Aletsch Glacier Hike

Here's the link to my hike at Bettmeralp to see Switzerland's longest glacier!


I went with two friends, Bhavani and Pola, and we spent the day hiking through rocks and enjoying the incredible scenery. Just when I thought Switzerland couldn't get anymore beautiful, I came here and was blown away by such an impressive natural monument.

From Wiki:
The Aletsch Glacier (German: Aletschgletscher) or Great Aletsch Glacier (German: Grosser Aletschgletscher) is the largest glacier in the Alps. It has a length of about 23 km and covers more than 120 square kilometres (more than 45 square miles) in the eastern Bernese Alps in the Swiss canton of Valais. The Aletsch Glacier is composed by three smaller glaciers converging at Concordia, where its thickness is estimated to be near 1 km. It then continues towards the Rhone valley before giving birth to the Massa river.

The whole area, including other glaciers is part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

Hike through Simplon

I need to put captions on pictures, but here is the album link for my hiking trip with l'Aumonerie this weekend! Enjoy!

Bratislava, Slovakia

Thursday


On this morning, Katherine and I checked into Hotel Kyjev, a Communist-era hostel with rather eccentric 60s nostalgia, among other interesting features. For one, they had round mirrors, crappy wood paneling, epically slow elevators, and a taxi in the lobby. Let me take the chance to elaborate on these elevators. Katherine took the opportunity to film the doors opening, as they moved at the kind of pace you would when waking up and taking a slow stretch. One time, when we could not resist our impatience for the elevator to climb to the sixth floor, we decided to take the stairs. All was good and well until, after reaching the first floor, we realized that there WAS NO EXIT. The stairs just kept descending with no visible end. We were too freaked out to see if there was a bomb shelter at the bottom, so we quickly trekked up to the first floor to take the elevator, only to find it open up to the people who were waiting with us on the sixth floor! We laughed about it a bit, and then explained that there was no way to get out of the stairs. Good thing we didn't need an emergency exit!


Our first sight-seeing adventure started with the church of St. Elisabeth, which is also named the "Blue" church. And most appropriately, it seems to be, considering that the entire church is painted in different shades of pastel blue, even on the inside. (see St. Elisabeth and the Miracle of the Roses)

We then took a stroll to Old Town Square (Hlavné Námastie) to see the historical building (Slovenské národné divadlo) and the various famous statues (Hans Christian Anderson, for one). Keep in mind that it was sweltering hot the whole day, and we were walking under the sun in the humidity and suffering a little. Thus, when we reached the Hrad (Bratislava Castle), all we wanted was some shade and breeze to save us from death by UV ray. Thus, we walked up to the castle, took a few pictures, and then sat (or fell asleep in my case) under a shade tree by the entrance. This was quickly interrupted by a gigantic semi truck (which we thought would not be able to make the clearance under the castle gate) and a horde of fat Austrian tourists who tried pitifully to avoid being squashed by the truck.


We decided to find refuge in a less crowded area, so we bought a pineapple popsicle and a grapefruit Fanta from a convenience store (for less than 2 euro!) and parked under a tree in the Grassalkovich gardens (Grasalkovičov palác), where we sat in the soft grass and watched a bird catch slugs. On this lovely adventure, I was intrigued by scattered remains of a dismembered pigeon, which fondly reminded me of Claire and her fascination with these rats with wings. As usual, I snapped a few photos for her enjoyment.


Katherine and I headed back to Old Town. On our way, we heard some music coming from the Primaciálny palác, so we stepped inside. Katherine was a bit wary, wondering if it was a private party or if we had to buy tickets. I noticed that no one was exchanging money, nor did anyone have a special ticket to get a plate a free food and a glass of wine, so I told her we should stand in line. She also worried that they would start talking to us in Slovak and we wouldn't be able to respond - we saw the police come to shoo away the homeless guys, and we didn't want a similar thing to happen to us, the tourist impostors. Luckily, we just smiled and walked down the table, picking up fresh cheeses and bread with olive oil, piling up our plates. We enjoyed watching traditional Slovak dancers sing to accordion music. It was wonderful!

