July 31, 2009

Last Day in Geneva, Switzerland. I am sad!

Devin is working on a final paper so I spend most of the day shopping with Lauren
(one of his classmates that already did her final). We hit up all the souvenir shops for her to get gifts to bring home with her. Then we head to Old Town Geneva.

Old town Geneva is just across the Rhone River. You can walk across a long bridge to get there. It breaks off from Lake Geneva. We were starving so we got a panini and sat n the bleachers of a Asphalt festival that was getting ready to start. This was a week long even that had street dancers and skateboarding and bikes. We just sat and watched them set up.

In Old Town they have all the big brand names so we looked at all of those stores and then walked up the biggest hill of my life. At the top of the hill was St. Peters Catherderal. We were told that the tip of the steeple was the highest spot in Geneva. Not sure if that is really true or not. It was so beautiful inside.

Next we head back to the Drake Hotel and stop by a clock next to the river that is made out of flowers. It is very unique. When I get back Devin and I have to go varify our passports at the train station so we can travel!!

The next thing that I did was laundry. I went with several other girls to do some laundry before we all traveled. This was a complete nightmare. The water started before the door was shut on a different Lauren, and it cost over twenty dollars to do one load of laundry. The dryers took so long and stuff still never got completely dry. GRR...

With laundry done and most of our bags packed we all head out to spen one last night on the town! We all decide that we should eat at the festival on Lake Geneva. We all stopped along the way and got the food of choice. I got a mojito!! It was amazing.... this is my new favorite drink - fresh mint and lime!!! Devin got a beer and the lady tried to charge him more than what the sign said and we could not understand what she was saying, another lady came up and told us that you pay one extra Frank and that is a deposit so you will bring the can back. So he drank his beer and then returned the plastic chip and the beer can and got his Frank back.

We now head home from the festival.... part of the group does not want to walk back so they take the tram. I did not want to take it because I did not have a pass like the others and did not want to risk getting caught on the last night. I wish I would have.... we were walking home and a lady stopped right in fron of me and I stubbed my toe!! OMG... I looked down and there was blood all over my shoe. It was not your average toe stubb!!

We get home and I head to bed. We have to be up early!! OUR 13 day TRAVEL starts in the morning!!! YAY!!

July 31, 2009

We are getting ready for our 13 day travel..... so these posts are going to be probably shorter and every couple of days. I will try to update more soon!! I am sad I am about to leave Geneva.... sad to leave the country not the prices!!!

July 30, 2009

Today I walk around Geneva on my own so Devin can try to finish his paper. It is so HOT! I walk around the shopping areas and window shop. I have learned to really like to do this. Then I walk down to the carnival at the lake and people watch. I love the way that people dress here. I wonder if I could pull it off?

I would like to let you know that since I have left Oklahoma I have not used a blow dryer or my CHI!!! Crazy I know.

So I go back to the room and take a nap while Devin works on his paper some of the students went on a boat tour, later to find out I could have gone with them. I meed up with the after for dinner.

We go to this really cool restaurant. It is know for the main dish of Raclette Cheese. This is where they put large blocks of cheese under a warmer and bring one piece of cheese out to you at at time, then you get boiled potatoes, pickles, and sweet onions to eat with your cheese. It was amazing. I already had dinner so I just tried another girls!! It cost 31 Swiss Franks for all you could eat, a grown man with us could only eat 8! Some others had fondu too! Good beer with dinner!!

When we got done I met up with Devin and we walked around the lake for a little while and then headed to bed.

Almost time to leave Geneva, Switzerland.

TTFN

July 29, 2009

Devin and I went to Lake Geneva for the day with a bunch of other law students. There is a platform to jump off and that wast entertaining to watch. I just relaxed and soaked up some sun while we drank wine and beer!!

Since being in Geneva I have met many nice people, one girl gives everyone nicknames and I have acquired the name. "Margaret" and Devin is "Von Black." Strange to hear people call him by a nickname and not his real name. Law students think so different than nursing students... I never understand what they are talking about. LOL.

After the lake we go and change clothes and head to Caleb, Hector, and Mercede's house where they have cooked dinner for a bunch of people. We sit out on the balcony and eat and drink wine!

We head back to the hotel with two other guys and they decide at like midnight they are hungary again. We stop at a little hole-in-the-wall Chinese food place. I do not eat anyting!! Yuck. Devin gets duck tongue. (Will post a pic if I have one)

July 28, 2009

Today we got up around 650 a.m. Devin was kind enough to help me take all the luggage on the train to the airport so I could use the little push cart. I could have never done it without his help. I went through customs and got ready for my day trip to London.

I arrived after listening to a screaming baby the entire two hour flight!!!! Grrrr.... I went through customs at the UK border and they could not understand why I was only staying 24 hours. I told them I was just traveling. Made it through.. no problems.

