wondering if our bus was going to go off the cliff or not
4. Enjoying the view out the windows on our way to Switzerland
5. Excited about planning our paragliding adventure
6. Realizing that the Euro is not such a bad deal compared to expenses in Switzerland
7. Skipping the bathroom break to take pictures of the Alps
8. Picking up snow after being in the Mediterranean
9. Welcome drink(s)
10. Hotel room view
11. Fondue demonstration (and eating)
12. Getting in trouble for talking (again)
13. Amazing mashed potatoes
14. Watching the cows parade down the street in the rain
15. Evening walk down to the next town and back
16. Standing at the base of the waterfalls
Daily Recap
*I don't know if you've noticed, but I love the morning. The Cinque Terre is a fantastic place to get out early and explore. The temperature is cool and everyone is getting ready for the day. People are prepping the sand (I mean pebbles) and restaurant owners start setting out their tables and chairs. Photography is also fantastic in the morning. The dew point is closer to the temperature, so often there are beautiful clouds in the sky.
*Today we left for another country. Switzerland is so scenic. It is also really expensive. A mother and daughter spent over 30 Swiss Francs on soup and something to drink.
*One of the coolest elements (literally) was the juxtaposition of the hot/humid Cinque Terre to the cold/refreshing Swiss Alps. I went from a swimsuit the previous day to throwing snowballs the next.
Personal Connections
*Our chalet in the Alps was perfect. We were welcomed with some white wine. My friend kept passing the glasses to me. We sipped as we learned how to make fondue.
*The hosts at the hotel were very kind and welcoming. Ruth is probably the most outgoing person there. She doesn't speak any English, and yet somehow we all found ways to communicate. It makes me realize that although we have our differences, in the end we have more similarities and it is those similarities that allow us to connect with people all over the world.
Stub Hub
Our chalet is located in the town of Stechelberg which is part of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is known for its waterfalls. It has to be one of the most scenic places in the world. We were surrounded with snow-covered peaks.
