Home Sweet Home

Wow it is just wonderful in here, this country called home. I got in yesterday to Neenah, a day later than planned. That was an expensive mistake. My advice? Don't ever miss a flight after purchasing tickets online... you don't get your money back. And I wish I had a better excuse for missing it... I wanted a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower. Lame. I know. Then it took quite a while to get to the airport, about an hour longer than I expected and I didn't make the check-in. Oh well, I have pretty amazing parents, since, here I am - in good ol' Wisconsin!

So the rest of my trip? I told you I was in Sicily. I did like it; wished I could have made a winery tour but the only one available was a 7 day tour... no good for me! I hung out on the beaches and relaxed since I started getting a cold. I blame all the travel on the trains. So I took a (miserable) night train up to Florence. I slept on the floor in the aisle, trying to keep warm with a towel. But I think Florence is thus far my favorite city in Italy. Amazing. I will upload pictures soon, when I get the chance. It was beautiful there and I had a great hostel as well so ended up staying 2 nights rather than traveling to Venice in order to catch up on sleep, hang out with other American travelers and see the city.

From Florence, I left at about 11am with plans to either stay the night in Milan or Turin. Well I arrived to both and decided I didn't want to be in Italy anymore. I couldn't wait to get to France to be able to speak to people again, especially since I was having a few problems in Turin. I tried to find a hostel to make reservations anywhere, Italy or France, or a train to go directly to Grenoble, but was unsuccessful. My stubborn and exhausted-of-Italian mood came out, so I got on a train going toward Paris, where I would just get out in Chambery to switch trains to get into Grenoble. Or so I thought.

Another problem in Turin was the fact that the train was booked so I couldn't purchase a ticket, but they told me if I just got on the train, I would have to pay an extra 8 euro to make it to my destination. Sweet. So I got on and sat on a flip-out chair in the aisle (again) but the guy checking tickets NEVER checked me! I got a free 63 euro train ride. I'll take it. And then I sat next to a French guy, also sitting in a flip-down chair, who was awesome. I realized I can successfully have a conversation in French and only one or two Wolof words came out. He was great and offered me to stay at his apt, which I turned down in desperate hope to get to Grenoble. So I got out at my stop, which was his home, when it started pouring! I didn't bring anything to keep me warm... I was planning on a Mediterranean vaca, not a mountainous one! So I borrowed his phone, found out the hostel in Grenoble was booked and although I could have gotten on the train to get there and find something else, I didn't really want to do that in the rain at 11pm. So I went to Cyril's house!

He was so nice. We made a pesto-pasta dinner and he took me around to see the chateau in Chambery and other touristy sites after lending me a sweater that he ended up giving to me to keep! His roommate is actually Senegalese and was really interested in meeting him, but never got the opportunity since he got home late and I left by 7:30 to get on a train to go to Chamonix, with a layover in Annecy, another beautiful lake city with mountains all around.

Chamonix is still my favorite city in the entire world. I love it! I got in late, found a hostel and went out for an amazing dinner. I figured since the night before that I had a free dinner and night's stay, I could treat myself to a demi-bottle of wine and tartiflette (traditional cheesy potatoes). The next day I climbed a ski run to not-quite-the-top of a mountain looking down on Chamonix. It was a real tough climb, just as difficult down as up. I was wishing for snow and skis the whole time but the view was incredible. I decided I need to buy a chalet in Chamonix when I am rich. There isn't too much available in my budget at this time.

From Chamonix, I took a night train to Paris. Got in nice and early, at 6, put my luggage in storage and wandered the streets before missing my flight and coming back to find a hostel that evening. I was exhausted and rather upset, so I made dinner and was in bed early. Crazy for me but honestly, all I wanted was to be home.

Kristofer is still uncomfortable and confusing doctors with his chest pain. All I want is for him to feel better. It is amazing being home, sitting here watching a Brewer game while writing this blog, sitting in between my dad and brother, after a sushi dinner at Nakashima's. Life is good. Keep my bro in your thoughts. We need him to get better ASAP! As for plans in Neenah? A few dinners out and a Brewer game on Monday, but I don't have much else so feel free to give me a call. I would love to see you!