Frohliche Weihnachten!!! (meaning Merry Christmas Y'ALL)

Christmas Eve produced a miraculously amazing discovery for myself, of which I am supremely happy . . . I don't even think having a fiance could compare! Haha, well, maybe not true, but definitely one of the happiest moments of my life! I realized after sitting through an entire conversation at my host family's house Christmas Eve that I understood . . . yes, people . . . I understood!!! *cries* Can you even imagine how positively amazing it can be to be able to hear a language other than your mother tongue and hear it and not even translate it into your mother tongue, but to hear those foreign words and to understand them!?! The bare naked words . . . no smothering and trying to fit it into an English equivilent that doesn't make any sense whatsoever, but just hearing and visualizing the beauty of a language without confining it in anyway!?! Little things like this truly bring joy in life . . . I still haven't started dreaming in German yet, but looking forward to that glorious night. ;-) May I also add that the conversation was sporatically spiced with Spanish, of which I understood a small bit, and while Spanish might not be my particularly favourite language, I am seriously considering learning again. *sigh* I am so content at this moment. I can hear and read high German to a small extent, but speaking . . now that is a horse of a different colour. :-)

Christmas Eve was spent at the traditional english church in Zurich where all the candles in the advent wreath were lit, listened to a lovely sermon, and sang various Christmas carols, with the gorgeous organ being played in the background. One of the carols was sung in latin which was so beautiful as it filled the stone church I was mesmerized! We also sang "Silent Night" in German and I was invited to join the Choir!!!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!

Alles schlaft, einsam wacht

Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar.

Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,

Schlaf' in himmlisher Ruh'.

Schlaf' in himmlisher Ruh'!

After service I made my way to my host family's house where the Christmas tree was lit with real candles and we opened all our presents and shared dessert and espressos. The grandmama gave me a yummy box of chocolates and the family gave me a cute purse with kangaroos and also waiting for me was a small package from my Grandparents in Florida! My other presents included a gorgeous scarf and bracelet with earrings as well as family photos from my Grandma and a few little gifts from friends!

Christmas in Zurich is really an interesting experience! About a month in advance the huge main train station (Haubt Bahnhof) has a gigantic tree covered in Swarovski crystals and hundreds of Christmas booths placed throughout selling various traditional and modern and hmm . . . even naughty items for sale. "Wise men" walk throughout the booths on weekend evenings handing out Ferrier Rocher chocolates to pretty little girls. ;-) Gluhwein is there for the brave in savory consumption. One almost doesn't even mind being squeezed inbetween hundreds of people who stand in the middle of walkways never moving! ;-) Lol . . . However, having said that and *gasp* I never thought I would miss the annoying commercialism from back home, but t'is true . . . I do . . . It has however prevented me from becoming homesick so that is great, but as corny as it sounds it is hard to get into the "feel" of Chirstmas in the air without the goofy lights and Bing Crosby and the Andrew sisters playing on every station and in every building wherever one goes. I do however LOVE Christmas in Europe for all it's traditional old-world spirit! Oh, and Gluhwein, by the way, is thoroughly disgusting . . . It is basically red wine that has been heated in a copper pot with mulled spices and oranges, which would sound great, but instead tasted like cheap red wine that has been sitting in a copper pot for too long. *gag* However, the "Witch's brew" Matt, Lindsay, and Amanda and I had near the "Singing Christmas tree" without alcohal was amazing. ;-)

Christmas trees are bought and set up two days before Christmas I believe, adorned with real lights placed in these special holders securly fastened to the branches, and set aglow Christmas eve while presents are unwrapped. :-) "Samiclaus" actually visits Swiss Children here (via appointment) and gives children sussigkeit (sweets) and nuts and manderines, although I believe this takes place around the 6th of December. If he is too busy to visit, children set their shoes out by the door with a carrot for his donkey and in the morning find little toys and treats. Lol, I've heard that in Finland Father Christmas doesn't even visit because he has too many children around the world to see, so the children dress up as elves and do his work for him, going from house to house delivering gifts. Sounds pretty cool too me! ;-)

Overall . . . I thought my first Christmas away from home would be really difficult. I have enjoyed it immensely! Who can say they've spent a Christmas devoid of family in Europe!?! Lol! ;-) It has truly been a lovely one and great fun!

Milano!?! YAY!!!!!!!!

Once walking out of the Bahnhof in Milan turn left and there is one fantastic restaurant across the street with yummy pizza!

Italy just isn't as clean as Switzerland! ;-)

Trying to escape the park that we took a little stroll in, never realizing that every single gate was locked until too late . . .

After seeing historical momuments "up close" we went to the local library to use the bathroom for free and nurse our wounds . . .

