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Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
View of Tel Aviv from Jaffa.
Today we walked from Tel Aviv to Jaffa along the beach. It was super nice!
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tel Aviv, here I come!
Today I am leaving for an Easter vacation, and I'm really excited! You may remember that last year, the Pattons and I traveled through Eastern Turkey and Kurdish Iraq together. I am also going to spend Easter this year with them by visiting them in Tel Aviv! I am really excited to see them, especially since there is a new addition to the Patton family. I am so excited to get to spend some time with Jessi, Jr (as well and Jessi, Sr. and Brian, of course)!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Goodbye skiing, hello hiking!
This past weekend was the last time that I will ski this season. I found this postcard in Saas-Fee and thought it was a pretty accurate representation of my skiing... Now it's time for hiking- and I can't wait!
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Monday, March 26, 2012
Skiing in Saas-Fee, the full post.
This past Saturday, I went skiing with my colleague Laura in Saas-Fee. We caught a 7 am train, which was a little on the early side for me, but Saas-Fee is 3 hours away, so we needed to have an early start if we wanted to ski at all before noon. The train and bus were pretty crowded with other people heading into the mountains for skiing. It has been so warm that there are not so many areas left with good snow, but Saas-Fee still had really nice conditions, with most of the runs still open. Saas-Fee is one of the higher skiing areas in Switzerland, and you can actually go skiing year-round on the glaciers here, from what I understand.
We were on the piste by about 11 am, and it was truly gorgeous. Sunny and warm (but not too warm), and the skiing was not too crowded. I never really had to wait at a lift, and it was easier to ski without worrying that I would collide with someone.
Laura is a better skier than I, so we parted ways for the rest of the morning. I stayed on a very nice, mellow blue run and tried to get the feel of skiing again, and tried to push myself to go faster, since I tend to be a nervous skier. I just want to stay under control, but some people have told me that it is easier if you're willing to go a little faster. So I was trying to go faster! I'm not sure whether or not it is actually easier, but maybe it's funner!
Laura and I had a picnic lunch in the sun, with a great view of all of the mountains, and then we took a gondola and a underground tram up to the top of the ski area, at 3500 m. The view was really amazing!
I didn't ski up there, as the runs were more difficult, but I found another really nice blue piste that went halfway down the mountain, and I started to get faster. In fact, I could almost keep up with Laura when she joined me at the end of the day!
Of course, then we had the last run of the day. I have decided that last runs are not the best idea. It's always the last run when something happens. Laura and I had decided to take a long piste all the way down to the village from the middle of the mountain. We got a little way down, past the point of no return, when the blue piste was closed, and our only option was a steep, narrow red run! Not only was it super steep, but it was the end of the day, so the conditions were not ideal. There were tons of other skiers making their last run, and the piste had turned to almost bare ice in parts, with mounds of icy snow in other parts. I really had a small meltdown. I knew that I had to get down, but I was a little paralyzed, and I couldn't convince myself to turn. I ended up sliding down sideways for a while, until Laura could encourage me enough to try to turn. I think I was mostly freaked out because I had not so much room to turn, and every time I hit a mound of snow I would lose control a little, and I was so tired that I didn't have the strength to push through the snow. Thankfully, Laura was patient, and we eventually came across an open blue run for the rest of the way down the mountain, at which point I was able to collect myself and go a little faster. Oh, skiing.
Other than my little episode at the end of the day, I really enjoyed skiing at Saas-Fee. I think it might be my favorite ski area so far! Not a bad way to end the ski season!
We were on the piste by about 11 am, and it was truly gorgeous. Sunny and warm (but not too warm), and the skiing was not too crowded. I never really had to wait at a lift, and it was easier to ski without worrying that I would collide with someone.
Laura is a better skier than I, so we parted ways for the rest of the morning. I stayed on a very nice, mellow blue run and tried to get the feel of skiing again, and tried to push myself to go faster, since I tend to be a nervous skier. I just want to stay under control, but some people have told me that it is easier if you're willing to go a little faster. So I was trying to go faster! I'm not sure whether or not it is actually easier, but maybe it's funner!