I then tried to change my flight and it was going to be over 500 USD so I decided to get a hotel. The hotel that I got said they will keep our luggage and we will not have to pay for storage while we travel. This is awesome! I have the luggage stored and now I am sitting in a little cafe/bar/deli. I had a panini for dinner and a coke zero! I am waiting to order a Stella free drinks tonight! I am having a blast and still can not believe I am in Europe. I miss my friends and family but I am really excited to start our 13 day trip.

Devin and I have first class EuroRail passes and he has planned the entire trip and I have NO idea what we are doing or where we are going. I will keep you posted!!

July 27, 2009

Today was lazy for me. Devin had to finish a final paper so I had to entertain myself. I went for a walk around town they are getting ready for a huge festival on August 1st. Then I cleaned a little and got the luggage ready for my trip to London in the morning. I have everything packed in three bags and just one week worth of stuff in the room to use on our surprise voyage!!

Like around 11 p.m. Devin finished his paper and we went down to the sitting area and had a drink with some of his classmates. While we were sitting there firefighters walked in the hotel right in front of us.

We never did find out what happened!! We survived the night so I guess everything was ok!

We used a luggage scale and weighed the bags and then went to bed.

July 26, 2009

Today was amazing!! We went canyoning. We got all dressed up in wetsuits, shoes, and helmets... repelled down a huge cliff... it was crazy! We were in a glacier canyon and jumped of rocks into the water and slid down natural slides and did the zip lines under huge rocks and jumped into freezing cold water!!

The tour lasted about 3 hours. Once we got done we took off the wet stuff and then had an amazing lunch. Fresh bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh cheese!!! I could eat that everyday!

We got back into town used McDonalds for free wi-fi and the bathroom and then headed so Schoup for the chocolate tour!!

This was amazing!! We helped and watch a chocolatier work and make things out of chocolate. We tried stuff from the store and learned the history. I think I would like to open a chocolate store of my own now! LOL

July 25, 2009

We are leaving today to go to Interlaken, Switzerland for the weekend.

We get on the train and it takes up about 3 hours. We check into our hostel.... its ok but it smells funny!! Then we go and explore the town!! This town is more alive than Geneva and not as expensive.

We get picked up at five to go bungy jump!! That is the craziest things I have ever done in my life!!!

OMG would I ever do it again.... NO... they had to push me off because I was not about to just off all on my own. I am glad I did and so glad to be on the ground!

This weekend there is an international latino festival... we eat some food and listen to music and go to bed early because we are going canyoning early in the morning!!

July 24, 2009

Devin has to do something for class so I go with two of his classmates to the beach... it is not really a beach.... its a bunch of people laying by the lake on the docks.... its packed.

We then walk to catch a bus to go to the "Broken Chair".

The broken chair: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Chair

The UN is right across the street also!

We went to dinner and then drank some wine with Devin's friends.

July 23, 2009

I went to bed at nine p.m. the night before.... slept until midnight.... back until two a.m. ... that is when I woke up and talked to Mom and Dad on skype to assure I was safe and sound in Europe.

I don't think I even heard Devin get up and go to class.... the maid woke me up once... and went right back to bed. I slept until 12:30 p.m. I think I am all caught up on my sleep at this point!!

Devin takes me to a mall in Geneva and we have make-your-own pizza!! It was amazing!!

We walk around Lake Geneva and have a relaxing evening... planning our weekend trip tonight!!

July 22, 2009

I am SO SO tired. I got about one hour maybe of sleep on the flight. I have arrived in Frankfurt, Germany. I have to go through German customs.... nervous about that.

Get my first stamp in my passport!!! I have a layover and then headed to Geneva!!

I have been praying that I get through Swiss customs this entire trip since I only had a one-way ticket. I get off the plane and can not understand anything anyone is saying... it is ALL French. I follow the crowd and get my bags and then head right out the door. I missed customs all together. LOL.

I am so tired and my phone does not work and I have no idea how I am going to get ahold of Devin at this point. I stand there and just hope he comes looking for me.... woops.... I forgot to the train ticket that Devin told me to get.

I see a young guy walking around and look... its not Devin.... he gets closer.... and it is Devin!!!! I have never been so excited to see him..... too bad he is mad at all my luggage.

We get on a train and get to his hotel and go get something to eat!!

July 21, 2009

Travel day one! I have just said goodbye to my mom and dad and am waiting for the plane to board. My first leg of the flight is from OKC to Chicago.

The first flight was short and easy! Now in Chicago about to board the 777.... O how I wish I was in first class.... about 1/3 of the plane for 12 people. This flight is a little over 8 hours total.

During the long flight to Frankfurt.... I have met a new friend... Zirka...... she is from Croatia. She likes to talk and drink wine on the long plane ride.... need I say more.

I am going to try and get some sleep... TTFN