Dear Europe (Day 4)

The one thing I had insisted on doing while I was in Switzerland was to visit the Jung Frau. And while I was the one who originally insisted upon it during planning, everyone was super excited about by the time we got to Switzerland. So we woke up super early on day 4 and raced to our local bus station to catch the first bus out of town. Now a lot of people will suggest that you buy tickets to go up via the internet the day before. This is a brilliant plan as long as you’re not African. You see…we tried very hard to book our spots before hand, but none of the African countries were listed as “approved” on the website, so we were unable to secure our tickets and therefore had to leave as early as possible and hope for the best. Sadly….this particular dream of mine was not to come true.

We were super early and managed to catch the sunrise en route...it was spectacular! — We were super early and managed to catch the sunrise en route…it was spectacular!

We were there super early, but all the spots for the day had been filled. For a while we walked around town feeling all sulky and miff and without any real plans for the day. We had been so sure that we’d be able to go up that we never even considered the possibility of failure. Then finally we decided to have a cup of coffee and a croissant at one of the little coffee shops. I’m not sure if it really was the very best coffee and croissant I’d ever had…but it certainly felt that way and the friendly manner of the people around us and the realisation that we were in Switzerland and surrounded by beauty no matter where we went soon dawned on us again and we were determined to save the day.

The water around this area was very different - still en route — The water around this area was very different – still en route

Attempting to cheer each other up...our sulkiness was quite bad...I won't lie — Attempting to cheer each other up…our sulkiness was quite bad…I won’t lie

With some advice from my friend’s mother (who knows Switzerland better than most) we hopped on the first train to Murren. This little town was super beautiful and had amazing views, and while it might not have been going up to the Jung Frau, it was still pretty spectacular.

How gorgeous is the little town of Murren?

The train going up the mountain from Murren

More glaciers! It's a bit ridiculous how excited I got every time I spotted one of these — More glaciers! It’s a bit ridiculous how excited I got every time I spotted one of these

We ended the day with a beautiful ferry ride across Lake Lucerne from the station in Lucerne to the port closest to home. I could help but think how awesome it must be to live and work there. Take the trains/buses to work in the morning, then after work you take the ferry home, have a drink on board and see the beauty all around you. I would be the calmest and nicest person ever. No traffic, no rude people..amazing no?

Because sometimes you have to look at the world through rose tinted glasses — Because sometimes you have to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses

Dear Europe (Day 3)

Right! So on day 3 of our European adventure we traveled to Titlis, the (I think) 3rd highest peak in Switzerland. We were super excited as it would be our first chance to play in the snow.

After 3 cable car trips in total, roughly 45 mins of travel, we arrived at 10 000feet and were greeted by breathtaking beauty. The cable car ride took us through various clouds and at times visibility was zero. But the view and the experience was worth the trip. What surprised me most was the fact that it wasn’t nearly as cold as we had anticipated, despite the snow I was waltzing around in a pair of jeans, a short-sleeved shirt and a fleece top. To be honest it was a bit of a mind-boggling experience. When we started on the first cable car ride it was clearly in the middle of summer with over 30 degrees, yet there we were 45 minutes later standing on a mountain top with snow as far as the eye could see.

A group selfie as we wait for our next cable car...you'll notice that at this point we had to don our jackets:) — A group selfie as we wait for our next cable car…you’ll notice that at this point we had to don our jackets:)

: Titlis – 10 000 feet

: From the top..the cable car disappearing into the clouds

After playing around in the snow for a bit and taking about a gazillion pictures we ventured over to the Cliff Walk…the highest suspension bridge in Europe. We had been talking about this particular experience for days. I am beyond scared of heights but, as I explained it to everyone afterwards, I think my fear of missing out on a once in a lifetime experience is bigger than my fear of heights and I was determined to cross that bridge. As it turns out…i was the only one out of the four of us brave enough. The boys took all of 4 steps, took a picture and got off the bridge as fast as they could as soon as it started swaying. The other girl wouldn’t even try. So there I was, all alone with my fear but determined to conquer, and conquer I did. I walked all the way to the other side without hysterically bursting into tears and proudly got another single traveler to take pictures of me, I of course returned the favour. On my return journey I even helped a girl who was stuck in the middle of the bridge sobbing hysterically. I felt so sorry for her because I understood exactly how she felt, and everyone was just walking past her and ignoring her. During our time on Titlis the clouds would, from time to time, completely cover the mountain and for a few seconds you wouldn’t be able to see anything. This happened while we were on the bridge too and I’m not sure if not being able to see how high we were made it better or worse. But I was on a super high for the rest of the day. What an incredible experience!

Standing on the Cliff Walk. The picture gives you NO idea how high it actually is. Those tiny rocks at the bottom that almost look like gravel...bigass boulders. — Standing on the Cliff Walk. The picture gives you NO idea how high it actually is. Those tiny rocks at the bottom that almost look like gravel…bigass boulders.

That's me posing on the bridge while being swallowed by a cloud. — That’s me posing on the bridge while being swallowed by a cloud.

Proudly posing on the other side of the bride...I DID IT! (Picture courtesy of Ivor - the other single traveler) — Proudly posing on the other side of the bride…I DID IT! (Picture courtesy of Ivor – the other single traveler)

More epically thrilled smiley pictures...I came, I saw, I conquered — More epically thrilled smiley pictures…I came, I saw, I conquered

Playing in the snow.....I was hit by a snowball like 2 seconds later...luckily I noticed it when taking the picture and managed to save the camera:) — Playing in the snow…..I was hit by a snowball like 2 seconds later…luckily I noticed it when taking the picture and managed to save the camera:)

After I returned and found my friends, who patiently waited around playing in the snow while I was being brave, we headed on over to the glacier to do the glacier walk. Yep, I got to walk inside an actual glacier. It’s weird experience, knowing that you’re walking inside ice that is thousands if not hundreds of thousands of years old….being able to touch history…I was, and still am, in awe.

Our antics in the snow were followed by a lovely meal on top of Titlis. And of course we had to try out another of their local brews:) Here are some of the pics we took from our table out the windows that pretty much form the entire wall of the restaurant…i suspect it may have been the meal with the most spectacular view I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

Dear Mommy and Daddy Letters

I cannot even begin to explain how incredibly jealous I am. You guys excitedly phoned me on monday evening to inform me that it was snowing. On Tuesday morning I woke up to the following pictures on my phone:

Then in the early afternoon I received another call to inform me that it had started snowing once again. I was sorely tempted to jump in my car and head back home for a couple of days. We all know how much I love the cold and snow:) But I was informed that NONE of the roads back home were open….I couldn’t come home even if I really really wanted to. This morning these pictures from yesterday afternoon awaited me…For the record…I’m VERY jealous:(