Visiting Friends in Switzerland!

We had a day's journey from Paris to Thun, Switzerland. It was necessary to take several trains, and there were a few stressful moments to make the train connections.  It was interesting to go through customs from France to Switzerland- you just whiz through a long corridor pulling your luggage and some custom's officers watch you as you go by but seldom stop anyone. 

In the small city of Thun (near Bern, in the German speaking part of Switzerland) we were met by our dear friend, Bruno.  He is a kind man whom we have known for about 20 years.  The last time we went to visit him and our other friend, Diesel, was 10 years ago!  Bruno ushered us into his hand-crafted renovated older home and served us some snacks.  We have stayed in this house twice before,over the years, and it continues to have charm and a unique character.  It is situated on the Ares River and is a 20 minute walk to the town of Thun. 

During the week of our visit, we saw a great deal of the small country of Switerland.  Uncle Bruno, as he is fondly called, was a wonderful host and drove us around in his antique car way up into the mountains in the area, where there was still snow. He took us to many country inns along the way where we tasted schnapps or soft drinks and delicious desserts.  We even climbed up a tall tower and saw a view of the whole area, on one of our journeys.   One day, Diesel (our other friend), joined us on a road trip to Grueyer (where the cheese is made) to visit the famous Grueyer Castle that was build in the Middle Ages. Ir was complete with furniture and the paintings and tapestries on the wall depicted scenes from this era.  Christopher really loved to run along the ramparts around the castle!

One evening, were also invited to a traditonal Swiss supper at Therese's home (Bruno's partner) complete with a basket-weaving workshop and museum! Shannon wore her new Italian outfit to this event and had lots of fun joking with Diesel.  Therese and her assistant, Andrea, made the children some woven creations while the children looked on- a bird for Shannon and a slug for Christopher.  I got a snail from Therese and Diesel even tried his hand at it, and made me a woven pine cone!  After the meal, we were given a tour of the workshop, retail shop, storage area (very huge indeed with willow and other types of wood to weave), and shown around a weaving museum.  My favorite items were the micro small baskets and the ancient basket that was used to hide poison!

Moreover, we joined our friends for hikes in the area, walking by farms and into forests with caves to explore and bubbling streams.  It was lots of fun to take a break on our hike to enjoy conversation annd eat juicy sausages cooked on an open fire!  One night, we joined Diesel's family at his home and marvelled at the bee -keeping operationn he runs in his backyard. Christopher tried to keep the party lively by showing his new Swiss friends his magic tricks.  Another day, we had an outdoor cheese fondue in the woods and Christopher practiced archery with the bow that Therese fashioned for him out of a willow branch.  Uncle Bruno is an expert archer and gave him lots of helpful tips to improve his aim. Shannon enjoyed stiriring the large brass pot hung over the fire, to make sure the fondue did not burn.

We all had a wonderful time with our Swiss friends and we were sad to leave them...

Shannon and Christopher enjoy a breakfast on the first class  TGV train from Paris to Lausanne, Switzerland.

Shannon had a snooze along the way.

Christopher and Shannon with the Thun Castle in the background.

The lovely bird talked to us each day as we walked by to go the the town of Thun!

Shannon and Christopher liked to twirl on this thing at the park nearby.

Brenda in Thun.





The view walking from Uncle Bruno's house to town.

My friends- Diesel (left) and Bruno (right) in Bruno's kitchen.

We all had a fun time on the second night when Diesel joined us, playing cards,
 Christopher learned how to do palm-reading from Uncle Bruno, and we even tried some magic tricks!

Christopher took aim when we had a day in woods enjoying  a cheese fondue.



Bruno stirring the cheese fondue with Shanon staying warm.



Yummy fondue!





Uncle Bruno giving Chris pointers on archery.

One of the farms along the way, as we drive up to the higher altitudes and snow.

We had a cat visit us at our table at a country inn.

The farmer at the inn let us see his barns and we visited some cute donkeys.

This is one of the inns we visited along the way.

A little hot chocolate break along the way.





Here is Uncle Bruno's antique car as we drive through a sall town in Switzerland.

Chris and Shannon near one of the barns along the way...

A typical church in the Bernese Canton.

Interior of the church.

The tower we climbed.





Uncle Bruno giving Christopher instructions on palm reading on the top of the tower.





Therese and Bruno.

Andrea, Therese's mother, Diesel, and Shannon.

