Holy Swiz
Belfast Week 7
Hello from Switzerland!!!!!
Do you ever feel like life is giving you a big hug?
I have had this feeling several times during my study abroad adventures, but I felt it to a new level during this trip to Switzerland.
My first impression of Switzerland is that is the people, cars and cities are EXTREMELY quiet during the day. When we first arrived in Zurich, we were a bit slap happy; we were being loud and then we realized we were literally the only ones speaking above a whisper...AWKWARD.
We meander down the cute streets of Zurich to find our little hostel, cozily tucked away on one of the side streets but excitingly located above a trendy bar that seemed promising. Caroline, Kerry and I check into the hostel and are a bit underwhelmed by our accommodations, until we open the door to our room and realize we have our own private balcony that oversees the whole city of Zurich...WOAH!
We settle in a bit and head down to explore the wonderful city of Zurich! After a bit of exploration, the decision is to relax with some cold drinks on our lovely balcony. We really lucked out with how well Caroline, Kerry and I get along. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. At one point Kerry laughed so hard her whole drink fizzed up her nose HAHA! With our sore abs from laughing so hard we decide we deserve dinner. On our walk we are greeted by a massive parade of people dressed in feathers with crazy hats, horns and steel drums...we later found out this was a celebration of the ghosts. Though even the locals seemed confused about the parade we watched in fascination. An early night for these adventurous girls because we have an early tour in the morning.
Well, we thought the first night was pretty uneventful, in the best way, but this was a silly thought because there's always something wild to occur with our group. Before going to bed Kerry decides she's going to take a quick shower. After about 20 minuets, Caroline and I are slightly concerned with how long Kerry has been in the shared shower. Kerry promptly knocks on the door and looks slightly frazzled. We find out she has been locked in the shower stall for close to 10 minuets HAHA. Apparently the humidity sucks the door in and you have to wait for the bathroom to cool down. During Caroline's shower, she also gets trapped in the shower stall! Finally thinking our eventful night has come to an end, we all head to bed.
I am woken up by a harsh poking on my arm and Caroline handing me my phone. I look at my phone to see Kerry is calling me? I shoot up in bed and look over to Kerry's bed, only to find that she is not there. I yell at Caroline, "WHERE IS KERRY?" She quickly shoots up in bed and yells back "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHERES KERRY!?" Still not having answered my ringing phone we hear a loud knock on the door. Caroline shoots up and runs over to the door, as I answer the phone. We find little Kerry in her pajamas outside the door with her room key holding the phone up to her ear. She had gotten up to go to the bathroom and her key card had stopped working so was locked out. After standing outside and trying to contact us for half an hour she went to reception to ask for them to fix the card but they were unable to easily fix it. OMG Kerry, you scared the life out of us but finally were all back in safe and sound.
The next morning is here before we know it and yep, I also get locked in the shower. At least now we know why people are taking so long in the shower LOL. Interlaken and Grindelwald are the travel plans for day 2.
Kerry, exhausted from her previous night adventure, sleeps for the whole ride to Interlaken. We finally make it to Interlaken and see the cute little town surrounded by the large Swiss Alps. Though the town is cute we don't have much time here and are only half impressed with the village...off to Grindelwald.
Grindelwald is absolutely breath taking! The tiny village is surrounded by massive mountains and everyone in the town is bundled in ski-pants and ski-boots. Kids and adults of all ages are boarding the busses that take them to the slopes. This place is so stinking cool. We decide to take the gondola up to the summit of First. We hop on and an older man joins our gondola. As were looking at the view, we hear a loud crash in our car. I look down and realize my knife has falling out of my lunch bag. The older man timidly reaches down and picks up the knife and hands it to me HAHA! I try explaining the knife is for my avocado but the language barrier is tough so he just kind of smiles in hopes I'm not going to make any moves. This poor man!!
We arrive at the summit and the views are absolutely spectacular. Loads of snow, massive mountains and so many picture opportunities! Caroline, Kerry and I head over to the cliff walk which is a suspension bridge bolted to the side of a cliff. As you may know, I am TERRIFIED of heights. I try to push through the fear and walk over to the cliff walk but my knees start to buckle and I have to count myself out and watch Kerry and Caroline head out on the bridge. As I'm walking back to safety, I see a little family standing in the middle of the path...hmm how do I handle this one? I reach for the pole to assist me over the snow covered rocks and I slip and fall taking the mother out at the knees! The father looks at me laying on the snow and begins apologizing immediately for being in the middle of the path. Okay...SO EMBARRASSING because I start to get up in my frazzled state and just keep slipping back down the mountain! I'm wicked shook so sneak to the middle of the mountain and start to eat my avocado haha poor me.
The girls make it back, without any falls I may add, and we head to the picnic area to eat lunch. We finish lunch and head down to the bottom of the mountain for a glass of wine to celebrate our wonderful adventure in Switzerland. I lose my water bottle at the restaurant which is the first of many losses LOL. So sad, but back on the bus to Zurich so see ya never, water bottle.
Finally back in Zurich, we get some dinner. Microwavable lasagna for the girls and I buy a box of noodles to hopefully cook in the hostel. I love Switzerland but food allergies are EXTREMELY difficult to handle here. All I've eaten is two avocados and a bag of cheez-its over the last two days! We get back to the hostel and I realize there is not a stove top and the oven is actually just a little heater that will not cook my pasta. In pure desperation, I decide to attempt to microwave noodles from a box...just to let you know, it does work but they're a bit crunchy HA!! The kids we met in the common kitchen are staring at our shenanigans and laughing at our struggles but it's a good way to meet some new friends. We make friends with the kids and head down to the bar beneath the hostel for drinks.
At some point in the night I decide it would be a good idea to FaceTime my Mom and Lich to tell them how much I love them, unsure of the logic here but I do love you folks J I am exhausted so head back up to the room, only to find a passed out man on the stairs. Managing to step over the drunken man, who's friends are now trying to get him up, I make it to the room and tuck myself in. Later on Caroline and Kerry make it back to the room and we are so happy with our last night in Switzerland!
We wake up and off we go to the train station. Unfortunately, Caroline can't find the ticket she had bought so needs to purchase a new one. None of us are feeling on top of our game but we make it through security and somehow make it out of Switzerland in one piece.
Switzerland, you came in like a wrecking ball but we somehow managed! WE LOVE YOU AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU SOMETIME SOON!!!
Next stop, Cork for Saint Paddy's.
Until then,
PQTH,
HAN
