Just Another Day in Switzerland

My posts have been sporadic at most in the past months and I apologize. I think the problem is that I feel like I need something VERY exciting to write about. The truth is, even though I live in Switzerland (which some people feel is very exciting in itself), I live a pretty normal life. I get up early -too early for my taste - go to work, work all day, come home, work a bit more, maybe run, make dinner, sleep. Repeat over and over again.  Then again there are the weekends, which can be a bit more exciting. A few weekends ago, Paul and I decided to go to Interlaken and Gimmelwald for our four day weekend. Here is a short recap if you missed it:

We arrived in Interlaken Wednesday evening without a problem. The train connections in Switzerland are amazing and I love being able to travel everywhere in the country in a reasonable amount of time. In just about 2 hours, we pulled into Interlaken West and jumped off the train. We ambled down the streets until we found the hostel. It turns out it was the same one we stayed in the last time we were in Interlaken together! It was a good night because the hostel is just above a lovely pub.

The next morning we set out for adventure. I really wanted to ride around a lake, so we found a bike rental place, and decided to ride an electric tandem. Although it took us a while to get used to it, we decided to give it a go. After taking an initial wrong turn and having to backtrack, we began our ride. The first hill was unbelievably hard, even with full assist. After a little break, we continued on and enjoyed the flat street and the beautiful views. An hour or so in, we passed a lovely restaurant and pulled in for lunch and a well earned beer (or two). After lunch we were too full to move, so we walked across the street to a little park on the lake and took a nap.



 

So after our little nap, we got back on our bike and kept going. There was a lot of up and down, with a nice stop at a beautiful waterfall.

 

This is the best part of vacation - you can do whatever you want!  Before we knew it, we had finished our ride. If you have never ridden on the back of a tandem, you should know it is a pretty fun experience. You don't have any control, which means you don't watch the road, change gears, or use the brakes. It also means you have to trust the person in front of you, and use good communication, especially with starting and stopping. Overall, our trip was great fun, but it was definitely a bit exhausting!

After returning the bike we headed to a Mexican restaurant that had been recommended in Interlaken West. It had delicious margaritas and great food, which is difficult to find in Switzerland. We headed back to the hostel for a well earned sleep. The next day, we packed up and did a bit of shopping in Interlaken and wandering around. We found many beautiful bridges, a big market, and of course, benches galore. We found a cozy bench and snuggled up to read and enjoy the nice weather for a while before heading up to Gimmelwald. The trip there took about an hour and included a train, a bus, and a gondola. From there it was minutes to the next hostel. We checked into the "Lovers Dorm" and ordered a few beers on the beautiful balcony. It was a nice rest before our hike the next day.

As a former girl scout, I firmly believe in being prepared. Unfortunately, on this hike, I was not living by my motto. I left with a lot of water but no first aid kit, and only my little Vibrams on my feet. It all started out well, thinking we were going for a little, 30 minute hike. After climbing over a few piles of snow, we were worried early on but kept going. We visited the beautiful valley I had seen in the previous summer, and it was not nearly as beautiful but still unique in its own way. We backtracked a bit and started on a different path up to a restaurant that looked quite close by. The several fallen trees in our path should have been a warning for us to stop and go back, but we didn't listen.

The path continued to get worse and worse as we got higher and higher. In places the path was completely washed out, and we had to hike across terrible icy avalanche areas. On the last traverse, I was fairly sure I was going to die, digging out footholds, and only holding on to the edge of a cliff with two sharp rocks. Paul and I are lucky we made it past that, and wanted to be back home immediately. Unfortunately, we had another 2 hours ahead of us. Oh, and did I mention that Paul broke his toe? By the time we arrived back at the hostel we were dirty and exhausted. We showered and joined some of the other hikers for beers and dinner. By 10pm I was too tired to keep my eyes open and I went straight to sleep.

