Switzerland – you do it right.

Mercy me, after all that rain we drove out of Germany and into the sunny patch of Europe that is Switzerland. Drenched in sunshine, we almost skipped around Zurich, which was our first taste of Swiss deliciousness. It was a Sunday and everyone was out in force by the lake, riding, walking, couples lying with legs intertwined. However, might they have been there purely because there was nothing else to do on a Sunday? The first place we’ve been where pretty much everything was closed except for a Starbucks and billions of seemingly successful ice cream vendors. 

We were undeterred and took the opportunity to walk about 5km lakeside. That night we checked into this most expensive campsite we’d been to yet in Europe (without great reason other than it’s proximity – 4km – from the city centre) and found a local fair with heaps of food stalls with ridiculous queues and a few street performers. Despite the great atmosphere, we yet again declined to wait in a queue and had a quiet meal elsewhere. 

Zurich was a great start, but nothing prepared us for the joy that was Lausanne. Another city built around a huge, peacock blue lake. It was so mellow, without the tourist rush we’d experienced elsewhere, yet so stunning we were blown away by this undiscovered gem. 

Me out front of Lake Lausanne, soaking up the sunshine

The day we spent in Lausanne was the stuff dreams are made of. We started off with hours spent at the Olympic museum. It was a big block of inspiration, with the history, greatest memories, scientific findings and interactive areas for visitors to play with. Rochelle Hawkes’ reading of the athlete’s oath at the Sydney Olympics was playing over and over in one section and the first time I had tears welling in my eyes. The seventh time I considered ripping apart the sound system and kicking it, but I calmly moved on instead. It was absolutely fantastic and if anyone is in Switzerland, make the trip to Lausanne just to see this as it was special. 

Heh heh heh... short ass, out front of Olympic Museum with world record high jump set up

That afternoon, after testing our body fat levels at the Olympic museum (outrageous as you can imagine), there was nowhere we’d rather be than Broc’s Callier/Nestle Factory. About 45-minutes drive from Lausanne, and the athlete’s source of all sources of inspiration, lay the chocolate addicts’ equivalent. We bought tickets for the factory tour which was very interesting indeed but we were hopping from foot to foot waiting for our taste tests. Do you really go to chocolate factories to find out that the bean was traded in the Amazon, that the Swiss combined the stuff with milk and extra sugar to make the stuff we now know and guzzle – or do you go to get a big bite of the brown stuff? 

Where's the CHOCOLATE?!!! Beans beans everywhere and no chocolate for us to eat!

We got to the best bit at the end, where they show little nuggets of nutty chocolate being made and at the end of the tunnel where you ooh and aah at the magnificence, there waits a big bowl of them in brightly-coloured foil! We thought this was the main testing section, so about ten went into my handbag and we ate two. 

chocolate love bites... these things are delicious!

We then went through another door only to find their finest truffles, all 20 or so of them, ready to be sampled. Oh lordy, it tested even my chocolate stamina. Sean did me proud, he did two rounds of the tables, going back a second time to pluck extra tastes of his favourites while I watched ladies in wheelchairs use a pamphlet to collect more for later. Clever things they were and I followed suit! No need to have a puke outside after forcing down more, save some for later – genius! 

Sean goes to work, his stamina in chocolate eating was world-beating!

It was brilliant and we swore never to eat chocolate again, but couldn’t resist buying a few very cheap, good quality finds at the store. Just in case, you know. Stranger things have happened and all that. 

From here we headed to one of our favourite spots yet, Interlaken (thanks Anna-lee for this hot tip!). We set up camp at a place which had views of Jungfrau’s peak and dug out our winter clothes as it had snowed on top of the mountain the night before. Fortunately, the weather was sensational the whole 4 days we were there. 

Our campsite looking out to Jungfrau, it was magic.

 We spent our days there hiking (a lot more puffing and water stops than in the US), taking a super-expensive-but-worth-it train trip to the top of Jungfrau which was covered in snow, swimming in the lake (about 10 degs, I have discovered my reaction to hypothermia is high-pitched giggles, the locals thought we were mad as they sun-baked nearby), visiting incredible waterfalls, drinking delicious coffees, rediscovering chocolate after a 24-hour hiatus (the Swiss stuff is unbeatable) and then the final day happened… 

Sean and a bit of tomfoolery at a glacial waterfall flowing through a mountain

Me, climbing up to Jungfrau busting my weak legs and reminding them of the muscles that once were.

Sean out on the glacier up at Jungfrau, one of the most famous mountains in the world. Very beautiful!

Just when we thought Interlaken could not serve up any more fun to us! I bought Sean a paragliding experience for his birthday and he decided to cash in here in Interlaken. Up he went with two fellow Aussie travelers and I waited below. As he swooped elegantly over pockets of air, experiencing all kinds of elation, I noticed with unease that I was being photographed by an Indian man through rose bushes. He gave me a guilty grin when I spotted him and then Sean floated back down to earth and I forgot about him for a bit. As Sean garbled on about how amazing it was, it was time for his wife to get a slice of amazing. 

One of Sean's highlights of the trip as he soared high in the sky.

Feelings of elation.

The photographer appeared with a substantially more savoury-looking, well-dressed Indian. 

“We are shooting a movie here today and we need someone to carry these roses, will you do it?” the well-dressed man asked, while the photographer grins shyly. 

“Erm… I don’t speak Indian or Swiss, is that ok?” I ask, thinking more about the fact that I chose today to avoid any hint of make up and thongs (flip flops) adorned my feet. 

“No problem, no problem, come come,” he says and all of a sudden I go from adoring wife of star paraglider to Bollywood superstar. It was a natural progression really, just waiting to happen. 

After three takes (apparently that’s verrrry good in movie land) they declare my scene a wrap! The director and all the other behind-the-scenes peeps that I have no idea what they’re called clap each other on the back before lining up to shake my hand. 

Me with my red roses, charming the crowds... sort of.

In the meantime, I am accosted by people on the street asking to have their picture taken with ME. Not the stars of the show, with the glistening hair and perfect make up. Hi ho, they line up to get a picture of me to show their mums back home. Oh me, oh my, I could have gotten used to that. The movie people (not the stars, strangely) all ask to have a pic with me too (couldn’t deny true fans, could I). All the while, Sean was taking his own pics and killing himself with laughter. Covering his jealousy, I expect. 

He did nominate himself for husband of the year as we walked off and a moment of humility returned to me. 

“I wonder why on earth they chose me, looking like this?” I say, pointing at my ruffled camp hair and scuffing a thong (flip flop, must be clear) along the pavement. 

“Because even without make up you are gorgeous, Rooster,” he says, slinging his arm over the new celebrity. Wow. Best. Day. Ever. PS My nickname from Sean is rooster, real affectionate and loving isn’t it? Particularly as I hate poultry when it’s alive. 

So the paragliding champion and Bollywood superstar left Interlaken, with people cheering (and crying at the same time, not happy-to-see-us-leave cheering) and waving Australian flags for us. 

Next stop was Austria… til next blog, friends!! 

Rooster and Prawn xoxo 

PS Bunny Wheater has arrived! Congratulations Em and Muz, little Josephine (Josie) looks like an angel, a chubby-cheeked angel. Well done, you guys. We are thrilled for you! xoxo