Sequin to Sackcloth Tour – Week 8!

We arrived at Lausanne, on Lake Geneva, in the shadow of the Alps. A stunning location and a wonderful reward for 49 days of foot travel. As a special treat, Edward reserved two nights at the spectacular Beau Rivage Palace, an anniversary and a get ready for the Alps, present.

We entered the opulent lobby, dust still rising from boots and sweat on the top of our hands and were greeted by the lovely hotel staff. The hotel guests, seated in the lobby, reacted to our arrival with eyes bulging and mouths gaping like New Yorker cartoons The bellman, given the luggage task, handled our bags like they were a ripe wheel of Camembert. As we go to our incredible suite he seems uncomfortable with my leering at his beautifully starched white shirt. Once settled, we phone the concierge and ask a question I am sure he has been asked a 1,000 times, where is the nearest laundromat.

There is no learning curve to adapting to luxury — we are back!!

It’s been an incredibly challenging week. Uphill, our ascents, are exhausting, the descents are excruciating!  The paths are often narrow and winding with unstable surfaces. I, again, follow Edward trying to match his choreography  but he is often well ahead. He has this weird tendency to speed up when the terrain is tricky.  All my body parts with ee’s are checking in – teeth clinched, knees questioning and feet gripping the earth.

I am using motivational language, like *!#***?!%*** and stronger, but adding for punctuation a screamette of “EDWARD!” 

Some of you may remember our African Parrot, Ernie. This was during our years in Amsterdam. Ernie was 2 feet tall and had a strong personality. We would let him walk around the house. He would strut, swaying side to side, toenails clicking on the floor going room to room calling “EDWARD.” Failing to locate Edward his calls would grow in urgency and resolve “EDWARD!!” The shrill of my calls as I bounce down the hills, I can hear Ernie in my tone. 

However, Edward is not alarmed, not from a lack of concern, but he differentiates my battle cry from a plea for help. He moves forward, ever my role model.

The luxury of this adventure never escapes us. It is only possible through a bounty of resources, physical, emotional, and material. On two separate occasions our hosts have remarked how expensive it must be to take months off work and book accommodations and meals for such an extended period. 

We are humbled by our experiences and most grateful.