A Farewell Tour

My last day in Paris. *sobs pathetically* I know I've said this a bajillion (its a word!) times, but J'adore Paris!!!! I don't wanna leave.

HOWEVER, I am also kind of ready to go home. To Germany. Not home to the US. I've been traveling for about 10 or 11 days and I'm kind of tired of living out of a suitcase. Not that I don't sort of live out of one in Weimar, but it is more homey than hotels and this tiny hostel in Montmartre.

Anywhoodle, I spent the day in the surrounding area of Montmartre. I haven't really been to this part of Paris much so I went exploring. First up, my new favorite boulangerie - Grenier a pain - for some croissants. But it was CLOSED! *cries* So I went to another local boulangerie, not as good, but still better than most places in the US! Then off to the nearby Sacre Coeur. The beautiful basilica is right smack in the middle of Montmartre. And only a few streets away from my hostel! Whee!

The white of the basilica is incredible against a sunny blue sky. It almost looks fake!

When I went up there, I wasn't going to go in. But I thought, what the heck, why not. So I did. And I was so glad that I did because they were having a mass there. It was about 1/2 over, but I caught a good portion of it. I said a prayer for my Mumsy for God to watch over her. And I loved the little nuns who were singing during the mass. One was playing a dulcimer like instrument. Not sure what it was, but it filled the hall. It was so pretty. What a wonderful moment.

Nearby Sacre Coeur is Place du Tetre. Arguably my favorite place in all of Paris. It is basically a square full of cafes. But in the center artists gather to pain and to sell their works. I bought a piece last time I was there, it is still one of my favorite things that I own. I saw it from across the square, it almost called to me. Luckily nothing called to me this time. ha ha! I don't have that kind of cash right now!

Place du Tetre is also filled with beautiful alleys and side-streets that look almost untouched sometimes. There were a lot more people this time, so there weren't many streets that weren't packed. The last time I was here, there was barely anyone. Interesting.

One of my goals on this trip was to spend 1/2 a day just sitting in a cafe and watching the artists do their thing. I did find one cafe and had an amazing quiche and sat under the outdoor heaters as it was a cold day. But I didn't spend as much time there as I wanted to. I was badgered by caricature artists again and again and decided to continue exploring.

Speaking of being badgered. There are people all over the city asking people to sign some sort of petition. They say it is something to do with deaf people and walk around in silence. But its sketchy. Hard to describe but trust me it is. Plus, I'm not French and I don't get involved in Politics, so no. But I was talking to my Mom on the phone and this girl thrusts her clipboard in my face while I'm talking. So I gently pushed her clipboard out of the way so I could continue on my way, I mean, that's just rude. I'm on the phone, dude. So she hit me and started yelling at me in French. Deaf my ass. Bitch. I found it hilarious.

I was also badgered by some asshole when I was walking around at night taking some pictures. I have no idea what he wanted because I was ignoring him. But he followed me for several blocks until he tried to touch me to which I elbowed him in the side. Jerk. I found this annoying. Not as amusing as the girl. What is with the touchy people in France? Sheesh. It wasn't a big deal. It doesn't really bother me. But I don't find people who get that physical back home in the states. Or maybe that's just cuz I am a Glamazon and people don't fuck with me at home. *shrug*

The sun started to disappear behind the clouds, the cold became more fierce and rain looked imminent. So I went back to the hostel for a few minutes to warm up and figure out my evening. I'd been wanting to spend more time in the Latin Quarter after my Anna tour yesterday. So I decided to go there for dinner. First though, I went to the Tuleries to sit and read and relax for a bit. Bad idea. It was FREEZING. The sun came back out, but the wind picked up. Luckily the trains are quite warm, so after about an hour shivering, I got on the metro to the Latin Quarter. I grabbed some dinner at a local restaurant. It wasn't anything remarkable and made me feel icky afterward. It happens. But after dinner, I decided to take a farewell tour of Paris. I mean, who knows when I will be back, right?

Notre Dame was close by, so that was my first stop. I haven't seen it straight on all lit up at night. Only from the side. So cool! Almost otherworldly! I expected Quasimoto to run out of the bell tower yelling "SANCTUARY!!!!!".

Next stop: Sacre Coeur.

I've never seen it at night. I was always a bit afraid of the area. Montmartre is home to the red light disctrict, which is where I was badgered by that guy. But its surprisingly safe. I mean, there are families walking and everything. Not a big deal. But like everywhere really, you need to keep a watchful eye out just in case. Especially later in the evening.

Which brings us to my final stop: Moulin Rouge

I went to a show the last time I was in Paris. They are the only ones who do the original Can-Can. No one else in the city does it. Not what I expected at all. Lots of half naked people. But not seedy or gross. Actually very cool and super sparkly. And we all know that there ain't nothin wrong with a little sparkle!!! tee hee! But I really liked it, and the last time I was there was with a group, so I had like 5 secs to take a pic that came out. This time I was luckier! Its so bright!



