Swiss Trip (Part 2)

The following morning we woke bright and early and began to head west from Zurich to Gstaad. We were still unsure of what we would do once we arrived, but decided we would figure it out once we got there. The drive to Gstaad was beautiful, once we got off the highway we drove through tiny Swiss villages and farms. Log cabins with bright red flowers and Swiss flags dotted the road and were interspersed by fields and mountains. We stopped a few times to take some pictures as it was too pretty to just pass up.

One of the cute houses we drove by

We finally arrived at Gstaad around 1pm and headed straight to lunch. After lunch we decided to take a  Cable Car up one of the surrounding mountains. The ride probably took around 20 minutes and once we arrived at the top we could see for miles. We hiked around the mountain top for a little taking in the snow capped mountains in the distance and breathing in the cool mountain air (which was a nice reprieve from the sweltering weather in the city).

Enjoying the view with snow capped mountains behind us

After the cable car we headed to our hotel, located outside of Gstaad in the mountains. The GPS first brought us the wrong way and we ended up on a tiny, dead end dirt road. After examining the map for a little we slowly made our way back down the first mountain and up the right one. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and sat on the patio speaking with one of the hotel managers. In the fields there was a sign that read "zäme" which means "together" in Swiss German. He explained that 20-30 years ago the famous stars and the locals lived in harmony and that the wealthy could come to Gstaad and live a normal life. They were able to frequent the bars and restaurants and would often be seen having drinks with the locals. However, with a new famous crowd and the introduction of social media this interaction no longer occurs and they dream back to the time of the past.

Tuesday was our last day of our Swiss Trip and so we began the drive back home, making sure to take in some important and toursity last few spots. We first headed east to Interlaken for breakfast at Blueberry's. The cafe was great, the city not so much. It was way too touristy for us and we believe that if you visit Switzerland, you should try a different city (like Gstaad, it was so beautiful)! However, on the drive to Interlaken we passed one of the bluest lakes we have ever seen, Lago di Quattro Cantoni (The Four Canton's Lake), so we made a quick pit stop to take it all in.

Lago di Quattro Cantoni, so pretty

From Interlaken we headed further East to Bilten. Not much there other than the Läderach Chocolate Factory. According to us Läderach may actually be the best chocolate in existence. So going to the factory: Big Deal. We were able to take a small tour of the factory, sample tons of chocolate and get a discount on our chocolate purchases. Totally worth the drive.

Taking in the chocolate factory

After our chocolate experience we started the last leg our trip back to Lugano, or so we thought. We then entered Heidi Land and decided to detour to find Heidi's house, and failed. But we made it to her town and her fairground so I think that counts just fine.

Heidi's Town: Maienfeld, Switzerland

We arrived in Lugano early Tuesday night, happy and exhausted. It was such an amazing road trip and really showed us Switzerland. Our Swiss Appreciation Road Trip was finished, for now.

Swiss Trip (Part 1)

3 days, 2 nights, 1 car and over 610 miles = 1 amazing Swiss appreciation road trip!

Jeannie and I were talking one day and realized that there was a lot of Switzerland we haven't seen. Living in Switzerland has provided us with the opportunity to travel all over Europe and see some amazing cities and countries. However, we seemed to bypass visiting the other beautiful cities and areas in our own country. This Swiss Trip gave us a glimpse of the beautiful countryside and towns that Switzerland has to offer.

Lugano→Stein am Rhein→Rhine Falls→Zurich→Gstaad→Interlaken→Bilten→Heidi Land→ Lugano

 We left early Sunday morning for the north and with a forecast that predicted rain all day we were quite nervous for our trip to the Rhine Falls. Luckily, our prayers were answered and we had a beautiful day (and trip!). The drive took a little longer than expected because we got stuck in Gotthard Tunnel traffic, but once we arrived in Stein am Rhein, all traffic frustrations disappeared. Stein am Rein reminded us of what we believed a typical Swiss city would look like. Don't get me wrong, Lugano is absolutely stunning, but the smaller, older cities and towns are something very special. The city was so quaint and had such cute cafes and stores. We had lunch at a crêperie and then walked along the river and through the city taking in all the sites.