After a relaxing afternoon under the shade, we went to the opera house to buy tickets to Lucrezia Borgia, the current production (see synopsis).

At last, we had dinner at Gazdovský Dvor, where I had halušky (like gnocchi) with cabbage, and Katherine had it with sheep's cheese. We ordered what they considered to be a carrot salad, but it turned out to be a bowl of shaved carrots with lemon and orange slices on the side. What amazed us was the price - we both had a main dish, a salad, a beer, and coffee, and the total was 17 euro!

Friday

Friday morning, we took the rickety bus to Hrad Devín (Devin Castle). All the while, we tried to figure out how to request a stop. The bus would violently jerk to a halt at various stops, open its doors quickly, honk, and then slam them just as fast. It took awhile for someone to request to get off; that was when we noticed that she pushed a button on the ceiling! In addition to being scared for our lives because of the bumpy ride, the middle-of-nowhere forest surroundings, and the lack of visible English, we were not comforted to know that the only way to get off of the moving bus was to jump up and push a button on the ceiling. We decided that there was no hope for Katherine, as she could only reach it when the bus was stopped. Good thing we were the last stop.

We arrived a little early, so we took a walk around the nature reserve, which was nice until we were viciously attacked by mosquitoes. We watched the hydrofoils cross the Donaj and the Morava rivers and noticed how the water color changed significantly at their intersection. At 10:00, the museum opened, and we bought student tickets (only 1.3 €). It was interesting, because you can tell how hard Bratislava tries to be an attractive tourist destination. The castle grounds were pretty cool, but they were rather scarce, considering Napoleon blew up the place in the 1800s. We were also suspicious about how much of the ruins were actually ruins and which were rebuilt.


Upon our return, illy (a Starbucks-type chain) was passing out free iced coffee (which was the point where we decided that Slovakians just liked passing out free stuff every day), which was refreshing after our hot bus trip. We ventured on to see the Pállfy palace museum, where they had a neat exhibit on Italian haute couture - dresses made for JLo and Naomi Campbell and a bunch of supermodels. We also went back to the Primate's Palace to see the hall of mirrors and tapestry museum, which was free for students. Finally, we stopped by the Pharmacy Museum at the Red Crayfish, which gained us access to the Museum of Arms and the tower that overlooked the city.

We stopped at a little café near the Hrad for a Greek salad and a Coke, and then back to the hostel to shower before the opera. Although the opera house was pretty and the tickets were cheap (5 € for balcony seats), the production didn't begin to compare with Vienna. I don't remember much of the opera, because it was in Italian and the subtitles were in Slovak, but I did notice the pit orchestra. There was one violinist in particular who was wearing a strapless black dress (which is NEVER done in a professional orchestra, mind you) and had this obnoxious red scarf over her chin rest. What bothered me most was that she came in late at every rest, barely moved her bow, and didn't turn the pages in time for her stand partner, even though it was her job. I have never seen a professional musician who faked the entire performance. And then I said to myself, "The guidebook said that the Bratislava opera was world class??" This is where my skepticism got the best of me. Katherine and I decided that she managed to get in based on good looks and made up stories about her fling with the conductor during intermission.


For dinner, we wandered in Old Town among the drunk stag partiers and the loud American tourists and managed to snag the last table at Pressburg before a couple behind us took it. There, we encountered way too many English speakers, which made us worried about how touristy the restaurant was. Needless to say, the Americans left, and our food arrived. To our enjoyment, the meal was fantastic. I had garlic soup, which is cream-based and traditionally comes in a bread bowl. Katherine had pumpkin cream soup, which was also delicious. I ordered a traditional cucumber salad, and we both had Topvar (Slovak beer on tap). It was a great meal for the price and the atmosphere, and we went back to the hostel with full stomachs and smiles.

What I learned

1. Garlic soup is amazing

2. Bratislavians like free stuff

3. Four inch heels are common, sensible walking shoes

4. Bring mosquito repellent

5. The UFO bridge only looks like a UFO when you see it in person

6. It is okay to apply deodorant while on the job at the post office. Don't expect better service.

7. If you buy animal postcards at a dumpy shopping mall, expect for the cashier to get excited and force you to take a bunch of free ones from a gigantic box. Also expect her to try to practice her English and tell you she lived in London for two years.

