So you want a girls perspective?

I have been hearing that people are wondering how I (Shelley) am doing since Geoff writes our blogs. I thought I would take a minute to fill everyone in.

This trip has been a blessing so far. I have not felt homesickness (for America)and I have loved our new adventures.

10 minutes later I was twisted on the ground after slipping on the rocks.

London was fun and a good introduction to traveling. The tube was so easy and I felt like a pro by the time I left. Even after two weeks there was still more to see. It was a blast having my parents around. Proud of them for traveling like they did!

So far I have had great surprises in places I didn´t expect. I walked into Paris thinking I couldn´t wait to get out of there. After taking the walking tour that departs from Notre Dame I was in love with the city. A big group of us stood on a bridge and took pictures of the sunset. Someday I hope to go back and explore it more. One week is not enough there!

Berlin was a strange feeling. Until the bike tour I think everyone was feeling like it was a pointless place to be. I had seen the Berlin Wall and we had seen some of the other sites but it wasn´t connecting. There was a depression in our group from banking issues and hard class time. I was taking on a lot of what was happening with the students and feeling sad with the gloomy weather. Then Thursday came and I went with a group to the bike tour. All of the sudden Berlin was one of my favorite cities. I had been looking forward to all the history and missing it. finally, I was riding through it. I couldn´t wait to get back out there...to see all there was to see. On Friday I headed off to the Zoo. For those of you who know me, I am a zoo snob. That´s what happens when you grow up near the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. What else compares?  The Berlin Zoo..that´s what.  Tricia-we could touch the penguins. I don´t think we were supposed to but there was no barrier between us really. It was the first time Ryan has liked a zoo and I was thrilled to be there.

Prague was a delightful birthday. The apartment was all that I needed and the city was picturesque. Someone said it was like Disneyland without the rides and I would agree. No doubt he got a lot of ideas from there.

Geoff´s blog from Switzerland is so true...who would have thought I would have jumped off of a mountain? Certainly not me!  I don´t really like heights and I wasn´t sure I even wanted to go. Annmarie begged me to come and I decided to once I heard you don´t jump off a cliff (like base jumping). I wasn´t nervous at all and the feeling of it was so free. Interlaken was beautiful! Soaring over it with a sweet pilot, Suzanne, was a thrill that I never would have chosen and I am so glad Annmarie was persuasive enough to get me to join. We landed on the grass right across from our hostel and I got to waive at Geoff and Ryan from the air. Ryan was apparently yelling to me and waiving like crazy.  Truly a highlight.

Gimmelwald was fun but not what I expected. It is gorgeous without a doubt. You look out your window and the Swiss Alps are right there. Still, the hostel we stayed at was lame. You couldn´t check in until 6 pm and check out was at 9:30 am. You had to change your own sheets and pay for showers. No breakfast was included and the people were not the kindest. What made it worth it was the hike there and back. We took a train to Lauterbrunnen and then hiked (okay, walk on a paved road but it is beautiful) the valley in to a town where the gondola would take us up the mountain. We walked past waterfalls and lots of cows with cow bells. When we left our hostel we walked up hill. No really, almost straight up for an hour to a town named Murren. We started with 11 girls and by the time we got to Murren only 4 of us were willing to complete the hike across the mountain.  Those of us who continued were so glad we did. We walked through the forest and very steeply down to the valley floor. When we hit the switchbacks I was thinking to myself, ¨what would happen if one of us got hurt?¨ 10 minutes later I was twisted on the ground after slipping on the rocks. The girls that were with me just laughed with me at how crazy I fell and then I pulled my sore knee and ankle together and got up and hoofed it down the rest of the way.  If anyone is heading to Interlaken or Gimmelwald anytime soon, I would suggest hiking in those mountains.

I thought I was going to hate Barcelona but I have loved it as well. It is busy but I walked out to the harbor and felt like I was in San Diego. Not as dirty or corrupt  as I had expected. We did have someone have her purse stolen today but 1 purse after 2 days isn´t that bad when I felt like it would be so much more. The sun has been a blessing too. I didn´t know how much weather affected me until coming here. I know why I don´t live in Seattle.

Today was the first day of my class and I feel like it went okay. I hope the next two days are blessed and powerful. Since I only get 3 days each moment needs to count. If you read this soon, you can pray for me!

Miss seeing you all and can´t wait to tell you more in person.