A Golden Weekend

Friday, October 2 - Sunday, October 4
Geltenhutte, Lauenen Switzerland

I could not have come up with a better way to celebrate my birthday then the weekend I had with the returning ES ladies. Emily, Carla, Allie, Beth and I piled into Giuseppe Friday afternoon after school had gotten out heading for the Alpineland Hotel in Lauenen just outside of Gstaad. At this point the 5 of us have been together for 2 years and we have become really close friends, knowing each other pretty well that we can be ourselves. This is something that is really hard to have when everyone is coming and going constantly and we not only work together but we eat all our meals together as well. This can be stressful but the 5 of us have finally struck a balance between being colleagues, friends, and travel companions.

The 5 hour car ride was full of laughs, deep conversations and discussions of our expectations for the future. Even getting stuck at the Gottard tunnel didn't damper our excitement for the weekend and some quality time together off campus. Passing through the sustenpass and giving Giuseppe some words of encouragement as well as stopping about every hour to empty the bladders we pulled into our hotel around nine and checked into our apartment on the 3rd floor.

The place was huge with 2 bedrooms, a loft, 2 full baths, family room and a balcony looking out over the mountains we were going to be hiking in the morning. It was absolutely amazing and that wasn't even the best part of our stay. Dinner just wrapped up the entire evening.

Blair's Party...as Raelene says everyone needs to recognize the National Holiday

We had a 4 course dinner of salad, split pea soup, breaded cod, and a fantastic dessert. The 5 of us were starving at the beginning but well stuffed by the end. I guess you could say we were loading up for our hike in the morning.

When we got back to the room, I was surprised by the girls with a champagne toast for my birthday. Definitely making it a birthday weekend to remember.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and repacked our bags for the hike up to the hut. Emily wins the prize for being the lightest packer, while I am definitely the worst. However, in my defense I packed a ton of food and games for us to play at the hut. I was very skimpy on the clothing, only bringing the necessities. And if you go by what my father always says...if you can carry it you can bring it. I never complained once that my bag was too heavy so I guess it was fine.

Our family room

View from our balcony Saturday morning

The Alpineland Hotel

With our book in hand we started off down a paved trail through tall evergreen trees. Heading towards a trail recommended by the hotel concierge that is lined with wood carvings done by the locals. We had a great time playing who can spot them first.

Before hitting the trail we passed Lake Lauenen.

Group shot with a woodpecker and a squirrel. Unfortunately I cut out the squirrel when I set up the timer shot.

Bear climbing a tree

Looking back on Lauenen and our hotel in the distance

Group shot on a playground about half way up

Allie and I were leading the group when we finally left the wood animals behind and we came to a fork in the path. The trail was clearly marked with arrows leading to the left but off to the right there was a ladder made out of logs leading towards the sound of a waterfall. We were curious so we led the whole group that direction and it was well worth it.

The waterfall

Beth and I

The funny part of the whole detour was that the other 3 girls had no idea that we had taken them off the path. They were just fully trusting of us and followed without looking around. They forgave us rather quickly though, the detour wasn't all that strenuous. Anyhow, then we continued our uphill trek to the next clearing along the river's edge and our second waterfall.

Group Shot with the waterfall. Our hut is directly above the highest point

Geltenhusse

A hut off in the distance that we mistook for our destination

The Geltenhutte, we finally made it

After 3 hours of significant uphill hiking we made it to the Geltenhutte just in time for lunch. After checking in, getting the lay of the land we found a picnic table in the back and broke out all the food. It was quite a spread with Allie displaying three different types of cheeses. Beth had tupperwares full of nutella and natural peanut butter. Emily was sharing mango slices and m&m's while Carla and I traded peanut butter sandwiches, oranges, apples, and rice cakes with peanut butter and bananas. No one went hungry during this lunch!

We unloaded a bunch of stuff from our bags and took off for Rodenbog, a hour loop around the ridge behind the hut. It provided fantastic views of the hut from above as well as allowing us to walk along the land where the glaciers had receded significantly from.

