July 5, 2009 - On the Road Again

Greetings All,

We are on the road by 9:00 a.m. as we take a train to get down the mountain from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen which is where the car is parked. The drive to Reims, France takes just over 6 hours. We are out of Switzerland and into France in no time at all. Switzerland is a small country but I did not realize just how small until we cross over to France. Again we are waved on, so no stamp for my passport. Our route takes us through rolling hills with farms of blooming sunflowers, large vegetable farms, wheat, and what looks like clover but not sure. The highway has some eye art on the side of the highway. Spheres, squares, dots, triangles all painted to look tie-dyed. Interesting but have not found out way they do this. We drive through a heavy rain storm and for me not a fun drive. Our stop is Reims for the night and rain is keeping us in but a good opportunity to get blog done and catch up on e-mail.

Our blog will end for a short period as we have no e-mail access upon our return to Liverpool for two weeks. Never fear though everything is getting set up but is is done in steps unlike in Canada.

Take care everyone and will up date you once we join the 21st century.

Au Revoir Mes Amiee,

Sandy & Fred

July 4, 2009 - Trummelbach Falls

Greetings All,

We are up and out early today to take the train down to Lauterbrunnen to do the hike to the falls. The walk is supposed to be a 45 minute easy hike. We decided to take the river walk rather than the road as it is hot and we figure the river would be cooler. The walk took us about 1 1/2 hours as we sauntered along and stopped for numerous pictures. The river Lutschine is very swift and a green gray in colour. We meet a number of people and are greeted in many different languages. We are very over dressed in blue jeans with jackets tied around our waists and umbrellas as there were dark skies as we left Lauterbrunnen. On our way a Swiss farmer is feeding his pigs and I approach him to take their picture. He gives me a strange look says JA take away. Probably figures crazy tourist. The pigs are the pinkest ones I have ever seen. At the falls we meet two young Canadian girls who are from Ontario, live in Peterborough and one works in Bowmanville. Small World.

The falls themselves are inside the mountain and there is a lift that takes you up the inside were the hike starts. We opt to ride up and walk down. Thank god we did that as the climb inside takes a while. The roar of the water is unreal and it is nice and cool which is nice considering how over dressed we are.

The falls are a result of the melt from the glaciers on the Eiger, the Monk and the Jungfrau and carries 20,200 tons of boulder detritus per year. The drainage area is 24 square kilometers, half of which is covered with snow and glaciers. Up to 20,000 litres of water per second come through the falls. It is the only glacier-waterfalls in Europe inside a mountain that is still accessible. This has been a amazing experience.

We opt to walk back by the road and the walk is much shorter 45 minutes and it has clouded over. My earlier bitching about carrying the brollies and jackets is for naught because it starts to rain quite constantly. A full and tiring day but very worthwhile as it is our last day in the Alps.

So long for now,

Sandy & Fred

July 3, 2009 - Jungfraujoch, Switzerland

Greetings All,

Today we learnt from a Swiss gentleman that there are 4 official languages in Switzerland; German, Italian, French and Romansh. The majority of the language is German Swiss 60%, French around 20% and Italy and Romansh is 10% each. Each area has its own dialect so makes life interesting. He was a bit younger than us and had to learn 2 languages as he was growing up French was a requirement. Today English is taught in 4th grade and then other languages, at least 3 languages are now taught.

We headed off on a train to Jungfraujoch, The Top of Europe. At Wengen our starting point we are at 4160 ft above sea level. We change trains at Kleine Scheidegg which is 6762 ft above sea level. our last stop is Jungfraujoch is at 11333 ft above sea level. Most of the train journey is inside the mountain and is the result of a dream of Adolf Guyer-Zeller who was the pioneer of the Jungfrau Railway.

If you have ever doubted that there is a creator of all, you need to visit this area of Switzerland. The sites are breath taking. Rugged and wild mother nature at her best. Fred and I experience light headedness (no smart ass comments) and Fred has a heavy heart beat rather scary. We take some time to acclimatize ourselves as we both have never experienced anything like this and hope not a sign of old age especially when there seem to be a number of much older folk who seem to be okay.

