How to put into words...

Yet another amazing experience in yet another amazing place. How do I even begin to sum up all I have done and seen in the last 5 days? My arrival in Switzerland was a beautiful and curious thing from the start. It was as though from the moment my train crossed the border things were markedly different. The scenery changed, the animals changed, the people changed. First I noticed the presence of a beautiful old steam train, puffing away on the tracks, it's progression slow but steady. Next the appearance of a much larger population of cows, happily munching away on the lush countryside, their beautiful ornate bells announcing their slow progression across the hills, I can't quite put into words the quality of green these fields have. Soon sheep, goats and few rouge horses joined their ranks. Some of the sheep have had their tails left in tact and let me tell you, for a girl who has never seen a sheep with a foot long tail that was a shock. When I arrived in Bern, two train swaps later, after getting my bearings in the city center I took the metro to my friend Fabians work. It was shocking how much more of a language barrier I felt. I thought I felt out of place in France but at least I understood 50% of what I was hearing even if I couldn't respond. In Switzerland it was a whole new game, now not only could I not respond but could barely understand. Thanks to Fabi's helpful instructions though I made it through unscathed and only mildly humbled. He happened to have a good break in the middle of the day so we went to his apartment and got my settled. Off he went to work and I to relax for the rest of the day, a much needed break in all the chaos of Paris and travel in general. 

Next morning we hopped in a train to Lausanne and had lunch with Alexandre, a friend of Fabians and speaker of the most beautiful French I have ever heard in my life. This well spoken character was funny, charming, and insightful. A pleasure to have made his acquaintance. Next we trundled onward to The apartment of Ty, another friend as well as massage therapist, resident of one of the most beautiful and modern apartments I've ever been in, kind hearted, open minded and inquisitive in nature. Also Utah born and raised, it was funny for both of us how strange it was to hear an American accent in Switzerland. We three had some wine and decided to indulge in a little herbal supplement to expand our minds ;) we ventured up into the forest and feildlands of Lausanne and had one of the most beuatiful afternoons I've ever had, enjoying the trees and nature, wild birds and animals and each others company, watched the sunset and laughed and entertained into the night.

In the morning the three of us drove to Saint-Maurice for the 1500th birthday of the Saint-Maurice Abbey. The church was stunning just like the scenery around it and there was a market going on where we had lunch. Thus begins my love affair with Raclette. Raclette is a cows milk cheese, at the market they had half wheels of it on a contraption where you could slide the half wheel (soft cheese part exposed) under an element and heat it until it was bubbling, you then scrape the hot melted cheese off onto a plate and serve with boiled fingerling potatoes, gherkins and pickled onion. Holy. Shit. I would later learn how to serve this amazing spectacle at home but more on that later. After Saint-Maurice Fabian and I went to Montreux for a few hours, wandered, talked, sat by the water. It was beuatiful! Then we headed back to Lausanne to make dinner for Ty and Alexandre, well I should say Fabi made dinner, I played the part of DJ which is very important. After dinner we partook (partoke?) again in our herbal supplement and proceeded to spend the night dancing and singing in the apartments for a few specials songs we danced out on the balcony in the late summer rain. 

Once more in the morning Fabi and I boarded a train, this time to Flums where Fabi's family live on a farm in the hills. We arrived, had some lunch, took a nap (a loooong nap) said hello to the animals then had dinner! Fabi and I walked up to his brothers house (maybe 100 yards as the crow flys) and had a nightcap there with his brother, sister in law and their two adorable youngins. I cannot stress enough how welcome these people made me feel. Even though they spoke only a little English they made me feel welcome and special and like I had arrived home. Fabi's brother showed me the amazing old smokehouse on the property and then gave us a lift back home. Next day we slept late, had a small breakfast and I went down to the barn to meet the animals. Namely my bonds were made with Luna the donkey and Klint (or Clint, as in Eastwood) the horse. I made my way up to the house where Fabi's mom and prepared... Wait for it... Raclette!!! At home you have an appliance that sits in the middle of the table, it has an element that sits about 2 inches above a metal plate and then a cast iron griddle that sits atop the element. Each person has a kind of tiny frying pan and a wooden scraper, you put cheese in the pan and top with pepper and/or tomatoes and then set on the metal below the element. While you wait you fry bacon and sausages on the griddle. Then when the cheese is bubbling you scrape onto your plate, on or near the potatoes, and enjoy with pickled onions, gherkins, and an amazing pickled zuchinni mixture mom made. I died I was so happy. To work off all the cheese Fabi, another brother and I decided to go for a walk. A walk in which I got to ride Klint!!! To my delight. I could not have been happier, to be riding in a setting so beautiful with the sun shining and the horse and donkey snorting. We returned for dinner and showers and then Fabian and I headed back to Bern.  Yesterday I did some exploring but mostly just took it easy. And here I am, getting ready to get on another airplane at another airport. I am SO excited to see my mom and to go to Greece but it is with a  great sadness that I go. This time in Switzerland has been so special and it it hard for me to leave the country, but mostly to leave all the wonderful people I have met. But I have felt this before, I know that I will carve out a place for Switzerland in my heart just as I did for Dublin and I will move forward to have new experiences and carve out more corners for the people and places I love. Man is it getting crowded in this little ole' heart of mine. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

And now away to Athens!

Ciao ciao!

A