London Calling

LONDON!!!! As per usual, traveling is difficult for me... Getting to London was a process. In the future, I now know not to travel on a Bank Holiday. With lovely holidays about every week, it's difficult to know what's going on, but on a bank holiday you can pretty much bank on the fact that public transportation will be limited. (See what I did there?? Bank? Hehe.) getting out of Paris meant taking three metros to the Paris Gare du Nord station to catch the Eurostar across the pond and over to the UK. If you think that a young woman, traveling alone and staying with family in London wouldn't be a problem with security, you'd be incredibly wrong. Getting out of France and crossing over the two feet to the UK border security check point was easy, but this UK woman had it in for me! My entire life story, background info, previous job experience, flight info to and from Europe, a glimpse at my bank account, three addresses and 15 minutes of questioning later, I finally made it past her and had to RUN to catch the train.

London was better!!! But every line I needed to take on the tube was down... Soooo about 4 tube transfers, a bus and a 20 minute walk and I finally arrived at my cousins flat in Kew!!! Huzzah. I've discovered I need to just plan for shenanigans to happen and roll with it, because it always happens. Always.

Love, Alison

My date at the Eiffel Tower

My last night in Paris, I decided to suck it up and wait in line to WALK up the stairs at the Eiffel Tower. Yes, that's right, I walked to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Strictly only because the line was about an hour shorter than any other line... I got up to the first and second floors right at sunset. The view is of course spectacular, because it's the Eiffel Tower, and it's famous for a reason! But I believe I was the only one up there not proposing or getting proposed too.... The people watching was probably the BEST people watching I've had since Disney and watching people eat those turkey legs. Some people were making-out so much I was sitting there openly staring thinking, you'd better have a ring dum-dum or she is going to kill you when you get home... There are certain things you just don't do. And lip-locking to the point of actually choking each other with your tongues at sunset AT the Eiffel Tower and not pulling out a ring, would definitely be in that category. Lucky for the dum-dum at the top of the Tower he pulled out a ring. And I was stuck taking engagement pictures...

Another couple insisting on making-out like their lives depended on it seemed more one sided... The girl was awkwardly looking everywhere BUT her boyfriend, making eye contact with complete strangers and me for extended periods while kissing was another dum-dum situation where you are sitting there hoping they don't propose... Unfortunately for them, they didn't see the signs and were seen exiting the tower separately later in the evening...

I was asked to take several engagement pictures for about three happy couples from all over the world, some pictures for newlyweds, families, etc. Not that I'm not happy to help, but if the Eiffel Tower wants to hire me as a photopass photographer, I at least require food. I abandoned my post as photographer and went and found myself a date. Also known as, a mini bottle of wine! I mean, a girl has to treat herself every now and then! So, I finished my evening, watching the sunset over Paris from the Eiffel Tower sipping wine from a plastic cup.

Love, Alison

An American in Paris

My entire week in Paris, I've been thinking about old movies. Being in these old cities makes me think of simple classics like "An American in Paris," and I'm not going to lie, I may have broken out into song and swung around a couple of streetlights channeling my inner Gene Kelly. in the middle of my stay in Paris I had to stop and ask myself WWGKD? Also known as, What Would Gene Kelly Do? So, with that questioned being asked, I decided I needed another day in Paris!!!

An extra day in Paris has way too many options.... Les Invalides? Scare Coeur? Le Orangerie? Arc de Triomphe? Sainte Chapelle? Le Conciergerie? Tour Eiffel? SO. MANY. OPTIONS!!!!!! My sister, Gretchen, gave me a list of her favorite things to do in Paris, so I decided to start from the top and see where I ended up! I started my day at Le Orangerie, which is a tiny little museum famous for Monet's paintings of water lilies. The renovation on the museum has been completed to restore the rooms back to how Monet had originally designed the rooms to house the paintings. The crisp white walls in an oval room with an open ceiling lets in the sunlight. The lighting changes depending on the time of day, so you can just sit in the rooms and watch the light move over the paintings that take up the entirety of the walls. I made my way through the rest of the museum, but somehow ended back in the oval rooms just looking at the lilies.... It truly is peaceful, even with all the crazy people trying to take selfies with essentially a wall... A beautiful wall, but good luck fitting the whole thing in a picture with your face...