View of the city from the bridge

With the sun beating down on us we decided to head to the Rhine Falls, the largest plain waterfall in Europe. The falls are 450 feet wide and 75 feet high with an average summer water flow of 700 m/s. They were formed during the last Ice Age (around 14-17000 years ago) which caused the river's course to be pushed farther south than before over a hard limestone bedrock. Previously the riverbed was made up of a softer bedrock which helped create a smooth river. However, when the river began to run over the tougher limestone, it could not erode which allowed for the falls to form.

With the falls behind us

Standing in the middle of the falls is a large rock outcrop. We were able to take a boat to the rock and climb up, standing in the middle of the falls. The water was flowing so fast that when we approached the rock the captain had to point the bow of the boat way to the left of the dock so that we would be pushed into it. It was a really cool experience to stand in the middle of the falls and to see and hear how powerful the water is.

Rhine Falls with the Rock outcrop we climbed

We then headed south to Zurich for the night. We had dinner at Hiltl, Europe's oldest vegetarian restaurant, which is still run by the same family. Opened in 1898 and ridiculed for its idea, it is now one of the best restaurants in Zurich (ranked #12 of 1092 in Zurich by Trip Advisor). After dinner, we then took some time to take in the Zurich skyline at night.

Zurich Skyline

To be continued...

Happy Birthday Switzerland

Swiss National Day, which celebrates the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291 takes place every August 1. It is unsure whether the date is correct but it was chosen because the Federal Charter stated that the joining of the first three Cantons took place in early August. Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden agreed to eternal allegiance and promised to provide mutual help and assistance to each other whenever needed. This alliance built the foundation of what is now Switzerland over the following 500 years.

To celebrate Jeannie and Patrick held a potluck style bbq. Everyone brought something and we enjoyed a feast of ribs, pasta, potatoes, salad, grilled vegetables and more. It was so nice to spend the day with good food and amazing friends!

Before the feast!

After a day of bbq-ing and relaxing in the sun we headed down to the center to see the fireworks over Lake Lugano. I have never seen Lugano so crowded in my entire time being here and think everyone who lived in and around Lugano came out for the show! We ended up parking outside of the city and walking in, so we stopped for some pre firework gelato.

Caving for our gelato addiction

At around 10:30 the fireworks began for an amazing half hour show. The show was much bigger than anything I have seen in the states. It was broken into three different sets and seemed more choreographed making it seem that much more spectacular. I liked how the entire city and surrounding areas went to the same show because it allowed the city to put on one large show instead of a bunch of smaller ones. However, the finale was not like the ones in the states, as it wasn't as grand, it seemed as though the show just ended.

Swiss Colored fireworks

More fireworks

This was the first time that I was able to experience another country's national holiday. I really enjoyed my day and celebrating it with the friends I have grown so close with. Hopefully I will be back to celebrate August 1 again!

Bolzano, Italy

Armed with my car and my trusty GPS, I headed to Bolzano, Italy this past weekend. My parents visited this past September and absolutely loved it and have since been telling me I should go. I left for Bolzano early Saturday morning in an attempt to beat the summer vacation traffic. Key word: attempt. The drive took well over five hours (and only four to get back!) but was well worth it as the scenery was beautiful, especially once I got on A22, a highway that connects Italy and Austria.

My Route

Bolzano, is located in the northeastern part of Italy and is the capital of the province Tyrol. The city used to be part of Austria before World War I and therefore, the German-Austrian influence is still strongly felt. Both German and Italian are widely spoken and German food and dress can be seen throughout. Bolzano's main square is named Waltherplatz after Walther von der Vogelweide, a famous German poet and composer. His statue is situated in the middle of the square paying homage to his famous works. Once I arrived in Bolzano I stopped on the square for some gelato and coffee and to enjoy the view. 

