Jumping from a perfectly good plane

After skydiving, I got dropped (eventually) at the train station because they'd left some of my stuff behind at the airport and unlike the other groups we didn't land there because of the weather (we landed in Interlaken). I couldn't find my Eurail pass and by the time I did and ran to the platform, I'd just missed my train. I emailed Yann, my friend in Strasbourg, to tell him when I'd arrive, and got on the next one 20 mins later to Basil. In Basil, I had 15 mins to catch my next train but I wanted to give Yann something from Switzerland for letting me stay with them. I went into a Swiss chocolate shop and the lady couldn't have slowed me down more if she'd tried. Then, I ran to the platform, which was in an undisclosed direction, and had to go through a passport check. I showed my passport and explained my train left right away and they also did their best to thwart me. Anything to declare? No. Then what's in the bag? Chocolate. Let me see. You'd better hurry, you'll miss it. Sure enough, I got to the platform in time to watch the train pull away and tell "Nooooo!" I was frustrated because there was no way for me to tell Yann I'd missed that train and so on.

Anyway, I caught the next one and arrived in rain and cold weather, couldn't find Yann, so found an internet café and emailed Yann as well as looked up his phone number. I got his girlfriend whose English is not as good as Yann's, but I did find out he was still at the train station, so I called his mobile and left a message. We did meet eventually and he and his 4 year old son Frederic took me back to their apartment. We had a nice rice dinner, a welcome change, and chatted. Having awoke so early and had a long day I was wiped so I went to bed early and slept long.

Today we went out into Strasbourg's historic centre. The weather was poor in the morning but we didn't leave until noon and the weather had improved greatly. Yann took me on a tour and we saw the famed cathedral and astronomical clock and general scenery. We spent some time in FNAC listening to music and looking at all the European versions of albums I have or like. I'd definitely be doing some buying if I didn't have to cart it all along with me across Europe. We had a coke in a nice glass bottle in a café under a tree (it reminded me of a restaurant in Crete) on the river and I had a chocolate eclaire. You know, to soak in the culture. Mmm... culture.

Anyway, the historic town is very nice and very definitely German influenced, given that the city's history is about half German anyway. You hear many people speaking German and see signs in German occasionally, which is an homage to its history and also a result of its proximity to the border I suppose. We came home and had a nice traditional French dinner, I can't remember what the name was, but it was very nice and healthy. They're being far too kind to me and I really am glad I managed to stop here. Tomorrow, I'm not sure what's in the cards, but I guess we shall see. I'll probably leave Saturday for Munich, then Prague, where I end my Eastern trek for now and turn my sights north to Scandinavia. I'm going to miss the warm weather and beaches of the south, I know that already, but I'm also looking forward.

But that's enough for now, talk to you in a few days...

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Rafting, Canyoning, and General Craziness

Monday in Interlaken was pretty much dreary all day, but I did hang around with two girls from Edmonton which helped pass the time. It got nice for a little while and one of them (Jen) went on a hike with Josh for a couple hours, but by then I was rather tired anyway and had seen my share of scenery the day prior besides. Instead I stayed behind with Laurie and played Uno and listened to music on my iPod with her (I brought an adapter to share with another person in case I sat on the train next to someone who wanted to listen as well). We actually had a lot of fun and despite the scores, I definitely won.

When Jen got back from her hike, we chatted for awhile and since the kitchen was too busy (they offered me some of their spaghetti) we ordered a tonne of fries to snack on and some beer; fries and spaghetti, no wonder I don't lose any weight. Josh joined us for a bit and then since the kitchen was still too busy, I went upstairs to pack and they went to do laundry, and we agreed to meet at 9:30 to play cards eat.

We taught Josh and his Korean friend "President" and played and I was pretty much invincible until I lost my status and quickly moved down the ladder. Anyway, it was a fun day of hanging around and I didn't really mind that it had rained after all.

I got my sky diving ticket moved to the next day and when I woke up the weather still wasn't looking promising so I took my time getting ready. Then, around 8:40, I discovered the weather had quite improved, so I rushed to get everything together and made it downstairs just in time to check out and get on the 9:00 van for skydiving, but not enough time for breakfast. It was such a surprise to be able to go skydiving. And skydive I did.

