Hangtime Swiss Style

My last weekend could be summed up in two words- shredding and chocolate. For those of you who think I am implying that I shredded cheese all weekend, guess again (although my brother did give me Nona - http://s5.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/C41BEFAA.jpg , the cheese shredder woman, as a Christmas gift one year and I do enjoy putting her to use every now and again). Alpine snow is what I was shredding and tons and tons of it. As I was explaining to the man at the ski rental counter- approximately once every year I get the opportunity to go skiing thanks to my father having medical conferences scheduled in the mountains. It's a childhood memory of mine, to be on the slopes over winter break (and always having a few runs where Dad was absent because he had to run to a meeting). Details of the general memory always follow- indoor/ outdoor pools and hot tubs, getting severely lost with Peter two years in a row, and coming home with a new stuffed animal beaver as a souvenir that I dubbed "Beavey" forever and always. All those things are beside the point though...what the point IS is that THIS year, my annual skiing took place in the Swiss Alps! After countless Colorado runs and a few days in Canada's Whistler- the views off these lifts were all new to me. Gimmelwald is the name of the small farm town nestled on the mountain that was my home for three days. The Mountain Hostel, specifically, is where I rested my head at the end of each long day. I met a group there of 35 people that were all there for the Weekend Student Adventure hosted by Andy Steves (Rick Steve's son for those of you who are informed on the popular travel books). I met a few really fun people out of that entire group, but found that this trip for me was going to be more about the outdoor adventure than the discovery of lifelong friends. And to be honest- that was okay! It gave me a chance to breathe in the fresh mountain air, soak in the beauty of each moment, and reflect on where I'd been thus far. But before I get too ahead of myself let me just start from the beginning...

Here's Katie and I in the Dublin airport, fresh off the 8am bus!

Several hours, a plane ride, and two train transfers later we had arrived in Interlaken, our home for the night. We were greeted by snow and quiet streets and a hostel bunk bed that offered us quite the view the next morning...

After another train ride, a BUS ride, AND a gondola ride later- Gimmelwald was introduced into my life. 

This is the view I had skiing down. This is maybe the most crowded any run would be- right at the top before people disperse onto different trails. 

The next few photos are from the VERY top of Mt. Schlithorn where we were skiing. Miles and miles of mountains...

 

This is the man who snapped the above photo for me and eventually he and his friend helped me get back to the part of the mountain I needed to be on at the end of the day. We met in a moment of desperation when I was knee deep stuck in powder on a slope. I had my skis over my shoulder, hiking back down to where I could actually ski, and this man's friend was watching me. I yelled down in the most pathetic tone, "I'm stuck!". Well he thought this was hilarious, started mocking me in his accent, laughing, and then turning his camera onto me trudging down the snowy mountain side. I started to laugh as well and told him I'd really appreciate if he DIDN'T capture this moment on camera and he said, "Ah no big deal, you will make it!". He's a prophet cause I did and upon my arrival to the base of the slope, we watched THIS man in the photo hit an insane jump (which is really why the video camera was out in the first place). I ended up skiing down with them, riding the lift with them and ending my day laughing and whizzing down the mountain with these crazy men who called themselves "Saints on Snowboards". A little overdone, but I'll give them the credit- they did point me back in the right direction.  

above: view outside the Mountain Hostel

below: about to ski down the tip top of Schlithorn - an Austrian friend explained to me that in the Alps they try to make ALL the runs doable for a variety of ages so that the old and the young can still experience the top of the mountain. In that way they differed from the Rockies where it takes a pretty good level of skill to get down the bowls and what not you'll find at the top. Here, although steep and narrow, skiing from the peak is definitely manageable. They throw their 6 years olds out onto these runs. If they can make it, I can make it. And so could you.

The guys I skied with the next day were all about pulling over to jump off huts and what not. I eventually got tired of always stopping and went on my own way- but I DO have this captured on video and it is pretty great.

Back to the train station and on to Interlaken for Sunday afternoon before our evening flight back to Dublin. 

Mama! Now I know where you got the cuckoo clock!

You can't see it, but I'm holding a Bailey's Truffle from this chocolate shop. Dear Lord in heaven did I consume a lot of chocolate that weekend...

(the sign says "Sweet Kisses")

And some final photos of Interlaken- a beautiful little town...

A wonderful trip all in all. Any chance I have to see the mountains I will take. It is a humbling and refreshing feeling to find yourself in the valley of something so vast and magnificent. It's an absolutely perfect reminder of how insignificant some problems we create actually are...how insignificant WE actually are. Not in a self-depreciating way, but in a way that just says never stop taking in all the people that are around you, all the pasts they have lived and the futures they hold because yours is most certainly not the only one. I love that lesson, and the mountains have away of teaching it to me every time. 

Love you all,

Laura

p.s- countdown is at 1 WEEK for a visit from Peter and 2 WEEKS for Gage!! Unbelievable!

