I have been saying it ever since Kim and Kate left but I think I want to come home.
I miss everyone too much. Its not enough for me to speak to my mum on the phone all the time.
It hurts too much now to hear about my sisters lives from a distance.
I dont want to be away from Mel and Mandy and D and Sahar (if shes still around) anymore.
Its just Lacey and I now and I am so lonely. Manda and Sara left and it feels like I wont make any more friends. People that I will love anyway. And if I dont love them then whats the point?
I love the kids I look after. I love the beautiful big house thats right on the lake. I love so much jumping on a plane for an hour and being at another stunning holiday destination,
I am just more sad these days than I am happy.
I miss you guys. I think about you all - all the time.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
More goodbyes...
The weekend following the girls leaving was the actual last weekend in Switzerland that Sara, Manda, Lacey and I were together so we all camped at Laceys house and drank a heap of wine and made a tonne of nice food for the whole weekend!
We talked about going shopping or taking a hike but none of it happened. I think we really just wanted to be with each other, there were a few tears. Yet it wasnt the last time we saw each other. Just Manda and Sara had to say goodbye.
Sara then left for Ireland and it was Manda, Lacey and I left to celbrate the Swiss National Day on August 1st. Luckily it was a week day so we got the day off!
We celebrated in style by all buying Swiss flag t-shirts. We the made it down to the lake and spent the afternoon drinking my duty free vodka and having a nice lunch. My boss had also invited everyone to my house for a BBQ so we went there at about 6.30ish. We had a huge dinner along with my family, Catherines brothers family from Belgium, Beats mum and Manda's friend Miles.
We played in the lake for a while and once it got dark we let off fireworks from our backyard. It was amazing to be on the lake as we can see into the mountains and all up the lake so there was fireworks going on for kilometres - it was a great atmosphere. The kids had a great time even if Maxine was scared of the noise and then Beat offered us one of his famous Cuban cigars so I had a chuff of that.... blehhhhhhhh! Manda and Lacey though it was great because they have never seen one as cuban things are forbidden in the U.S.
After a huge day Lacey and I went to walk Manda and Miles to my train sattion yet we didnt make it so far as Lacey fell in a mud slide. She went over on an already sensitive ankle.... whats the date today? Oh yea 15th of August so two weeks has passed and my poor little Lacey is still limping!!
Catherines brother Fred and his family left to go home on the 6th of August and then my family left for Barcelona late Tuesday afternoon. I was staying here for the week and planned to go on a few day trips.
On the Wednesday after the au pair coffee that I attend Lacey and I met a new girl and took her shopping. As Sara's gift for me since she was leaving she gave me a 30 frnac voucher for the Freitag (Friday) store in Zurich. http://www.freitag.ch/ These are original bags made in Zurich and cost an arm and a leg so it is my aim to buy one before I go home! Thanks Sara for the cool present! So we spent half of Wednesday in the store looking at the bazillion of bags they have available.
Lacey then slept at my house Wednesday night. We invited Svetlana over for dinner and I made the girls a chicken curry, which was really good!!! After that we then began our Harry Potter marathon. I just started the book so I am really obsessed!
Thursday was spent dragging Lacey (who is still hobbling) across the city toone of the larger shopping malls in Zurich called the Glatt! I have not been to a mall here before so it was cool to be at the Glatt.... kind of like a Westfields!
I didnt go too nuts, just preparing for the party I am going to soon for my bosses 40th birthday. The theme is "be the popstar you have always wanted to be" so I am going as Beyonce! 1) because I love her music 2) because I can wear a short dress and not feel skanky and 3) because I want to have big hair!
So I got a dress and I am nearly ready just have to begin the fake tan process soon because people keep saying I am not black..... LACEY!!!
Friday then rolled around and I decicded to go to Strasbourg for the day which is in France but right near the German boder also about 2.5 hours away from Zurich. My friend Laura came also and we had a nice day exploring, sadly the weather became bad by the end of the day but it was still a nice day.
Saturday was spent organising meeting places, etc to go into Zurich for the would famous street parade. Simlar to the gay and lesbian mardi gras the whole city was alive. It started at 1pm and went through to 10pm. There was so many people there (at least 1 million) and everyone had earplugs in so you can imagine how loud it was. Massive trucks were driving through the city and on each truck was a DJ with heaps of dancers on the back just rolling through the main streets.