As I was leaving Le Orangerie, I nearly got killed by a Citroen car rally in the courtyard. These drivers are INSANE!!! I think back to the U.S. car rallies I've been to and just think about how many heart attacks and fights would have happened if you tried to park your cars like that there... Crazy stuff. So because of my near disaster out car rally death, I decided to go to a church. One of my friends mentioned that Sainte Chapelle was their favorite place in Paris, and it truly is worth seeing! I went with only the knowledge that there were beautiful windows. There are not beautiful windows there, there are complete works of art in window form. It is astounding how much detail can be put into a single pane of glass! My jaw essentially dropped when I walked in, and continued to fall even further once the sun started streaming through the windows. There is no way to describe or even take a picture of it, you simply just have to see if yourself!

I'm not sure if Gene Kelly was big into ice cream, but if he were a connoisseur of ice cream, I hope he would go to Berthillon. Berthillon is one of those ice cream places that you know is good by the line waiting around the corner. And yes, it is worth it! I definitely did a Gene Kelly heel click once I got my passion fruit and pear ice cream.

Love, Alison

Riding a Bike!

One shouldn't get that excited about riding a bike... I mean it's a bike... Not anything special. But it is! It definitely is something special when you ride it through the gardens of Versailles!!! That has basically been my dream of being that classy lady with the cool sunglasses and chic coat with the red lipstick just riding around the gardens looking down on all the tourists. I accomplished part of that... Maybe not with the same outfit or condescension, but I did have my red lipstick on!

Versailles is beautiful. And ridiculously crowded. I decided to hit up the gardens first since most people wait to see the chateau for hours at a time. I happened to make it just as the musical fountains started playing. It has quickly become my favorite place in the world. It's peaceful and calm and just breathtaking when you see the fountains going to classical music! The grounds of Versailles are technically free, but if you want to see the fountains, or if you are just that lost tourist approaching from the chateau, it's easier to just suck it up and pay to see the pretty fountains. The bikes unfortunately are only allowed on the public part, and not with the classical music blasting from the bushes, but it's still fun! I rented an adorable bike with a basket and set off! You can ride for miles! DREAM ACCOMPLISHED!!!!! Next time, I'm definitely dressing up in a classy coat with my cat-eye sunglasses!

I'll admit it, I got lost. I ended up doing laps around the Grand and Petit Trianon's, which Marie Antoinette helped decorate. When she was little, she wanted to see how the peasants lived, so in typical French excess she built her own peasant village to play in. I mean the easier thing would have been to just go visit a village, but no. She created her own... It's like the original version of Disneyland. And it still has crops and livestock on it! Absolutely crazy... But then who's to say Marie Antoinette wasn't a bit kooky...

Of course, I made it to the chateau!!! I managed to get in without waiting in a line at all! The chateau is beautiful and extremely luxurious. The bed chambers have enough seats in them for a small audience, which to me is a big no thank you. And the hall of mirrors is amazing!!! Maybe a bit overrated, but considering how much I just enjoyed riding a bike around the grounds maybe makes sense.... It's probably just me....

Love, Alison

World Domination of Frozen

The trains in Paris aren't the easiest... They are generally confusing, and most importantly in French... Getting to the right train seems simple, but actual making sure you are on the right train is another story. Well, going to Disneyland Paris is one of the weird train routes. I wasn't quite sure where I was until I walked into a car with kids singing the entire soundtrack of Frozen in about 3 different languages. Kids were yelling back and forth in French, Italian, Spanish and who knows what else arguing what the words are supposed to be....I guess that's how you know where the train is going, just listen for "Let it Go!"