Morges Tulip Festival

Pictures are up! Sharon and I went to Morges for the 40th annual tulip festival. Beforehand, we stopped at Café Balzac for a hot chocolate (with banana hints!) and an ice cream sundae - freshly made raspberry sorbet with homemade chocolate sauce, chocolate ice cream, and whipped cream.



As you can see, the tulips were gorgeous, and we managed to take some pretty breathtaking pictures.

Grand St. Bernard

(see photos)

This weekend, I went with the Aumonerie to Grand St. Bernard for a weekend of snowshoeing. I felt like I was in a winter survival movie because there was litte visibility and the snow covered our entire line of sight. It was truly an amazing experience to see the mountains and learn about the area's history.



We stayed overnight in a hospice at the top of the mountain, where they provide food and shelter for free for passerby. Their motto is to welcome and nourish, and it was wonderful to arrive to a warm, castle-like building with small food nooks and bowls for hot tea.



We passed the time playing Jungle Speed and cribbage, and we visited the museum that talked about times from the Middle Ages and ancient tools and equipment used to traverse the dangerous mountain area. They also talked about the origin of the St. Bernard and the dog's role in helping sniff out the travel path after a new-fallen snow. This was a wonderful chance to spend sometime outdoors doing winter sports, a common pasttime (or, rather, obsession) for the Swiss. As the months pass, I am constantly amazed at how much culture the Swiss have to share.

Les Caves Ouvertes and Extraterrestrial Visitors

This Saturday, EPFL Xchange took a trip to the vineyards in Gland, Switzerland, for a day of wine tasting, called "Les Caves Ouvertes." We bought a glass that was our ticket to 24 vineyards. After having taken the train and then the shuttle bus to Vitzel, we ambled along cobblestone roads and through autumn-colored grape vines to get to each "cave." Unfortunately, it rained all day, so we often ran to seek refuge in the warm indoors. We were lucky enough to find many with fireplaces and large tables for our group. They were also generous in offering us bread and cheese in almost every place.

We learned a bit about how the wine was made - in the wooden barrel pictured in the album, it takes 10,000 L of grape juice to fill the barrel! We were going to be enginerds and figure out, according to estimation of the volume of the average grape, how many grapes were required to fill the barrel, but we were too tired from drinking all that wine. All in all, we managed to visit 9 caves and were thoroughly content to return to Lausanne.

Afterwards, there was an alien-themed party at one of our friends' apartments, and they covered the floor in red paper and had amazing lamps and craters made of papier maché. It was great to see the creativity of the costumes, and we had a lot of fun dancing the night away!

This guy used squash balls to make his super-power orb martian costume.

Leticia brought some music from all over the world. She is a big fan of 20's music like Django Reinhardt.

Gil and his alien costume.

Melanie and Emmanuele, our fashionable hosts.

I'm a friendly alien!

