In addition – please check out my ‘postcard from abroad’ posted on the University of Calgary website.
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/july23-09/postcard
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Run as fast as you can...
Swiss Alpine Race - July 25
Davos is a city in the northeast region of Switzerland well known for skiing, natural beauty, and it’s annual Spengler Cup ice hockey tournament, which Canada has won 11 titles since the country’s first team invitation and participation in 1985. On this fine Saturday, I ran in the Swiss Alpine Race. Throughout the day there were many events including a WALK, 11km, 21km (half marathon), 31km, 42km (marathon) and the ultramarathon of a 78km distance. I had chosen to run the 11km race. Upon our arrival in Davos we watched the winner of the utlramarathon cross the finish line with a time of about 5 hours and the casual salt stains all over his shorts as it didn’t have time to dry and disappear. The 11k run consisted of a 150m incline – but this was mainly at the beginning. Everyone crossed the finish line and it was beautiful to run in such scenic mountainous and lakeside landscape on road and trail paths.
Windsurfing - July 26
The next day, three of us ventured to the opposite side of Switzerland – southwest near Sion in the French region to tryout windsurfing. It was much more difficult to catch the wind and position my board and sail accordingly to get good momentum across the water. This is something that I’ll have to pursue a bit more. Our instructor spoke English, French, and German and even drove us back to the train station after our day on the water. Since it was our first time in Martigny, he was very courteous to have us try some apricots from the plentiful orchards. He also led us to a small amphitheatre where they had cow fights because it’s instinctive for cows to fight over a good patch of grass and so two cows would fights. We learned about the history of pirate mountains and current workers that build scaffolding on the mountains to prevent avalanches. Our windsurfer instructor seemed like a Swiss Renaissance man as he knew languages, also taught tennis lessons, knew everything about the history of the land and wanted to share it with us. He didn’t let us get on the train before inviting us to return and this time go to Sion. Maybe I’ll just have to do that…
Mudfest
Gurten festival - July 18-19
Gurtenfestival is a huge annual 4-day music festival on the top of a hill near Bern. I got a two-day pass and a camping pass for the Saturday evening. Bands consisted of Oasis, Travis (my favourite) and Kings of Leon and genres consisted of German rock, British rock, ska, Swiss celtic metal music, and pop music in the dance tents. Once arriving in Bern, we checked out the market and accessed the spices, cheese, suspenders, victornox knives and swiss army knives, and bread. It was overcast and it had rained the previous evening meaning that everything was muddy and wet on the top of Gurten. In Bern, we could see festival-goers with filthy clothing and mud covered shoes. The only solution was to get some ‘wellies’. Mine where the only size 41 in the store and are checked green with red laces. Once equipped – it was time to go to the festival. We took the vernacular up to the top with our camping gear – very small tent (made for 2 – we slept 3) and sleeping bags. The camping area was well very equipped with showers, bathrooms, array of tents, and hopefully you don’t get snagged on rope because otherwise it was a face-plant in the mud. It was by far the most mud I’ve ever seen. The weekend was amazing, tiring, music-blasting, dirty, friendly, head-banging, squished and unforgettable.
Gurtenfestival is a huge annual 4-day music festival on the top of a hill near Bern. I got a two-day pass and a camping pass for the Saturday evening. Bands consisted of Oasis, Travis (my favourite) and Kings of Leon and genres consisted of German rock, British rock, ska, Swiss celtic metal music, and pop music in the dance tents. Once arriving in Bern, we checked out the market and accessed the spices, cheese, suspenders, victornox knives and swiss army knives, and bread. It was overcast and it had rained the previous evening meaning that everything was muddy and wet on the top of Gurten. In Bern, we could see festival-goers with filthy clothing and mud covered shoes. The only solution was to get some ‘wellies’. Mine where the only size 41 in the store and are checked green with red laces. Once equipped – it was time to go to the festival. We took the vernacular up to the top with our camping gear – very small tent (made for 2 – we slept 3) and sleeping bags. The camping area was well very equipped with showers, bathrooms, array of tents, and hopefully you don’t get snagged on rope because otherwise it was a face-plant in the mud. It was by far the most mud I’ve ever seen. The weekend was amazing, tiring, music-blasting, dirty, friendly, head-banging, squished and unforgettable.
Gastronomie francaise
Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne - July 11-12
It was great to see my French exchange family from 2001-2002. At the age of 13, Gaspard Padet visited me in Canada from September to November 2001 and I visited the Padets from February to April 2002.
Everything was very similar – even the same yellow coat of paint remained in the room I had lived in for 3 months – and I remembered a lot more than I anticipated once I returned to a familiar setting. There was a multitude of international representation because Jacqueline, my French mom’s wish for her 50th birthday was to have all the exchange partners that they’ve hosted return for the celebration. Although not everyone could make it, there were people from England, China, Canada (me!), Germany, Columbia, the oldest brother Francelin now lives in Poland and returned for the weekend with his wife and 1 year old baby boy – Illias, the daughter Elsy came from Paris, and Gaspard was there for a bit of the weekend as well after having written his business school entrance exams.
