Swiss Miss Sam: Top of Europe!

Brace yourself..I have a lot to report! So, Friday after class I met my new friend from work, Aurelie, at the train station. I bought my ½ pass Swiss card (I get ½ off all trains within Switzerland) and my ticket to Interlaken for Saturday! Aurelie showed me all around Geneva. WE went to the Old Town, Lac Leman, downtown, ect. She showed we the good bars, parks, restaurants, and shops! WE ate lunch overlooking Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and went shopping downtown. We stopped for coffee after. IT was so nice, we really get along well and I think she will become one of my good friends while I am here! After I went with Aurelie to get her nose pierced! It was a great, fun, exciting afternoon. On my way back from our touring afternoon I stopped at the grocery store and got some more food for dinner. We had a low-key night since we were getting up really early for Interlaken the next morning.

5:45am 10 of us were up, dressed, and ready for an exciting day to Interlaken. I walked out wearing a tee shirt and a sweater and everyone else was in parkas and boots…needless to say, I turned around and changed. We caught the 6:45am train to Bern, and from Bern we transferred to the train to Interlaken; from Interlaken we got on the train to Grindelwald and finally, from Grindelwald we took the train to the “top of Europe”, Jungfrau. Jungfrau is 4,158 meters, or 13,642 FT! From the train from Grindelwald to Jungfrau you stop 4 times to see different views from different heights. Once at the top we first went to the Ice Palace. The Ice Palace is carved out of a glacier and there are ice sculptures and ice tunnels everywhere. Through the ice palace went out to the outside on the top of the mountain. I cannot even describe the view. It was the most beautiful, amazing, majestic sights I have EVER seen. (Look at my pics in Picasso to see). It is just rolling ice-capped hills as far as the eye can see. I could not take enough pictures. The sky was clear and the air was wonderfully crisp. After enjoying and photographing the view we made our way back down the mountain, this time stopping in different cute little villages along the way. Once we arrived in Interlaken we went out to dinner at a delicious funky restaurant called, Wine Art. From Interlaken we went back home via Bern. WE finally arrived at Le Cenacle at around midnight. It was an incredible, exhausting fun filled day!!!

Beautiful Sunday afternoon spent at the neighborhood park!

My last day of being 20 arrived today! I can’t believe it! I woke up this morning with a bunch of the other people on my program at around 8:30am to grab breakfast; it’s only open 7-9am. After eating I proceeded to go back to bed and sleep until 2:30pm! I woke up, made myself some lunch, and after stepping outside realized it was one of the most beautiful days of the year and I better not waste it! Mid-70’s, clear blue sky, where else to go but the Park! I grabbed my map and decided to go off on my own and explore. I walked around my neighborhood and eventually made it to the park. The Swiss are very into their family life and Sunday most places close down and the day is for spending time with family and friends. There were little kids, families, and couples everywhere. It was adorable. I read, took some pictures, people watched, and enjoyed the day! I got home and was hanging out in the lobby when some of the kids in my group told me I needed to go downstairs to the kitchen “right away”. I walked downstairs and they had a cake with candles for my birthday!!!! We sang and ate! It was so thoughtful and nice! Tomorrow we are going out to dinner for Bryan’s and my birthday; his is on the 6^th. If you want to see more pictures check out my picassa page! Miss you all!!