some favorite euro moments
#1 Leyman, France
we had been living in switzerland for two weeks. we figured why not hike to france and up to their castle. while that was super fun (also exhausting) we did work up an appetite. We walked into a place where not a soul knew english. oh joy. we ordered, well ... we weren't sure of what we ordered. But when our plates were in front of our faces the waiter said something very stern. it apparently was DON'T TOUCH THE PLATE IT IS HOT
but we didn't know. jb touched the plate. everyone in the room died laughing.
ha ha ha, the joke was on us. we laughed about it then, but we belly laugh about it now.
#2 Lugano, Switzerland
easter sunday. the first easter i had ever been away from my family. it was spent basking in the italian section of Switzerland. The sun was out. We hadn't lived in Switzerland for very long. We decided we'd try a hostel as this was how our european peers traveled. UM. not okay for newlyweds. We were in a room with 10 14 year old girls, JB, me, and a man who kept ordering the girls around. i abandoned my bunk and hopped in jbs top bunk. I'm sure that made the 14 year old girls really comfortable.... we made it through the night all right. But this would certainly be our last hostel experience.
Basel, Switzerland
Our first years stove. On the right we would shove old papers in there to gain warmth. and oh that sweet stove. we'd have to light it each time with a match. i was bald for a time due to a light gone wrong. i love this little apartment. I cried when we left. It was the first time we had a home together. One that was all ours. we had dinner parties here, we developed friendships there on our porch, oh and the wine and cheese party ... just the mention brings a huge smile across my face.
to be continued...
Despite your terrible bedding experience, how pretty is Lugano right?
ReplyDeleteI always thought you were from there and lived there! He he:-) Looks like fun, love the stories!
ReplyDeletethe thought of you and jb in a hostel is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous of your year living in beautiful Switzerland and all your travels around Europe. The fiance and I are moving to India, yes India, shortly after the new year for what looks to be (as of now) much longer than one year. I plan on making MANY trips to Europe to maintain some kind of sanity.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are beautiful!
-Bailey
http://lostandfound-bailee.blogspot.com/
Such wonderful memories! Oh, the hostel memories I have from my time abroad in Italy. We luckily always reserved private rooms, but that did not mean we didn't come home with some creepy stories to tell! All part of the European charm :) Looking forward to reading about more of your memories.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I love Lugano! I got a chance to visit on a Maymester in Northern Italy and I fell in love. One of the most gorgeous places I've ever been and everyone was so nice! I can't imagine how much you must miss living abroad, but what a blessing to have all those experiences to remember! Please keep posting memories from abroad - it's the only way I can keep my travel addiction in line with my bank account!
ReplyDeleteHow cute is that stove...love it! My hubby and I also have a soft spot in our hearts for our very very small first apartment. Lots of laughs and lots of memories! You are brave for staying in a hosel...I think the name alone just scares me! :) I'd like to know more about how you find the right hostel and the tips to being there! Great posts! :)
ReplyDeleteAwww I can't wait for this "to be continued"! such sweet memories in beautiful places!!! also hahaha the hostel thing cracked me up ! I love them, but I can see how in that situation it would soooo not be the right accomadation lol :o)
ReplyDeleteAwww! Seems like you two have some wonderful memories! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet memories!
ReplyDelete(and I don't do hostels either... no, no, no) x
Hihihi, the story of you and JB staying in a hostel dorm made me smile. :) Too funny.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear more of your stories and memories - so refreshing. Your life really is a fairytale. :)
Enjoy the weekend. Love, Nadine
HAA... we tried the hostel experience too right after getting married ... NEGATIVO.
ReplyDeletelove that you're doing these!!
I love re-living memories with the boy every so often...or those moments when you are both in fits of laughter because of a secret joke.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have loads of wondeful memories of your time away!
And hostels, I agree with you, they are not my thing!
i love europe and i love adventure!! great memories you've shared here!!!
ReplyDeletecute stories! I really enjoyed reading them more please!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful memories! :)
ReplyDeleteLove that your are looking back and sharing. I wish I had blogged more when overseas as so many great memories.
ReplyDeleteYay! I loved reading these. Such amazing experiences!
ReplyDeleteLove, Leigh
Im hooked. Cant wait until tomorrow.
ReplyDeletewow...Switzerland looks so pretty...can't wait to hear more of your stories!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like such wonderful memories that you two made!
ReplyDeleteahh tell me everything! we're moving abroad in January :)
ReplyDeleteOh so lovely! Those stories brought a smile to my face :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet post. Have you shared more pics of the apartment in Basel that I missed? That little stove is adorable.
ReplyDeletelove this post. this should be a recurring series!! :)
ReplyDeletethis is too sweet.. can't wait to hear more!
ReplyDeleteYou've named off all my favorite places from my home country...
ReplyDeleteLove the hostel experience, and that little stove with the green backsplash just makes me smile. ( :
ReplyDeleteSarah I love this! Did I ever tell you how hot I think your hubs is? Super score. On his part too. Your future children will be gap model worthy :)
ReplyDeleteoh and love your story about the hostel. I don't think I could ever do it. Not because I am hoity toity uptight (not at all) but because after seeing that movie, they scare me. Have you ever seen it?
and love your first stove. You two have the best memories to look back on.
It's always wonderful to remember the little things like these!!
ReplyDeleteI'd say try a hostel again but only get a private room. I've been in Europe for 2.5 years now, and my BF and I have traveled to many European countries. We love to stay in little B&Bs, but sometimes those are just outside our budget so we have stayed in a hostel. Most hostels in Scandinavia are quite nice and still quite expensive.
ReplyDeleteWhen I travel alone, I always find myself in a hostel.. but only in female dorm rooms with no more than 6 beds (4 beds preferred). I've met some wonderful women at hostels from around the world and of different ages (up to 65+)! This is not the reason I choose to stay in hostels, but I stay in them because I like to travel and they allow me to do more of it!
I remember I was afraid the first time I stayed in a hostel. It was in London, and I was alone. I thought it was a good experience because I expected something really horrible. Little did I know that experience would be my worst hostel experience. Some hostels are really really nice!
Try it again with your husband but ONLY in a private room.. and I've noticed the best hostels (for me) are the ones with the lowest "fun" rating :)
You can check out my blog at aimeeleesadventures.blogspot.com
(I'm going to try and start updating it more often soon)