My Europe Online Albums

Here is a links to all of my Europe Photos (well, the ones I put on Shutterfly at least).
Europe Trip Part One:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=a8e10d9cf40c5b046cdd16a80fdf8c46&sid=0AZMmrNw0YsmLIcA
Europe Trip Part Two:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=0c0543df255ae80bcf4ab00f16ca9e1e&sid=0AZMmrNw0YsmLIvA
Europe Trip Part Three:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=309bdf4c1eb8f0af&sid=0AZMmrNw0YsmLI-A
Europe Trip Part Four:
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=1ca91f32585888a66d9889752d9a603c&sid=0AZMmrNw0YsmLJBg

Day Twelve/Thirteen: Lausanne, Switzerland

Our last stop in Switzerland was the town of Lausanne. The hotel we stayed in was very modern, and sleek. We didn't see much of the town, so...not many pictures, but....I feel like I have to say SOMETHING about where I spent a whole night....it was comfy. This was another Novotel Hotel, let me say again, I really like this chain of hotels. It lacks the charm of some of the family run places, but sometimes, after enough stops, you crave a little TLC from a hotel with all the luxories, and not too many quirks. It was a good mix of hotels. We had a really great breakfast in the morning, and I got the last of my cheese fix. Cheese pretty much taste like it does at home....and then we headed on to the next, and final leg of our trip.

Day Twelve: Gruyeres

I did get my cheese fix in Switzerland, including eating, and visiting the town where a famous cheese is made-Gruyeres. When we drove up the hillside to the town resting behind (another) fortress wall, we passed cows with big bells grazing on the hillside.

The town threw us back a few hundred years...and then some. All the buildings declare they are old, but well maintained.
There are little fondu restaurants (next time), and shops that sell local delights, including....Gruyere Cheese!

Once you walk up the cobbled streets (no cars allowed) you reach the top, where a castle sleeps.

I have no better word (nor a thesaurus to find a better word) than "cute" to describe this town. Hold on while I increase this elequant description...it was very, VERY cute.

Day Twelve: Along the Way....

...I tried not to post this, but I had to, regardless of the lame factor....I feel pretty secure in my friendships, and place in the family....so here it is, in all the
"It's probably only funny to me" glory....but as we were driving through Switzerland, I saw this, and all I could think was "Holy Cow!"

Day Twelve: Interlaken, Switzerland

We made a super quick stop in Interlaken. We basically got off the bus to use the restroom, and then had time to walk through a little park nearby with a flower clock, and a courtyard in front of Casino Kursaal. The flowers are beautiful. All the towns in Switzerland are so peaceful.

Day Twelve: Lucerne, Switzerland

We spent most of the morning, and afternoon in a little town called Lucerne. I think this was my favorite stop in Switzerland. Our first stop was a Lion Statue in honor of The Swiss Guards' who were sent to protect King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and their children who were taken to the Tuileries Place in Paris. More than 700 Swiss officers gave their life when the Parisians stormed the palace, and it turned out that Louis, and the family had snuck out a back way.

We were dropped off in town, and Mom and I walked around, and tried to grab a few souvenirs. We did get Jason a Swiss Army knife that they put his name on, and some chocolates (Calait-which is supposedly only sold in Switzerland, it's less rich, and very creamy....but I prefer Hersheys myself. :O)). I was also on the hunt for the perfect Cuckoo clock. If you have ever been, or will ever be a visitor to my house, you will be glad to know I couldn't find one I loved (and could afford)....next time!

We then joined our group again, and were driven to Mount Stanserhorn. We took a Funiculaire 1/3 of the way up the mountain (a train on a very steep track). Next we boarded a Cable Car. Unlike Aspen, this car was built for standing visitors, and many more than the 4 person cars I've ridden in the past. More than twenty of us squished in the car like sardines, and we made the rest of the trip. I'm usually NOT a fan of dangling heights, but I was in the middle, the clouds completely covered the mountain far below, and the ride was pretty steady with all that weight anchoring us down, so....I can't complain. We made it to the top. They have walkways that dangled over the side of the mountain, so when it's not cloudy you can see hundreds....and hundreds of feet below. The problem was that we were above the clouds....and clouds were all we could see!

