München

will write when it is not 4am. for now, here are some pics. love linds.

My Favorite Things...

In high school, I used to keep a jar of slips of paper on my desk. On these slips of paper were little phrases that can make you smile when you're frustrated with the complexities of life. Just some little nuances of life that are completely ordinary, but when thought of individually, they can become epic. It was a jar of distractions and of thankfulness.  

Going to Salzburg and diving into the Sound of Music world, I found it only appropriate to list a few of my favorite things. Sadly, I am not Oprah and I am not giving away SUVs, or even Julie Andrews, because I really can't carry a tune all that well either... but I did have a lot of time on trains and planes, and I think we all have some sort of gift from God in the way that we see the world. I lend you my senses...

fresh-baked bread, street musicians with passion, watching people sleep, sunrises,"San Francisco weather," lepidoptera, adjectives, run-on sentences with lots of commas, The New York Times, coffee, the warm smell of bonfires, bulky scarves, quirky jewelry, kids' choirs, cool breezes, leaf veins, the first snow, loose line drawings, the clinking of change, dutchmen's breeches, pressed pennies, fruit, blank notebooks with no lines, Toni Morrison sentences,  surreal cultures, tenebrism, crashing ritzy hotels, crayon factories, old couples, billowing cream in a cup of coffee, strong and confident women, Bruce Davidson, Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, the gentleness of Degas, Hitchcock lighting, the Sinatra swoon, Bono, Robert Frost

open-air movies/the drive-in, the power of being behind the wheel, uncontrollable laughter, bonding, orange juice in a champagne flute, prosecco, flourished brackets, crumbling plaster, patina, text ragging, old movies with dust specks, film scores, goosebumps, peace roses, vests, snuggling, a long string of camels amongst the sand dunes, twirling my hair, the way your teeth feel after you get your braces off, when people pet my head, head-on-shoulder, popped collars, farmer's market, wearing your Sunday Best on a Tuesday, paint on good clothes, metaphors, walking barefoot, black t-shirts, a good eye lock, guys with short hair, the sound of lapping water, grace, "like a jewel in an Ethiop's ear," the warmth inside a family home on Christmas, wet typewriter ink

how eyeglasses can instantly indicate a certain decade, tousled bedhead hair, music escaping from distant windows, dancing sunlight, paper scraps, soft things, mismatched china, a long row of buttons, the & sign, gathered fabric, legs dangling from tree branches, lace, curling up into the corner of the couch, falling asleep in front of the TV, blazers with jeans, inlays, woodcarving, encores, the "reject colors" (mustard yellow, brown, olive green, burnt ochre), storytelling, musicals, the morning aire, well-loved books, Tennessee Williams, jazz spontanaeity, argyle, a child's lashes, serifs, running your fingers over braille, learning about American History, sheet music, Titanic, "the mind of him that knew her own," the way eyes flutter as they fall asleep, gelato, pounding hearts, supportive friends and family

the metamorphosis of a lit candle, Crossroads, hugs, picnics, ping-pong domination, crescendos, turtlenecks, homemade-ness, spoons, flea markets, antiques with stories, streamlined, pitchblack Napoleon nights, tufted things, astericks, icicles, "miles to go before I sleep," red velvet, seeing your breath, handmade paper with a deckle edge, paper airplanes, potted herbs, waltz, motion blurs, cathedrals at night, flocks migrating, leaf pile explosions, purring, walking barefoot, quill pens, calligraphy, ivy dangling from wrought iron, vast fields, linen, heirlooms, toes in the sand, stone skipping, dripping rain at bedtime, violin solos, the moment when the theater darkens, the click of the baton on the conductor stand, winks, a smile that travels across a room, the smell of clean laundry, gingkos, honest eyes, sequoias, love letters, floppy sunhats, obnoxiously large Audrey Hepburn glasses, silhouettes, long necks, green glass in the light, tulle, ballet form, the way the periodic table works, the way the sun is always friendly and never accusing...

Salzburg

will write when it is not 4am. here are some pics. love linds.

Wein

Ok. It is 2:10am, and again, I am attempting to stay up and await my flight back to the U.S. I guess I will be doing a bit of backtracking, talking about my trip and all. 

I decided before I even came to Switzerland that I would not leave without doing the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, and cross that off the lifelong goal list. This trip turned into a larger excursion of Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich, but I never found a good time to take off work and do this trip. Finally, almost at the end of my stay here, I was able to work out my vacation, book a flight and some hostels, and begin this memorable journey.

