Switzerland is the land of cheese. And yes, Swiss cheese is not real Swiss cheese. There are apparently many different types of cheeses in Switzerland. So, this week, our program group decided to explore where it’s most famous cheese is made, Gruyères. The town is a small town in the Swiss countryside where the grass is green, cows are plenty and there are beautiful views of the alps. It was an unusually chilly May morning and we were worried it would start to rain/snow but we made and left without much precipitation.
Our first stop in Gruyères was the Gruyères Baths. The baths featured a few thermal pools, saunas, and a hammam. There was an outdoor pool that overlooked the mountains, which was beautiful. We took a water aerobics class and chilled in the sauna for most of our time there. Our mentor wanted to emphasize the importance of self-care with this trip. Although self-care is not just about sitting in saunas, it was still a great way to relax.
After our time at the baths, we headed to lunch. We had lunch at a restaurant near the Gruyères castle. The restaurant served some very Swiss foods like fondue and dried meat. I had a mac and cheese with Gruyères cheese and we got all various desserts. We were stuffed by the end but very happy with our meal. We headed back to Geneva afterward. It was a very successful trip! I definitely recommend a stop in Gruyères if you are ever in Switzerland.
I also wanted to say WELCOME to the class of 2023! I cannot wait to meet you on campus next Fall when I am finally back. Use the rest of the time in high school to spend time with family and friends, learn about your local community and to finally relax. Wellesley is going to be a very big journey.
Until next time,
Laïsa