It was a good experience but way too many people on drugs. I saw a friend get sloshed with something similar to beer and decided it was time to leave after only about 2 hours... it was sweltering hot in the city so Laura, Kristi and I went back to Lauras house and watched a movie and then I went over to Laceys house at about 10pm.
Sunday was a definate slow day spent relaxing and planning trips (or discussing them anyway) Lacey has it in her head that we need to go to a beach somewhere... (dont think she knows Im an albino) so we are trying to head to Greece or Croatia or somewhere in the coming months.
Monday arrived and went without my knowledge as I spent the day doing my scrapbooks. Finally!!!
Then yesterday (my final day home alone) I went to the airport and said good bye to Manda. I had already actually said goodbye to her because I thought I was going away with my family and I wasnt going to be here to say goodbye but plans changed and I was able to see her off. It was so weird that she has been here for a year and now she is going home. I could tell that Manda was torn. Excited to be going home to se all the people that she loves. Yet also sad because she was leaving us and the good life that we had all built together.
I am not sure when I will see Manda next but we have promised to keep in touch and it is safe to say that Manda is seriously one of my best friends now who I will miss deeply.
Its so hard becuase now that she is gone I am worried about new friends, etc etc but I guess I will be ok. Lacey and I have made some new friends already it just isnt the same as Manda and it is hard to start again.
The remainder of Tuesday I went to Constance on Lake Constance, Germany (the third largest lake in central Europe - situated between Austria, Germany and Switzerland)
A great town it had a huge mall, where I got my hair all chopped off, and got to see all the pretty sites. I still think Zurichsee or Lake Zurich in English is the prettiest lake ever but it was still nice and I love the town. I will definately also go back there to do my shopping as it is so much cheaper than Switzerland.
It was cool though because the train actaully pull into the station and you are still in Switzerland but then you walk over the border into the German train station!
It took 2 hours to get there by train from my house so it wasnt too far at all. A nice break for the past week, the family is all home now after the trip to Barcelona. Nicolas was so excited after being on the aeroplane and Maxines hair is white and she has a great little tan.
Glad everyone is home. The construction on the house is still going so it is very noisy here but this afternoon we will all go into the lake which is crystal clear today since it is so hot!
Hope everyone is well back home. Going to dedicate some time to replying to emails soon... also just trying to learn some French at the moment so there isnt enough hours in the day.
Ciao xox
Monday, July 30, 2007
I didnt think it would hurt me so much to say goodbye...
I feel so slack that I havent blogged in over 3 weeks but the last couple of weeks have been really busy. Busy in a good way though because it was when Kim and Kate were here.
After the weekend on the Zuri Fest, on the Sunday night I stayed over at Laceys as she lives near the airport. Kim and Kate flew in Monday morning at 6.15am so I met them there in the early hours and drove them back to my house to introduce them to my family.
It was so weird to see them both. As they walked through to the baggage claim I could see them through the glass and they both looked so pretty even after stepping off a 24 hour flight. I had been longing for this moment for the past few weeks and it made me so happy to see them. They both hadnt changed at all just seemed more grown up and looking really cute! Once I got to talk to them it was like they hadnt been absent in my life for the past 10 months, it just felt like it was meant to.
The girls were really exhausted from their flight obviously so Monday was a quiet day for them and I also had to work but Tuesday they went on a trip to Luzern to meet Kims friends for the night. We organised their Swiss travel pass for the two weeks and off they went.
Wednesday after the girls came back from Luzern I organised them to meet all of my friends at one of my favourite restaurants called Zic Zac. Everyone came which was really nice and all my friends loved the girls.
It was then on Thursday that we flew to Nice together. I had already been to the South of France but hadnt made it to Nice yet and some of the other tourist spots so we went there to relax and spend some quality time on the beach. We stayed at one of the tope 10 hostels in the world. We were in a great room with a view and a bathroom and the hostel itself was so great! It was full of aussies and we enjoyed cheap drinks and good food the whole time we were there!