I wasn't nervous at all on the way to the airport, and even being the last plane and watching the others jump from my vantage point on the ground didn't make me nervous, only excited. Before their chutes opened they just plummet through the clouds, it was really exciting to think that would be me. I did start to get nervous once my harness was put on and the plane started to get higher than I fly in my Cessnas back home, and I watched the altimeter climb to 12,000 ft. I definitely felt nervous at that height and my leg was even shaking, though it was more excitement than fear even then. That might've changed once the door was thrown open, and certainly when the first person fell from the edge and just disappeared, but it all went so quickly from then on that I didn't have time to notice.

I was the last person to go and, of course, since we're not trained, we go tandem. My guy counted one and then leaned me completely out of the plane as though we were going and I can definitely say that was the scariest part of the whole thing. We went on three, however, and falling through the sky at top speed was a huge rush (duh!). It was no longer scary once we had jumped out of the plane, but just fun. I wanted to maneuver and do some stuff, but talking is hardly simple at that speed.

45 seconds came far too soon and the parachute opened, at which point I had the chance to take some pictures and also do a few maneuvers in the chute before we landed. Anyway, we landed quite perfectly and it was a great time and a very interesting way to see the Alps, I'm very glad I did it. I got a video (which I DO regret getting, but EVERYONE who did it told me I should so I thought I'd trust their collective wisdom despite the enormous cost). Maybe when I get to see it I will be happier, but it's en route home and I won't see it for some time.

I left then for Strasbourg, but that's enough for one post...

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Bern, Baby, Bern

If ever there were a place to lose your life doing something ridiculously foolish and therefore fun, that place would be Interlaken. The place is a mecca among no others for extreme sports and, as the title suggests, general craziness. There are also tonnes of not so crazy things, like hiking and biking through the Swiss Alps for those so inclined. I've not done it yet, but if the rain lets up today, I probably will.

So, I arrived here at Balmer's Herberge, a hostel of rather famous proportions, and got checked in. I'd booked a dorm room, but was pleasantly surprised to discover that, as I unlocked the door, I was, in fact, in a private room. All the fun of a hostel with a room to myself, even if it was room 13, and at the price I'd've payed for a 12 person dorm. I'm not sure if this was a mistake on their part or they overbooked the dorm, but I don't intend to find out.

Interlaken is a small town, so everyone here stays in the basement bar/club to party, and I quickly discovered that this is essentially an American frathouse. EVERYONE is American here, I meet maybe two Canadians a day tops and like 10-15 Americans. You can tell because they all have their college shirts on. It's like us Canadians and our flags on the backpacks I guess.

Anyway, with happy hour being 2-for-1, I had a little more beer than intended but a good time downstairs. It was the only morning I didn't have to be up before 8. I went white water rafting the next day, which was fun but disappointing, I was expecting a little more challenge than Austria, and while the one rapid was pretty good, most of it was basically a river tour. I probably wouldn't have done it except that by booking it with skydiving and canyoning, I got it essentially free. Free is good in Switzerland.

The next day was the big day: Canyoning. This is a very wild and extreme sport which is apparently illegal in Canada, so I had to do it here. And I'm so glad I did. What is it, you ask? Well, you go to the top of a gorge and make your way down along the water. Being that it's a gorge, there are a LOT of waterfalls and cliffs, and you have to get down. Now, do you rappel down a rope? Sometimes. Do you jump from cliffs into a small part in the pool where the water is deep enough and there are no rocks? Sometimes. Do you slide down narrow chutes where you must keep your hands above your face so that you don't obliterate your nose as you slide beneath an impossibly low overhang of rock? Sometimes.

So here's the day canyoning. First, we boarded the van and rode 45 mins to the top of the gorge. We got on our gear, a wetsuit, jacket, lifejacket, and helmet, and trekked through the woods, across logs that had fallen over ravines and bridges with gaping holes in them. We got to the top of the creek and made our way along it to our first, and we were informed, biggest jump. Now, I'm not a person to jump off the platforms at Hairy Bailey into a safe swimming pool. But this was a 40 ft jump across a waterfall (we were standing on the cliff to the left of it and had to jump into a pool to the right). I was scared witless as my turn came up and asked what happened if I landed where the water fall was and not on the right of it.

Well, he said, there's rocks there. Don't do it. Fair enough, I was convinced. So with a mighty and altogether cowardly leap across the waterfall, I took the plunge into canyoning. Having done the biggest jump for the day, I felt much better, but not for long. We soon came up on a place where the water flows along a smooth rock face at a very steep angle (almost vertical). But it's smooth. We again came up on the left of it. This time, the trick was to jump sideways, INTO the cliff wall, hitting it with our backs, and sliding down the rock with the water some 50 ft below. There's no way to really explain this, but man was it freaky.

