I spent two weeks of July, summer of 2009, traveling to seven different countries in Europe with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music. We visited London England, Paris France, Crans-Montana Switzerland, Vaduz Lichtenstein, Seefeld Austria, Venice Italy, and Rothenburg Germany. I could write a page or more on each place that I visited and all the other places that we stopped at along the way, but I can’t so I will just have to condense it down to my favorite place.
My favorite place of the whole trip by far was Switzerland. We stayed in a nice hotel in a small town; Crans-Montana. It was so beautiful! The people were so nice! I bought so many souvenirs! All most everyone on my list got souvenirs from Switzerland. Our first day out we had a two hour drive into the city of Montreux. On the way there our city coordinator played us a lot of classic rock songs, by Queen and Deep Purple. I love classic rock and there is a lot of classic Rock history in Montreux. We got to take a walk along Lake Geneva, and then go off in groups then meet back up at the statue of Freddie Mercury. After about three hours of walking around, some good ice-cream, and a much needed new pair of sunglasses, it was time to get back on the bus and head back up the mountain to Crans- Montana.
The next morning we were off to the Matterhorn, by far the prettiest thing I saw the entire trip. I went on a two hour hike around the Matterhorn with a friend of mine that was on the trip with me. It was definitely an adventure! Just so you know I am a total klutz. I was doing really well, until my friend distracted me. I was attempting to get my right foot wedged against a rock so I didn’t slide but as I was doing so my left foot slide out from under me. My right foot of course stayed where it was as I slid. It went from supporting me to being wedged back under my butt. Let me just tell you, it hurt a lot! I sat there in the dirt for a minute, then for the simple fact of not wanting to ruin my friends hike, I got up and hiked on it for another hour and a half. I was definitely glad that I did. It was an amazing view. I really regretted it later that night though when I took off my shoe back at the hotel. Walking was not too much fun for the next few days.
So after that glorious experience at the Matterhorn it was off to our send off party back in Crans-Montana. We had this big fondue party down town. I learned of a Switzerland tradition that I am not too fond of. It is, that if you drop your bread in the cheese you have to kiss every member of the opposite sex at the table. I was doing fine until I got to talking with the girl sitting next to me (I’m starting to see a pattern here) and I dropped my bread! It was really embarrassing and that’s all I have to say.
I unfortunately couldn’t even begin to mention all the things that I got to do on this trip. It was one of the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to go back to Europe someday.
Attached Photos: View from hotelroom, Lake Geneva, Statue of Freddy Mercury, The Matterhorn, Fondue Party
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