The things we did and saw in that park . . . memories for a lifetime! ;-)

PDA's in Europe . . . hmm . . . get just a bit too naughty . . .

Beautiful Italian woman singing an old traditional isirh melody called, "down by the Salley Gardens".

It was down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet.

She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,

But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree.

In a field down by the river, my love and I did stand

And on my leaning shoulder, she laid her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy , as the grass grows on the weirs

But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

A wedding occured in the Castle in Milan!

At the Duomo. Unfortunetely we didn't have time to go in, but we enjoyed being attacked by disgusting pigeons . . .

Lol, we were tuckered out! ;-)

Miriam and Danielle

ROFL! Oh, the fun times we had on this trip!

I think I almost like traveling by train better than flying as there are no security checks and the views are amazing!

We are amused by life's little pleasures!! :-D

Me and Miriam

Lol . . .

Haha, i love this photo!

Lunch while walking to the Castle! Nothing like fresh bread and a few slices of meat! ;-)

Miriam, Danielle, and me!! This was just before we were harassed by African men selling "Bling, Bling" . . . grr . . .

Woodland faery! ;-)

Haha . . .

Us gorgeous gals!

Nursing our wounds inside the library . . . lol, the stories, the stories . . .

We LOVE the camera! ;-)

Jurgen's Housewarming party and trip to The Grossmunster!

Lindsay and I decided one afternoon to tour the Grossmunter! It was so fascinating! However, we weren't able to stay long as Lindsay's flash continued to go off whenever she took a picture and so, lol, we were kicked out!!! I am hoping to go back when it gets warmer on a lovely day to go up the tower and get a lovely view of the city, as well as visit the Fraumunster and Peterkirche! The Grossmunster meaning "large minister" is a 12 century church.

Here is some of the history of the Grossmunster from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/switzerland/zurich-grossmunster.htm

"According to legend, the Grossmünster was founded by Charlemagne after his horse bowed down on the spot marking the graves of three early Christian martyrs."

"In the 3rd century, Felix and Regula were members of an all-Christian Roman legion that was to be executed en masse in southwest Switzerland. They fled with their servant Exuperantius and got as far as Zürich before being tried and executed in 286 AD."

"According to tradition, the governor plunged the three saints into boiling oil and forced them to drink molten lead. The trio still refused to renounce their faith and so were finally beheaded. The nearby Wasserkirche stands on the site of their execution."

"Impressively, the martyrs still had enough energy to pick up their heads and climb to the top of a hill, where they dug their own graves and buried themselves. (This impressive feat is more common than you might think -

St. Denis in Paris and St. Miniatus in Florence also carried their heads to a hilltop resting place.)"

"It was on this site that construction of the Grossmünster began in 1090, and most of it was completed by 1230. It was dedicated to the martyrs Felix, Regula, and Exuperantius, the patron saints of Zürich. From the 13th century, images of the saints carrying their heads were used in official seals of the city and on coins (they still appear on the seal of Zürich)."

"On the saints' feast day (September 11), their relics were carried in procession between the Grossmünster and the

Fraumünster, and the two churches vied for possession of the relics. The remains of the martyrs made Zürich the most important pilgrimage site in the area. The relics are now divided between a church in Andermatt and the new Church of St. Felix and Regula in Zürich."

"As usual, modifications to the original church building continued over the following centuries. The north tower (which holds the bells) was taller than its south counterpart until the 15th century, when the south tower was heightened to match. A statue of a seated Charlemagne was added to the newly completed south tower (the original can be seen in the crypt)."

"The cathedral reached perhaps even greater prominence through a man who had no use for saints or relics - Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531), a contemporary of Luther and one of the great leaders of the Reformation. "

"Preaching for 12 years from Grossmünster's pulpit, Zwingli called for religious freedom, encouraged priests to get married (as he had done), attacked idolatry and denounced the Mass. In 1524, he ordered all altar paintings and church treasures removed from the church."
"Under Zwingli, the small town of Zürich became a major religious center that attracted students and theologians from near and far. By 1529, the Swiss cities of

Bern, Basel and St. Gallen had all adopted the Reformation."

"In 1531, Zwingli was killed during a war between Catholics and Protestants at Kappel. Unlike the founding figures of the cathedral, he left no relics: his body was quartered and then burnt with dung. The site of Zwingli's death is marked with the inscription: "They may kill the body but not the soul." The leadership of the Reformation in Switzerland soon passed to John Calvin in Geneva."

Outside the Grossmunster!

The original statue of Charlemagne!!!

That evening was Jurgen's House Warming party!!

Oliver, me, Nikki, and Jurgen

Andrew, me, and Jess

Karaoke!

Nicole, Raphael, Amanda, Rachel, Mike, and me