I feel like I should be wearing a fairisle sweater.
And maybe the hat/scarf/glove combo. And those sock booties with the little tassled pompoms. Do they make fairisle pants? I should probably be wearing those, too. It seems like the only appropriate apparel for this cozy little hostel, tucked in this cozy little town nestled in the not so cozy, not at all little Alps.
I´m sitting by the fireplace next to a Christmas tree, and just finished eating a delicious homecooked meal that we made ourselves after visiting the local co-op. It smells sort of like wood smoke.
Interlaken is gorgeous. After a miraculously successful five connections from Berlin (tram, train, plane, bus, train), the last of which was the most incredible Swiss train ride through the Bernese Alps, we finally arrived at our last European destination. Right in between two lakes, Interlaken totally has the hometown charm thing down. Christmas lights are strung on nearly every building, all of which seem to resemble cabins and chalets and sell myriad Swiss souvenirs. Everything is completely covered in fresh snow (it has been snowing for most of the day) and the general slowness that surrounds our first trip outside of a large city is truly preparing me for my trip home and for Christmas.
Our last day in Berlin was also quite nice. After the most depressing morning at a concentration camp (which I´ll spare you the details of because it was horrifying), we cheered ourselves up with another Christmas market and a lenghty trip to the bookstore. It´s a little funny that we had started to fall into a routine after being in the city for only three days. By the last day, Christmas markets were less about cheery goods and more about scouring for food and gluhwein (mulled wine). For the record, I settled on a sausage and spinach, fruit bread, and a pretzel (bretzel). Our final Christmas tree count is now up to 15. We probably spent about an hour at the bookstore before heading back to the hostel for the night.
It´s also funny that this morning, waking up horrendously early for our last morning flight didn´t even phase us. Normally, I feel miserable and near death at the prospect of 4 a.m. travel, but I was good to go this morning. We even imagined ourselves travelling for longer (but there is no part of me that doesn´t want to go home in four days. FOUR DAYS!!
Kelly and I were hilarious this morning. Instead of sleeping on our epic Swiss train, we talked most of the time. Unfortunately, being exhausted just from general travel, our sentences rarely were finished and mostly just ended in giggles. I would be surprised if they were even coherent. Fun for us, but I am pretty sure we were the most annoying people on the train.
We got to the hostel around 11 and wandered around for awhile. Lunched at the co-op where we were literally the opnly guests under 60, and then headed back to the hostel and set up (book)shop for 4 hours. We both came into Switzerland with the assumption that this would be ultra lowkey, and so I´m kind of glad there isn´t really too much to do except ski and adventure sports.
Hopefully skydiving will actually happen tomorrow. I haven´t seen the sun in litetally a week except for when we flew above the clouds, and they cancel it at even the remote chance of bad weather. But I want to go SO BAD — so wish us luck on that venture!
The rest of the night should be pretty laid back. I nned to rest up for tomorrow, anyway. And a pillow would be quite nice right now.