My goodness the celebrations revolved around food. It seemed as if we took breaks from eating instead of taking breaks to eat. The big party day, which was Sunday, comprised of a traditionally French croissant and café for breakfast. The croissants were fresh from the bakery next door from which the owner instinctively new the Padets by first name and most likely everything about them. This was a light meal relative to those that followed. The afternoon consisted of preparation for the 24-guest event. Everyone was busy chopping a cornucopia of vegetables including tomatoes, onions and carrots on the outside table where we had eaten Ratatouille the previous night – somehow seating everyone comfortably. Whenever anyone acknowledged that they were hungry, the next assembly at the huge table occurred. It was also very hot and sunny the entire weekend. So hot in fact that the eating table was relocated into the shade of the garage because the sun was scorching us alive.
The second big feast that day included guacamole, genuine French flutes de pain (slightly larger than baguettes), tortilla chips, a constantly filling glass of wine, prawns, and salmon locks. Jacqueline was going to continue the feast, but the guests were already squirming in their seats with delight of satiated stomachs. Therefore, it was concluded that a break would ensue to regenerate a bigger appetite for later. The crew, including the baby, the two kids – nephew and niece of the British chap, my French siblings – Francelin, Elsy, and Gaspard, the Columbians and I went for a swim in the refreshing and crowded pool in Chatillon. It seemed as if everyone was at one of the two big events in the town that weekend – the pool or Jacqueline’s 50th birthday. We returned to the house with a regained appetite and Philippe, my French dad, ignited the gas BBQ that he had borrowed from a friend to accommodate the party. Spicy sausages were quickly snatched off the serving plate with great delight and a curtain of silence fell across the guests as we devoured the scrumptious grillings. The only logical thing to do before the 3rd feast of the day was to nap. It was still very hot and everyone had stuffed themselves to that critical point where sleep became the only solution to assist with digestion.
Much later in the day, when everyone awoke with more hunger pangs, the long table was decorated again with food: mashed potatoes, cauliflower and mayonnaise, fresh garden tomatoes, classic balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing with a hint of moutarde and herbes de provence, more guacamole, greek salad, green salad, and green beans. Everyone was in a chattering mood and dishes were passed around the table. Sometimes there was so much passing that you had to sneakily take some food from the dish whizzing by to get any at all. However, bread became a premium and was even rationed because it had to be saved for the cheese. After the plates cleared… the cheese that everyone had been awaiting was brought out: goat cheese, soft cheese – camembert, brie, young cheese, old cheese – blue, Roquefort… Very delicious cheese. If you think our stomachs got a break now – you were misled.
De suite there were two scrumptious deliumptious cakes that emerged from the trailer-like fridge that closed with a huge latch to keep in all the freshness. Due to the shear size of the fridge and the strength of one person, sometimes two people were needed to open the door. Jacqueline’s birthday wishes were sung in a multitude of languages: English, Arabian (Moroccan), Spanish, German, Polish, and French. The cakes were beautifully packaged and decorated with the words, “Bonne Anniversaire Jacqueline!”. A thin top layer of icing coated the first cake, which was meticulously cut and distributed so that no one was forgotten. For a second time, silence spread along the table as everyone delicately brought morsels of raspberry cake dripping in complementing berry purée to their mouths. The second cake consisted of a rich triple chocolate cake, which caressed the taste buds. It seems as if time stopped while everyone cherished the velvety mousse texture that somehow managed to float off everyone’s plate with content.
A rather quick cleanup of the table occurred and the only thing to do next was take the dog for a walk… ie. taking ourselves for a walk. Meandering through the narrow streets lit by evening lights, the marketplace was tranquil – contrasting the boisterous frenzy of Saturday morning vendors. We continued to see an aerial view of Chatillon from the castle and soaked in the luminous rays of light emitted from lampposts that speckled the town. All was peaceful and our stomachs seemed to have expanded and settled. Walking back to the house made me think about how quaint this little town of 4500 people is – and how I came across such good fortune to visit an amicable family in a town I most likely would have not picked out from a tourist map. I was pleased to return to Chatillon – renewing my memories of seven years past with many more sensations and synapses firing. The evening was topped off with a nightcap – café liqueur at midnight. Bonne Nuit!
It was great to see my French exchange family from 2001-2002. At the age of 13, Gaspard Padet visited me in Canada from September to November 2001 and I visited the Padets from February to April 2002.
Everything was very similar – even the same yellow coat of paint remained in the room I had lived in for 3 months – and I remembered a lot more than I anticipated once I returned to a familiar setting. There was a multitude of international representation because Jacqueline, my French mom’s wish for her 50th birthday was to have all the exchange partners that they’ve hosted return for the celebration. Although not everyone could make it, there were people from England, China, Canada (me!), Germany, Columbia, the oldest brother Francelin now lives in Poland and returned for the weekend with his wife and 1 year old baby boy – Illias, the daughter Elsy came from Paris, and Gaspard was there for a bit of the weekend as well after having written his business school entrance exams.
My goodness the celebrations revolved around food. It seemed as if we took breaks from eating instead of taking breaks to eat. The big party day, which was Sunday, comprised of a traditionally French croissant and café for breakfast. The croissants were fresh from the bakery next door from which the owner instinctively new the Padets by first name and most likely everything about them. This was a light meal relative to those that followed. The afternoon consisted of preparation for the 24-guest event. Everyone was busy chopping a cornucopia of vegetables including tomatoes, onions and carrots on the outside table where we had eaten Ratatouille the previous night – somehow seating everyone comfortably. Whenever anyone acknowledged that they were hungry, the next assembly at the huge table occurred. It was also very hot and sunny the entire weekend. So hot in fact that the eating table was relocated into the shade of the garage because the sun was scorching us alive.