Let me begin to tell you, that through all this planning, I didn't think much about the fact that I was going on this trip alone. It has just become second-nature, through co-op; if I want to go see it, I see it. I have no insecurities of being alone. But I didn't take into account that I would literally be alone for five days, traveling Europe companionless, and turning to my side to relay happiness or excitement and coming up emptyhanded. Being a backpacking traveler takes guts and a level of outgoingness that I don't know if I am really qualified for. It's fun at first, and then you start running out of distractions. Your mind starts confronting itself and the issues that are usually suppressed by music, mindless chatter, and other distractions. You meet other travelers, and you chat the same mindless chatter about where you've been and how long you're on the road, but ultimately, it's just you and the road. And a tons of strangers. At the same time, I know I could be spend this precious time in Basel with people that I love, rather than see the world, alone. 

I arrived in Vienna early in the morning, got to the hostel, and really just wanted to sleep. I got an awkward 1.5 hours of sleep from a failed attempt at staying up all night. I felt guilty, but knew if I didn't get some rest, I would have a worthless day in the city, so I took a quick nap and then headed out for some exploration. Saw St. Stephen's cathedral, and went back again at night. There is just something so moving about seeing a cathedral at night, with the candlelight and the solemn aire absent of tourists. You can really feel connected to the space.

Went to a butterfly house, which was a nice break from the old architecture that all starts to look the same after awhile, no matter how much you love it. Then to the Albertina art museum, which is in the Hapsburg Imperial Palace. There were some stunning pieces by Egon Schiele, who I've come to love from my Christie's days, Dürer, and then a huge huge exhibition on Van Gogh. It was so thorough, showed every aspect of his life, just wonderful. The gallery was situated in regular museum spaces, as well hanging in the palace rooms, so you could experience the period interiors, and enjoy the art. This museum was probably one of my favorites that I went to while in Europe this summer. The gardens outside were shady and perfect for a second nap of the day, and for a little sketching. 

At night, after doing a bit of wandering, I stumbled upon a Film Festival that was showing a 90s recording of a Tschaikovsky piece done by the Berlin Philharmonic. Really, only in Vienna would something like this appeal to a huge group of people. I really enjoyed it, because the atmosphere was great, situated between the Rathaus and the Hapsburg Theater. There were tons of food booths, and locals just enjoying the evening.

Went on a bike tour of Vienna the next day, and met a woman whose sister is a librarian in Napoleon! How crazy! 

But I am Le Tired...

A lot of things happening in my life lately, and too much thinking about the future. I try to savor each moment I have, but I can't help but thirst for more insight on to where I will be next. I don't want to wrap things up if they don't have to be. Sometimes I think of life like the boardgame Clue (funny, not the Game of Life). I just want to peek at that CONFIDENTIAL envelope in the middle. I just want to know Miss Scarlet, with the candlestick, in the Conservatory... or Lindsey, with_________, in the country of __________.

My train leaves in three hours, so I am trying to just stay up and wait it out. Perfect blogging opportunity. And time to brush up on my Sound of Music.

On Monday night, the small group came to my apartment for a little get-together. The big event was that I made Skyline dip! Woo! And people liked it! Woo! I must admit, my stomach was acting a little quirky afterwards, probably because I hadn't had it in so long. Funny thing, too, was that with this country being so famous for cheese, you cannot find a mild cheddar to save your life. And what is Skyline without the mound of cheese ontop? I tested a few cheeses, and found one that is pretty close to cheddar. It was a pretty good quality cheese. But no matter how quality, all I really wanted was some ridiculously fake calorific cheddar. We had some really great laughs. I, ironically, made another topless bar/tapas bar faux pas. I had a great discussion with Dave about my time here, and about the progression of the small group during this time. I can't explain the feeling of being used by God. I feel privileged, confused to why He would pick someone screwed up like me to be a messenger, but privileged nonetheless. He can be so mysterious.

Here we are: Chris, Lisa, Me, Lana, Mike, and Dave.

Today, I went shopping for some Euro-Pumas-but-not for my trip, and then came home to go on picnic in the park by my flat! I have wanted to go on a picnic there since the first time I saw this place. Cedric, Katie, and I had some bruschetta, fruit, and a cervelas salad. I am still getting used to the idea of calling something a salad that has absolutely no lettuce involved. We then went back to the flat and had this delicious chocolate and coconut dessert that Cedric made. I am telling you, the guys in this country know how to cook! It's great! I am still learning, but I am better off because of them. And then, I was reconnected to Seinfeld; watched "Yada Yada Yada" and "Muffin Tops." I feel like I have been unfaithful to Seinfeld, that I am having an affair with Friends, but it has been nice to have a break from the show about nothing. I was obsessed for awhile. Now it is under control.

