Retrospect: Euro2008

I obviously didn't have the blood investment to the EuroCup as everyone else here did. My first exposure was the flags hanging of the balcony. And not just the Swiss flag, any European nation. Then the honking. Then, watching a semifinal the fanzone in Lausanne. Wow! More people watching a big screen, adorned with face paint and/or flags than I'd expect at a Rice football game. The other semifinal in the Geneva fanzone--more crowded, more crazy. And the final, Spain vs Germany; the Lausanne fanzone was at full capacity, so I had to find a bar to watch the game. After Spain won, celebrations began. All buses running from the Lake to downtown were diverted to the train station. Why? Spaniards were taking over the streets! I first saw Place St. François taken over by a Spanish crowd, with more fans coming from every direction. Was it programmed in their blood? There were more crowds, all over le centre ville. People driving cars just to honk in celebration. Ten times as many Spaniards than I expected would ever be in Lausanne gathered downtown after the victory.

I can't believe how crazy it'd be in Spain or Vienna. Or how somber in Germany.

That was two weeks ago. The soccer fever is over, so now it's time for festivals! There's already been the Federal Yodeling Competition in Lucerne (can you imagine?) and now is the Fête de la Cité in Lausanne featuring up and coming artists. The music Saturday night wasn't amazing, but it's definitely the place to be. What will compete for my time is the Montreux Jazz Festival. This is more internationally acclaimed with wellknown artists (Gnarls Barkely, Alicia Keys, Quincy Jones, Sheryl Crowe, etc). I can't afford tickets for the big names (min 85 CHF), but there's two free venues. As long as I get myself to Montreux, only 10 CHF and 40 minutes by train, that's free entertainment!

I'm now sitting by the lake in Ouchy (where there's WiFi!). It's cleared up a lot since I arrived a month ago; I can now see the tops of the mountains across the lake. Beautiful. The lake's extremely clean, making it a lovely hue of blue. I plan to make it down to the lake for sunrise sometime soon....