Disneyland Paris is Disney, but so much different. Right when you get off the train they funnel you through a security line just to enter the property. Yes, there is a line right off the train... That's how you know you really are in Disney. They have two parks, a typical Magic Kingdom and a Studios. I ran into Studios first and immediately hopped into the single rider lane for Crush's roller coaster. This ride is amazing! It spins and goes upside down and is just good solid fun. I decided that I needed to attempt all the random attractions that Disney doesn't have in Florida, but also threw in the classics of  Tower of Terror and Rock'N' Roller Coaster. Rock'N is the exact same track... Different storyline, but the EXACT same (and yes, trust me, I know that roller coaster....) My absolute favorite random attraction was Animagique! It's an adorable show where an audience member finds himself inside the movies. Super cute! And mostly in English, which never hurts! The worst attraction in the history of attractions was Indiana Jones Temple of Doom. WHY!?! Just why??? Why would you create a roller coaster that's only purpose is to put you in a stretcher or convince you of your need to visit the  chiropractor? If you've ever had a back problem, don't do it. But if you want future back problems, be my guest!

As usual, I waited with all the five-year-olds for the parade and was super excited when the characters spoke English! However, you could tell they were a bit put-out that the majority of people watching didn't understand a lick of what they were saying.... It actually made me kind of sad, seeing as meeting characters and seeing their over-the-top interactions are really what has made Disney magical for me! Another strange aspect is that the characters get MOBBED! Like holy cannoli, I would panic if that many people were that close to me! In fact, I kind of did.... You know Disney lines are always crazy... But add a bunch of Europeans into the mix with no cultural perception of personal space? I had a lady literally digging a hole into my back with her boobs.... How is that comfortable for anyone???

Besides all my ranting and clearly a need to start using Twitter as an anonymous anger outlet, I really enjoyed my day! I've heard all the rumors that cast members weren't like the ones in Florida or California, but I didn't really experience much negativity. They only time I was truly yelled at is when I went to Casey's Corner for lunch and somehow ordered in Spanish... I don't speak Spanish.... Soooooo, the cast member rolled his eyes, refused to speak, and made me point to it. In his defense, I had no idea how Spanish came out... But everyone else really tried to be magical, maybe not so much as in America where we have to talk non-stop to people to make them feel important, but in the fact that they personally escorted me to the shop where they sold stamps and gave instructions for the ride in about six different languages to make sure everyone understood what was happening. How many places actually care if you know what is happening? Pretty cool!

And of course, they did say "Have a magical day!" Always a classic.

Love, Alison

Paris with Parisians

They only way to experience a place is to see it how the locals would. I took that to mean, have a local show you the touristy things!!!! I met a ton of amazing people working at Disney who happen to be from all over the world! So I called them up and we explored Paris together! They took me down the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, and then down to the old Paris Opera house! Paris is beautiful, but gigantic! I decided before meeting up with my friends to visit the Musee D'Orsay. The Musee is quite far from the Champs Élysées and the Champs Élysées is ridiculously far from my hotel in Le Marais. And I walked it all!!! It's a very good thing I enjoy walking the streets.... Running all over Paris is amazing! My French friends took me up to the top of the Printemps mall where you have the best free view of Paris! Our amazing view included the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Paris Opera house and a fabulous view of a tour bus crashing! Always fun!

We then had to run over to one of their favorite sweet shops. The "Mont-Blanc" is apparently a favorite! It's full of hazelnuts and chocolate... But kind of looks like brains.... We also went to Starbucks. I know! I'm sorry, but it happened. Does it make it any better that it was in the Louvre? Apparently there is a shopping mall INSIDE the Louvre!!! And there isn't a line to get in, which I kind of wish I had known the day before.... Ah well.

I also went to McDonald's... Sorry....

Love, Alison

A random stranger named John?

As some of you know, I am in Paris!!!  Well, in Paris, what is there to do? THE LOUVRE!!!!!! Apparently everyone had that idea yesterday around noon because the line was ridiculous! And right as I arrived, in true Alison fashion, the sky opened up. So I offered to share my umbrella with a guy who we will call John. At least I think that was his name, but everyone started squealing when the rain hit and I couldn't really catch what came after the "J". John, Jack, Josh, or whoever he was huddled his 6'3 frame under my umbrella for an hour while we waited in line. John ended up being in law school in NY, so between our mutual understanding of both English and sarcasm, we ended up getting along beautifully. It was nice to meet someone to go through the Louvre with, seeing as such a large museum is terrifying, but even more so when you have to face it on your own. We came to a mutual understanding that quite a bit of the Renaissance art is exceedingly similar, and roman statutes, while incredible, are numerous in Rome... Some of the paintings really could be seen as the worlds first "selfies" even! The art in the Louvre is some of the best in the world, and with such a collection, it's truly incredible to see how different artists interpret the same event. It shows history from all sides, how people felt, what the artists witnessed, and what we should be cautious of repeating in the future. I mean how much gold do you need in a room!?! (I'm looking at you Marie Antoinette and Napoleon!) No wonder the people revolted against you both...

