The hills are alive with the sound of cars

Genoa was a nice place to decompress, not much there but I made a friend from germany, Antja, who went with me on a quest for tiramisu. It isnt as common as one would think in Italy. I saw a stall in the bathroom with a showerhead, but it also had a hole in the ground and reminded me of pictures mom had brought back of toilets in Turkey. So I decided not to hop right in and asked. Thank goodness. It WAS a toilet, NOT a shower. If I had decided to be wildly open-minded, as is my nature, I would have been in for an incredibly unrefeshing experience.

The next day I headed to Interlaken, which is apparently the extreme sports center of the world. Canyoning, sky diving, paragliding, hangliding. I would have loved to participate, but Visa decided that someone had stolen my card and went to Europe. They were only two months late in catching it. I had fondue with a group of guys from Michigan, it seems like everyone in Interlaken was visiting from Michigan. The hostel was called the Lazy Faulken Backpackers hostel and was also hosts for couchsurfers and a hotel and a bar. Loved it.

I went to an Indian food market and couldnt find any meat, the sales clerk discerned the origin of my not complete satisfaction and went down the street and underground to bring me a huge hunk of frozen "lamb flesh." Even though it was huge, I bought it because of all his trouble and have had some delicious sandwiches and I attract new friends when I am cooking.

The scenic train through Switzerland was panaramic and I sat next to a couple from South Africa and an older man from Switzerland who spoke every language fluently, except English. So we chatted in Espanol.

Then on the train from Zurich to Munich, I saw a guy with a backpack and since it was a long train ride (5.5 hours) I decided to be obnoxious and speak to him. Turns out he lives in Munich and studies in Luzurn and just happens to prefer travelling with a backpack, even when he isnt "backpacking." We talked for 5 hours straight.

Robert is ill with pnuemonia, so he cant show me around Munich as I had hoped and the guys I know in Salzburg are no where to be found, so I will strike out on my own.

I cant believe it is boiling in Italy and rather chilly here (Salzburg more tha Munich). Though I am walking around in sandals and shorts and am obviously not a local. I still think I will give skinny-dipping in the river a try in Munich, but I will be chilly the next couple hours walking around the hills of Salzburg.