I Speak It Boldly

This morning I got up a little before my friends and went on a short walk around our beautiful valley. There is a dirt path that winds alongside the river at the bottom of it. I walked next to fields with cows - and every one seemed to have cowbells - and crossed a river on an old wooden bridge to reach the trail. It was a cool crisp morning with the sun just barely peeking over the mountains. I took this time to just reflect and enjoy what this little piece of paradise provided. 

We drove to the town of Lauterbrunnen and took a cable car up to Grütschalp. The panorama of the surrounding mountain range is hard to describe in words. We could see Jungfrau off in the distance which is called the Top of Europe and has an observatory. There was snow for hundreds of feet down from the summit still. It was an easy path - mostly a wide paved road almost. There were still parts covered with snow - especially in the shade. There were many fields and small sheds along the way. The whole trail provided amazing views as well as a good time to talk and get to know each other a little better. 

We stopped for lunch at a pizza place in Mürren and then walked around a surprising tourist town - as in there were a lot of visitors - with many chalets and shops. Apparently this is also the place where James Bond filmed a movie. Also the first slalom was set up here almost 100 years ago by someone. We continued the hike through farms and various paths as we descended from 5000 ft to another town called Stechelberg. It was fun seeing the miniature horses, baby goats, waterfalls, moss covered stone hedges, and fields of green with bright yellow flowers as we slowly winded our way down. The town at the bottom of the trail was just another quaint little place with cows.

We took the bus back to our car and made our way over to another town (this one probably the most touristy of them all so far) Grindelwald. We walked around, bought some ice cream, and on the way out made a drive up a steep narrow road to get a better view of this part of Switzerland. I probably won’t ever get sick of the views of green fields, red roofs, and giant mountains. 

Dinner was on the lake side of Thunersee. It was a quaint little Italian cafe - although our waiter was from Kosovo. We spent a few quiet moments on benches by the lake watching the sun set. There is always a calmness watching the sun set and listening to the flow of water.  

We started off the day with having natural green smoothies with out host - she is a very nice woman if also a little different. I really enjoyed her place and she had the nicest little pups. It’s always sad to say goodbye to dogs I meet at these homes on trips. 

Our first stop was the town of St Gallen. It’s just a small little village that has all the architecture and food that you would think of when going to a Swiss town. I first watched my friends take photos on a horse statue that looks like it belongs on a carousel. It was especially entertaining watching one of my friends get helped on top by a nice old lady. The reason for the stop was a library in an old (very old) abby. This abby is apparently one of the oldest in Europe. The library though was not at all what I expected. We had to put on these oversized slippers to protect the floor. There were walls lined with books covering a variety of topics from medicine to the history of this area. There were manuscripts from 800 AD in glass enclosures talking about the beginning of ethics with regards to physicians. A large old globe took up one of the corners. It reminded us of the library in Beauty and the Beast. 

Outside we just walked along more cobble streets and admired the woodwork on windows, the colorful rooftop designs on large churches, and happened to walk inside of the main chapel for the abby and was rewarded with amazing murals on the ceilings. Zurich was our next stop and we basically walked along the streets waiting for our fourth member of the group, Danny, to join us. We stayed around the city center and the highlight was probably another market in the main train station. I still can’t get over the variety of olives, ravioli, cheeses, meats, and candies. 

After we picked up Danny from the airport (and made 3 or 4 loops because of not being able to park in front of the pickup area) we started the long drive down to our place for the next few days. We are staying in the Alps in a town called Erlenbach. The scenery was beyond description coming in with rolling hills of farmland giving way to snow-covered mountains. It’s exactly what I always imagined it would look like. 

Dinner was at a local place in the village (and we may have been overcharged as tourists). But it was good and was a fine way to wrap up our first day in Switzerland. 

The day started with us leaving our airbnb place as quickly as possible. I think we were all ready to move on to better things. Our first destination for today was the prison camp at Dachau. This was the first concentration camp built inside of Germany and would be responsible for at least 32,000 deaths, but more likely in excess of 40,000. It is a large area with many buildings, and some of them not looking too terrible to live in. However, it was a place meant for 6,000 at a time and ended up holding five times that many people. We were able to walk through the buildings that had the rooms used as prison cells for solitary confinement. We could see the poles out back that people were tied to. The parade ground was large and open and you could almost see the lines of people forced to stand there in all types of weather. The crematorium still stands in one corner as well as the guard towers looking over the barbed wire fence. “Arbeit macht frie” still greets all those who enter. It stands as a memorial to the evil man is capable of, as well as a reminder of what we must always be vigilant for in order to prevent similar types of atrocities. 