As well as exploring Nice we also spent a day exploring Antibes and Cannes and then on another day we went to Monaco for the day and went to one of the nicest beaches I have ever been to. That day also on the way home we stopped at Villefranche at another beach that was nice too but a little bit overcrowded and dirty.
Nice itself was really pretty. I had heard some bad reviews about it but all the beaches were clean, there was heaps of great shops, and the public transport system was really good. You obviously pay more for everything being on the french riviera but that was to be expected and we had such a great time.
The flight home on the Sunday night flew into Basel (one hour from Zurich) really late so we stayed at a hostel near the train station. In the morning we woke up fairly early and left for Zurich. We planned to meet Catherine and the kids and then catch the steam boat to Rapperswil. We went to a really nice restaurant for lunch and then caught the train home.
The following Thursday we flew to Barcelona from Zurich. We arrived at about 9ish into Barcelona and caught the 'aerobus' to our hostel which was on the most famous street in Barcelona the Passeig de Gracia. The first night we were here we stayed in a 12 bedroom dorm whcih wasnt the greatest but ok and then for the following two nights we were in a 6 bedroom dorm with three other Polish girls who were so nice.
We decided that the Friday would be our shopping day, but I while in Barcelona I wanted to see the famous Sagrada Familia so we did that first which was oretty amazing and then we went back to the shopping strip and spent lots of time in changerooms and plenty of euros but had a great time going to all the cool shops and then on the Friday night we went on a 'tapas tour' that was put on nightly by our hostel. For 18 euros we got to go to a tapas restaurant (where you got to choose 5 little meals)and get some Sangria, go to a Flamenco bar, go to an Irish pub and get a free shot, then walk on furthur to a club (haha and get another free shot) and then go to an underground dance party.
My sisters and I left after the club as we had walked across the whole of Barcelona by this stage and were fearful that we may never find our hostel again but we met some nice girls and had a really good time for the evening!
On the Saturday Kim the beach bum had to get some sunshine so we walked for a good hour with a girl named Magda from our room to the beach. Nothing in comparison to the French beaches, Kate and I went to a nice restaurant instead while Kim was baking!
The Saturday night we were pretty tired so we went to a Spanish restaurant and had fajitas! Then surprisingly on Sunday morning Kims friends that she had met in Luzern showed up to breakfast with her boyfriend! We all ate together and then caught the metro to the Park *****. It was a huge park that overlooked the whole city. It was actaully a really nice way to spent the last day as we had to leave for the airport by 2pm. Kims friends Louise and Brendan were so nice and I was glad to meet them!
Our flight home was good and I think we flew over some of the prettiest landscape ever (which I think was the south of France) and we got home at about 8ish Sunday night. The kids were all excited to see us again which was a nice welcome home!
After Barcelona the girls had two more full days in Switzerland so they took the opportunity to go down to Interlaken for the day and go in a cable car up to the Schilthorn which is home to the famous revolving restaurant in the James Bond film. While here they also went exploring in Zurich, and go to the famous Rhine Falls on the border of Switzerland and Germany.
On the girls last day here we stayed together and went out to lunch after doing some work for Catherine and the girls packing their bags!
On Tuesday night then at about 7.30pm we left for the airport. The girls werent looking forward to the flight obviously because it is so long. We checked them in and thankfully their bags were both on 20kg (our limit!!!)
We sat in Starbucks for a while until it was time to say goodbye and then I walked them over to the passport control. It was then that it finally hit that I had to let them go.
I am already nervous about saying goodbye to Manda who is one of very best friends here so to say goodbye to the girls just reminded me of how many times I have had to wave bye to people that I love recently.
It hurt me so much to see them go. I know that we argued about silly things while they were here and I know they needed to go home but I feel like I am missing out on so much of their lives while I am here.
Katie was stong for us all when we departed as Kim and I were so upset but hopefully now that we have seen each other again we will stay in better contact on email or whatever once they get home.
I am so proud of the girls with how they carry themselves in life. Katie is now at uni and doing so well and Kim has such a great attitude on life that I know they will both do so well in the future. I am so glad that I will be home to see them in 4 months and I think as we grow older we become more than sisters and we become good friends too. I know the girls will be with me every step of my life and I hope they know that I am always there for them even if I am so far away.
