After Florence/Pisa, Jeff and I headed to Venice for the day. It was stinking hot - like 45 degrees celsius, so it was particularly miserable. However, we saw some key sites, like the Rialto Bridge, the Venice version of the Bridge of Sighs, and Piazza San Marco with all the pidgeons. It was quite cute to watch the little toddlers chase the birds around.
Venice was a must see, but the heat and the smell of the canals kind of deterred from the day. We then experienced our first overnight train. I was in a couchette with 2 other Canadians, but Jeff got stuck with 5 female Asians!!! At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, the Asians run amok in Europe!!
We arrived in Geneva the next day. I have to say that Switzerland is the most awesome countrz we´ve been to yet. Everything is so clean, the trains arrive and depart when they say they will, and they speak French!! That day, we rented two bicycles for free and biked around town to see the Flower Clock, the Jet d'Eau, and the United Nations building - just as impressive as the one in the New York City.
Next, we got a well deserved break from the heat, as we travelled into the Alps to the little town of Zermatt, for some spectacular views of the Matterhorn - the tallest mountain in the Alps. We took a cable car up to 2500 m then did some hiking around. Jeff shouted "Ricola", as I captured it on video!! Later, we caught a concert by the local youth band in the town centre - it was such a throw back to band in high school. They even busted out the massive alpine horns!
An unanticipated stop in Interlaken was next on the bill. Basically, Interlaken is the "EXTREME SPORTS" capital of the world. As soon as we arrived, Jeff and I went White Water rafting. Our guide, was the illustrius Manu, the largest beast of a man I've ever seen, who is now earning his own Internet reputation as the usurper of the Chuck Norris joke: Manu sleeps on a bed of nails - face down! I saw Manu pick up a female Asian with one arm!!!
The next day, we went Canyoning, which is the most extreme of all. First, we repelled down a cliff face, then we proceeded to jump off ledges within a canyon in narrow and shallow pools of water - basically taking our lives into our own hands. I have pictures to prove I did this, but they're on DVD, so I'll share when I get back.
That night, I partied hard with the friends I met at our Hostel, Balmer's Herberge. Met lots of Canadians. They love EXTREME sports!!
As I said, Switerland was the best part of the trip to date. Right now, Jeff and I are in Salzburg Austria, where we will culture-afy ourselves.
Tchus!
And now, in reverse order ;-)
Me and Jakes, my Canyoning guide.
The Alpine Horns
The Matterhorn
Proof that I hiked in Zermatt
Me in front of the Jet d'Eau in Geneva
Me on the Rialto Bridge
2 comments:
When you went white water rafting with Manu, did Manu get wet? Or did the water get Manu?
I want less Chris and more B.!!!
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