The rain began to come down as we headed south towards Neuschwanstein Castle. This is probably the biggest tourist destination with hundreds of people there wandering around the city and castle grounds. We had to pick up our tickets an hour before the tour started and used that extra time to leisurely walk up the hill to the main entrance. It is an impressive structure. It looks like something out of a fairy tale and apparently was the inspiration for Sleepy Beauty’s castle. It’s not that old (less than 200 years) but was never completed because the king died prematurely. The inside has some of the most amazing murals I have ever seen. For what was completed the king definitely didn’t hold back on anything. I wonder what the peasants who were paying taxes thought of this… There were some technological marvels such as running water from a mountain spring and a winter garden. 

We took the bus back down, indulged in some hot chocolate and cake in a small cafe, and then made the final drive into Switzerland. We are staying in a very cute home with a woman who has two tiny dogs. Dinner tonight is going to be one of the best memories. We drove over to Austria and ate at a small pizza cafe. The waiters were very excited to have Americans visit as their tiny village doesn’t usually get tourists. They all wanted to talk to us and tell us about where they have been or where they will soon be visiting. It was a good moment. We found our way back and retired for the evening.  

We started the day heading out and looking for breakfast as soon as we reached Germany again. We found a great little bakery with delicious pastries such as an apricot danish and chocolate croissants. The drive took us through the hills and forests of southern Germany and it was amazingly beautiful. We stopped at a lookout spot that still had some remnants of a recent snowfall. The view looked out over small towns and fields. It was breathtaking. Our first stop of the day was Hohenzollern Castle. It sits on the top of a hill and looks like how you would picture Sleeping Beauty’s castle or Dracula’s castle. You park pretty close to the top, but there is a decent little walk up some steps. It smelled very strongly of onions (that’s what Janice said it was). We found a snail and I was informed by Meghan that these are magical creatures. The castle itself had a winding entrance both outdoors and inside a stone tunnel. The views at the top though must have been miles in any direction. The lookouts can see villages that take 10 minutes or more to get to by car. I imagine the occupants would have known an enemy was coming more than a day ahead of time if coming by foot. There were statues of different rulers all around the outside from the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Our next stop took us to Lichtenstein Castle (still in Germany…not the country of Lichtenstein). It’s tucked away off the main road with a park that had a large group of children playing. We had lunch that was not the best meal I’ve had in my life. Currywurst and Fleischkäse may not be something we have again any time soon. The castle is right next to a large cliff and there is also a field in front of it filled with dandelions and other small flowers. We decided to take some pictures before heading into the castle itself and ended up spending close to an hour - most of which was spent making flower crowns besides taking photos. It was actually one of the most relaxing and enjoyable activities of the trip. I always enjoy being outdoors in good weather doing absolutely nothing at all. We ended up not even going into the castle, but on the way out Janice and I did take the time to play on the seesaw and zip line at the park. The little boy didn’t really want to let us take a turn, but we asked nicely and he let us. 

Our arrival in Munich went without much excitement until we entered our place and the host informed us the bathroom door was broken. As in there was not a door currently there to provide any privacy. That was not something we appreciated and so we had to be extra sneaky when going to the bathroom. We also didn’t have the greatest burritos for dinner. When we went to the local city gardens to walk around the pond it was hard to enjoy the cool evening and view of the pond when being attacked by swarms of gnats. Regardless it was an enjoyable day. 

Today we picked up a car from the airport and ventured out into the German countryside. I should have know what this trip was going to be like when we struggled with getting out of the parking garage. We made it out of Frankfurt and proceeded in a somewhat southerly direction towards our first stop. It didn’t take long to be driving through open fields and seeing how green and peaceful it is outside of the city. The Mespelbrunn Castle is only about an hour from Frankfurt and right next to a small village. We drove through the town and ended going up a dirt road into the woods. It was a little confusing why we didn’t see anyone else on the road until right by the castle we saw some people walking and giving us some weird looks. We then came to a gate that was easily opened, but showed there was a normal paved road that came right up to the castle in the middle of the town. Regardless we made our way to this neat little castle that had a pond/moat. The walking tour was in German and so I stuck around for a few minutes and then made my way out to walk around the grounds. There were some unique parts of the castle such as genealogy in the stained glass windows that I hadn’t seen before. 

