such great heights


this is from the top of mt. san salvatore which i hiked up the other weekend. it was a gorgeous view... and in that little v shape crack in the mountain is milan... crazy, no?


on one of the paths to get to school there is this pathway that is completely covered with grape vines... i've never seen so many grapes.


this in the nearby town of bellinzona where a large group of us went for the bellinzona wine festival. in addition to the delightful wines, (yum!) bellinzona also has a bunch of castles so we spent the day sipping wine and climbing around castles!


i also was hungry. so i ate pizza. it was large.

other randomly interesting things:

if you want to send packages or letters, i would very much appreciate them! particularly packages filled with food or underwear. simply because the more of these two things i have, the less i have to go grocery shopping and the less i have to do laundry. i've discovered my wardrobe is quite extensive when i'm forced to be creative, but running out of underwear forces me to do wash. but i digress... all packages, letters, flowers, and surprise visits may be addressed to:

".... oh, the places you'll go! there is fun to be done!
there are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
and the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
fame! you'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on tv.

except when they don't.
because, sometimes, they won't.

i'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

all alone!
whether you like it or not,
alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

and when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
there are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

but on  you will go...

on and on you will hike.
and i know you'll hike far...

you'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
you'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
so be sure when you step.
step with care and great tact
and remember that life's
a great balancing act.
just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
and never mix up your right foot with your left...

so...
be your name buxbaum or bixby or bray
or mordecai ali van allen o'shea,
you're off to great places!
today is your day!
your mountain is waiting.
so... get on your way!"


oh, the places you'll go!
dr. seuss



p.s. next update will be from the land of the swiss.
yay!