" Leaving" Top 5 Page for this destination Bregenz Travelogue by Krumlovgirl

Enroute to Munich

Dear Chris,

Bregenz is gone. Today was my last day. I can’t even say that it was my last day, since I left this morning. Elisabeth had to go to a meeting so I had to say goodbye to her early. It was a lot harder than I expected it to be. When I was sitting at breakfast this morning, she was singing along with the English radio station and when the song “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You” came on, she started singing it really loud to Filou. She only knew about every other word, and the words that she did know she pronounced with a really heavy Austrian accent. It occurred to me that I might never hear her do that again, and I found that I couldn’t finish my cereal. I couldn’t even eat a roll, and I love those rolls more than anything. When I hugged her good-bye, I felt like I was leaving family. Now, she does feel closer to me than any of my family. I will miss everything about her. The way that she would steal my beer, her morning walks with Filou, her wicked sense of humor, her tendencies to talk to the television, the way that she tried fixing me up with everyone-everything. I already miss her and I’ve barely been gone.

I did end up having to buy another suitcase because, of course, mine was too small. I went ahead and bought a matching set, which brings me up to a suitcase, a duffle bag, a backpack, and whatever I have waiting for me in London. I’m not even thinking about how I will get it all to the airport later on. The big suitcase is really really heavy and I liked to have never gotten it on the train. It only stops in Bregenz for two minutes to begin with, and by the time I had lugged everything on board, it was already starting to pull away.

After Emily had helped me pack, I wanted to take one last walk around the lake. It was very bittersweet for me, and I was trying so hard to take everything in that I’m not sure I saw anything at all. Everything looked so beautiful and so perfect that a big part of me just wanted to continue on staying here and not leave at all. Technically, I wouldn’t have to leave for another two days, but I wanted to get to Prague before catching up with Anna and Markus. And I knew that I had to leave Bregenz. Staying would have just been postponing the inevitable and I was already feeling too attached to it.

After our walk around the lake, we ate my last meal at the Hirsch, and my favorite waitress brought me a mohr im after I told her that it was my last day. I’ll even miss the Hirsch! I had spaetzle today, and I actually managed to finish the entire plate of it. Emily joked half-heartedly that she wouldn’t get to close to me after that since my breath would stink.

Emily. I’m going to miss her most of all. I hated her so much in the beginning, and now she feels like the sister that I never had. Chris once remarked that she was scared that we had actually found one another in this life. What all has she called us? Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Dumb and Dumber. Frick and Frack. She’s been my best friend on this adventure, and most of the time my only friend. I don’t think I could have lasted here in Bregenz without her with me. We might not have always gotten along, but she’s been there for me. She got me through one of the worst nights in my life-the night I called you. I’m going to be forever thankful to her for that.

I have to let everything go now. I am on my way to Munich, where I will spend the night before going to Prague. And form there I meet up with Anna and Markus in Bruges. My journey is not quite finished. In some ways, I feel as if I am only beginning it. Bregenz turned out to be a safe haven for me, and I felt very protected and secure there. Now I just feel like I am being thrown out into the world again. How will I ever be able to go home to Richmond after this?

Love,
Rebecca