The Traveling Book Worm: Day 9, Switzerland
I got to sleep in today, which was a nice change of pace. Believe it or not, 8:30 a.m. was late for me at this point. I wasn’t rushed to pack up and get ready before leaving for Geneva, where I would spend my last night in Switzerland. I had a nice leisurely breakfast at the hostel— more bread and jam with granola yogurt, orange juice, and coffee. The hostel had a large seating area that made it feel more like a cafe than a hostel, and I had a nice view of the mountains next to the window while I enjoyed my breakfast. Before checking out, I stepped outside to make sure the promised bus stop was indeed just outside. After confirmation, I grabbed my bags and waited for the bus that took me to the train station. I was grateful I didn’t have to walk again (a bus pass was included with my stay at the hostel). I had plenty of time before my train, so I gratefully found a bench to park myself and all my belongings where I was perfectly content reading ACOTAR (an acronym I learned later for the A Court of Thorns and Roses series). I had an hour on this train before transferring in Bern, which was quite confusing if you’ve never been to said station before. I found my platform just in time for my next train, where I spent the remaining two hours blogging and taking in the last views of the Alps.
For some reason, I waited until after I got off the 2-hour train ride to use the restroom. I had some time to kill before I could check into my hostel, so I suppose I figured it would waste more time, and time it wasted indeed. Not only did I tour the multi-level building with ghost stairs and escalators that skipped levels, but I was starting to get visibly frustrated trying to enter the restroom once I found it. Most likely, it was a “me” problem, but in my opinion, the signs were clearly telling me to get a bathroom pass at a machine in the lobby, a machine that simply did not exist, no matter how many times I checked. It felt like going back to the refrigerator over and over again, hoping food would appear. Finally, I decided it can’t be that difficult, and as I went to inspect the bathroom entrance one more time, I realized all I needed was my credit card to pay 1.50 euros.
I eventually made it out of the train station and started my 12-minute walk to the Geneva Hostel. I was a half hour early, so I waited in their spacious lobby filled with lounging couches and put my nose in my book again. As the book was putting me on the edge of my seat, I had no problem waiting for the huge line that formed at the check-in counter to dissipate. The couch was comfy, the light was good, and I was in no hurry.
Once I got my room key, I dropped off my bags and searched for a place to read some more. Based on the pictures online, there should have been a balcony and a library somewhere. I asked a housekeeper just outside my room, who didn’t speak any English, but when I showed her the picture of the balcony, she was able to communicate to me that it was only for private rooms (of course, it was). I showed her a picture of the library, and I was impressed with her hospitality when she dropped her mop to personally guide me to the room. After going down the elevator, across the lobby to another building, up a large spiral staircase, and through several halls, I understood why it was easier just to show me. I expressed my gratitude to her and entered a small and quiet library aside from a man who was conducting a conference call…shoot. Not wanting my guide’s effort to go to waste, I quietly shuffled my way in, ignoring the side-eye from the businessman, and found a seat in one of the chairs. It was pindrop quiet apart from the business being conducted in a language I didn’t understand. In an effort to blend in and hold my ground, I forced myself to finish a chapter before finding another spot. When I got uncomfortable enough, I found my way to the basement, where there was a kitchen, laundry room, and entertainment center — quite dingy and sterile, so not an ideal place to cozy up with a book, but I decided to take the opportunity to eat the second half of my sandwich from yesterday at one of the tables before giving up once more and heading back to the lobby couches, where there were floor-to-ceiling windows, and I didn’t feel like I was invading someone’s personal space.
After a while, I really just wanted to lie down, so I went back to my room, where I continued to read before forcing myself to put my book down and finish my second blog post. I also still need to finish setting up my site…
It was about 9 p.m. when I finished, and others started to trickle into the room, so I shut my computer and started getting ready for bed. I didn’t even bother to shower or unpack anything save my jammies, toothbrush, and face wash, since I would be leaving right away the next morning.
I was all set for bed, but there was only one toilet for the entire floor, which became ultra frustrating when trying to settle down to read a few more chapters of the book I can’t seem to put down today. If you can imagine the scene from Beauty and the Beast when Belle is walking through town with her nose in her book — that was me all day. Eventually, I was able to relieve myself and put my book down.
As uneventful as today was, I was glad I listened to my body by taking it easy, not feeling the need to explore or go out for food, especially given the metropolitan vibe Geneva gave off. Especially coming from Interlaken, I was not in the mood for that.
Tomorrow, I officially say goodbye to Switzerland and hello again to Spain. Switzerland was beautiful and adventurous and jam-packed, and I am so grateful to have experienced it, no matter the cost. But I am looking forward to slowing down again in Barcelona.
Travel tips I learned today:
Take advantage of free breakfast, especially coffee, even if it’s just bread and jam. You never know when your next meal will be, or how much it will cost.
Take advantage of any bus passes included in your stay. The less you have to rough out with all your luggage, the better.
If it’s too complicated, you’re probably doing it wrong. Sometimes you have to ignore the signs and put your faith in common sense.
Listen to your body — don’t be afraid to slow down and take it easy. You are running a marathon, not a race.