That concludes my tour of Europe, for now. I go back to Weimar tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. Lots of work to do. No more vacation. Gotta get back on track and get myself out there for auditions and stuff. This has been such an amazing experience. I am so thankful for every single second that I've had here. Europe has always felt more like home than anywhere else in the world. I don't know when I'll be back as life has a way of throwing wrenches in the works. But I know I will be back eventually. And I cannot wait for that day!

Paris a la Anna and the French Kiss

I read young adult novels, so sue me! Sometimes I find them better than what we have to read in fiction. Feelings are more intense, moments are more thrilling. We don't always need graphic sex or swearing or what have you to enjoy something. Sometimes we crave simplicity. YA, as we affectionately call it, is simply better a great deal of the time.

That being said, one of my favorite YA novels is Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Don't be misled by the title. Its not about French kissing. Well, mostly. ;) Its a love story. One that makes me swoon every time I read it. Romance done right without what I call - the HBO shock factor -  no sex and blood necessary! One of the many many many reasons why I love it so is that it takes place in Paris. Anna is a young teenager who is sent to boarding school in Paris for her senior year of high school. She discovers things about the world and about herself that she probably wouldn't have had she remained at home in Georgia.

Anyway, having recently re-read the book and knowing that I was coming to Paris, I decided to set aside a day to do Paris Anna-style. I went through the book to see where the characters went, what they did, what they saw, even what they ate. Here is my tour of Paris through the eyes of Anna.

Part 1 - Walking the Seine, Point zero, Notre Dame and Shakespeare and company

The Seine is as romantic as it gets in some places. Others, not so much. But this time, waking up to Notre Dame along her banks, I reveled in the feeling of being in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  It was a dreary day, with the threat of rain looming. But I wouldn't let that ruin my day of Anna.

I started by walking along the Seine, taking in Notre Dame in all of her glory.

After arriving at Notre Dame, I found Point zero des routes de France which is where all points are measured from in France! It is located right in front of Notre Dame. They say that if you stand on it and make a wish, it will come true. So naturally, like Anna, I stood on it and wished my hardest! My wish wasn't what was best for me...but I can't tell you what it was! Then it wouldn't come true!

Next stop - Shakespeare and Company. A bookstore where the books are only in English! You can spend hours and hours in the shelves. Poetry, Fiction, Fantasy, Literature, Biographies cover the walls. Old and new books fill the air with the delicious scent of books. What a wonderful place! I purchased a few books, including a collection of poetry by Pablo Neruda. I also looked for a copy of Anna but alas, they were out. I wonder if perhaps people had the same idea as I did...




Anna also visits The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and cimitiere Pere Lachaise in the book. I have been to all of those places several times, so I skipped out today. But they are so beautiful. Pere Lachaise in particular is amazing. A cemetery filled with famous names like Composer Georges Bizet, Dancer Isadora Duncan, Author Oscar Wilde and of course "The Doors" frontman Jim Morrison. Tombs and Monuments cover the area with looming visions of angels and demons. Its a sight to see.

Part 2 - Cafe Angeline, Luxembourg Gardens Pantheon and a few surprises!

By this time, it was raining and getting quite a bit colder than earlier in the day, so I went to Cafe Angelina where they have a very famous "Chocolat Chaud" aka Hot Chocolate. The drink can barely be called that as the chocolate is so thick it slowly dribbles out of the cup giving you a warm and toasty feeling when it hits your palate.

I got a special macaroon dessert. At Cafe Angelina it is called "Olympe" and it is a candied violet incrusted macaroon biscuit with strawberry-raspberry sweet jelly, light violet mousse and fresh raspberries. AKA HEAVEN ON A PLATE!


After feeling warm and toasty and almost sick from the rich sweets, I braved the weather which had settled a bit and went to The Luxembourg Gardens. The Palais du Luxembourg is the seat of the French Senate. It originally belonged to the Duke of Luxembourg in the 16th century. The grounds are littered with fountains, statues of great women leaders and flowers blooming all year long. The grounds are vast and lovely.

I actually got to sing here in the gardens when I was only 16! It was so wonderful to be back and see it through different eyes!

The Pantheon resembles the capital building in the US only on a much grander scale. It was originally built as a church but now stands as a mausoleum for many of France's most noted residents. The likes of Voltaire, Emile Zola and Victor Hugo are buried in the crypts.

I didn't have the stomach to go down into the crypts. I did that once recently at another cathedral  and got a bit light headed and short of breath. I've never had claustrophobia before, it was very sudden. But I certainly don't wish to repeat that feeling!

My first little surprise was to discover Eglise St Etienne du Mond. The church has little significance to the tourists of Paris. But in Anna's world, it holds a very special significance! It is absolutely beautiful. It was built after the Pantheon to house the relics of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, when the Pantheon was made into a mausoleum instead of a church. It was right next to the Pantheon. I had no idea so I was giddy when I found it!

