Switzerland: Day 1

Dad, I can now see why you want to move here!! Or want me to move here, so that you can visit me... what a sneaky man you are.

I am officially conflicted as to what kind of "girl" I am: ever since I was little, I have had an internal conflict of whether I am a mountain or beach kind of person. Having just left B-town, and feeling extremely loyal to Spain in general, I would have said that I am a sand and water kind of gal had you asked me about 10 hours ago. Now that I`m in Switzerland, I can`t help but whistle a different French/German/Italian tune (national identity crisis - I will discuss later).

My day started off with waking up at 830 so that I could walk to the bus stop and make my final goodbye to Las Ramblas. I made it in great time, but so did about 50 other people, who were all waiting for the same bus. With a bit of luck, we all managed to make it onto the lovely Aeropuerto bus, and I checked into my flight to Geneva with no problems. (On a side note, the woman sitting next to me on the plane was a Cuban who worked for CNN, and who claimed to be best friends with Whitney Houston. Call me crazy or gullible, but I believed her!! She gave me some inside info into Whit`s life, I`ll share when I get back to TO.)

Alexis, being the darling he is, found out that I wanted to visit Geneva, so he drove for 2 HOURS to come pick me up at the airport. And I also realize how much he hates the traffic AND the people there, so I am truly grateful to him. He was right at the gate when I got out, took my stuff and my trip in Switzerland began.

Geneva was gorgeous of course, with Porsches, Beemers, Benz`s and Audis in high abundance. The only stores available to shop in were Chanel, Rolex, LV... you all get the point. I spent my time on the waterfront (huge lake shared with France), in the Vielle Ville and in the Parc eating sorbet with Alexis. At around 4, we drove to Lausanne, which is where Alexis went to university. Comparing Western with Lausanna was laughable - their campus is all natural and ultra-cool, and we grabbed coffees at the main student building while looking out from our patio at the forest, lake and Alps. I would have never left to come to boring, drab and gray London! My one moment of uncontrollable laughter was when I passed by the law building, and heard "baaing". That`s right, there was a herd of 40+ sheep on the lawn of the university, just grazing and eyeing me down. Too much!! I took a full minute video while gasping for air. I also saw his frat house, which is literally a small castle in the middle of downtown that they are renovating.

From Lausanne to Neuchatel, where we picked up Alexis` dad and went for dinner. We drove for a while, and entered onto a winding dirt road in the middle of a field. Alexis commented on how in Canada, the road would have been straight and covered in asphalt, but that the beauty of Switzerland is that they make you enjoy the sights by driving slowly on the curvy dirt road. There`s something so poetic about that...

Anyway, just as i was about to ask if we were lost, I saw the lake, and a mid-size hut by the water. Scuba divers were just coming out as we made our way to the restaurant. Our dinner was a huge pot of cheese, bread and pepper for spice - Fondue as it was intended. I ate and ate and enjoyed French conversation with Alexis et son papa. We ate for a while, and even ordered dessert (chocolate cake and cherry pie, homemade). We conversed with some local people, and I even overheard that the people at the next table were from Montreal. The whole time, I was facing the lake, which was surrounded by forest, cottages and the mountains behind. We drove home the "scenic" way, up 800 metres within a few minutes until my ears popped, and I felt like I was in a dream. I am now in Chaux-de-Fonds, after having taken a shower, watching Spain lose to France (boo) and pinching myself.

Surreal?!?! Yes!!! I still can`t believe I`m here...

Tomorrow: Bern, Lucern and Zurich - the German part of Switzerland.