The Summer is Ending ;(

Well it's been a while since I sent an update...much has been going on. Work is work and I still love it. I've been trying to figure out what course of study I'm going to pursue...yes, I'm still planning on studying...my German lessons are fun but my German skills are Nicht Sehr Guten (not sure that's even spelled right).

Since my last update I went out to this really cool restaurant called the Blindekuh, in which no lights are allowed and you are served in the dark. As you can imagine, it is quite an experience and we made it more interesting by eating the mystery meal. It is so weird not being able to look around and see who is in the restaurant. I really wanted to see the faces when I said "when do we get our clothes back"! Unfortunately, I didn't start thinking of all the fun things you could do in a completely dark restaurant until the end of the meal, but I'm keeping a list for next time. Feel free to add ideas!
http://www.blindekuh.ch/e/basel/story/story.html

That weekend we went bowling on Friday night and then left for Savognin for a mountain biking weekend early Sat morning. I have never felt so out of shape in my life...but the views were spectacular and totally worth the pain. The first day we ended up in a village that was having an end of summer festival and we stopped and joined the locals for coffee and dessert while listening to the bells of cows dressed for the festivities. The guys in the group got crazy and jumped into a lake on the way back...and it was cold outside...That evening we had an incredible cookout by the lake and rested up for the next day. Most of us were in bed by 10...amazing.



The next morning we started our next ride; I took the easier route (easy is relative to the other route, which was crazy) up to the lake, which was still very, very steep. But the view of the pristine lake was priceless. However, it was freezing, and I really enjoyed stopping for Hot Ovaltine (I think it is spelled differently here).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savognin

During the past week, 6 of us took private group climbing lessons at a local inside rock climbing wall...it was incredible. I think I found a new hobby. We plan on going every Tuesday...I can't wait!!!

On Friday I signed for my new flat...I am sooo excited for my things to get here Wed. Friday night was another housewarming/birthday party and Saturday I made my first trip to Ikea.. you have to go to Ikea!!! Today I went on another short hike and have been packing my things (boo). It's so exciting to move but I am also tired of moving. Less than a year ago I moved into my townhouse and had a housewarming party and now I am in the planning stages of one here....Halloween/Housewarming??? We'll see...

Goodnight and until next time...

Weekly Update

Just a quick post to catch up...

Weekend was incredible, mountain biking is awesome, tiring, rewarding... We had a great cookout... pictures to come soon.

I have a bunch of work to do so I'll catch this up this week...

Month Two

So I have now been here over a month and still am in love with Switzerland. I signed a contract for my flat and will move in October 1st...so it looks like I'll be having another housewarming, just about the same time as my housewarming last year:) I'm excited about my sea container getting here with all of my belongings but living here for two months without those things really makes me reconsider what one needs in life. But then again, the 10 pairs of shoes I brought with me on the plane just isn't enough:)

The last few weeks have been crazy as always...last weekend we had another exciting time...Canyoning!!! Canyoning is jumping, sliding, and absailing down freezing cold glacier streams in the mountains. It is sooooooooo much fun... and we were lucky that we had a small group and really cool guides (even though one dunked me). That evening we stayed in a hostel with a hot tub...there were some incidents involving a slide, red wine, rain...but I'll just leave that to your imagination. The next day we were supposed to do another climb but the weather wasn't cooperating so we went home...which was great since I really needed sleep.

http://www.mountainhostel.com/

http://www.outdoor-interlaken.ch/en/summer/canyoning/

I still really like my job and still excited about German lessons. After work during the week I went to the pub and watched the England/Croatia soccer/football game. I am very glad England won since I was in an English Pub surrounded by Brits...it was great to be surrounded by such enthusiastic fans:)

This Friday there was a housewarming party that was quite nice. My take away from that evening is beware of "Polish Apple Juice." Saturday evening we had drinks at a friends house and then dancing at A2...it was a really cool place because one side had house music with smoke and lasers and the other had ...well I don't know how to explain it but songs you sing and dance along to...it was great. Today I went hiking with Maciej...it was so cool since once you get to the top of the hill, you take a scooter to the bottom...good times:)

http://www.musikparka2.ch/

Well I have to get some sleep so...more to come soon....miss everyone!

So far behind in Blogging, Cleaning, Studying, but So Worth It!

So it has been quite a while...I guess I'll start with something I didn't post after Mt Pilatus...the best invention...a Beer Vending Machine...yes 3chf and you have a nice cup of beer straight from the keg. Is it coincidence that you have to climb us stairs...or is it just a little closer to heaven for a reason??? Something to ponder (LOL).




So our visit to Lugano was great. The day before we had a team building event and then went out to Paddy's, where many nights end, and had to wake up after a few hours of sleep to make the train...this time I made it! We met the rest of the group when we got there and were ready to explore...a dip in the lake (I had to climb a tree along the way), a boat ride to another town, an Italian Dinner on the Swiss side, and a few drinks. The next day we went to Lake Como Italy and visited Bellagio. After a boat ride, an early dinner at the lake, and a run to catch the train, we were back to Basel.
So another week at work, another dip in the Rhine, and then another weekend. This one started with a Brazilian Festival in Basel (Klosterberg Festival) and ended...well eventually, and that's all I have to say about that:)

The next day was so exciting...we did a a 300m vertical Via Ferrata climb... the climb was incredible, I was with a great group of people, the views were amazing...so exciting I'm planning the next one this weekend! I think I found my hobby:) Oh yea, I think I'm going canyoning this weekend too...we'll see:)
http://http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/interests/adventure_sports/offer-Activities_Sports_and_Adventure-Klettersteig-37115.htmlActivities_Sports_and_Adventure-Klettersteig-37115.html

So I'm supposed to be studying German...I started taking lessons Tue and Thur at 8am at work. I have a feeling it will be a fun class based on the participants...not so sure how much German I'll learn. They don't really speak German here...Swiss German is much different, but I am determined to read (the write in high German) and learn how to pronounce at least my street:) Which reminds me, I signed a lease on my flat and am moving in on Oct 1st...I bet you are all glad you're a continent away and I can't ask for help:) Well, the sea container will be unloaded for me, I just have to take care of what I already have and put stuff away.


I really like my job, my life, everything. I've been extremely busy (the blog just has the highlights...the sensored highlights that is:) but I do miss everyone and would love updates. I need them, I forgot all about Labor Day:)


More to come soon...