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Monday, October 6, 2008

Switzerland

Our trip was so fun! Here's a quick rundown of our whirlwind week.

Saturday: flew from Houston to Lyon, France via Paris.

Sunday: arrived in Lyon--it was a really long flight. Met Trevor at our hotel, went out to dinner, tried to get some sleep since I couldn't get any on the flight.

Monday: took train to Lausanne, Switzerland-- the Olympic capital of the world. The city sits right on the edge of Lake Geneva, which is absolutely breathtaking.

Tuesday: Spent the morning exploring the Chauteau de Chillon that was built in the 12th century, and had been beautifully restored. Then we took a beautifully scenic train through the alps to Gruyere, where the cheese comes from. We watched them make it, and we had some really delicious fondue. Then we continued on the train high up into the alps to the Berner Oberland region. I think this was probably the coolest part of our trip.I mean, words or pictures can't even describe the beauty, and absolute majesty of these mountains. We stayed in a village called Gimmelwald. Its a small village that sits on the edge of a sheer cliff, and can only be accessed by tram.

The peaks from left to right are the Eiger (ogre), Monch (monk), and the Jungfrau (maiden).
We arrived in the evening. And this is what we woke up to. Are you kidding me? Doesn't it just make you want to sing? It almost brings tears to my eyes just looking at the pictures.

Wednesday: Took early lift to the Schilthorn, ate breakfast in a revolving restaurant where we had 360 degree views of the alps. And it was also famous for filming one (it might have been the first) of the James Bond movies.

A lot of these pictures were taken on a hike that we took just above our village. It was the best day. We were surrounding by amazing views and walking in Sound of Music meadows. We both felt like bursting into song whenever we looked up--and sometimes we did! Seriously, it was that pretty. Pictures just can't do it justice. I tried to put some of the best ones, since I am sure you don't want to look at the millions we took.

If I could do the week all over again, I would spend more time high in the alps. What an amazing place.

Thursday, we woke up with the intention of staying the entire day and going up to the top of the Jungfrau, but we were fogged in. It was devastating. What was so clear and beautiful the day before, was still beautiful, we just couldn't see any mountains. So we headed out and spent a couple of days in Lucerne. I've been to Lucerne before. Eight years ago, when Megan and Kate and I went to Europe we stayed there. It's a beautiful city that sits on a really pretty lake with swans, etc. But I don't remember it being so huge 8 years ago. I think it's really grown. We had fun, though. We went to the Picasso museum, and the glacier museum, and we shopped, ate, and walked a ton. We even went to a movie. We hadn't seen The Dark Knight, so we found a theater that was running it in english with german subtitles.

Friday, we spent the day in Lucerne. We took a 2 hour boat cruise on the lake to see the different towns around, and it was really beautiful. We also had to figure out our travel plans. We were supposed to go to Zurich and both fly home together. But the hurricane had totally changed Trevor's travel plans, so we ended up going to Paris instead of Zurich so we could catch his flight.

Saturday: We took the morning train to Paris. It was the most beautiful and perfect day to be in Paris. Just gorgeous. We had worn jackets and coats all week, but not in Paris. Blue skies, in one of the most beautiful cities on earth. We only had time to see the main sights: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysses, the Louvre (we didn't get to go in, though...next time!) I think we ate in the same cafe that Megan and Kate and I ate in right by Notredame. Memories! We took a cruise down the Seine River. It was such a lovely day, we wished we'd had more time.


Look at those gorgeous parisian bridges all lit up!

Sunday: Sadly, we had to fly home. But, we were happy to come home and find our kids and grandparents all alive and happy and living in a house with newly-restored power (it had just come back on the night before.)

What a blast.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! What a beautiful trip! It looks and sounds amazing! I love that you guys went to a movie too - Jeff and I totally would have done the same! So glad you had such a great time! Hoe fun and romantic to go somewhere so breathtaking with your sweetheart.

Megan said...

You look so beautiful in the glow of the lights by the bridges! I could cry right along with you right now. Oh, the memories and the good times we had in Europe! I am soooooo happy that you got to go with Trevor and have such a fabulous trip! The pictures are amazing and I think you just rekindled my love for traveling. You are inspiring!!

Anonymous said...

Looks like so much fun. I am glad you got a chance to get away without your cute kiddos.

Michelle Y said...

What a wonderful and romantic trip you and Trevor were able to take. So happy you guys were able to do that. Love all the pictures!

Devon said...

I absolutely LOVED the pictures and hearing about your trip! I feel like I got to go myself, and I love picturing you and Trevor singing!

I'm also so glad about your house being okay. It's crazy, because my sister Ashley's area got hit really badly (her house was one of the few that was pretty much okay, but there were rivers of sewage everywhere around her), but they got their power back that first week. Crazy how that works, isn't it? But I'm so glad you're house wasn't one of the ones with a tree in the roof. I've seen too many pictures like that! Won't it be so fun to look back on these times and think, "how fun was all of that?!"

Devon said...

Oh, and you look FANTASTIC! I swear every time I see a picture of you, you look YOUNGER! How is that possible? I'm getting so old?

Rachel said...

What a fun trip! I'm so glad you got to go together. The pictures are beautiful and you look great too! I can't believe your kids spent a week without power. How crazy for Grandma and Grandpa. So glad it's back on now, and that you didn't have more damage than what you got.

Dottie Stay said...

What a serious party for you and Trev!! That is awesome. I am so happy for you guys. What a great time to be together, and be surrounded by such amazing beauty. Thanks for sharing all of the details. It sounded perfect. Oh, it makes me want to go and wear braids and start hiking in the hills. I would love to have seen you breaking into song. Of course it was perfect, and the hills I am sure really are alive!

Sorry about the whole neighborhood. What a nightmare. Trev's parents are saints for coming and staying without power. What a great break for you to be gone during all the drama. You timed that perfectly...hee hee

Dottie Stay said...

O, I meant to tell you that the pic of you all bundled in your coat and scarf with the mountains behind you is GORGEOUS!! I am framing it to put in my house. :)

kelsey said...

What an amazing trip! Isn't Paris seriously so romantic. I would love to go back with Ry. I love your pics... not only do the bridges look gorgeous in Paris... wow you look great! So I sent an invite to your email... sorry about that, I think I missed a few people actually :)

Abby said...

I forget places like the movies really do exist! Amazing!

Layne & Kellie said...

I am a little behind on checking blogs. But your trip looked so fantastic. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Yes, I am jealous, jealous, jealous!! Glad you were able to go on a fabulous trip with just you and Trevor!

Lisa said...

Looks like you had an amazing time! I am so jealous. Switzerland is one of my very favorite places. The pictures of the mountains are spectacular. How fun to be able to share that with Trevor!

Kate, Brian and Hazel said...

Jealous jealous jealous! Those pics were awesome. That is awesome that you and Trevor got to go together. I always thought Switzerland was UNREAL! So beautiful. This post brings back lots of fun memories with you and megan. Don't you wish we had digital cameras then...DANG! Remember your big "global" cell phone(wahtever it was called)? Pretty sure regular cell phones would work now...wouldn't they? Times have REALLY changed in 8 years!
Hope to see you guys for Christmas!