August 20, 2025

12:45 am, End of my second day in Switzerland near Gstaad

Oh the freedom! Oh the mountain air! This is one of the most serene places I've ever been. Mountains covered in the greenest green one's eyes can see; cows grazing while ringing ornate bells slung around their necks; the food! the wine!

It's been so nice to see Ben again. The level of conversation about books, movies, relationships, and life is unparalleled anywhere else in my life. His parents are lovely as well. So far we've hiked and had two phenomenal dinners. Nothing pretentious: traditional Swiss cooking with phenomenal wine carefully considered by Ben and his dad. 

I'm too happy (and still a little buzzed from the Chartreuse at the end of dinner) to think anything interesting right now. 

Some photos to keep the reader engaged:

Getting here was painful. Nine hours in jeans, a leather jacket, and alpine boots. Not to mention the flight before and the train ride after. I read a copy of the Trappist monk Thomas Merton's memoir given to me by Rev. Pulleyking which has been gripping so far. That was the only saving grace. 

It was horrible for me to leave home. I threw myself so completely at the task of making Springfield satisfying in the last 6 months that the goodbyes I had to say in the last week were utter torture. I'm glad to report that although I miss my loved ones, the pain of leaving has quickly dissipated. I'm excited for Europe again and for the thrill of a life entirely determined by me. 

Tomorrow we will travel to Montreux where Nabokov lived the last 16 years of his life in the Palace Hotel and wrote his second, somewhat lesser known masterpiece, Ada, perhaps my favorite book. Montreux is also famous for the castle Chillon which is the setting of the Byron poem "The Prisoner of Chillon." 

Fuck, I love Europe.