Thank you for coming over Kim and Kate and thank you Mum and Dad for letting me see them, thank you for the best gift ever!
After the weekend on the Zuri Fest, on the Sunday night I stayed over at Laceys as she lives near the airport. Kim and Kate flew in Monday morning at 6.15am so I met them there in the early hours and drove them back to my house to introduce them to my family.
It was so weird to see them both. As they walked through to the baggage claim I could see them through the glass and they both looked so pretty even after stepping off a 24 hour flight. I had been longing for this moment for the past few weeks and it made me so happy to see them. They both hadnt changed at all just seemed more grown up and looking really cute! Once I got to talk to them it was like they hadnt been absent in my life for the past 10 months, it just felt like it was meant to.
The girls were really exhausted from their flight obviously so Monday was a quiet day for them and I also had to work but Tuesday they went on a trip to Luzern to meet Kims friends for the night. We organised their Swiss travel pass for the two weeks and off they went.
Wednesday after the girls came back from Luzern I organised them to meet all of my friends at one of my favourite restaurants called Zic Zac. Everyone came which was really nice and all my friends loved the girls.
It was then on Thursday that we flew to Nice together. I had already been to the South of France but hadnt made it to Nice yet and some of the other tourist spots so we went there to relax and spend some quality time on the beach. We stayed at one of the tope 10 hostels in the world. We were in a great room with a view and a bathroom and the hostel itself was so great! It was full of aussies and we enjoyed cheap drinks and good food the whole time we were there!
As well as exploring Nice we also spent a day exploring Antibes and Cannes and then on another day we went to Monaco for the day and went to one of the nicest beaches I have ever been to. That day also on the way home we stopped at Villefranche at another beach that was nice too but a little bit overcrowded and dirty.
Nice itself was really pretty. I had heard some bad reviews about it but all the beaches were clean, there was heaps of great shops, and the public transport system was really good. You obviously pay more for everything being on the french riviera but that was to be expected and we had such a great time.
The flight home on the Sunday night flew into Basel (one hour from Zurich) really late so we stayed at a hostel near the train station. In the morning we woke up fairly early and left for Zurich. We planned to meet Catherine and the kids and then catch the steam boat to Rapperswil. We went to a really nice restaurant for lunch and then caught the train home.
The following Thursday we flew to Barcelona from Zurich. We arrived at about 9ish into Barcelona and caught the 'aerobus' to our hostel which was on the most famous street in Barcelona the Passeig de Gracia. The first night we were here we stayed in a 12 bedroom dorm whcih wasnt the greatest but ok and then for the following two nights we were in a 6 bedroom dorm with three other Polish girls who were so nice.
We decided that the Friday would be our shopping day, but I while in Barcelona I wanted to see the famous Sagrada Familia so we did that first which was oretty amazing and then we went back to the shopping strip and spent lots of time in changerooms and plenty of euros but had a great time going to all the cool shops and then on the Friday night we went on a 'tapas tour' that was put on nightly by our hostel. For 18 euros we got to go to a tapas restaurant (where you got to choose 5 little meals)and get some Sangria, go to a Flamenco bar, go to an Irish pub and get a free shot, then walk on furthur to a club (haha and get another free shot) and then go to an underground dance party.
My sisters and I left after the club as we had walked across the whole of Barcelona by this stage and were fearful that we may never find our hostel again but we met some nice girls and had a really good time for the evening!
On the Saturday Kim the beach bum had to get some sunshine so we walked for a good hour with a girl named Magda from our room to the beach. Nothing in comparison to the French beaches, Kate and I went to a nice restaurant instead while Kim was baking!
The Saturday night we were pretty tired so we went to a Spanish restaurant and had fajitas! Then surprisingly on Sunday morning Kims friends that she had met in Luzern showed up to breakfast with her boyfriend! We all ate together and then caught the metro to the Park *****. It was a huge park that overlooked the whole city. It was actaully a really nice way to spent the last day as we had to leave for the airport by 2pm. Kims friends Louise and Brendan were so nice and I was glad to meet them!
