Kinda.
Not really.
Or at all.
Anyway.
It's simple. See this?
Hiking around the Matterhorn
And this?
View from my hostel
AND THIS?
SWISS. CHOCOLATE.
And, not to mention....this:
Casual morning walks in the city.
So then how can anything hope to compete with this, FOR THE REST OF FOREVER?!
I know this can't be as good as it gets. I know it can't be. There's so much out there.
But....this is some tough competition.
Despite it's beauty, Zermatt has its downfalls.
Like....
A small (tall) frappuccino from Starbucks is 7.90 francs.
AKA $8.84 in the US.
This coffee I got at the train station for free. I was smiling, too. Because it was free.
Goat poop is everywhere.
Because....well...
This happens. Every morning. And it is quite possibly the most charming thing you've ever seen.
And because Zermatt is car-free, there are small, vicious little car wanna-be taxi things that are all electric so you have absolutely no idea they are coming up on you until you're about to be run over.
I know I've used this image before, but, if I'm totally honest... it just kinda sums it up.
....and that's all I got. Because Zermatt was truly wonderful.
I came.
I hiked.
I frolicked.
And....I got schnitzel.
There's a story behind that.
So...my parents went to Zermatt in 1988.
This is them not in Zermatt in 1986.
And my dad was absolutely insistent that I go to Zermatt during my time abroad. He talked wistfully of a small restaurant with an incredible view of the Matterhorn, located just over a bridge. It was the best schnitzel and French fries he'd ever had--and let me tell you, the man has had some schnitzel in his lifetime. I promised myself before I went that I would try to find it, but I kinda doubted the restaurant was still there after 26 years. But I was going to try.
When we arrived in Zermatt, I was on high alert. I didn't have a name, I didn't have a precise location, but I knew kinda what I was looking for.
Low and behold, as my friends and I made our way to the hostel, we passed over a bridge.
I looked to our right.
There was the Matterhorn.
I looked to our left.
There was a restaurant.
I looked at the menu.
Schnitzel...and fries.
Lunch. I ate all of it. ALL of it. I regret nothing.
The view during lunch (plus a ton of Asian tourists, great people watching opportunities)
I was at the restaurant for three and a half hours (partially because I got into a lovely conversation with a couple from New Zealand, but that's besides the point).
My parents struggle to travel internationally now, and so having the chance to recreate one of their favorite memories from abroad was truly special. I'd like to think that maybe we sat at the same table...who's to say? Regardless, it was an experience I can only hope to recreate with my own family in the future. I think it's safe to say Zermatt has a piece of my heart, and I look forward to returning someday.
Sorry for getting all sentimental and such on ya.
In other news:
I learned how to work the bread slicer at the store (God send).
He knows.
A backpacker I met at our hostel in Zermatt creepily new exactly were my house is in Reno, because his grandparents are just down the street (small freaking world).
I've had a lovely adventure attempting to navigate the German medical system for and with my friend, Dusti (things we never thought we would do for a scrapped/potentially infected elbow).
I was disappointed too, buddy.
I'm getting the whole "cooking for myself thing" on lock. Mainly it's me throwing a bunch of stuff together and hoping it tastes good, but it's been working. Everything counts as a meal!
And I'm really learning to appreciate football (soccer, whatever). Germany plays France on the 4th of July. I'm trying to figure out if I should wear red, white, and blue...or if I might get in a street fight if I do. GO GERMANY!!
No, really, it's pretty exciting! GET OFF ME OK?!
Off to Rothenburg, Munich, and Vienna next week!
kendall
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