The next stop was the very impressive Heidelberg Castle. This is a much larger building that sits up on the side of a mountain looking down on the picturesque town of Heidelberg. We thought we were supposed to go up this Bergbahn to see it, but quickly realized again that this was not the right way and had to take it right back down. We walked around the courtyard, went inside one part and saw a gigantic barrel, had lunch at a cafe in the castle (brats and pretzel for me of course) and then made our way out to the car and the rest of the way to our last destination of the day - Strasbourg, France. We stayed in a place not too far from the cathedral (which I will talk about more in a moment). My room had a little bed looking at three small mirrors each with a word - “you”, “will”, “die”. I thought that’s a pleasant thought to read before going to sleep. 

We walked into the town and came upon a river and crossing over was like being transported into Beauty and the Beast. There were cobblestone streets, little shops in the style of buildings that are in fairy tales, opening up onto a large courtyard with a massive cathedral. I don’t know if I have ever seen a church quite this big before. I know there are others that are larger, but I could not believe what I was looking at. There was Sunday mass going on so we didn’t walk around inside, but enjoyed the music for a bit. Outside the bells were clanging and pigeons flying among the statues, the rain was drizzling and I was standing there with my friends just enjoying the moment. We walked around and enjoyed the sights and sounds, paused by a river to just reflect for a moment, and had dinner at a pizza place playing some intense rap music - not exactly what we expected. Back to bed and sleep. 

PS it was nice having a regular shower to use instead of doing the crazy maneuvers from the place in Frankfurt that didn’t have a shower curtain.

A few months have passed since I last travelled so it’s time for another adventure. These past couple of years have been better than normal for providing me with opportunities to explore this big world of ours. I suppose when the day comes and I have to settle down with a job and a family in the future these will be much shorter and further apart. Sometimes these trips have to happen on my own, but fortunately this European vacation will be with good friends from school whom I have travelled with in the past. 

This trip begins in Frankfurt. After an uneventful couple of flights I landed in Germany yesterday morning. There’s always the concern that free internet will be hard to come by. Fortunately the Frankfurt airport had it and I was able to figure out a plan of how to get to the city and meet up with my friends. I still spent most of Friday in the airport since I didn’t really want to drag my bags around while trying to explore. Shortly after lunch I bought a one way ticket to the Hauptbahnhof in town and started walking around. I made my way to the local university library only to find out that there really aren’t a lot of comfortable places to sit down with limitations on where I can bring my bags. I tried to read for a bit, but I get passing out so decided to just make my way to our AirBnB house in the hopes that our host was there and ready for us. She was and kindly let me in. She was a very nice French lady with a little boy (many of their conversations went like “Mama?” and her response of “Oui, cheri?” repeated multiple times). I promptly laid down on my bed and passed out.

A couple of hours later I was woken up by my friends Meghan and Janice. They came in from Berlin via bus. We freshened up and headed out for some authentic German food. We ended up at a little cafe - The Albatros - and sat outside enjoying the crisp evening (cold may be more accurate - the cafe is even kind enough to provide blankets as this is something they probably recognize as an issue. We came back and had the opportunity of taking showers in a tub that didn’t have shower curtains, which is kind of difficult unless the goal is to get as much water all over the floor as possible. Sleep came very easily for me this night even after the nap. 

The weather for the first full day of the trip was about as nice as we could ask for. We spent the day walking around to the various churches, markets, and plazas. It began with breakfast at another cafe that had typical breakfast food such as toast, eggs, cheeses, and meats. We made a friend with a local who has lived here for a few years and discussed some of the things we should do in the day we are here. We made our way through the city passing various old churches and an outdoor market - with some of the softest sheepskins I have ever felt - until we arrived at The Römerberg. This is the heart of the old town of Frankfurt and has the traditional architecture often associated with Germany. We made our way to the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew and decided to climb the almost 200 ft tower. This is done by climbing a narrow circular stair that takes you right above the clock and provides a panoramic view of the entire city including the river that cuts through the middle. We made our way into the chapel after and had the opportunity to hear an organ play some hymns. I never get tired of walking into these old churches with their vaulted ceilings, statues, and altars. 

We next walked to an indoor market that was pretty much food heaven. There were endless choices of meats, cheeses, breads, and chocolates. Free samples were in large supply providing us with a lunch tasting all that Germans have to offer. We then walked to the river and crossed over and walked through an outdoor flea market where people were selling anything and everything they could get their hands on: vacuums, grills, dvds, old cameras, clothes, bicycle handles, and cheap jewelry. We then made our way down quiet side streets looking at the old homes and yards and cobblestone streets. I was surprised at how clean and peaceful much of the city is especially on a Saturday. 