John and I had fun. I learned a lot about his life, aspirations, family, relationships, dogs, the fact he lives in NY without air-conditioning, etc... And he learned a lot about me. It was a relief meeting someone without any expectations or worrying about what they would think. John was a big proponent of living in the moment, which I couldn't decide if that was cheesy or cool, but we ran through the Louvre without being glued to a camera. I feel like the Louvre would be a great place for the sequel to Inception. Everyone is taking pictures of pictures, which lets face it, if you actually want a good picture, the official website has professional ones.... The Japanese were adorable frantically running from picture to picture snapping photos before their tour moved on, which looked completely exhausting....

At the end of our visit, John said nice to meet you and left. No contact info or anything. We met as strangers and parted as strangers without reenacting Taken (you're welcome Caitie). So for all you wimps out there, at least offer to hold the umbrella for the short girl if you aren't even going to stay in contact as friends. As for this chicken right here, baby steps... And yes, for those of you wondering, my arm is still tired from holding that darn umbrella...

Love, Alison

The city of LOVE....

I made it to PARIS!!!! The city of love! And I'm here by myself.... That's gotta be karma for something right? I mean I hope not, but traveling by yourself through the city of love is interesting. I realized I love people. What matter what language or culture, people are all the same. We all have public embarrassments, arguments, sentiments, everything. We are all the same, which is oddly fun to witness. As a complete stranger and by stander without the ability to just disappear into the digital world on a whim, I've been forced to interact with people all over again, and it's interesting to see how people react. Most everyone goes on their phone, whether with people or on their own, everyone is completely attached to this piece of technology. Probably the most daunting part of this whole experience is going and eating by myself. I challenge everyone reading this to just go have dinner on their own. We are so connected to each other, that this is really my first experience eating dinner by myself without being able to text or talk to my friends at all, and I've really had to test my confidence with just sitting in a restaurant and doing nothing but actually eating my food. Surprisingly, it's actually been kind of exhilarating and extremely weird..... I awkwardly make eye contact with strangers and try to pretend I wasn't just watching them spill soup down their front, or eavesdropping on their conversations they have no idea I only understand every third word of, or seeing them lean in for a kiss on clearly their first date together and getting miserably shot down.... People are amazing, and with other people or a phone, I'm positive I'd miss it all.

Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone... You can survive... If only by a string. If not, go someplace you'll never see people again... That works too.

Love, Alison

COWS!

I like cows. I think they are adorable and sweet and a bit stinky, but you can't really hold that against them! Swiss cows are far superior to any other sort of cow. I mean come on, what other cow gets to wear jewelry in the form of a bell! I think Swiss cows are happier than regular cows. They get to relax in Switzerland, and who doesn't like that. Also, Swiss cheese and chocolate reflects their happy attitude! My lovely Swiss friends took me up the the mountains, and there were COWS! I mean there were also the Swiss alps with quaint little towns tucked away with beautiful views of waterfalls cascading down from the cliffs. It was breathtakingly beautiful! And right underneath that beautiful scenic view was a cow wearing a proper Swiss cow bell! Which about made me the happiest cow loving girl in Switzerland! Wow, I sound like an American hillbilly.... But I don't really like Americans cows to be honest... It's cow discrimination, but there it is. Swiss cows are cooler than American cows. Nuff said.

The struggle...

It's clearly getting difficult for me to do all this cool stuff while still having time to write about it, so mom, I'm sorry. Not really... I'd rather be out there seeing all there is to see and not having anytime to write about it rather than having way too much time. My last visit abroad, I wrote a blog about 111 lessons I learned in Italy, but never finished it... (I'm hoping to be better this time!) It was basically a blog of random ideas, thoughts, observations and of course, mistakes made while traveling. I've decided that this blog will be a random assortment of my life. It might not be chronological, and may not have any sort of theme... I hope it won't get too sarcastic or cynical, but if it does, please bear with me. I'm having the time of my life, but it is by myself and it does get lonely, so forgive me if I rant a bit... That being said, if you do read this, I hope you enjoy it! Maybe learn something? And if the only reader is my mother, hi!! (Aka: Mom, you'd better read this!)

