A distant memory.

Was I really here? I've been back on Maui for three weeks and it feels like I never left!

Anyway...Renata craved the sun, "do you get car sick?", she asked before leaving and you can see why! With the windows rolled down just incase I spewed my guts,  we zoomed down the hill and headed into Italy.

 

Once over the border the contrast in countries was instantly apparent. As we marveled at the change in architecture I snapped away at this lovely house, only seeing the owner (where's Mario?) as we drove off, waving and "bellisima-ing" as we left.

 One reason not to live at the bottom of a mountain.

 

Nuts, whole hazelnuts ohhhh, Cadburys take then and they cover then in chocolate!

Pretty stuff.

Renata (dehydrated from all the driving) quenches her thirst.

Then needed to go for a pee, so I tried on the Euro glasses....christ almighty-what not to wear!

We cruised our way around Lake Garda checking out the local windsurf spots, and it made me realize how lucky I am to sail on Maui. Some were kinda dirty and uninviting and as beautiful as the lake was, I found myself glad that Kanaha is my base camp.

That being said, lunch was divine and a thousand times better than anything I could find in Kahului!

After lunch we laid in the sun and watched the world go by. As the afternoon wore on we wandered into town thinking we wanted an ice cream, but were afraid it would send us to sleep on the drive home. So instead we had a fresh orange juice which (while seeming like a good idea at the time) made us feel bloated and slightly sick- shoulda gone for the gelato!

One last look at the lake and the lone intrepid sailor before heading back to CH.......

.......but not before we pick up some pasta for dinner. Buon appetito!

Rainforest.

Just five minutes walk from Renata and Oly's home is a vast forest filled with trails and lakes. The paths snake through nature in every direction and there's always a feeling of safety thanks to the signs along the way and, well.....the fact that it's Switzerland.

It was a wet chilly afternoon and having been kept in by the rain all day, it was good to get out and breath some fresh air and just walk.

This way please........

Even in the damp, it's the stuff of fairies and unicorns. This quiet and peaceful place with it's rag-tag elegant nature made me want to sit and contemplate just as much as walk and explore.

Luckily my hostess is a gear head and has a jacket for all seasons, so I was warm and toasty. It made me think that as with anything, if you're equipped properly the task at hand is more enjoyable.

The wet days also provided an excuse to go to town and explore. This exclusive apartment building (nicknamed 'the peanut') had the old timers get their alpine horns in a twist, as it's not exactly in keeping with its next door neighbor, see 'exhibit A' below.

I love the teeny window on the left and the arched frame of the triplets next to it.

And always there's a lake, sublime even on a (fifty shades of) grey day.

This exclamation point made me chuckle as it appeared to be a sign with random punctuation on it and no explanation what to be to be aware of.

Have I mentioned recently how beautiful this place is?

Time to put the kettle on again, Toblerone anyone?

Tschierva.

"It will be a long day" said Mel, as we packed our backpacks with sunscreen, snacks and water. We left at 9:15 am and cycled a quick half hour to pick up Montana and Tanya before heading over to Pontresina and meeting up with Nadine and the fabby Fabia.

I thought my happy meter was high when we cycled from Champfer to St. Moritz, but it just kept rising as we proceeded in to the valley.

Bloody hell, are you kidding me?

A couple of hours later and it was time to lock the bikes, have a quick snack and start walking up to our goal which was the base of the Tschierva glacier. The weather was spectacular and the views exceptional.

The trail is clear and cut into the valley hillside, but after a while the ascent steepens and does not let up. As I walked (head down focusing on each step) it was easy to forget the stunning surroundings. Living at sea level I'm not used to altitude, so as we were heading to 2584 meters I took many a banana, water and photo op break.

Still a long way to go with my happy meter hovering at a nine!

I'd have probably cut 20 minutes off my fat two hours ascent if I hadn't been taking so many photo's!

Hallelujah-made it !

Let me tell you, the Tschierva hut was a very welcome end as I was ready to stop, rest, pee and eat (not necessarily in that order).

As with all things Swiss, there is always an incredible meal to be had as a reward for your effort. This is Rossti, a traditional dish of potatoes and eggs. Sounds simple enough, but the taste was exceptional. Oh and I'll have a slice of plum pie and a latte while I'm at it please! 

While it was the end of the road for our party, this is start for many who are serious climbers.

I can see the allure and pull to go deep.

.....but it's not my thing and I certainly don't have the right footwear.

Fed and watered, we were ready for the decent.

Just one more shot before we go......it was a hard to leave, but as it was already 3:15pm we pushed back down giving our quads a good workout.

By 6pm we were home and starving and poor Mel had just enough time to eat and shower before giving a 7pm massage! By 8pm we'd all cleaned up and reconvened (looking quite different in heals and lipstick) for a self congratulatory bottle of wine (or two) and finally tip toed in at two minutes past midnight. The German was right, it was a long day!

Back in the Engadin.

I was excited as soon as I touched down in Zurich, not only because I knew what was coming, but because my spirits rose at the mere fact of being in this wonderful country. Taking one of the most spectacular train rides in Europe didn't exactly dampen my mood either!

The weather was amazing, so from Tiefencastel I  hung my head out of the window like a happy dog. Christ, you'd better watch out though, as there's not room for your head, hand and camera as you go in to the tunnels!

Tantalizingly close.

16:58 arrival 17:58 weisen! 

Renata greeted me at the station with a perfect plastic lei and we made more noise at seeing each other than the rest of the disembarking passengers put together! While she got organized for an appointment with a client, I dropped my suitcase off and promptly proceeded back out the door with Mel. We took a brisk 40 minute walk from our nest in Champfer around the lake and ordered the beer we had been planning on for months. 

No photograph I've yet taken has caught the magical beauty of this place (though you might want to double click on this one). It's special and has a potent and tangible energy that I feel in full affinity with.

If you have to be a cow, you'd be hard pressed to pick a better spot to graze on.

As we sat on top of the world, my hostess and wonderful friend Renata pointed out all the places she has hiked, skied and climbed in her last 25 years in the Engadin Valley. Let me tell you, she's been a busy girl and knows this place like the back of her hand, yet is still is enthralled by it's magnificence and finds new trails and peaks to explore. Suffice to say I'm in good hands.