Lucerne

Well I have finally pulled myself out of the depression of losing the beach houses. We got confirmation that they are both gone (google-images of our streets and some fly-overs of the peninsula was our source). Initially it was too hard to believe, but it's kind of sunk in now and we all are beginning to accept it. I am running a penny drive (Franc drive?) at school to help the victims back home. Mom's school is going to join in with us - how cool!

Back "home" in Switzerland all is well. The weekend of the hurricane I was driving myself crazy watching the news and worrying, so I got out of town with Angie, Allie and Carla. We went to Lucerne via train (my first very punctual Swiss train!) and had a really great time. Basically Lucerne isn't that different from Lugano, except that it's a Swiss German town instead of a Swiss Italian town and there is TONS more to do there. Basically we paid $200 for the train ride and hotel stay, just so we could go to a proper pub and watch a movie in English. :) The train ride was nice though -- already snow on the Alps and beautiful waterfalls along the way!

I am currently at the Cologne airport in Germany waiting for my flight back to Milan. Eas and I were here visiting his friend in Dusseldorf and we had a great time! I now know how to say thank you in at least 5 languages! I will say one thing I've learned about traveling in Europe, though. Unless you're in Switzerland, time doesn't matter! Yesterday we waited 1.5 for a train in Germany, and both flights have managed to be delayed. More on the Germany trip soon!

P.S. These first pic is of the view from my bathroom! Tough life. ☺ The rest are from Lucerne!