Our flight home was good and I think we flew over some of the prettiest landscape ever (which I think was the south of France) and we got home at about 8ish Sunday night. The kids were all excited to see us again which was a nice welcome home!
After Barcelona the girls had two more full days in Switzerland so they took the opportunity to go down to Interlaken for the day and go in a cable car up to the Schilthorn which is home to the famous revolving restaurant in the James Bond film. While here they also went exploring in Zurich, and go to the famous Rhine Falls on the border of Switzerland and Germany.
On the girls last day here we stayed together and went out to lunch after doing some work for Catherine and the girls packing their bags!
On Tuesday night then at about 7.30pm we left for the airport. The girls werent looking forward to the flight obviously because it is so long. We checked them in and thankfully their bags were both on 20kg (our limit!!!)
We sat in Starbucks for a while until it was time to say goodbye and then I walked them over to the passport control. It was then that it finally hit that I had to let them go.
I am already nervous about saying goodbye to Manda who is one of very best friends here so to say goodbye to the girls just reminded me of how many times I have had to wave bye to people that I love recently.
It hurt me so much to see them go. I know that we argued about silly things while they were here and I know they needed to go home but I feel like I am missing out on so much of their lives while I am here.
Katie was stong for us all when we departed as Kim and I were so upset but hopefully now that we have seen each other again we will stay in better contact on email or whatever once they get home.
I am so proud of the girls with how they carry themselves in life. Katie is now at uni and doing so well and Kim has such a great attitude on life that I know they will both do so well in the future. I am so glad that I will be home to see them in 4 months and I think as we grow older we become more than sisters and we become good friends too. I know the girls will be with me every step of my life and I hope they know that I am always there for them even if I am so far away.
Thank you for coming over Kim and Kate and thank you Mum and Dad for letting me see them, thank you for the best gift ever!
Working on the weekend...
My family was having approximately 60 people over the Saturday after Zuri Fest and asked if I would watch the kids for the afternoon, so Sara, Lacey and Laura all came over also to hang out.
We spent the arvo in the lake and Sara even bought facepaint for us to paint the kids faces. It was so cute and I think the kids had a really good day.
We were kind of hanging to leave by the end of the day as we were all tired and sick of kids from a week of them already so at about 10ish we then left and went to Lauras house to watch a movie.
Lacey stayed over the whole weekend which was nice and I got my room ready for the girls arrival.
I took the above photo on the Sunday. Sometimes it is the nicest thing in the world to just sit on the couch in my room and look out at the lake. If its a sail boat or someone windsurfing, even just a lone swan it always looks so beautiful. Even in the middle of a thunderstorm as the towns light up it is so pretty.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Zuri Fest
Every 3 years a festival takes place in downtown Zurich for 3 days. My friends and I decided to brave the crowd the first night and head into town.
We all met at the main station and then spent a fair amount of time finding a locker for all of our junk. We then went and bought lots of drinks along with another 1000 people. We had a great time wandering through the streets and looking at the different stalls. There were so many rides to go on and Zurich looked completely different!
After watching a fantastic display of fireworks go off over the lake from the Burkliplatz we wandered over to Stadlehofen. On the way we met two Ameircan guys who were working in a physics lab. With them we then went on the ferris wheel. We had a 'sausage'l ike a typical Swiss person and then went on two of the scariest rides at the fest. I spent the remainder of the night screaming my head off and laughing!
It really wasnt the best idea to consume a lot of alchohol and eat before going on the ride so Lacey, Sara and I were feeling extremely ill at the end. We stumbled over to the train station and headed home about 2pm. Finally home at 3am Lacey and I had the best night sleep ready for our day today looking after my kids while there is a party at my house with 60 of my bosses friends from a cigar club (I think....)
So it is really sunny and hot here today so we will go outside soon and perhaps push Lacey into the lake.
Monday, July 02, 2007
A surprise gift!
It was Manda's 21st birthday on 29th June. We all met up for a few drinks and laughs at Robin Hood on Friday night which was good. It was then also that we gave Manda her birthday present which we have all been frantically planning for the last week (accom., tickets, people, etc.)