The second big feast that day included guacamole, genuine French flutes de pain (slightly larger than baguettes), tortilla chips, a constantly filling glass of wine, prawns, and salmon locks. Jacqueline was going to continue the feast, but the guests were already squirming in their seats with delight of satiated stomachs. Therefore, it was concluded that a break would ensue to regenerate a bigger appetite for later. The crew, including the baby, the two kids – nephew and niece of the British chap, my French siblings – Francelin, Elsy, and Gaspard, the Columbians and I went for a swim in the refreshing and crowded pool in Chatillon. It seemed as if everyone was at one of the two big events in the town that weekend – the pool or Jacqueline’s 50th birthday. We returned to the house with a regained appetite and Philippe, my French dad, ignited the gas BBQ that he had borrowed from a friend to accommodate the party. Spicy sausages were quickly snatched off the serving plate with great delight and a curtain of silence fell across the guests as we devoured the scrumptious grillings. The only logical thing to do before the 3rd feast of the day was to nap. It was still very hot and everyone had stuffed themselves to that critical point where sleep became the only solution to assist with digestion.
Much later in the day, when everyone awoke with more hunger pangs, the long table was decorated again with food: mashed potatoes, cauliflower and mayonnaise, fresh garden tomatoes, classic balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing with a hint of moutarde and herbes de provence, more guacamole, greek salad, green salad, and green beans. Everyone was in a chattering mood and dishes were passed around the table. Sometimes there was so much passing that you had to sneakily take some food from the dish whizzing by to get any at all. However, bread became a premium and was even rationed because it had to be saved for the cheese. After the plates cleared… the cheese that everyone had been awaiting was brought out: goat cheese, soft cheese – camembert, brie, young cheese, old cheese – blue, Roquefort… Very delicious cheese. If you think our stomachs got a break now – you were misled.
De suite there were two scrumptious deliumptious cakes that emerged from the trailer-like fridge that closed with a huge latch to keep in all the freshness. Due to the shear size of the fridge and the strength of one person, sometimes two people were needed to open the door. Jacqueline’s birthday wishes were sung in a multitude of languages: English, Arabian (Moroccan), Spanish, German, Polish, and French. The cakes were beautifully packaged and decorated with the words, “Bonne Anniversaire Jacqueline!”. A thin top layer of icing coated the first cake, which was meticulously cut and distributed so that no one was forgotten. For a second time, silence spread along the table as everyone delicately brought morsels of raspberry cake dripping in complementing berry purée to their mouths. The second cake consisted of a rich triple chocolate cake, which caressed the taste buds. It seems as if time stopped while everyone cherished the velvety mousse texture that somehow managed to float off everyone’s plate with content.
A rather quick cleanup of the table occurred and the only thing to do next was take the dog for a walk… ie. taking ourselves for a walk. Meandering through the narrow streets lit by evening lights, the marketplace was tranquil – contrasting the boisterous frenzy of Saturday morning vendors. We continued to see an aerial view of Chatillon from the castle and soaked in the luminous rays of light emitted from lampposts that speckled the town. All was peaceful and our stomachs seemed to have expanded and settled. Walking back to the house made me think about how quaint this little town of 4500 people is – and how I came across such good fortune to visit an amicable family in a town I most likely would have not picked out from a tourist map. I was pleased to return to Chatillon – renewing my memories of seven years past with many more sensations and synapses firing. The evening was topped off with a nightcap – café liqueur at midnight. Bonne Nuit!
Lip-smacking good
Moroccan food
An intern from Morocco, Khalid, and friend who works with my roommates at ABB decided to cook us an authentic Moroccan meal because his sister came to Switzerland to visit. Well, it was mostly his sister doing the cooking. She made roasted chicken, which in Arabic sounds something like hmmm bhumbar. Some of the ingredients included onion, parsley, garlic, olives, olive oil, chicken, spices: cinnamon, salt, pepper and baguette. We made dessert: ice cream, fresh berries, chocolate, drizzle of strawberry yogurt. And the evening concluded with green tea. It was very nice to eat together and we shared off of a huge serving tray and ate with our hands. Also – tea was served in glasses, not mugs (partially because our house’s cups are limited – but also because that’s how it’s done in Morocco). So delicious and really lip-smacking good!
Have food cooked for you in your own house? What a treat.
Beautiful
Amsterdam - July 3-5
The initial purpose of the trip to Amsterdam was to attend Sensation White. It’s a huge techno/house/minimal dance party where the 50,000 attendees (at least) are all dressed in white (with the exception of shoes). It was incredible to see so many people in white at one time – and we definitely knew which train is the right one because everyone in white was going that way. It seemed unlikely to meet up with anyone we knew… wait a sec… J… we saw a whole bunch of Canadians at the bottom of the train station stop upon our arrival and said hi and look lots of pictures before going in our separate doors as indicated on the tickets. It was really a dance party until 7am!
The next day we went to the Van Gogh museum which was phenomenal and it had a contemporary section where there was a Corbusier. We schmoozed around to Vondel Park and then the Heineken brewery – yum, now I can recognize the smell of hops near my work there is a brewery. I had a great dinner at Café Latei, which consisted of rice, shrimp skewers and a light salad – people are super nice there.
