Socks in Flipflops

Hello all! Katie here :)

So.. socks in flipflops? Yes, that is the style out here abroad in the Alps, haha, for Marianne that is! Somedays we honestly look at each other and question why we decided to spend our "summer" in the Alps. The last few days it probably hasnt gone above ten degrees, okay, maybe fifteen.. no.. thats pushing it. It is FREEZING! Luckily, I brought my BOOTS (which Marianne and my Mom tried to convince me to leave at home) and my warm fuzzy slippers. We also probably drink about five gallons of hot chocolate today, so we may seem a little rounder when we first get home..

Agnes, the lady who manages Brunni (the lower hostel) with her husband, is practically the niceset woman ever. She is so kind, you can just see it in her face. She glows, like literally. Anyways, she really wants Marianne and I to have a keepsake from out trip, so today she gave us each 100 francs to go buy some sort of shirt or sweatshirt we like, and she is going to pay also to get the Brunni logo thing put onto them. Its so cute! I love her. And she tries so hard to help me understand, though she speaks very little english, but its good, because she gets me to understand her swiss! She is pretty much my swiss Mom :)

Sunday was a hard day, we were both super homesick, but I think we have gotten over the hill! Just now Marianne was looking out the window and was like "You know, sometimes I think we forget where we are.. " and its so true. But looking out into Engelberg right now and I see huge mountains, a cute little town with all the lights just starting to go on, and the evening settling in. It is honestly gorgeous.

Our plans for Paris have gotten a little screwed up, since we cant get a train (you have to book them in advance and they are all full for when we anted to go) and we already booked our hostel for those days... so we have a little replanning to do. But the man at the train station was outstandingly nice. Best customer service Ive probably ever had, we have been back there a few times already and he keeps telling us, "Dont worry, I havent found anything yet, but I will!! Come back at so and so time" He totally makes the whole thing not seem so bad, like if he was a jerk about it, Id be pissed we cant get a train. But hes just so nice!

Tomorrow we are going shopping in Luzern! Ronny decided, since it is his day off as well, that hes going to drive us. We werent really sure if we wanted him to come along.. but we feel bad telling him no, since we figure he is pretty lonely. Plus, he is our friend, we just kind of wanted to do our own thing. But this will be fun too.

Thats about all.. oh I burned my hand today grabbing a hot plate! It looks pretty sick. Check out facebook for some sweet pictures.. lol. Have a good one!! love you all!

Katie