On the first day of traveling, we traveled from Manchester Airport to Nice. We arrived there three hours early for our flight because we had a difficult time traveling to Belfast from Manchester the last time we were at the airport. However, we were blessed to go through Terminal 2, which had quicker security and overall better service. We got on our plane to get to Nice and I slept for the majority of the flight. We got to Nice around 5 P.M. and picked up our rental car. We were quite nervous because it was a manual car and my roommate Hannah was the only one who knew how to drive the car. Getting out of the parking garage was a challenge, but we were doing well after we got on the road. The road to Beuil, the place we were staying, was extremely windy, and when we got to the top of the mountain. I was sitting in the back and got nauseous from the drive. When we made it to our Airbnb, we were unable to get into the place and the group of us were starting to panic. Instead of continuing to try to get into our Airbnb, we went to go get food. However, the first place we went in said they were full, but we suspect it is because we spoke English. We ended up going to a hotel called L-Escaped and got some dinner. Hannah was silently panicking and Hannah and Julia were annoyed, trying to contact the owner of the Airbnb. We were seriously considering staying at the hotel we ate at because the server was extremely nice and offered us a place to stay. We were, fortunately, able to hear from our Airbnb owner, made our way up to the Airbnb again, and got into the room (finally). Instead of going straight to bed, we stayed up and played card games and then went to bed.We decided to sleep in the first day of hiking due to our trouble yesterday. Most of us naturally woke up around 9:30 A.M. and began to get ready for the day. We all layered up because we realized that the hiking would be done in the snow. Before going hiking, we went to a grocery store 30 minutes away from our Airbnb and got supplies for the next two days. With eggs, cheese, ham, and bread in hand, we went back up the mountain to our Airbnb, made sandwiches, and finally started on our hike. Unfortunately, Lexi’s hiking app was not working and we were wandering aimlessly in people’s backyards because there was no clear hiking trail due to the snow. The group made our first snowman and walked back down to the car to try a different hike. Unfortunately, that hike was also unseeable due to the snow and we ended up hiking on a skiing hill. However, we did see some good sights and saw some planet-themed statues on our walk. Later, we returned to our Airbnb and watched a children’s movie called Zig Zag, which was one of two options. We called a few friends, made plans for the next day, and went to bed around 11:30 P.M. One of the most frustrating things about the trip was that we have no wifi in our Airbnb and are unable to call people. On our second hiking day in Southern France, we woke up much earlier and drove for an hour and a half before reaching our hiking spot4. It was a treacherous drive and the mountain was extremely tall and snowy. We ended up hiking on a trail for 4 hours and saw some amazing views. We were all very cold and nervous about the drive, but the hike was definitely worth it. Unfortunately, we were unable to pick up more bread from the store and ended up rationing our food that night while we all waited around and worked on some form of homework/arts and crafts. I got a call from my aunt and sister which made me happy to hear from someone at home. Sunday was a good day, but I was disappointed in not being able to watch church and having a cold shower for the second shower in a row. However, that night I was greatly looking forward to going to Monaco the next day and getting out of the cold weather. Our third day was considerably warmer and my favorite day so far on the trip. Hannah, Lexi, Julia, Brooke, and I woke up around the same time as yesterday and rationed our food. We each only had a piece of cheese and oranges for breakfast due to grocery stores not being open on Sunday. We drove an hour and a half to Monaco and were very excited for the sun. After two days in the snow, the sun was much needed. Hannah was a little worried about finding parking but we were eventually able to find a spot. When parked, we walked around trying to find a currency exchange but could not find one. We were hungry due to the small breakfast we had and ended up going to a slightly-pricy café all had different types of pizza. After eating, we walked to the Monte Carlo Casino and watched all the cars and events. There were multiple Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other cars my dad would enjoy. The rest of the day was just wandering around and looking at things to do. We walked behind the casino to see the sea and eventually found a port with extremely huge yachts. The other girls were talking about what they would do if they were rich and guys that they liked because they had money. While it was all in good fun, I can never seem to joke about money due to knowing that my family has been blessed in comparison to the rest of the world. Wanting to get closer to the water, we walked down toward the yachts and the formula 1 racetrack starting point to take some pictures and spend some time by the water. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the Palace of the Prince of Monaco up on a hill and wanted to visit it. The palace itself was more of a huge, white house but there was a charming village nearby with ice cream and some touristy items (although I am not a huge tourist-item buyer). Another blessing is that we managed to find fresh water in the city and fill up our water bottles. After going through part of the town near the palace, we saw the Oceanographic Museum by the water and spent some time looking into the ocean. After this, I was able to retrace our steps and lead us to the parking lot where we were parked. The rest of the night was filled with relaxing and packing in preparation for the next day. Tuesday was our last day in Southern France and we had run out of all of our resources. Yesterday in Monaco we began collecting toilet paper because we had none up in the mountain. I also conserved half of my sandwich that I ate for dinner to eat for breakfast. Our group woke up early, packed, and cleaned. Hannah was a little nervous to drive because her friend had called the previous night and mentioned that the number one killer of students abroad was driving in a foreign country. Despite this, we were able to get to Nice which was an hour and a half away. The fit in the car was very tight and my legs were hurting due to my heavy backpack being on top of them. After a long ride, we finally made it to Nice and headed immediately into a café. I did not eat there because I had already had half a sandwich for breakfast, but the rest of the group ate paninis. When the eating was finished, the group headed to the beach and sat there for a while. The ground was composed of a variety of rocks instead of sand, so our clothes and shoes did not get very dirty. The group was just sitting, talking, and looking at their phones so I decided to go on a walk and sit on an outcropping of rocks in the ocean. The silence gave me ample time to think and reflect on my feelings about my journey, soccer, my family, and my faith. I ended up listening to Waymaker and thought about church and my mother while watching the waves. It reminded me that everything is temporary and changes so rapidly. Also, if I ever felt alone, God is always walking with me step by step. I met up with the rest of my group an hour and a half later and we headed to the airport to return our rental car. The line through the airport went very quickly and the entire traveling process was smooth. Brooke departed from us to head to Paris for the rest of her trip while Lexi, Julia, Hannah, and I traveled to Geneva, Switzerland. Travelling went smoothly and we got on a bus that lead almost straight to our Airbnb. Similar to the previous day, we had trouble opening the door due to two locks. After that, we sat around for nearly an hour and a half trying to obtain the wifi password from our host. The view out of the window was nice, though, as we got to see the mountains and the large water spout that Geneva is famous for in the distance. I spent my time writing, reflecting, and planning for the next day as Wednesday would be my only full day in Geneva. The other girls did not make plans and they said that they wanted to come with me on my plans (possibly) which made me a little anxious because there is so much I want to see tomorrow and I only have so much time. I walk at a quicker pace and want to do more things with my day instead of hanging around in a single area for a long time (unless there is a museum of course). I hoped the next day would go well and I would see all the things I hope to see before traveling to Cologne to see my family friend Tine and her family. Wednesday was amazing as I had an excellent day in Geneva. I woke up around 7:30 to head out for the day by myself, taking pictures of directions because my data and service were not working in Switzerland. Truly, that day was a test of my sense of direction and ability to stay calm under pressure. I left our Airbnb before the other members of my group began to wake up and took the tram to a train station. I had no idea how to enter the train but did so just in time to get near the Jet d’ea. This is a large jet on Lake Geneva that filter the water for the city. On the way to the jet, trusty google maps in hand, I stopped at The Cat Café to grab a coffee and croissant. I almost got away with speaking the minimum French that I am able to, but the barista eventually realized I speak English and switched. After eating my croissant, I walked to the lake with my coffee to find that the jet was not running. I was confused but unable to Google anything due to the lack of service. There