My last discovery in Anna's world was the Cinema Le Champo. The theater plays only old movies both in English and in French. I found it walking down from the Sorbonne. I looked up and there it was! I was so hoping that something good was playing, but alas, it was not meant to be. So I didn't get to see a classic film in one of the best cities for film, but I did get to spend a day in the shoes of one of my favorite literary characters!

While I was walking through town, I stopped at a press stand and picked up a copy of "La Pariscope". It is the guide to all things theater and arts in the city. Published every Wednesday, it contains info on every theater and every cinema and anything artsy that you could want. When I told the press stand owner why I wanted it on the eve before the new one comes out, he gave me the copy. Who says Parisians aren't nice???

I came back to the hotel a little wet from the weather, but filled with happiness from the little  journey and discoveries that I made along the way!

J'adore Paris and other fabulous things

I am exhaustified. Which is weird. I think I'm becoming a little travel-weary. Not that its going to stop me from enjoying myself! It just means I crash a lot harder @ night.

It was a beautiful day in Paris. A little overcast, but not cold and not dreary. I slept in a bit since I didn't get the best night's sleep. I looked up a few boulangeries (bakeries) in the area to get some breakfast. I found Le Grenier a Pain near my hotel in Monmartre.  I really wanted to do a few things that I didn't get to do the last time that I was here, so I went to the Tuleries Gardens where Musee de l'Orangerie is located. The museum is home to paintings by Gougin, Cesanne, Renoir and Picasso. But it especially peaks my interest because it houses none other than Monet's Les Nymphéas aka The Water Lilies. 

In my opinion, they are the most beautiful paintings in existence. I'm not into art. Not entirely. But I do have a thing for the impressionists. It is all how they see things and I find such beauty in their point of view. But Monet's water lilies just stir something in me. We have a few small paintings of the lilies at the MOA in Boston. I've seen them a few times. But these paintings far outshine those. There are 2 rooms that span all four walls of each room. Each canvas is basically one part of Monet's gardens in Giverny. The 2 rooms show the water lilies at 2 different times of day. So the shadows are different and the lighting is different. It amazing. 

I think it the paintings are more significant somehow since I've been to Monet's house in Giverny. To think that I have walked among those very same blooms that he has painted is...remarkable. Those gardens are unbelievable. Even 5 years later, I still remember seeing each indivdual flower, each tree, all planted by Monet. When you walked into the garden, there was an instant sense of repose. It was tranquil. It is a powerful experience to know that you have walked in the same steps as someone so great. I wish I were a poet or an author that could twist words to explain how fantastic this whole experience has been. Sadly, I lack the ability to verbalize what I am thinking. I think you can see from some of the pictures what I mean. And that will have to do. 


After walking through the other galleries in the Museum, I walked through the Tuleries to have some lunch in an outdoor cafe. I had a little friend join me the whole time I ate. A little bird who was hoping to snag some bread. He was so unafraid. Smiling at me, trying to convince me that he needed to be fed. Adorable. Lunch was finished so I walked to the Metro to go to Opera Garnier. The Metro system in Paris is the train system. It is excellent. Rarely late. Very efficient and really easy to navigate. 

The Old Opera house - Palais Garnier - is the stuff of legend. It is where an incident of a chandelier falling and killing 1 person inspired Gaston Leroux to write "The Phantom of the Opera". I can see why. When I went inside, it was hard not to feel that creepy almost otherworldly feeling. The lights are dim. The halls are HUGE and the grand staircase and chandeliers look foreboding. You can almost see things when you turn a corner. 


That isn't to say it isn't magnificent. The halls and walls are filled with busts of famous composers. Each section different from the other. There are bursts of light from window lit windows and doors. And dim lighting from jeweled chandeliers 

hanging low overhead. There are velvet walled and carpeted rooms leading to private boxes and everywhere you look there is marble.


Sadly, the opera house is not really used for opera anymore. The new Opera Bastille houses most of the operas performed in Paris. I saw a production there a few years ago. It is very modern. Very different. There are many concerts and ballets performed there, though. I would have loved to have seen something there in its hey-day. What an experience that would have been! 


The Opera house has a large gift shop where you can buy posters, ballet shoes, little souvenirs, and best of all - operas on CD and DVD. Their collection is vast. There are so many operas from all over the world. Its is fantastic! I bought one that I loved to commemorate the occasion. It was pricey to gain entrance to the house, but I found it well worth it. I didn't get to spend any time there the last time I was in Paris as the house was closed to visitors so I was thrilled that I got to see it in all of its glory. 


