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Published: September 20th 2007
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Bonjour!
So as I sleep soundly, Mom is busy coming up with what we need to tell you all in our next blog. A little random thoughts to go with random pictures.
1) The first thing we wanted to share with you was an experience we had with our two friends from Israel (father and son). We wandered along the trail one day and came upon them with their little stove blazing and asked us if we would like to join them. We hesitated and Dan, the father asked if someone was waiting for us in Cormayeur? No we replied, who would be waiting for us? They responded with what is the hurry then? SO TRUE. We sat and enjoyed a piece of their culture, "hell coffee" which is a mix of middle east spices and arabic coffee served in tiny wite porcelin cups. It was important to them to find someone each day to share their coffee with. It made us realize that a six hour hike can be done over the course of the day and there is no rush to the final destination and that we should enjoy the journey.
2) Having our Canadian flags on
Day 9, Glacier de Trient
Longest day, but worth the view our back has come in quite handy. Although we are yet to see anyone else with their countries flag on their back we find it pretty useful. Immediately they know that we speak english and that we are great people to ask about hiking in our country. If we speak before they see our flags they are often relieved to know that our "North American accent" is Canadian, not American. Funny!
3) I have found that most people who "walk" in Europe are Mom's age and older, or they are male and don't speak english.....so I have been a bit out of my age group but haven't really minded. We met our first group of boys younger than me who were from England but going to a private school in Paris. That is about all we got out of them. Very nice but very uncomfortable talking to females....haha
4) Random experiences....We came to the realization one day that we didn't have enough cash to pay for the next three nights in huts and we would have to go into a town at some point to take some out. As we were about to hike down into a valley
Our tiny little room
Kind of like a tent. Tre le Champ, Day 10 the lady working at our hut was driving and offered us a ride....thank God, as we had been going down for hours and the thought of one more made my knees ache. We did what we needed to do in town and talked to some nice ladies. We did a little more poking around and figured that we better get back up the hill for dinner or they may feed our dinner to the dog. As we were walking we saw the two ladies that we had been talking to and they asked us to join them for a beer....like I said we had to get up the hill or go hungry so we said we would have to pass. They refused to take no for an answer and said that if we joined them, they would drive us up the hill when we were done. Ummm...twist my rubber arm, free drinks and a ride up a big hill after....how could we say no. Just like that we made two new friends who I think just wanted to talk to some other people than each other. Sharon and Celcilia!
5) we have discovered that many people in Europe love
to drink....however they also like to share. We met a group of people one day who didn't speek much english but were very curious about these two women crazy enough to hike alone and have packs that weighed as much as they did. Later on that day I saw them in the distance having lunch on the trail. As I approached they had poured me a cup of wine. Of course there was more for Mom and just like that, more new friends. Not much for conversation but willing to share what they had. Another night we sat with four elderly French men who spoke as much English as we do French and they let us in on the secret we should have known form the start. When you are finished your meal in the huts you are welcome to bring out your own drinks to share with others. They had Jenepier (juniper liqueur), Cognac, and Rum. The little bottles for them so we have now purchased our own and will be filling them with our new favorite after dinner treat Jenepier.
6) Our British friends Roy and Ron taught us a good way to pass time and keep
Outside the hotel de forclaz
Glad there was a fence between us and them our minds off how tired we were while on the trail. They make up limmericks. Often ones they send home to their wives. Roy sent them home to make up for being away on his 42 anniversary which he figured was ok because that isn't an important one right??? So here is our attempt at a limmerick
"There once were two girls with a plan,
To go to Europe and see if the can,
Go hike in the alpine, make friends and drink red wine,
And share coffee with El and with Dan."
7) There has been a great variety of accomodations....from cement floors and outhouses far from the hut to 5* huts with tile floors and thick duvets...Terry you would love them! Hut ettiquette required boots to be stored far from the sleeping area...thank goodness. In Champex we actually placed our boots in a shed out near the street with the Mule blankets and pack saddle. Now in Canada I would be concerned someone would just throw them away for a joke....but not here! Thank goodness once again. ONce our boots were truly broken in they were our best friends on the trail!
So that is
For you Aunty B
Day we crossed into Switzerland 7 of the 30 random thoughts mother had one night. We will have to include more next time. We are still in Chamonix and will be leaving for Paris tomorrow. We went to Martigny yesterday to visit Kyle and managed to put these pictures on from his computer. The train was quite an experience as it was the "scenic train" and I could have walked there faster...haha, it was beautiful however. Today we went up the cable car to Aguille de Midi which is located at 3800m above Chamonix. Picture will come soon as it was the perfect end to our time in this area. We took the large cable car up and then got into a small 4 person cable car and hovered accross to Italy above the massive glacier. It gave perspective to what we spent 12 days walking around. Just amazing. The sun is back after our day of rain, just in time for us to go up top and see the whole mountain range from above. The people here don't look at me quite so crazily when I where my shorts and flipflops in the sun rather than the rain.
So bye for now, next
blog will be from Paris!!!! Miss you all, hope all is well back home
Love, Kelley and Alicia
PS: Linda and Katie, see you in Paris, same time and place!!!! Can't wait
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brenda
non-member comment
Helllllooooo!
awesome, amazing, terrifying, hilarious, etc etc etc.....good job gals!!! Can't wait to see all 100000000000000 pics! lova lova b