Packed up my room tonight because I want to be able to spend my last three days in Basel, in Basel, and with the people that I love. I forgot how white this room could get. It looks as though my suitcases will close just fine. 

But will I?

Back to Sargans

It's been a lazy sunday, and I am loving every minute of it. No guilt, just soaking up the sunny rays and sipping coffee like a good girl. My goal was to begin and finish a mural, which hasn't started yet, but I will make a start before I go to bed today. It just feels so good to stop.

On Wednesday, Laura and Daniel and I had a computer party in the dining room, and Thursday, the Zermatt gang reunited to go to the "blindekuh" restaurant, about five minutes from the flat. The boys were looking sharp, so Laura and I dressed up, too, ironically, to not be seen. Yep, the "blindekuh" translates to "blind cow." The first restaurant was in Zurich, and now they are apparently all over the place. All the servers of the restaurant are blind, and the whole experience is designed to heighten your senses and help you experience the world of a blind person. As we were going through the light trap, we made a train, to arrive in a room of complete darkness, hearing some conversation and silverware clanking. I think this is when I felt the most "lost-in-translation," because they were speaking german to me, in the dark. Talk about being clueless. We felt around for our place setting, and found wine glasses, too many forks to be casual, and linen that for all we knew was tie-dye. I ordered "schwein mit pflaumen und rotwein." I can't believe I left without a single stain. As for cutting the meat, I just skipped it. I turned a gourmet meat into fair food; stabbed it with a fork, and gnawed like a barbarian... in Ann Taylor. We were in the dark for about 3 hours, and when coming out, my eyes felt like they were being stabbed. Sorry, that is graphic. But it was a lot of fun, a great new experience. Afterwards, went for drinks at Eiopso, a bar next door that is in an old warehouse. It was almost like cafeteria lunch tables, with funky dim light fixtures, and an ultra-hip bar; so many juxtapositions that could only come together in a city like Basel. Being in a warehouse like that, it kind of felt like Zoolander; I was just dying to see a walk-off.

On Friday, I went to Sam and Cat's new penthouse-warming party, plantless. It's funny to think about that whole "being an adult" thing. I just think of people in a sitcom, going to someone's new house and bringing a plant... do people do that in real life? 

Saturday was back to Sargans to see Sepp and Brigitte again, the couple that I met the second weekend or so in Switzerland. Doesn't seem that long ago, but it was. It was awesome to see them again, and cool to see Sargans went it wasn't storming. The mountains were gorgeous; no matter how many times I see them, I am still in awe. I just want to take photo after photo, but none of them capture the feeling the mountains give you: small, but enlivened. Went thrifting, and then to Bad Pfafers with Brigitte, which is famous for its pure and healthy hot spring water. People have gone to this region for hundreds of years because of its "healing" powers in the water, staying in the water for 6–7 days! It was absolutely stunning to see the cavern/gorge, where the waters cut through.

Apparently, the water takes 10.5 years to come from inside the earth to the surface; we saw water from the 90s!

Here we are, enjoying our day together...

Also, met a group of people running a printing press at the old resort at the springs. They apparently got the press from Coshocton (sp?), OHIO! How cool! They let me do a print, but I was totally not cut out for it. It was so heavy!

Walked back from the springs to the town, and encountered waterfall after waterfall. It was like we were walking in one of those moving photos that they sell in mall kiosks.

That evening, we made fondue, my first taste of it! It was awesome to have my first fondue in a Swiss family home. It felt homey and authentic. I think fondue is to the Swiss, as tomato soup and grilled cheese is to Americans. Perfect for a cold winter or rainy day. 

Afterwards, we went to church, and by chance, the leader of ICF Zurich was speaking. He is the founder of the ICF in Zurich, which also planted a group in Basel, where I go. He seems like a great person, with a great heart. The message was entitled, "Pimp my Life," a spoof on "Pimp my Ride." I didn't see how this was going to be biblically related; there is no way Jesus had big rims and a fishtank in the arm rest of his donkey. But it was cool, he explained it as "pimping" your heart and life with God, focusing on your inner life. I don't think I caught everything, as my translation was Brigitte whispering into my ear, and I still don't love the whole "pimping" analogy, but it was good to hear, and be encouraged to keep deepening my relationship with God.

Going to Austria and Germany this next week, and then before I know it, will be back in the States again to begin another quarter at UC. Doesn't time want to stop for a cup of coffee?

Take care. Love Linds.

Zer-Matterhorn

I really don't get tired of puns. Ever.

On Sunday, Cedric, Miggi, Daniel, Laura and I journeyed to the south of Switzerland to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. It's argueably the pinnacle of Switzerland...and completely saturated with Japanese tourists. There are so many Japanese tourists that all the signage is in German, English, and Japanese, and there are tons of Japanese restaurants!

