Bike, chill, bike, chill, Moscow, chill....May in Euroland!

So with the snow finally melting and temps rising biking season is upon us. This past weekend was a long one in CH and we planned to make the most of it. Temps had been in the 20c+ all week and Saturday turned out to be a nice one for the annual Tour Du Lac. The tour started 15 years ago by this guy Bill (an yes those are panties and yes he is a teacher):

The tour is essentially a bike riding/eating/drinking/getting together with friends 3 day ride around Lac Leman. This year KK and I decided to do one leg which was from Lausanne to Geneva (60KM). We meet the merry Tour crew at the hostel in Lausanne and we were off down the lac for our ride. There was about 20+ of us riding at a variety of levels. KK and I were on road bikes, so the pass of the tour was a little slow but we had a great time. The start:

In Morges:



..a little water break:

On the way we stopped at a local vineyard for some wine and food. The owner was nice enough to even give a tour. He actually is not open for the season yet but the tour has been coming here of many years:




After a very leisurely 60KM ride we were in Geneva. KK and I said goodbye to the crew and headed back to Carouge. That night we met up with Pedro and has a few cocktails at La Terrasse on the lac.

Sunday turned into a very relaxing day. We talked about going skiing, but is was going to be 25c. KK and I went to the local pool in Carouge and had a nice after of swimming and reading. Later in the day Peter, KK, and I headed to Jays for a BBQ. As alwyas Jen and Jay put up a nice spread. We returned to Geneva around 11 and got ready for the first day of DH.

Monday came and Peter picked me up around 7:30AM. Another perfect day blessed us and we were of to Metbief a small ski/bike area in the Jura range. We met up with Jay and Tom for the first DH trip of the season. The day was perfect with all of us having a great shaking off the rust and transitioning to the bike season:

The boys!



View:

G:

The day ended with a little fall for moi after a very good day that left me with the biggest bruise on my side:

...but after a visit to the doc it is just a bruise (Mom I bought some better pads to protect my side :-) Overall a great start to the season!

Teusday it was back to work, but Wednesday I left for Russia. This was my first time every to Russia and Moscow. After a 3+ hour flight I arrived in Moscow, bruise and all for 2 days a meetings. In between the meetings I was able to see some of the city which is right out of my Social Studies books in high school. Taking the train to Red Square:








I didn't get to see a ton of the city, but it is a crazy mix of old buildings, Soviet-era trains/cars/etc, and modern western capitalism. Very cool and hope to get back there someday soon.

As always life has been a little hectic. This weekend we went to Annecy on Saturday and are going to stay in Carouge today. More to come! -G

Stunning! Ticino CH

So after a few weeks of very busy life at work and out it was time to catch a little vacation. After a week of watching the weather and contemplating FR, IT, or CH we decided the weather was looking good for the last part of CH we have never been to TI!

We left on May 1st (CH Labor Day) down into the Vallais over the Simplon.


The weather was perfect on day 1....20C+ and perfect skys. After a little trouble at the border, forgot passport, we were in the little cut-thru part of IT. We stopped of a little lunch at Gallo Negra. The pasta was good, it should be in IT, and we headed to get back into CH. The road back into CH was cool with little towns and great vistas:

...no issues at the CH boarder and we were on our way to Gudo a small town between Bellizona and Locarno. We made reservations at an Agrotourismo place call Amorosa. This place is a very cool B+B style hotel in a vineyard....overall a perfect home base for chillin in CH!

Our room:




That night we ate at the hotel and just sucked up the style and feeling of TI.

The next day we got up early and headed into Lugano which the biggest city in TI. Another nice day blessed the canton and we enjoyed every minute:




After a nice AM in Lugano it was off for a little bike ride. KK and I hooked up with some helmets and it was off for a nice ride:

This was the first time out on the new bike so it was little different than DH, but I really enjoyed it. The area has great bike paths that we took full advantage of:

We biked 30M from Gudo to Ascano and back. That evening we got some nice pizza (outside) in Bellizona.

Saturday was a repeat day from a weather standpoint. Perfect! The plan was to head into Bellizona to check out the AM market and then head back to Locarno in the PM for dinner on the lake. The bikes were out again and we were off. Only 8 miles later we arrived in Bellizona:





The market was very chill and we enjoyed the cool TI vibe. After a little bike back we took a quick shower and then up to the top of a local ski area for a little lunch and unbelievable views!



$$$$$$ Pic!







This place is really stunning! That night we enjoyed the spring weather and had a nice dinner at a local place on the lake near Locarno:

Sunday rolled around and we didn't want to leave but we had to get back to GE..but before a little castle viewing in Bellizona:






On the way home we ran into a little traffic in the Gotard (Note: Don't go through the tunnerl on a holiday weekend)...but after a weekend like this it was worth it all. TI ROCKS!

We continue to enjoy life and feel blessed daily....as always more to come this weekend as we bike, ski, and DH over the long weekend.