Waltherplatz

My first stop was the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to see Ötzi the ice man. Ötzi is the oldest most well preserved mummy in Europe. The perpetual cold and wet climate in the Alps has helped preserve him over thousands of years. He was accidentally discovered in 1991 in the Italian-Austrian Alps and has since changed history. Ötzi, is believed to have been murdered and left to die on the side of the road. The museum did a good job of reconstructing his life. Here are a few facts that I found most interesting.

• He is said to have come from wealth and status as he carried an axe made with a copper blade. 
• The copper blade rewrote history, as it dates the European copper age to 1,000 years to what was previously thought 
• He wore a bearskin hat and vest that were very well made and neatly stitched together
• His shoes, which were made to help protect Ötzi from the cold and wet conditions are the only ones like it that have been found 
• He is said to have many of the same health conditions that are prevalent in humans today

After the museum I wandered the streets of Bolzano and stumbled upon a street market. I was shocked at how inexpensive everything was, they definitely were not Swiss prices! The buildings were all painted in a wide array of colors giving the city a distinct yet beautiful look.

One of the colorful Bolzano Streets

While wandering the streets I saw a cable car going up one of the mountains. Without knowing where it went, I headed in its direction and hopped on. Around 30 minutes later it dropped us off in a small quaint town high above Bolzano. The views on the ride up were also spectacular as we were able to see the vineyards, farms and mountains that surrounded us.

My cable car ride

The town was small and non-touristy. It had amazing views of the Dolomites with many roads and trails to explore. I headed off down one path and began to explore. 

With the Dolomites behind me

After my ride back down to Bolzano it was time for dinner. I headed to Hopfen & Co. a restaurant-brewery recommended by my parents. The Bozner beer is brewed according to the German purity law, Reinheitsgebot, of 1516 which requires that only water, barley and hops be used in the beer production. The law has since been repealed but many German breweries still abide. Their light beer and good German dinner were the perfect ending to my trip!

Summer in Switzerland

After spending a month back in NY, I hopped on a plane to return to Switzerland for the summer. I am currently working for a company called LogoGrab and am really enjoying my time thus far.

After graduating, I moved out of my apartment in Lugano, so this month I am living a little outside of the city in a lovely little house with Kristen, who I met through Shannon, and her dog, Hugo. After living in a studio for the year, it's nice to have someone to chat with when we're both home. My quest for another dog has just increased tenfold by hanging with her lovable pooch! Close by are some trails and farms that I have plans of exploring and running.

View from the kitchen

Luckily, as I am a 15 minute drive outside of the city, I have a car for the summer, which easily gets me into the city center and work. Work is close by as well, allowing me to miss the Lugano morning traffic!

My American car in Switzerland

  

Congratulations Jeannie & Patrick!

Last Friday, Jeannie and Patrick got married! I am so happy for the two of them, as they are perfect for each other in every way. They are two of the nicest people and I honestly don't know what I would have done without them this year. Thursday night I met up with them, Jeannie's sister and family and two of Jeannie's friends for dinner at Grotto Flora for a wonderful meal. Jeannie's family and friends were so kind and it was so good to meet them after hearing so much about them. Grotto Flora is this cute family run grotto hidden up in Montagnola. The food there is so amazing and the owners are the nicest.

Friday, Jeannie and Patrick had a small church ceremony followed by aperitivo and dinner at Villa Castagnola. Jeannie looked absolutely stunning and they were both so happy. The church ceremony was beautiful, the dinner was amazing and the speeches were so touching. I am so glad that I was able to be a part of their beautiful day and wish them both all the happiness in their future together.

Husband & Wife!

Saturday and Sunday I was able to hang out with Jeannie's friends before they headed home. We were able to spend the weekend in the city enjoying the beautiful weather!

Eat, Drink & Be Married!

Congratulations Katie and Amit!

The week of July 4 my cousin Katie and Amit got married. The wedding festivities lasted a week as they combined both their Catholic and Sikh faiths!