After about 3 hours of sleep the night before, we all got together and took a long train ride down to Zermatt. Every time the announcer told us about the upcoming stop, she would speak in German, French, Italian (Swiss languages), Japanese (as we neared the Matterhorn), and then English. And every time, Laura would turn to me and say "This, this is for you." because we were all convinced that I was definitely the only American. Daniel asked me how many Americans I thought had ever been to the Matterhorn. I guessed 1%. I feel like Americans are not thinking of Switzerland as a top tourist destination. I don't know, I never really thought about taking a vacation to Switzerland before living here. Since we were on the early, we were surrounded by 60 year-old's hiking groups and the overambitious. We, on the other hand, were all brushing away sleep, but then when we started to travel into the more mountainous regions, we couldn't help but ooh and aah. Switzerland should be on the top of the tourist list! There were dozens of waterfalls, and rivers down below that were milky white, from the rock sediment and the sheer coldness from melted snow. I've been to the Rockies... the Alps have a sort of elegance that the Rockies lack. I think the cute little picturesque cottages tucked away help, too. 

Here is the majesty in all its glory:

We walked around the town a bit, and then headed for the mountain. Now you see, the others asked me why I was wearing sandals for the day, as we were leaving the flat, and I was sure that I would be ok, I can walk in anything. But for some reason, it did not cross my mind that we could be doing some serious, strenuous hiking. So there I was, the stupid american that was hiking up the crazy mountain in sandals, realizing I really haven't grown out of my asthma yet. But it really wasn't that bad, in the end. I was just a little dirtier than the rest, and felt even more rewarded in the end. 

On the way up, we went through the Ricola herb fields (REEEE-COL-AAAAAH!), and then decided we deserved a beer and bathroom break, and that we would stop to see this small black lake (that doesn't actually exist). Met some Austrians, and socialized a bit, before continuing up to the next gondola stop. We all agreed that we wanted to continue with the gondola. And then we stopped for lunch at another tucked-away place, and had the best Rosti I have had so far in Switzerland.

The gondola ride was gorgeous. I think this was my first time in a gondola (as I have never skiied either), besides at the Ohio State Fair, I guess, if that counts. First time up a mountain, at least. It was just stunning to see the small town get even small, and the snow masses get even larger. When we got out, it was windy and chilly (p.s. this was just at the top of the little matterhorn. I don't even know if you can go any farther without a pickaxe and a ridiculous amount of experience).

The Roomies!

The Group!

Laura and I waded in this melted snow lake, and tried to catch fish with our bare hands (so very unsuccessful). There was this random chapel up there as well. It reminded me of the small chapel/burials in New Orleans, more specifically, in the movie Double Jeopardy. I couldn't believe how lucky I was, to be up there with such great friends, and to have so much laughter and joy. The air was thin, but so pure. The only sounds were of the wind and the rushing water down below.

By the time we returned to the bottom, there was time for a quick coffee break, and then back on the train to go back to Basel. This trip was good bonding time, and good laughing time.

Once back in Basel, we had a traditional Swiss meal of racklette!
And it was so delish! There is this special hot plate contraption, where you heat cheese in your own little personal skillet, and then spice it and add meat bits and onion and garlic to your liking. And once the cheese in browned and bubbling a bit, you scrape it out onto some potatoes. It is sort of like a glorified baked potato...but so much more fun to make and eat. I don't think I have ever eaten that much cheese in my life. So. Much. Cheese. I love to prepare food with my friends here (actually, I have become a lot better cook because of these people, and the fact that Switzerland has no pre-cooked food choices, so you just have to learn). This was one of the BEST days!

Monday was low-key at work, and I headed to Liestal afterwards for Bible study. There were just four of us, but God was there, definitely. We watched one of the Nooma videos with Rob Bell, about breathing, and how breathing can be see as the name of God. This video was beyond awesome, and I would really like to get my hands on some of the DVDs. Just some good perspectives that I never thought of before. The best part of the evening was that God was telling me to talk about the "Receive" week at Crossroads last year. It was weird, because it didn't have much to do with the conversation, but I told about it anyways. Come to find out, it was exactly what needed to be said, and related with us all in an interesting way, and one member specifically. It is crazy how God can use us sometimes, and we have no idea what we are doing.

Tonight was a "clean the flat because we can't stand it anymore" night. Jamming to Amy Winehouse, I now no longer feel like an animal.

One quick sidenote before I go to bed: I am taking violin for the first time in the fall! It's official! I am so excited. I just hope I can play.

Guten nacht! —Linds