Shakin' that booty all the way to Jupiter

It's been a while. A looooonnngg while. And while I could be referring to any new blog appearance since um, well I don't even remember when, I'm actually referring to any movement of the boot-ay significant enough to render me a sight-to-be-seen attempting to go down the stairs.

We won't go into the details of my debut appearance at the super dooper butt-abs-thighs pilates class the other night (other than to say that 10" excersize balls, stretchy bands and yours truly are NOT, I repeat NOT friends ... even if I did manage to succeed in providing thoroughly entertaining free laughs to all the other class veterans), but I finally DID manage to finally get back to the "hills" this weekend for a bit of much needed Alpine air.

While never a simply walk in the park, once upon a time Alpine walks would leave me invigorated, tan, and full of athletic pride as I "lept" over the rocks, through the creeks, into the grasses ... and past my fellow hikers.

Today, a little Alpine walk up to the Lacs de Jovet (Lakes of Jupiter) left me invigorated, burnt, shaky and exhausted as I stumbled over rocks, drank thirstily from creeks, collapsed in the grasses ... and was passed by my fellow hikers. If ever there were doubt, I am officially out of shape ... but loving getting back into it.

Raclette hike ... Curson, France

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A romp through the backyard

[slideshow id=432345564257210042&w=426&h=320] Just a few pics of this weekend's adventures ... the hiking season is finally here (yuupii!) to be started of with a little romp through Le Saleve, ie the hunk of rock seen from my appartment everyday - 20 minutes away and filled with caves, tunnels, trees ... and bats!

All in a weekend's adventures

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It's funny the little wonders of life you so easily take for granted.  Spain is beautiful, and as I was reminded last weekend seeing everyone in Barcelona sporting tanktops, it is (almost) always sunny.  Switzerland is also beautiful.  It is not almost always sunny.  And yet, these past few weeks walking to work in the morning amid an eery fog blanket and the crisp cold of autumn air has been curiously exciting ... I feel like a little kid seeing the leaves of fall change color and fall. 

With the end of pleasant outdoor weather not far off the horizon, this weekend was full of outdoor adventures.  Seeing as the Lavaux region (on Lake Leman between Montreaux and Lausanne) is renowned for its acres and acres of vineyards we decided to hit the trails there on Saturday, hoping for views of the mountains, pleasant strolls through the perfectly groomed terraces and a few full filled stops at the wineries themselves to make sure that their products were up to snuff.  As luck would have it though, October seemed to be a bit out of prime winery season, leaving the vineyards picked clean and sporting changing autumn leaves and the wineries teasing us through closed doors.  Nonetheless, the area is beautiful and dotted with such quaint towns as St. Sepharin and Vevey... 

Sunday was slated for more serious hiking ... in the Abondance Valley of the Chablais, to Mont de Grange.  Again, BEAUTIFUL weather - our 5 hour hike with some 1163 meter (aka steep!) was topped off with INCREDIBLE 360 degree panoramis views at the summit that made it possible to see as far as the Swiss-German Alps.  Talk about feeling small and insignificant in the world ... natural beauty has an amazing way of humbling.