Written by guest blogger Lila Noble
My first trip out of the lovely country of France was about a six hour train ride to two beautiful towns in Switzerland. It was a bright and early wake up call, with my train leaving at 7 am. The first city was Bern and this is one of my first times in a European city. Right after getting off the train station, I saw a glass archway welcoming me with the beautiful architecture of Switzerland. There is such a striking and timeless beauty that the entire city feels like a living museum, with its historic structures, clock towers, and intricate fountains that are almost like pieces of art.
One of my most favorite parts of Bern was the gorgeous blue waters of the Aare River. The water was almost teal — it was some of the prettiest bodies of water I have ever seen. Even when arriving on the train, I could see the winding turquoise blue water cutting through the city passing by cafes and small boutiques. I walked past narrow alleyways, each with its own unique character. I eventually made it to the central square called Bundesplatz, and from the start I heard music blasting from the square. I happened to stumble upon a men’s sand volleyball tournament. This was coming right off of the Paris olympics, and it was so cool to be able to watch some of the world’s best athletes compete in a friendly competition. I also got to see the Bern Cathedral, and I know some people say that if you’ve seen one cathedral you’ve seen them all, but this being one of the first cathedrals I’ve visited, I don’t think seeing these amazing feats of architecture will ever get old. Another highlight of Bern was being able to jump into the fast moving waters of Aare River. It being a hot day, it was amazing to cool off. The river runs about 8 MPH and floating down this river was a highlight of my trip. After this swim, I dried off and got ready to go to dinner. This was an amazing traditional swiss dinner of Rösti. It is traditionally made with potatoes. I was able to enjoy mine with mushrooms and a cream sauce. It was delicious, and I would definitely try it again.
After the day in Bern, I hopped on a quick train to Interlaken. This town is nestled between two crystal-clear lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The town is surrounded by towering, snow-capped mountains, making it feel like I’ve stepped into a postcard. Although it was dark when I arrived, I could feel the clean air and see the streets that are lined with charming wooden chalets, the traditional Swiss architecture blends perfectly with the natural beauty that surrounds them. I finally made it to the hostel called Balmers. It was a perfect place to stay and even had a trivia night when I arrived. I told my team knowingly that the national animal of Scotland was a unicorn, but they didn’t believe me, but it was all in good fun. It was at this point that I knew that I had made some true friends from GTE. I couldn’t wait to go on more adventures with them.
After a long travel day, we crashed in our rooms, but woke up at around 8 am to go on a hike. I love hiking, as working for Elon outdoors, and I could not wait to get started. I knew it was going to be a tough one with 2,500 feet of elevation gain in less than 2 miles, but I persisted and the view at the top was so worth it. The hike took almost all day. Afterwards, I immediately took a bus to the crystal clear Lake Thun, and boy was it cold, but it really did feel super refreshing after that long hike. After a super long day, we finished with dinner at a local restaurant. I feel like in Europe I haven’t had a bad meal.
The last day in Switzerland was also incredible. I got to have an amazing American style breakfast of avocado toast. There was also a festival with a farmers market happening in town. I loved seeing all of the fresh produce. After exploring that I got to do one of my favorite activities of tandem paragliding. I could truly see everything as we glided down the mountains and over the stunning lakes. The natural beauty of Switzerland is truly amazing. The last thing I did was enjoy some chocolate covered strawberries before heading back on the train to Metz. It was an unforgettable weekend and I can’t wait to travel again soon. Thanks for reading and I hope to inspire all of you to live your best lives. That’s all from me, have a great day.
Warmth. As the sun began to filter through the trees, the first signs of Spring emerged as tiny flower buds nestled within the greening grass and started peeking out from the crackly tree branches. In Metz and across Europe, a myriad of colors began to paint the cold, bleak canvas left by winter. 
This glorious stretch of cherry blossom was just a random find when we visited Bonn, Germany. 
At first, our journey was smooth, we were able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunrise as it shimmered across the lake and reflected off the snow-covered mountains across from us. Preparation wise: we really loaded up on food. With 3L of water for each of us, a dozen or so ham sandwiches, 12 granola bars, a pack of Biscoff, 2 fruit squeezies, and a pack of Dutch Nutella cookies, we were set. However, in terms of gear, only one of us had hiking sticks and the rest of us managed to get around using regular school backpacks, tennis shoes, and our overall balance. That was where we made a grave mistake. 
The trails became narrower and the ridge even steeper, with two sharp drops on both sides. We were ill-prepared to take on the trail any longer. When we were almost about the clear the trees, several experienced hikers had turned back, warning us that the ridgeline would be too snowy to continue, but we were determined to check out the scene for ourselves. Long story short- we turned back. The sharp drop was covered in packed, melting snow, the most dangerous combination. With our lack of equipment and expertise, we had to give up the hike. It was just too early in the year to reach Augstmatthorn. 