were a ton of swans and other birds swimming nearby and it was fun watching them. I eventually headed down the boardwalk near where the jet should have been spouting. I got somewhat close around 10:00 and then suddenly the jet turned on. It spouted extremely high in the air and I jumped back thinking I was going to get soaked. I did not get soaked and was thankful I had waited for the jet out and somehow got to a perfect spot of seeing it without any planning. From there, I walked to the Jardin Anglaise nearby and saw many statues and a famous flower clock, stopping to take pictures of a few couples who were grateful for my help. Once I finished pursuing the garden, I walked to the Old City, which was 5 minutes away, and stopped in a Starbucks for some more food, wifi, and to charge my phone. I spent a while there figuring out where to go next, gathering my information for the train I had to take on Thursday, and just looking at some of my texts as I had been unable to see anything for the past 2 days. I texted my group about where I was and encouraged them to join me if they wanted to. One hour passed and I desperately needed to use the restroom. This is where I encountered one of the nicest public toilets I have ever seen, in a street no less (as the Starbucks bathroom was locked). Once relieved, I headed to Auer Chocolatier to grab a somewhat expensive-but worth it- Swiss chocolate bar that was decorated for Easter. My chocolate bar and I ventured further into the Old Town and sat near a carousel and ate my chocolate. This was an easy feat, as my family will know, I am a huge chocolate lover. I climbed two fences as an infant to reach chocolate. I am surprised my parents did not think I was a demon child. I hiked my way up the Old Town to St. Pierre’s Cathedral, which looked somewhat Greek from one side and like a quaint church from the other. The inside of the church was somewhat underwhelming considering the cathedrals I have seen in the UK (especially in Liverpool and Chester). I love going to cathedrals still because I feel like I am learning about my faith. And I am a sucker for stained-glass windows. When reaching the front of the cathedral, I saw that there were tickets available to climb the tower, and decided to spend the 7 Franks for the view and the experience. I climbed the winding steps to reach two towers with a view of the city of Geneva from all angles. As I was about to leave, the bells in the tower started ringing. Right around 12. Again, I was in the right place at the right time without extensive planning. From the church, I walked to the other side of Geneva to head near my lunch spot at seeing another church on the way. I was not super hungry due to eating at Starbucks but knew I had to experience my Swiss-themed lunch. I ate at Auberge de Saviese and had melted cheese with bread. It was a little pricy but definitely worth it. Although after the meal, I am thinking I may be slightly lactose intolerant. Or I just ate too much cheese. The waiters were extremely nice, one of them piling the cheese on my bread before I had to call it quits. While there, I ran into another student who was alone for the day in Geneva like me. Her name was Shanshan Chen and was studying in Berlin, but was originally from China. We exchanged numbers and I plan to meet up with her during my time in Berlin. I also got to call my mother during lunch to wish her a happy birthday and tell her about my plans for the day. She suggested that my good timing was God’s doing and I definitely agree I was being looked after. Lunch was eventually finished and I headed toward the Palais des Nations, the second largest UN office in the world (the first being in New York). I saw the buildings and the Broken Chair statue, which symbolized a protest against violence against civilians during wartime. Taking a left, I headed from the UN offices to the Ariana Museum, which was a glassblowing and pottery-like museum that was free. The walk was beautiful and the actual building was as well, being a light pink on the outside and having marble columns on the inside. While there, I got out my charger and plugged my phone into a corner similar to the way I had with Alondra in Dublin Castle. Two security guards walked up to me and I was afraid to get into trouble. However, the security guard from Portugal grabbed a chair and sat and talked to me for about 30 minutes the best he could with his English skills. He came up to me later again as I was walking through the museum and, needless to say, we ended up as Facebook friends. It was such a kind interaction that reminded me of the Midwest. My sister would have never left. When finished with the museum, I walked back toward the UN offices and went through the botanical gardens for fun. I still had not run into my group and decided to go on a random boat ride on Lake Geneva. They did not ask for a ticket and I, again, ended up in the place I needed to be. I walked through the Jardin Anglaise again, saw a man playing