How many Americans can say they spent their 21st in Europe? Not many, that’s why my birthday was what I like to call epic. However, it was the pairing of location and the people I was with that made this day so unforgettable! Or forgettable . . .

The day started out with traveling to “The Top of Europe”, the highest point humans can get by train in Europe at 4,100 meters above sea level. I was so jazzed I was doing this on my birthday, at one point I broke out into dance.

Note the raccoon tail and bear hat. . .

We were warned that this was the watering hole for Asian tourists. I thought, how bad could it be? I am so naive.

We climbed by train for a half hour in open air and another 20 minutes inside the mountain. It was very chilly inside the mountain as it was a white cap with a glacier on top. So neat!

Once we got to the top, we then had to walk through a miles worth of tunnels and go up a few stories via an elevator. We walked out to see this silver and glass like structure we were in that looked like it was from an X-men movie. Pretty neat.

From there we were able to walk outside and see mountain ranges as far as the eye can see and glaciers covering and carving the massive mountains below us. I never realized the raw power water has until I saw this. Made me remember how small we all are in this big world!

After the nice views, it was time to shop and eat. This is where the Asian tourists came out to play. My goodness, they multiplied by the minute and don’t understand the concept of lines. One little Koren lady shoved me to get postage stamps. Postage stamps?! Really?!  Do you really need to send a postcard that bad? I did what any other person would do if it was their birthday, stood in shock, looked down at her (she was small in stature), and shoved right back.


I then made the rest of the day a humorous joke to mock their tourist ways. Here are a few examples. Laura and I were on a short fuse with them. Look at their outfits!

After a few hours up in the sky, we started the 2 hour trip down. They have to pause at certain altitudes to allow your body to adjust to the pressure and oxygen change. Elizabeth, of course, slept the whole way down and didn’t walk around for proper adjustments. Wrong move. I had a splitting headache and felt like I had been sniffing Asian food for 2 years straight. I moved on; It was my birthday.

We then proceeded to another tourist like location for shopping and dinner, my first birthday surprise. We ate at a Swiss fondue restaurant with a rather boisterous waiter. At on point he was dancing with me and embarrassing me to no end.  Stephan, one of our tour guides, loved how embarrassed I got . . . as did the whole restaurant.

Once we left to our home, Stephan was kicking it into high gear with the stick shift car blasting Euro techno music in the Alps. So much fun! I love their music! Stephan told me I had a surprise for my birthday. I was worried.

Everyone got ready and dressed up to head to the local bar in town. Instead of pulling into a bar, we pulled into the middle school. What kind of a surprise is this? I don’t feel morally right drinking in a place of education! We walked to the top floor and were greeted by 20 or so local farmers that looked like they had finished chores early just to be there. They formed a half moon and began yodeling.

There has been a couple times in my life that I have gotten chills from something so amazing or moving. This was one of those events. I was so happy at that very moment, I almost cried. I am such a sap.

The sound was amazing with several talented singers. Mind you, these were just regular farmers that learned from generation to generation. They sang five songs to us including happy birthday to me with each song being gorgeous. I shook their hands and invited them to the bar afterwards. Smart move.

Everyone arrive to the bar wanting the usual beer or mixed drink. However in the middle of the mountains in Switzerland, nothing is “the usual.” Everything is much, much, MUCH, stronger. Don’t worry I was prime! The farmers sang again in the bar, and in return we all sang Lady Gaga or God Bless America. Boy are we special!

The night ended with going back home and enjoying a tradition Swiss drink, Café Luntz.. It included plum schnapps, coffee, sugar, and water. Smells bad, tastes great! We all enjoyed it thoroughly along with a FULL BOX of chocolates.

Thanks to everyone! We had a great time and I will never forget this day. I have some pretty neet videos of the evening as well. If you would like to see, just ask!

To all my friends back in the states. . . I still plan on celebrating again in Merica!

That shot did not taste good. Plum Schnapps. Pshh! More like tequila and rubbing alcohol!

Strongest and best whiskey coke ever. Megan Herberg and Laykn Lind would be very proud of me.

Feeling it :)