This post title is courtesy of my mother, who told me this cliché after a very eventful trip to a Munich hospital.
Ok, yeah, let me back up a little bit. The hospital visit came towards the end of my spring break (or "Semana Santa," as they call it here in Granada) and there were many fun things that happened before that. I started my break two days early because of the Spanish national strike, which was scheduled for one day...the day my father's flight was scheduled to land in Granada. About two days before, my dad texted me and said his flight to Granada was cancelled, which would leave him stranded in Madrid. So, I bought a bus ticket to Madrid for Wednesday night to meet him on Thursday morning. Starting my spring break two days early wasn't such a bad thing, but where was I supposed to stay? Then I remembered two of my friends from high school, Cristi and John, are studying in Madrid! Cristi saved me and took me in like the little orphan that I was, and she even made me dinner! It was great to see her and John, since it had been a very long time since I saw both of them. As for the national strike, I think it was a bit exaggerated. The street my dad's was on was closed for the demonstrations for part of the day, and there were large masses of people, but besides that it was only a lot of yelling and firecrackers. Also, in typical Spanish fashion, the strike took a break around 1 pm for lunch and siesta. Really, Spain? Of course, once they returned to "protest" around 7 pm, the massive group of people turned it into a botellón. Oh, p.s.-A botellón is a giant area where you can drink outside and party. Granada had their biggest one a few weeks ago called "La Fiesta Primavera" (Spring Party) and it was madness (Spaniards brought their alcohol in gigantic shopping carts-the Spanish certainly know how to party!). So, yeah, the strike was not 1. dangerous or 2. all that exciting or abnormal for Spain.
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| Lots and lots of people, but that was about it, along with some chanting and singing and alcohol consumption |
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| Cristi and I reunited! :) |
So, my spring break was off to an interesting start. After walking up and down the main street in Madrid for 45 minutes, encountering an annoying postal worker at the Corte Inglés (department store), and searching for somewhere to ship our bags from, we found a place that didn't charge us an arm and a leg, and sent my father's large bags to my director's apartment in Granada (the budget airline we were flying doesn't allow you to check extra bags unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars). We were off to the Madrid airport to board our flight to Geneva, Switzerland! I had been most excited to travel to Switzerland out of everywhere, especially because my dad's two friends, Pierre and Deedee, live there and offered to host us for a few days. I have always heard a lot about both of them, but had never actually met them. They turned out to be the nicest people (just like my mom told me they were), and they have three kids (one of which is in school in Boston, and I hope to meet her eventually). Pierre and Deedee's two sons were hilarious, and the one named George had bright red hair and I could not resist from calling him George Weasley. He was okay with it, I think.
Switzerland as a whole did not let me down. Right after Pierre and Deedee picked us up at the airport (after a nice little reunion with my dad, who had not seen Pierre since his wedding), they took us to a great French restaurant where I drank amazing wine and ate amazing food. They live in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is right next to the French border, and is actually right across Lake Geneva from Evian, France (where the water comes from!). The next day, Pierre drove us around the area, and we went to a little town where people make cheese. I wish I remembered the name, but it was a cute and little Swiss town and I loved it. We ate another amazing meal and then toured the Cailler chocolate factory. I have to say, the chocolate there is significantly better than Hershey's and I ate my weight in it, that's for sure.
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| My pretty food! Pierre said that the French consider the way the food looks to be just as important as how it tastes! I like that idea. |
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| Soooo much chocolate. |
That night I went for a walk around Lake Geneva with Deedee and her son Pierre (same name, it's confusing I suppose). The area was absolutely beautiful, with the lake and the Alps right next to us. I could have looked at the Alps and stayed in Switzerland forever I think. My dad and I definitely did not want to leave, and now that I know people in Switzerland I hope to go back someday with my mom! She would have loved it, and I wish she didn't have to teach so she could've come with my dad (even though she is scared of flying). Deedee and Pierre were the best hosts, and hopefully I will see them again soon! If you are somehow reading this (my dad meant to send you the link to my blog), muchas gracias por la comida, la cama, y su hermosa ciudad! (They speak Spanish, too...).
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| Chillin' with the Alps and Lake Geneva :) |
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| Sunset! So beautiful. |
My dad and I got on a train Sunday morning en route to Munich, Germany, which I had always heard great things about. Munich was less great than Switzerland, which I will explain later because Hannah and I are going to the Arab baths in Granada to get a massage. Yes, I am spoiled.
Oh, and before anyone worries, my dad was the one in the hospital because he fell, but he's okay with no broken bones and is safely back in the United States! I'll elaborate when I am back! Yes, I like keeping everyone in suspense...
Lauren
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