April 5, 2006
Weather Shock
Back in Switzerland where it’s snowing after a week in sunny Spain

I woke up this morning to the sound of snow pounding – yes pounding – on my window. It’s that heavy, deadly sleet that is just not pleasant. On Monday I was still cruising along Spanish country roads in short sleeves and now I’m back in winter!


Snowy view from Sepp & Sonya's lovely balcony.

My week in Giverola was super. It was sunny and warm every day and Martina and I managed to combine several of our rides, so we didn’t have to pedal by ourselves for hours. We are very proud for having avoided the dessert buffet most days (Only to go to our room and eat from our chocolate stashes there – recall Fritz from the previous post? Yeah, he’s no longer with us…. But still, it’s the principle…).

Everyone from the Hotel Giverola was fantastic. Saludos a todos y muchisimas gracias! Quiero regresar ahorita! Special thanks to Karin and Kevin for their hospitality. Check out Club Hotel Giverola online.

My schedule was pretty straightforward, with most days looking like this:

7:45 – get up
8:00 – walk up the 102 stairs from our cave (room 333 yeah!) to the dining room
8:06 – eat breakfast
8:30 – hang out on my bed, either reading, doing some writing work, or e-mailing/surfing the ‘Net
10:00-15:00 – ride our matching, matte black Felt R55 road bikes, chat and watch the scenery whiz by (blooming red poppies; the dog that looks like a bear; various ancient, crumbling stone buildings; whistling and catcalling construction workers; old men on scooters; random men sleeping on the side of the road in cars; women selling “herbs” by the side of the highway; the Nestle factory)
15:00 – arrive back at our room, drink a recovery shake, shower, crawl into bed, eat cereal (Kellogg’s Extra with chocolate chunks – boo ya!) with yogurt (in bed), watch a Friends episode or two, fall asleep
16:00-17:00 – nap
17:00-19:00 – read, write, chill
19:00 – walk up the 102 stairs from our cave to the dining room
19:07 – (note the walk takes a minute longer after training) eat dinner
20:00 – walk down to our cave and chill in bed
21:30 – sleep


Kellogg's Extra!

This routine was broken up at times by various exciting events, such as:

  • Doing laundry
  • My birthday party
  • Playing (And winning! Yay team!) the Mimik Quiz (won a bottle of champagne – 2 sips and I was done)
  • Natascha’s birthday party (complete with super cool custom T-shirts and Mikado)
  • Fashion show


Strutt that stuff!

  • Shopping in Tossa (needed to stock up on Kellogg’s Extra!)


Strutt that stuff, Martina!

  • Hanging out at the beach:


Ooh!

  • Making an awesome independent film (unfortunately it’s too big to put on my site, but let’s just say it involves a bus ride, a giant wasp, three friendly motorcyclists, Martina and some riveting dialogue) – awarding winning!
  • Dancing in the disco (yaaaaaaaa salsa!)
  • Checking out Cecile and Martin’s show: Jagged Little Pill. They’re a wicked Alanis Morrisette cover band.
  • Going bikin' with Simon’s MTB group on my sweet new Felt RXC Pro and riding the “new” singletrack, which, as it turns out, I found last year on one of my random exploratory adventures in the Spanish backcountry. Turned back on my own when the group stopped for lunch and did some more “exploring” (i.e. what was supposed to be a two-hour ride turned into 4+ -- but I didn’t get lost, I just didn’t know which was the fastest way home!)

Monday evening on the bus I got two seats to myself this time, which was great – could actually sleep a little, shared “Wienerli und Brot mit Thomy Senf” (Martina and I have decided that the Thomy Senf (a type of mustard) is what makes the whole dish so yummy) in the bistro with Martina, watched Freaky Friday (in German) and managed to arrange my body in such a way that was relatively comfortable – perhaps the Melatonin I took earlier helped things along too.


Thomy Senf!

Arrived in Bern at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to a sunny 3 degrees! My uncle Sepp picked me up (Thank you for not making me ride two bikes home while pulling my rolling duffel!) and drove me back to Meikirch, where I immediately went to bed again.

Got an e-mail from Jeanine yesterday telling me she got a new job she had applied for at the YMCA! Congratulations chica! You are a star! Here's a congratulatory pic for your enjoyment:


Spanish boys playing soccer!

This Saturday I’m ripping up Swisspower Cup #2 in Reinach, Basel. I expect to hear y’all cheering for me (those of you in Canada will have to cheer really loud)! And Martina and I just decided to pull a double-header. After Reinach, we’re driving to Offenburg, Germany to put the hammer down in the Mountain Bike Bundesliga #1.

And what Giverola report would be complete without a Boy and Girl of the Week?!

Boy of the Week: Ivo!


Ivo models the 2006 Spring/Summer O'Neill collection: Rrrow!

Girl of the Week: Natascha!


Birthday girl Natascha (25 4-ever!) smiles as she liberates a Cuban.

To read more about my and Martina's adventures, check out her web site: martinafeldmann.com.

>> The Quote Board <<
Amazing, amusing real-life quotes! Warning: May only be funny if you were there.

“He was clearly better.” – Sandra regarding Miguel the waiter, and why he moved up to a white shirt from last year’s brown shirt.

“Are you going on a trek?” – Sandra to Martina, who was filling a 1.5-litre bottle before heading out.

“Where are you going?” – Martina every time Sandra would put on her fleece sweater (because she was cold, NOT because she was going somewhere).

“My first love was a Canadian girl.” – Old man in the shop where Martina bought her funky new purse – yes, it’s a PURSE!

“Hola guapas!” – Construction workers to Martina and Sandra as they rode by.

“Hola guapas!” – Simon to Martina and Sandra as they walked by.

“Do you want me to steal another beaver? I can go steal another beaver if you want me to.” – Martina offering to get me a “Biberli” (translates to “beaver”), which is a really yummy Swiss cookie filled with marzipan.

 

More Images


A vague idea of where I was.


Andrea & Ivo!


Cecile & Martin: Jagged Little Pill!


Ever-so-trendy Markus!


Martina and Denise!


Simon LOVES his beer.


Snow, snow, snow....