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Hello everyone!
Today was a sad day, we left Switzerland, our home of four days, and definite place to return to. (high on Christine's list, a close third on Mairi's). We took the train from Bern at 12 this afternoon, and arrived in Luxembourg around 5 after a nice (long) detour through parts of France, where we could understand more than had it been the German route.. After about an hour or more of walking through Luxembourg with the two of the worlds worst maps.. we managed to find our hostel, thankfully, it makes up for the crappy map... they will get a comment for that one though ..
We've included some pictures along with an explanation for each :)
Day one we spent in Geneva, which is in southern Switzerland, for those who don't know.. it was about 30 degrees, and even though we both wore LOTS of sunscreen, we both ended up with slight burns (and tans, which is niiice). We went to the wall of the reformers, a nice park where we played chess (christine won!!!), and spent an insanely long time trying to find the water.. which is funny, since the city is pretty much surrounded by it.. Other than that, we spent a long time looking for lunch, and when we found water, we ate. Chai yogurts aren't that fantastic, and feeding the birds is not recommended, as they will EAT YOU! The Geneva fountain is lovely (go google it, or look at our pics!), and we took an hour boat tour, which was lovely, but not well enough commentated for Mairi's liking. We saw the UN High Commission for Human Rights, but the tour was 2 hours long, so we didn't go.. We went for a walk in Lausanne that night, found a circus/pne sort of thing.. which we avoided, as Mairi got scared of watching the crazy rides.. We saw the alps across the lake, and took a ton of photos.. We put our feet in Lake Geneva, and it was not actually freezing.. but cold, according to Mairi. (Green lake would have been worse.)
Day two we went to Adelboden, where we found Our Chalet (for those who don't know, it's a major center for Guiding girlies!) and.. we got a short tour, hung out in the rain and looked at the tall mountains, green grass, and cows with bells, just like in Heidi, which Mairi wants to rush home and watch.. We walked up a really massive hill, and then later down it (big surprise there, i know). Stewart (relative, cousin or something?) took us for Swiss fondue, and 'vache seche' (dried cow, pretty much) which you ate rolled around.. gerkins or pickled onion.. a little bizarre, but not too bad. Went back to his flat (where we stayed) and had FRESH! strawberries for dessert.. yuuum! Then we went to bed.
Day three we took the train to Bern, after sleeping in (much needed, i promise).. Unfortunately, our hostel wasn't open until 45 minutes after we arrived (our train even stopped! we got told that it was going to be delayed (beside an overpass, no nice scenery to look at while stranded) for about 15 minutes. but then they never told us when we'd arrive... it was strange).. So, we hung out for about 45 minutes, braved the (swiss) German-speaking world of Starbucks (in english...!) to get chais, which.. they didn't blend. Blaah. (by didn't blend, i don't mean they just stuck mix on top, Robert.) After we checked in our stuff.. we headed for the grand tour of bern. By this, we mean that we walked down some streets, saw Einstein's house, and saw a cool building.. being curious Canadians, we walked down to it, and then down some stairs.. and then realized that WAY the hell up there was the bridge that we needed to cross in order to get to the other side (Mairi: UNESCO world heritage site!!).. so.. we walked up 155!!!! stairs..(Megan, nowhere near as bad as the ones in Koln, but scary anyhow). So, after that.. we walked across the bridge, looked down at the GORGEOUS aqua (haha) blue water, to the Bear pit. Stewart told us that we must see this, and it's a good thing we did, because.. as of yesterday (that was today in this) it is closed, to be remodelled into a park. By the way. The bear-pit is what it sounds like.. two large concrete holes in the ground with live grizzlies (and dead trees) with some birds/grass. Then we walked around some more.. found some more random buildings, an elevator/space travel toilet.. we have pictures.. so strange, so weird.. ahhhhhh!!!! We saw a "castle", swiss style, meaning that there was some fake-looking bricks, and not nearly enough grounds to make it worth while. (actually, it was a museum that cost 18 franks each, (about 16 cad)) so we didn't go...(and i don't understand german, or enough french).. That night.. we walked in the rain, and got so freaking wet that our clothing still wasn't dry this morning. So much for wearing those pants...
Day four! (today).. we went to Einstein's house (today is a national .. european holiday.. noone really knows *what* it is, but nothings open, no work, etc).. We decided to go for a short walk, as Einstein's house was relatively small...(in comparison to his theory of relativity.. ha ha ha!!).. then we went to walk by the river .. which had turned from that really nice aqua blue.. to cafe-mocha colored, overnight, thanks to the rain. Oh, and it was sorta flooding too.. insane!! we have pictures, and we DID NOT photoshop them! We played a rainy game of chess in another park, and christine beat mairi again (oh, that reminds me.. we need to google how to *really* play..).. We grabbed our stuff from the hostel, and headed to the train station.. Unforatunately.. or fortunately, either way.. there is apparently an insanely important football (read: soccer) game on somewhere today.. and.. there were a TON of drunk men (this was.. 1145 am).. and they were singing *everywhere* and it was really funny.. other than the HUGE line of police.. with huge german shepards, and dobermans.. and all of those things.. some looked like they wished they were there partying, others were just annoyed.. Anyhow! We got on the train, which started out as a French/German train (speaking) and then headed through Switzerland alllll the way to Luxembourg. By the end of the train ride, it had turned into just French, which was fine. Unfortunately, Mairi doesn't know how to read a clock, and we got all ready to get off the train AN HOUR AND A HALF EARLY. So.. after sitting there, waiting for the train to get there.. we finally got off.. so, we've been in Luxembourg a lot less than we thought we were.. Then.. all of what we said WAYY! up there happened.. and here we are!
Thanks for reading this play-by-play (maybe you should get a life instead) [and maybe in my past life or future life i was (will be) a comedian.. that'd be fun! or maybe this was only hilarious to Mairi and I .. who knows)
Hope all is well with everyone,
love & hugs,
christine (author) and Mairi (laugher)