Bern & Geneva Switzerland

After hiking down from Gimmewald, we hopped on the bus and went to Bern. We stayed on the temple grounds for the night, those sleeping conditions were not the best, but as always our group made the best out of our situation. That night we arrived in Bern, we were able to do temple work as a group. I love that we are able to go through different temples all around the world and the principles are all the same. It was a great experience to be able to do temple work with everyone in my group. Crazy side note, but as we were getting to the temple I saw a group of people leaving and one of the guys looked really familiar, the closer I got to him I realized it was one of my friends from college! It was so crazy how I ran into someone I knew in Switzerland..

After staying at Bern, we went to Geneva. Geneva was awesome. We were able to visit the Olympic Museum. Which I was super stoked about ever since we got the itinerary for our trip! I have an obsession with the Olympics, so I could not wait to see the history behind it all. I loved it all. There were videos that we were able to watch, and every single video gave me the chills. There were also replicas of every Olympic torch that has been carried, and it gave a description of why the torch was designed the way it was. You could say that I kind of like sports, so it was a blast going through and looking at how the Olympic games have evolved throughout the years. Oh and I touch a basketball signed by the USA Dream Team, even thought it said DO NOT TOUCH, I know I am a rebel. We spent hours in the museum and it was so amazing! I could have easily stayed longer.

After going to the museum, we went back to our hostel and there was a huge festival going on in Geneva, so we were able to explore the city. We also went to the United Nations headquarters with a group of girls. So, Switzerland was basically great. I loved it.

Interlaken & Gimmewald Switzerland

Switzerland was unreal. The ride to Switzerland was nine hours, but it didn't seem too bad when you are driving through the Swiss Alps. Interlaken was our first stop. Even though we were only in Interlaken for a total of 24 hours, we made every minute worth it. When we first got to our hostel, we had to book it over to a grocery store because it was going to close in ten minutes and we needed to buy food for dinner. Restaurants or any type of food places do not really stay open past 5:00 in Interlaken, which was a big culture shock for us. After we got all of the essentials at the grocery store, a few of us decided to go for a run around the city. It was gorgeous. I love to run. We were able to explore the city in a different way than you normally do. It was an adventure and I loved it.

The next morning, I did something I never imagined in a million years I would do. I went paragliding over the Swiss Alps! It was a spur of the moment decision. I had no time at all to think it through because if I did not sign up right then, all of the spots would have been filled. That is probably a good thing though, because then I didn't have time to psych myself out or worse call my mom and have her talk me out of it..  I even contemplated not telling her until after cause I knew she would be nervous, she worries about everything...it is kind of a Monahan thing. It was probably one of THE BEST experiences of my life. At first it was a little odd, basically we got up to the top of the mountains and my instructor set his parachute up and then threw a backpack on me and said start running. At this moment I was like...uhh...wait you have no instruction for me but to just run. So I went with it. But honestly once I was in the air my experience was amazing. It is so calming and peaceful. You honestly feel like the whole world is on pause and you can just enjoy and take in all the beauty. 

Once we got back from paragliding we had to hustle and gather up all of our stuff to go to Gimmewald. Gimmewald is this little town high up in the Swiss Alps. So we had to pack a little day pack and hike up to it. It was a steep climb and everyone was able to go at their own pace. Even though it was a little more tretcherous than expected the view once we got there was the perfect reward. Once we got to our hostel we all decided to hike further to this gorgeous waterfall. I do not think I have every walked so much in one day in my life. We hiked for probably a good ten hours, but boy was it worth it! The beauty that is all around us is breathtaking. Ever since going on this study abroad I have felt a greater appreciation for all of the wonders around us. Nature is pretty neat. 

After conquering the Alps.

Florence, Italy

Well..I love Italy.  It is not shocking that I fell in love with this place, because I have always heard of Italy's beauty. But seriously this place is unreal.  

We only had one day to venture around Florence. So it was a jam packed day. Especially because it was a bit delayed because our bus driver ran into a sign at the convent we were staying at and broke it (picture below). It was crazy! The nuns did not know what to do. He basically tried to fit our huge bus in that little arch way...I do not really understand what he was thinking, cause there was no way we would fit through that arch. Once he hit the sign he held up all the traffic, it was a fiasco. It is kind of a thing where you had to be there to understand it. But let's just say the nuns were not too thrilled..

Anyway back to my adventures...A lot of people in our group were looking for leather jackets and bags, so the majority of the day was spent in the leather markets. I loved it! I was one of the people that was searching for a leather jacket, but I unfortunately was not successful. I could not find exactly what I was looking for because all of the ones I saw were very "biker-ish" and I wanted more of a sleek look. At least some people found what they were looking for! After the leather markets we visited the Piazza del Duomo to look around the octagonal Baptistry. After visiting the Baptistry we went for some more Italian pizza and we obviously still had some room for gelato afterwards. I remember that this place that we went was THE BEST gelato I had on this entire trip. At night we walked to the top of a hill so that we could see the city lights. It was amazing!

Ps. I AM APPLYING FOR ANOTHER STUDY ABROAD. When you travel the world once, you honestly cannot get enough!

This is the arch he tried to fit through..dummy.

Venice, Italy

Venice was absolutely perfect.  This trip in general was just too perfect.  Every site we went to was an absolute dream.  I was looking forward to going go Italy since we got our itinerary. 

The thing I was not prepared for was hauling my huge suitcase through the streets of Venice.  Not only did we have to drag our bags through the cobblestone, we had to lift them over the bridges, I obviously did not think this one through..  but honestly I have no complaints about Venice.

After checking into our hotel, the night was ours to explore the city.  One of the big things that were on our checklist was to find the perfect Italian pizza.  And we found it!  I still remember this night so vividly, I was with Rachel, Carly, Karli, Lyndi, and Taylor.  I think Venice is the place I really got to know these girls, and I loved every minute of it.  One of the highlights of traveling with random people was being able to sit down and learn so much about their lives.  After traveling around with this group I can honestly say that I have gained some of my very best friends from this trip.  Anyways, back to that night.. after the pizza we found it only fitting to go on a gondola ride.  The night was perfect for it!  So all six of us girls jumped in a gondola and explored canals of the city from the water, how romantic, right..?  After the gondola ride we all decided we NEEDED some gelato!  So that is exactly what we got!

The next day in Venice was amazing. We toured the city looking at all the different sights and exploring all the little shops.  After exploring the city we had to get to our business visit, which we were a little early for, so we find a little bridge to take a quick nap on.  Honestly, I still feel like that was one of the best naps of my life.  Traveling around you do not realize how exhausted you get because you are just always on the go and want to see everything that Europe has to offer! So this nap was much needed.  After this business visit we had went and had some pizza for dinner that was highly recommended by all of the locals.  Let me tell you, it was soo good! 

Venice was so good to us.  I am in love with this city. It was beautiful, the pictures honestly do not even do it justice.  It was so hard to leave.  I want to go back right now.