On Sunday, we went on a bike tour. It was an afternoon of relaxing on a one speed bike – although not recumbent, very comfortable, especially to lean back a bit. With the biking tour, we saw a windmill, cheese and clogs. People were rowing and boating (it’s the thing to do), there was a trumpet warming up with scales underneath an overpass, tunnels of trees everywhere, fluorescent colours alit in the park with wading pools consisting of small children and families. We completed the tour in Vondel park near the Picasso statues.
The rest of the afternoon we visited the Flower market where I purchased a cactus (hope I don’t kill it… out bloomed a flower).
I ate a herring sandwich by the Amstel and watching boats turning around before getting caught in the rain. We ducked under cover until it lightened up and then stocked up on sugary caramel wafer cookies. After arriving in the airport, we waited for our delayed airplane – played cards, read books. Then ran to catch the last train from Basel to Baden. What a psychedelic weekend.
The initial purpose of the trip to Amsterdam was to attend Sensation White. It’s a huge techno/house/minimal dance party where the 50,000 attendees (at least) are all dressed in white (with the exception of shoes). It was incredible to see so many people in white at one time – and we definitely knew which train is the right one because everyone in white was going that way. It seemed unlikely to meet up with anyone we knew… wait a sec… J… we saw a whole bunch of Canadians at the bottom of the train station stop upon our arrival and said hi and look lots of pictures before going in our separate doors as indicated on the tickets. It was really a dance party until 7am!
The next day we went to the Van Gogh museum which was phenomenal and it had a contemporary section where there was a Corbusier. We schmoozed around to Vondel Park and then the Heineken brewery – yum, now I can recognize the smell of hops near my work there is a brewery. I had a great dinner at Café Latei, which consisted of rice, shrimp skewers and a light salad – people are super nice there.
On Sunday, we went on a bike tour. It was an afternoon of relaxing on a one speed bike – although not recumbent, very comfortable, especially to lean back a bit. With the biking tour, we saw a windmill, cheese and clogs. People were rowing and boating (it’s the thing to do), there was a trumpet warming up with scales underneath an overpass, tunnels of trees everywhere, fluorescent colours alit in the park with wading pools consisting of small children and families. We completed the tour in Vondel park near the Picasso statues.
The rest of the afternoon we visited the Flower market where I purchased a cactus (hope I don’t kill it… out bloomed a flower).
I ate a herring sandwich by the Amstel and watching boats turning around before getting caught in the rain. We ducked under cover until it lightened up and then stocked up on sugary caramel wafer cookies. After arriving in the airport, we waited for our delayed airplane – played cards, read books. Then ran to catch the last train from Basel to Baden. What a psychedelic weekend.
Oh Canada!
Canada Day - July 1
We had to celebrate Canada Day – even when in Switzerland. A huge BBQ was organized in the woods near our houses and lots of people were there from Baden and Zurich including coworkers and friends. I wore all my red, which consisted of red shoes and a red shirt. After a good wandering in the woods and following various trails in the woods, we came across the BBQ – campsite style. I’ve always wondering why wanderweg, literally translating to walk away – but meaning path, sounds so similar to wandering… (maybe people get frequently lost on these paths or something…) Coals and wood was used to start the fire and people were already cooking sausages, beer potatoes. The evening concluded with guitar singing, marshmallows (smores), and sparklers. Happy Canada Day!
We had to celebrate Canada Day – even when in Switzerland. A huge BBQ was organized in the woods near our houses and lots of people were there from Baden and Zurich including coworkers and friends. I wore all my red, which consisted of red shoes and a red shirt. After a good wandering in the woods and following various trails in the woods, we came across the BBQ – campsite style. I’ve always wondering why wanderweg, literally translating to walk away – but meaning path, sounds so similar to wandering… (maybe people get frequently lost on these paths or something…) Coals and wood was used to start the fire and people were already cooking sausages, beer potatoes. The evening concluded with guitar singing, marshmallows (smores), and sparklers. Happy Canada Day!
Bravo!
Berlin - June 19-23
Upon our arrival, my friend Rachel and I met up with my violin friend from Calgary – someone who I’ve been playing violin with since I was 10 years old. I guess it’s now tradition to try doners in every single country – so we grabbed one on our way to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Building. It was beautiful at night, an amazing historic place and architectural building, especially the dome that we climbed up in which the stairs spiral up so that throughout the stroll upwards you can really get a great 360 degree view of Berlin. I am so impressed by the historic significance of Berlin as it was in the epicenter of WWII and the Cold War. Throughout the city – bricks lay in the road symbolizing the presence and location of where the Berlin Wall had been separating East and West Berlin – respectively Communism and Capitalism. The city is vibrant, young, and creative. During our evening stroll, we found ourselves in a contemporary art exhibit with metal sculpture as the medium. There was a flamboyant flaming art show where the metal pieces moved and breathed flames initiated with lighter fluid.