Love, Alison

Bears, Bells and Bern!

You know when you can't tell if you are excited or nervous, or some odd combination of both? Yah well, welcome to my life today. I'm one of those people that if I get nervous or excited I get uncontrollably shaky... Well, I had one of those mornings. I went to Bern! It was basically one of my first days just wandering around on my own, so naturally, I was a shaky mess both out of excitement and possible fear.

Going to a strange city is always a bit nerve wracking. You always want to make sure you know what to do and how to get around.... Possibly look at a map? I wish I could say that I did, but knowing me, you also probably know I didn't. I only knew that I could get a train out of Pieterlen and end up in Bern... So, I did what any reasonable person would do, hopped on the train and hoped for the best! The first order of business once I got to Bern was trying to find a map. So after awhile of just walking through the streets having no idea what I was seeing, I found the tourist center, got a map and was on my way again! The only tourist center is at the FARTHEST point of the city where the bears of Bern are kept. It's been a tradition since the beginning of the 1200's to have bears in the city. The bear pit is under construction AGAIN, so the bears are spending their summer in the mountains, but since the city has managed to renovate the old bear pit, build a completely new bear pit and then give renovations to the new pit all in about 20 years, chances are the bears may never be in Bern when you go visit.

In other news, I managed to find Münsterplatz where there is a beautiful garden overlooking the river right next to a beautiful cathedral. The cathedral is undergoing renovations, but the tower is still open to go up! It's the tallest cathedral in Switzerland, and if I had known that before I climbed all those stairs, I may have paced myself better! The view up top is incredible! You can see the whole of Bern with the beautiful backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Just as I was heading up, there was a wedding happening inside the church and the bells started ringing. You could feel the tower move with the bells as they rang, which was terrifying, but amazing! If there is one thing I'm happy to have seen in Bern, it would definitely be that. There is something about the sights and sounds that makes you see just for a moment what life might have been like when the church was new and the city was just starting out... Kind of cool to think about....

Love, Alison

Ready for the 4th of July!! Wait, what?

What to do when it's rainy and cold in Switzerland, well basically the same thing you do anywhere when it's cold and rainy. SHOPPING! Pieterlen is very tiny and doesn't have much to do, so my wonderful Swiss friends drove me to Solothurn to go to a mall. It was kind of cool! I had no idea that Migros, the supermarket chain, had their own shopping center and was THAT big! There were all sorts of shops and ramp-escalators to accommodate all the carts. They really blew my mind when the grabbed a scanner, checked it out with a credit card and just went through the store scanning what they were going to buy! At the end, you return the scanner to its station and go over to the kiosk where you swipe the same credit card and all your purchases show up, you pay with the card and that's it. You're free to go... The trust system is apparently much stronger in Switzerland than the U.S. Of A.... Oh well. You can seriously get anything in this store: clothes, food, pharmaceuticals, shoes, luggage, you name it! I, of course, had to stop and giggle at all the USA decorations. They sell more USA items than we do in the actual USA. The Stars and Stripes are popular!!! They had Stars and Stripes garden accessories, glow sticks, craft supplies, candles, signs, cookie jars, scissors... EVERYTHING!!!! It was crazy! And what surprised me even more was that people were actually buying it!

As for the most exciting news of the day: THE RAIN STOPPED!!! So we veered off and went to the old town of Solothurn. This town is adorable with quaint shops, beautiful views and gates from the 1200's still standing. Of course, people have modernized a bit and built apartments right into the old city gates. My favorite place in town was the Läderach Swiss Chocolate shop. I didn't go in, because I would have had to spend all of my money... But all you really need is to take a whiff as you walk by. The smell is incredible! Läderach uses real gold and hand-paints their chocolates into individual pieces of art! I always worry they might be too pretty to eat, but then you try it, and believe me, it's worth the price! Thinking about it is making me think very hard over my life decisions.... Anyone wanna buy me chocolate?

