Stans

Every day on this trip has been epic. A new country or city each day. Huge kilometres of travel across Europe. Early starts and schedules so tightly packed there's scarcely enough time to process the magnificence and grandeur at each stop. A new hotel room each night. I wake never quite knowing where I am. I am so tired.

To add to my fatigue, I'm committed to marathon (half) training and it's been tough. Some (most) hotels without a gym. Some locations are unsafe, either by infrastructure, or unsafe for a lone female (probably male too) runner in the dark and early hours of the morning.

I set my alarm for 0400 today and was outside in the chilly 2 degree celsius temperatures to brave an outside run by 0430. I completed about 30% of my planned kilometres. Phone had died during the run (Unable to charge overnight - swiss outlets aren't the same as English or other European outlets); it was dark. Foggy. I knew I'd have trouble navigating my way back at the 4km mark, and decided my ambition needed to be parked to prioritise finding the hotel again. It's the first run I've ever done where I didn't feel better afterwards. I was teary. I'm tired. Really tired. Although this tour has been terrific, the agenda is tortuously rapid, and it's a lot.

Our midday schedule was scaling Mount Stanserhorn via tram car. I'm not sure if it was the mountain air or engaging with the delightful Mason, a 12 year old lad from Texas, United States holidaying with his Mum, sister, and grandparents. But my inner child delighted in making snow balls to throw at Luigi with Mason. Together, we built a snowman (snow turtle - our hands were freezing and time was not on our side) and marvelled at our natural team work in bringing our structure together.

The stunning views. Crisp clean air and opportunity to engage my inner child and spend some precious time with Mason, turned today from really tough, to really terrific. Another life lesson. When adulting is all too much. Go back to your inner child and play for a while. Reconnect with the simplicity and joy of doing something just for fun. Not for an outcome.

It possibly helps when you're on holidays in Europe.Read more