Random Thoughts After a Trip to Europe

I originally wanted to say it was a perfect trip to Switzerland and Austria—no theft, no robbery, happily and harmoniously completing the journey with my friends. Unexpectedly, the return flight was canceled at the boarding gate. But this trip was still worth it. Standing atop Lindenhof Hill overlooking the entire old town of Zurich, cruising on the Lucerne boat with the breeze blowing away the workday fatigue on the deck. And enjoying the beautiful scenery paired with the stinky cheese fondue. My favorite was still the guesthouse at the foot of Jungfrau, with vast meadows outside the window. In the morning, I could watch the golden sunrise over the mountains from the balcony and take deep breaths of the crisp, clean air—a feeling I hadn’t had in a long time. The 5 o’clock sound of cowbells and mooing fully revived memories from 13 years ago. The snowy scenery of Jungfrau matched my heartbeat of 141, and the flying chairlift on First Mountain was accompanied by my screams at 120 bpm. The cross-border train transfer halfway through the trip was my most anxious day; I felt responsible for safely getting everyone to the next stop. I checked the details countless times on DS beforehand, but the actual operation was surprisingly smooth. In the end, my best friend teased me, saying I wasn’t as carefree as I looked. Although the lake district in Bad Ischl was disrupted by rain, I comforted myself that all the good weather luck was saved for the day at Jungfrau. At Vienna station, even just city walking in the old town, I felt immersed in art and music. The sunset shining on the golden, green, and white rooftops was the most sophisticated filter. Beyond the beautiful scenery, there was also delicious food all along the way—century-old shops from chocolate stores to coffee shops to dessert shops, plus ribs and pork knuckles, and the daily must-have little local liquor. The lemon beer was really delicious! Thanks to the forced delay, on the second night I got to watch a light show in a church. The variations of the four seasons paired with changing lights were truly soul-cleansing. I also accidentally stumbled upon Audrey Hepburn’s engagement church. And in the heart of Europe, I unexpectedly attended a mass in a church. The 13+3 day trip ended with our four-person team working in perfect harmony: the navigation team skillful enough to rival locals, the outreach and social team unexpectedly having to negotiate with the airline in the last three days, the finance team managing expenses and ensuring food and drink, and the logistics team providing emotional support. Thanks to my friends for completing such an immersive experience together. Although travel is the art of regrets, there were so many moments full of love during the trip. Every frame on the Golden Pass train was wallpaper-worthy. On the cross-border train, I didn’t dare to sleep, accompanied by my favorite music and the scenery outside the window. At the guesthouse, the four of us cooked and played cards lively. These bits and pieces probably sum up what travel means to me. Even though the flight was canceled, my teammate far away in Shanghai comforted me: just eat well, drink well, and rest well; everything else can be solved. During this trip, I retired some old skills and awakened new ones, and after cooking in Japanese and Korean guesthouses, I added cooking in a Swiss guesthouse to my record as a seasoned home cook. Flight cancellation and delay experience points +1. But no matter what, I still want to plan the next trip while I still have the courage and the memories. That’s all, random travel thoughts. 2025.10.13, 20:55 (not sure which time zone)