The whole thing was a blur, but I had a grin on my face the whole time. In fact, my cheek muscles were sore from the grinning. The scenery was beautiful the whole way and it was just one crazy thing after another. Jumping into a small pond, rappelling down a 150' waterfall, climbing partway down a waterfall on the rope and then letting go to slide along the rocks, it was great great fun and I can't recommend this highly enough. It was worth every cent and then double that, too.

I should explain more about the slides, though. They are generally chute like as the water has carved a niche into the rock face. This means you go down, usually, with your arms up protecting the side of your head. The ride down is wild and fun, but when you look back and watch the next person, you realize that you get tossed around like a ragdoll going down those things. It's too bad I don't have video, because it's unbelievable. Even the pictures don't really convey everything.

Anyway, that was canyoning. This morning, I was supposed to go to skydiving, but when we got to the airport the weather had changed and we had to cancel. I leave Interlaken tomorrow but hope to get up in the morning before I board the train for Strasbourg, France. Today, I may go hiking as I said. There are a couple Canadian girls who are going as well, so I may tag along with them. The rain seems to be letting up a bit, so it should be nice. I'll definitely let you know.

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I left Zurich and stopped in Bern for the day en route to Interlaken. Bern is a beautiful city, the old town is built inbetween a hairpin turn on the river and is surrounded by high hills giving spectacular views of the city from all directions. I got off the train and wandered over past all the cool little fountains they have. The most famous of which is an ogre eating a bunch of children, which is such a great idea for a fountain. A person gets tired of gods and all that other everyday stuff.

I headed into the Einstein museum. Bern is where Einstein was living when he had his miracle year in 1905 when he realized four of the theories which have made him as famous as he is, including the famous e=mc^2. The museum is actually in the home he lived in when he came up with it, which was really neat to see. I sat in the chair at his table where he sat and, I don't know, it was just great. I walked up the other side of the river and did manage to get a few nice shots and also see the famous bear pits from which Bern takes its name.

I hung around the city and then I headed off to Interlaken, which would be some interesting times indeed. To be continued...

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YüRich?

This is what they should rename this city to, given the price of things here and the fact that for some reason the 'z' and 'y' have already traded spots on the keyboard. They can keep the u with the umlats, though. They're kind of fun to make. Anyway, yesterday in Zurich I basically walked around and did some browsing in local stores. Bought some nice Swiss chocolate, looked at some watches WAY out of my price range, and managed to find an all English book store where I bought four new books at great expense.

I found a music store and spent a while in there playing on a piano that somehow can play silently and just come through earphones or actually play acoustically (and through the earphones though why you'd want earphones when you can just hear it I don't know). Anyway, I thought that was great. The music stores here are really neat. It gave me an idea for a cool music store If I were ever to open one. Which I'm probably not, so here it is: You walk into the music store, pick up a couple CDs you're thinking about picking up. Then you walk to the bar, order a coffee, tea, or beverage of choice and plunk down the CDs. The guy behind the bar then proceeds to put a copy of the discs into the player which you can listen to at your leisure as you slurp back your drink, or snack, or read a book or whatever. It a cafe where everyone gets their own music, maybe you can share with multiple people if you're sitting at a table, and also talk as the music plays. Then, if you like it you buy the CD. If not, well, you probably had a coffee or snack. And, of course, you can always go in and just buy the CD or whatever. Maybe you get a buck off for a coffee and a CD or something. Who knows. I think it'd be a success though.

I also went glasses shopping for some sunglasses. Which, if I haven't mentioned, I did because EVERYONE here, male or female, young (more so) or old (sometimes) wears big glasses. Aviator style. Or David Beckham's Police line. Or... big. But, again, everything is so pricey here, I think I'll buy some big ones off a street guy and not pay 200 bucks.

Anyway, Zurich's another city on a river/lake, and I walked down the main commercial street towards the water, passing a gazillion bears that you see in some cities. But way more of them then I've ever seen anywhere. So I walked to the water, along some back streets, and just ambled. It was nice to not really be monument hunting and just walking and shopping. I can't really buy anything because I've no room for it, especially now that I have those books, but it's still nice to look. It's also a good thing I haven't sent my warm clothes home yet, Switzerland is still pretty chilly even in June! I imagine Scandinavia I'll be wanting a real jacket and not just my fleece. Though I can combine the fleece and rain jacket into something close to that.

