So we're going to travel back in time a little bit to the beginning of February...I know, it's a long ride in the time machine, but I promise you, it will be worth it! At the beginning of February every year, every student in Switzerland has 2 weeks off of school for the Sportferien (Sport holiday) and most families take advantage of it to go skiing for a week or two - or if you're an exchange student, it's when lots of adventures take place!
My family and I stayed home for the Sportferien because we were taking our own Ski Trip a few weeks later (but more on that later...). So because we stayed here, and I didn't have school, I took advantage of my break and travelled Switzerland, met up with friends, had a few adventures, experienced Fasnacht (it's so special and important that it needs its own post), and gave a few tours around my beautiful city of Solothurn!
On February 4th, one of my good exchange friends Kelsey came to visit me for the day. She is from Portland, Oregon and is on exchange in Canton Uri (aka the middle of nowhere). She had never seen Solothurn before, so I invited her up for the day and gave her a tour of
my city!
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| Kelsey by the Aare |
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| Artistic? |
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| Riverrrrr |
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| On the way down the mountain...breath-taking beauty! |
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| My favourite! |
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| A little walk through the village! |
On February 6th, my host mom took me to the "Emmentaler Schaukäserei". What we know to be "Swiss Cheese" is actually called Emmentaler Cheese and the "Emmentaler Schaukäserei" is a museum/restaurant where you can go and actually watch them make the cheese! We arrived around lunch time and enjoyed a wonderful meal and the world's LARGEST merengue and then we toured the Schaukäserei. Unfortunately they had already finished making the cheese for the day, but we were still able to see all of the rooms and were able to watch videos about the process. It was a really cool experience!
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| World's largest merengue! |
On February 7th, my host mom and I met up with her sister and her sister's husband to go skiing for the day! We went to a "smaller" not very well known ski resort in the Berner Oberland, but it wasn't small...that's for sure! It is an older resort, so it only has T-bars, but the possibilities were endless! It was absolutely beautiful and the snow glistened as the mountains reflected the sunlight and ughh, it was just breath-taking! Elsigenalp definitely sums up Switzerland's beauty and it is something I wish I could share with all of you firsthand!
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| My host mom and I all geared up and ready to go! |
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| My host mom (right) and her sister |
On February 8th, my host mom and I trekked to Bern for the day! She grew up in Bern so she gave me a tour of the city and told me things about buildings that I would have otherwise known. She showed me around the downtown area and gave me a tour of the famous church in the city! We drank hot chocolate in a little café (because it was frrrreeeeeeezzziiinnnggg) and we took a little stroll down by the water! It was a beautiful day!
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| A view of the main city on our walk |
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| A cute little frozen waterfall |
I didn't have any crazy adventures during the next few days, but I did get lost in IKEA with a few friends...
...and I found some time to catch up with Lorenzo and Morgan over Hot Chocolate and crepes.
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| My lovlieeess |
On February 12th, my host parents and I met up with Michele's sister and husband to go skiing for the day again! We went to the same ski hill as before and then went to their house for a beautiful fondue dinner!
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| Me at the top of one of the runs! |
On February 13th, my host dad picked my brother up in St.Gallen and brought him to Niederbipp for the afternoon! I brought him to Solothurn and I was so proud to show him the place I like to call home. It was also great to show him around and just spend time with him in general. He absolutely loved the city and I don't blame him! Then he came back for a traditional Swiss dinner before heading back to St.Gallen!
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| A picture by the water for our mom's mantel ;) |
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| My big bro and I in Solothurn |
The next day I gave another friend of mine, Mark, a tour around Solothurn and then we headed to Neuchâtel in the afternoon! We walked down by the lake and took a million photos of the still ice-covered rocks - it was so beautiful and a great way to spend Valentine's Day!
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| The crew! |
On February 26th, my host parents and I drove down to Montreux in the French part of Switzerland to spend the day. It is in wine-country on Lake Geneva and honestly felt like another country! The people and the mood are so different from the German part of Switzerland! It was also super warm and there were lots of families out riding their bikes or rollerblading along the water and there were couples out walking their dogs and children playing on the playgrounds...it was hard to believe that it was still only February! We walked along the water to Château de Chillion and took an audio-guided tour of the 500 year old castle. The castle was humungous and the history was so interesting - Lord Byron was even held hostage there!
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| Looking out over the Genfersee |
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| Hard to believe it's February... |
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| Me in front of Château de Chillion |
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| My host parents and I in front of Château de Chillion |
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| The castle from a distance |
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| And me by the water! |
There were gardens all along the water in Montreux and every so often there would be funny statues....
And that's the end of my Sportferien adventures! Stay tuned for a post about Fasnacht and my ski holiday to Arosa coming in the next few days!
I hope you are well!
Liebe Grüsse aus der Schweiz,
Madi <3
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