In Leysin, Switzerland!

Planes, trains and automobiles. After arriving via Delta Airlines in Paris I took a series of trains to a town called Aigle on the north end of Lake Geneva. At Aigle I was met by Dominique, the proprietor of the Au Bel Air Hotel, who drove me the rest of the way to Leysin. Leysin is in the mountains (the "Pre-Alps") on the north side of the Rhone River Valley. It's a ski village with spectacular views of the mountains, beautiful Swiss chalets everywhere and cows on every hillside with bells that can be heard ringing with a sound something akin to wind chimes wherever you go. It's a remarkable and lovey place.

I spent the first day here (Saturday) becoming familiar with the village, watching a local youth soccor match and hiking. Dominique invited me to join him, his wife and his hotel staff for lunch, which was served on the terrace and was wonderful. The students then arrived in the late afternoon and we all had dinner together. Tomorrow the study experience begins in earnest!

While the students are staying at the Au Bel Air Hotel (pictured above) I'm staying at a Bed and Breakfast not far from there called the Ermina. The first picture in this post shows a view of the mountains from one of the streets in the village and the last picture is the view from the balcony of my room.

-Dave Clark