My name is Gigi. I’m mostly a writer and strategist, but I also do websites, drink fine wines and buy polka dotted things with some frequency. Obviously, I also blog. Read More.
"People need stories more than bread itself. They tell us how to live, and why." -Arabian Nights
The town of Wengen just above Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and only a short walk away from the stunning peaks of the Jungfrau region.
A bridge along the way to Grimmelwald, Switzerland from Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Just beautiful.
A path leading toward the only non-private beach at Bellagio, along Lake Como in Italy.
“Cows are very emotive creatures.” -Roommate #1
Since we’re talking about cows, I should also mention that we were scared out of our wits by a cow on a hiking trail. I just want everyone in the cow world to know that this means I’ll be eating ten hamburgers. Take that.
Scoops of gelatto: 11
Lingerie purchases: 2
Blisters total (over the trip): 11
Cappucinos: infinity
Swiss cities: 8
Italian cities: 2
Homeward bound: quite soon
It is raining in Zurich, a beatiful, cobbled city along the lake and riverfront. Zurich surprised me: I thought it would be a city like any other city–perhaps dirty, boring or overwhelming. But, no. We are staying on a quaint cobbled street, over cafes and shops. We have walked the waterfront, admiring fountains and listening to street musicians. And I like it here.
In fact, our whole itinerary has been lovely, including this day and a half in Zurich.
We began in Bellinzona, Switzerland–a town surrounded by castles and vineyards. We climbed the hills and watched the sun set over the castles and watched a darling Italian couple tie the knot in a castle courtyard.
Then it was off to Padua, Italy. Home of Shakespeare`s Taming of the Shrew. And home to our shopping excursions, which resulted in shoe-buying.
Next, to Bellagio: the lakefront getaway of the Italians. Sweet, cobbled and undeniably Italian. We took long walks along the lakeshore and through the hills, returning each night to a rented flat down a maze of cobbles on a one-way back street.
Departing Italy and landing back in Swiss country, we spent the next few days in Lucerne (or Luzern, if you are German), walking along the cool lake shore. The walk around a small portion of the enormous lake, the climbing all around castle walls that overlooked the city, the amazing fruity pastries all combined to make this my favorite stop so far.
Of course, that was before we got to Lauterbrunnen–my real favorite spot.
Lauterbrunnen, a valley town tucked away between ski towns and snow-capped peaks, was where we stayed the longest and fell in love with Switzerland the most. Hiking the Swiss Alps in and around the valley ranks among the top five most amazing things I have ever done.
After Lauterbrunnen (pictures pending), we spent the night in a fancy hotel along Geneva`s lake shore, then made our way to Zurich.
Not a bad itinerary. I would recommend it to anyone. And, thus, my internet is about done.
On German keyboards, the z and y keys are reversed. I am letting you know now that after this little intro, I will make no more attempts to fix the misplaced ys and zs. You will just have to figure it out.
Todaz I am in Geneva (or Geneve, as thez saz here). I spent mz afternoon in a hot bubble bath, reading a fantasz book and then painting mz toenails. Tonight we will go out to dinner and possiblz drinks and mazbe live music. Tomorrow morning, I assume we will stroll along the lakeside, taking in Europe`s largest fountain and then shopping for the privilaged few who I am willing to carrz souveniers back for.
Luckilz for me, I have shed a good pound from mz luggage along the waz, so anz souvenier shopping should not weigh me down terribly.
(Is it not funnz how often we use the z and y kezs? I never realiyed until this little experiment.)
Anzhow, the last three dazs of our trip (during which we were incommunicado) were spent in the most amaying little vallez, surrounded bz stark cliff-faces, famous waterfalls (look up Stabbuch falle) and some of the most intense and beautiful hiking trails I have ever been on. Everz night, I tucked mzself into bed in our tinz cabin under the waterfall, happz and oh so sore.
Hiking the Swiss Alps is up there among the top 5 things I have done in mz life. Totallz amaying.
Okaz, I am tired of German kezboards. I think zou will have to wait the few short dazs until I am back in the states.
Tata mz loves,
Gigi
Switzerland: beautiful, chilly, delicious and perfect.
Specifically, Lucerne. A lake in the center of moutains. And Bellinzona, a hilly castle town en route to Italia.
Tomorrow we leave Lucerne and retire into the mountains,the valleys, the waterfalls on central Switzerland. Mmm.