There is much to do and see, the Ice Palace, short travel here as it is ice and we do not have shoes that either one of us is comfortable traveling along the ice on. The Plateau which takes you outside on a glacier for some views, and last but not least the sphinx outlook tower at 11760 ft above sea level. It is here that I experience vertigo for the first time. I have full intentions to go down to the lower observation deck which is by way of a metal grid. The grid is open and looking down all you see is the bottom which is a long long way down. I am not sure if it is the light headed feeling I still have but I just cannot step down the steps to get to the deck. It sucks to get old if this part of the deal and I now have a way better understanding for my dear friend Colleen and my Mom who have height issues.

Prices are outrageous at the Jungfraujoch, 10 Swiss Francs (CHF) for a tiny cow bell which in Wengen where we are staying is 4.60 CHF totally ridiculous but people are paying.

On our trip down we stop at Kleine Scheidegg for lunch and have the most amazing sausage and rosti (fried potatoes and onion). We then have a short hike around the area to take pictures the take the train back to Wengen.Swiss cows are for real with the bells and all and we get some great picks A amazing day all round.

Good Night All,

Sandy & Fred

July 2, 2009 - Wengen, Switzerland

Greetings All,

Today we headed off early leaving Italy for Switzerland. The ride for the greatest part is all highway, 2 and 3 lanes. At the Swiss border they are not interested in the passports just that we have a vignette that allows us to travel the highways. Basically it is a prepaid road toll disc. So, sadly no stamp yet again in my passport.

Now the drive gets interesting as the Nav Chick takes us over a mountain pass Susten rather then around it. Fred advises me that explains the time factor as usually the pass in closed in earlier and later months. The roads are winding and narrow two lanes only one for up and the other for down. Due to the wine and food stuff we are bringing back from Italy my seat is forward enough that when I apply my imaginary brakes I am standing on a angle a lot of the time. Fred asks how I am doing given the roads which are way more winding than those we rode in Italy and a a hell of a lot higher. Sort of reminds one of the Pacific Coast Highway but the drops are a hell of a lot steeper. The Alps are everything I had imagined and much more so no disappointments at all.

We arrive at Lauterbrunnen and the Nav Chick says we have arrived. But there is no Best Western hotel to be found. We finally park and Fred asks at a hotel we thought may be our hotel and the clerk tells Fred that you can only get to Wengen by train. Exasperated as online it said there were parking spots we park at the train station and ask whether Wengen is accessible by car. As it turns out you do have to get a train up the mountain to the hotel. At this point we are both somewhat ticked to say the least but hey it should be part of the adventure. Luggage in hand we board a small train that takes us up to Wengen. The sites are beautiful and our hotel has amazing views. Dinner is a 6 course meal and very good. So a good nights rest is in order and higher up we go into the mountains tomorrow.

Not sure if Swiss have their own language will find out tomorrow as German, Italian and French plus one other are the official languages.

Good night All,

Sandy & Fred

June 30, 2009 - Perugia and July 1, 2009 Chillin in the Pool

Buona Sera,

Another bright sunny day and we headed into Perugia. Our last site for this trip. Perugia is the largest city in Umbria. The Etruscans settled in Perugia in the 5th century BC or earlier and was conquered by the Romans in 309 BC. Perugia saw its greatest splendour in the 13th and 14th century. The town has some amazing very old structures and is very well maintained. Unfortunately every thing closes down at 1:00 p.m. seems to be the story of our experience on this trip. We had a nice lunch of pannini's then headed off to Todi. Only to find everything is shut down until after 4:00 P.M. It is now very hot so we head back to the villa for a late afternoon swim to cool off.

July 1 - Happy Canada Day, the order of the day is R&R after a short shopping trip into a now open Todi. I spent most of the day in the pool on my float and am joined by John and Adrienne after lunch. Fred joins us later in the day and is soon in the shade with my paleface friends. We are now all packed and ready to head off early tomorrow morning to Switzerland while John, Adrienne and Portia are headed back to London.

Arrivederci all,

Sandy & Fred