Top Ten Hitz from the Switz

Howdy-do, friend-a-diddly-doodlies!

As promised, here's a li'l ol' post about my recent trip to Switzerland to see my dear friend and soul sister Élyse. Her parents have been living in Geneva for a while, so she came over from Canada to visit them and I went over from Edinburgh to visit her visiting them. Her parents were very kind to provide me with their lovely hospitality and a fair bit of wine and Swiss cheese. 

Élyse and I had a whale of a time! In only four days, we explored Geneva, took a trip down south to Lucerne and Bern and even headed over to France for a day (because when you live in Switzerland, you can just 'pop over to France' like it's no big deal). 

So, here for your reading pleasure, is a list of ten hecka cool moments from my trip to the Switziest of lands:

1. The Broken Chair with an Élyse in front of it; it was constructed to honour people living with disabilities

2. HOMG it's the United Nations!!! 

3. A weirdly cool carousel near Lake Geneva that we did not ride

4. Lake Geneva with an Élyse in front of it - there are Élyses everywhere in this city

5. The covered bridge furthest from the train station in Lucerne; Élyse's mama insisted we visit this one in particular (she was right, of course)

6. Mt. Pilatus overlooking Lake Lucerne. We took a boat cruise on this lake. One of us got a liiitttllle sunburnt (that person was NOT me)

7. The weird Vain Monkey flag in Bern - the wind refused to let me get a proper photo. Does anyone know what this flag means? (You know, cause I totally can't just Google it for myself...)

8. The lady in Annecy, France who is the twin of the lady painted on weird tiles in the bathroom at my parents' place - I guess she was on vacation too 

9. The huge lion carving in Lucerne, a memorial to the Swiss Guards lost during the French Revolution

10. The lovely view of lovely Bern from a big ol', lovely, windy hill

Honourable mentions:

Big, big chess in Geneva - notice how it hasn't been vandalized! 

Élyse glamourously drinking the water that cost us over FIVE FRANCS on the train - the rumours about Switzerland being expensive are all too true. A copy of Good Housekeeping magazine (don't judge me) cost me almost eleven francs. Well worth it, though. 

Annecy is so adoarable it makes me want to fight something 

The area just didn't have enough natural splendour, so Lac Annecy stepped up

Geneva's Wall O' History

Like the Old Towns in most cities, there was absolutely nothing of interest to see in Old Town Geneva

Who dose cuties on dat boat??

Alright, I'm sure you're all photo'd out for the moment. Thank you for putting up with me!

À bientôt, mes chers! Bis bald!

Fam, Jam, Thank you Ma'am

Whaddup homies from my home? Looks like this is the Season of Visiting for yours truly. At the end of April, my sis, the fabulous Marg-a-rooney, came over to Edinburgh to explore and discover Scotch Land. We did EVERYTHING in Edinburgh. Seriously. I made an itinerary. We climbed ALL the monuments. We ate ALL the food. We drank ALL the locally-brewed, -distilled, -bottled and -blended liquids that our bladders could handle. It was de-LIGHT-ful!

We also managed (due to my phenomenal planning) to find time to go shopping in Glasgow, be charmed by York and experience some first-class entertainment in London's West End. If anyone gets the chance to see the musical The Book of Mormon, you MUST do it. I haven't laughed that much at a musical since I was in a production of CATS in high school and the Magical Mr. Mistofelees ripped a big one during a particularly spectacular split jump. But seriously, go see the Book of Mormon. Do bring a sense of child-like whimsy. Do NOT bring any actual children. There are a few too many F-bombs set to catchy tunes for the show to be appropriate for the Pull-Ups Set.

Obviously I have a thousand words that I could use to describe our full trip in detail. Y'all know me. But I think this time I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. With a little help from my captions.

You wouldn't know anything about this, would you, Marg?

Preparing to climb up Arthur's Seat. Doesn't look that tall, right?

You're right Marg - that view of Edinburgh is ha-ha-ha-larious!

Looks like the stars come out in the daytime in Edinburgh

Who took this picture???

Marg prepares to hear the sweet song of whisky at the Scotch Whisky Experience

Hairrry Coo. Mu. 

Marg descends into the ancient valley of Glencoe

Marg takes a picture of the ancient valley of Glencoe

Marg ascends from the ancient valley of Glencoe

We met a Hairy Coo!

Two Coo

Who you? You noo coo!

"Hairrry Coos laike thae waet waether!"

"Ugh. Tourists."

"Snuufllfleeeesnoorrrrttt."

A teeeennnyyy tiiiiinnnnnyyy pony!!!

"Excuse me, are your shoes made of food?"

Look out, Marg! Nessie's right behind you!!!

Cruel fate! All along, the monster was ME!!

Anastasia and Drizella go for a shopping day in Glasgow

Margaret poses daintily beside the ruins of an Abbey in York

I pose equally daintily

This tree wanted a picture with Margaret. Those people did not. 

The heavenly set of the Book of Mormon. I wasn't supposed to take this photo. 

After Marg flew off, I went on a bus tour of London. Because I could. This is REAL WESTMINSTER!!! PPPPPPPPARRRRRRRRLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAMMMMMEEEEEEENNNNTTTTTT. 

Stupid bridge got in the way of my photo of these two guys. 

This is THE SHARD. Do NOT tread upon it. Owie-wowie!

On the train back home - it's goddam pastoral here. 

Take a roll-a through canola

Coming up soon: photos of my visit with a certain person in a certain country! Here's a hint - her name rhymes with Bélize and the country rhymes with... Flitzerbland...

Talk to you soon!