More Cowbell

Switzerland is unbelievable. Paige has said that taking pictures just doesn't capture it. I found myself all weekend saying the same thing. We would get to a spot where you wanted to capture the view, but I would just stand there and look around trying to figure out how to do that. It never worked the way I wanted it to.

Friday morning I got up early (for me ) and went to catch the train. I was supposed to leave at 8:02 however my train was 20 minutes late. Now I thought Germans were supposed to be punctual to a fault. So I missed my connecting train in Basel, but it wasn't a horrible I was able to catch a different about 20 min later.

Now Germany is pretty, but my ride through Switzerland was beautiful because of the lakes. Amazing. Beautiful. Beyond words.

I got to Nyon where Paige takes her classes and we ran into each other arms. It wasn't that dramatic or romantic, but it was really exciting to finally see her. I met some of her friends and partook in their lunch tradition of going to the grocery store and buying lunch to split. We then walked to the Nyon Castle and ate lunch overlooking Lake Geneva. Is this real life?

After a quick lunch we went into Geneva because Paige had a meeting for her research project. With Paige's program she will write a 30 page research project, her's is about the cross-cultural barriers between Nurses and refugees in Geneva.(I think that is right)

We then went down to the lake and sat for a while talking, catching up and enjoying the scenery.

Paige and me by Lake Geneva with the Jet d'Eau in the background.

We then ventured home to Gland, where she lives. Cute little town, it felt like Harry Potter's neighborhood even though that's in England. I met one of her 'sisters' who is 15 and her 'mom.' All very nice, but the language barrier made me feel bad. I was impressed with how much Paige knew, she kept saying she didn't know a lot but I think different.

At dinner I met her 'dad; and 8 year old 'sister.' The little sister is really funny and entertaining, she does the laugh where she ends up laughing at the fact she is laughing. Olivia does it all the time. It was fun to be around a little kid again. Her mom made a fantastic dinner, food kept coming out of the kitchen. So much better than me trying to make dinner at my apartment.

OH and before dinner we got to skype with LINDSAY!!! It was very exciting! Plus we got to see Mama Addy too!!! It was definitely a great day!

The next day we got up early to catch the train with her friends to go up the mountain to St. Cergue where they have a festival every fall when they walk the cows down from the mountain for winter. All the cows have large cow bells. Some are larger than others, some HUGE! The ones with the large cow bells also have Flower head dresses on. Not sure how they pick which ones get to wear the flowers, maybe good behavior. We were going through different scenarios all day.

It was difficult to get good pictures because they were moving quickly and we were so close, but I got some. I also took a video that hopefully shows it better.

Start it then pause it to let it load.

They would come down in small herds and there would be about 10-20 minutes between each. I think we ended up seeing about 6 herds go by maybe. Paige's mom said it was very Swiss. I was glad I got to do something unique and Swiss. It was already a great trip.

Cow with flowers and HUGE bell!

More Cow Bell!

These men had these chairs strapped to their butts...and then there was this cute boy with lederhosen. So cute!

After that we went to Nyon and did the lunch routine and then went off to Lausanne.

Lausanne is HILLY! Wow! And women are wearing heals walking up steep cobblestone roads. Are you crazy!?!?!

We walked up to the church, Notre Dame. I get to see the real one in a week! There was a beautiful view from it and the inside was nice and cool. We sat in the church for a while and were able to listen to part of a tour that was passing through. Gotta love the free tour.

Notre Dame on the hill

Bell Tower

We then ventured down to the lake and walked along there and went to the Olympic Museum and Park. The Olympic Headquarters are located in Lausanne. The Museum was closed but the Park has many statues. So we walked through there and again sat and enjoyed the view. I really enjoyed the Olympic Park, I was drawn there because its the Olympics and Popo. I definitely felt him there.

This is probably my favorite piece. It wasn't in the park but instead right by the lake.

View from Olympic Park

Lap pool?

Go Lance Go! (I can't believe I just said that)

Ballin'!

The rings

After the Olympic Park we went down by the water and all had photo shoots. I desperately tried to capture the lake and mountains and sky and everything. But my pictures are just not enough.

Pretty, but Fail.

Paige and Me in Lausanne. We will have to photo shop Lindsay in somehow.

We then ended up walking around a lot to find a place to eat. Switzerland is really expensive making it difficult for college students to find a good place to eat. Once we found some quick food we went back to Nyon so we could go to their bar spot, Fisherman's.

We walking into Fisherman's and what is on? TEXAS OU!!!! Texas was already losing but I was so exciting to see some of the game. I was able to see most of the 2nd quarter and all of the 3rd. One of Paige's friends is from Plano, so we both were into it. Got some weird looks from the Swiss guys there, don't think Swiss girls are into American Football. Once again Texas I am disappointed. Not sure what to make of all of this.

But lets pause: I was watching the Texas OU game in a bar in Nyon Switzerland. Still can't believe it.

Anyway. Caught the train home and exercised our skills of being quiet when we got home, but Paige told me apparently we weren't as quiet as we thought we were, because she got told to close the doors quieter. Oops, but I guess this is an on going issue. They really need to get a fan, it would solve all problems. Maybe all the worlds problems.

Sunday we slept in and then discussed out Spring semester classes. Seems early, but thats how we are.

I left around 2 and met a really nice guy on the train. He was 66 (he told me). He first started talking to me cause I was reading something for class and he wanted to know some of my opinions. He mostly talked, which was just fine because he was super interesting. He is a mathematician, hah. He is now a professor, before he did work with computer modeling and operation research. He knows 6 languages. Europeans amaze me with how many languages they know. I kept saying this weekend that I am going to force my children to learn another language, not like they do in school but really really learn it.

I talked with this guy for a while and didn't get through my reading, but talking to him was so much better.

Once I got home I had the grand intention to do homework, but let's be real that didn't happen. Luckily I did most of it before I left, so that was good.

Tonight I have to write a response paper to the movie Goodbye Lenin. We watched it last week in one of my classes.

It was a fantastic weekend, but also seeing Paige was a tease. I got back to Freiburg and was a little friend/homesick. But I guess that's to be expected.

Bis spater

Cass