The Swiss Adventure...: April 2008

Friday, April 11, 2008

Lenk, Switzerland

We missed the Alps...it is not hard to do, but we hadn't been into the Alps for awhile. Once you see them, you will understand. They are incredible and command your attention. Each season is different and each day is beautiful. After we were in Grindelwald with Mary, John and Katie, we knew we had to get back...so, off we went, this time to Lenk.

Castle on the way to Lenk

Our cabin in the Alps...just kidding, but that would be great!

Snowy Lenk!

Gondolas taking us up the mountains

Robert having fun in Lenk...

Melinda enjoying the views...

Robert admiring the mountains...

Wow...

Animal tracks in the snow

Sun shining on the village...your typical Swiss homes...

Beautiful church....

Mountains and snow...

What next?

We need to relax, so April will be spent in Basel and then...

May brings...

keep checking for our next adventure.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Katie's Birthday, Botanical Gardens & Colmar

Happy 14th Birthday Katie!

Make a Wish!

St. Jakob Botanical Gardens

Flowers in the Gardens

More Flowers

Mary, John and Katie in Colmar, France

Colmar...so sweet

Cherry Blossoms in full bloom...

The little river...

Colmar Square...

Mary happy to be in France!

Cathedral in Colmar

What a great visit!

Jungfraujoch - Top Of Europe - 3,571m

Jungfraujoch - The Top of Europe

Jungfrau is considered the "Top of Europe" because it is the highest railway in Europe. The train takes travelers through the Jungfrau mountain and was the idea of Adolf Guyer - Zeller.

Here are some fast Jungfrau facts below:

Idea to build the highest railway in 1893

The railway did not start in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, but rather Kleine Scheidegg, which saved 1300m and considerable money

All together there are four stations, all of which have four sides - each with incredible views

The railway was electrical, which at the time was extremely innovative

1896 - started with the powerstation in Lauterbrunnen

1898 - First section of the track complete

1899 - Second section of the track complete

1912 - The railway was complete - completed 9 years later than originally planned

1899 - Adolf Guyer - Zeller passed away and his sons took over the project

2007 - a record year for Jungfrau - over 700,000 visitors

The train to Jungfraujoch

Two precious Swiss children waving at the passing train...

Robert and Melinda at the top...

The observation tower...

John at the top of Europe...

There is nothing below, but glacier...

Robert and Melinda at the top...

Mary, John and Katie at the top

Glacier and mountains

Inside the glacier...yikes...

More glacier...

Robert and Melinda inside the glacier...

Mary, John and Katie inside the glacier...

Glacier family shot...

Katie and Robert outside standing on the glacier...careful!

Robert and Melinda standing on the glacier...it is freezing!

The observation tower

John and Katie on top of the glacier...

Amazing ice sculptures...

Jungfraujoch...incredible and we were so lucky to have a crystal, clear day!

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Family in Town!!!!

Mary, John and Katie arrived on Monday and we immediately started seeing the sites. After a delayed flight, they were happy to be in Europe and anxious to start their vacation!

Once we checked their luggage at the train station in Zurich, we toured the city.

It was a blustery, crisp day, but the city was beautiful!

On Friday we went to Grindelwald…an alpine wonder covered in fabulous snow. We stayed at one of our favorite Berghaus’ and once again, John, Mary and Katie found themselves in the honeymoon sweet with an incredible view of the Alps. Robert and I hiked from First to the lake, however, we were quite surprised to find that that lake was under about six feet of snow. That night, we all gathered in the dining room for a wonderful dinner and great conversation. The next morning we woke up to a fresh layer of snow and headed to Jungfraujoch…

The Top of Europe…more photos to come!