 

Our next day was slated to be a hiking day, but with Paul's broken toe, and all of our muscles ached more than they had in a long time. So instead of hiking, we found a nice cafe in the town one gondola ride away. We settled in for a good day, with beer on tap, a gorgeous view, and interesting books. Time creeped by as we enjoyed each others company and relaxed in our last day of vacation. Finally, we decided it was time to make our journey home. We picked up our suitcases and caught the gondola, bus, and two trains and another bus home. Finally I was home sweet home.


Since then I have been enjoying quiet weekends, with a week of being sick in between. I loved the Caves Ouvert Saturday where all the wineries were giving samples for $12! This weekend has been a quiet weekend with Paul. Like I said, there is not much to tell in my boring, day-to-day life.

Waves of Flowing Sand

I promised a "Desert Part 2" but never delivered. Things moved so fast that there wasn't really the time to write it. So let me sum it up for those interested parties (hey there mom and dad! I am surprised you are still reading!)

We took our good old mini bus to the edge of the desert where our camels awaited. And by "camels" I mean 2 camels. There were 10 people on our trip, which meant we were two camels short.

The leaders of our trip didn't seemed concerned at all, but one of our trip mates who spoke Arabic fluently could understand them talking about how they couldn't get any more camels. After another 30 minutes of watching the sun sink lower and lower in the sky, we were getting agitated. This whole trip revolved around a sunset camel ride through the Sahara. So where were our camels?

Instead of taking the time to explain whatever the problem was, they ordered us into a car. I refused and asked for my money back. Many this is a very American move, but I spent well over a day and a half in a car (almost non-stop!) and the last thing I wanted to do was GET IN A CAR. After more arguing it was clear they didn't care at all (who is surprised here?) The next bit of fun news is that eight of us, plus a driver, were getting in a 5 passenger car - 2 lucky people got the camels while we were crammed in like sausages. I will admit, my mood was not the best at this time. I tried to see the positive side, but being in the middle and not able to sit upright, it wasn't the most comfortable journey.

Eventually, we got close enough the the camp we would be staying at that they could meet us with the camels. The angry driver dropped us off, threw our things out of the car, and left. There were no camels in sight and we were stranded in the desert. So what did we do? Take pictures of course! The sun was about to set, and I sure as heck wasn't going to miss it.

            

After a picture session, we waited around, hoping for camels. After another 15 minutes or so, we saw a camel line coming in from the distance. Once they arrived we hopped on and headed in for the camp. It was dark very quickly after the sun went down, and we could soon see stars appearing in the sky. After a while I could make out the big dipper and a million other stars. Without light pollution it is incredible to look at the sky at night. I sang a bit to myself, and one of our Moroccan travelers sang a beautiful song in Arabic. By the time we arrived in camp we were all in a much better mood, but still quite tired.

They gave us a delicious meal that they would normally eat as Berbers - a bit like Ethiopian because it was a communal meal, but less spicy and more meaty with rice. It was a nice way to finish a long day and it was already getting quite cold. We wrapped up and started a bonfire, listened to music, and watched the Moroccans dance. Eventually Emily and I were too cold to stay outside any longer so we snuggled onto our not-so-comfortable mattresses and put on every piece of clothing we had, and pulled on the 6 blankets before falling into a difficult sleep. 

 

The next morning, I woke up and was a bit confused. We were supposed to have been roused by the staff, but it was the other people staying in our tent who woke us. Apparently we had been forgotten about, and everyone else was awake and running around. Emily and I blearily packed our things (but left most of the layers on) and went directly to our camels. They put us back on and we marched out - we had already missed the sunrise! Luckily we still got some lovely pictures, and enjoyed the hour and a half back to our van. We then got to look forward to over 12 hours in a van to get back to Marrakech. The highlight was the snow on the pass! We were soon back to our destination, jumped on a train to Casablanca, slept for 4 hours before flying out. What an adventure!

