My roommates last night were classic: two brit schoolkids on some kind of UN trip, and two mexicans youngins on a tour round europe. Brit 1 was talkative...after school he wants to go travelling, to New Zealand to 'stay with a Maori tribe' . We then all played Texas Hold'em (the most luck-ridden of all the pokers) and though youthful exuberance won out in the end, it wasn't before sage 20-something wisdom had double-bluffed the entire table a couple of times. After that i took a walk along the lake shore in the rain. Its not unusual in Geneve to pass a parked porsche and ferrari in quick succession - the wealth drips from everywhere and it is very international city (aka heaps of tacky themed restaurants). Went to a kebab shop for dinner, serving NZ lamb. Then i wandered back to hostel (did i say how great this hostel was?) to undertake the most glamorous part of the backpacker experience...laundry. Thankfully the system was made by germans and run by swiss, so worked perfectly.
Following free breakfast (take all complimentaries possible in Switz) i jumped on this train to Venice via Milan. There is a tortured middle-aged English man in my carriage that for god knows what reason has decided to take his elderly mother travelling. The scene could not be more Coronation St meets every other nightmare soap. Note to parents: if you travel in the third age it will be in the care of trained professionals.
Also on the train is a little Italian boy whose musical book plays Frere Jacques in Italian. I grinmace (mock grimace) along with the young French family i'm sitting with. If only i could tell them we learn the original back home. There is a sense of failure when admitting ne p.v. francais, i promise to know more on my return.
Overall i have really enjoyed my time in French Suisse. The pace of life is hectic and leisurely at the same time, something Anglo-influenced cultures strive but fail to achieve for whatever reason. It has been very very expensive, especially the conference, but i'm glad i came. Without the conference i probably wouldn't have left home early for this holiday. I'm already learning how to relax properly again, after too many months on the edge.
About to head into the Alps, more from Italia soon...
1 comment:
Great to read all the news Shaun, esp the last comment about finally being able to relax...Your family all came over for tea last night to celebrate Em & Ben's birthday, as Ben came down the stairs this morning I broke out singing 'Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen', until he told me to stop, about 2 secs in, most frustrating.
Keep all the news flowing, take care.XX
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