Fresh Wow

I decided against the title "Fresh Pow" because I didn't think it did enough justice to my adventure through both Switzerland and Austria. I've combined both trips because they were literally back to back, on the same mountain range, and I mean, it's basically the same place right?

After staying just one night in my own bed once I got back from the US, we turned right around and took an overnight bus to Kitzbuhel, Austria for a short but intense ski trip. We heard this was one of the most famous places to ski in the Alps, and we weren't disappointed. To get to even the lowest ski area on the mountain you had to take a long gondola trip up; from there, which would generally be the top of the mountain for some US resorts, choices were up or up. This was the best snow I'd ever skied on (but that title didn't last long), with the best views, hands down. It was amazingly clear in every direction, and I felt like I was looking out hundreds of miles. The view at the top was 360 degrees of blissful snowcapped mountains and fluffy white-topped trees, mountain ranges extending in every direction. Our host city for two days and one night was beautiful and luxurious, filled with tons of brand name luxury boutique stores, and our host home was equally as nice, if it weren't for the 30 minute walk up a nearby mountain. After two solid days of shredding, it was back home on another overnight bus--complete with flat reclining chairs.

And three days after that, me and Chris were off to Switzerland. This was my biggest trip so far (and most expensive...how do people actually live there?). First to Zurich on an overnight train, which was a striking city. Though a little smaller than I first thought, the beautiful bowl-shaped city overlooking the tip of a crystal clear lake did not get old--mostly because we were off to Lucerne that afternoon. Lucerne, a city about which I've heard so many amazing things, has a very rich history. The famous Castle Bridge across its river is around 800 years old, and its surrounding mountains and lakes are the main attraction. Unfortunately we weren't able to see hardly any of it, as it rained everywhere we went. Our 5 hour boat cruse around Lake Lucerne turned into a 3 hour snowstorm that was both marvelous and blinding. The snow followed us to Andermatt, my second Alpine skiing destination, and it continued to blow my mind. It snowed almost 60 centimeters in one day. Apparently, they hadn't had winter yet. Again we skied two days; the first was spectacular and clear like in Kitzbuhel, yet the snow was so fresh and the mountain so empty that I've never skied better in my life. And then the second day happened. It was snowing too hard to see 10 feet in front of you, and when you could finally see, the snow was so thick it would swallow you up to your knees if you weren't prepared to shred at high speeds. It was quite the skiing experience to say the least. So much fresh pow(der). Oh, and I can't not mention Bellinda, our BnB host for two nights. She picked us up/dropped us off at the train station, made us breakfast each morning, spent hours giving us advice, and could speak 4 languages. Easily the nicest human being in the country.

Finally, after another night and a semi-clear morning in Lucerne, on to Geneva. It's almost an exact replica of Zurich and Lucerne; all three bowl-shaped on crystal clear lakes surrounded by Alpine mountains. However, my main focus was inside a huge warehouse-like expo center: the Geneva Motor Show. There were as many people packed in as there was horsepower in the building. It was so crammed you couldn't do anything but waddle like penguins huddling for warmth. But the cars were something else. They only fueled the excitement inside me for my imminent career in the auto industry. Hopefully I can be there on the other side of the fence, releasing some sexy tech-filled GT. The Jag F-Pace, Maserati Levante, Bugatti Chiron, Mercedes E-class, I could go on. Literally forever. And the cherry on top of the whole trip was seeing a Bugatti Veyron (the just-retired, 1000 horsepower, 12 year old predecessor to the Chiron) live in person, with a host of other mafiaesque badass rides. If it weren't 25 dollars to get a burger and fries I'd have probably retired then and there.

Until next time...which happens to be tomorrow, when Amber and I go to Paris!