For her gift we got a deal to go down to Locarno for the weekend and then a boat ride to the Brissago Islands which are on Lake Maggoire, pretty much where the Swiss and Italian border meet. We also paid for her accomodation so she could enjoy the weekend away 'cause we all know how much au pairs make per week....
So the people that came were Manda, Lacey, Sara, Svetlana and a new girl named Laura that is now working for my bosses brother. The 6 of us set on down to Locarno 8am Saturday and after 3 hours on the train we arrived at Locarno. Similiarly said and also much like Lugano, it is very Italian. The people speak Italian, and the food is always good. We enjoyed our first day at the island after a beautiful one hour boat ride.
The Brissago Islands are basically just a tourist spot where lots of different species of plants grow and one restaurant. On the island there was even an Australian section with gum trees, ferns and agapanthas. I actually got a bit sad to see the gum trees as they reminded me so much of home. Here are a few things we saw....
It was really beautiful to be surrounded by plantlife and it seemed like we were in a rainforest or something. It was so relaxing and just good to wander and look at your own pace. At about 4.30 we headed back to Locarno and then checked into our hostel which was reasonable. Luckily we were in like an 11 person room which we had to ourselves.
We then went out to dinner at a really nice Italian restaurant which was really enjoyable... what was even better was the gelato we had later which was seriously heaven in a cup!!!
We wandered a bit more around Locarno and then headed home to have a quick glass of wine before heading to bed.
Sunday was a bit up in the air as we werent sure what to do so we agreed upon going out in a paddle boat for an hour. Manda, Lacey and I went on one where we drank wine and tried to go near big boats so we could float over their waves and the others went on another one.
Manda and I also braved the water which I thought was really scary considering I had no idea how deep it was, I spent all of five seconds in there before panicking and then more time actaully trying to haul my body back into the boat.... aghhhh!
We then went to a buffet restaurant for lunch which was really nice and then we headed home. It was a good weekend but kind of a painful one as some people were harder to get along with than others. Its hard I guess to be friends with new people when your so comfortable with your current friends. Lacey and I have some work cut out for us over the next few weeks as we say goodbye to our two best friends now Sara and Manda. It will be strenge to be without them but it will be good for us to also meet new people who have the same interests as us... that is of course travelling Europe, having fun weekends away in Switzerland, drinking good wine, going shopping and having lazy days at the lake or watching movies!
I am scared to say farewell but look forward to the challenges ahead when you go through that process of meeting people. This weekend though was good though as we were together. Months have now become weeks and weeks will soon be days, so every moment is special with the girls.
Happy Birthday Manda Mango, may every day as a 21 year old be memorable and full of laughter xoxo
For her gift we got a deal to go down to Locarno for the weekend and then a boat ride to the Brissago Islands which are on Lake Maggoire, pretty much where the Swiss and Italian border meet. We also paid for her accomodation so she could enjoy the weekend away 'cause we all know how much au pairs make per week....
So the people that came were Manda, Lacey, Sara, Svetlana and a new girl named Laura that is now working for my bosses brother. The 6 of us set on down to Locarno 8am Saturday and after 3 hours on the train we arrived at Locarno. Similiarly said and also much like Lugano, it is very Italian. The people speak Italian, and the food is always good. We enjoyed our first day at the island after a beautiful one hour boat ride.
The Brissago Islands are basically just a tourist spot where lots of different species of plants grow and one restaurant. On the island there was even an Australian section with gum trees, ferns and agapanthas. I actually got a bit sad to see the gum trees as they reminded me so much of home. Here are a few things we saw....
It was really beautiful to be surrounded by plantlife and it seemed like we were in a rainforest or something. It was so relaxing and just good to wander and look at your own pace. At about 4.30 we headed back to Locarno and then checked into our hostel which was reasonable. Luckily we were in like an 11 person room which we had to ourselves.
We then went out to dinner at a really nice Italian restaurant which was really enjoyable... what was even better was the gelato we had later which was seriously heaven in a cup!!!
We wandered a bit more around Locarno and then headed home to have a quick glass of wine before heading to bed.
Sunday was a bit up in the air as we werent sure what to do so we agreed upon going out in a paddle boat for an hour. Manda, Lacey and I went on one where we drank wine and tried to go near big boats so we could float over their waves and the others went on another one.
