The Sound of Music and so much more

I just spent a wonderful few days in Salzburg, Austria.  Some of you may recall that your beloved childhood film The Sound of Music was based on the Austrian Von Trapp Family.

Some of the film is filmed in Salzburg and much of the film is false (for instance the hills you see on the cover are in Germany).  Our eccentric tour guide it very clear that Hollywood took the basic story and made it "more interesting" but completely altering the events outside of the fact that they were Austrian and they escaped from the Nazi's.  I will spare you the rest of the details that prove the story we all know and love false (but you can read about it on the Wikipedia link above if you wish).

As for me, I was ecstatic to see the places that one of my favorite childhood movies was filmed! We sang on the bus as we drove around Salzburg and through the mountains! Although it was winter, so much of the scenery looks very different you may recognize just a few of the pictures!

The Tour Bus =) 

I am skipping down the lane where

Julie Andrews skipped to her new life with 

the von Trapp's!

16 going on 17! among other scenes

This is the lake where the kids fall in.

Unfortunately, winter has made it into an

ice skating rink.

The Church where they get married!

Outside of the tour, Andrew and I explored Salzburg. It is a stunning city surrounded by beautiful mountains, which were covered in snow.  We explored a fortress, the royal houses, and listened to a short Mozart concert in St. Stephen's Church.

Notice that I only had to wear a fleece for

the day! Best day ever! (and I am sad

to report that I have quickly returned to 

full winter jacket since that glorious day..)

This woman performed three of Mozart's

pieces without any music. It was unbelievable!

We also took a cable car up to the top of the Untersburg mountain, which is the natural border of Austria and Germany.  It was about 1,300 meters to the top.  Andrew and I were among four people who were not equipped to snow or ski down.  It was unbelievably cold when we reached the top and I lasted about a five minute walk around the top before heading inside to warm up with a delicious Stiglz lemon beer while watching the sun set over the snow covered Alps.

A view of Salzburg from above

Lemon Stiegl - Salzburg brewed beer

We ended our Salzburg adventure with a trip to the Stiegl brewery for a beer tasting.  It is home to the largest beer museum in Europe, which was surprising large, scary at times, and overall uninteresting.  We followed that with lunch and a beer tasting in their restaurant.  Then we were off to Vienna for more Austrian adventures!

The largest beer "samples" I have ever had!

Weekend Adventures

I had an absolutely fabulous weekend! The weather was as perfect as it could be for a mid-November weekend and there was plenty to do!

After a relaxing Friday night out with some friends, I worked for a couple hours on Saturday morning, went swimming myself, and then heading into Zurich to relax by the lake.  Some of my friends wanted to paint/draw as we sat there. Let's just say some people had some talent, others were just enjoying themselves!

Then we were off to the Wine Expo.  It was 4,000 wines from all over the world on yachts right on the lake! It was a really fun night. We got a bit dressed up, hoping people serving wine would take us more seriously, which was only semi-successful.

Rachel, me, Whitney, Shelly

Me, Shelly, Rachel, Kristina, Whitney, and Karah

I have really enjoyed trying wines since I have gotten here. While I still can't pick out the different flavors within a wine, I can tell you a little about different regions and what I like. I think my favorite wines of the night were from Portugal and from outside of Geneva.  I usually don't like white wine because they are very sweet but the winery outside of Geneva had some dry whites which were delicious!  It is a slow process but my knowledge of wine has increased 10 fold since I moved to Europe! 

Sunday, we headed off to Liechtenstein for the day! That's right the sixth smallest country in the world is just a mere hour and half train ride away.  The train ride was gorgeous. The lake we were on was a stunning blue with the mountains surrounding it.  There were wind surfers everywhere because it was nearly 16 degrees out! It is a very small country with not much going on. They are known for their stamps and are the world's largest dencher producer.  They do not have a king, but a prince and princess.  That is just as high as their leadership goes! 

After hitting up the Post Museum, we took a lovely stroll up the mountain to the castle.  It was really quite pretty. On the walk up the path led you through the history of the country. While I don't remember most of the little facts, I do know that they abolished their army in 1906 and have treaties with Austria and Switzerland (the countries it shares borders with).  

It was a near perfect weekend! 

Unfortunately, my camera wasn't charged so I don't have pictures from Liechtenstein but will add them when I get them from friends!

A Beautiful Fall Day

I know just posted about how it has gotten cold and I am never leaving my room, but basically since I posted that, it has been absolutely beautiful here! The weather has been completely bearable. Last night we were complaining because we had brought coats out, which were unnecessary.  I know it isn't going to last but since people are already seeing snow, I am happy to be enjoying a few more warm (50 degree) days with the sun out before the sun leaves for the winter!

I have been taking advantage of these days. Last weekend I went on an awesome bike ride around the lake with some friends.

I wandered the city a bit another day this week because I felt like I hadn't explore different areas in awhile. I found this great area that screamed Fall! It has a fountain (and who doesn't love fountains..oh Chapman). I was able to read for awhile here and do some wonderful people watching!

