Swiss Miss 2021

The proud pyramidal peak of the Matterhorn rises above the alpine meadow in its keep (Üsseri Wälder, Zermatt) 

A brief escape to Switzerland, Italy, and Liechtenstein to staunch what's becoming painfully regular emotional bleeding. Secondary goals of finally tapping into my IKON pass and giving myself a small life heading. The story starts in Geneva to rendezvous with a local whom I first met in Yangshuo, China.

2.5 years gone. Let's pick up right where we left off. Reuniting with old friends the greatest pleasures of traveling (Plainpalais, Geneva)

Local Longeole sausage absolutely crushes and marks the start of a very non-vegan trip (Auberge de Savieuse, Geneva)

Starting the drinks early at Geneva's only speakeasy (Le Frigo, Bleu Nuit)

After we climb in Meyrin, Adam drops me off at the train station and I make my way east to Zermatt for a week of skiing. I luck into meeting a motley crew of great people.

Ski views begin now. (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt)

Another year passes as the compass unerringly points towards a solitary destiny (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt)

Goobering my way up and down the slopes. The Matterhorn behind me is unamused (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt)
📸: @trystanmccaslin

Käseschnitten sounds like a sneeze, a threat, and this grilled cheese dish all at once (ice pizzeria, Trockener Steg)

Alfonso, Jessie, and Trystan throw down on their first Swiss ski (Mirador, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise)

The gang all comes out at night. Love you guys, #team147 forever (Brown Cow, Zermatt)

Rest days for me meant hiking days for Marcela. I think it's a language translation issue. (Hängebrücke, Randa)

A serious case of vertigo at the world's longest suspension bridge (Charles Kuonen Bridge, Randa) 📸: @modolomarcela

Zurich-style veal and rösti lightens the wallet by 30 francs but you gain 30 pounds on your body so it's okay it balances out really it's ok (Pinte, Zermatt) 

The only museum I've ever been where you're allowed to climb the exhibit wait we're allowed to climb this right (InfoCube Zermatt, Trockener Steg)

The grave of the unknown climber, in all local languages. A somber but beautiful graveyard dedicated to those lost on the mountains. Memento mori. (Mountaineer's Cemetary, Zermatt)

More rest days with the #team147 crew. Amazing memories! (Eishockeyplatz, Zermatt)

Filipa and Marcela take a break from skating to harass a local dog (Eishockeyplatz, Zermatt)

Farewell shots and our company slowly part ways. Amazing crew from all over the world. God willing we'll meet again (Club Mamacita, Zermatt)

Sweet memories of #team147 still fresh but a new day begins reunited with Maude and Nick from New York. (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt)

After Maude and Nick get in their Thanksgiving ski weekend, I glom onto them as we make our way down to Milan for that dreamy Italian life.

Starting strong, getting this obligatory photo out of the way (Il Duomo, Milan)

Who photos the photogra-I will never get tired of stealing these snaps heheheh. Nick sees paradise in a parking lot. (Borgogna, Milan)

The sunset palette over the canals and Milanese lights wahh (Navigli, Milan)

Milanese osso bucco and saffron risotto one true pair (Osteria della Darsena, Navigli)

My first good cocktail on this trip at the esteemed (Mag Cafe, Navigli)

Lucked into meeting some locals Pol and Tran and amazingly got a day out on real Italian rock. Thanks for the invite y'all it was a privilege!! (Lariosauro, Lecco)

The absolutely gorgeous view from the top of my first Italian climb (Solarium, Lecco)

December 1, 2021 Ticklist
Melanzana Yhe Yhe	Lead / Onsight	Italy > Lecco > Solarium	5.10a Sport
Nafta Agricola	Lead / Fell/Hung	Italy > Lecco > Solarium	5.10b Sport
Nafta Agricola	Lead / Redpoint	Italy > Lecco > Solarium	5.10b Sport
Sempre Tonico	Lead / Fell/Hung	Italy > Lecco > Solarium	5.11a Sport

My last night in Milan means hitting up another World's Best Bar. Truly amazing in so many ways. Fabio, Marcos, Raffaele, we will meet again. (Officina Milano, Navigli)

After a few days in Milan I felt like it was finally time to move on. I say goodbye and give thanks to Maude and Nick for hosting me all this time. I slowly move northwards with stops in beautiful Locarno and Lucerne. Mountain lakeside towns but one with Italian vibes and the other German/Allemannic.

 

There is so much beauty in this gotdang world I just can't take it (Locarno, Ticino)

Someone combined every best ingredient in the world into this bake (Ristorante Da Larissa, Locarno)

Stranger in a strange land bearing chance witness to a curious coexistence between palm trees and snowcaps (Brione sopra Minisio, Ticino) 

The GoldenEye 007 dam... I totally would've bungee'd off if it was open. Definitely. I'll do it. (Diga della Verzasca, Ticino)

Weihnachten lights illuminate the stately chapel and its bridge (Kapellbrücke, Lucerne)

Mount Pilatus holds court over the small city of Lucerne that is his realm (Gletschergarten, Lucerne)

Saffron is such a ubiquitous spice here somehow. Beetroot gnocchi... less common (Mill'feuille, Lucerne)

I arrive in Zurich as the terminus of my trip approaches. Simona, a friend I met in Shanghai, trains in all the way from her home in Austria to see me. A great way to end a trip. I'll miss everyone so freaking dearly. Y'all have no idea how much y'all mean to me. Until the next life you guys.

The iconic twin-tower cathedral looms protectively over Zurich (Grossmünster, Zurich)

We travelled all the way from New York City and Innsbruck just to meet back in... China? (Chinagarten, Zurich)

How in the F did we end up in Liechtenstein but at least we have passport stamps to prove it (Vaduz, Liechtenstein)

Simona vibing with this castle as I get my stealth snaps (Württemberg, Vaduz) 

Drinking glühwein and eating roasted chestnuts before we part... one of my most treasured memories this trip on such a level (Rathaus, Vaduz)

Right, no trip to Switzerland is complete without copious amounts of chocolate. Yep that's a real chocolate fondue fountain (Lindt Home of Chocolate, Kilchberg)

The same beautiful cathedral my last night in Zurich. Auf Wiedersehen Schweiz. Til' the next life (Grossmünster, Zurich)