Down the street from the opera house is Eglise Madeleine. It is a church that is constructed in the style of a Greek temple. It is also huge. The French don't do "small". lol. There are tons of concerts held there all of the time. I went in to say a prayer for my family and as I was about to get up a chorus of children began to sing. It was very moving. There's something about hearing religious music sung in an old church. It is uplifting. I remember when I sang in Notre Dame in a chorus when I was 16 and our voices filled the entire church. It was a high. We all came out of there rosy cheeked and bright eyed. Amazing. This was similar, but more emotional than uplifting. 


Across from Eglise Madeleine is the Rue Royale which is home to designer boutiques like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. There were high fashion high brows walking up and down the streets. There was even a fashion shoot going on nearby! Now, it is no secret that I have expensive taste. I will admit that I was getting that itch to go in and browse. But I didn't. Being a poor artist has made all of those things beyond my means. I have many designer things that I can revel in when I get home. I'm quite proud of myself, actually. Usually I can't resist. Luckiy Versace is located far on the other side of the city, otherwise I would have been screwed! HA HA HA! There were many couples walking by. Guys holding many bags for their women. I want a sugar daddy! Anyone want to volunteer? All I want is for someone to buy me pretty things! I think I deserve them, don't you? ;)


On that same street is Maxim's a well-known restaurant that has been around since the 1800s. Everytime I walk by I feel the need to watch "Gigi" with Maurice Chevalier and Leslie Caron. I love it! Then that movie always makes me want to watch "Can Can" with Shirley Mcclaine and Frank Sinatra. Especially since I am in Monmartre where much of Can Can and Gigi were filmed! They don't make movies like that anymore! The classics are truly the best.

To finish out my day, I went to L'Arc de Triomphe to see it lit up at night. The busy streets around it are rarely quiet. Which can add to its charm sometimes. The Champs-Elysee is the main road leading from the Arc and is also lit up at night. Everything sparkles in the evening. Its magical.

One thing I noticed is that music is everywhere, its nice, but can be annoying. Allow me to explain. Walking down the street or in the gardens and hearing "La Vie en Rose" or the like gives Paris it's ambiance. Well, adds to it really. But what I mean by "annoying" is when riding the train, people begging for money play various instruments as loudly as they can and pester your for a euro or two. While most are actually very talented, when you are exhausted and want to just get home, having someone playing a trumpet in your ear is the last thing you want to hear. However, there are moments where I appreciate it. There are sometimes large ensembles with string instruments and brass almost a full orchestra that play in the train stations. They are mostly unknowns who are trying to get their name out there, handing out cds and such. I appreciate that. They are just trying to catch a break, not badger you for money and complain when you don't give them any. Anyway, in a city where the arts are so appreciated, it is difficult to judge or turn away when you have no money to give.

I love Paris in the springtime, I love Paris in the fall...

I love Paris in the summer, when it sizzles. I love Paris in the winter, when it drizzles.

Sorry, got carried away. In case you didn't figure it out by now, I am in PARIS!!! No, not Paris, Texas. The one and only Paris, France. And oh does it feel wonderful to be back. Its like an old friend. Always welcoming, always friendly, always happy. Always the same and yet different everytime I come to visit.  I make no qualms about how much I love it here. It has always been, and will always be one of my favorite places in the world.

Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to the mountains. I didn't want to leave. But I had definitely had my fill of the mountains. So that wonderful mountain-girl feeling should last me a while. (I have no idea what that means either, just go with it.) I got on the train to Frankfurt (5 hour ride) and I realized about 1/2 way there that I forgot my macbook charger in the hotel room. Everyone say it with me now "FUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKK!". Yup, it was bad. How e'er, due to some macbook drama during my 1st few days in Germany, I remembered that there is an Apple Store in Frankfurt. WOO HOO! Not woo hoo, we weren't pulling into Frankfurt until 8ish on saturday night and Sundays EVERYTHING is closed. So I called up one of my roomies in Weimar and had her check out the times for me. Luckily, they closed @ 9. Ok, don't panic. I didn't. So, I got off the train, stored my luggage in the lockers (GOD BLESS THOSE LOCKERS! We need those in the US) and ran the .8 miles of streets to get there. Thankfully, I got there and they were SO NICE!!!! OMG!  God Bless you Apple! Talk about fantastic service all over the world. I will never ever ever buy a PC again.

Anyway, this morning I woke up from my hotel in Frankfurt for the night. I couldn't work out a schedule where I could take the train directly to the airport and fly out. The schedule just didn't work. So, overnight in Frankfurt.  Woke up, ate breakfast and off to the airport!

Paris is only an hour away. 50 mins by plane, actually! And dirt cheap if you book early enough! I got to the airport, got a visitor's pass and hopped on the train to the city. Took about an hour. It was overcrowded. Sundays tend to be like that. But I got to Pigalle and realized where I was. In Monmartre. Which is where the "real" Paris is. All the red light district areas and tiny hotels and crazy people. However, at the same time, its sort of Posh. Its very safe at night now. My hotel is literally 2 blocks down from Moulin Rouge. :)  Its very artsy. Monmartre is known for its inspiring corners and alleys. Picasso loved it here.