Manda and I also braved the water which I thought was really scary considering I had no idea how deep it was, I spent all of five seconds in there before panicking and then more time actaully trying to haul my body back into the boat.... aghhhh!
We then went to a buffet restaurant for lunch which was really nice and then we headed home. It was a good weekend but kind of a painful one as some people were harder to get along with than others. Its hard I guess to be friends with new people when your so comfortable with your current friends. Lacey and I have some work cut out for us over the next few weeks as we say goodbye to our two best friends now Sara and Manda. It will be strenge to be without them but it will be good for us to also meet new people who have the same interests as us... that is of course travelling Europe, having fun weekends away in Switzerland, drinking good wine, going shopping and having lazy days at the lake or watching movies!
I am scared to say farewell but look forward to the challenges ahead when you go through that process of meeting people. This weekend though was good though as we were together. Months have now become weeks and weeks will soon be days, so every moment is special with the girls.
Happy Birthday Manda Mango, may every day as a 21 year old be memorable and full of laughter xoxo
Friday, June 29, 2007
Herbie, Manda and I
For my birthday my boss got me two tickets to go and watch Herbert Groneymeyer. Now I know everyone back home would be like 'whoooooo?' But Herbert Groneymeyer is a famour German singer who is 51 years old and has like 12 CD's. Not many of my friends were jumping at the chance to go with me but good ol' Manda decided to brave the rain and head out to Bern with me.
Now Bern was like1 hour away and is the capital of Switzerland but kind of like Canberra, much smaller not much happening, where as Zurich is like Sydney the biggest city where all the fun is!
The concert though was being held at Stadt de Suisse which is the biggest stadium in Switzerland it is like a ginormous football field and holds 30,000 people. I would say at least 20,000 people were at this concert last night.
This concert was Mr Groneymeyers last show EVER so it was basically a sell out event.
Ok so all the songs were in German but they are played on the radio here all the time so I knew some of them and I am kind of embarrassed to say but I had the best time!
Manda and I went to a thai restaurant for dinner, we actually found the place without getting lost or located in another town and we were full on rocking along with all the other german speaking herbie lovers.
We had to leave at like 9pm to make sure we got home in time for our trains but it was cool, we made videos and danced along and they were actually good songs I only wish I knew the words.
It was nisc also just to be with Manda... she goes home in 6 weeks so now time is precious and I will treasure every moment becuase who knows when I will see her next.
Thanks Manda mango for coming and being such a good friend, I had fun as always like I do with you, hope you did too xoxox
Maxine, Nicolas and I made necklaces today we had lots of fun! ;-)
Now Bern was like1 hour away and is the capital of Switzerland but kind of like Canberra, much smaller not much happening, where as Zurich is like Sydney the biggest city where all the fun is!
The concert though was being held at Stadt de Suisse which is the biggest stadium in Switzerland it is like a ginormous football field and holds 30,000 people. I would say at least 20,000 people were at this concert last night.
This concert was Mr Groneymeyers last show EVER so it was basically a sell out event.
Ok so all the songs were in German but they are played on the radio here all the time so I knew some of them and I am kind of embarrassed to say but I had the best time!
Manda and I went to a thai restaurant for dinner, we actually found the place without getting lost or located in another town and we were full on rocking along with all the other german speaking herbie lovers.
We had to leave at like 9pm to make sure we got home in time for our trains but it was cool, we made videos and danced along and they were actually good songs I only wish I knew the words.
It was nisc also just to be with Manda... she goes home in 6 weeks so now time is precious and I will treasure every moment becuase who knows when I will see her next.
Thanks Manda mango for coming and being such a good friend, I had fun as always like I do with you, hope you did too xoxox
Maxine, Nicolas and I made necklaces today we had lots of fun! ;-)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Suddenly down South in the Sun
I love how Lacey and I will be chatting away on Skype and then randomly decide that we should go somewhere for the weekend. I also love how the Swiss rail site (SBB) has these deals called "click and rail" which enable Lacey, Manda, Sara and I to jump on a train at sunrise on Saturday and go down to Lugano which is in the Italian region of Switzerland in Ticino.
