Bringing in the New Year!

First off, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year… It is 2016. Seeing as 16 is my favourite number, I have decided that this will be a year for me as much as I can make it so!

And so far, it has started off with a bang. I am in Switzerland! I left Oman and landed in Geneva on the 30^th December. Talk about climate change, my world has completely changed and my body has not quite adjusted. A light breeze, and I am shivering from tip to toe. I have found since that a walk in the cold air is only cold for the first few minutes and very soon after, you are feeling nice and toasty!

I am in Lausanne. What a city. There is French culture everywhere. On my first night I decided to indulge myself. The restaurants here are cosy and warm. This particular restaurant had red wine walls, wooden furniture and smelled like cheese. Real French cheese. I ordered a glass of red wine. Sounded Frenchy so I went for it.  It was quite yummy. I actually should have taken note of the name. Guess I will need to visit the restaurant again!

The later it got, I noticed less people on the street and more in the restaurant. The restaurant became festive and you could hear a hum, roll through the growing crowds. A few families, but mostly couples. Although, the best part, was there wasn’t one phone on the table. All couples seemed to be locked into each other and avidly enjoying their partners’ stories. They all seem to be sipping something out of a big white mug – clearly it is the done thing here and requires investigation.

The owners of the restaurant are so passionate. You can tell that their restaurant is their life. They are interested in their patrons and are keen to help and make your experience in their extended home a memorable one. Their guests are like family and greeted like old friends. Everyone appears to know everyone, so that you can’t help but feel like a foreigner. The owner speaks English thankfully, as I am only beginning to learn French, and tells me of how the snow is late this year and it should arrive end of January. That is something to look forward to.

After I had had an amazing pizza and finished my wine, I enjoyed a chocolate dessert. Thereafter, it was back into the cold air for a stroll back home. The culture here most certainly has a way of capturing you and in so many moments, I wish I wasn’t alone and that they could be shared moments with loved ones. I wish for you that you make some spectacular memories in 2016 and have many shared moments. Make this year count.