My hotel is tiny, and kind of gross and exactly what you expect the "real" Paris to be like. No frills. And I love it. I don't know why, but I do. I mean, its TINY. I'm not exaggerating. Its fantastic. The front desk has 2 "house" cats that sit at the desk the whole day. Just lazing about. I love fluffy kitties! I already want to take one home with me! Its more of a hotel actually. Which is fine. The bathroom is miniscule and there is like 1 tiny shower for 20 people. That will be interesting. But again, I don't care! I love it!

So to re-acclimate myself with the city, and since it was getting kind of dark out, I went to the first place that I could think of that would look nice at night.  La Tour Eiffel. God, its magnificent. It just is. There were TONS of tourists. Which I found interesting. I was here a few years ago during the fall and there weren't 1/2 as many people as there were today. Maybe cuz it is a weekend? I'm not sure. But I slogged my way through the tourists, found a creperie and sat down on the ground in the park. This was interesting because I've never seen the grass in the park open for the public to meander on before. I loved it. People sitting, sharing wine, admiring the view. Seeing people's faces when they see the tower is entertaining. I can appreciate the awe. It is incredible.

Love is everywhere here. Its everywhere you look. In every person, in every sight to see. Its called the city of love for a reason. It is infectious and delicious. And kind of bittersweet.

Paris is special. And I don't mean special ed. There is just something about it. It is difficult to describe. Its unlike anywhere else in the world. I guess you can say that about most places, but everytime I come here I get a warm homey feeling that makes it different. A sense of belonging. I don't really know why people hate the French people. In my travels, I have found the Germans to be fare more gruff and the Italians to be far more rude. The French can actually be quite warm, if you don't act like a moron, that is. I mean, we all hate it when tourists don't speak our language. I know I do! Anyway, this city is incredible. There is beauty everywhere you look. The history of this place is intriguing. We don't have this sort of history in America. That is true for all of Europe, really.

I love it here. I really do. I was a little apprehensive about coming here due to financial things and things at home in the US. But I know now that it was absolutely the right thing to do. I needed it. Its good for the soul. I can't wait to re-discover Paris. :)

Luzern - where I hang out with swans

It was a cold and dreary day today. It wasn't supposed to be. It was actually supposed to be sunny and cooler not grey and yucky. I woke up early to catch a train to Luzern. I've seen so much of Interlaken and the neighboring towns, mtns and lakes that I figured it was time for a little excursion to a more urban location. Luzern is only about 2 hours away by train. Closer by car! I figured why the heck not?

I got there before noon. It was unexpectedly cold. I left my warm coat back at the hotel because I didn't expect it to be that chilly. So that was downside number one. I did a little research on things I wanted to see the night before. There was this really touristy restaurant that has local folk afternoons and nights. They do it up w/ a swiss floorshow. Ridiculous, but something I wanted to see. I found it right away, but they now only have evening shows. Beh!



So I headed to see the Lion Monument - "The Dying Lion of Luzern" which was dedicated to fallen Swiss soldiers. It is supposed to be something really touching to see. Mark Twain said it is "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in this world". I didn't get to see it. I got lost. I never get lost. It was so strange. So I just doubled back and went to where I started. I already walked so far and did not want to attempt it again. Onto the next thing! I wanted to check out the Musegg Wall which is a wall with several towers that runs the length of part of Luzern up high on the hill. It is supposed to be an amazing view. I trekked up there. It was closed. *pout* You can see where this is going. I didn't exactly have the best day. It was just a bummer. I mean yes, it is beautiful. It is Switzerland. Its Europe! But it was just one of those days where things just weren't right. I didn't appreciate it as much as I wanted to. Maybe when I go back and look at pictures, I will think of it more fondly.

It wasn't all bad though! I mean, I was cold and tired. But there were some sweet moments. For example: the swans. They are everywhere. I mean everywhere. To me, swans are some of the most beautiful creatures in existence. The are the epitome of grace. And they can be mean little bastards! These were sweet though. They were very friendly. I think they're just used to all of the people around. There were 2 that were walking around amongst the tourists, looking for handouts. One saw me eating a sandwich and came over and stared me down until I gave it some of my bread. Then I couldn't resist and it kept demanding more. All of a sudden most of my sandwich is gone. Ha!
It also clung onto my thumb when it snatched the last piece of bread out of my hand. But I didn't mind. It was amazing, really. They are quite large. This one in particular came up to my elbow w/ out stretching its head up completely. A lot of people were kind of afraid of them. I've seen them attack, so I don't blame them. But these were pretty docile. And quite amusing. I sat and watched them for a while and giggled profusely. I know, I'm a dork.

