The Recap, The Finale: June 23, 2011 - 24 hours in Zurich

We come to an end of my journal entries of my first Europe trip in 2011. Yes, two years to finish. Thanks, grad school.

Short and sweet, here we go.

Zurich is modern, big, and expensive. By expensive, I mean that Dave and I spent $20 for one large mocha and pita sandwich at Starbucks. Yep, a $10 mocha. Good thing we didn't stay in Switzerland too long because money sure goes fast. We strolled through a nice "old town" part of Zurich that ran along the river. A beautiful sunset would conclude our Europe tour as we would depart the next morning.

Pseudo-epilogue:

I thought that it might be years before I return to Europe again. Before I left on my journey to Italy, Austria, and Switzerland, I just found out that I was accepted to grad school starting in Fall of 2011. I had a feeling that would take up most of my free time, not to mention funds.

As fate would have it, my grad program (Communications at SDSU) offered a one month study abroad during the summer and an option for classes in order to graduate in 4 semesters. I never did study abroad in my undergrad, which I always regretted. I decided this was my chance. And, I couldn't possibly pass up an opportunity to visit the Swiss Alps again (and Prague, Munich, Luxemburg, and Paris all for the first time)! Traveling with 40 students was definitely an adventure and I have a few journal entries here and there from that trip. But mostly, I have memories via laughter, exploration, and photographs with friends with whom I shared a common bond through academia, love for traveling, and good food and drink.

Whenever I think about another traveling adventure or how traveling has changed my way of viewing the world, I always come back to lyrics by Sara Bareilles (Many the Miles):

There's too many things I haven't done yet
There's too many sunsets I haven't seen
You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down
You would have thought by now, I'd have learned something

Walking over the bridge in Zurich

Fun water fountain

Marijuana flavored tea?? I didn't waste my money

I guess sometimes the pregnancy test and cigs go hand in hand

Auf Wiedersehen, Zurich

I wish the U.S. was as graphic as some of the ads on cigarette cartons in Europe

I have left my heart in so many places. Until we meet again, Europe.

The Recap: June 21-23, 2011 - The Swiss Alps and Mürren

Saying goodbye to Salzburg was bittersweet. We had so many chances to get Mozart liqueur but kept stalling, hoping to find a cheaper price. Good thing they sell it at World Market in the U.S.

The journey to the Swiss Alps was a long day. We left beautiful weather in Salzburg and arrived in a massive downpour in Interlaken. The weather cleared up thankfully as the journey to Mürren included a train ride to Lauterbrunnen (valley floor), gondola ride up, and transfer again to a train. The best way I can describe the Berner Oberland is Mammoth and Yosemite times a million! About 5,413 feet elevation, the view is like warm fuzzies, awe, and magical unicorns --- truly breathtaking. We were lucky enough to snag a hotel room at the Alpina Hotel, where our balcony view looked out on the three famous peaks in alps: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrauh.

The Swiss Alps was absolutely amazing and had easily become one of my favorite places, however, I was shocked how expensive everything is (literally double).

The next day, the clouds and blue sky allowed us to hike from Mürren down to Gimmelwald (about a half hour), where we took a gondola to the bottom of the valley. An easy half hour walk later, we arrived at Trummelbach Falls --- 10 powerful, cold, and loud glacier-waterfalls inside the mountain that continue to carve a path through the rock. We got to meander through man-made caves and check out the falls. Pictures and video do not do justice.

After the falls, Dave and I walked leisurely along a trail, shooting pictures, smiling in awe of the alps. Before heading back to Mürren, we enjoyed bratwurst for lunch. Not surprisingly, it rained during dinner (weather in the Swiss Alps is unpredictable and typically rainy), but thankfully we were warm inside. I enjoyed fondue for the first time, which was made from local, fresh cheese. Delicious and of course, expensive. The rain let up after dinner, and we concluded the night by frolicking on an alpen hilltop --- a wonderfully awful impression of Julie Andrews from the Sound of Music.

The next morning we were in the clouds --- literally. There was not a mountain nor tree in sight. We only saw white, thick clouds around us. Crazy how the weather changes.

We bid adieu to the friendly hotel owner, Roger, whom Dave had seen one week prior when he was in the Swiss Alps with his students  (travel photography EuroFoto Trip and highly recommended! Check out 2014 Dates). Taking in the grandiose view of the Alps as the gondola carried us down to the valley floor, I felt the same feeling when I saw Yosemite for the first time. There are so many hiking trails, biking trails, places to explore, an amazing view of the sunlight hitting the majestic mountain tops, puffy clouds, and green trees. It makes me feel small and lucky to experience this place.

Auf Wiedersehen, Swiss Alps! Hope to see you again one day (fate would have it that I visited again in 2012 - a piece of my heart is here).

Mürren

View from gondola ride up to Mürren

Hotel Alpina - view from our room balcony

Hotel Alpina - view from our room balcony

♥ Swiss Alps

♥ Swiss Alps

Hiking down to Gimmelwald

Trummelbach Falls

Lauterbrunnen Valley

Lauterbrunnen Valley

Strolling and shooting in Lauterbrunnen Valley

Lauterbrunnen Valley walk

Back up to Mürren - view from gondola

Mürren, I think...no, I know! I love you.

Fondue for you?

Given the choice, one must frolic

The Recap: June 20-21, 2011 - Salzburg, Austria

It's been 2 years - but the recap continues!

Salzburg is a very beautiful city, where most of the main attractions are close together. The weather could've been better, overall, it was a nice stay. The city is right next to the Salzach River so you can cross bridges from the Old Town to the New Town. Being Mozart's birthplace, the city is not shy of Mozart balls (mozartkugeln) and Mozart liqueur. What I noticed about the city is how bike friendly it is with spacious, designated bike paths. Both nights, Dave and I enjoyed dinner at the Sternbräu, one of the first restaurants in Salzburg. The first night, we had goulash soup and lamb for dinner, and a raspberry soufflé for dessert. The second night beckoned pancake soup (not as good as in Krimml, Austria), and salmon ravioli with spinach, and apfelstrudel and sachertorte for dessert (YUM!).

Dave and I biked to Hellbrunn Palace, which was basically a millionaire's mansion. It was pretty fantastical that everything was water powered. Some rooms even had fun trickery with water spitting at you---duck!. The gazebo used in the Sound of Music now resides at Hellbrunn, so of course we had to check it out (You are 16 going on 17...get it stuck in your head now!). Biking to Hellbrunn was a little frustrating because we didn't find the official bike path and it rained a little bit. Thankfully, we were pointed in the right direction back to the city center. The bike path was called the "Alley of Trees" which was very beautiful. Even more memorable now, it was on this bike path where Dave took the first picture he ever sent to me with the caption, "biking through this beautiful place but all I can think about is you!" That was 2006 and technically before we were actually "together." How cool that 5 years later we would be experiencing this bike ride together. My heart smiles.

Off to Mürren and the Swiss Alps!

Hotel in Salzburg

Rocking the accordion

Pancake soup and salmon ravioli with spinach - YUM!

Alley of Trees - Biking from Hellbrunn to Salzburg

Alley of Trees bike ride

Hello, Dunkel. Prost.

Goulash and Lamb! Oh boy!

Hellbrunn. Love it.

Bridging the gap between old and new.

I'm on a bridge in Salzburg!

Hello, delicious soufflé. I will eat you now.