St. Maurice Abbey and Thermal Baths

Today, I went on an excursion with five girls and the priest from l’Aumonerie to visit St. Maurice, the oldest abbey in the world. It was built in the early 500s, and there are still remnants of the original framework of the building. Giovanni, the priest, gave us a private tour of the monastery, showing us the sleeping quarters, the tunnel with the water source that flows under your feet, the old crypts and frescas, and some prized treasures – chests of gold, silver, and gems, intricate bronze crosses, statues, and figurines. The rooms were rich with history and character, and he gave us a wonderfully detailed description of the significance of each religious symbol that graced the monastery. For instance, you often see two doves drinking from the same source of water and a serpent that wraps around the perimeter of the birds but cannot access the source. This signifies a closeness with God and is used many times in religious artwork from the Middle Ages. The Tree of Life also plays an important role in religious relics, as it is even incorporated in some drawings of the crucifix. The square crucifix with the clover-shaped ends is characteristic of the Tree of Life. You can see this style of artwork in chandeliers, columns, paintings, and mosaics.
After having eaten lunch in the monastery, we took a lovely walk along the Rhone and profited from the beautiful autumn colors and the vast mountain. We finally reached the thermal baths after our hike, which are therapeutic outdoor pools that receive water from a natural underground source. Since the water is from a natural source, it is full of minerals that are excellent for the skin and aid in removing the everyday toxins that our bodies absorb from daily pollution. The source provides water at about 65-70 oC (149 - 158 oF), and the bathing facility must cool off the water before it is cool enough for human skin (the water was at least 80 oF when we were swimming). It is quite a sight during night time, because it was about 40 oF outside and you could see the steam rising from the pools into the night sky. They had water jets in the pool where you could lay down and the bubbles would massage your whole body. There were also Jacuzzi areas, jets of water for the back, the head, the feet, the legs, etc. They also had a giant cascade of water (like a mushroom) where you could go under and surround yourself with the sound of the waterfall. The favorite activity was the whirlpool, where a current of water would push you in a circle along a wall, and we played many games here – holding onto the railing and resisting the current, traversing the pool with our feet on the walls and our backs to the center, jumping over each other, doing flips, and jumping up and down as the current carried us round and round. It was the most fantastic sensation to be immersed in the warm water and then to jump high into the cold air.
In addition to the outdoor facilities, they had wonderful saunas and relaxation rooms. The first one we visited was a Turkish hamam, which is a wet sauna filled with the smell of essential oils – it is heated to about 60 oC (140 oF)with so much humidity that you cannot see the person sitting next to you. It is basically like sitting in a cup of chamomile or jasmine tea. You walk in and can barely breathe, and there is a small fountain in the center where you can drink cold water. You then sit on the bench and let the oils penetrate your senses and your skin; I have to say that this provided the perfect atmosphere for meditation and reflection. It is the combination of a tropical rainforest and the continuous burning of incense. The scent of the oils takes over your olfactory senses and forces you to really concentrate on taking full breaths. Ten minutes in the hamam, and you feel rejuvenated and detoxified.
Afterwards, we went into two different saunas – the first was heated to 85 oC (185 oF), which was very very hot, and they had different oils permeating the room. The next sauna was 30 degrees cooler, but still pretty hot. (If you spend too much time in these saunas, you start to cook like a pizza.) Because it is important not to overheat the body, they have showers and a pool where you plunge into cold water (about 10 oC - 50 oF - or so). They also have what is called a “nuit polaire,” where you put on these plastic sandals and walk into a room dripping with ice and snow. You can throw snowballs and drink fresh, cold water. The facility also provides relaxation rooms with different types of lighting; one room uses only white light with a gradual change to red, yellow, green, and blue, depending on the timer. There is also relaxing music and an explanation of the colors and how they affect the body. After that, there is a blacklight room where you lay on beach cots and listen to more relaxing music. Overall, the cost is about 20-25 CHF for 3 hours of massages, swimming, therapeutic lighting, and saunas with essential oils. I think I am ready to take my exam on Monday after having completely eliminated my stress. What an excellent end to the day.

6th Mountain Cheese Olympics

Because the Swiss love their cheese, I thought it would be pretty important to see what all the fuss was about. Thus, I decided to organize an excursion to Saignelégier, Bellelay, and Tramelan, three cities in the Jura, for the 6th Mountain Cheese Olympics. There were 630 different types of cheese, and the event was free, offering cheese tasting, games, traditional Swiss music, tours of cheese factories, seminars, and other activities.
First of all, I think it is awesome that Switzerland offers a student transportation card that allows you to travel after 7pm for free. We thus took the 2 hour train to les Reusilles, a small village near Tramelan, to stay at a small bed and breakfast called “Chez Marie.” After taking several wrong turns and reaching the end of the village, we finally found the path to the bed and breakfast – a completely dark pedestrian path that led us through farms, and eventually, her small farm. The woman who owned the bed and breakfast lived in the house and had one room open for guests. She was the most delightful woman I have ever met – warm, welcoming, and full of useful information about Swiss tourism and activities. She was not at the house when we arrived at about 10:30, but because this was small-town Switzerland, she left the door open for our entry. She arrived at about 11:15 and shared with us some stories about previous visitors and her history in the village.

