Since my semester abroad back in college, Switzerland held the title of “the one that got away.” Even though I studied in one of the most northern cities in Italy, Milan, I never made the trip up to visit my neighbor to the north. For years Switzerland (and Germany for that matter) remained my biggest regrets of that semester. Both countries were unbelievably close to me, but even after six months of living in Milan, I still didn’t have enough time to visit them. I now have a second chance on this trip and I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers again. Before I even left the US, I knew I would eventually travel through Switzerland even if it meant completely sinking my budget.
From Marseille I took a spectacular train ride through Geneva to Bern that quickly reaffirmed how truly beautiful this part of the world is. From my cramped little seat on the train I saw one stellar view of the Alps after another, hundreds of tiny little cottages scattered throughout the rough terrain, and tranquil lakes nestled between the gargantuan mountains. As the train effortlessly glided over the multitude of hills, perfectly aligned rows of grape vines contained in the geometric plots of land painstakingly carved into the land slowly rolled by. Unlike in Texas, there isn't a single flat parcel of land as far as the eye can see - everything is either hills, mountains, or lakes. Even though I am hundreds of miles from NYC, the feeling on board the train in Switzerland was staunchly professional and I clearly stood out as an obvious tourist. Everyone around me was dressed in well pressed slacks, ties, and sport coats while I was the only idiot wearing beat up old shoes (with holes now forming in the bottom) and a wrinkled, smelly t-shirt.