Train to Wengen on the fritz

 Today we were headed to a cheese festival in Wengen.

First stop along the route was the tiny town of Thun, on Lake Thun. Sweetest little town there ever was. 

We climbed up to an amazing castle. 

Wonderful areas for rest and water.

Thank God, we're not used to climbing tiny marble steps to the top of a mountain!

We took a boat ride across Lake Thun to Interlaken. The views were stunning. The water was a beautiful turquoise. 

We stumbled onto a private cabin on the boat. 

We had a tasty glass of local white wine and met Ivan. Our waiter extraordinaire. 

Our next destination was Wengen to a local cheese festival in the countryside.  Unfortunately,  the line to Wengen was out. Instead the train took us to Grindelwald.  A lucky turn of events. We got to see Eiger and have a delicious lunch.

Jessica and Matt are the best travel companions ever.  Jessica is a natural at figuring out trains, Matt is our internet connection and both are always up for the unknown.  💕

Switzerland, chocolate, cowbells, and cable cars!

"You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts.  You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.  You may strive to be like them but seek not to make them like you.  For life goes not backward"

The time has come to celebrate the beauty of spending time with our adult children.  We're so looking forward to it.  With busy life and distance, it has become too rare.  Matt and Jessica have chosen to visit Switzerland and we're honored to be along.

They left from Minnesota and we met up at Washington Dulles Intl airport so we could fly the long leg to Zurich together.  On arrival in Zurich we took the train to Bern Switzerland. 

Luggage on a crowded 2 story train is not our favorite. 

Our hotel is very charming and in a perfect location near old town.

      Hotel Bären am Bundesplatz

Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, is built around a crook in the Aare River.

Zytglogge, Built around 1218–1220.  the Zytglogge was converted to a women's prison, notably housing – "priests' whores", women convicted of sexual relations with clerics! Oddly specific!

The clock dial has been dated to building phase of 1405.

Wonderful pizza was nearby 

An open market on the square was selling olives among other treats.

  "Child-Eater Fountain" is a painted stone fountain at the Kornhausplatz (Granary Place) in Bern, Switzerland. It is one of the Old City of Bern's fountains from the 16th century.

 

There are mazing, fountains everywhere.

Matt and Jessica turned in early today, exhausted.  

Amsterdam is amazing!

We stayed at a lovely place called  Misc. Eatdrinksleep. 
The Hotel was very tiny. The stairs were spiral and very steep and small.  On the main floor you'd walk to the back room and enter through a hidden book case.  The stairs were so steep that if you took a wrong step you could end up on the first floor in one single step!!  The owner... it turns out was from Wisconsin! She just had a Baby Boy named SAM!

We went on a lovley canal tour.  We love Amsterdam and will be back again someday.

The hot city of Amsterdam!

Our first day in Amsterdam and it was 91 degrees!

Celebrating Sam!

"All you have to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over."

We are on the cusp of another great adventure.
A celebration of Sam is in order and is long overdue. We're excited to spend some time with this amazing young man, to explore, play, learn and just enjoy.
Let the merriment begin. First stop Amsterdam!