Monday 17th September

I finally did it! I escaped and went to Zurich alone. It was good because I got to see the city which I wanted to see by myself. I prefer to go alone and go and do what I want to do and not walk snails pace around the city and see very little. Firstly Zio paid for my return ticket, $50. I almost died. It's only $13 in Melbourne for a place of that distance. I would have laid it regardless, how else was I meant to get there. Then the ticket to Milan, $110. Again I died. Because Tony said you can get a special ticket for $25 but we weren't given the option so I don't know.

Anyways at the platform Zia and Zio were standing there with me auntie the train came. There I was standing with my backpack feeling like the biggest kid in the world. Actually inside my backpack I wanted water so I asked Zia for some to fill my bottle about half way. She wanted me to take the big 2 liter bottle with me in my backpack. I didn't know what to think. Was she serious or joking? I said no and she said no take it. The hell?! Anyways I managed to settle with getting my bottle 3/4 full.

In the city I went to the cathedral. That was beautiful. Oh and I didn't go to any museums because hmm...IT'S A MONDAY! Nothing is open Monday's. I don't understand you Europe! Why you no open?! Anyways so I walked around and was looking for the Vans I liked in Madrid. I only managed to find a different color but I didn't like it. The hunt continues. But maybe it's good I didn't get them in Madrid. Imagine the stress I would have put myself under. I would have paid €90 for shoes and then €124 for a train the day after. I would have died. So glad I didn't but not so happy I didn't either.

For lunch I found a small place which I got a wrap with chicken and vegetables. It was like an Asian dish in a wrap which was pretty interesting. But I didn't want anything big because I wasn't hungry but I knew I had to eat anyways. So I found wifi at the place and I was messaging mum. I was saying how I'm now 88.88% done with Europe and how happy she must be about that, which she agreed. So I dropped a bombshell that I would love to work in Europe. Eh she wasn't the happiest. So I left the cafe and went and walked up to what looked like a university. Ah finally. YOUNG PEOPLE! Who all spoke Swiss German....but regardless they all looked like they were fresh to the uni scene and I was ready to keep walking by because I had my backpack and I felt like a slight douche. The same feeling I got when I went to H&M today and decided to check out the price of my tshirt I love because it's in a different currency. So I went to the change rooms just after and realised I was wearing the tshirt I was just looking at. Ah. Holiday brain.

When it was time to go I was a bit hesitant to leave because I didn't want to actually leave. I just prolonged my visit. I decided to just have maccas again. I went back to the same one near the station I went to this morning. Actually when I got off the train I really needed to piss. So I went to the station toilets and you need to pay. That's cool. But it didn't take my coins. So I just took off and thought if I don't find a toilet ASAP I'll piss myself. No staff were there so what was I to do? I couldn't enter. So I found maccas and they had a pin code for the toilets. I just waited or someone to walk out and I just dashed in there. That is the story of how I got to use a toilet for free. Anyways I went back there and had dinner. When I got back Zia didn't believe me that I ate.

The best thing though, I found an English book shop. I couldn't decide which book to buy because one was plenty for me. I got Poor Economics because I'm a nerd like that. Then I needed to piss. So I walked around and I found a toilet. It was so weird, it was all just one bowl for washing and pissing. The toilet seat was so strange but it was free. No complaining there. When I left I saw a guy walking past and then I smelt all the pot on him. Ah the love Europeans have for the stuff. It's just so casually smoked in the streets.

Sunday 16th September

I slept in massively this morning because I had, I think, too much coffee. Also there was no special Sunday breakfast either, not like I cared because everything is pretty special seeming as I've been eating out most of the time. It's the little things like these that you appreciate. I did however book hostels which had breakfast included because you want to get up and go in the mornings and not hang around and decide where to eat for breakfast. Everywhere I've gone has had breakfast included, except for Paris.

Anyways we had a large lunch today with family over and we pretty much played a game of "Fill Angelo up until he's about to explode". Fun game because they almost won but I got in there at the end and crapped it out.

Later on we went for a drive to Appelzel because there is a brewery there and it's a famous town for its alcohol as well, on a side note Alina lives nearby to the town. So drove all the way there only to discover that the brewery was closed. So we walked around the town and because of the holiday, everything was closed. Even the shop which had English books inside which I've been craving to find. Ah well! I did however see a table shoot up out of nowhere and water went spraying out. For no reason whatsoever.

We made our way to a park which had a cable car and sleds and such, so Joel, Tony and I went on it. It was actually pretty fun sliding down it. But I forgot what the name was of it. Anyways it was that much fun that then Guiseppe got in on it and thought he'd give it a crack after declining the offer he ended up loving it that much he wanted to go again but we decided to leave. Whilst that was happening though Zia got me an Appelzel beer and I drank it with ease, it was pretty good. But I needed to use the toilet so I went and as I was waiting I saw the toilet door for the ladies open and inside of one of the cubical was a wet dog. Yep. Not sure what the story behind it is but it was wet. Once I got into the guys toilets I had some stupid kid scream at the top of his lungs, it was piercing. Seriously I wanted to slap that kid hard.

Anyways tonight I had to have an early night so I could get up early and on time for Zurich. But just after dinner Cristina came by with photos of me from when I was a kid. I hadn't even seen the photos before! They were all from when she came 16 years ago and it was pretty amazing to see how much and how little people have changed since. And also it was slightly embarrassing.