Let's see, what did I see? The first thing I saw was the bridge in the pic above. The Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower. It was built in the 1st half of the 14th century. And it is all wood. There are beautiful paintings painted on each section of the bridge. They are each different and tell stories of local saints, local history and legends. They are very intricate. Across from the bridge is the Jesuit church. It was built in the 1600s. It is stunning inside. They have a large organ which was actually being played when I went inside. It added to the ambiance and gave me a sense of peace. My mother started chemotherapy today and I went to pray for her. The organ was comforting in so many ways. Music has a way of doing that. Its one of the reasons why I became a singer, actually. Ok, going off on tangents again! I guess there are popular organ concerts at the church a few times a month. I wish I could have been there for one of them. I stayed in the vicinity of the bridges. That is where there is the most to see. The Spreuer Bridge which is also wooden and built in the 1400s. The Hof Church which was built during the Renaissance Period. The Franciscan Monastery had this beautiful fountain that had a Franciscan monk holding a cross at the top. It was SO quiet there. It was almost otherworldly.

The cold was starting to get to me. Luckily there is a train back to Interlaken every hour. So I hopped on the train back. There was a beautiful village called Giswil on the way. It is the quintessential Swiss village. I loved it. I got snap happy with the camera on the way back as I didn't get a chance to get a pic on the way to Luzern. Its gorgeous. I was so bummed that it was so overcast. It must be amazing with the sun shining down.

That's about it for my day. Not very eventful. I'm getting a little weary of all of the travel. Not the trip itself. I'm just tired. I need a vaycay from my vaycay! LOL! Tomorrow I go back to Frankfurt and then onto my next destination! Whee!

Fuzzy Cows, Funiculars and Fondue!

I had an uneventful day today. Well, less eventuful anyway. For some reason I was exhausted. (It couldn't possibly be the trip up about 13,000 ft now, could it?) So I had every intention of sleeping in. Which I did! Thank you for my new room in my new huge bed at my hotel! Comfeh!!! Right, back to the story. I thought I would take a lake/castle cruise on Lake Thun (aka Thunersee in German). How e'er it was not meant to be as the schedule for the boats on both lakes is wonky as all hell. So, I settled for going to see the Giessbach falls on Lake Brienz (aka Briensersee in Swiss-ish).

I heard tell that the falls are quite lovely as is the trip to see them. I am certainly not one to give up a chance to see waterfalls, so I walked my fabulous self all the way to Interlaken Ost (which is where everything leaves from and is about a mile away) and got myself a ticket on the boat. Turns out the boat does this weird trip where it stops on the lake several times by going back and forth in a zig-zaggy motion. Weird, but you get to see almost the whole lake.

The water on the lake is soooo blue. Actually its more teal. It is almost unnatural. They don't really know why it is that color. But nothing has been added to it to make it that turquoisey-teal hue. Its quite something to behold.

Giessbach was about 1/2 way through the trip to Brienz which is on the other side of the lake. It took about an hour to get there. The Giessbach Falls are famous. There is a hotel situated right next to the falls. It costs an arm, a leg and several other appendages to stay there. But it is stunning. I'm getting ahead of myself. I had to take a funicular to get up to the hotel. It is actually the oldest funicular in all of Europe. It was built in 1879 and is absolutely gorgeous. It takes you all the way up to the hotel and goes right over the falls on the way, giving lots of pic opportunities. Its a small but steep hill, so it only takes a few minutes to get up there.

The falls are gorgeous. Totally worth the trip. I didn't have much time there sadly. The boat schedule, as I mentioned earlier, is completely wonky and ridonkulous, so I only had about 25 mins up near the falls. But I took lots of pictures! There are several places on the way up that have bridges where you can stand directly above the falls. Its very cool. I wish I had more time, but I only got up to the 1st platform/bridge. The view from there was well worth it though! As you can see, you could almost touch the water. And the hotel's view is really something special. No wonder it costs so much!

I took the funicular back down. It is run by this tiny old man who you want to hug on site. Seriously, he was adorable. I told him so, he said people say that all of the time. I'm sure he gets badgered for pics all of the time, so I didn't ask for one. I'm not that crazy tourist girl. ;)

The trip back felt longer. But it was equally as lovely. The sun was shining on different parts of the lake and the mountains were covered by new cloud formations. It felt so good to be doing nothing for once. Not learning music, not working, not reading, not searching. Just seeing and being and taking it all in. This trip was really needed. I needed a break from life and everything involved in it. I will be heading home in a few weeks time and then I have to face reality and I don't even want to think about that so on with the story of the day!

FUZZY COWS! They are everywhere. With their tinkly bells and cuteness. I can't even deal with it. We don't have fuzzy cows like this in the states. I have no idea what they are actually called, but I want one. Or 10. I love animals and farm animals especially are precious to me. Its all those years of riding. I can't help it. Unfortunately, everytime I try to take a picture of one, the train moves or the boat turns, or the cow goes away. But trust me. Fuzzy cows are awesome.

