Brussels

It was supposed to rain all weekend, but I forgot my umbrella. All in all, we had 3 drops of rain in 2 days. The Saturday trip was stressful as it was raining cats and dogs in Geneva and I was stuck in the streets waiting for a cab at 05:30am, for a plane leaving at 06:50am. Luckily I got another taxi company on the phone to rush me to the airport.

I also discovered the pride of the country: chocolate and beer. I was aware of the beer culture, with its fruit beer and monastery beer. It makes me smile how many abbeys are also breweries. I suppose they had to get high one way or another, those monks.

This time though, I nonchalantly asked where to get some good Belgian chocolates: my friends al offered different answers, but also pointed me to the right place to go shopping: place des Sablons.  Imagine the Place Vendôme in paris, where the big names of jewelries have their flagship stores. Well, the chocolatiers have their own territory around this little square on top pf a hill and between 2 beautiful churches: Godiva, Pierre Marcolini, Whittamer, Leonidas, Neuhaus were conffronting each other on that square. 

Of course, next to the old grand Place, there are a lot more chocolatier and touristy places to buy chocolates. But this was the place to get the grand cru of chocolate and to admire the easter season windows settings.

After much sampling and walking around, I also explored much of line 3, 2, 6 of the metro, crisscrossing the old town and doing antique on Rue Haute (Hoog straat). Getting lost int he old town and stumbling on pita street (a whole street of pita restaurants), seafood street (another one with only seafood restaurant, including Leon de Bruxelles), and italian street (yes, only italian restaurants) was fun, and although the country is very flat, the old town has some nice paved hills that made me earn those chocolate bites.

Down with the flu

Mafy zareo ny manjo
Rehefa voan'ny sery
Mila ho vaky ny loha
Ny aina mihenahena
Mafy dia mafy amin'izany
Ka mila hampitomany
Ny lelo ahisina lava
Fa raha tsy izany
Dia tonga ao ambava...

Yup, this childhood song from Bebe comes to mind in the middle of my delirious fever. And the medicine is not really helping, merely attenuating the painful symptoms apparently. I have a very drowsiness inducing pill to take every night and a nasal spray that smells of pee and mint at the same time. It has been 4 days and I miss my energetic self.

Springtime snowboarding

Indeed, to celebrate spring, the weather decided to go bad and be cloudy and rainy. It was the day my first snowboarding lesson was scheduled on. Despite the headaches, the coughing and the sneezing, we managed to drive up to Flaine resort, after running out of petrol halfway and returning back down the mountain to fill up the car. Undefeated, we adorned our helmets, jackets and apparels, hoping the rain would stop soon. The instructor grumpily told me it was the snow was in a perfect consistence for beginners, as it was softened by the rain and warmth. He also admitted though that the resort would be opened for another 5 weeks...considering there was hardly any snow left, i am still wondering if that would be true.

In any case, my struggle with the board and with my balance went on for 2 hours, as I kept falling backwards into the slope, and failed to avoid the huge freezing water puddles on the beginners' slopes. But after 2 hours with the instructor (not even handsome, more like a grumpy old sailor), I managed to do the backside turn and passably get off the chair lift without embarrassing myself. As to the frontside, I realize I still need lots of practice and concentration, and looked very tense in execution.

Next winter, I will definitely snowboard again, and hopefully would not be too sore after wards and walk like a crab...For now though, my cold has caught up with me and forcing me to go to bed while it is still day outside. But first, a hot bath to soak my thighs...

Strolling in Zurich

I had this great idea of going to Zurich for a barbecue on Saturday, and ended up waking u at 7:00am to catch a 8:14 train. I managed to pay 150% of the ticket price instead of 50%, and got into the empty train just in time. I was hoping for a nice quiet time for 3hours, napping and resting. But at Morges, 15minutes later, a whole regiment of teenage boys hopped on and filled every single carriage with babbling and noisy chatters. Of course they were going home after their military service, which is mandatory in Switzerland. I tried to block the noise with my headphones and loud music and catnapped here and there until Zurich. I was already in a  foul mood (not a single handsome man in the whole carriage, despite the uniforms),  but the city of Zurich promised some relief.

Firstly, I bought sore throat tablets form the pharmacy, as my throat was acting up. Then I walked down Banhoffstrasse to Bellevue to admire the magnificent view of the lake and the background snowy mountains. Along the way, the many little streets of the old city showcased the cute architecture, so much different than in Geneva.

