Switzerland just has figured life out
Lets travel back to July 22nd!
The weekend of July 22nd I went to Zurich with 4 other girls from our program and I stayed in a hostel for the first time!
It was a good experience. There was only one other girl staying in our room that we didn’t know but she was great and from London doing a solo trip throughout Europe.
We got there Friday night and starting our sight seeing on Saturday morning.
Much like Salzburg, this day started rainy and cloudy and then turned into a beautiful day filled with blue skies.
We started walking around and seeing the cool buildings along the lake
and right off the bat just the energy of the city is great.
There is something so satisfying about walking around cobblestone streets, no really end goal in sight. It is a nice life moment, where you can really just take in all the senses and just
enjoy.
Even in the cloudy rain, the overall feeling in Zurich is just peaceful. I can’t even describe it because there isn’t anything particularly different about Zurich accept the feeling.
Just the feeling that everything is okay. And worth it.
Maybe that is why Switzerland has always been neutral.
There are lots of swans in the main lake area and they were beautiful and not afraid of humans
at all.
We spent a GOOD amount of time just hanging out and taking pictures of the swans.
After this we went to a fondue restaurant because Switzerland is known for it’s fondue.
We got cheese fondue and meat fondue and it was great. I personally loved it. The girls I was with weren’t huge fans because they said
it tasted like wine.
To which I said, ummm isn’t that the whole point?
The cheese fondue only came with bread and that is honestly all you needed, it was that flavorful and good.
We got to take a river taxi to see more of the city from the water which was super nice because the water is so extremely blue and clear.
The next day was our nature day so we took a train down to Richterswill about 30 minutes out of the city where we could spend the day laying out and swimming in the beautiful lake.
This lake is honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. At some points, it for sure looked like you were in Italy or something which was super cool.
We laid out our towels and got all ready to swim.
The water is cold but who cares!
It’s Switzerland! Of course it is going to be! Just jump in!
We do, and it is great! So refreshing and fun. Oh it is super rocky. I am sure that is fine no one is wearing shoes. I will just be mindful of where I step. Oof that was a sharp rock.
And then,
Not even 5 minutes into being in the water, I slice my foot on a rock. Like not everyone had even gotten into the water yet early.
But I am like I am sure its fine, it is just a little cut. I JUST GOT IN THE WATER, and being in the water would help, like wash it out or something? Right?
So I ignore it for a bit, because embarrassing HOW QUICKLY I injured myself and then
Out of nowhere—Hailey turns towards me and is like
“ELLIE DO I HAVE ALL MY TEETH”
She did have all of her teeth.
Thank goodness. But she said she thought it would be a good idea to do a flip underwater and it was more shallow then she thought and as a result, banged her mouth against the rocks.
Ouch.
After I made sure she had all her teeth, I showed her the cut on my foot and said
“DOES THIS LOOK CONCERNING?”
And in the moment I realized as I looked over at our other friends were just now getting into the water.
We are these dumb Americans who literally injured themselves
5 seconds after getting into the water.
thank goodness this moment was captured…Hailey showing me her teeth.
Once our friends joined us and we tried to come off less redneck and enjoy the blue water and pretty views.
After a while I was like I should probably get out and check out my foot so I started slowly making my way back.
I carefully tip toed to the ladder to get out of the water trying to avoid any sharp edges and
ON MY FINAL STEP…
I slice the bottom of my other foot.
Even worse.
So, I get out and limp over to my towel and assess the damage.
Honestly, I thought I was gonna need stitches. But I got some tissues, wrapped it around the cuts and It got the job done for the most part.
We spent some time lounging in the sun and it was great. Some of the best weather and vibes.
Then we decided to swim again. And I made the
executive decision to just wear my leather sandals in the water.
It was that or get my feet chopped off. I chose having fun swimming time instead.
Our last stop before we got on a bus back to Munich was the
Lindt Chocolate Factory.
The factory was so cool and had a REAL CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN in the lobby. The all white interior felt so nice that my wet bathing suit underneath my clothes felt a little out of place.
Not to mention, my damp leather sandals squishing at every step I made.
More like every limp I made. I still had pretty deep cuts on my feet.
BUT NO TIME FOR THAT! CHOCOLATE TIME!
So as I hobbled and squished around the museum, full of fantastic chocolate samples…it was time to race back to the bus stop to get back to Munich.
Somehow me and Maria (friend from Brazil) had to SPRINT to the bus stop to make it in time so I really had to ignore the squishy shoes and sliced up feet if I ever wanted to get back in the country of Germany again. Stakes were high.
Alas,
we made it in time! Woohoo! Finally ready to just sit in the bus and pass out for the next 4 hours and wake up in Munich.
So, we get on the bus…
and hmmm it is pretty hot in here….Maybe they will turn on the A/C when the bus starts up? Hope that’s soon….It was cold on the way down here so I know they have A/C…Hmmm maybe the A/C will kick in once we get more on the road.
We were on the road for 15 minutes. Still no A/C.
There was never A/C. It was broken.
When I tell you it was SWELTERING…words can’t even begin to describe.
I ended up taking off my shirt and was just openly wearing my bikini on the bus—it was to the point where I didn’t care. Everyone understood. It was life or death.
You can tell it wasn’t my best moment.
I think I fell asleep but I think I might of been slipping in and out of consciousness.
Because it was
that hot.
At some point in the drive the driver stopped for a 15 minute break so we could all get off and cool off so we didn't you know…pass out more.
Something about gas stations in a different country make me laugh. It was a very similar experience, which I guess I wasn’t expecting. Everyone in line for snacks. Waiting in line for the bathroom. Everyone having sleep fog and borderline car-sick.
Had no idea this was a universal experience. It is a nice reminder…that no matter where you are from, getting snacks at a gas station on a road trip is a global unifier.
Anyway, after violently googling if Powerade has electrolytes with no service— decided to buy it regardless and I think that SAVED ME.
The rest of the drive was brutal but it was less of a haze.
Once I got off that god forsaken bus, I was back in my A/C-less bungalow.
Something I wasn’t prepared for was the lack of A/C. It was brutal in the middle of summer, in the middle of a heat wave.
But, of course we made the most of it.
Despite the sharp rocks, squishy shoes and hell hole of a bus ride…
I LOVED Switzerland and had a great time.
But looking back at all my trips and pictures, I have been thinking…
Do I have the worst luck?
And I decided,
No. Of course not,