The next day we wandered to Museum Island and visited the Pergamon, which displays the Babylon gate and an Arabic contemporary exhibit. Then we joined a free Berlin walking tour which was very informative and took us to all the ‘site seeing’ places including Checkpoint Charlie, the Jewish Memorial Site, Brandenburg Gate, the University, the Book Burning location, a chocolate store. I tried curry wurst and a jelly doughnut… or should I say ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ similar to JFK. Then we took a train to an open air Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, which was outdoors in huge amphitheatre near the Olympic Stadium where grandpa competed in the 1936 Olympics as a Canadian javelin athlete. The concert was unbelievable and as it was outdoors and near dinnertime, most spectators brought blankets and extravagant picnics. But if picnicking wasn’t your thing, there were food stands including Chinese food, wurst, bretzel and beer stands surrounding the exterior of the amphitheatre to cater to people who didn’t bring their picnic, but who still wanted food to-go while listening to first class music. Even though it was a bit rainy – everyone stayed to watch and was extremely prepared with their umbrellas and raingear.
Breakfast the following morning included bakery items and the classic apple strudel. We meandered to the East Side Gallery. It was magnificent and since it is now the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, many artists had returned to restore their original paintings as several had simply been wore down and vandalized. My favorite is the ‘union’ of China and USSR. Then we ended up in Alexanderplaz where we had to do some shopping and visited the Ampleman store. Amplemen are the neat looking pedestrian traffic lights. There was a friendly competition between East and West Berlin once they had unified to create the walking men… The West has thin men walking (similar to what we’re used to in Canada), and the East has fat man with hats. You’ll have to go to see them yourself. After our fancy dinner, we went to the Philharmonie to see Kissin’s solo piano concert. It was outstanding and Berlin knows how to clap! After a 2-hour concert, Kissin, a Russian prodigy pianist, played so many encores and I didn’t want the evening to end. Kissin piano concert – Philharmonie – Berlin knows how to clap – encores!
Upon our arrival, my friend Rachel and I met up with my violin friend from Calgary – someone who I’ve been playing violin with since I was 10 years old. I guess it’s now tradition to try doners in every single country – so we grabbed one on our way to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Building. It was beautiful at night, an amazing historic place and architectural building, especially the dome that we climbed up in which the stairs spiral up so that throughout the stroll upwards you can really get a great 360 degree view of Berlin. I am so impressed by the historic significance of Berlin as it was in the epicenter of WWII and the Cold War. Throughout the city – bricks lay in the road symbolizing the presence and location of where the Berlin Wall had been separating East and West Berlin – respectively Communism and Capitalism. The city is vibrant, young, and creative. During our evening stroll, we found ourselves in a contemporary art exhibit with metal sculpture as the medium. There was a flamboyant flaming art show where the metal pieces moved and breathed flames initiated with lighter fluid.
The next day we wandered to Museum Island and visited the Pergamon, which displays the Babylon gate and an Arabic contemporary exhibit. Then we joined a free Berlin walking tour which was very informative and took us to all the ‘site seeing’ places including Checkpoint Charlie, the Jewish Memorial Site, Brandenburg Gate, the University, the Book Burning location, a chocolate store. I tried curry wurst and a jelly doughnut… or should I say ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ similar to JFK. Then we took a train to an open air Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, which was outdoors in huge amphitheatre near the Olympic Stadium where grandpa competed in the 1936 Olympics as a Canadian javelin athlete. The concert was unbelievable and as it was outdoors and near dinnertime, most spectators brought blankets and extravagant picnics. But if picnicking wasn’t your thing, there were food stands including Chinese food, wurst, bretzel and beer stands surrounding the exterior of the amphitheatre to cater to people who didn’t bring their picnic, but who still wanted food to-go while listening to first class music. Even though it was a bit rainy – everyone stayed to watch and was extremely prepared with their umbrellas and raingear.
Breakfast the following morning included bakery items and the classic apple strudel. We meandered to the East Side Gallery. It was magnificent and since it is now the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, many artists had returned to restore their original paintings as several had simply been wore down and vandalized. My favorite is the ‘union’ of China and USSR. Then we ended up in Alexanderplaz where we had to do some shopping and visited the Ampleman store. Amplemen are the neat looking pedestrian traffic lights. There was a friendly competition between East and West Berlin once they had unified to create the walking men… The West has thin men walking (similar to what we’re used to in Canada), and the East has fat man with hats. You’ll have to go to see them yourself. After our fancy dinner, we went to the Philharmonie to see Kissin’s solo piano concert. It was outstanding and Berlin knows how to clap! After a 2-hour concert, Kissin, a Russian prodigy pianist, played so many encores and I didn’t want the evening to end. Kissin piano concert – Philharmonie – Berlin knows how to clap – encores!
Bubbles
Sardinia - June 10-14
I am scuba diving certified! I passed the flood the mask, remove BCD, tow your friend, surface and underwater compass navigation and out of air skills. Although I lost my waist belt in the sea grass and was unable to find it… they still entrusted me enough to let me lower the anchor of the boat. Although it’s slightly difficult to identify people in the underwater pictures due to our extravagant equipment and matching wetsuits – we could identify some fish. I saw more fish than I had during my scuba swimming pool training courses including octopus, scorpion fish, and starfish. I got lots of sun this weekend and ate much more gelato. Why does Italy turn me into a gelato-eating fiend?
