The rundown:
-I visited heaven

-It was located in the Swiss and French Alps

 

 

          Another 4 day weekend was granted because of some random holiday at the beginning of December. So, of course, I bailed. It was December, and I hadn’t tasted any snow! So it made deciding where to go quite easy- the Alps of course! I searched cheapest flights and booked one from Oporto, Portugal to Geneva, Switzerland . Boom, done, decided. Next step, find out where I would go to ski. I figured there had to be at least one ski resort near Geneva, right? WRONG. There were over two hundred resorts within 2 hours of Geneva!! After a little researching (because not many resorts were open yet) I decided on either Verbier, Switzerland or Chamonix, France. Arranging Couchsurfing was a bit difficult and a little stressful but ultimately I found a guy in Chamonix,.
            The journey to Oporto was a bit difficult. First off, I hitched hike (if anyone is near my mother right now please check her pulse as this is the first time she being informed of this…relax Mama, I’m alive…keep reading). Ok “hitch hiking” may be a stretch. Did I get from point A to point B with complete strangers, yes. Did I stand on the side of the road waiting for some creepy truck driver to come along, NO! I used Bla Bla Car. Bla Bla Car is very similar to Couchsurfing but it’s for ride shares. Everyone creates a profile about themselves and what they are offering. I searched for a ride from Ourense to Vigo and found one that worked with my schedule and was half the cost of a bus. The girl had many positive reviews and had given many rides, so I felt very safe about it. I messaged her and arranged the details of the pick-up and drop off. On Thursday afternoon after class, my teacher dropped me off, and I met the driver and the three other girls who were also using the ride share. It was a great way to practice my Spanish and save money.
            I was unable to find a Bla Bla Car from Vigo to Oporto, so I booked a bus…and then I missed it. This was quite stressful. I had booked a 7pm bus, about 6:45 I went down and waited, about 6:50 I realized I didn’t have a bus number on my ticket. I began asking around to see if anyone knew where I needed to wait for my bus but no one had ever heard of the bus company I was using, minute by minute I began stressing more and more and about 7:05 I still hadn’t found my bus. I finally found someone who worked there, and he also didn’t know what bus I was suppose to take. We rushed up the ticket desk, but the bus had already left. So that sucked. My thought was: “Whatever, it’s only 7, I’ll take the next one”…nope. Because it was a holiday, that was the last bus. The next bus didn’t leave until 4:30 am. So I had two options, sleep at the bus station or find somewhere to stay in Vigo for a few hours.  I was leaning towards sleeping at the station mostly because I didn’t want to pay for somewhere to sleep. But then I found out the station closed from 1:30-4:30. So around 10 I finally called up a Couchsurfing friend in Vigo and she graciously said I could sleep at her house and gave me directions. But because it was the holiday the city busses also stopped early (of course I didn’t know this until the bus just stopped mid-route and I had to get off.) FINALLY, I got to her house and slept for 3 hours then she called a taxi for me to get back to the station. About 4:20 the doors began opening, and I was able to find the bus and buy my ticket from the driver.
             I set my alarm on my phone because the worst thing would be to sleep through my stop and miss my flight! I even set two alarms because I knew there was a time change between Spain and Portugal, so I just wanted to be safe. I was NOT missing that 9 am flight! … but I set my alarms PM... Because I am an idiot. THANKFULLY, I was woken up by an announcement on the bus saying we were at the airport. 

            So as I said, getting to Oporto was a little difficult, but afterwards it was all smooth sailing to the most beautiful place I have ever been. I arrived in Geneva and met my super hot shuttle driver who took me to Chamonix. The views were incredible (both inside the shuttle and out). Now the point of this blog is to put into words what I am experiencing while I am here so that you can share in the experience…but I can’t. I have no words. When I think of how to describe the Alps I draw a blank “uhh …heaven?” My pictures help share my experience but anyone who has ever taken a picture of a beautiful landscape knows that my phone camera isn’t capturing the half of it. 
            Once in Chamonix I met my couchsurfer, Jarno. Originally I was going to stay with a couple for one night then in a hostel, but last minute a surfer offered his place for all three nights. And he was fantastic. He made my stay so relaxed, easy, and enjoyable! When I first arrived he made a delicious meal, then he drove me to go rent my gear. When we got back I showered and rested, all the while he cooked dinner. Jarno is originally from Holland but has lived in Switzerland, France, and Austria. He owns his own mountain bike tour company and was a wealth of information. We had a similar sense of humor and conversation was effortless the entire trip. After dinner and some wine we rested for the big OPENING DAY ahead.
            The next morning he cooked us breakfast, made us tea and we geared up. We drove to a local bakery to grab our lunch for the day then headed to the mountain. The drive to Chamonix was indescribable but the view from on top of the mountain was insane. The entire day I was either grinning like or idiot, my jaw was dropped open, or I had snow in my face.  I couldn’t have been happier. We enjoyed lunch on a rock off one of the runs and wrapped up the day with a beer. After a perfect day we returned home then went out for burgers and beer that night. That night as we were getting ready for bed Jarno suggested maybe we go to Verbier the next day instead. Because only one big run was open at Chamonix, he thought I’d have more fun if I got to ski in two countries!!
            The next day was a repeat of breakfast and the bakery but this time our  breathtaking drive was an hour and half to the mountain. In Chamonix, France, I was in Heaven. In Verbier, Switzerland I was in the VIP lounge of Heaven. The mountain was huge, the snow was good, but I needed to see the top. The only way down from the highest lift was a Black Diamond, but I insisted on going, and I am so happy I did. At the top there was a rope climb to a 360 degree view of the most incredible mountains I have ever seen. Again, I can’t put into words the view…but it’s what makes me believe in God.
            After an ugly descent down the Black Diamond, we took it easy the rest of the day, enjoy some pleasant runs and amazing food on the mountain. We drove back to Chamonix and decided to treat ourselves to some French cheese fondue, of course with a bottle of wine, and appetizers and dessert. And so wrapped up one of the greatest days of my life.
            The next morning I was picked up by a less attractive shuttle driver, caught my flight, and didn’t miss any busses.  When I originally told Jarno I had missed my bus to Oporto he said “well, it can only get better from here”… if only he knew how true that turned out to be!