Part One of Kristy Flannery's Switzerland Travel Diary
Even though I was first approached about this opportunity a month ago, I hesitated to share it publicly. Call it superstition, but I felt this opportunity was too good to be true, and I felt that if I wrote about it on the site or spoke about it on any social platforms, the opportunity would somehow fall through, but now that time has finally arrived.
One month later, I am sitting in seat 45A of an Airbus A330-300, sharing that I am on my way to Zurich, Switzerland.
Before I get ahead of myself, let's rewind before I share what's in store for the week ahead.
On June 7, I was scrolling through Instagram, as one does, and noticed New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier was partnering with Switzerland Tourism for a giveaway. It included a full day of exploration with him in the Valais Matterhorn Region in Switzerland. Remembering that some of my followers on Twitter do not have an Instagram account, I wrote an article about the contest and shared it on all my social media platforms.
A little less than a month later, on July 5, I received a message asking if I would be interested in writing a more extensive story about the contest, joining Hischier and the group in Switzerland.
That message came through at 8:28 P.M., and for about 30 minutes, I leaned against my kitchen island blankly staring at my iPhone mini. Naturally, the first person I told was my husband, who verified that I was not delusional and this was a legitimate offer.
Over the past 30 days, I have felt every emotion under the sun. Anxiety as I sat at the NYC Passport Agency waiting to renew my passport, excitement as I read through the incredible itinerary that's been prepared, and gratitude as I reflected on my life's trajectory over these past few years.
I've had plenty of time to think about how I want to report and cover this experience, and I believe I have found a good balance that my readers will enjoy. In addition to proper articles and features, I will create an informal travel diary.
I understand that for most people, Switzerland is a bucket list destination. That said, the purpose of the travel diary is to bring my readers along for my day with Hischier and the entire trip as I explore the region the 24-year-old calls home.
This is where I will share videos and photos and a recap of the itinerary of each day I am overseas. Here one can expect informal dialogue, humorous first-hand accounts, and behind-the-scenes from the day with Hischier with anecdotes that won't make my final feature stories.
My flight will land in Zurich in a few hours, but that is not the end of my travel day. From the airport, the group will travel by train to the region. Stay tuned for more exclusive content here at The Hockey News, and be on the lookout for Part Two of my Switzerland Travel Diary.
In the meantime, follow my adventures on Twitter and Instagram: @InStilettos_NHL.