Slowly inching our way down, we were able to scoot slowly over the grass, with one of two terrifying moments when we would lose control over patches of slippery grass, grabbing desperately onto the weeds for some stability. In the end, after 40 miserable minutes of sliding, slipping, and sprawling on the ground to slow our descent, we made it to a flatter ledge on the side. Just getting to the ledge was difficult enough, spreading into a sea star and grabbing the small tree saplings to pull us over to safety. Finally, we had made it. Miraculously, just several meters away was flat ground that looked relatively clear of snow and mud. The trail. Somehow, we had made it to the same trail just further down the mountain, saving us a hundred meters or so of downhill hiking. From there, we hustled down the mountain, almost running as we heard strange animal sounds and breaking branches coming from deep within the forest. After another hour, we collapsed onto the pavement, relieved, exhausted, and elated to be one step closer to home… sike.
As the sun rose high in the sky, I was delighted to feel the warm rays bathed across my face and the fresh breeze. It was a definite change up from the weather in Metz, where it was perpetually grey and gloomy seven days a week. The city itself was beautiful. The town was lined with colorful houses of pastel orange, yellow, and red. The small little alleyways of the quaint Italian town seemed to emerge from stone, stacked upon each other creating small winding trails on the cliffs above the water, which shimmered a beautiful crystal-turquoise color as small private boats settled on the surface, rocking peacefully back and forth. Although the trees were still on their early spring phase, the leaf-less branches created intricate shapes and patterns that weaved higher in the sky, a natural masterpiece. 
Finally, in Bellagio, we hopped off the ferry right on time to catch the glorious sunset, a ball of bright red that dipped below the horizon. As the sun disappeared, the cold started to set in, coupled with the strong winds that ripped our hair back and forth. As we took a look at the time, we would be right on time to catch the last bus back to the train station in Varenna, which would bring us back to the hotel. We stood in the dark corner of the bus station, waiting as the time ticked past its scheduled arrival. As the moon continued to rise higher into the sky, the bus finally showed up, only to be packed to the BRIM with passengers huddled like sardines on board. There was no room to spare. The driver, however, didn’t even stop; instead, we took one look at our shivering selves at the bus station, shrugged, and sped away. Our hearts sank. There was no way back. We stood there in silence for a minute pondering on what to do, but not too far from the dock, we saw a ferry pulling up to the station. It seemed to be running on schedule despite the strike. At once, we bolted on board only to find twenty other people trying to get to the same train station to catch the next train that would supposedly leave 5 minutes after the ferry arrives. 
Bulgaria was a place with very rich history and deep national pride. Their cultural norms were rooted for centuries, passed down from family and family. And one of the first influences I noticed was the presence of Eastern Orthodox churches and mosques. Located in the heart of Sofia is St. Alexander’s Basilica. Its brutal architecture featured green and golden domes with large, arche
Inside, the atmosphere was even more unique. As we slowly entered, many Bulgarians would bow at the entrance and before the cross while performing the traditional Catholic crossbody hand gestures. The Basilica itself was very dimly lit with giant chandeliers that hung lowly from the ceiling. Paintings along the walls had darker undertones, featuring a more gothic approach than the fresh rococo style seen in Spain or Italy. There was a priest standing at the front of the sanctuary reading script in worship. His low, melodic yet monotone voice sent shivers down my spine. It was unlike anything I’ve seen or heard before.
This is the biggest market in Metz and its definitely one you can’t miss. Basically a Walmart and Target combined into a Costco sized warehouse, Cora is the place to find anything you ever need. There are huge selections of housewares, clothing, pastries, meats, and drinks of all sorts. While prices are not much cheaper than those back in Atlanta, it depends on the meats, fruits, and veggies you end up buying. Tropical fruits, such as strawberries, grapes, and mangos are very expensive, almost 1.5 the price than we usually see at home. Meat cuts include parts from all parts of cows, pigs, and chicken, but the one thing you want to keep in mind when selecting cheaper meat is the date of consumption. Many times, the meats must be eaten within the next 1-3 days, so if you’re traveling on the weekend, it’s best to buy the groceries after you return. Overall, Cora scores a 10/10 on the scale. It has almost everything I ever needed and while it’s a 30-minute walk from Lafayette, with the metro pass, you can get there in a matter of minutes. 
Auchan is a smaller chain supermarket that is closer to Lafayette than Cora. It sells mostly the same things and brands, but overall, Auchan has higher quality pastries and good budget food items. While the veggies selection is not as diverse, it specializes in lot of bio or organic produce that are slightly cheaper than the ones at Cora. From my experience, it is best to go to Auchan earlier in the day when things have been stocked up and when the bakeries just restock on their fresh breads. It scores brownie points for its convenient location and accessibility to Lafayette. Finally, most French groceries stores are highly plastic conscious, so you’ll have to bring your own bags! 
For new French pastry connoisseurs, Paul’s is the perfect place to start exploring. Located just 5 minutes away from GTL, Paul’s has a huge collection of coffees, breads, tarts, and ready-made food just for your convenience. For my first time at Paul’s, I tried their pain au chocolat, a classic French delicacy with chocolate folded into crispy, buttery goodness. Their tarts are amazing with fresh berries and a glaze that isn’t too sweet but also not too sour. Their freshly made baguettes in the morning are perfect for cheese and jam. Overall, the prices are comparable to those in Cora, so you might as well try out what they have and expand your horizons. There are also many tables set up inside for you to get your work done, in an ambient, cozy environment with your favorite pastries. While taste is good, the waiter experience was slightly awkward when we first visited there. If you do not know French, you might want to touch up on some of your basic French phrases before heading over. 
Funny enough, Mamma Mia