“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my bucket list” – Susan Sontag
The ever-present “why” query made the rounds again whenever I mentioned Switzerland as my next intercontinental destination, and once again I’m without a solid answer beyond “I want to”. There’s certainly plenty to enjoy in the land of Neutral Chocolate Bankers (dibs on that album name) but this trip will be more of a variety show rather than a thesis, as evidenced by me trying to visit three different locales in a week. But before we can get to the new, we have to go through the same old, same old.
The transit marathon begins with a quick 90min flight to JFK in NYC along with a 4.5 hour layover into an overnight 8 hour flight across the Atlantic. After making Dad proud with 10k steps between terminals to kill time, I decided to put the Amex to good use and check out the Delta Sky Club. The spread and drink selection was on par with Reagan International in DC, and I chatted up two lifelong friends on their way to Florida where the rest of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood were waiting (for those too young to get that reference…idk Google it).
I discovered two snags while landing, breezing through customs, and picking up my bags and tickets: I forgot a European plug adapter, and Swiss truly are brusque to idiot Americans. Luckily, another traveling couple lent me a spare while on the 3hr train ride from Zurich to Saint Niklaus (not really a town so much as a hamlet wedged in a massive gorge) where I’d be staying in southern Switzerland. My broken German and emphatic gesturing didn’t avail me in finding a replacement with the AirBnB hostess so I headed to the next (actual) destination once checking in – Zermatt.
I’ll post about Zermatt proper in the next entry, but I did want to take a moment and acknowledge the feeling of isolation and solitude so far; I am in deed a long way from home and among strangers whom I don’t readily communicate. I ain’t throwing in the towel any time soon, but not since my first night in Japan (first international trip and solo) have I felt like this. The optimist can see this as jet lag and lack of meds, and for once I’m rooting for him.
See you tomorrow after hitting the powder hard (and then going skiing when I can’t feel my face).
Ice's Travels 