Now more than ever do I realize that I shall never be content with a sedentary life, that I shall always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.
Experiences in Switzerland
Joy has been to Basel
On Switzerland
Switzerland was Joy's first stop on her first solo vacation of her life when she was 16 studying abroad in Germany. She managed to get herself and one dreadfully over packed duffel bag on a train from Hamburg, Germany to Geneva, Switzerland. The ride south to Geneva was smooth and picturesque, and Joy remembers the thrill of it all with a smile.
Joy arrived in Geneva the way she prefers to arrive in most places, having absolutely no idea where she would rest her head that night. Equipped with her 1994 edition of Let's Go Europe, Joy opted for Home St-Pierre, a converted medieval monastery in the old city. This would be her home for the first few days of her multi-city trip, which would continue on to include Barcelona, Spain and Poitiers, France.
However, the fact that Joy could barely lift her bag off the train, let alone carry it comfortably while walking, quickly proved a major obstacle upon arrival. These were pre-cell phone days and the only way to tell if there was a vacancy was to figure out how to work the local pay phones and call or simply show up. Slowly but surely, Joy made her way to the old city. As she alternated lugging the monster bag over her shoulders and on her head, Joy realized she had put herself in a vulnerable situation. The fact that she was alone in a city, where she did not speak the language, only added to her heavy load. When Joy finally arrived at the Home St-Pierre to find a desk attendant who not only spoke English, but in a native NYC accent, she was singing alleluia. To this day, folks often remark how light Joy travels. This is why.
Once she mustered up the energy, Joy went exploring around the old city. She checked out the Cathédrale de St-Pierre and went to see John Calvin himself, etched in stone, at the Reformation Wall. Also in Bastions Park, Joy happened upon the giant chessboards, though no one was around to play.
It wasn't long before Joy would meet, Roz, another young woman who was also travelling solo from Ireland. Joy and Roz were happy to swap stories and not to have to eat alone. Roz parted Joy with one safety tip she uses to this day: always read whenever you don't want to be bothered. It works. No one has ever disturbed Joy when her head is in a book.
Joy would return to Geneva for a second time in 1998 with the IES EU program. The group visited the United Nations, and Joy felt like an old pro showing her classmates around. Stephanie was one who always listened attentively and Joy remembers a leisurely walk with her by one of the world's tallest fountains, the Jet d'Eau.
Joy also took a few day trips to Basel, on the Swiss-German border. She remembers visits to the Basel Münster and the Kunstmuseum.