Conge!

I love this word. It translates to "time off," but it sounds more like a party with right accent. Make sure you stress the 'e.' Conge! Ah, wonderful.

Woke up this morning. Yoga at nine. Coffee and reading at the Cafe. Lunch in the cafeteria: mystery meat and leftovers. When I picked up my knife and fork to start eating, an unnamed co-worker stopped me for a second. "I don't think the meat is so good," she warned. "Yeah, you have to be pretty brave to eat here." We both laughed.

With a free hour I had before I planned to catch the boat from Montreux, I thought I'd attempt to buy a new SIM card and get my phone set up (I brought an old one I had used while studying abroad). Notice, keyword: attempted. I showed the nice man my phone, he got me the card, inserted it, pushed a bunch of buttons and looked at me unhappily when my phone rejected it. My phone was locked, dammit. Great. So much for that. In the mean time, I asked Andy to see if he has an old phone I could borrow. We'll see.

Then, armed with my umbrella, book, camera, iPod, and snacks, I boarded the boat leaving Montreux with about 20 other people all over the age of 60. They were a pretty lively crowd, but I blended in just perfectly. After all, I've dabbled in retirement myself. I flashed my old student ID to buy my ticket (I went for the cheap one instead of first class), and the guy helping me gave me a big smile and half off the regular price. Score!

I sat down at the front of the boat to take photos and bathe in the intermittent sun. Within about five minutes, the man who sold me the ticket approached me and with the same warm smile asked, "Miss, would you like to go to first class?" I looked at him, delighted but confused.

"Umm... I only have a second class ticket." And his response?

"Don't worry about it. It's my gift to you!"

So that's how I found myself on not the first but second floor of the boat. What's the difference between first and second class? you ask. Well, being on the second floor, the view is slightly less obstructed and the chairs are nicer. And you get to say that you're in first class. Yup, that's about it. But hey, it was a beautiful boat ride and because less people splurge on first class, the front of the boat was totally mine. Oh, the fabulous life of the over-privileged!

Dining room

My spot

Retreating from the rain

Montreux