Today we successfully made our first transition, from Chamonix to Kandersteg, Switzerland.  With at least 150 pounds of luggage (yes, we know Rick Steeves would not approve, but, hey, we're out here for 5 months!), several inches of new snow on all the streets we trudged through, and 4 train changes, we weren't sure how it would go, but it was surprisingly smooth sailing.  Nary a complaint was heard.
Kandersteg is a beautiful little town in the Swiss Alps, and we were happy to find our apartment to be warm and cozy despite the very cold and snowy surroundings.

Some reflections on our time in Chamonix?

• Favorite meal:  Jonah--the "awesome" pasta with butter at the restaurant on our first day; Sierra, the lunch that appeared in the photo in our last post; Lauren, the fondue at Le Monchu; and Tom, the tartiflette at the Grand Montets ski slopes.
• Funniest moment:  When we walked out behind our apartment looking for the trash cans, only to discover that they were in exactly the spot where we had been dropped off by the Alpy Bus driver on our arrival (and from where we hiked several blocks through the snow trying to find the apartment)
• Most surprising thing:  That there is no noise ordinance whatsoever in Chamonix and it is, in fact, quite common (at least outside our apartment) to walk through the streets every night of the week yelling and screaming, until at least 4 a.m..  Yes, I know this has been mentioned previously, but we still can't quite believe it.
• Cheese.  Lots of cheese.