 Eventually, it was time to go to the barbecue so I took the long red train-tram to Forch where my ex-colleague was actually having a housewarming as well. It was 30min away from Zurich and it was the first barbecue of the year!!! Instead of alcohol though I had to settle with cold medicine (yiikes) as it was getting obvious that I would not escape the cold.

After much torture making conversation to complete strangers in couples and with babies, I managed to drag away from the party and slept happily in the train, drying my hair from the pouring spring rain and digesting the smoky meat....

Landmarks

Friday night we ventured into some pop culture and culinary landmarks of Geneva. First, we had a drink at Central Perks, where tattooed muscular black leather wearing gents are mingling with miss goody shoes, in an atmosphere of wholesome cafe: the menu offers anything from pistachio milkshakes to cuban milkshakes (vanilla, rhum milkshake, yum), as well as overpriced burgers.

Then we tumbled across the road, and had food at the popular and speedy Feuille de Banane. The menu is extensive and the service super fast. And the food really hit the spot and absorbed the rhum...It is a rare venue to eat plenty of good food for under CHF 18 a main dish.

The art of conversation?

On the way back yesterday, we got dragged into taking the small roads instead of the highway,so it took us ages to get back home. On the way, Jaysee was skilfully entertaining us with her conversation. I was glad she was there because I get quite awkward when alone with H. He's a nice guy but I don't really know what to say or what he is up to. It started up very innocently:
-'so what's your sign?'
I wish sometimes I knew loads about horoscopes. And so she said Libra and Aquarius really get along. And I had this very childish reaction and said:
-'but I hate H'
That was not even funny because I think everyone understood the opposite..LOL. in any case today was awkward again, even if he came and asked me something for work. I couldn't even kiss him good night last night because it was too awkward. SIGH. And now out of nowhere I get jealous he's going to drive to Belgium next weekend instead of coming to snowboard again.

I feel silly being so easy to manipulate, and also quite in awe with that Jaysee because she really can talk lead a conversation. I was just feeling sleepy and cozy in the backseat and let her make me feel so gooey and sentimental.

Funny thing is all I dreamed about that night was my hunky boss...go figure!

Really impressed with that demonstration of conversation. I need to learn some of that skill. I feel very inexperienced in that art...

Hangover skiing

Today I was brave and went skiing. Waking up with a headache from drinking 3 glasses of wine and a mojito the night before, and coming back home at 02:30am sure didn't help start the day. I was cooking breakfast wen my ride buzzed in, so I had to jump into the ski outfits, grab a snack or two on the way and hopped in the car ( a really nice car, I cannot describe it because I have no idea what car it is, just a big spacious car).

After picking up the others, an aspirin later, we were driving to Flaine, paying tolls on the highway and admiring the landscape and the very very blue sky.

I was planning on starting snowboarding but decided against it because I wanted to tag along with the guys and sky a long blue piste. By noon we found toilets, skis to rent and a ski lift that took us up to 2300m. The view is just breathtaking up there, and the slopes as well. i had a heart attack at the top of the blue piste, as the slope was very steep and I was still trying to find the ski manual in the back of my brain and into my sore legs. After the first drop, I got cramps in my thighs and only managed to turn about thanks to the cold wind numbing the pain. But after a 40min skiing, waiting sometimes for the snowboarders in the group, I got back safely to the station, grabbed a chair and just tanned in the sun, waiting for the others to come down from the same piste...That chair was comfortable, and the sun so bright and warm, it was bliss.
Later on I stayed on easy green and blue pistes with another girl who was still not confident enough to do the big serpentine piste. We had scares and fun, and only got down to the station when the boys called for a food break.

I booked my snowboarding lesson with the ski school and will return next sunday hopefully. For now my muscles need their rest and probably a bit of detox...aie aie

Sunset. A well deserved weekend

Where is spring?

To think that last week it was 12C, and this week we have between 2C and -6C, I wonder when spring will show its true self.

I am sick of waking up frozen at 2am, or waiting for the bus in blowing wind that transforms everything in popsicles.

New bed

Finally the bed has arrived and I can now sleep upstairs, away from the crawling bugs..

Now I have a decent place where people can stay cozily.