a large horn-the exact instrument name escapes me- and returned to my Starbucks haven. At 6:15, I met up with my friend Krista who I used to play volleyball with as a child. It was amazing to reconnect and see how similar we were in life goals and where we had ended up. I invited her to Virginia Beach and she invited me to Boston. It was just so refreshing to spend time with a closer friend and someone who shares many of my struggles while studying abroad. It makes me wish she and I were in the same program, which would have improved some of my experiences in Europe drastically. We ate at a café called Marcel and walked to the Jet again to watch it during the night as it was lit up. Afterward, I attempted to get home and needed a lot of help from Krista, who was an absolute angel for helping me so much. At the end of the ride, I needed to walk 10 minutes, in the dark, with no service, my first time in Geneva. It was a little daunting and I had my loud alarm that my mom gave me for Christmas in case of emergency. My good direction skills allowed me to get to our Airbnb where my group was waiting for me. It was nice that they were concerned for my safety but I kinda had fun being intuitive. I recounted my day to the group and slept on the floor, taking Lexi’s place from the night previous. All-in-all, this day did a lot to convince me that traveling alone is far better than traveling in a group. And that traveling with close friends is even better than being alone. I still had no service and no data, using a picture of directions and intuition to make my way to the train station the next morning. Today, I could not sleep very well. Not due to sleeping on the ground-which is comparable to the mattress I have at UOC- but because I never sleep well when I have a train or flight to catch. I got up around 4:30, ate a little bit of food, packed everything, and left for the tram which left at 4:53. I made it to the Geneve train station but was anxious because my Trainline ticket did not specify which station to go to. Therefore, I traveled to the largest station and hoped for the best. Thankfully, I chose correctly. Two homeless men came up to me in the train station which bothered me but left me alone when it said I was a university student with no money. I made it on my train and tried to relax a little and began writing this blog. I was running around the next train station because I needed to change trains and did not know which platform I would be on. Again, Trainline could improve their website communication, but I sat down in a seat just in time for the train to take off, heading towards Basel SBB. The guy across from me was playing video games on his phone, which made me think of my brothers and parents who are coming to visit me in the UK soon.The rest of the day has been chaotic. I got off the train at Hannover because the tickets were cheaper to go to Hannover and then Cologne, although Cologne is much closer to Swizterland. My bus in Hannover got cancelled and I almost got peed on by a random man in the street, so I have not had the warmest welcome to Germany. I also got some disappointing school news and had to pay 100$ for a train to Cologne. Overally, I am excited to see Tine and her family soon but just got dealt with some emotional blows as I am exhausted and frustrated. I guess that is the gamble you take when traveling with public transportation.
Picture Descriptions
Top Left: Geneva Lake and Swans
Top Middle: Hikes near Valdeblore, Southern France
Top Right: Monte Carlo
2nd Top Left: UN Offices in Geneva
2nd Top Middle: Lake Millefonts Hike, Southern France
2nd Top Right: Group on Beach in Nice
Middle Left: Group on the Snowy Hike
Middle Middle: Lake Geneva from St. Pierre's Cathedral
Middle Right: Ariana Glass-Blowing Museum
2nd Bottom Left: Monaco
2nd Bottom Middle: Another angle of Monte Carlo (Duplicate)
2nd Bottom Right: Palace of the Prince of Monaco
Bottom Left: Geneva Lake
Bottom Middle Swiss Chocolate
Bottom Right: Trees near Ariana Museum
Overall, the traveling this week has definitely tired me. I feel somewhat like a leaf blown every which way and I continue to miss those to whom I am close. I feel anxious about school and securing summer commitments while abroad as it is hard to communicate. I wish I could take a week back at VWU to get everything figured out and come back to finish my semester. I am looking forward to family time with Tine and with my family who comes on the 11th. My MCAT scores will also be released soon, which I do not like to think about that much. Otherwise, I have had an excellent time soaking in all of the things I have seen and preparing myself for more. I feel like I am a globetrotter and am learning many things.
Quick Note: To see Travel Videos, go to @Abigailkpeterson on Instagram. After that, go to the reels section, which will have a compilation of videos I took on this trip and on my trips to Paris/Brussels and Belfast/Dublin.
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