big rapids

"The only guarentees in life are death and taxes," the Aussie guide joked, as we prepared to feed our raft into the glacier fed white-water of Interlaken, Switzerland. After learning a few basic commands (forward, backward, down, hold on, what to do if you fell in, etc.), we were off.

The ride pasted a continuous smile acrosss my face--it was my first white-water rafting experience--though with the cooler temperatures the river was running at a slower speed than normal. Unfortunately, none of us landed in the frosty drink, but were blessed with 600 meters of intense rapids, after getting out of river before a level VI rapid (a 4,500 Franc fine for attempting to ride it; the guide assured certain death, that only a well-trained team of professionals could hope to make it out alive).

At the end of the rapids, we plunked into the river, floating on our backs in the Swiss Alps, staring at the mountainous peaks, hoping our body heat would warm the water in the wetsuit, wishing this could last forever.