Dear Readers,
This is my second post today. The first should have been put up yesterday, but the challenges surrounding this hostels internet access prevented me from doing so. Since, for the moment, I have Kayla's computer, I put up yesterdays, and now today's as well, even though there is still plenty of time left for adventure, I'd rather not get stuck running around trying to figure it out again. Thank you for your patience. And now, back to our usual programming.
I sprained my ankle in the Swiss Alps today. I'd love to tell you some heroic story of daring deed, where I, without any consideration for myself, raced through the woods and attacked the wild animal carrying off a small child. I would tell you how the branches slapped at my face and my arms, tearing the skin from my body as I slowly gained on the beast and baby. I finally came across them in a small clearing, where the beast dropped the child to face me. I found a large stick and beat it over the head, barely dodging it's massive teeth and flailing claws as I attacked. Finally, the beast raced away. After a few deep breaths, I attended to the child. It was, thankfully unharmed. Her mother had swaddled her very thickly and the teeth of the animal did not penetrate the several layers of blanket. Assured of her safety, I gathered her up in my arms and returned to the trail. But, with a baby in my arms, I did not see the root that caught my foot and twisted my ankle. The pain was horrendous, but I never dropped the baby and we managed to return to safety. Her parents were incredibly grateful, and have offered me a job in their restaurant in the French speaking part of Switzerland this summer. Had any of this actually happened, I would have taken it. But, it is not true. We found a play toy on the outside of the town, and my athletic wear on that metal slide had almost no friction. I flew out the end, skidded on my behind, and smashed my foot into an asphalt block. It hurt rather badly, but after wriggling foot a little per Lainey's instructions, I still managed to hike the trail. I was much slower than very one else, but I managed to walk to the next little village and a short ways beyond before it was time to turn back.
The whole trip was utterly gorgeous. Before my ankle incident, we rode an elevator inside a cave where we could see ten different waterfalls, in and outside the mountain. The roar of the water overwhelmed most conversations. I drifted to the back of the group and found myself alone at several of the look out spots. With the falls backing me up, I sang as loud as I could and terribly off key, but no one could here me. It was fantastic-like driving on the freeway with no one in the car. Where none can listen, there are no critics. I appreciated those moments of discordant and unskilled song.
After the falls we went to Rick Steve's favorite little Swiss town. I think it's called Grimelvald. Because it is in an avalanche zone there has been almost no modern construction so it remains a little Swiss town with few obvious outside influences. To get there we had to ride a gondola. This is not a slender boat beautiful women sit in while attractive Italian men push them around with long sticks. This is a cable car that travels many many many feet above ground, transporting people higher on the mountain much faster than a car can. Going up was not a big deal, but coming down was terrifying! The gondola starts over a cliff, but as soon as it passes over the drop off, the entire thing jars back and forth and provokes squeals of terror from most who have not felt it before. My heart certainly dropped, but I tried very hard not to think about what would happen should it break, and strove to admire the view instead.
As we hiked we always stayed in view of a valley with more mountains on the other side. They are all so incredibly large that it is difficult to remember how far away they are. I thought it would be easy to toss a rock across the valley, but then I saw an itty bitty helicopter flying by. It was so incredibly minuscule compared to that gargantuan mountain! Were I to spend months looking at and walking around those mountains, I am sure I still would not be able to comprehend their enormity. And to think-our God who made them is so much bigger!
Our hike ended with a cup of hot chocolate. It was absolutely delicious, but we were about to be late for our gondola ride, so we had to slurp it down and head towards the station. Every time I sat to take a break, I stood up and my ankle hurt so much more. I think it might be a little swollen, but I am heavily influenced by the power of suggestion. Other people say they think it looks fine. Even so, it still hurts to move. As such, Kayla excused me from helping with the grocery shopping, so I get to sit here and blog instead. Our plan was to make chicken and a salad, but we'll see what ends up on my plate after they do the shopping without me. Not that they are incompetent, only that they might have changed their minds.
Tonight will likely be spent doing homework and watching the second half of The Sound of Music. I am anxious to see the rest. I know it ends with them going to the Nuns as they escape to Switzerland, but now that I am older I have a better understand of why this was so. It makes all of the conversations they have much more interesting. And, I can't wait to hear the rest of the songs! In the mean time, I'll prop up my ankle and wait for dinner. Kayla has given me permission to milk that excused for as long as I like. She has also promised that when it gets annoying, she'll let me know or stop spending time with me. I am hoping for the former.
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