Oh my god i need some sleep, i think another six beers might bring me some relief

Ok this blog post is for real. Fo REAL. I refuse to back track farther than this weekend. Sorry Kim, we all know how much fun I had when you visited and how well all my friends and I ate because of you.

About 3 weeks ago I received a facebook event invite for a trip to Salzburg, Austria. I have been receiving these regularly. They are organized by the Charles University International Students Club. Mark has been on several but I have refrained due to fiscal problems and lack of interest. But this time, I was sold, Salzburg, fuck yeah. That night all the friends on my dorm’s wing got together and decided we would go on the trip. It was going to be the best weekend ever!!!!!!

Leading up to departure photos were posted in the facebook invite from the town of Hallstatt, our second destination for the trip. It was utterly unbelievable. The pictures did not look real. Imagine a pristine, deep dark blue lake, surrounded by snowcapped mountains that serve not only as a perfect backdrop, but a perfect wall, making you feel isolated and disconnected but also in the best way possible. We all went nuts when these pictures were posted, and could not be more excited.

The week of departure came, it really seemed to sneak up on me. It was a weird sensation knowing that in a few days I will get on a bus, drive through the night and arrive at sunrise in an entirely different country. Thursday came and I skipped out of my night class early to get home, pack, buy groceries and booze, and prepare myself for the trip. Packing was a breeze. One flannel shirt, one powder blue oxford, one pair of jeans, and the other essentials.

We all gathered, booze and bags of groceries in hand, backpacks heavy and slung over our shoulders and headed out into the night. An hour later we arrived at the bus station, smoked our last cigarettes and boarded on to one fucking tiny ass bus. Holy shit was it cramped. Michael and I decided it would be a brilliant idea to sit with each other. For those of you that don’t know Michael is taller than me. Good start to a 6 hour bus ride.

As soon as we began moving I knew sleep was out of the question. Thankfully I threw some “This American Life” podcasts on the ole’ pod, a trick I learned at the Lake Ellyn Boat House for killing time. Music has a way of making time slowdown but intriguing hipster podcasts about America’s faltering economy seem to make it speed up. After much adjusting, re-adjusting, adjusting again and again re-adjusting I was as uncomfortable as I have ever been. We had just unexcitedly crossed into Austria around 4:30 am and I finally felt as if we were in the home stretch. We kind of weren’t. But, slowly 5am rolled around then 5:30, and as I looked behind me, past the faux sleeping bodies and glazed over open eyes I saw the sunrise. And in the distance, what I believed to be dark, low hanging clouds, turned out to be the beginning of the Austrian Alps.

The sun began to rise faster, and the mountains began to take shape. The timing could not have been more perfect. As I looked around I saw that I was the only one with open eyes, the others were all missing this magical moment. Sure I have seen the Rockies before but never at sunrise and the Rockies are not the Alps. The sun the mountains rose faster and higher almost simultaneously. I threw Bon Iver on the pod and just stared out the window in awe. It really was magical. Snow capped mountain after snow capped mountain rise out of lush green grass.

We passed through the first few mountains and began winding around their bases. As we came around a bend Michael finally awoke to see something none of us had ever witnessed in our life. A lake, nestled at the base of jutting peaks with a small village resting on its banks, glowing in the early morning sun. With out taking my eyes off the lake I lifted my headphones off of my head and placed them on Michael’s. Everyone loves having a soundtrack for life and this moment called for it.

The world around us didn’t look real. It may have been sleep deprivation but nahhhh. We continued winding through the mountains, happening upon an even more beautiful lake town and passing higher and snowier mountains. More people began to awake and join in the gawking.

We finally arrived in Salzburg, around 6:45 am, found our hostel and hopped off the bus. With our view masked by buildings those who slept until the bus stopped had no idea what they were in for. When we turned the street corner “holy shits” and “oh my gods” were echoed almost in unison as half of the 28 sleep deprived kids got their first glimpse of the Alps.

To be continued…