Birthday Wishes

Lately I feel like things have been a bit more crazy than normal. After my birthday, we now have just 7 weeks before summer vacation. And while that is amazing (who doesn't love a whole summer off?) I am stressed with all that I must finish before school is over. On the other side of that, I can't wait for it to be summer. It's almost like I am living for my Fridays but dreading the constant onward march of the days. So which is it? I ask myself most days. Do I want it to be summer, or do I want more time in school? I really have no idea. Next week is another little mini break for us - Thursday and Friday off for Ascension. Its like a little mini holiday before the real holiday. 


Summer in a way has already arrived. It is 30*C (86*F!) and still only the beginning of May. With this incredible heat the children are exhausted and hot - and so are the teachers! I just spent the last hour sitting on my sun soaked patio reading and drinking a coldish beer. Well it was cold for about 5 minutes, then the sun started to boil it. Hello summer! I've heard this weather won't last, which is good, because by now I have decided I am not quite ready for summer.


Last weekend was my birthday, which I wrote a bit about. I had a nice moment the day after my birthday, when my friend Becky had made me a Recess PB cake - which was amazing. She lit candles and everything, something that doesn't happen often as you get older.

 I tried to think of a wish, but what could I wish for? I am living in a gorgeous apartment in a beautiful country. I have amazing friends scattered throughout the world, I am married to my perfect guy, and I get to teach amazing kids every day! So what does the person who is perfectly happy with for. I came up blank and just blew out the candles. But this year, I've decided to wish for: 


1) Good health for my family, friends, and myself
2) Happiness for those I love most
3) A little reduction in stress (my grad degree is almost over!)


I think those are nice wishes, but I can't see anything getting better next year. Well, maybe if my French improved a little I would like that. So what would you wish for if it was your birthday?

The Other Side of 25

I can't believe it is already May 5th - My birthday! It's the first year I am beginning to feel a little old. For the first year of my life I have a "real" job, I am married, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, and thinking about buying a house in the next few years, then kids soon to follow. Gasp, I am growing up. I am closer to 30 than 20 for the first time. I will admit I am the youngest teacher at my school, and most of my coworkers just laughed when I told them I was turning 26. "You're still such a baby!" they say. Don't get me wrong, I KNOW I am not old, but I a getting old. I make old person sounds when I sit down. OOF. When I travel I get annoyed by people who are slow and I would prefer a comfortable place to stay. I remember a time when I was okay with sleeping in bunk beds and on trains, eating tuna from cans and loaves of bread and at this moment that is not appealing. I want comfort and ease and sometimes routine. When I travel for a few weekends in a row, all I look forward to is a nice morning snuggling in bed, drinking my tea and relaxing on my balcony. Is this part of getting old?

So now that I'm a bit older, I wonder what next year will bring. Will I feel a little older, or will I still want to go out and explore? Will I get more entrenched in my routines and my job, or will I still find time to do the things I love and  things that keep me young? I look forward to this time next year.... what things will come?

Into the Desert - Part 1

Okay, we are trying to get to the desert. It's not exactly working right now. Instead we are in a bus that might explode with a driver that keeps stopping in the middle of main streets, jumping out, and running away. So far he has always come back. Did I mention the car door is broken and won't open from the inside? We've spent over an hour in this fire-waiting-to-happen and still haven't managed to leave Marrakech. I just hope this van won't be our final method of transport. Only time will tell.

Update:
We have been driven in our rickety old van for a while now, when suddenly it pulled over to a petrol station. "change cars" was all the driver said as he opened the door to let us out. People steamed out of one van and into the other. These mini-buses are much more legit and a bit more trustworthy. I took a quick run to the WC (this time I had tp ready!). Now we are on our new minibus and I am in a not-super comfortable middle seat. Nap time? Yes please!

Last update of the day...
It was a long long trip, without much actual learning. There was a lot more stopping, and the bus driver saying "picture time!" Okay, but what are we taking pictures of? After the tenth stop   - all of which were suspiciously near vendors- I stopped getting out of the car. Like Europe where one church looks like another, so does one sand dune or cluster of old clay houses look like another. It's not that I'm not interested, it's just that I thought a tour guide would tell us where we were going and what we were seeing. Instead of a tour guide we have a driver who likes to stop and drink coffee. I suppose the upside is that he never fell asleep. But i never learned anything and have 20 pictures to prove it. I must say it is interesting to watch the sand change colors and watch the people on the side of the road watching us. 