Love, Alison

A Swiss BBQ

Let's just get one thing straight, the Swiss know how to throw a party. Even with the majority of the group speaking languages other than English, it was still one of the best parties I've been to in a while. The Swiss love to eat and drink and just enjoy each others company! I showed up and everyone came to greet me, try their hand at English and kiss both cheeks. I think that as an American, I personally shy away from touching other people, but Europeans are very friendly and greet everyone individually. It's amazing how much more you talk to someone at a party when you have that type of interaction and expectation! Well, the evening started with apéro(s) of chips, cheese, salami, sausage, prosciutto, olives, and champagne. THEN they fired up the grill and just kept pulling meat out of the fridge like a clown car! I don't even know how much meat there was, but it could've fed a small village, like our apparently hungry group of fifteen people.... There was veal, and steak, and lamb and basically every kind of meat you can grill. Everyone tried to tell me in the middle of a bite I was eating horse meat and crocodile but then gave up when I kept eating without even blinking. I don't care what it is, if it's delicious, I'll eat it! And of course with the meat, there was salad and delicious wine. Afterward, they pulled out a guitar and started singing. I noticed two of the women were actually incredibly good! Later I found out that they were famous Swiss singing sensations. So, I guess they actually knew what they were doing!!  Then came my favorite part of the evening, dessert and limoncello! Lilo made an amazing chocolate cake, and someone else had brought something pink and fluffy and full of deliciousness! Overall, it was an exceptional evening, so thank you, Andrea, for inviting me! My favorite Swiss saying was used many times, "You have to eat it! It's Swiss, it won't keep!!"

Love, Alison

Even if you whisper...

The other day, I pulled out my presents for the grandkids. Seeing as they are little boys, I tried to find a marshmallow gun, because they are awesome and it's basically the only thing my parents never bought me because marshmallows go everywhere! My interpretation of this means IT'S THE PERFECT GIFT!! Unfortunately, I couldn't find any in CO. What kind of state runs out of marshmallow guns!?? I can only hope all CO children are having spectacularly sticky marshmallow fights. So for a gift for the boys, I brought Nerf guns.... And told them they were from the Cowboy (aka my father) back in America! I think they got excited because they carried them around the rest of the day shooting things, but seeing as I don't speak Swiss German, who knows!

That's just the one small problem in Switzerland... I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! Luckily the friends I'm staying with speak English, but the only German I know is from when I was seven... I can say hello and goodbye and count to ten, but that's it. And it's not the correct dialect either. The Swiss have 4 national languages, and different dialects of each, so even if I did speak German, I still wouldn't understand Swiss German, and still be in the same place... The little boys don't seem to realize I can't understand a lick of what they say, so you can see them looking at me huddled together whispering secretively. I'm just waiting for the moment they realize even if they yell, I'm still oblivious. That should be fun... Maybe I'll get the kids to teach me some stuff, the youngest is four, so I'm pretty sure my language skills are the equivalent of a baby...

Love, Alison

Walk it off...

My first full day in Switzerland started a bit rough... Everything caught up to me and let's just say it wasn't pretty... So I did what any normal person would do and decided to walk it off. I found a hiking trail and hiked all the way from Pieterlen to Biel. I had a general idea about the trail, but seeing as all the signs were in German, I really had no idea what I was doing... I also discovered that my limited high school French is even more limited than I believed, seeing as I still had no idea what the signs were saying once I got to Biel.

In other news, I SAW COWS!!! It's actually quite sad how excited I got. I mean chocolate and cows ARE Switzerland!!!! I was just walking along in the forest minding my own business and heard a bell. It sounded like the Salvation Army Santa's that annoy the heck out of you at the grocery store, so I peaked through the bushes to see what bike or child was insistent on ringing that dang bell, and it was a cow!!!! (Instantly forgiven for ringing the bell by the way...) I mean I've seen cows before, I even ended up sitting on top of one when I was about six, so clearly I just like cows... All I could think about after the cow sighting were the stories my dad used to make up when we were kids. They always started the same way: Messy and Bessy were two cows who lived up high in the Swiss Alps...

