Weekend #2, con'd

Sorry this is taking so long - I actually have work to do this week. Bare with me...

Ok, where was I...soccer with school alcohol, downtown with whipped senior, marriage proposal...now I remember...Saturday.

Ok, Saturday is proof to all that we in fact do not go to school in the good ol' US of A. The school took us on a sponsored trip to...any guesses? Oh yes, I think I heard it in the back...a wine tasting festival. That's right people - the Bellinzona Wine Tasting Festival. The school paid everyone's train tickets (our guess is around 40 francs each) as well as a souvenir glass (6 francs) to taste a plethora of wines from around the area. Welcome to Franklin College, folks!

The group left at noon to walk down as a group to the train station, where we all boarded at 12:46 for the 30 minute trip to Bellinzona. The group, that is...minus Thuli (this is where I have to make a little interjection - someone claims that two other people were supposed to wake her up via cell phone call, but the alleged twosome had not remembered this promise...continue story). After being told at 10:45 that she wouldn't have enough time to get ready...lame...we called Thuli around 12:15 told her to run like the dickens to the train station (about 15 minutes away) to get on the train. And she did. She literally arrived (sweaty and near death) at the station as we were sitting aboard, ready to pull out (I should also comment that Kristen and I freaked Kadie out by going to get $ inside the station as the train arrived - settle down Kadie...it sits there for like 10 minutes...).

Have we seen Beauty and the Beast? Bellinzona is kinda like that city...but real...but it does have a castle! Actually, many castles! When in Bellinzona, we were able to explore the amazing city for a while before meeting to get our glasses. Off we went! First, to this counter place for lunch (delicious!), and then to Castle #1. The walk was intense, but nothing more than we are used to! The views were amazing up there - pictures for sure will not justify! Inside, there were towers, buildings, a restaurant (a little weird, but whatever...from the states - I don't judge), and this really long wall thing that went like into the city, and looked like something from a minigolf course (really long and grass covered). I will post the links to the pictures - its indescribable.

Oh! In between lunch and Castle #1, we checked out this really amazing church! It was sooo pretty, and was huge. I always feel weird taking pictures inside of churches, but since there were no visible holy people, I took them (though God was watching...that might throw a wrench in things in my future...).

So after exploring, we headed back into the town center area, checked out a few shops (the 2 franc store...I am obsessed!), got some dessert (life lesson - if you thing it will taste bad, it will - no exceptions...), and got our beautiful wine glasses (it has this thing in Italian etched on it...regifting?...we will see).

Then, it began...the most awkward 30 minutes of my life...ok, not really, but pretty close. Well, I decided based on two factors what to do: (1) I am at a Wine festival and (2) I need to do research for my Christmas dinner shopping... As you guessed, I partaked...took...whatever...in the event. While others were like slamming back one after another half glass sample, and struggled through two. The first was red - holy grossness (I was trying to find one that was church wine-esque...no such luck with this one...) and the second was white (very dry - or at least that's what I think - I don't even know the lingo!). (Kadie first tried one that smelled very similar to soy sauce - yummo) Needless to say, the research was a complete failure - got nothing accept a new appreciation for water.

Before heading back to the train, Kadie and I explored Castle #2 on top of a giant hill...it was sooo beautiful from up there! Again, I will get on those pictures...please have patience...

After the train ride, the three of us gathered at Kadie's for a crazy evening event - "camping" on the balcony...oy. After gathering proper supplies, at 11pm, after most places close, I found myself sprinting to the nearest pizzeria for dinner...wow, we are college-y... But seriously, this was totally ghetto - Thuli forgot blankets or a pillow - therefore 3 people sharing 2 pillows and 2 blankets...on the cold concrete...college concrete nonetheless...

So yea, I didn't sleep much, so after enough complaining, I finally snoozed off...for a few hours.

Sunday found us sleepy and kinda grouchy. But, of course, we had to have a fun group event. Enter movie night! First on the agenda - Amilie. The event was held in Thuli/Ruthi's room, and in attendance was Kadie, myself, Thuli, Ruthi, Paul, Michael, and a random add on, Ariel (haven’t really talked to her much so I will reserve some judgment)...I made dinner (spaghetti with tomato sauce, cheese and spinach ravioli with pesto and spaghetti with pesto...i rock!). Michael also helped by bringing her oven...only in Swissland...to make delicious garlic bread. The evening was fun - the movie was great (kinda confusing - especially with the distractions in the room...aka everyone talking) but there was a lot of negativity, too...lame!

So long weekend #2!