eurotrip

Schynige Platte to First

After getting some advice from the locals, Cooper and I (along with a couple friends) set off to do “the” Alpine hike. The hike took us up and down the ridge, up Faulhorn peak, and down to First. On one side were the giant glacier filled peaks, while the other looked down over Interlaken and its surrounding lakes. The hike was tough, and took us about 6 hours to get to First. We weren’t done, though, as we had to make the 3 hour descent down to the town of Grindelwald, where we made our camp for the night.

Our feet were not too happy with us the next day, especially while we made the 12 mile trek along the river back to Interlaken…

Lake Como

After Mass, a couple new friends and I took a day trip to Lake Como, about an hour outside of Milan. It was a beautiful day and the towns surrounding the lake had a great feel to them. We enjoyed the views during the ferry rides across the lake from town to town, and of course the gelato once we got to shore.

Somehow we happened to eat lunch at the exact spot where the cover photo on my guide book was taken. This one’s for you Rick Steves!

After a quick day and a half in the motherland, it was back up to Switzerland for a couple days of hiking through the Alps.

The Matterhorn

My roommate Jason joined me and Cooper in Zermatt, Switzerland to do a little backpacking. The first day we hiked a couple hours and found a grassy area to camp out right below the Matterhorn. The fire kept us warm…until about 3 in the morning. It wasn’t all bad, though. As I poked my shivering head from my sleeping bag, I saw a cloudless sky lit up by the bright white jagged peak, illuminated by the moon. I enjoyed the view for a minute or so before ducking back into my cocoon of a sleeping bag.

The next day we completed our hike of the Matterhorn trail before heading back down the hill to Zermatt. Headed to Interlaken today, more hiking ahead!

Normandy

Today I took the train to the Normandy region of France to visit Omaha Beach, the site of one of the D-Day landings and the location of the most American casualties. Before visiting the cemetery, I walked down to the beach and reflected on the fear those brave soldiers must have had storming that beach as the enemy waited, perched on the hill, firing away. Today, the scene at the beach is just the opposite: a peaceful stretch of coastline with rolling hills of bright green grass.

In the cemetery, white crosses are aligned on perfectly manicured grass, row upon row, upon row. I stumbled upon this grave site of the unknown soldier, something I had read about just before arriving. The shear number of graves is mesmerizing and humbling. Thanks to all those that have served in the military, especially those that sacrificed their lives…

May perpetual light shine upon them

Batting Practice

Sitting in front of the Eiffel tower, I figured it would be a perfect chance to get a little BP in. I didn’t have a bat, so I figured a baguette would do the trick. It's been raining a little bit on and off here in Paris, but we finally got a little bit of sun once we got to the park. Great day, great views…

Just in case you were wondering, the ball went out of the park, into the River Seine.

Maison Dovalle

Tucked in the little village of Montreuil Bellay in the Loire valley of France is a bed and breakfast situated on a hill right next to a castle. How did we end up here you ask? Good question. I asked myself that same thing multiple times during the two days we were treated to a free bed and meals consisting of fresh bread, shrimp, snails, muscles, salmon, and, of course, ratatouille. The midnight fireworks and late night singing was just icing on the cake.

Special thanks to Claire, Kat, Muriel, and Kevin!

The Cal Poly Connection

I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised, but I have run into quite a few Cal Poly grads already in my travels. There were the guys wearing the Bull's Tavern shirts in Pamplona, as well as another recent grad getting ready to run. In San Sebastian, after doing the limbo to some live music in a plaza, I turn around and see a friend of mine from high school that I haven’t seen since graduating in ‘06. Yesterday, I was sitting in the internet room of the hostel, and a girl walks in that kinda looks like a friend of mine from school. Then she talks and she kinda sounds like a friend of mine. Kellen?? Somehow, someway, a good friend of mine through my roommate Josh happens to be staying at the exact same place I am, with two other Cal Poly girls. I guess it really is a small world after all…

“DON’T TOUCH THE WOUNDED”