In our room, she left a bowl of delicious plums and apples and a visitor’s book to fill with our comments and drawings. We read previous entries, and everyone raved about her hospitality; some drew gorgeous pictures of the Swiss countryside and cute cartoons and whatnot. You could tell that this was a rather unique place to stay – the room was filled with books and games and travel information, and there was a small reading area outside our door that overlooked the kitchen. The chairs were covered in hand-made pillows and blankets, and there were children’s stuffed animals, posters, and artwork all over. The owner was also a marble painter, so she had books, cards, and other pieces on display and for sale. Her eye for beauty and her warm heart were very well represented in this little cottage, as we instantly felt at home and comfortable. It was a shame that we could only stay for one night, because I would have loved to stay to talk with her for the day and learn about her origins and watch her paint in her studio.
In the morning, she prepared for us a breakfast with homemade apricot and prune jam, marmalade with lemon zest, yogurt with raspberries, bread with walnuts, muesli with oatmeal, honey, cheese, and jasmine tea. We passed a relaxing morning enjoying the delicious meal and watching the sheep graze in her backyard; we sat with her and talked about the cheese festival (she also planned on attending), and she told us about her favorite ski slopes – known only by locals and offering a beautiful view of the mountains – and an event that happens in the spring near Basel. Evidently, they close the river off to boats so that people can swim along the river from several small towns to Basel. After you arrive on the beach, there are outdoor showers where you can rinse off and change into dry clothes, which you put in a plastic sack and tie around your waist. It definitely sounds like an interesting mode of transportation, and I plan to pursue this as an excursion for the spring.
We took the shuttle bus to the covered cheese market after breakfast, and, inside the large tent, there were little wooden booths for each cheese maker. They offered free samples of their cheeses and sometimes had elixirs and juices to taste as well. I really enjoyed the fresh-pressed apple juice, which tasted like all the wonderful elements of an apple pie, apple cider, and applesauce. It was rich and bold in flavor. Delicious. As for my favorite cheeses, I purchased four different kinds, all originating from Switzerland. Two kinds were from a German region (Grand Cru and der Rasse), one from the Jura (bio cheese with wild garlic), and one from a French region (cow’s cheese that was similar to brie but much creamier). There was also a stand that had the best yogurt I have ever tasted; it was made from sheep’s milk, and there were different flavors, such as vanilla, mocha, chocolate, raspberry, and natural. It was thick, creamy, rich, and full of intense flavor. It was probably packed with fat, but I was in heaven.
There were also opportunities to win free cheese in the children’s circus tent. They had games that you could play – a spin-the-wheel game, where I won a cut of fresh mozzarella, and some other activities – a fake cow where you could practice your milking skills, various cages of farm animals, and a demonstration of making mozzarella. The two men showed us how the leftover liquid, called “le petit lait” (or little milk), drained from the cheese. They let us taste this milk, which was warm and flavorful. They also showed us the cutting process and explained how to stir and heat the cheese.
We returned to the covered market after the circus games to enjoy some jazz alphorn and accordion music. There were many talented musical groups that played throughout the day, and it was interesting to compare the contemporary with the traditional. My favorite group was made up of two sisters who played accordion; they were the most talented accordion players I have ever seen. Their fingers moved with such grace, and they played with intricacy and precision. In short, they were admirable musicians, and I hope that someday I am good enough to jam like that!

In Bellelay, the second village, we visited the Abbey, where the Tete de Moine cheese originated. They were preparing for the gala event, so the main room was filled with dining tables and fancy table settings – three wine glasses per person and the whole assortment of silverware. This was definitely not a jeans and t-shirt event. It would have been nice to see the all the attendees dressed up in gowns and tuxes. Bellelay also offered tours of the horse stables and their medieval museum, where there were demonstrations of Tete de Moine cheese-making, explanations of shoe-making and evolution during the Middle Ages, and ancient wood-carving. The monks were selling homemade pea soup that was full of vegetables and immediately warmed a cold stomach. (They didn’t just have delicious cheese!)

Finally, a round of applause for Switzerland for putting on quite a show! Thanks for filling our bellies and putting smiles on our faces.

