Lake Como baby, yeah!

internet is shite but the hiking is incredible

check flickr link to the right for more pics.

how is this shot for classic switzerland. More pics when we get a decent internet connection and computer to work with.

Try again

swiss alps and amazon jungle

Today was day 1 of our 6 day hiking trip. Did I mention 6 days?? Did I also mention today was day ONE?

Its 830 at night here and we are both in bed already! Talk about endurance atheletes... Not.

The walk today took us from Meiringen to grindlewald, ome of the most popular walks in switzerland. It is around 4 hours of hiking in which you climb about 3000ft. The hike for today ends on top of the highestt point of the walk a bit like those stages in the Tour de france. Except without bikes, and the elite athletes, and the crowds, apart from that, identical.

The walk allegedly goes beside the wetterhorn mountain and its glacier. It is about 8000 ft above you and is incredibly impressive. As I said, apparently.

It seems this would be the case if it wasn't pissing down rain the whole way and in cloud the rest of the time. Seriously when we got the end point the only thing we could see were water vapour circles about 2mm in front of our face.

We then jumped the bus down to grindlewald with, again,allegedly, one of the best views of the North Face of the Eiger in the World. We have not seen anything above 376 ft high and probably wont for our walk tomorrow either. Diasppointing, but as rob consoled me with, "at least its not as hot as the amazon.

View from Meiringen hotel

the thing is....

That I was never that keen to visit France. It was never on my wish list of places to visit. Clearly I am an idiot because it is gorgeous. I loved it. Wondefuul food, great scenery, and good people. Like so many nationalities the people you meet in the country are different from those who travel.

We have had a fantastic time in france and we will definately be going back sometime soon and spending more time there. Prefferably when it isn't european holidays!

What I have discovered is that Queue is a French word. And they certainly do love it. Especially in summer. Queue for attractions, queue in shops, queue at toll booths, queue to take a leak, queue to get food, queue for the sake of queuing. I think they just like standing close together:)

We loved it all regardless.

I am of the opinion that some people are sedintary and some are travellers. Rob and I are both travellers. We love seeing new things and meeting new people. I am thanful for this and also for the fact we get the chance to travel.

We are on the train on the way to interlaken then to a little place called Meiringen where we start our self guided walk tomorrow. It is 6 days of hiking in the swiss alps. Firrst couplke of days are through grindelwald and lauterbrunnen. Look them up online, then youy will be really jealous!

Hope you are all well.

Toodles

done and dusted

Well we are now at Nancy railway station after finishing at chambley
last night after robyn and I got a great last flight until sunset last night.
The event has been, to put it simply, incredible!

To be part of an event that has set a world record for balloons in a row
And also for the number of balloons in the air at the same time
Has been brilliant.

Michel and Monique, our host balloon family were wonderful and we felt
Very privelidged to be part of their team. Some of the highlights were:
329 balloon line up along 4.5km of runway!
351 balloons in the air at once
Flying with Rob in France
The comraderie of all the people at the event
The views, oh my god the views
Flying davina and jason on their way through the town
Instructing in Fringlish
Flying a brand new experimental balloon
Spending time with the locals

IT WAS BRILLIANT. We will be back.

We have about 2000photos of the event and will try and get
Them up when we find a useable internet connection!

Roll on switzerland