So to continue with my leisurely day, I went back to my hotel to enjoy my balcony for the last time. *sobs* I am going to another city tomorrow and I have to change hotels anyway because this one doesn't have rooms avialable. So no more beautiful balcony. I love it so much that I am sitting on it right now in the dark freezing my bum off. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME LEAVE! *cling* I kid. Its lovely and I will miss it, so I wanted to take advantage of it while I could. I need to get me a balcony if I ever get my own place of some sort. Though, at this point I'll probs live in a cardboard box in an alley! ;)

I have discovered that I am not a hostel girl. Nope. I can't do it. Its not for me. I'm not that much of a people person. Ok, its not that I'm not a people person, its that I can't sleep in the same room with a bunch of strangers who can kill me in my sleep! I'm not down with that people. Its not in my Gilsosophy. But that's ok. So I spent much of the afternoon looking up hotels for my next destination on Sunday which is a surprise! WHEE!!!

My fantastic and fab mother has been telling me that I need to have fondue while I'm here. Well, of course I do! Its the land of fondue for goodness sake! So I looked up a few tourist tra places that serve it and went in search of Bebbi's. Yup, Bebbi's. Ya know what I discovered? Me no likey fondue. Not a fondue fan, if you will. It was the cheese. It was strong in a weird way. I was honestly disappointed. But yes, I am one of those people who takes pics of their food. So here you go!


So that's about it for my day. And pretty much it for Interlaken, I think. Tomorrow I am going to Lucerne as it is only a few hours away. I will be coming back to Interlaken tomorrow night and then I head to Frankfurt on Saturday morning, so that's it for my adventures here between the lakes. *sigh* I don't wanna leave! But after Frankfurt for 1 night, I am going to one of my favorite places in the world! You'll see what I mean!

Why, yes, I was at the top of Europe.

No, so not kidding. I really was. Lemme splain. No, lemme sum up. ;)

So I woke up with the intention of going to Jungfraujoch aka "The Top of Europe". It is on top of Mount Jungfrau and is the highest train station in the world. 11,333ft above sea level. Whoa. It was a bit cloudy when I woke up today, which made me a little leery of trying to get up there. But as luck would have it, my hotel had to switch my room (that's what happens when you book last minute) so I had to be out of the room most of the day anyway. Plus, I was ITCHING to get up into the mountains! So, to Jugfrau I went.

Wow. Just wow. It was worth the ridiculously expensive trip and the 2&1/2 hours and 2 train switches...but we'll get to that later...

I got to Interlaken Ost train station, and as luck would have it, there was a train leaving for Grindelwald in about 20 mins. Woo hoo! So, I hopped on the train and enjoyed the ride for the hour it took us to get to the station, and as you can see, the view was not too shabby.

On the way there, I saw tons of waterfalls. Tons. I imagine that there are several more now due to all of the floods from the rain they had here last week. I still can't believe what happened to tracks at Lauterbrunnen. But I'm certainly not adverse to seeing waterfalls!

We got to Grindelwald station and had to wait a few minutes for the train to Kleine Scheidegg. I got to walk around Grindelwald very shortly. It is a very small village. But it is not without its charm. It has gondolas taking people up to First and small Swiss Chalets. Every village is similar, but they all seem to have their own charm somehow. It is difficult to explain. But I found Grindelwald to be particularly beautiful. Perhaps because of the valley it lies in. And the way it is surrounded by mountains. I'm not sure. But trust me, it is lovely.


Anywho, we hopped on the train to Kleine Scheidegg. Holy crap was it slow. It took forever. Obviously because it is a cogwheel train system and it is climbing thousands of feet. Ok, it wasn't that long. And the views were spectacular. But it felt long. So there! I got really snap happy with my camera on the way up and down. Lots of pics on my facebook to share!

FINALLY the train stops at Kleine Scheidegg. Everyone off the train! So I hop on my final train to Jungfraujoch! EEE! Beautiful views abounded for about 10 mins. And then into the mountain we went... um. Wert? Yup, into the mountain and up. It was quite narrow. There were inches between the train and the hard jagged rock walls. A bit freaky. But kind of cool. The jungfraubahn is actually going to turn 100 years old next August. Which is amazing. The train had lots of fun facts to watch on a tv to distract people from the altitude change so that's how I learned about that. ;)

The train actually stopped 2 times on the way to help people adjust to the altitude change. We weren't moving terribly fast, but going up almost 13,000 ft from where you first began can be daunting to anyone. I didn't see anyone react badly to it, but I heard a few stories on the way down about people with headaches and the like.

First stop was Eigerwand. Which is 9,400 ft up. It had a few viewing decks. Everyone hopped off and took advantage of the 7 minutes we had at the stop and snapped a ton of pics. I did, as well, of course. You can see Grindelwald waaaay down the bottom of the pic. Kind of.