Ring of Rainbows and Happy Days

I'm writing a week earlier than I expected because I was simply blown away by my trip this past weekend! All of last week and the weekend following were just a blast! Valentine's Day was celebrated with some homemade savory crepes and the purchase of a beautiful bouquet of flowers by Katie, my roommate. We had fun trying out different crepe combinations and getting creative in the kitchen. I turned 22 the day after Valentine's Day and was pleasantly surprised by cards in the mail from my family as well as a new sleeping bag and travel book from Mom and Luke! Getting stuff in the mail is my FAVVVORITE, not to mention getting gifts! Katie lined the hallway with balloons, Missy and Shelby made me a card and gave me some cupcakes from the market- the day was off to a great start! I treated myself to a FREE facial at The Body Shop around the corner and then spent the rest of the day shopping with my roomies, walking around the city, and then going out for a delicious dinner where I was sang to and surprised with a piece of chocolate cake and balloon (The waiter reused a Valentine's Day balloon and used a sharpie to make it a Happy Birthday one. Works for me!) !  We then went to The Corner House where more friends joined for drinks and traditional music. One of the greatest combinations, I think. THEN before I knew it the weekend was here! I was signed up to go on "The Ring of Kerry Heritage Weekend" with the university and was excited for what I'd heard was a fun-filled weekend. That it was. At the top of my highlights list was the incredible weather!! God was shining down on us that whole weekend cause we had not seen the sun for that long since leaving our homes in the US! It was out all weekend giving us the most jaw-dropping view of Irish coastlines, cliffs, and hill sides. We spent the entirety of Saturday and Sunday riding the coach bus all around the western county of Kerry, hopping off and on, snapping pictures, running around beaches, and just soaking up the sun!! Being on the bus was great for meeting new friends from Germany, Italy, and Sweden (and of course more from America). My friend Giovanna from Italy invited me to come down to her home in southern Italy and spend Easter with her family! People studying abroad from the rest of Europe are so inviting! If they are going to be in their country, they want you to visit and they are excited to offer a place to stay. I hope to take her up on that offer, but it would certainly be a costly detour so we'll see. ANYWAY- the evening's were spent at the hotel learning Irish dances, Gaelic football, crashing birthday parties in the hotel pub, playing trivia, and walking down the street to the local pubs. All in all, it was a million things I can't even begin to describe, but I came home absolutely refreshed and more than pleased to be in Ireland. Going away on short excursions makes Cork feel even more like home and I enjoy that feeling. This next adventure, however, I may not want to return. Tomorrow morning I head to Switzerland for three nights in a mountain hostel, ski-in/ski-out onto the slopes, a midnight hike and sled, and soaking my sore muscles in the community hot tub. I couldn't BE more excited for it! I didn't expect to take as many pictures as I did this past weekend and so was going to wait til after Gimmelwald to update the blog, but seeing as I took 700!! (yikes!), I decided to share some with you now and spread out the love.

This one's random, but I found MANHATTAN popcorn in the store! My favorite place AND my favorite snack!

My new sleeping bag! I'm in it right now writing this blog actually! 

Valentine's Day crepes. Stuffed with fresh veggies! 

      

 

Birthday festivities! Balloons, chocolate cake, and Jake, Katie, Me, and Alex having a drink at The  Corner House. Such a fun day to distract from the fact that I'm getting OLD!

First stop on the Ring of Kerry- Kerry Bog Village.  Famous for their Irish coffee and reconstruction of an old Irish settlement.

Saturday morning, the beauty begins!

Visit to a local Dairy Farm. Yes the cow is sucking my hand...

Julian, Me, and Giovanna leaning into the wind! SOOO windy at the top of the hill!

Hello from IRELAND! (That's what I wrote in the sand)

Nina, Lisa, Me, and Giovanna on the bay overlooking the Dingle Peninsula

Ruins of a Medieval Ring Fort

The sunrise Sunday morning. I happened to catch the orange tint on the shade one morning and followed the glow outside my window and behind the hotel to watch it come up over the hill. GORGEOUS!

John is the man in charge at the hotel. He ran the triva night and I took score. Over two Irish coffees and in between rounds, we became great friends.

A local farmer brought two of his lamb to the hotel before we left to let us hold them!

We found the end of the rainbow!

Lunch overlooking Killarney National Park. A delicious chicken sandwich from the hotel and Twirl chocolate finger for dessert. Nothing better than chocolate in the mountains. No matter WHAT mountains they are!

Me, Marian (the trip leader), Kelsey, and Lisa after lunch at Killarney

The waterfall at Killarney National Park. 

And that was the end of the Ring of Kerry Trip. There are SO many more scenic pictures but those will have to be saved for my return. As always, the summary of how I'm doing so far is well. I'm extremely excited for the trip I embark on tomorrow and I'm constantly thankful for what has already come to pass. I still hit those days of longing for home, for easy communication with those that I love, for something familiar...but I think those days of nostalgia hit you wherever you are. They are part of life and to feel them as deeply as I do when I'm away, I KNOW is making me stronger, teaching me more than I would ever learn from the aching at home, and is growing me perhaps even beyond the old age of 22. : )

Say prayers that the slopes don't get the best of me! I can't wait to share what Switzerland is about to dish out to me. 

Miss and love you all,

Laura