Nevertheless, our accommodation was in a camping area and sleeping in a ‘bungalow’, which seemed awfully like what I would call a camper trailer, fit five comfortably with a spectacular view of the water and a beach nearby. Due to my light packing abilities and frequent sun exposure that made me ‘change colour’ (an observation of a coworker once I returned)– my quick-dry adventure towel became my ultimate fashion accessory that could quadruple as a towel, skirt, shawl, and cover to somehow avoid sun. Not bad…
One morning, we hiked Capo d’Orso near Palau – the northern coast of the island, which we were told took only ’20 minutes’ one way because we were young, but it really took a return trip of 3 hours because I think the 20 minutes, was implied by car… The rock face resembled a bear – hence orso – and this Sardinian landmark was often used by sailors to guide them to the harbor. In the evenings, stalls set up along the streets near the harbor created an elaborate marketplace selling jewelry, sunglasses, clothing, artistic wooden carvings, underwear (just in case I guess…), beads and gems, and 5 ¢ candies (this is a funny term because I don’t think they were actually 5 ¢… due to inflation and the use of euros as currency – they were priced much differently but still deliciously scrumptious…). We delighted ourselves with dried fruits and nuts: candied ginger (one of my favorites), coconut, cumquat, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, watermelon (I don’t quite understand the purpose of having dried watermelon fruit…). We played on the rotating kiddy swing set which we were guaranteed too big, but were impressed by it’s durability and couldn’t determine it’s maximum load – oh engineers.
One evening we planned to attend what we had seen on posters as ‘a party’ in the middle of the square. True Italian style it started punctually an hour late and two accordion players emerged onto the stage decked out in tuxes and top hats. We sat and watched – definitely everyone else was 40 or 50 years our senior in the audience – and the locals danced to everything from tango to salsa to other dance genres that I did not know. Partners twirled and smiled and everyone knew the steps and it seemed like the right thing to do.
Deutchland
Stuttgart - June 5-7
I had the good fortune of meeting an Engineering student from Stuttgart at an Engineering Conference in January 2009, low and behold that I’d be nearby within less than 6 months. He agreed to host me for the weekend and I was greeted with the greatest hospitality and personal tour guides of the city. My weekend included visiting the newly opened Porsche museum, going to the top of the TV tower, relaxing at the Biergartens and lighting sparkles and having a peanut fight at the local bar at midnight – just because it was the first Saturday of the month. I car pooled the trip and met neat people from both Germany and Switzerland that were very willing too give me some hiking and traveling tips.
The Five Lands
View of Riomagiorre
Cinque Terra ferry
High heeled Crocs... what?
Shannon and I in Pisa!
Posing in Cinque Terra
Pizza in Italy - classic
Brushing the teeth before bedCinque Terra - May 29-31
It only took 8 hours by train, and several changes (all of which we made… phewf) to arrive in Riomaggiore, 1 of the 5 cities in Cinque Terra. Going the first week of June – when everyone (Germans and Italians alike) seemed to have a holiday might have been an oversight, nevertheless it meant a worthwhile use of a 3-day weekend. After sharing a room advertised for 4 people (meaning 2 beds) with our gang of 6, we woke ready to hike the trail. Starting in Riomaggiore, we bought tickets for the hike and started at the Tunnel of Love walking along meandering paths by the coast that alternated with views of the UNESCO heritage sites of the terraced vineyards – literally breathtaking (gorgeous and a workout). Every picture was postcard worthy; if you take me out of the photos – because I’m hot and sticky after a 5-hour hike. Venturing through towns, we tried focaccia pizza with artichokes or pesto.
Once in Monterosso, we went beaching as a reward for ‘most of us’ not falling off the trail into the bushes of the steep hillside. For dinner – fresh catch of the day or the usual Italian thin crust pizza that’s the size of a huge dinner plate (sometimes not all 6 plates could fit on the table), and lots of gelato for dessert. We also had some jazz entertainment in the street and I’m determined that jazz makes kids go crazy. The kids just danced like mad in the middle of the gathering tourist crowd and are at least half the entertainment. (I wonder if I was ever like that…??)
The following days included a trip to Pisa with another hike near the top of the cliffs where inevitably there was a coffee house, which served Italian-style cappuccinos and a church next door. We could hear the musical harmony of bells during our descent along the steeply slopped vineyard paths. The bright pinks, oranges, and yellows of the houses accented with matching windowpanes seem to vividly emit the Italian joviality. Amid the narrow cobble streets below, there was a bustle of fruit markets and tourist shops selling assortments of delights from limoncello to high-heeled crocs (comfortable fashion?). Backpackers and diva-adorned fashonistas alike strolled through the packed passageways meandering upwards at acute angles from the water. Senses were stimulated with the wafting baked aromas and the singsong Italian language emerging from the cacophony of foreign murmurs - everyone soaking in the culture.
The following days included a trip to Pisa with another hike near the top of the cliffs where inevitably there was a coffee house, which served Italian-style cappuccinos and a church next door. We could hear the musical harmony of bells during our descent along the steeply slopped vineyard paths. The bright pinks, oranges, and yellows of the houses accented with matching windowpanes seem to vividly emit the Italian joviality. Amid the narrow cobble streets below, there was a bustle of fruit markets and tourist shops selling assortments of delights from limoncello to high-heeled crocs (comfortable fashion?). Backpackers and diva-adorned fashonistas alike strolled through the packed passageways meandering upwards at acute angles from the water. Senses were stimulated with the wafting baked aromas and the singsong Italian language emerging from the cacophony of foreign murmurs - everyone soaking in the culture.
