Ascension Thursday is the official opening date for the alpine passes and this year, being the last weekend in May, it was time to start the season again. The Harley’s were out in force and the snow piled 3 meters high on either side of the road. The ascent was long, and almost never ending. Do people really enjoy pushing for hours on end in their lowest gears, gasping for air and water and anything else they can lay their hands on? Being my first Alpine pass, I (Darina) had my doubts about the whole business! Who put these mountains here anyway? Aren’t the Swiss famous for their engineering? Where are those tunnels then, when we most need them?
(Switzerland, May 2003)