Back at our apartment we all ended up passing out for more than three hours which may or may not throw off our entire sleep schedule for the next couple of days. We made our way out for dinner at 8 to a Korean restaurant, then had hot chocolate at a local Mickey D’s. One of the nice things about these trips is a forced disconnection from technology and the deeper conversations that can come from spending long hours with close friends - a growing closer that isn’t always possible under different circumstances. We are back in the apartment now, still awake at 2 am, supposedly waking up around 7. We’ll see how that goes. 

In The Anatomy of Peace there is the concept of “the box”. Simply put it is a place where we view others as objects instead of people, where our heart is at war with those we interact with, where we betray ourselves by not choosing the right path and then justifying those actions.  It is a place where we think we deserve something or are better than others or need to be seen in a certain way. The goal of the book is to demonstrate ways to escape - and then stay out of - “the box”. Once you are out of “the box” you have a new vantage point that provides a different perspective on past, present, and future events - you will have greater clarity. 

One of the ways to escape the box is to find an “out-of-the-box” place. This can be a memory or an activity or a place where you are at peace and do not have bitter feelings towards anyone. I wanted to share some of mine that I have thought of over the past few days - perhaps doing so will help you determine what yours are.

Nature: Perhaps this is too broad - it would be a warm beach listening to the waves as they hit the shore or going on hikes leading me to majestic views over valleys, lakes, or woods. There is something about the raw beauty of the world around us that just takes me from a place of anger and conflict to a place of peace outside of myself. Many of my fondest memories come from walks alone or with friends or with family exploring the world around me. The freedom of the endless ocean stretching off in deep blues or turquoise waters removes any desire to be in conflict with others. Memories of days spent with friends while living in Hawaii also make the beach a place to go back to when I feel I am at war with someone. 

The Gym:  Specifically weightlifting. It may be the greater focus on myself so that I can’t be in conflict with someone; perhaps the struggle and push to excel brings out my better part; or maybe it allows for greater thinking and perspective, which isn’t possible at other times. Finding an out-of-the-box place is all about getting a new vantage. The solitude and reflection that comes in between sets while wearing a hoodie and listening to music gives me this greater perspective and reminds me of what really matters. 

Music: Listening to beautiful music always takes me from a place of war to that of peace. Anger or hate or jealousy simply melt away.  Creating music - by playing the piano for example - is even more powerful in taking me out of the box. In a way, while I play an instrument it is like I am making the world a better place in my own little way. And as other out-of-the-box places it brings back memories of good times, inspires the soul to think of the greatness that humans can create, and also provides a way for me to better think about why I am in conflict with an individual and what is most important. 

Friends: I do not want to embarrass these people I have in mind by saying what their names are, but I have made a couple of friends during the MBA program who always bring out the best in me and put me in a happy place. Even when we disagree I am never at war with these individuals. I would definitely say this is more a result of their personality and character than mine. They seem to be the type of people who never get in the box. They are who I aim to be like because of the good they do wherever they go. Finding people who I’m not in the box with is probably one of the most important ways I get out of the box towards others, because I am reminded how I should treat those around me. 

LDS Temples: For those who are LDS this does not need much explanation. Within the walls of our temples we set aside the things of the world for a few moments. We leave behind phones and watches and computers - in all ways looking to completely disconnect from what is outside the walls. Inside the temple we focus on the things of eternity and how we can help those who have not had the same opportunities that we have. The temple is a representation of heaven and purity and love and forgiveness. Inside the temple we remember a Savior who gave all for us. There is no room for judgement towards another in the heart, mind, or soul when it is filled with an indescribable amount of love and sacrifice from a Heavenly Father and Redeemer who epitomize having hearts at peace.

A Memory: A time when everything was right. I think of when my family was living in Ireland. This isn’t quite one memory as much as a series of different memories: helping the couple we rented the house from with their dairy farm, walking through the Comeraghs, taking long drives down country roads to castle ruins, learning to play traditional Irish music together on different instruments. Life has never been perfect, but this is a memory I often go back to when I want to be at peace. I think this is particularly helpful for me since so many of my conflicts come from interactions with family. This is not to say anything bad about my family or that I do not love them. Just some of the choices that have been made - and continue to be made - are quick triggers to put me back in the box. I suppose this shouldn’t be too surprising as they are the people I know the most and have spent the most time with. When these conflicts do arise, and I want to get back in the box, this is one of my fondest memories to help prevent it. A memory of when my family was still all together in one home and one of the happiest moments shared with them. 

What are your out-of-the-box places?