Our 7 minutes was quickly up and everyone got back on the train. At about this point, I start thinking about the altitude change. Why am I thinking about it you ask? Because I started experiencing shortness of breath. Oh, crap. I tried not to panic. I breathed very slowly and deeply. (Well, as deeply as I could with thin air.) And thankfully after a few moments, it passed. I actually made the mistake of running to the train platform during the break at Eigerwand, and they specifically told us to take it easy the whole way up and when we were there. OOPS! But I was fine. No more shortness of breath for the rest of the trip and NO HEADACHES! I was very worried about that.

10 minutes later we hit our next stop - Eismeer. Sounds like a name straight out of Lord of the Rings. But, no. Its a tiny stop on the way up to the TOP OF EUROPE! Sounds ominous, doesn't it? Eismeer is approximately 10, 368ft above sea level. It was cold and icy and looke like it would be fun to sled down!

Then again, maybe not.

Of course, none of us on the train really know how cold it is yet, as we have not been outside since Kleine Scheidegg. It wasn't so bad there. So how bad could it possibly be, right?

Well, I found out when I took my 1st step out of the train station, out of the observation deck and straight to the main plateau on the top of Jungfrau only 12 mins after leaving Eismeer. It wasn't THAT cold. I mean, yah, it was below freezing. -3 in celcius actually and the wind was so nasty that people were having a hard time standing up. But it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. When I took my steps onto the Alpine snow, (or should I say Ice?) I felt at home. I felt like I used to feel at the top of the mountains in New England. Ok, so they aren't even remotely the same. But that feeling of being at peace is the same. I often say that the mountains make me human. I know, that's weird. However, I get a strange sense of self when I am in the mountains. I feel invigorated and full of life. It is incredible. Not that I'm a thrill seeker. Me no likey all of that paragliding and mountain climbing and white water rafting. Noooooo siree, Bob! But the mountains are special to me. I am a child of nature. No, not one of THOSE. Sheesh!

ANYWAY, back to the amazingness (its a word) that is Junfraujoch. So, it was cold. And windy. And full of snow. But the views were unparalleled. I went out onto the plateau like a champ, cuz this girl knows how to walk in snow and ice! Others up there, were not so lucky. I couldn't help but snicker occasionally when people fell. I was more concerned for my own safety, though. That wind was crazeh! I was snap snap snapping pics and tried to get one of myself when a very nice couple from Tennessee offered to take a pic of me. And there I am! That little hill behind me is the actual tippity top of Jungfrau.

I love that coat. No seriously, I do. I bought it for this trip and I adore it. I know, I have a weird relationship with my clothing. When I get home, I am going to hug all of the clothes in my closet. Living out of a suitcase ain't easy! A girl needs to have some options!  TANGENT! Back on track!

After fighting the winds to stay upright, and taking a pic of it, I decided to forget all of the voices in my head telling me not to go up to the Sphinx Observation tower. What it that you ask? (See that tiny thing on the mountain to the left? That's it!) Well, I am happy to tell you that according to wikipedia, the Sphinx Observatory is an observatory that is located on Junfraujoch. Really wikipedia??? DUH! It is actually used for lots of scientific stuff like weather research, ozone research, and other kinds of research. A part of it is open to the public. I wasn't going to go. I've heard that in the wind it shifts and it terrifying. And the elevator to go up there is weird. But I soldiered on, went through a dark mountain tunnel, got on the lift and voila! I was in the observatory - observing. It was actually really beautiful inside. And quite warm. There was also an outdoor terrace which I spent all of 2 minutes on cuz it was scary as hell. Also, there was someone hanging from it while trying to fix it, so I skedaddled. But it was cool. The views were beautiful and I am very glad that I went up there.

That was about it for my time up on Jungfraujoch. The train ride home seemed much much much longer than the ride up. I was exhausted. Its a day trip. Takes almost 3 hours up and the same down. Plus an hour or two at the top. The travel is difficult but well worth it! Its hella expensive too. But I didn't care. Its something that I will never ever forget!

Observations while coming down to Interlaken: My mom once told me that when she went skiing in Switzerland, that they spent hours in traffic in the car due to the cows crossing the highway getting home to be milked. Mind you, a "highway" is a simple street here. But you get the idea. To my great delight, I was talking to my mom on the train down, when I saw a traffic jam because of a herd of fuzzy cows going up the street to their barn. No one was leading them, they just know where to go. And everyone very patiently drives behind them and waits until they get there. It was awesome. I loved seeing that. I felt giddy.

Also, I noticed something interesting. There are a few playground here. They have your typical stuff, monkey bars, swings. But they have and added bonus. Rock climbing walls. I don't know why I find that amusing, but I do. I guess they get those kids ready early for climbing all of those mountains!

Tomorrow the weather isn't supposed to be the best, so I may take a castle lake tour. Interlaken is between 2 lakes that have castles aplenty along their shores. There are also some very famous waterfalls along one of them, so I may hit those rather than try to climb another mountain. I will leave with some pics from the top of Jungfrau. Catch you later!