Lausanne sans GPS

Hello Everyone!

Over the last few days, I've been talking with people in California who have seemingly nothing to report except for how beautiful the weather is.... "Yeah, Anna, it's the middle of January and I'm wearing shorts and a tank top!!" and "Anna, I'm going home to LA for the weekend to lay on the beach! It's January 15th!! Can you believe it??"

Frankly, yes I can believe it, because every time I tell someone here that I'm from California, they say "Ohhhh, the sunshine and beaches!!" But until moving to this small Arctic region called Cheseaux, I hadn't really appreciated said sunshine as much as do now...

I think someone else must have feeling jealous of California, because today we in Switzerland bathed in sunshine as well! Sure, maybe it was still only about 35 degrees, but there was SUN, and that makes me happy!

Yesterday I had an amazing day of adventure in Lausanne. I had arranged to meet Crystal and Jeff at the train station in Lausanne, after I worked out and did some errands in Cheseaux. An unanticipated problem arose when my frozen GPS failed to turn on (yesterday it was still snowing...) So, how to navigate from Cheseaux to the train station in Lausanne sans GPS? I was in a bit of a predicament...

In a moment of Megan Pura-esque innovation, I decided to follow the train tracks that I knew took you towards the station. After 20 minutes of nerves whether I was headed the right way, I ended smack-dab in the center of Lausanne, with random signs pointed up and down different Euro alleys, telling me the direction to the station. Next thing I know, I had found a parking garage, and ran into Crystal and Jeff on the sidewalk outside the station!

We had a delicious lunch at an Italian restaurant, where our nice Swiss-German waiter recounted his stories about living in Minneapolis for several years. He was excited to practice his English with us, and was again somewhat surprised when we told him that we had left California to try life in Switz. "But don't you miss the palm trees??" Haha...

We spent the afternoon exploring the city on foot, finding a beautiful cathedral that was built in the 1200s and many cute boutiques. Jeff is somewhat obsessed with Starbucks, so we managed to find 2 of the American chains to satisfy his cravings. When Crystal and I got a sweet tooth, we went into a chocolaterie and the nice lady behind the counter gave me a free piece (duh, favorite part of the day!)

Inevitably I got lost on the way home, but I made it in time for practice, which is all that really matters. Kristel, one of our setters, and Nadege, an outside hitter, invited me to hang out with them after practice tonight and tomorrow, so we'll see what adventures that will bring. They've mentioned Mexican food and a hike to a frozen lake, so I'm sure it will be a fun time!

Talk to you all soon! All of you in California, please sit an extra minute in the warm sun for me!

Love, Anna