Laura and I had a picnic lunch in the sun, with a great view of all of the mountains, and then we took a gondola and a underground tram up to the top of the ski area, at 3500 m. The view was really amazing!
I didn't ski up there, as the runs were more difficult, but I found another really nice blue piste that went halfway down the mountain, and I started to get faster. In fact, I could almost keep up with Laura when she joined me at the end of the day!
Of course, then we had the last run of the day. I have decided that last runs are not the best idea. It's always the last run when something happens. Laura and I had decided to take a long piste all the way down to the village from the middle of the mountain. We got a little way down, past the point of no return, when the blue piste was closed, and our only option was a steep, narrow red run! Not only was it super steep, but it was the end of the day, so the conditions were not ideal. There were tons of other skiers making their last run, and the piste had turned to almost bare ice in parts, with mounds of icy snow in other parts. I really had a small meltdown. I knew that I had to get down, but I was a little paralyzed, and I couldn't convince myself to turn. I ended up sliding down sideways for a while, until Laura could encourage me enough to try to turn. I think I was mostly freaked out because I had not so much room to turn, and every time I hit a mound of snow I would lose control a little, and I was so tired that I didn't have the strength to push through the snow. Thankfully, Laura was patient, and we eventually came across an open blue run for the rest of the way down the mountain, at which point I was able to collect myself and go a little faster. Oh, skiing.
Other than my little episode at the end of the day, I really enjoyed skiing at Saas-Fee. I think it might be my favorite ski area so far! Not a bad way to end the ski season!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
I do work sometimes, too...
Since there have been questions raised recently about whether I work at all or just gallivant across Switzerland, I thought I'd share this post of how I spend a large chunk of my time- in the lab, with the UPLC. In fact, today will be a 13-hour day. Good thing I like science!
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Friday happy hour in Zurich.
Laura and I celebrated the 70 F weather with a happy hour on the Polyterrasse, overlooking Zurich. Happy Friday!
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Sunset from the top of Prime Tower.
Today, my flat mates and I had a happy hour at sunset at Clouds, the bar at the top of the Prime Tower, the new and tallest building in Zurich. We were celebrating Stefanie's last exam! Congrats, Stef!
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Sent from my iPhone
Monday, March 12, 2012
Weekend with Aurore!
My dear friend Aurore, whom I have visited several times in Strasbourg, came to visit me this past weekend, and we had a totally wonderful time.
She arrived on Friday night, and we decided to cook dinner at home (chili and cornbread), since we wanted to get up early on Saturday morning to go to the mountains. My flatmate Stefanie joined us for dinner, which was really great.
On Saturday, Aurore and I got up really early to head into the Bernese Oberland, and, more specifically, to Lauterbrunnen. This is really the place that started it all back in 2007, when I visited on vacation with my family and told my mom that I could imagine myself living in Switzerland. I also went with my dear friend Anne to Lauterbrunnen when she visited me back in 2010, and we did hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. I loved that hike so much that I had my parents do it when they visited me this past summer, and I made this hike again with Aurore this past weekend. Although I have to say that it was quite different in the winter, as the path went a totally different route, but with the same fabulous view, thankfully.
We were treated with beautiful weather- sunny skies and clear. I took a video of our view from Männlichen, which is below.
The view was really incredible. I think Aurore and I were a little giddy because it was so amazing clear and beautiful. I may run out of superlatives in this post, that's how great it was!
We walked for a while, having a few near-death experiences while crossing ski pistes, and stopping every few minutes for more pictures, of course.
We had a little picnic on a rock in a little stand of trees and enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the incredible view, and the birds that were singing. It really was so warm that we were hiking without jackets!
We had a rather bizarre encounter with a snowboarded who had dislocated his shoulder but didn't really want our help. He eventually managed to re-locate his shoulder and boarded off, but we were a little concerned for a while. First, because he was hurt, and then after, because he wanted to talk with us about fighting sports and drugs.
I really love how different the mountains look under the snow. They really look other-worldly, I think.
