saturday (yesterday):
2:30pm - we cross the border from germany into switzerland on our train. the first views we get are of this huge lake (the map tells me it is bodensee) with the alps behind it. gorgeous. i am happy.
5:59pm - we get off the train in bern to switch to the train that will take us to interlaken. we were initially kind of freaked out about this because we had 7 minutes to change trains and we were worried we would miss the connection. we talked to two swiss guys on the train who informed us that we wouldn't miss our train because the trains are perfectly timed for people to make just such connections. in fact, we just had to cross the platform and get on the train right next to us. the swiss are so considerate. we continue to be happy.
6:01pm - we make our connection perfectly and are on the train to interlaken. i am still happy.
6:02pm - while sitting on the train, looking out the window at the train we just got out of, i realize i have left my very cute new pink rain jacket on the previous train. i panic. do i run off the train, onto the previous train, find the jacket (i know exactly where i left it), run back out, and get on our new train before either train leaves? this seems risky and potentially tragic. so i sit there looking at the train that contains my jacket and feeling really really sad.
6:04pm - our train leaves the station, and i wave goodbye to my rain jacket. i am very sad.
7:00pm - we arrive in interlaken. it is raining. i have no jacket. we walk to the hostel in the rain. i am even sadder.
7:30pm - we leave the hostel to find a place to eat dinner. it is raining even harder. i buy a blue poncho made of thin plastic that is so large my entire family could fit under it. it costs 3 swiss francs (1 swiss franc = $0.98). we walk to dinner and eat some really mediocre thai food. (do not judge us for eating thai food in switzerland. life was very bad at this point.)
9:00pm - we get lost in the rain trying to find out way back to the hostel. I HATE THE MAP OUR HOSTEL GAVE US. we walk through town looking for a store that sells rain jackets. none of them say they are open on sundays because ALL OF EUROPE SHUTS DOWN ON SUNDAYS. we get back to the hostel. it is still raining. i am still sad, but my belly is full of warm food. we look online for the weather forecast for today (sunday). 70% chance of rain all day. we only have one full day in interlaken and it is going to rain AND I HAVE NO RAIN JACKET? i am super sad.
10:40pm - i talk to becky online. she makes me feel better.
sunday (today):
5:30am - the girl who is sharing the room with us wakes up. she spends the next 90 MINUTES getting ready. SHE TURNS ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHT TO PUT HER MAKE UP ON. i ask her to turn it off in my meanest early morning voice. for those of you who have heard it, you know how mean it is. she turns the light off, but continues to tootle around the room doing GOD KNOW WHAT until 7am. then she leaves. perfect timing - that's when we wanted to get up! thanks, korean girl whose name we don't know.
7:00am - we get out of bed because the only chance of sunshine is in the morning.
7:30am - we eat the best free breakfast EVER. life is improving.
8:30am - we walk through town, we rent a motorized scooter (like a vespa, for those who know what that is) so we can explore the area a little better. jenny drives with me behind her. we almost die. jenny's driving improves dramatically over the next two hours. we buy food for lunch, train tickets to geneva for tomorrow, and MAGICALLY THERE IS A STORE OPEN THAT SELLS RAIN JACKETS! i buy one. it is almost as awesome as my wonderful pink one that is now touring the swiss countryside on a train. i am happy. it starts to rain. i am sad, but happy that i have a rain jacket to wear.
switzerland, i am giving you a second chance, particularly because the rain has stopped, our hostel is awesome, and what i can see of interlaken through the clouds is really beautiful.
3 comments:
You poor darling! I know all too well how a lovely vacation can turn quickly into the 9th level of hell. But hooray for finding a rain jacket! and not wrecking the scooter thing! One of my brothers lived in Aberdeen for a semester and he had SUCH stories about crashing scooters! And terrible wounds to prove it:( I'm delighted that Jenny saved you from a similar fate!
This posting has been a roller coaster of emotions! I am exhausted.
Since I talked to you I don't really have much to post, other than I have a strong visual of your jacket on the train zooming around the Alps. I've certainly personified it. Today, it's sad/resentful that you left it behind. It's feeling abandoned.
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