I took one last walk in Wengen today.
It was so different. Yesterday's walk was full of despair and stress. A decision to end my trip strangled my soul.
Today, with everything taken care of, the plane ticket booked, I was at peace. I walked and listened to peaceful tunes. Went to my favorite spots.
I sat on the hill next to the train station overlooking the valley.
Finally I could have my 'last night in Europe' and reflect from which I have come.
Waterfalls in the distance. I never saw then before.
A young girl waving a Swiss flag.
I strolled through the street happier than I've been in a while. Even in Europe. I am ready to come home.
I am ready to show my pictures.
I look forward to normalcy. To not worrying about booking a hostel or researching locales or locking up my belongings.
To videogames!
To my friends and family.
I walk past the tightrope and remember my promise to try it.
I look around, feeling rather silly. It's two feet high, meant for kids. But it looks mad fun.
It's six o'clock. Not many people around. I approach it and pretend to watch the nearby tennis match. A ball hits the net and bounces. There are eleven balls on the ground. Lazy ballboy syndrome?
"You must be so self-confident after this trip," my dad's words echo in my mind. Haha. Right.
I toss my foolish-looking fears aside (actually I don't, I just do it anyway) and step onto the tightrope.
A woman passes. Couples walking on the street. I don't look at them, I look at my wobbling foot. This thing is two or three inches wide, but my balance is non-existant. It's Amsterdam biking all over again.
The trial never ends? Haha.
I must look like an idiot but I stand there with one foot on the rope. I gotta try it once, I say.
So after ten seconds of dorkiness I put my other foot on it, but I'm giving way. I slant my left foot then my right one but no good. I'm losing balance. To prevent the fall I step off.
Maybe I should grow a tail?
A tennis ball hits the net.
I try again. One foot. Then two. I wiggle and bend and I'm losing my balance and I step off.
This is fun. Even if I look dorky..
My third try I run across. 'Sprint to beat gravity!' it actually works for three steps then gravity wins.
Haha. I'm done. That was fun.
I walk.
I treat myself to a nice restaurant. Eiger is it's name, with a nice view of the mountains.
I order 'Corn-fed chicken and Mediterranean vegetables and potatoes.'
I eat there outside. Train arrives. People get off. Tourists, families, friends, people with bikes.
A woman looks lost and just gazes down a street, wondering which direction her hotel is in.
That was me when I first arrived, I think.
Then they disperse. No one left. A quiet spectacular view of the mountains. And my meal.
"This is the best meal I've had in Wengen," I tell the waitress.
"I'm glad you like it, I will let the chef know," she says.
"I think I must have the chocolate cake," says I.
She smiles. "Coming right up!"
She delivers. I conquer it.
Before and after. You know the drill.
"Delicious. You know, for all intents and purposes, this is my last night in Europe." (tomorrow in Frankfurt is just a filler).
"Oh? Where have you been?"
I tell her.
"That's a nice tour of Europe. You know I lived in New York for seven years."
"Oh?" I say. "Very different from Wengen."
She laughs, "Yes. Great for when you're young. I lived here in Wengen for five years."
"And working in front of a great view, not bad." I claim.
"I never tire of it," she responds.
I sign the bill.
"Thank you. I decided I needed a delicious way to end my trip, and you delivered!"
She smiles,"I'm glad we could be a good last memory."
"And a perfect view," I add.
"If it was a clear night it would be perfect." she says, motioning to the clouds. "have you seen the pink peak while here?"
"No." I exclaim. "Pink?"
"That smooth peak, when there are no clouds and the sun is setting, turns a magnificent pink. There are postcards you look at and say, 'That must be altered, no way it's that color,' but it is." she explains.
"I'll have to cone back here," I joke. (Or am I joking?)
She laughs. We say goodbye and I gaze at the view one last time.
The sun is setting. Golden light shines on Wengen, beautifying the town.
My newfound cheerfulness for the first time turns a bit gloomy as I walk down the stairs to my hotel. Maybe it's the song on my iPod..
The curved steps wind past pretty houses and for the first time I realize how much I'll miss Europe.
I stand there and take a few photos with my iPod. I imagine being home in a few days, normal life. Wishing for a challenge. Wanting the excitement of booking a new hostel. Of seeing castles. Of meeting new people with nice accents. Of missing them. (missing the feeling of missing people, whoa slow down Paul this is getting too deep even for me, haha).
I walked past my hotel and saw the mountains, the clouds flowing over and through them.
"Goodbye Wengen." I say.
"Goodbye Switzerland." I say.
"Goodbye Europe." I say.
I walk back past children playing.
In the evening I head to the lounge where I am writing this now. Catching up to the present, are we?
Martin the hotel owner gave me three nights free in exchange for hotel photos. My first photo job? Maybe there's a beginning of something here.
Just a few minutes ago, Sophia comes in and says goodnight in an Italian accent.
I hug her. "Enjoy Ireland," I say. "See the castles I didn't, and send me photos," she laughs. She's going to the Emerald Isle with her friends in August for one month. Like me.
The cycle continues.
For some reason that makes me happy.
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