Birthdate Abroad (third consecutive year)
Weekend 4 - May 21 - 24
Last workweek was very short as I took Wednesday and Friday off (Thursday is a holiday) and my roommates and I in Kehl flew to Bucharest, Romania until Sunday. We’ve booked a hostel and can get pretty reasonable flights on discount websites. So – this year, with another ring around the tree, I celebrated Romanian style and arrived back in Switzerland for the remainder of the day. This was my first trip to Eastern Europe and it was memorable – definitely had the best Shaorma there! I had traditional Romanian food, which included chiorba, soup with a side of hot peppers and lots of meat and potatoes.
Best shwaorma to date - Take5
Cismigu Park near our hostel
Parked cars in Bucharest - I am perplexed how they get out of their parking spot
I went to a Romanian theatre production even with a language barrier and apparently it was a comedy. Later, we went to the roof top bar of the National Theatre and drank Ursus beers and Fanta. It was especially good to meet the locals because they have pride in their country but are juxtaposed in the EU debacle having been recognized as an EU country, but have not converted to euros yet due to the instability of the Romanian lei. The old people speak French as a second language and the young speak English. They were identifying with what they call the ‘crisis’, referring to the world’s current economic situation as the real estate and land ownership has crashed. It was most enthralling and appalling to hear about the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu’s destruction and relocation of people to build the parliament building in Bucharest, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, resulting in massive national debt and starvation. The current government is run by the some of the same communist leaders as before under the new title of ‘opportunists’. I’ve only hit the tip of Romania’s cultural, political and economic iceberg having only been there 5 days, and it seems much deeper.
Parliment building
Revolutionary Square
We also went to Vama Veche, a ‘more liberal’ town near the coast of the Black Sea for 2 days. We were a little pre-tourist season but could lounge out in the sun on the ‘liberal’ beaches and ventured really close to Bulgaria where we were confronted by border guards. We ate ice cream on the way back and I had lots of chocolate because that is what is served on Swiss air flights.
Poppy blowing in the wind near the Black Sea
Sunrise in Vama Veche over the Black Sea
3 - 2 -1 countdown
Weekend 3 - May 16 & 17
Canyoning in Interlaken – the adventure capital of the world– exhilarating and so much fun! There was a big group of 17 Canadians all from UofC. We wore wetsuits, wet suit jackets, booties, life vests, a slippery but protector and a helmet, with creative and outlandish names to identify all participants. My name was PEANUT BUTTER.
View from bus getting to the canyons
Group shot after we jumped off a waterfall
Basically it’s exploring the canyon and water by going down zip lines with carabineers, and jumping off waterfalls into the swirling water. The biggest jump was 7 meters and you 
really don’t have time to think. The guides are great and do a 3 – 2 – 1 countdown for you and then you JUMP! That same jump was so close to a rock ledge that I second guessed how much I had to jump… however, if you jump too far you hit the rock, it you don’t jump far enough you hit a rock ledge, so everyone has to jump just right – and fortunately everyone did. After about 5 hours in the canyon, we proceeded to have a “traditional” Swiss lunch, which consisted of bread, cheese and beer. Food was much needed after playing in the waterfalls. We returned to the canyoning ‘tent base’ about an hour away where we looked at pictures, played ping pong, and fusball. Since most Canadians get a G7 and ½ SBB (Swiss Train Card), we waited until after 7pm to ride the trains for free, and all other times it’s ½ price.
Skydivers coming in for a landing
Sunday we went to Schwimmbad again and this time had enough confidence to play beach volleyball – Kieran my bro, you would be proud of me. Definitely got lots of vitamin D!
Checkmate
Weekend 2 - May 8 & 9
Bike ride number two from Kanderstag to a little past Thun… train to Bern – beautiful the entire day and only rained a bit in Bern where we found a large playing chess board where pieces were as high as my knees. Before this we saw the river and parliament building which was crowded with supporters of the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers. Sunday we went to the Schwimmbad in Baden where there are several beach volleyball courts – where everyone is so good! Diving boards up to 10m, a mini wave pool where I can still touch the bottom, and a waterslide all outdoors. We had a good ultimate Frisbee match and I suspect that there will soon be a rematch.
Bike ride number two from Kanderstag to a little past Thun… train to Bern – beautiful the entire day and only rained a bit in Bern where we found a large playing chess board where pieces were as high as my knees. Before this we saw the river and parliament building which was crowded with supporters of the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers. Sunday we went to the Schwimmbad in Baden where there are several beach volleyball courts – where everyone is so good! Diving boards up to 10m, a mini wave pool where I can still touch the bottom, and a waterslide all outdoors. We had a good ultimate Frisbee match and I suspect that there will soon be a rematch.