Wednesday I was able to go to New Jersey for the Mehndi. The Mehndi, the henna art tradition, is held on the eve of the wedding or a few days before. During the day, Amit's family had a henna artist apply the henna on Katie's hands and feet and on our hands. It took almost three hours to complete Katie's henna because it was intricately done. In her design were Amit's initials hidden for them to find. It is amazing how they apply the henna, as it comes out perfectly and beautiful every time. After the henna was finished we moved to a banquet hall where they had music, dancing, a belly dancer and great Indian food.

With my henna

Amit & Katie

Friday morning my parents and I headed to New Jersey for the Sikh ceremony at the Gurudwara, which means Gateway to the Guru. For the occasion my mom and I donned saris. In the morning it took a few tries to get it right, but luckily she remembered how to wrap it the right way!

Upon entering we removed our shoes and covered our heads. The ceremony was beautiful and unlike anything that I have ever experienced. It was so cool to see and experience a marriage from a different culture.

Katie & Amit during the ceremony

Katie looked absolutely stunning in her sari. As tradition called for, her sari was ornate, intricate and stunning. After, we enjoyed a lunch downstairs.

Katie looking beautiful after the ceremony

Saturday was a whirlwind! Teresa was able to come up for the Catholic ceremony and reception, and it was so good to see her and hang! The Catholic ceremony was in the afternoon at our local church. Katie's dress, blush in color, was beautiful and fit her perfectly. The ceremony was traditional and they both looked so happy.

Exchanging their rings

After, we made a quick Dunkin stop (obviously...) and headed down to the city. We spent the night at the Bowery Hotel arriving around 5. It gave us a little time before hand to change and head to the reception, which was held at the Capitale. The reception was great, with amazing food and music. Teresa and I, along with my dad, tore up the dance floor and had a great time! We were able to dance the night away! We then hit up the photo booth for some awesome memories.

Mom, Me, Teresa & Dad before the reception

This past week was amazing and I am so glad that I could be a part of it. The entire week was filled with new experiences and great memories. Amit's family was so welcoming and couldn't have been nicer.

Congratulations to the both of you! I wish you all the best in the years to come!

I ♥ NY

Back in NY for the month of June, I had a few short weeks to see everyone and catch up after my semester away. It was so good to see my friends and family and spend some quality time before I head back to Switzerland for July.

New York overview:

• One of the first weekends back my Colgate friends and I went into the city for a going away party for Katie, who starts med school this fall! The last time all of us were together was our Colgate graduation last May. It's crazy how fast the year has gone!

College friends

• Graduation Celebration: June 15, we had my graduation party at the house. As always, my parents did a superb job of throwing the party. I was able to see my entire family and many high school and college friends. A family friend made me an amazing globe cake for the party, it was delicious and looked so amazing!

• SURPRISE!: The best surprise of all was seeing my brother, James. He is currently stationed in Okinawa and flew all the way back to NY for a surprise 36 hour visit. Me, my mom and Teresa had absolutely no idea he was flying home. For the past two months James and my dad were planning everything. Having not seen him since January, it was so great to see him and hang out for a few short hours. It definitely makes the next two months seem like no time at all, and he'll be home again before we know it! Having him come home was the best surprise and it meant so much to see him! 

Teresa, James and me before he left

• The fun: One of my high school friends, Steph, recently moved into the city so she had a housewarming and birthday party. It was great to see her and all of our high school friends. The four of us haven't gone out together in a long time and it was great to see that nothing has changed.



Steph, Annie, Allie and I

• DC road trip: I headed down to visit my sister in law, Teresa, in DC. It was so good to see her  and just hang out. We got dinner at a great tapas place and got to enjoy some quality pool time in between all the rain we've been having. I  also got to stay at their new apartment, which looked so good! I can't wait to go visit again in September, and get to see the both of them! 

Enjoying Tapas and some sisterly company

See you in August, New York!