Visit from America

This Thursday, I received a visit from America. Two dear friends, Maddie and Christine, who are currently studying in Vienna this year, decided to pay me a visit in Switzerland, and I could not be more elated to show them around my new home. Not only did I show them my favorite Lausanne park - le parc de Sauvebelin - and take them to the most famous hot chocolate cafe in in the city, but showed them the beauty of anoter country - France.

After thirty five minutes by ferry, we arrived in the city of Evian, famous for its pure theraupeutic water. We traversed the historical path through the city and learned about the famous Evian fountain that healed a king and resulted in a marriage. It is incredible to imagine how such a common staple can be so powerful to a community. We found a line of people waiting to fill their empty plastic bottles and watched as families loaded their cars with liters of fresh spring water. In order to experience the full effect of this fountain, we stood among the line of people and waited our turn to fill our empty bottles and to take a picture of the event.

Unfortunately, I have not received my magical powers yet. But patience - there is still time.

On Friday we toured the natural and the man-made parts of Lausanne. We walked among the old judicial buildings, churches, and schools. After having walked throughout the centre ville, we were in need of a serious lunch. There just so happened to be a creperie near the Cathedrale that could not have been more perfect in satiating our appetites. Roquefort, egg, mushroom, nuts...so many delicious fillings to warm our empty stomachs. My mouth still waters when I think about that salty cheese and delicate pancake.

We also tasted the most famous hot chocolate in all of Lausanne at le Barbare, a small cafe near the Cathedrale. It has a rich consistency like that of pudding - almost equivalent to a melted chocolate bar - and melts in your mouth like a small taste of heaven.

All in all, the two short days were filled with enchantment, and I was glad to share it with such wonderful company. It is comforting to know that there are others who share your struggles and often seek beauty in everyday life. Such is study abroad.

I live in this beauty

Lush green vineyards, trickling waterfalls, stone walls, glistening lakeside, snow-capped mountains....and I live here.

You really appreciate the full beauty of a country when you can explore it by bike. This Sunday, a group of 15 of us rode from Lausanne to Montreux and back to visit le Chateau de Chillon, a 70 km (43 mi) trip during a gorgeous sunny day. It just so happens that this was the one of the last beautiful days of the season, and we picked well. It was perfect weather for picnicking, biking, taking photos, and taking a leisurely nap in the sun. I was enjoying the scenery so much that I had to stop and take a picture every few minutes, as each little town offered a different beautiful view. The houses are situated on the hill such that the scene looks like a painting from a fairy tale, and as you ride further along the path, you pick up more of the story.

At the end, the grandeur of the Chateau was enough to make even the most fatigued rider proud of the journey. We had the afternoon to tour the castle and learn about the history of this iconic Swiss structure. Famous for Lord Byron's poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon," each room leads you through the story of life in the 18th Century and of the man who was chained in the dungeon for 6 years. In addition to stories of the famous prisoner, each room recreated a scene in 18th century life - preparation of feasts for hundreds of people, fabrication of furniture, armour design, and defense against intruders. (Check out the album for pictures from each room!)

After having enjoyed our visit at the castle, we headed back to Lausanne, where we saw other groups of bikers relishing the last moments of their Sunday evening. What I appreciate most about this country is that there really is a day devoted to rest, relaxation, and enjoyment of the natural world. Everyone seems to take advantage of the beautiful autumn colors and the crisp, fresh air. I wish to always have one day in the week to be reminded of what it means to enjoy life.

Creux du Van in the Jura

One and a half hours in the “prison bus,” as we jokingly called it. Somehow, I got stuck in this bus both going to and from our destination of the day. Basically, we sat in a large van with benches in the back; we were separated from Christian, our driver and host of the Aumonerie, by a wire cage. As cars passed us on the highway, they would point and look at the ten girls squished in the back and sloshing around like water in a bucket. We would wave and smile, imagining what the passersby were saying to their families: “Look at those girls in the back of the bus. Why are they smiling and waving? They look too pretty to be prisoners.”

Near Neuchâtel, there is a very famous rock formation called the Creux du Van. It takes approximately 2 – 2.5 hours to hike up this incredible incline (good climbing shoes are a must), and when you reach the top, the mist is so heavy that the temperature drops a good 20 degrees. After seeing this place, you cannot stop imagining such a view. Even though the air was heavy with fog, we were able to take some amazing pictures of this colossal structure. As you can see from the photos, it was rather cold and windy (I somewhat resemble Kermit the Frog in my rain jacket).

