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Sunday, August 19, 2012

Best Birthday Roadtrip ever

After a wonderful two nights in Montreaux, we weren't sure we could find anything better...  but we did!  Another bucket list for item for Colby is to ski the Swiss Alps.  Since we were visiting in the summer, there wouldn't be any skiing.  Here are a few photos from our amazing and beautiful drive through the alps.
 
 
 





This drive was amazing, but we were dying to see the REAL Matterhorn, not just the one at Disneyland!   Since Zermatt is car-free, we drove to the town of Tasch to catch the train.  It was here, that Annika found her true love - Switzerland!!  Here is the story:  We parked the car at the train station carpark.  As we got out of the car, Annika exclaimed, "Look at the floor, it is soooo clean!  I want to live in Switzerland."  And it is true, Switzerland is very clean and beautiful.

On the train to From Tasch to Zermatt



Our first view of the Matterhorn!


Pretty sure we are on top of the world!  So beautiful.






 The Matterhorn, Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin, is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 meters high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps.
Wow



Arik was in rock climbing heaven


There were so many of these towers that people had built while visiting.  We just had to add our own.  






A little snack with the best view in the world!

Ricola
 This is one of the best days we have had together as a family.  Mountains, Sun, Family.



Saturday, August 18, 2012

Happy 40th Birthday trip Colby

For Colby's Big 40, we headed to Europe.  First, we flew into Geneva Switzerland, then drove to Barcelona, Spain so he could say he spent his 20th and 40th birthdays there!!

From Geneva, we drove around the beautiful Lake Geneva or Lac Leman to Montreaux.  This turned out to be a fantastic place to stay, and shockingly beautiful.





























 Chillon Castle, an architectural jewel located in the most beautiful setting imaginable - on the shores of Lake Geneva, right at the foot of the Alps. 

This monument with over 1'000 years of history, has always inspired artists and writers, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Victor Hugo and Lord Byron, from Delacroix to Courbet.
Chillon Castle








Lord Byron carved his name on the pillar and also wrote a poem about a prisoner who was held here










Love this!





Gross!  Arik loves to see the toilets at all the different castles




More toilet pictures




We visited the castle first and then drove about 30 min to the Caillers Chocolate Factory, YUM!  However, we were too late and it was just closing.  We bought some chocolate for the trip, but didn't get to do the tour.  

Sad faces because we didn't get to do the chocolate tour.