So we are finally at the hotel with two meals and one sleep between us and the sahara. I'll keep writing, but it might be a while until I find Internet again. Camels, here we come!

Morocco - Casablaca and Marrakech

Let me start by apologizing - I am computerless and thus forced to write this on my iPhone. Not an easy task, I assure you. Please forgive all the awkward sentences and weird spelling autocorrect errors.

I am currently on a train from Casablanca to Marrakech, and although I was only in Casablanca for less than 24 hours, there are several observations I can make. First, it's tough to be a pedestrian where crossing the street feels more like Frogger than anything else. You try to follow the locals and not die. Second, driving in a car isn't much better than walking. Casablanca is a city where honking takes place every 15 seconds or so (I couldn't figure out why), stopping at the red signs and stop lights seemed optional, as did driving in the lanes or signaling. In fact ALL driving rules seemed rather optional. Our last taxi driver even slightly ran into a truck on the way into the train station. No big deal. Then Emily and I bought tickets to Marrakech. We decided to travel with the locals in 2nd class. We nearly ended up standing up for the 3.5 hour journey. It seems this train is popular! My last observation about the locals is the amount of clothes they wear. Not just the women, which I had expected as they are covered from head to toe most of the time. Not all of them wear head scarfs, but long sleeves and skirts are the norm. It's the men that surprise me the most. It's 28*C outside and these guys are wearing jeans, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jackets AND hats! All on the train! I'm in a thin long skirt and thin long shirt and dying. How do they do it? Okay, enough about clothing...  Emily and I have one more day on our own before the tour starts, and we are very excited. Into the desert with camels and a sky full of stars :) I have to say that Morocco is way out of my comfort zone, but it's good to leave your comfort zone every now and then. It makes me feel alive and reminds me how lucky I am.

A few hours later..

Once Emily and I arrived in Marrakech, we wasted no time picking up groceries, then heading out to explore. Even though we were staying quite a ways from the center of town, we decided to walk. I think it's the best way to see a city, otherwise you miss the small quiet bits of everyday life. After an hour or so of walking, and yes, getting a bit lost, we found the souk- the large marketplace. Thousands of people must be there, buying, selling, begging, looking and everything in between. The smells and sights were far from my normal experience, but similar to Istanbul. We wandered through the enormous souk getting completely lost and not minding at all. I had a short run in with a very awkward WC and ignored the calls of "hello! Just look! Bonjour!" eventually I stopped responding with "no, merci" because that just encouraged them. An hour or so later Emily and I were a but worried. We had wandered down many streets in and out of corridors and down little alleyways. This maze seemed to go on indefinitely with no hope of an out! We started trying to guess the direction but it was Bo use. Then suddenly we took a right, and there we were, back in the massive square where we had begun our adventure. We breathe a sigh of relief then set out to find a place for emily to get henna. The women were very pushy, but Emily negotiated a good price and we sat on the little plastic stools happy for a rest, as emily's hand was decorated with flowers, swirls, and dots. The lady with her face covered (except for her eyes) insisted over and over "no water! One hour!" we thanked her, paid her, and went in search of food. We didn't have to go far. There was a huge section of street food, and we gave in early. The prices were all the same, and they all served the same things. We ordered tajine de poulet, couscous et legumes, and then many sticks of kabobs (lamb, chicken, and veggies). We stuffed our self, met a fellow American traveller, chatted, paid up, and headed out. By this time it was cold and dark. Did we want to walk home? No thanks! We grabbed a taxi (no seatbelts!) and made a beeline to the hotel. Thanks to our free lobby wifi Emily and I are connecting with the work before another day of wonder. Hurray!