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Published: August 31st 2007
Austria is GREEN!!!
A stolen shot from the train through Austria.From a helicopter 16 000 feet above sea level.
Extreme sports are big in Switzerland and also very expensive so we decided to the big one and jumped out of a helicopter at 16 000 feet. It was, needless to say, awesome. Free falling is THE most incredible feeling ever. Nerves on the ground weren't that bad considering but still once we were up in the helicopter - with no door!!! - and turning sideways it got a wee bit scary. In fact, we were kind of glad to be able to get out. It is sooo cold up there. For anyone thinking of doing it - go go go!!!!
And we will be pleased to show you all the (expensive but necessary) DVD when we return home. If we return home that is because Switzerland and in particular Gimmelwald is an extra special place.
We know we raved about Krumlov and we still love it but this is a different kind of beautiful. Gimmelwald is a carless little town perched on the cliff in the middle of mountains at about 1300m. To get here you need to take a very steep gondola ride (cable car). The place
The Lake at Lucerne
With a glimpse of the mountains in the back. is so relaxing, our hostel has a hot tub with the best view ever. You literally walk out the front door and have a coffee in the outside area on the edge of a cliff gazing (not even up just at) the snow topped mountains while listening to cowbells clang in the background. Heaven! It is so peaceful and quiet.
The weather has been so good for us in Switzerland until our second day in Gimmelwald. We narrowly avoided missing out on sky diving altogether due to the weather by about an hour. It was rush rush to get us up there in time. Luckily though, we cannot imagine a better place to enjoy bad weather. You couldn't really see anything outside because of the clouds and if you left the bedroom window open you would wake up to the clouds wafting into your room. Yep that is right folks, clouds in the room!!!
Our hostel was so cosy and a great place to meet people. Everyone was there just to relax and hike. Daniel hiked halfway up the mountain - Schilthorn on a day with almost no visibility and rain. Trish wasn't so brave and has decided
The Lion at Lucerne
This statue carved into the face of a rock is in a small garden in Lucerne. It depicts a lion dying with battle wounds and at his head is the Swiss Guard shield. It pays tribute to the Swiss Guard who were hired by Louis XVI to defend his palace during the time of the French Revolution.
Mark Twain describes this sculpture as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."
The detail is amazing and the lion's face is full of emotion. It is quite remarkable. that short legs are definitely NOT built for mountain hiking so piked out early.
We are now in Geneve after leaving Gimmelwald (sadly) early this morning. We only had this afternoon in Geneve before leaving for Nice tomorrow morning (early again - sigh aren't we supposed to be on holidays????). The weather is much warmer in Nice apparently so we will need to acclimatise again.
This blog is particularly short but we figured we would probably just ramble at how beautiful the scenery is and frankly the photos do that for us. Our pics don't really do it justice though but if you pick up a Switzerland calendar - it is EXACTLY like that.
Au revoir (as we are now in the French speaking part of Switzerland rather than the German part.......it is all so confusing)
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Mum G
non-member comment
Worry
When I told you both to have a good time and let me do the worrying I hadn't thought of 40 SECONDS FREE FALL. From now on you can do your own worrying. So very glad I didn't know. Keep on having fun and stay safe.