January 20-27, 2002

January 20-27, 2002

I went to Europe for some business meetings. Upon arrival at the Amsterdam airport I was pulled aside for not paying a speeding ticket from a prior visit two years ago. After a tense few minutes, the official conceded he couldn’t make me pay and I was let go. Phew!

At the end of the week I flew to Basel, Switzerland to renegotiate a contract with a supplier. I spent some time browsing the shops outside the hotel, and bought Aimee a music box that plays ‘Edelweiss’, a classic Alpine tune from the ‘Sound of Music’. After the meeting Friday, I stayed and took the train to Zermatt to ski the Matterhorn, probably the most recognizable mountain in the world. Saturday morning I rented boots and skis and then took the gondola lift to the open treeless shoulder alongside the peak. From there I was dragged to the top of the ski runs with old-fashioned T-Bars instead of chair lifts. A lot of work to ski! From the top I could look down the far side of the mountain and see (and ski) Italy. When I was done I tried to ski all the way back down to town but my legs were dying. Not wanting to break a leg, I caught the Gondola at an intermediate stop. Afterwards I hopped the train and spent the night back in Basel before catching the Sunday flight home.