Forewarning: the Y button and Z button on the keyboard are switched here, so read them as opposite, as I dont have enough time to switch most of them.

Today we are in Lucerne Switzerland, and what a beautiful daz it has been. We started off taking a gondola ride to the top of Mount Pilatus, which is supposedly where Pontius Pilates soul lies. But it was a beautiful mountain, with great views of the Swiss Alps. Its so wierd to saz that I am currently in the Swiss Alps, Unbelievable. The top of the mountain is only 7000 ft though, so quite small compared to Colorado. We took the Worlds Steepest Cog Railway 48% grade, down to the bottom, and hopped on an hour long cruise across the 5th largest lake in Switzerland, beautiful. Now, we have some free time to shop (spent too much money in the last two days, but I was prepared for it.), use the internet, and head back to the hotel at our leisure before dinner at 630.

After leaving Croatia, we headed to Vienna for two nights,where we stayed in a beautiful hotel. We spent the first evening eating at a steakhouse and then at a pool hall, which was a nice relaxing evening. In Vienna, we wandered around town, visited the Palace, the Sissi Museum, and the Imperial Apartments. We saw the Church of St Stephens.One of our Optional Excursions was to visit the Schnaps Museum, which of course I had to attend. The owner, an older portly gentleman, whose family has run the company for generations was absolutely hysterical. We had a chance to sample all of his products, but its in everzones interest if we all limit ourselves. Absinthe is not too tasty, quite bitter, unless its poured the correct way, which I will probably try in Amsterdam.  That night we went to a Mozart Concert, followed bz a traditional dinner with Shnitzel.

From Vienna, we made a stop at Mauthausen Concentration Camp, which was very moving. I felt sick to my stomach the entire time, just thinking of what happened there not long ago. There are dozens of memorials set up around the camp, and the barracks in which they lived are still intact. Our tour manager set up the visit and the documentary since a few of the group asked if it would be possible to see one while we were here.

Sorry i didnt get a chance to write much in Munich, but i was throroughly excited to get to Hofbrauhaus. We didnt arrive into the town of Munich until late, and we started off with dinner around 700 pm. I had bratwurst, which was delicious, but not like the food at home. Here we were served four small pieces instead of the larger size that we typicallz get back in the States. I bought a few souveniers there but mostly drank and had the worlds best apple streudel (not neccessarily true, but everyonethat had it thought so at our table). Most of us enjoyed a few steins of beer, and stayed until closing at 1230, and in time to catch the last train home. Yesterday was by far a rough day, but when in Rome ...

Yesterdaz was mostly a driving day, we did stop in the tiny country of Liechtenstein, and then headed to a watch and knife store (where I bought a beautiful?yet simple Swiss Watch)?in Lucerne before wandering around the town. I head to bed quite early to catch up on lost sleep. The sheets on the bed smelled exactly like my house in Kansas City, which was a bit odd, yet comforting since I wasnt feeling so good.

Tomorrow, we head to the Rhine Valley region of Germany, to the town of St Goar, where we will be visiting a shop that makes traditional Beer Steins. I would love to buy everyone one, yet Im sure I already exceed my weight limit, and Im not sure how Im going to fit everything in my bag at this rate anyway.

At this point in time, its hard to say where I like best. I loved Venice, Croatia was absolutely beautiful (no place like it), and Switzerland is beautiful with the snow-capped mountains from every view. I could definitely see myself living here in Switzerland. After tonight, like I said we head to St?Goar for one night, and then we have two more nights in Amsterdam, and thats it, back to the States.

Its unreal to imagine that I have seen the majority of the sights ive wanted to see in mz lifetime in the last 5 weeks, and Im sad to think its almost over. I have met some amazing people, that will have a lasting impact on the rest of mz life. I have learned more about Australians in the past 5 weeks than I learned in the 5 months I lived there.

I will probably get one more chance to write before the trip ends, but if I dont, I will see you all soon. To those in KC, I get back May 18th, and I will probably sleep for a few days but I would love to see you before I head back to Denver around the 1st week in June.