Now I have to get back to my room and pack my bags so I'm outta here by noon (checkout time). Plus, this "Speck of Gold" song has been on repeat for over an hour and I'm contemplating the demise of these speakers more and more seriously as the minutes pass. Today, off to Bern and then Interlaken. I'll probably use my Eurail pass again today, so I may make some other stops en route as well.

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This morning I took the train from Nice to Geneva, which took a disproportionate amount of time. I got on at 10:20 and arrived in Geneva at 4:00. I had until 7:45 to look around Geneva, and there were two landmarks I wanted to see.

The first was the famous fountain, or maybe geyser is the correct word (it shoots 150m into the air). It's close to the end of Lake Geneva, between the two banks where the lake empties into the Rhone river. I walked to the lake to see it, but couldn't find it. I thought I'd read my map wrong and checked another place, but still to no avail. Finally, I actually sat down and studied my map. It turns out that, for whatever reason, the fountain was shut down.

So, I walked along the bank of Lake Geneva, past countless watch shops, towards my second objective, the European headquarters of the UN, Palais des Nations. It was quite a walk given my short time frame, but I did get to walk through a beautiful park looking across at some beautiful homes on the opposite bank and a bunch of sailboats clipping along in the very strong wind. Oh, and I stumbled on a Ferrari dealership and got some pictures for Jonathan. The cars on the road are ALL very expensive cars.

I finally arrived there to find that I'd missed visiting hours by a bit, and so I was able to do no more than stand outside the gates and snap a picture. So, really, the stop in Geneva might've been entirely pointless except that I got to walk in that park. It's funny how the best things tend to never be what you're actually after. I took a tram back to the train station and, quite starving as I'd not eaten anything aside from cookies and nutri-grain equivalents, I wanted to stop and grab a snack. I grabbed my stuff from the train station locker and went looking around. Sandwiches were 6 Franks (1SFr = 1CDN)! Everywhere I looked in the station was that much. So, with 15 mins to my train, remembering passing a McDonalds, I thought that I'd make it there and since it wasn't in the station, maybe pay a little less. Nope. A Big Mac Meal costs 12 bucks!

Less than 10 minutes left till my train leaves and I get to the front of the line (sort of). I had to eat somewhere and I was all the way here, so whatever. I grabbed my meal and ran back to the station, making it on my train just in time. The ride from Geneva to Bern was actually the highlight of my day. Again, the things you never expect. The scenery was just gorgeous, this really is a beautiful country. I churned towards Bern in the highlands, looking over Lake Geneva and mountains and streams and little chalets in the green fields as the sun set, eating my McBacon Meal on the second storey of the train. The height of elegance! I spent a good amount of time on the train today, so I figure I'll make that Eurail pass worth it yet.

On the train, I finished my latest and last book, Time's Eye, by Arthur C Clarke, which was not quite as good as I was hoping from so renowned an author. I much preferred Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov, which I'd finished prior. So I'll need to find some more English books. In any case, without books, I went to my Lonely Planet and decided that given I was using a day on my Eurail pass, I should go as far as possible with it. So I missed my stop in Bern and stayed on the train to the end of the line - Zürich. Which is where I am now. I got the last room in the hostel, which is also quite expensive (38Fr). I know this because someone showed up right behind me and would've had to pay 100 Fr for a single room. The place is decent anyway, and a good deal in Switzerland. Free internet (it's 10Fr/hr down the street), a gym, and semi-private dorm beds (aka a curtain).

Anyway, today I'm going to hang around Zürich, I might go check out the zoo, definitely do some watch and knife shopping (which will come in handy for various fruit-related peelings and sandwich making) on the famous street that supposedly sits atop tonnes of gold and silver in Swiss Bank vaults. I may go to the zoo, and otherwise just stroll the streets. Tomorrow, I'm off to Bern for a few hours and then to Interlaken for 3 or 4 days. I heard about the place from the Red Deerians I hung out with in Montpellier, it's a haven of mountain activities. Canyoning (look it up, it looks like a chance to be on Fear Factor sans the insect eating), White Water Rafting, Hang Gliding, Skydiving (apparently they take you so high you can see Germany, Austria, and Italy), Hiking, Biking, etcc. Also, they apparently have the world's highest bungee jump, which is done from a gondola. Someone else told me it was South Africa, so I don't know whether that's true, but I was shown a video that one of the guys took of his jump and it looks bloody high and scary. I wish I could show it to you so you could see his face as he just keeps falling. Sheer terror.

So, that's the plan, give or take. Who knows when I'll be able to update again, probably not till I visit Yann in France (or if I win the Swiss lottery). See you in a week or so.

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