Hello from Europa! I didn’t expect to be blogging so soon into my trip, but it’s raining like hell here in Interlaken so my activity options are quite limited. What better way to spend the day than in sweatpants with a free latte, watching the clouds form a blanket around the mountains?

Despite this being only my 2nd full day in the country, I am already deeply in love. Here are 4 reasons why! (And an amazing shot of the Interlaken valley)

1. The evident beauty
I always knew that this country was beautiful, but you don’t really understand the extent until you see it. It has incredible mountain vistas (both forested and eternally snowcapped), waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and anything else you could ever want in a place. I was set to go canyoning today, where you repel and jump through caves and fast rivers, but the rainfall made it too dangerous to go and the trip was cancelled. Nonetheless, the pictures from my hike yesterday still showcase some of the country’s awe-striking beauty.

2. It’s a glorious melting pot, yet still distinct
It really is. German, Italian, French, and English are the most common languages spoken, and I’ve met locals and travelers from all over Europe. It’s much like America in this sense, and perhaps this familiarity is what makes me fonder of the country. Yet despite this mixture of cultures, it is still a unique entity of its own with its own currency, flag, terrain, people, and, most importantly, cheese, which is cheap, abundant, and delicious. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT FROM A COUNTRY?

3. It’s expensive, but for all the right reasons
Yes, Switzerland is expensive. But think about it: in return for a bit of extra money, you get a country where all of its cities, towns, and mountain peaks are accessible by bus, train, cog train, and cable car. On my hike yesterday, I had a long talk with a woman who took the train from Bern to Interlaken to hike for the day. I wanted so desperately to have her life. That’s like us Illinois kids being able to take public transportation directly to a state park or beach for a day. I would easily pay a little extra to live in an area with such an outstanding infrastructure that gives its people easy access to natural beauty. In addition, the woman talked about how the extensive train network also motivates people to live in the countryside, thus preventing Swiss cities from becoming too populated, which helps prevent problems ranging from pollution to overall lessened well-being. The Swiss are absolute geniuses.

4. It’s the perfect mix of a destination for both typical and off-the-beaten-path travel
Interlaken is known as a touristy area, without a doubt. There are glitsy shops and others where you can buy swiss army knives and postcards, along with your organized canyoning trip or paragliding adventure. Up higher in the mountains, you can take cable cars up to snow-capped peaks. The highest and most famous, the Jungfraujoch, is a trip that only costs $250! On the contrary, you can also experience Interlaken and the surrounding peaks from an atypical journey. During the 4-hour hike I went on yesterday, I saw less than 10 people for the whole duration. And, it was FREE! I’ll also be going on 1 or 2 more hikes up near the peaks, and I’m hoping to have the same amazing experience. In addition, shopping at grocery stores and staying at hostels are far more common, but still great ways to get a truer experience of Switzerland. Avoiding the typical path here allows you to see more, get great exercise, and save a whole lot of money in this expensive country. Hiking is so incredibly underrated.

More pictures and experiences to come as I head to Lauterbrunnen later today, located in a different valley and closer to the greater peaks. Tomorrow I’m planning on hiking the Eiger Trail, one of the most famous trails in this region that takes you past incredible mountain faces at very high altitudes. It’s bound to be 10 times better than my hike yesterday, although I don’t know how that’s possible. Adios!