We got to see para-skiers, which was cool. I'd never do it, but it looked exciting!
At the end of the hike we had to walk straight uphill, which definitely gave us a good workout. But the views were so worth it! I just can't get over the Alps!
After the hike, we headed back to Bern, where we got out and walked around at sunset. I really like the city of Bern and have been several times. The main reason that we stopped there is to go to the Altes Tramdepot, which might be my favorite restaurant in Switzerland. I have been there multiple times, because I really like the atmosphere and the beer, and it was a perfect place to stop between the mountains and Zürich. Before dinner, we walked through Bern at sunset, saw the mountains turn pink in the distance, and enjoyed a really good beer and dinner. We had really nice servers (which definitely doesn't always happen here). I think that I won them over with my very earnest (if not accurate) attempt to speak only in German with them. I even got a thumbs up from one when I came up with the word I was searching for!
On Sunday, Aurore and I had brunch with Stefanie and Lilli, which was really lovely. After, Aurore and I wandered around Zürich, down by the lake. We also had time for a Starbucks before I had to take her to the train station. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend. I love it when people visit me here (Hint, hint!), especially as I become more and more comfortable and knowledgeable here.
She arrived on Friday night, and we decided to cook dinner at home (chili and cornbread), since we wanted to get up early on Saturday morning to go to the mountains. My flatmate Stefanie joined us for dinner, which was really great.
On Saturday, Aurore and I got up really early to head into the Bernese Oberland, and, more specifically, to Lauterbrunnen. This is really the place that started it all back in 2007, when I visited on vacation with my family and told my mom that I could imagine myself living in Switzerland. I also went with my dear friend Anne to Lauterbrunnen when she visited me back in 2010, and we did hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. I loved that hike so much that I had my parents do it when they visited me this past summer, and I made this hike again with Aurore this past weekend. Although I have to say that it was quite different in the winter, as the path went a totally different route, but with the same fabulous view, thankfully.
We were treated with beautiful weather- sunny skies and clear. I took a video of our view from Männlichen, which is below.
The view was really incredible. I think Aurore and I were a little giddy because it was so amazing clear and beautiful. I may run out of superlatives in this post, that's how great it was!
We walked for a while, having a few near-death experiences while crossing ski pistes, and stopping every few minutes for more pictures, of course.
We had a little picnic on a rock in a little stand of trees and enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the incredible view, and the birds that were singing. It really was so warm that we were hiking without jackets!
We had a rather bizarre encounter with a snowboarded who had dislocated his shoulder but didn't really want our help. He eventually managed to re-locate his shoulder and boarded off, but we were a little concerned for a while. First, because he was hurt, and then after, because he wanted to talk with us about fighting sports and drugs.
I really love how different the mountains look under the snow. They really look other-worldly, I think.
We got to see para-skiers, which was cool. I'd never do it, but it looked exciting!
At the end of the hike we had to walk straight uphill, which definitely gave us a good workout. But the views were so worth it! I just can't get over the Alps!
 |
| You can see a little sun dog in this picture! |
After the hike, we headed back to Bern, where we got out and walked around at sunset. I really like the city of Bern and have been several times. The main reason that we stopped there is to go to the Altes Tramdepot, which might be my favorite restaurant in Switzerland. I have been there multiple times, because I really like the atmosphere and the beer, and it was a perfect place to stop between the mountains and Zürich. Before dinner, we walked through Bern at sunset, saw the mountains turn pink in the distance, and enjoyed a really good beer and dinner. We had really nice servers (which definitely doesn't always happen here). I think that I won them over with my very earnest (if not accurate) attempt to speak only in German with them. I even got a thumbs up from one when I came up with the word I was searching for!
 |
| Pink mountains in the distance. |
On Sunday, Aurore and I had brunch with Stefanie and Lilli, which was really lovely. After, Aurore and I wandered around Zürich, down by the lake. We also had time for a Starbucks before I had to take her to the train station. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend. I love it when people visit me here (Hint, hint!), especially as I become more and more comfortable and knowledgeable here.
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