Today was our first full day in Gryon, Switzerland. Most people here speak French but it hasn't been anything an impromptu game of sherades can't cure. Last night we checked into Chalet Martin and made our way to the very overpriced grocery store just down the hill. We selected a frozen Hawaiian pizza and cooked it in the oven of the community kitchen in the hostel-styled chalet in which we are staying--what a fine hostel it is. Complete with authentic wooden roofing, siding, flooring, and spectacular views of the Swiss alps I feel certain we're being spoiled by our Swiss mountain retreat, aside from the dorm styled bathrooms and showers. Even so, the toilets are separate from the sinks and the sinks are separate from the showers....we haven't had to wait our turn for anything. Our room is simple with one chair, a bed side table with drawers, a chest of drawers, a double bed, and plenty of hooks to hang things. To top it all, it comes with a beautifully Swiss-scaped view of the alps. Which almost makes you cold peering out but the furnace keeps the room surprisingly cozy.
Last night after our pizza we were fitted for our skis and then retired quickly to a jet lagged inspired slumber on a matress that is suitably comfortable for the price of a hostel. With every intention of waking up and skiing, this morning was full of fog and snow which made a warm bed condusive for more sleeping and delayed skiing. When we woke up, we took the cog rail into the next village to explore. There, we found a much better grocery store, a 4 frommage pizza, and toilets which have stall doors that go all the way from the ceiling to the floor...the utmost in privacy!!! We forgoed the skiing today to take in the views, the chocolate, and the Swiss villages that needed exploring.
We went back to the chalet and while Grayson took a cat nap I tried to post to the blog but there was an issue with the wifi connection. I let bygones be bygones and g and I began cooking dinner. I boiled elbow macoronni (without the elbow), and dressed it with a half homemade sauce while Grayson peeled two sweet potatos to cut and bake into french fries. After slicing a few pieces of baguette from the community baguette basket, we poured a cup of wine and sat down to a nice meal where we became better aquainted with some of the other guests staying here....to which another blog can be completely devoted. Somehow, with very little effort, we seemed to rope TEN people from all over the world into a rousing game of international boggle. "My uncle is a diagnol" will surely be a quote for the books. Very good times.
Bed awaits. Skiing awaits. Christmas day awaits. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Across the pond
Columbia to Washington Dulles. Washington Dulles to Amsterdam airport (schipol). Amsterdam airport to Geneva Airport. Geneva Airport to a Swiss Train to Bex. Bex to Gryon via cog rail . Final destination--Chalet Martin.
What a long journey it's already been and it's just the beginning. Grayson and I had incredible luck with all of our flights being on time. This was key because once we landed at the Amsterdam airport we had a very small hour in which we had to go claim our bags, go through immigration, make it through customs and check in to our no-frills "Easy Jet" flight which would eventually take us to Geneva. If one prior flight had been the least bit late it would have jeopardized our entire day of travel. Before boarding our easy jet flight, we had to go through security and try to make it to our final flight.
Currently, Grayson is trying to pack in a quick nap on our Swiss train to Bex. Our adventure has already presented him with a few challenges when we were in the washington Dulles airport and he realized that he left his ski jacket on the first flight. Luckily, the plane had not yet returned to Columbia and one of the flight attendants had already brought it to the gate.
Just now, he discovered that his shuffle is no where to be seen and he believes he lost it. If he doesn't find it, I hope he gets distracted by looking out the train window at the passing dwellings that resemble Gingerbread houses. It seems that every building we see looks as though it inhales character and exhales history; the sun shining down making the water sparkle on Lake Geneva doesn't hurt either :0). We have to stop through several Swiss towns before we get to Bex. With each stop, a controller leans out a car door of the train and gives his whistle a blow to summon all with tickets to board. All aboard. This train has left the station.....more to come.
What a long journey it's already been and it's just the beginning. Grayson and I had incredible luck with all of our flights being on time. This was key because once we landed at the Amsterdam airport we had a very small hour in which we had to go claim our bags, go through immigration, make it through customs and check in to our no-frills "Easy Jet" flight which would eventually take us to Geneva. If one prior flight had been the least bit late it would have jeopardized our entire day of travel. Before boarding our easy jet flight, we had to go through security and try to make it to our final flight.
Currently, Grayson is trying to pack in a quick nap on our Swiss train to Bex. Our adventure has already presented him with a few challenges when we were in the washington Dulles airport and he realized that he left his ski jacket on the first flight. Luckily, the plane had not yet returned to Columbia and one of the flight attendants had already brought it to the gate.
Just now, he discovered that his shuffle is no where to be seen and he believes he lost it. If he doesn't find it, I hope he gets distracted by looking out the train window at the passing dwellings that resemble Gingerbread houses. It seems that every building we see looks as though it inhales character and exhales history; the sun shining down making the water sparkle on Lake Geneva doesn't hurt either :0). We have to stop through several Swiss towns before we get to Bex. With each stop, a controller leans out a car door of the train and gives his whistle a blow to summon all with tickets to board. All aboard. This train has left the station.....more to come.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
!! GREETINGS !!
Welcome to our newly interwebbed blog! We are very excited about getting this going and will be posting as much as we can starting with this trip and continue on as long as there are words in our mouths and minds.
For those who do not know, Jess and I will be heading out tomorrow on a journey to Europe for Christmas and New Years. This will be my first time in Europe but it will be Jess's sixth time. The first part of our trip will be spent in Gryon, Switzerland where we will be staying at a place called Chalet Martin. We are going to be skiing the Swiss Alps for 3 days and soaking all of that up until the 27th when we fly over to Amsterdam and stay there through New Year's Eve and come back to South Cakalak on New Year's Day. There are many outstanding details I am leaving out about some of the places we'll be staying and things we'll be doing as sort of a teaser, so definitely stay tuned!!
I mainly just wanted to get this first post out of the way and see if anyone has any suggestions, must-see's, etc. to share in either Switzerland (in the Gryon area) and/or Amsterdam? Please pray, send good vibes, mix a good witches brew, or whatever it is that you do as we travel tomorrow! It is most appreciated and we will be posting again as soon as possible!
. Peace .
For those who do not know, Jess and I will be heading out tomorrow on a journey to Europe for Christmas and New Years. This will be my first time in Europe but it will be Jess's sixth time. The first part of our trip will be spent in Gryon, Switzerland where we will be staying at a place called Chalet Martin. We are going to be skiing the Swiss Alps for 3 days and soaking all of that up until the 27th when we fly over to Amsterdam and stay there through New Year's Eve and come back to South Cakalak on New Year's Day. There are many outstanding details I am leaving out about some of the places we'll be staying and things we'll be doing as sort of a teaser, so definitely stay tuned!!
I mainly just wanted to get this first post out of the way and see if anyone has any suggestions, must-see's, etc. to share in either Switzerland (in the Gryon area) and/or Amsterdam? Please pray, send good vibes, mix a good witches brew, or whatever it is that you do as we travel tomorrow! It is most appreciated and we will be posting again as soon as possible!
. Peace .
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