We went inside, and grabbed some lunch (which also double as dessert-cake), and after hanging out for about 45 minutes, some of the clouds were swept away, and we got our first....and last view of the valleys below.

We made the trip down, and then headed back into town. We walked around, and shopped, and headed across the famous Chapel Bridge. Even in the clouds, and the rain, Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places.

Day Eleven/Twelve: Fluelen

We continued to drive through the Swiss Alps, and our drive included a drive through Europe's longest tunnel-17 KM through San Gottardo. When you arrive at the tunnel, you have to wait on a light that tells you to go forward. This helps control the traffic, and create a safer drive. Apparently, sometimes it takes hours of waiting for your turn to be up, but we made the transition from one side of the mountain to the next without any drama. We made it into Fluelen in the early evening, and the rain followed us into this next stop. Our hotel was another family run hotel. There were cows roaming the hills behind us, a train track that ran along the lake in front of us, and a bell tower that rang every fifteen minutes, and FOR about fifteen minutes at 6 am. It was a little bit noisier than some of the hotels, but the noises were much more appealing b/c they weren't city noises, and it was worth it for the view, and the experience. Mom and I went out, and walked down the lake for a ways, and then ate dinner with our group. We went back out to see if we could find the entrance to the bell tower at the top of the mountain overlooking the little town, and we were joined by some of the other gals we befriend on the trip. We did 'find' the next wave of rain, but no entrance. It was a quiet evening, and a quick stop.

Day Eleven: Lugano, Switzerland

...and then....there was Switzerland. Switzerland is the most naturally beautiful location we visited on our trip. It rained most of the time we were there, so the pictures don't do it justice....I'll just have to go back for my blue sky pictures. Switzerland is also the most expensive place we visited. The Swiss Franc matched the American Dollar almost exactly, but it was still costly. Our first stop was in the town of Lugano. The town curves around a lake, and the Alps are the backdrop to this sailboat, and swan covered lake. The lake was crystal blue, and you could see clear the the bottom. All the colors were so vivid. I think God used some of the best colors in the box of crayons when He created Switzerland. We walked down the park that followed the lake's edge. We shopped through the town, and got our first glimpse of Swiss Army Knives, and tried our first bite of Swiss chocolate.

Day Thirteen: Lausanne to Paris, France

Today we headed through vineyards on the way to Beaune. (Such a waste on us Baptist Gals, but maybe they are serving Grape Juice?) We visit the medieval Burgundian town, known the world over for its wine production...and yet, I've never heard of it until now. Later, we headed to Paris!

Day Twelve: Lake Lucerne to Interlaken to Lausanne

We should have spent some time in Lucern which is in the middle of the Alps and, surrounded by its lake, and the River Reuss. Our visit included a tour of 'the city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument.'...and hopefully some cheese! Next, to Stans where I'm thinking I might have headed up the 6,227-foot summit of the Stanserhorn via cablecar. I'm just not a fan of dangling cables, but....maybe there was some good cheese at the top. Later, we headed to Interlaken for a stop, and then we followed the shoreline of Lake Thun to the hilltop village of Gruyère (can you guess my plans for Gruyere? I'm packing crackers). Then we headed a few more miles to Lausanne overlooking Lake Geneva.

Day Eleven: Florence to Pisa to Lake Lucerne, Switzerland

First stop: Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and admire the Leaning Tower, and get one of those pictures that looks like you are holding it up...of course! Next, we head northwards through Tuscan hills across the River Po into the Lombardy Plains, crossing into Switzerland for a stop in lakeside Lugano. In the afternoon, we traveled through Alpine scenery through the St. Gotthard Tunnel and head down to Lake Lucerne for an overnight stay.