The waterfall behind our hut

The Geltenhutte

Carla, Allie and I continuing the tradition of the October hike

Back at the hut we cleaned up a little bit and pulled out the games. I had brought Bananagrams and cards for us to entertain ourselves. With beers in hand...which no one knew how to pour, we played multiple games of Bananagrams until Carla's competitive side got the best of her and we switched over to hearts.

Beth and her beer pouring skills

Allie and I

Bananagrams

The temperature changed drastically when the sun went down. One by one we went up to our small bedroom and changed into warmer clothes.

Our accommodations for the evening

Later that night, while we waited for dinner to be served we played a few games of rummy and hearts trying to stay warm with a bottle of wine. Dinner was served at 6:45 when we took our seats inside with the rest of the crowd. We spent a little time talking to the couple sitting next to us who were from Gstaad and were at the hut for the evening celebrating the 40th anniversary of it's opening. On Saturday night the hut was at full capacity and everything ran smoothly to my surprise.

Dinner consisted of a chicken soup, Raclette and a lemon desert that was fantastic. With full belly's and a decent amount of wine we went upstairs to bed, well before the rest of the celebrations died down.

Sunday morning, with an early wake up call and a traditional European breakfast we were back on the trails heading down taking a different path.

The group on Sunday Morning

This path lead us through steep declines where it was necessary to hold on to a steel cable to assure safety as well as climbing down an almost vertical ladder.

Carla holding on for dear life

The ladder

Having fun with our shadows

Lake Lauenen from above

Next we passed through rough pastures where I convinced myself I was going to be attacked by a killer cow.

Then we were followed by 2 goats who were protecting their house.

Finally we made the descent back onto the paved road leading us to the hotel and my car. After cleaning up a little bit we piled in once again heading for Gstaad a beautiful ski town known for the celebrities that come during the winter. We had a great time walking around and enjoying the scenery before heading for home.

Gstaad Promenade

A traditional German Home

The cows even followed us into town.

It was a great weekend with great friends. It was the best way to celebrate turning 29!

Just a Touch of...

Oh Oktoberfest!
September 25 - 27, 2009

Late one night, while sitting at the kitchen table in Michigan, I received a phone call from two of my favorite people who live in London. They were calling to ask if I would be interested in joining them for a weekend in Munich for Oktoberfest. The weekend being, coincidentally right before my birthday. In the past I have always celebrated my birthday at Harpoonfest in Boston so I felt that this would be a great opportunity to celebrate turning 29. So I booked my flight then and there and started counting down the days when I returned to Lugano for my reunion with Hayley and Allyson in Germany!

Friday night, I arrived late in the evening and met Hayley at the airport. Allyson's flight had been delayed for over and hour so we took off for the hotel to meet up with the boys, who had already partaken in the festivities throughout the day. However, they really rallied, staying up at the hotel bar and drinking a couple of beers while we waited anxiously for Allyson's arrival.

Eric was excited to see his flatmate.

Hayley and I

Before heading off to bed, we decided to meet in the lobby at 8:30 because we had to get our spots in a tent before the crowds really arrived. I think that time was definitely wishful thinking because, we met, had a little breakfast, sat around for a while and finally took off for our destination around 9:30 or so.

But not before taking a picture of our subway stop, just in case we needed it in the evening.

I was shocked when we arrived at the fairgrounds outside of the city. I was expecting beer tent after beer tent but I soon learned that Oktoberfest also included an entire amusement park for families to enjoy. Originally, Oktoberfest was held as a weekend wedding celebration. It was such a great success they continued holding it in Munich every year at the same location.

The amusement park

Our first stop

A huge pig roasting on a spit inside the tent

Inside the tent

At our first spot, the Spatenbrau, we were shocked to find out that the place was already packed and virtually impossible to find a seat inside. But we were fortunate to find an entire empty table where we could sit together outside and it was suppose to be a beautiful day with, being overcast in the morning. Our seats were fantastic, right in the middle of a great deal of Italians partaking in a drinking competition and another group that by 10:00 were already a little rowdy. They continually exchange turns chanting at each other and of course raising their steins in a group Proust.