6:45 AM: It’s time. After a sleepless night in a park filled with festival goers strewn about amidst bottles of sangria, we were there: Smack dab in the middle of the path that would be traversed by six ravaging bulls in just over an hour. We made it in, nervously packed like sardines, but in just the spot we wanted to start. A day earlier we had scouted out the course, deciding on the most ideal position to start so as to make it past Dead Man’s Corner before the bulls, allowing them to pass us as we neared the entrance to the bull ring, but staying close enough to follow them into the ring. Now we wait…

7:30 AM: 30 minutes to go. Nervously, Ryan and I converse with those around us, hoping to speak with someone that has seen or participated in the spectacle before. By this point, we have already lost Cooper in the crowd and trying to find him was a lost cause. One down already, not a good start. The grocery bag I was holding held two last chocolate eclairs, left over from the night before. Chocolate eclairs that carry with them the title of “possibly your last meal” taste beyond delicious. After enjoying the pastry, it was time to ditch the bag and say a couple prayers…

7:50 AM: 10 minutes to go. A PA system relays instructions in languages that I don’t understand. And then I heard it…I could tell they were on to the English portion of the instructions, but until now hadn’t really heard what was being said. “Don’t touch the wounded.” A chilling reality set in: this was every man for himself, no exceptions.

7:55 AM: The crowd begins to move. I have no choice but to move with it. Immediately, I lose Ryan. It’s just me. I know the bulls aren’t out yet, so I slide off to the side and watch the sea of people go by, looking for Ryan, but seeing Cooper from behind as he is forced along with the crowd. And then, like a tidal wave, the crowd moves again, around dead man’s corner and onto the main straightaway. Looking at my watch, I realize there is still 1 minute before the bulls are out, so again I slide off, watching the second hand tick towards the top of my watch.

8:00 AM: The first rocket, the bulls are out. I freeze, gotta give time for the bulls to reach me, or get closer at least. 10 seconds later, the second rocket: They’re all out. Screams. Panic. Run! Off I go, down the narrow street underneath the balconies full of people cheering and screaming. Bodies strewn everywhere, people falling over themselves and others. The race so far was against the crowd. That would change shortly.

8:01 AM: More screams, more panic. But these were different, these screams were shear terror. The panic in people’s eyes was something I had never encountered before. The look of pure fear of one’s life has a profound effect on one’s pysche. Full on sprint, this was it. One glance back, 2 giant creatures barreling 3 feet to my left. Do I touch one? I’m gonna do it…one glance back to see if I can make the move and…NO, I can’t. Another bull plows through, right where I planned on moving. Another passes, and then another, further to my left. I somehow counted 6 bulls, even though only 5 passed. I was overcome with jubilation as I headed down into the bull ring with the rest of the crowd.

8:03 AM: Into the ring. 15,000 fans screaming and cheering for you as you enter, scattering about, jumping in celebration. Everyone was my best friend, we had all just conquered those famed bulls of Pamplona. Flash to the big screen, the last bull decided to sit down before entering the ring. After some prodding, he comes running in, scattering all of us inside. He finally goes through the ring, and the final rocket is set off….Pandemonium

Immediately I enter Gladiator mode, yelling at the crowd: “Are you not entertained?? Is this not why you are here??”

I knew exactly why I was there: to run and survive, and that’s exactly what I did.

Looking back, I knew what I was doing, but what was I thinking?

La Sagrada Familia

It is basically impossible to capture just how big and intricate this church is. All I can tell you is to look it up! The detail is crazy. Apparently it's been under construction for about 100 years, and they don’t plan on being done for another decade or two. It was still pretty amazing to see how much work and effort had been put into the design and construction.

Barcelona

Barcelona has been a fun city so far. I’ve done my best to get lost as much as possible everyday. The streets can be pretty confusing, but it’s just all part of the fun. When I was in Madrid, it was a big city, but it almost felt like you were in a small town as the streets were very narrow and buildings were fairly short. Barcelona is a whole different feel as you can definitely tell that you are in a big city. I think I like the feel of Madrid better than Barcelona, but it is pretty tough to beat having the beach just a short walk away!

Sangria

I Tried to order a nice glass of sangria with some tapas after the day at the beach. Apparently, you can only order BOWLS of sangria here. I am about a third of the way through it here; I took off all the fruit hanging off the sides before I realized I should take a picture, but you get the idea that it was pretty over the top!