Tangled Thoughts

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” ―Eleanor Roosevelt

It’s probably safe to say that I am set. For a few years. At least. Maybe. Maybe not. I can’t decide.

Let me explain.

A few weeks ago Amanda mentioned that they were going to Switzerland. “You should come!” she said. “Are you serious?” I asked. “Are you?” she replied. And so it began. I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it, but I didn’t need a lot. A quick look at my calendar told me I could be gone for approximately five days. And that was if everything panned out in my favor…

After securing the okay from everyone I had commitments with, I purchased my ticket and spent the next week and ½ attempting to get everything in order. It takes about as much time to get ready for a five day trip as it does a five month trip -which is really why I like to go for an extended period of time. But with Christmas, and previous engagements -being gone longer than five days wasn’t feasible. So a five day trip to Switzerland it was.

Sunday I taught Sunday school, attended church and mere minutes after the final amen -bolted out the front door, changed in the backseat of the car while mom drove to the airport -gave her a kiss and ran down the ramp to catch the ferry -which left right as I stepped on.

It’s been non-stop ever since.

I’ve traveled before. I know how it’s done. I didn’t check any bags so I could make it to the airport just ½ hour before the plane left. Perks of a small town -I arrived before the plane. I made my connecting flight in Seattle with ease, and traveled the next eight plus hours with a seat fully reclined into my lap and a guy who had taken sleeping pills, melting out of his seat into mine.

I know what to expect in the airports. I can even manage to haggle my bag into the overhead bins without any help -which is no small task when you are just over five feet. Our flight was late taxing in which meant I had to run to make it through the largest airport in England -and after a short runaround because my boarding pass was invalid -it was determined that my flight was cancelled. Due to weather. Because apparently Switzerland got snow -and they aren’t used to that.

No big deal. I got on the next flight, bought an international sim card and called Amanda. Who was supposed to meet me in the Swiss airport and together we would navigate to the hotel. Except their flight was cancelled too -and they wouldn’t be there until the following night.

It was determined that I would “Simply” catch the train in Switzerland and make my way to the hotel. In a land which I didn’t know. And a language I can’t speak. I will admit to crying a few tears in the airport -mainly because I was tired -having just flown 9+ hours and glorious jetlag and all. I was worried about getting lost. So yes, I left a few tears in England. But I boarded my flight, vowed not to let the issues get the best of me and slept the short flight Switzerland….

When I landed there were a dozen or so messages -telling me NOT to catch the train after all. Whilst in the air, it was apparently decided that no, catching a train in a foreign land -and making multiple connections before wandering the streets of a strange land in the dark  -would not be the wisest option…and after some finagling on her part, Amanda secured me a cab. Bless her socks.

It was a fairly easy trip from there. Except after traveling for a day plus, I was wiped. As we drove through the dark streets on our way to the hotel I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. It looked like another big city. Full of busy streets and tall buildings.

I arrived at my hotel with a few minutes charge left on my computer and phone -because I had sent my travel adapter with Amanda, I wouldn’t be able to charge anything. I spent ten pounds just to call and inform my people that I had, in fact, arrived -then promptly fell asleep. For 12 hours.

When the sun came peaking into my room, I debated about getting up -it was, after all, early in the morning. I wasn’t entirely certain how I was going to get around in the town and having not seen anything except dark streets -I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

I got out of bed and opened the door to my private balcony and looked around….

Buildings….

….cars….

Then this:

 

And suddenly, I remembered why I love to travel. With no expectations.

Because this place? Is quite simply: Beautiful.