I had already been to Lugano before but was happy to go there again as it is really pretty. There is no german speaking to be heard and everything is "Italianisch".
Lacey found a deal for a hotel/hostel where we pay 25 francs a night in a 16 dorm room.
We got to the hotel and straight away went to the pool which we had to ourselves. We spent hours in the sun and swimming in this gorgeous pool. Later on in the day we walked down to the city centre which is by the lake and had a small lunch and gelato.
We then wandered a bit furthur on and found a spot in the shade to do some furthur sitting and relaxing. Laceys pulled out a bottle of presecco for me from her boss so we enjoyed that. We took lots of funny photos and enjoyed each others company. Manda and Sara go home now in less than two months and we know it will fly. We are going to try and find some more weekends away but it will be so hard when they leave. Lacey and I will miss them terribly. All day Manda kept writig down things that we say (or quotes) so that she can remeber what we used to be like.
We went back to the hostel to check all our things in and then walked back down to the city to find a restaurant for dinner. We ended up having Italian (!!!) and a really nice dessert. More talking and laughing we finally headed home to open yet another bottle of wine. We were enjoying this outside until security booted us back to our rooms which probably wasnt so bad as we all had early trains in the morning.
Sara and Manda were headed back to Zurich but Lacey and I were going down to Milan to meet her mum and aunt. Milan isnt pretty, safe or clean but I wanted to go back down to go down to see the "Last Supper" Unfortunately we still werent able to get in as bookings for this place are impossible to get but I was happy to go up the top of one of my favourite Duomos and see Milan from high up.
We had a really nice and got to do some furthur exploring of Milan as last time we were there it was freezing! On Sunday it was 27 degrees.
We got home really late on Sunday night and I had to walk home in the rain but I had a really nice weekend with my friends. Its always nice to come home though and sleep in your own bed.
I am also in the process of trying to organise my sisters trip as they will be here soon. I think we will go to Barcelona together and I might send them off on a few trips by themselves. Switzerland in itself is so beautiful so I think they will be happy to explore around here also. I cant wait to see you girls xoxoxo
I had already been to Lugano before but was happy to go there again as it is really pretty. There is no german speaking to be heard and everything is "Italianisch".
Lacey found a deal for a hotel/hostel where we pay 25 francs a night in a 16 dorm room.
We got to the hotel and straight away went to the pool which we had to ourselves. We spent hours in the sun and swimming in this gorgeous pool. Later on in the day we walked down to the city centre which is by the lake and had a small lunch and gelato.
We then wandered a bit furthur on and found a spot in the shade to do some furthur sitting and relaxing. Laceys pulled out a bottle of presecco for me from her boss so we enjoyed that. We took lots of funny photos and enjoyed each others company. Manda and Sara go home now in less than two months and we know it will fly. We are going to try and find some more weekends away but it will be so hard when they leave. Lacey and I will miss them terribly. All day Manda kept writig down things that we say (or quotes) so that she can remeber what we used to be like.
We went back to the hostel to check all our things in and then walked back down to the city to find a restaurant for dinner. We ended up having Italian (!!!) and a really nice dessert. More talking and laughing we finally headed home to open yet another bottle of wine. We were enjoying this outside until security booted us back to our rooms which probably wasnt so bad as we all had early trains in the morning.
Sara and Manda were headed back to Zurich but Lacey and I were going down to Milan to meet her mum and aunt. Milan isnt pretty, safe or clean but I wanted to go back down to go down to see the "Last Supper" Unfortunately we still werent able to get in as bookings for this place are impossible to get but I was happy to go up the top of one of my favourite Duomos and see Milan from high up.
We had a really nice and got to do some furthur exploring of Milan as last time we were there it was freezing! On Sunday it was 27 degrees.
We got home really late on Sunday night and I had to walk home in the rain but I had a really nice weekend with my friends. Its always nice to come home though and sleep in your own bed.
I am also in the process of trying to organise my sisters trip as they will be here soon. I think we will go to Barcelona together and I might send them off on a few trips by themselves. Switzerland in itself is so beautiful so I think they will be happy to explore around here also. I cant wait to see you girls xoxoxo
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