Besides saying hello to my childhood memories, there were spectacular views from my hike. The trail weaves in and out of the forest so you end up walking dirt roads, neighborhood blocks, and almost nonexistent paths. Part of the path has a "vitaparcours" trail with different exercises to try.  I attempted the balancing blocks, running the ladders, slalom, and swinging on the rings... Thank goodness no one was there to witness any of these stunts because as I was swinging on the rings, I saw a spider hanging out right next to my hand, screamed and promptly landed my rear in the dirt.... Such fun. My "walk" ended up being about 11 miles, so needless to say, my new bright neon sneakers are no longer so bright...

Love, Alison

Here goes nothing....

IT'S TIME!!!! And by time, I mean time to start my six week adventure across Europe. I decided to start my travels in Switzerland, not only because it was the cheapest ticket out there, but because we have wonderful family friends in Pieterlen who are currently feeding me Swiss raclette, chocolate and wine while watching the sun set across the mountains (not a bad life decision starting here!!).

The flight from Denver to Newark was slightly hilarious. I sat next to a man still in the honeymoon phase of his relationship who told me all about his girlfriend Gina. Gina, if you read this, please don't crush this poor man's heart like his ex-wife did... Yes, I got that whole story too. Behind us was an entire Jewish tour group on their way to Jerusalem discussing Kosher airplane meals and all the benefits of Match.com. Apparently, I have now met one couple who it worked for! Go figure. 

In typical "me" fashion, of course a few things went wrong.... My flight out of Newark wasn't listed, then when it popped up, the gate wasn't listed... I managed to figure out that I needed to get to Terminal B, but seeing as the airport is under construction, that made it fairly interesting. For any of you traveling out of Newark Terminal B any time soon, follow the paper sign to gate C71 and take a bus through the cargo areas behind the airport, get off the bus where there isn't another soul in sight. Look for anything containing the letter B... In this case an emergency staircase with "B" on the door... Run like hell up the sketchy staircase, and voila! Easy-peasy!

Now, Swiss International Airlines is nice! They have flight attendants that actually like their job, or at least amazing actors to make you believe it! Either way, I'm sold. I ended up next to a very chubby man, who actually got stuck between the armrests several times.... And whose elbow needed some extra space near my ribs for 8 hours, but those flight attendants felt my pain and brought me Swiss chocolate several times. For those of you who don't know, Swiss chocolate fixes EVERYTHING!!! And if not, try a sleeping pill and a glass of wine... That'll do the trick...

Anywhoozles, I made it to Zurich, got my bag, made it through customs, found my dad's friend, Serge, and off we went to Pieterlen!! And now, in my incredibly sleep deprived and jet lagged state, I'm going to enjoy the view and catch up with old friends. 

Gute Nacht! 

Love, Alison 

Adventure is Out There!

This entire crazy idea all came about as I sat behind a glass window helping guests as they visited Walt Disney World. As a Guest Relations hostess, I met people from all over the world. They had amazing stories, interesting facts, sometimes questionable fashion decisions, and a world full of knowledge. I came to realize that although I LOVED my job in Guest Relations, I would never get a chance to just pick up and travel while working for a large corporation. When I went back to the pixie-dusting horror known as the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for a week, I realized that life was just too darn short to sneeze pixie-dust 24/7. So, I quit. I packed up my life in Florida, moved home with my parents and decided I needed to see the world.

The past few months of my life have consisted of skiing. Just skiing.... Nordic, Alpine, AT, you name it.... I became a ski bum, and it was GLORIOUS. Until now.... This lovely mud season has ruined the ski bum life. This time of year literally everyone evacuates town because it's gloomy and gross and you can't ski because there is not enough snow, but you can't hike because there is too much, you can't bike because it's too muddy, etc etc etc. So, now I'm following the rest of the locals out of town. Far out of town. Like other side of the world out of town. *cue theme music*

Tomorrow, I start an adventure that I hope will be nothing short of amazing. I leave for Europe for six weeks. My plans are completely slapped together at the last minute, but I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best! (I guess that's all you can do when you purchase a ticket less than three weeks before it leaves.....) But in any case, I guess the only thing left to say is: Adventure is out there!!!!!

Caw-caw RAWR!

Love, Alison