The ladies

Our first round

Hefting our steins, which later caused a little bruising above the thumb

Our seat in the center of the patio was a fantastic location for people watching and getting a feel for the entire scene. Many Germans choose to wear the traditional dress of lederhosen for men and dirndls, blouses and aprons for the women. This definitely made the whole experience a little more ethnic.


One women, was raised about chest high while standing on a table by 6 men in lederhosen while she chugged an entire stein around 10:30 in the morning. It was rather impressive and it brought everyone in our area to their feet, cheering her on.

The maypole decorations throughout the fairgrounds

Our whole group. Hayley, Allyson, Carlos, Eason and Eric

Another man being lifted while he chugged a stein. He was not quite as successful as the young lady before. He dumped quite a bit of beer on the poor man holding him on his shoulders.


Instead of purchasing some lunch I had a real craving for a pretzel. One the size of my head preferably.

We all enjoyed them thoroughly

Eric came back to the table and he had acquired a new hat. Which of course we all needed to take a picture while wearing.

As the day progress, Hayley, Carlos and Eason began to fade so we departed ways and our first beer hall in the attempt to find another to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening. Unfortunately, Saturday's are very busy during Oktoberfest and all of the halls were closed by 2 pm. They had put ropes up keeping people out as well as locking the doors to prevent overcrowding. I was having none of it so at one point Allyson and I walked under a rope and were able to get into another hall. The doors were still closed to the tents but we were able to find a table outside to spend the rest of the day meeting new people and watching the events around us.

At one point, I went for a walk and was able to walk through the kitchen and into the tent to experience a different event. It was absolutely crazy and like nothing I could have expected. There were hundreds of people inside the tent, all standing on their benches and even the tables, with steins in their hands singing and dancing to American music. The intensity was incredible and it really made everyone want to dance and just have a good time. I try to get Eric and Allyson into the tent with me but was unsuccessful so after about an hour I went back out and joined them.

One of the people that we met was a guy named Fritz. Fritz was very intriguing because he was wearing the traditional lederhosen but he also was sporting a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses at night.

I found this to be amusing, I wear sunglasses at night as well.

Around 10:30 Allyson and I ventured out of the fair grounds in the search of food which we were successful finding in the Marienplatz or main square. After a scrumptious dinner of sausage spiraled together we went back and met up with Eason, Carlos, and Hayley who were watching their football teams compete. Hayley's found success but Cal couldn't recover after a slow start.

On Sunday we all slept in and met up to walk into the center of Munich in the search of a huge breakfast. Eason leading the way with a little help of his blackberry led us to a fantastic place that served a quality breakfast of eggs, pancakes, french toast and much more. Very rarely can I find a breakfast like this one in Europe. I was in heaven and I think everyone was in agreement on that.

With full belly's we made our way back to the center and went to the top of Sankt Peter's cathedral. From the tower we were able to see the Glockenspiel and as we turned the corner way in the distance the Ferris wheel at the Oktoberfest fairgrounds.

Glockenspiel

Oktoberfest fairgrounds

Back in the Marienplatz we were just in time to listen to the Glockenspiel go through the routine of music and the characters in the tower spinning around. Coming the second time and witnessing it again, I was able to recognize how goofy Allyson, Lizzie and I must have looked with our camera's perched waiting for the chimes to go. There were hundreds of people in the Marienplatz staring skyward for almost 20 minutes watching something that after a minute you truly get the full effect.

Once that was done, Allyson and I took off heading towards the main train station, while the rest of the crew went to the English Garden for more sight seeing. Allyson and I were on a hunt for Heidi Halloween Costumes and we were successful. I purchased a black and pink dirndl with ties and all, while Allyson find a beautiful red and green dirndl. All in all a very successful shopping experience.

Then we were off to the airport to say our goodbyes with my heading to Milan while the rest flew to London. Only a couple weeks and we will be back together again when Shannon and Ellis come to visit. I can't wait!