Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Switzerland Bound

I am supposed to be getting ready.  I have a ton to do today.  I have to finish packing, get a mani-pedi, clean the house, and on and on.  Instead, I am blogging.  I have to write when the bug bites, you know?

We leave tomorrow for Switzerland.  No, not a business trip this time, a vacation.  A real live vacation, the kind that involves no working for my husband.  In theory anyway.  I'll bet you 10 bucks he checks his email while we are gone.  Old habits die hard and all that!

A lot of friends have asked me--why Switzerland?  I don't really have a good answer for that question.  It came about by accident really.  We were talking about Scotland, and then ended up buying tickets to Switzerland--and no, not by mistake, we know how to spell.  Actually, I think it began when a friend of mine asked me if I had ever been there.  I said yes, but was there for only a week and felt that I was seeing the country at breakneck speed.  This is what happens to me when I travel with my husband on business.  Whiplash.  As we speed by the beautiful sights on our way to the "next meeting", I try hard to see things and pretend that one day I'll be back.  Only this time--I am going back, tomorrow!

Once that fateful question was asked, I couldn't seem to get Switzerland off my mind.  So, when we sat down to plan our vacation, I asked--what about going to Switzerland?  10 minutes later, we were!
We bought our flights, picked 4 cities to explore, made hotel reservations, purchased rail passes, and now we wait.  Until tomorrow.  Then we go!  I will finally be able to spend some quality time in the cities that I barely had time to see last time I was there.  And that was around 10 years ago.  I remember lakes, mountains, cheese, and cows.  I remember shopping in Zurich for like 3 minutes and walking across a wonderful bridge.  I remember getting car sick on curvy roads through the Alps, and I remember eating fondue.  So yes, I do have some great memories, which I now wish to turn into awesome memories, sans business.

I'll blog from each city, going into detail about our experiences as I travel over the next 2 weeks. I'm taking 2 cameras, 1 huge Eagle Creek duffel, a backpack and a cross body handbag.  I'm looking forward to seeing and doing and eating new things.  I'm looking forward to spending the next 2 weeks with my husband, all alone.  No drama, no heartache, no sadness.  Just us.

This trip will most likely be our last European vacation for a few years.  My mom is coming to live with us next month, and I know myself, I won't want to leave her once she is settled in.  My goal is to take full advantage of this time with my husband before our lives change.  It's important to me.

I'm trying hard not to have any preconceived expectations, and yet, I do.  Great big huge expectations.  I want this trip to be breathtaking.  I want my photos to capture my emotions.  I want this time with my husband to last us over the next few years.  I want memories.  I am Switzerland-bound.