This week I tried to spend as much time outside as possible! I am still in awe when I leave me house everyday.  Here's a few photos from my awesome run/walk/hike from the other day.  

Fall is a wonderful season! 

Winter, is that you?

I decided I don't like winter. I don't like being cold. I like sitting outside and wearing dresses and sandals. Unfortunately, my San Diego upbringing did not teach me the ins and outs of layering, winter clothes, nor skiing.  Winter has seemingly arrived in Zurich. It is snowing in the mountains and highs are in the 30s, possibly the 40s if we are lucky.  I see the sun less each week. The scary part is it is only October.  That means it is actually still Fall and it is going to get worse from here. I found that there is an average of about 30-33 hours of sunlight in December and January... ekkk! That is an hour a day if we are lucky!

I have joked with my friends that when the snow comes I will be going into hibernation mode and I will see them in the Spring. While this is a joke to some extent (I will go crazy in my dungeon!), it is also the truth. When I get up at 7:15 in the morning, it looks like it is 4am. The sun is not out and lights are necessary so that I don't trip walking up the stairs.

I need to motivate myself to get out bed, get dressed, and leave the house. Each of those is an accomplishment already and it is still October! So if you figure out a way to harness the sun and send it to Switzerland I will be eternally grateful.

So I continue to admire the Alps and try to appreciate that in order to see those I must suffer through the cold a bit because when the sun is out it is breathtakingly beautiful!

Lake Como

As many of you know, my travel record is far from clean.  I am perpetually early for everything so my mistakes do not come from being late. I have shown up at the wrong airport and I have sat in the terminal and somehow missed it when they boarded my plane of 250 people (I was 18 when this happened..maybe I can use that as my justification...)

Anyway, my first trip to Italy started off a little rocky. It was pretty much a straight train ride there. I was prepared to get off the train and had found my stop.  (Note: Switzerland tells you what every stop is before you reach it so you can prepare to get off.)  Once we crossed the border, there were no more announcements.  You are on your own.  I was traveling at night and many of the stations are not lit well and you don't know what station you are at.  I was very prepared though. I knew what I was looking for. I knew what time I was supposed to arrive at my station.  Due to previous issues in traveling, I shut off my iPod and stopped reading about 20 minutes before I was to arrive in Como.  I figured I needed to pay extremely close attention to where I was to ensure I didn't miss my stop.

I knew Como was coming. I got up to stand by the door. The train station is called San Giovanni when you buy your tickets but the name written on the sign in the stop is Como.  This confused me for a moment but I reassured by a man that this was the right stop. I pressed the button to open the door of the train, as they do not open automatically at every stop.  It makes the normal air sucking sound that the train doors make before they are supposed to open. I don't think about it. When I realize it is has still not opened a few seconds later I run to the closest door in a panic.  I get there press that button, but we are moving. I am freaking out at the point. I was so ready to get off! I was excited to be there. See my Aunt and begin my wonderful weekend. Instead, I walk back to my seat.  The Italian men that I had been sitting across from look slightly confused.

I ask them what the next stop is. They tell me it is Milan. I am freaking out for so many reasons:

1. I don't actually have a ticket to go to Milan. If they come to check my ticket I am going to get a fine for being on the train.
2. I need to call my aunt and my phone isn't letting me make the call.
3. The 45 minute train ride to Milan seems like it is taking hours.
4. It is late at night (I was supposed to arrive in Como at 10:14pm).  I am not sure if there is going to be a train that will get me back to Como that night.
5. No one is able to help me because I do not speak Italian =( and no one seems to speak English.

I arrive in Milan (finally!) and I asked the men sitting across from me if I would be able to get to Como tonight. They tried to help but I just stared in confusion at them...I do not speak Italian. We found someone to who could sort of translate.  I am told that I need to take the subway to the other train station and take a regional train to Como.  No one knows if there will be another train tonight....

I want to cry...

I do not cry and try not to look stressed because I am clearly a tourist and that makes you a target for people to take advantage.

I wander around the train station (which is gorgeous) and try to calm down while looking for a pay phone. Pay phones are everywhere in Switzerland. They are no where in Milan.  Nothing is open because it is 11pm on a Friday night.  There are plenty of people around but no one is wearing the employee jacket I was told to look for.  I found a kiosk and luckily there was a ticket to get to Como leave at 12:38am.  I had an hour and half to kill and then another 45 minute train ride before I would arrive in Como. At least I will get there tonight. I can do this. I will be fine.

I asked a man standing next to the kiosk if he knew where a pay phone was.  He was kind enough to let me call the hotel. I quickly told my Aunt that my train door didn't open and that I would be arriving in Como at 1:30 or so.  I got off the phone. I thanked the man for being so generous. He was from Ghana and lived in Milan now. We talked about US Politics for an hour. He thinks Michelle Obama is a phenomenal woman, the Koran burning pastor is crazy, and that Tiger Woods and Bill Clinton should be defended because they were tempted and it is hard to resist temptation. I wholeheartedly disagreed. He said I didn't understand temptation.  He went to catch his train.