Brenda and Shannon in the Weaving Museum.

Therese weaving a bird for Shannon.

Andrea is weaving an animal too (she is doing a work placement at Therese's business)

Diesel and Brenda in Grueyer town.

Here are Bruno and Diesel in a weird sci-fi bar in Grueyer town becasue the director of the movie, Alien is Swiss and  built this bar and a mueum devoted to extra terrestrials!

View of a church and mountains from the castle.

Bruno and Diesel in front of the largest fireplace I have ever seen!

Christopher and his Uncle Bruno in one of the castle dining rooms.

View of the garden and ramparts surrounding the castle.

Another dining room in the castle.

Christopher in the man cave room!

View from one of the castle widows.

Inside of castle coutyard.

Paris- Living On A Houseboat Barge With A View Of The Eiffel Tower

We flew from Rome directly to Paris. To say it was direct, is to ignore the flurry of activity that preceded this "direct flight". Ha! We started out our day at 4:00 am, with us hauling our suitcases down the narrow lane in Meta.  The taxi met us at the end of the hill and drove us to the train station.  Shannon, Christopher and I decided to not wait for the taxi so we RAN, yes, ran down the winding narrow road at the crack of dawn to the train station.  What a way to wake up in the morning!  We made the first train  by 5:05 am and bumped luggage up and down stairs rushing to the airport via the train, took the flight (Cyndy, my sister, had some check- in problems too) and then we were in Paris.  From there, we took the metro with all of our luggage on and off of metros...almost leaving a suitcase behind one time.  Really, the whole thing was like some kind of Monty Python film, complete with a zany cast of nine!  After this hair-raising day we, made it to our houseboat barge with an amazing view of the Eiffel  Tower from the back door!

My sister, Cyndy, her husband, Brian and children, and my Mom, Kaye had only three days left on their vacation, so we saw the hightlights of Paris in fine style! We walked around the area near the Eiffel Tower, which was swarming with immigrants selling souvenirs and tons soldiers carrying semi-automatic weapons! Kathleen, and the cousins enjoyed going on  the carousel.  The city of Paris is well organized and has lots of  bridges, wide boulevards and parks. Most of  the city was remodelled in the 17th and 18th century so there is a homogenous look of cream colored buildings and wider streets than in Italy.

We did a bus tour of the city where we saw many different areas of town...the city is steeped in culture and interesting people.  One night, we toured  the Seine River on a boat, and saw all the bridges along the way.  My favorite bridge was Pont Neuf which was built centries ago and had carved faces all along the width of it.

The tour of Versailles Palace was facinating.  It was big and very ornate.  The layout seemed odd to me, it was one giant room after the other with no hallways. I could also see evidence of secret doorways where the royalty and court alike could "visit" back and forth.  There would really be very little privacy in a palace like this, I guess that is why there were secret passageways.The gardens were beautiful on a very large piece of property.  It seemed such a decadent way for the leader to live with no regard for the starving people in that time of history.

Finally on the last night, we climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower! It was a glorious view of the city at night!  We even had a sip of champagne at the top!

We really enjoyed our home base on the houseboat.  It was spacious, it was in a super location, and we enjoyed watching the boats cruise by our living room window!  Paris was lots of fun but at the end of three days, it was with sadness that we had to goodbye to our extended family.

Brenda, Cyndy and my Mom, Kaye.

William and Shannon beside our boat on the Seine River

View out the back door of our boat at night...

The bridge just beside our boat.

The kids enjoying a supper of pizza in the kitchen.

Brian and Brenda enjoying un pain au chocolate in the livingroom.

The family walking around our neighbourhood.

Yes, the theme is French barets...here we are on the bus tour of the city.

Kaye enjoying the sights of Paris.

View of the Seine river.

Notre Dame Cathedral.

Brian taking in the scene.

Arch de Triumph

Versaille Palace- Christopher, Shannon, and Ted stand in front of the gates to the palace

One of many fancy fireplaces in the palace...it is taller than Chris and I!

Shannon in the famous hall of mirrors.

View of some of the gardens surrounding the palace.

Christopher in the area for women...I'm not sure the story behind that...it seemed to be a hall with sculptures of  women.

Brian and Kathleen near a throne and in one of the posh rooms in the palace,

Princess Kathleen likes visiting a palace!

Snack time for the family outside.

A painting on the roof of one of the palace rooms.