Switzerland

I headed off to Switzerland for a week with friends from work, girls only, no boys allowed. The holiday started off brilliantly as Julia and I drank our way through Heathrow duty free trying free sample after free sample until eventually we had drunk our way down to our departure gate.  The fun didn't end there though.  We made friends with the air hostess and asked to be served first.  We got double vodka and cokes at the beginning of the flight, and then at the end of the flight too (it was only an hour long flight!).  We arrived in Zurich feeling the effects of all the free drinks and had fun making our way to our accommodation which was a youth hostel.  Luckily they didn't have a maximum age for being allowed to stay.  We had a bunk room for the four of us, and it wasn't too bad, apart from the poo Aileen found in the shower! We had a day to wander around Zurich, we took our time walking along the river and stopping for drinks along the way.

The following day we were on a train and off to Lucerne.  Upon arrival we found Lucerne to be beautiful and much quieter than Zurich.  Our hotel had a pool and spa that we made use of in the evenings.  As I was finding prices in Switzerland to be very expensive I decided to make some money on the side by being paid to skinny dip in the hotel pool.  All was well until a family came along and I realised just how light the evening still was.  We kept a low profile for the next couple of days as the weather wasn't so great.  We wandered around shopping one day and I bought a swatch watch.  So far our holiday had been very relaxing and I was making my way nicely through the Hunger Games trilogy.

Finally the weaather turned warmer so we took a boat trip from Lucerne to Weggis, where we walked along the lake front and had a nice lunch in the sun before heading back.

The following day Aileen and Tara strapped a pair of balls on and went paragliding.  It was beautiful scenery, gliding over lakes and between moutains.  They were buzzing afterwards.  We celebrated with cocktails that night and the two braves ones didn't surface the next day!!  It left Julia and I to head to Mt Stanserhorn on our own. From Lucerne we caught a train to Stans then we boarded a cable car that took us half way up the mountain.  From here we then caught an open top gondola which took us to the top with breath taking views over the lakes.  The gondola is said to be the first of its kind in the world.  At the top of Stanserhorn there is a great look out spot and restuarant where we had lunch.  We then turned into pro mountain walkers and tackled the track to the summit in our jandals!!  We are hard core.  I heard some one laugh at us in our jandals as everyone else had proper sturdy walking shoes/boots on and some had walking poles. We headed back to Lucerne for one last dinner along the water front.

Our last day wasn't too exciting - we packed our bags and caught a train to Geneva.  We went straight to the airport as we had no money left to do anything in Geneva.  Once at the airport we had 4 hours to kill so what better than to buy a cheap bottle of duty free vodka and have a few drinks while watching NZ Women's football team play England in the Olympics.  I was stoked but I don't think the other three were as happy as me.
We have arrived back in London to maximal hype about the Olympics.  The opening ceremony is later tonight, and today I went to Tower Bridge to see the Olympic Torch being rowed down the Thames.
So far a great start to the summer holidays!

30th Birthday in Portugal

The inevitable happened on Sunday and I turned 30.  I thought what better way to embrace a summer birthday than to spend it somewhere hot and beachy.  With that in mind I choose to spend my birthday in the Algarve region of Portugal.  I was not diappointed as the mercury was above 30 degress every day.  Anna, Borrie, Laura and Nath also embarked on this 30th adventure of mine.

We stayed in a wee beach side town called Carvoeiro.  From here we took a morning trip to Silves where we looked through an old castle.  Another day was spent doing a kayking trip around the beaches and caves of Lagos.  Mostly though we spent the time relaxing at the bech or at the pool.  A great way to unwind at the end of the school year (for me only) and catch some sun which we have been unable to do in England.   We have fought off rickets for another few months.  The beach we went to by our resort was very secluded and there were no hawkers interrupting our peace.  It was lovely in that it was not touristy and unspoiled by rubbish.   I had a fantastic time and would like to return to Portugal, next time visiting Porto and Lisbon.