In some of the photos, you can also see wild mountain goats that have excellent climbing skills and resistance to the cold. Watching them was truly a spectacle.

I hiked for most of the day with Alba (from Spain) and Saskia (from Germany), and we shared many stories of our outdoor adventures in our hometowns and other travels. It was great to be among people who truly love the outdoors and take great care in respecting the environment around them.

After our long and steep descent from the cliff – our legs and arms were trembling at this point – we had a coffee at a small restaurant near the parking lot. It was then that the sun started to shine and there was no trace left of the mist that clouded our view of the rocks. Of course, if we had only waited another half an hour, we could have seen the Creux du Van much more clearly. Midway through our return trip, we stopped to see a panoramic view of Mont Blanc and Lac Leman. The sun was shining as bright as ever, and we enjoyed the few minutes to lie in the grass and rest our tired muscles. At any rate, this experience in nature has to top almost every other hiking excursion I have ever done in my life. The muscle pain and the cold could not have dampened my spirits one bit.

By the way, my legs still hurt.

Lausanne parks and rec

This Sunday, Mansoureh, Johannes, and I toured the scenic part of Lausanne. We went to the park of Sauvebelin. We saw a petting zoo with some endangered animals native to Switzerland, and they all looked fairly happy, despite their decline in numbers. The cows were characteristically bell-laden and they were zealously attacking the grass. There was also a small pond where you could rent boats and a restaurant with outdoor seating. We found a nice ice cream stand and grabbed a quick treat. Mansoureh and I chose a pralinato...vanilla ice cream with a crunchy chocolate/toffee center and covered in chocolate and crunchy things. Yum city.

After our encounter with the farm animals, we came across the Tower of Sauvebelin, which overlooked the city...a spectacular view, I might add. The park as a whole provided many areas of enjoyment in addition to the zoo and the tower, such as a private garden, a restored mansion-turned-museum, a nature trail, and picnic areas. From the street, one would never know that it led to a beautiful trail - it was covered by a stone entrance just next to a sidewalk in the city.
Unassuming, but full of natural treasures.

Since our path led to the city center, we decided to take a peek at the cathedral as well. Again, the balcony near the cathedral overlooked the city, showing a spectacular view of the lake and famous buildings. It was rather pleasant because the weather forecast suspected rain; however, the weather was mild with foggy skies and small rays of sunshine, perfect for a short excursion.

A day's improvement

It's amazing how a nice view can truly transform the day. Mansoureh and I went for a jog around the lakeside, and it was absolutely beautiful...with the golden sunset and the whispering willows and the craggy beaches. There was a nice trail that took us through wooded areas, eventually leading to chairs and racecars made from tree stumps. There were picnic tables and even a few restaurants along the path, and the weather was a perfect 65 degrees or so with very little wind or humidity. I definitely have to take pictures of this location next time. France was visible just across the lake, and at night, the city of Evian was lit up like a Christmas tree.

In addition to this wonderful respite from studying, I actually enjoyed my Thermodynamics course today. I was a little confused with the lecture, but I read the book in English, and I learned quite a bit - I also found that most of the information was a review! Thus, I managed to complete my exercises and take helpful notes to prepare for the next lecture. I, therefore, believe to have had a productive and enjoyable day. I am slowly beginning to understand this new system, and I have seen an immediate improvement in my attitude towards studies.

Summer of preparation

Welcome, friends!
The school year has finally come to an end, and I now have a few months before I depart for Lausanne, Switzerland, in the fall. I am hoping that I will gain some insight on how to pack for such a long stay and where to travel.

I am looking into some serious camping, hiking, and backpacking adventures in the future. Be prepared for some picture of the beautiful Swiss outdoors - lush countryside, snow-capped mountains, dense forest, and seasonal flora.

Of course, I will be living in a city, so expect to see some historical and modern architecture as well.

Note: I will be making close observation of the recycling program in the area, hopefully to bring back ideas upon my departure to the United States. I am certainly excited for greener living!