First thing I would like to point out is that my title blog not only is “punny”, but I have literally though about this musical 3 times today. Why you ask? Because after Paris everywhere we have gone, we’ve had to pay to pee! Now a reasonable amount would be a few cents, but no. The amounts I’ve paid over the last 4 days range from 50 cents to one euro. If we transfer that into American money that’s $1.65…to pee! Doesn’t matter if it is a public restroom, one in a McDonalds, or at a gas station. For a person with a small bladder, this can be a money stealer J
Now to today! It was wonderful because I have fallen in love with a new city. But to begin the day, it started as many of our days do, with a 3-hour bus ride to the black forest in southern Germany. We learned how coo coo clocks were made and then got black forest cake (It is chocolate cake with white cream and cherries). Honestly, I expected it to be better. It just wasn’t rich enough. Afterwards we went on a small hike through some of the forest before heading back to the bus!
Our next stop (after crossing the swiss border) was the Rhine waterfall. It is the biggest one in Europe, and it was beautiful! We were there long enough to grab some fries and enjoy the sun before heading to our final stop for the night, Luzern! Switzerland is gorgeous, absolutely stunning. I thought nothing could beat Ireland, but it does! There are huge mountains everywhere, some covered in forest, some in snow, and the villages and houses are placed all over the mountains, like someone just dropped them there. There is also a huge lake right through the city that just adds to its beauty. Ah, amazing.
Once we dropped our stuff off at the hotel we headed up into the mountains for a traditional Swiss dinner. Taking a huge tour bus onto one lane roads that had some 200 foot drops on one side was scary as crap, but we made it, and we had a group of about 15 boys and girls (high school and middle school range) ringing us in with bells! It was ridiculous! They served us Swiss cheese fondue, and Sevario (our bus driver) bought us all wine. The Swiss kids played accordions, yodeled for us, danced with us, taught us a clapping game, and helped serve us. It was SO adorable and fun! The meal was a turkey stew with vegetables and potatoes that were all homemade (and super delicious). Then they took us outside to try to learn how to use whips (which all the boys knew how to do) and of course we looked like idiots cause barely any of us could do it. When all the boys got together it sounded like firecrackers going off everywhere.
They took us back inside after giving out prizes (let’s just say I spent more time whipping myself than the air) and served us chocolate pudding. They sang “Lollipop” for us and then asked us to sing a song for them. We picked Journey and actually did a pretty good job singing it! Sevario got up and danced and convinced Sara to and all the young boys asked the girls in our group to dance. It was really cute and a lot of fun. Oh yeah, and most of them spoke good English! Then at the very end they said, “We are going to snort snuff” I think I choked on my pudding. Apparently that is a Swiss tradition and they have a snuff machine as well, so they let everyone try it including Sevario and Sara (I did not participate in this activity). At this point I’m getting nervous because everyone is a little tipsy and getting high off tobacco, and Sevario is suppose to drive us home, but thank goodness he is a chain smoker and drank plenty of water! We got back on the bus and the kids followed us and gave us all hugs. It was SOOO entertaining, fun, and just really integrated us into the culture. The whole ride home I was a nervous wreck, but Sevario got us home safe despite being an Italian driver going through winding roads! He even threw us a mini dance party and we were dancing up and down the aisle of the bus!
Exploring more of this beautiful city tomorrow!!!!! Also paying a crap ton for internet here…you better read these blogs! lol
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