Project Runway!

I have decided that my travel writer has not taken into consideration all our female readers who would probably enjoy reading a piece on fashion every now and then. Over the past 7 days, while hiking the magificent trails here in the Swiss Alps, my eyes have been roving over our fellow adventurers. We have come across many Swiss and German people, some Italians and French, plenty of Chinese and Indians, a handful of English and the odd American. (very odd!) and I guess that is the category we fit into.

All I can say is that the European equivalent of REI stocks must be soaring. Each and every one are kitted out in the best of the best hiking paraphenalia. From their highly porous undershirts to their reversible UV controlled pants, eco-friendly shirts and thermal jackets and their ski caps or bandanas in beautiful styles and colors. Most importantly, they ALL carry hiking poles in every color and design - definitely an essential on the trails for young and old. Don't forget, not all trails are in need of such gear. However they have it all.

Now picture this! Jeff, our 'preppy' hiker wearing tailored longs or shorts (not the long, baggy type either) complete with leather belt and a lovely colored collared polo shirt. Oh and I nearly forgot, the v-neck sweater in his backpack (j.k.). The most important part of his get up is, of course, his designer cowboy hat. That comes along everywhere and drives this editor nuts as it does not travel very well. I keep asking myself why would he dress any differently. After all, here is a guy who has never ever and I mean, never ever, worn a pair of denim jeans.
Then we have me, complete in my lycra yoga or gym pants, pastel T shirt and matching sports hat.

Ze Cowboy Hat!

What we do have in common with our fellow hikers though, is the camera around our neck or pocket and our real hiking boots. By the way, it took me years of coaxing Jeff to ditch his tackies (sneakers) and show him the way to REI, which he finally did a short while ago.


It snowed very heavily over the last two nights, and so yesterday day we set out for a hike high up in the Alps. I am not going to say more about this spectacular hike, other than this .... check out Jeff's trendy French beret in the pictures. Okay, it is not a bandana or a ski cap, but it is an improvement over the cowboy hat! I am SO proud.

Ze Frenchmans Hat!


Oy, spoke too soon! Today we were back to the cowboy hat - not a cloud in the sky. He looked like a little Swiss boy in his outfit. He was just missing the braces and the milk cans in either hand. :-)

Best regards
The Editor