Andy and me having a good bike ride 
Kehl roomates: Steve, Caitlin and Shannon Clocktower mid bike ride
Casual game of chess...Weekend Wheels
Weekend 1 - May 2
I arrived Saturday night and was up bright and early for a bike ride around Switzerland. Airolo to Biasco, take train to Lugano – southern most part of Switzerland in the Italian region. Wore shorts the whole time – perhaps it was withdrawal from Calgary’s cold weather before I left or because Switzerland was only mildly warmer. The ride was mostly downhill, and I witnessed my first Swiss cow – and they DO have bells. Maybe it’s become a tourist attraction but for some reason I can’t see why all the cows need bells – do they get lost in the mountains and the farmer can identity a cow by it’s bell? I don’t have acute hearing like that but it’s scenic and I get distracted from the bike path, which led to a minor collision with a fence post and some barbed wire…
Bruce and Steve in the forefront of picturesque moutainside
Shannon posing - no hands
Quaint bridge near Lugano
First Days in Baden
Walk to work
The walk to work takes about half an hour meandering through small streets with beautiful gardens, euphoric smells of lilacs, quaint concrete houses, and frequent “Morgan” or “Gruzie” greetings from the locals. Sometimes there are hoards of youth going to school – the bike mafia, all with their ‘rucksacks’ and taking up the entire stretch of the road – fortunately sidewalks exist so I don’t get trampled. Eventually the cozy streets filter into the main arteries of Baden with cars, buses, and bike paths, which all eventually lead to the train station, near my work location. It is not peculiar in Baden to see combustion of business suits with pants tucked into socks for biking.
Work
The work atmosphere is great. My supervisor is extremely helpful and very personable and I’ll be sad to see him moving from the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Combustor Group to Project Management at the end of June. Bouchta Choufa, my supervisor, is trying to teach me everything he can about relevant fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and combustors.
I’m currently refining a mesh in a software program called Gambit, similar to Ansys, to run simulations in a program called Fluent to test velocity and temperature distribution. CFD is very pertinent because it is a huge cost saver when the CFD model can be matched to the experimental model. I’m currently working on a methanol gas turbine combustor and will hone my skills on crude oil combustion throughout the remainder of my term. I’m learning a lot of technical jargon regarding gas turbines and am anticipating that I’ll visit the manufacturing facility in Birr in September. Office dynamic is different – cubicles or one’s office space only goes to elbow height so everyone’s head peaks over the top. Plus, when you arrive, you say hello or sometimes even shake people’s hands that sit around you to greet them for the day.
Employees are surprisingly young. Some have just completed their degrees and other have up to two master degrees, such as my supervisor. Coffee breaks are strongly encouraged, 2 a day which are promptly at 10am and 2pm where the interns and younger employees (from Brazil, Ireland, USA, Italy, Germany, Maldovia, Canada) discuss weekend travel plans, cultural differences and many filler topics in English.
Plus, when it’s someone’s birthday, which it already has been 3 times in my 2 weeks at work – the birthday celebrity brings in their own cake to share with their office colleagues. Since my birthday was on a weekend, I skipped the cake invitation, but may feel guilty about it at the end of the week to do an office cake celebration… The international appeal of this company is undeniably vivid with the multitude of languages used at work: Russian, French, German, Italian, English and some Swiss German. My supervisor is from France via Morocco and mostly of our conversations are half in English and French. I think it’s fantastic and I’m looking into taking German lessons here.
Walk from work
Older women and men are doing gardening outside not seeming to be perturbed by inflexibility, what I thought was a consequence of ‘much wisdom’. There are many other visitors on the roads including garter snakes, fire salamanders, cats and snails. The snails create a sticky situation because when it rains, there can be so many, all varying in size and color that it can be a meticulous game of hopscotch all the way home. Some don’t have shells, which could make visibility difficulty and squishy surprises on shoe bottoms!
FOOD
Sometimes I stop by the grocery store on my way home – as I’m near the train station. I eat so much chocolate, that I am thankful that I live on the top of a hill because it’s so good! Lindt is every so popular here as well as Migros chocolate (budget style), which comes in bars just a bit smaller than computer keyboard. The yogurt is most scrumptious and the cheese section is much larger than any attempt in Canada’s traditional grocery store.
FITNESS
There are many running paths throughout Baden that converge into the woods with several fitness circuit stations, which seem to be randomly positioned at ultra convenient locations such as chin up bars, carefully selected logs to do running steps. Plus, there are water fountains everywhere in which fresh water splurges out continuously. Some are adorned with decorative statues; however, I have yet to see one of a little boy peeing (Chinese pottery ding-a-ling version). Last week I played a game of squash in a local fitness centre and I seem to still be able to hit the ball.
Walk from work
Older women and men are doing gardening outside not seeming to be perturbed by inflexibility, what I thought was a consequence of ‘much wisdom’. There are many other visitors on the roads including garter snakes, fire salamanders, cats and snails. The snails create a sticky situation because when it rains, there can be so many, all varying in size and color that it can be a meticulous game of hopscotch all the way home. Some don’t have shells, which could make visibility difficulty and squishy surprises on shoe bottoms!
FOOD
Sometimes I stop by the grocery store on my way home – as I’m near the train station. I eat so much chocolate, that I am thankful that I live on the top of a hill because it’s so good! Lindt is every so popular here as well as Migros chocolate (budget style), which comes in bars just a bit smaller than computer keyboard. The yogurt is most scrumptious and the cheese section is much larger than any attempt in Canada’s traditional grocery store.
FITNESS
There are many running paths throughout Baden that converge into the woods with several fitness circuit stations, which seem to be randomly positioned at ultra convenient locations such as chin up bars, carefully selected logs to do running steps. Plus, there are water fountains everywhere in which fresh water splurges out continuously. Some are adorned with decorative statues; however, I have yet to see one of a little boy peeing (Chinese pottery ding-a-ling version). Last week I played a game of squash in a local fitness centre and I seem to still be able to hit the ball.
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