Well I said goodbye to Italy and am not too upset about it. Nearly two weeks there. Expensive and packed with tourists. Two of my least favorite things about a city. Cinque Terre was a good ending to it all. I have been debating my next destination and decided the night before with advice from fellow travelers that I MUST go. So Im off. Train to La Spezia, no air conditioning. Train to Milan, so packed. Train from Milan to Interlocken, Switzerland.....hell. By far the worst train experience of my trip thus far. I knew I was in for an all day train and set to arrive at the hostel around 10pm. The train stops and doesnt move for 30 minutes. I dont understand directions and a swiss man next to me translates. 20 minutes and the problem will be fixed. 20 minutes later, 20 minutes and the train will move. This continues for 3 hours until it is announced that the train will not be moving the rest of the night. Over 300 people are to be bussed to the next city across the border, then catching a train, then taxis, busses, whatever it takes to get to our destination. Well at 4 am I arrive at my hostel. Welcome to Switzerland!
Interlocken is fairly central in the country, surrounded by the Alps, and situated between two lakes. Absolutely beautiful. I hike along a river to one of the lakes and relax for the day and return to my hostel for a huge celebration of Canada Day(July 1st- sadly I didnt know it existed until i was in a hostel in Europe watching drinking games and body painting competitions.) I meet two guys from Texas and two from Canada. Later we end up in the downstairs bar where I look over and see my french Canadian friend Dominique who I hung out with in Vienna over 2 weeks ago. We hug like siblings who have not seen each other in 10 years. Its those quick friendships and a familiar face that really do make you feel good. And we had not been in touch since Austria and just happen to be at the same place at the same time. I am discovering the world is smaller the more I see it.
So, day 2 is hiking up to First in the Alps with Dominique and another guy he met. I have been a little shocked after realizing that I am out of money(minor budget issues, haha) and am in the most expensive country so far. This is all forgotten as I am hiking through mountains, seeing waterfalls and glaciers, and beautiful farmlands. Absolutely perfect. The best decision ever to come here and not regretted for a minute. I have been debating a stop in France or heading back to Budapest. I must go to France now or it probably wont happen, then return to Budapest.
Oh yea, I have decided to return to Budapest and work in the hostel I stayed at there. Great place, lively city, and im out of money. Time to do a little work! Next stop- Nice, France:)
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