lauberhorn ski race

Last weekend Daniela invited me to go with her and her friends to the Lauberhorn ski race. Apparently this is a big deal in Switzerland, but I had never heard of it. It was SO MUCH FUN!

 

 

After a long train ride from Zurich, we made it to our destination near Wengen. When we stepped off the train I was so surprised by the massive crowd of people on the one side of the mountain opposite where the race was going to take place, as you can see in the picture below:

 

 

There was a show by the Swiss Air Force. It was impressive, they did several flyovers in lots of cool formations, flying only 3 meters apart!

 

 

Due to the wind that day, they moved the start of the race down a bit.

 

Me and Carmen:

Me and Daniela:

 

 

Most of the other spectators were better prepared than we were (don't worry, we made friends with some of the more prepared people). They had raclette, wine, beer, food, liquor. Apparently, all the essentials for watching a ski race. All carried conveniently on a sled!

 

One of the Swiss skiers actually won the race (the crowd went wild), but there were some American fans too.

 

The whole experience reminded me of tailgating at a football game in the US. I think it was the drinking/eating outdoors with a sporting event involved. The day even included waiting in line for porta-potties while the boys peed in the woods (typical tailgating activity in the US).

 

 

 

As I mentioned before, this is a big event for the Swiss. Some of the spectators were so high class they arrived by helicopter. 

We decided to walk part of the way down the mountain to avoid the crowd on the train. It was really fun and the views were beautiful....until, I decided to try a softball slide down a steep part of the hill and my hiking boot stuck in the snow making my ankle "pop". I'm still recovering, but I think it'll be fine (see picture below).

 

Drinking free wine in free mugs on the train ride home:

 

 

And here's the picture of my ankle the next day. Yes, I normally have "Blasdel" ankles (thanks Aunt Jo!), but this is even larger than normal :)

 

 

 

skiing flumserberg

A group of us went to Flumserberg to ski for the day. My new ski gear worked out great. Having my own boots was much better and less painful than the rentals. The "beginners" stuck together in the morning, we all met up for lunch, and then all went on a full tour of the mountain in the afternoon. Our tour was complete with a couple falls and some slopes that I thought were so steep I would never make it down, but I did! Claudia took over as the designated "butt-skier" and voluntarily went down one of the slopes on her butt because it was too steep! Never a dull moment!

 

 

Jenna, Daniela, Adrian, Claudia, Piotr

 

And, my new poles didn't even last a day. The one got slightly bent on one of the falls:

 

home for christmas

It's hard to believe that it had been a full year since I'd been home last. The two weeks I spent home for Christmas and New Year's was fantastic and wonderful and of course busy.

 

After a lonnggggggg day flying home (delayed flight, "emergency" landing, no sleep for more than 24 hours), my parents picked me up at the airport in Cincinnati. With a short stop to see some neighbor friends (shout out to Lisa and the others that read my blog ;) - sorry I don't have any pictures with you to post!)

 

I'm so lucky to have so many great friends and family. Even if its been a year since we saw each other or even spoke, we pick up right where we left off, have fun, and laugh our butts off!

 

Mom planned for a welcome home sign for me at the bank:

 

 

On my first day back, we had "roommate day" at the Bengals game. My parents came to the game with us. We had a blast tailgating and cheering the Bengals on to a victory! 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, I had the pleasure of meeting the three newest additions to our group of friends - Gage, Annabelle, and Evie. So much cuteness!

 

 

 

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Schaefers: 

 

 

Christmas morning at Lainey & Josh's:

 

Christmas at Mom & Dad's:

 

Eli liked the present I brought him back from Switzerland. Paprika chips were his favorite when he was here visiting, and he still loves them!

 

Christmas at Grandpa Blasdel's:

 

The Blasdel great-grandkids put on a "play" of the birth of Jesus. Somehow these crazy kids brought some pretty wild dancing into the Christmas Story.

 

Grandpa opening up his Swiss chocolate

 

My new skis!

 

Aunt Jo and Uncle Brian with their BK Lederhosen:

 

A night out in Batesville

 

 

12 bars of Christmas

 

Hanging out with my IU friends in Indy:

 

New Year's Eve party at my house:

 

The IU Girls 

 

 

My favorite cousin Cassandra 

 

 

Mom & Dad 

 

 

Jamie pouring the champagne I brought back from champagne, France!

 

Roommates:

 

Jamie's future husband working out during the party and using the water bottle holder for his beer can. I also spent a great day in Indy hanging with Jamie & Brandon, eating good food and having a few drinks. Can't wait for their wedding in March!

 

Traditional New Year's Day Lunch at the Chinese Buffet. Note Katie's lunch of sprite:

 

 

Eli in the "Swiss" shirt I got him:

 

Kaylynn in her Swiss dirndl:

 

I was so lucky to get to spend time with my niece and nephew, Kaylynn and Eli throughout my two weeks at home. After a few days, Eli finally warmed up to me. One day I watched them for the whole day. Kaylynn requested that we go to the Children's museum for her "special day". They were so good. Miss them already!

 

A lot of people have asked me what I miss about home. Besides the obvious (friends and family!), I miss shopping (Swiss stores aren't that great, not the stores I'm used to, and expensive) and the FOOD. Some of the highlights of the good food I ate when I was home were:

 

Skyline:

 

Olive Garden salad & breadsticks:

 

Mexican food (no picture, probably because I ate it so fast).

Lots of "momma's" cooking.

 

And a good cheeseburger (Five Guys pictured): 

 

 Great trip home. Thanks for all the friends that made time to see me with my crazy schedule!