I then went back inside the station and took a few more pictures (below).  The Italians are nowhere near as efficient or organized as the Swiss.  My train was supposed to be leaving in 15 minutes and there was still no platform listed.  I finally found a man with the employee jacket on and asked him.  I noticed that my ticket says that I am going to San Giovanni (Como) via another city. I ask him if I need to switch trains. My question is lost in translation and I get a little worried again. I cannot mess this one up!

We get through it and I get the information I need from him, well except for what platform I should be on.  A man is standing next to me at the screen. We are waiting diligently for the number to show up.  We finally learn it is platform three.  (At this point I have found that the train employee and my Dad and maybe an Uncle or two are the only people I know who say three with their pinky, ring finger, and middle finger...I assume this is an Italian thing..)

We get on the train. He is traveling for business. He is from Bombay and he works in plastics. He is very nice. He tells be more about where I should travel to and places I should skip in Europe.

Finally at 2am I make to the hotel. Auntie Francie is there to greet me! We stayed up late chatting and I woke up to a gorgeous panoramic view of the entire lake.  It is breathtaking.  There isn't a cloud in the sky.  I made it! Now it was time to enjoy the weekend.

It was a great weekend! We had great conversation about life, family, etc.  We ate some great food, drank great wine, and I ate the best gelato I have ever had! It was a stunning place to spend the a weekend.  We had a blast the entire time! Late nights and early mornings left us both exhausted by Sunday! It was a perfect weekend.

Como is very small. It is a quaint city where you can walk around, hang out on the lake, eat, and really just relax.  It wasn't too crowded.  We didn't run in to George Cluney.  The people were nice! The town was precious.  It was million times cheaper than Switzerland!

I planned to be at the train station extremely early.  I got in to Como (we were staying in Cernobbio which was a 10 minute boat ride from Como). I got there early enough to get another gelato and make it to the station with plenty of time to spare.  I got back "home" (not sure if I am ready to use that word quite yet) where my perfect dress weather had turned into pouring rain!

So my adventures have really begun! Being in Italy made me ready to back! I am so excited to continue to plan trips. I love that I spent my weekend in Italy and will be in Germany next weekend. I am excited to plan my 2 weeks of backpacking around Christmas/New Year's Eve.  I am ready to start exploring. I am ready to be out of my comfort zone and figure things out in new places when I haven't a clue. I love to meet new people and hear their stories! This is my life and I am loving it!

You can click on the album if you want to see bigger versions of the pictures! Again, Google is amazing! 

Absolutely Breathtaking

I was walking home from my bus stop after a lovely day in Zurich (more on that at the bottom) when I literally just stopped walking. I looked up and between the grocery store and some houses was a breathtaking view of the mountains.  I have had a few clear days but today was incomparable to any of those. 

I was heading back to take a quick nap before picking the kiddies up from school. Instead, I made it my mission to get pictures.  I drove down the lake and just sat there for a few minutes. I cannot believe how incredibly gorgeous this place is. I am constantly in awe of the landscape! Below are a few pictures I took and the link the whole album.  I want to emphasize how incredible close the mountains looked from other angles while I was driving and how much these few pictures to not give justice to how beautiful it is in real life! If that can't get you to come visit, I don't know what will! =) (hint. hint.)

If you Click this Picture it will take you the whole album!

I have had a lovely week so far.  My trips around Europe and Switzerland are beginning to be planned. The kids and I are managing to be on some sore of schedule.  This is only because I ask them to do things about 20 times and about 20 minutes before they need to be done.  For instance the bus comes at 8:20am.  We are ready by 8:10am pretty much everyday because at 8am I panic and my freakish need to be punctual kicks in. Anyway, I am getting better with the family and trying to integrate as much as possible when I am around. At the same time it is nice to shut myself in my room and have time to chat, send emails, etc.

I have met a few new aupairs that I really like. It is nice that the new ones are coming in. There are quite a few that are a bit younger than me. I am now friends with someone who was born in 1992! I cannot imagine moving to another country at that age. Most of them are coming from within Europe so home isn't too far, but nonetheless, it is impressive.

I have really enjoyed Skyping, Gmail chatting, video chatting, etc. with everyone that I have been able to! I would love to set up a time to chat with you..yes you! It is a little difficult at times but I am willing to wake up at crazy hours to accommodate you (well those of you I really like).  I was thinking about doing this 10 years ago or so and I don't think I could do it. I would have been so much more isolated from everyone I know and love. I know that it would be impossible for me.  So with technology comes new doors and opportunities to move away from your family yet still be able to talk like we are sitting in the same room (not as good but it can work for a year!).

Note: I have made some changes to my blog. I am now trying to label entries. I have also attached my Picasa account to my blog. So on the right side you can click on the thumbnails and it should send you to my albums to check out! Again, I love google! Sharing my life with the world is becoming a million times easier! And as my Mom said, google know EVERYTHING I am doing but I think I can support that!