I Think I'm Allergic to France

So clearly I'm not allergic to France as a whole, but just some of the trees in it.  Last weekend I made a day trip to Lyon, and had a very unpleasant, but minor, allergy attack.  I recovered on the train on the way back to Geneva, but would have liked to stay longer.  I left early on Saturday and the city seemed to be just waking up.  I wanted to see more (and eat more), since this town is known for the food. 

I'm not really sure what happened, but I ended up in a mall while trying to find a shortcut back to the train station.  

Lyon Opera House.

I fully intended to hike up the hill to this church until the whole allergy thing.

Just wanted to show you the trees that I am allergic to.

Houseboat!  This reminded me a little bit of London.

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This train was going to Evian...like the water.

My fabulous lunch!  The sandwich and pastry cost less than six Euros total.  So delicious.

51 Minutes in Milan

On our way back from Rome we changed trains in Milan.  We had a short layover there.  51 minutes, to be exact.  So what do you do with 51 minutes in Milan?

 

Check out the street vendors outside of the train station.  

Then buy a bag of dried kiwi for less than three Euros.

Attempt to find gelato.  Unfortunately all we could find was two McDonald's a block apart from each other.  Sad day.

 

Then finally, admire the beautiful train station.

I also spent about 10 minutes buying one postcard, because I paid with a 20, but only got a five and change back.  I tried to explain, using sign language, that I needed more change.  We eventually figured it out.  All and all I enjoyed Milan, or at least the train station!

P.S. 8 days until I head back to the U.S.A.

Rome: Day I

So a few weeks ago I decided that I really needed to get out of Switzerland.  Don't get me wrong, I love the land of the Swiss, but there are many cool European cities that I need to visit.  Last weekend that city was Rome.  

    

We left Geneva on Friday night and boarded the overnight train.  We were both on the top bunk of a 6 bunk room.  It wasn't as bad as expected, until I realized that our "roommates" had moved the ladder in the middle of the night.  I was trapped, which was not as dramatic as it could of been.  I consumed just enough water to not die of thirst and just enough not to need to leave my bed.  

                                                          

Here is my friend on the right and our Canadian "roommate" on the left, sitting under my bunk.

After arriving at 9 a.m. the next day we located our hotel, dropped off our bags, and proceeded to walk around for the next 12 hours.  We stop for lunch, dinner, and many photo opportunities.  Here is what I saw and ate: 

  
     

 Making my wish at the fountain.
  

This is the view from the steps where we sat and enjoyed gelato.

   

 

The Basilica

  

 

   
Though this tortellini may not look that great, it was truly AMAZING.

RECAP

Food Consumed: Pizza, Tortellini, Gelato, Buffalo Mozzarella, and Bruschetta

Hours Walked: 11ish

Euros Spent: about 50

Locarno, Switzerland: Day II

After a fabulous night sleep we woke up to a great hotel breakfast.  They had a cheese tray with five kinds of cheese, and if you know me you know that I love cheese.  They had a huge basket of fresh breads.  The list of treats goes on and on: five kinds of jam, hard boiled eggs, easter baskets with chocolate bunnies, orange juice, coffee, tea...  Perfect way to start Easter Sunday!

We wandered around the city and decided to take the little train around town.  We saw the scenic sites, including a campground and a Ford dealerships. It was slightly unconventional, but I enjoyed it.

 After meandering around the city we decided to have a long lunch.  Since we were as close to Italy as we could get, we decided to go for Italian food.  The pizza and past were just perfect.

 

Locarno, Switzerland: Day I

After many trips to the train station reservation center we finally found a train that wasn't booked solid for Easter vacation.  So after much research, and a bit of luck, we boarded a train for Locarno, Switzerland.  The town was beautiful, right on Lake Maggiore, and one of the last towns before crossing into Italy.  

Nearly all of my trips have been with the same person and we have developed a tradition of sorts.  We also go to the 24-hour store in the train station and buy snacks.  We like to try something different each time.  This time she bought what she thought was a banana smoothie. 

Language Barrier #1: Banana smoothie turned out to be banana flavored buttermilk, which is just as gross as it sounds.

The view from our balcony.  Day or night this place was beautiful.

We arrived Saturday mid-day after a long, but scenic eight hour train ride.  After some wandering around town, and slightly up a mountain, we found our hotel.  After dropping most of our stuff we headed out for the day.  The weather was gorgeous and everything was in bloom.  My travel partner is from Florida, and not impressed by palm trees, but I love them.  

After some purchases (homemade pasta for me), we found a cute pizzeria on the main drag.  Through some very creative sign language we were able to get a table.  We decided on a pizza, with ham (or so we thought).  I was, unfortunately, without my language book, because it was borrowed (aka stolen) by my Geneva roommate.

Language Barrier #2: Ham turned out to be the saltiest sardines known to man.

In an attempt to recover form this sodium attack we scoured the town for gelato.  We were eventually successful and I enjoyed a mango and cherry cone while we walked along the lake towards our hotel during sunset.  All and all the day went well and was rather relaxing.