Riley (girl) is spending the summer in Rome studying jewelry design, so this week I got to travel with her to Europe for some sister time and to help get her all set up. We’ve got three legs of our 10-day trip:
Leg 1: Switzerland – recovering from jet lag and visiting family
Leg 2: Ischia – an island near Capri where we’ll relax, swim, and shop
Leg 3: Rome – I’ll stay with Riley for a few days before heading back to real life.
This week’s newsletter is a recap of our time in Switzerland! 🇨🇭
Day 1: Unterägeri
After a 10-hour flight, we landed in Zurich - and right into a major heat wave. Our cousin Lucy met us at the airport and helped us navigate the train to Unterägeri, the small village where my aunt Jody and her family live. (It’s in the canton of Zug, which is like a Swiss version of a state, but cuter and with more cows.)
First thing we did was drop our bags and run down to the lake. The water was perfect, and we floated down to a lakeside restaurant where we got our first (of many) Aperol Spritz. That night we walked into town for dinner, had another Spritz, and went to bed full, tired, and slightly sunburned.
Day 2: Swiss Army Knives
We kicked off the morning with a bakery run and a hike. Then spent the afternoon in Brunnen, a lakeside town with insane views and home to Victorinox, the official Swiss Army Knife brand. We got to learn how the knives are designed and then assemble our own. Riley and I loved nerding out over the smart design and construction process! One of my favorite souvenirs.
Day 3: Flims
On our last day, we woke up early and drove to Flims, a mountain town where my aunt has a condo. It’s where locals go to hike or ski depending on the season - a popular getaway for European adventure seekers.
We took the tram up to the top and then hiked into the mountains. We went through wildflower covered hills with some of the most jaw-dropping views I’ve ever seen. It felt majestic like Yosemite, but without crowds of tourists. So surreal.
Along the trail, we passed a tiny honey stand and a little bee farm. Hikers can leave cash in the box and take a jar. It was the cutest thing.
We ended the day with a dip in the near by Lake Caumasee, which looked fake it was so blue. It's known for its legend of healing waters from the mineral springs that feed the lake.
On the way out, we got caught in a full-blown mountain thunderstorm and were soaked. Made for a good story and end to a great day.
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Switzerland was the perfect start. Lots of nature and family time. Grateful to have the best built-in tour guides showing us their home.
Today, we traveled to Ischia, and next week I’ll share our Italian adventures! Thanks for tuning in as I cosplay as a travel blogger for the next two weeks.
Ciao!
