Me, a tour guide!: Family visits, Mike's Promotion, and White Water Rafting in Switzerland

My sister and her family had been planning a trip for several months to come visit us.  It was early summer and the busiest Space A time to fly but, after a couple days of waiting in the terminal, they made it!  The first couple of days we spent around the house and around our village to recover from the jet lag.  We spent that Saturday at Hohenzellern Castle.  This was our first visit as well and wow, it did not disappoint!  This was by far, the best castle we've visited so far!  Good thing we liked it because we would return within a week with Mike's Dad and his wife, Tracy!

 Cute idea to give the kids robes to tour the castle!  

Triberg, Germany

Triberg is a tiny, but beautiful little town in the Black Forest. Most notoriously known as the home of the cuckoo clocks-Where they originated and with some of the original families still owning shops!  It's just a little over an hour and an absolutely beautiful drive winding through the tiny towns and the forest.  

 Enjoying black forest cake!

 Here, Jacob and Sarah found a beautiful, hand carved cuckoo clock to send home!

 A very short hike and you're at the Triberg Falls

Although we have visited Triberg twice now, we have yet to decide on a cuckoo clock.  Many of them have carved dogs on them and I really want a boxer in memory of our precious Dempsey but most of them are different breeds.  We are going back soon to meet with a clock maker and see about having a custom carved Dempsey dog put on a clock for us.  I hope we can find someone who will make it for us because that's what I have my heart set on... 

Europa Park

Germany's Disney Land

The park is divided in themed areas by country.  You can walk through "Switzerland", "Germany", "England" and many others.  Great park but very strange that it closes at 6:00PM --In the summer!!

Mike's Promotion

What a surprise when Mike's Dad told us he and Tracy would be making the trek across the pond to be here for his promotion!  They arrived about a week after Sarah and her family so we had a full house although, Al and Tracy stayed in a lovely hotel in our village.  

Living overseas can make significant events like this disheartening.  It's a big trip and one you just don't expect people to make.  We were so lucky to have so much family here for Mike's big day.  It really made me happy for him.

 Our nephew, Marc pinning!

 Noah

After a lot of reading I decided on Lake Constance for our group family trip that weekend.  Lake Constance borders Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and oh was it beautiful!  We stayed in a precious little guest house.  Hotels in Europe are smaller, more quaint, and definitely more personal.  I love them!  You see the chain hotels in the larger cities but they are rare in the towns and villages.  Our guest house had a big deck overlooking the lake and a wonderful restaurant with outdoor seating.  

On the way we stopped at Monkey Mountain.  I was really excited about this place.  It's a huge reserve where the monkeys are allowed to roam free--No cages, and you can feed them popcorn with no barriers.  It's really interesting to be so close to them.  One thing I love about Europe is their sense of personal responsibility.  Something we do not have in the States.  It seems I'm always reading about someone doing something stupid and then blaming someone else for it.  Good luck with that here. For example,  there are many places i've noticed with no railings from steep falls.  My mind is failing me now but I've noticed so many things similar to this.   They expect you to have common sense here!    They tell you before the monkey tour, "These are wild animals.  Feed them exactly how we instruct.  Do not touch the babies. The moms will attack you."  It's a little unnerving at first but, do as your told.  Once, Noah (He's 4) didn't hold his popcorn flat in his hand and the monkey finally snatched it and with a flat hand, smacked him on the head--not to hurt him but, almost like scolding him.   Funny?  Yes, but a little scary.  Later it was even funnier.  Hey, they warned us.  

Little area to have lunch after the monkeys

We spent the first afternoon eating and taking the ferry over to Konstanz to piddle around town. The views of the villages and vineyards are beautiful.  This is really a wonderful place to visit.  This is definitely somewhere we will return for a nice weekend.  The backdrop of the Alps behind the lake is just breathtaking.  

The Zeppelin!  Yes, you can ride it - I can't remember exactly but I believe it was about $250 a person.

The Phanderbahn in Austria

This was the highlight of the trip for me!  The Phanderbahn is a cable car that takes you up, up, and more up to the top of the mountain where you can see all three countries around the lake.  Wow, and more wow. What's up top you wonder?  There was a playground, a great cafeteria style restaurant, a little zoo, and a tiring hike to where the eagle show is held.  We missed the show unfortunately, but really enjoyed this excursion.  

Even with a GPS, I manage to miss turns.  This was the best wrong turn I ever made!  We were driving from Germany to Austria and I missed the highway exit.  We watched as Mike's car left us and we began driving on tiny, and I mean tiny, back roads that wound between fields and farms throughout Austria.  Absolutely beautiful!

Headed up in the cable car.  I may be smiling but, my body was shaking.  I am terrified of heights. 

Of course they weren't afraid at all

At the top

It was a hazy, hazy day.  They had predicted thunderstorms all day so were just appreciative it wasn't raining.  And honestly, the haze was amazingly beautiful but I do wonder what it would've looked like with a clear view.  

Lunch on top of an Alp.  

Is that right?  Can you be on top of an Alp?  Whatever, on top of the mountain that happens to be in The Alps.  

 We walked and walked downhill....I guess it only makes sense that eventually we would have to go back up.  Oi'!

This was the last weekend my sister and her family would be here.  It really was a great trip and are excited about their next one here!!  

Until next time!

Interlaken, Switzerland

Mike sent me an email about a month ago with a link to "Outdoor Interlaken" (Google them, find them on FaceBook) , a company that does extreme sports;  

White water rafting, canyoning (not to be confused with canoeing-This certainly isn't canoeing) Paragliding, hot air ballooning, etc.  The email was short and simple:

"Please plan a trip in August." 

Well, ok then.  That I can do.

I knew Switzerland would be beautiful.  I knew it but, nothing really prepares you when you're there and everywhere you turn looks like a Photoshopped post card.  One thing about Switzerland in general is that it's very expensive.  If you go, prepare yourself to pay double for hotels and food.  That's no exaggeration.  Fortunately the Swiss Franc is almost 1:1 with the Dollar (almost) so we weren't creamed with the Euro conversion rate on top of the steep prices. 

 For example, lunch one day:  Two personal pizzas and two beers:  $60.  

I knew this before so I bought a little cooler and packed bottled waters, iced coffees, snacks, and a few sandwiches before.  We don't mind splurging but this was borderline ridiculous.  Despite this negative aspect, GO- Amazing and worth every penny.  We stayed in a beautiful little hotel on the main street so you walked out of the hotel to people sitting at all the cute little restaurants and cafes.  Our room faced the opposite direction, towards the Alps.  We had a little balcony that also overlooked a field where all the paragliders landed.  I've never seen so much paragliding in my life!  You could see where they left the top of the mountain and watch them come down.  It was so beautiful.  Our room was more like a little chalet with hardwood floors and slanted ceilings.  Nothing overly fancy, but nice!  Mike is so fancy and brought an HDMI cord so we were able to watch movies and Seinfeld on our TV!  We paid extra to have a room with air conditioning. They only had a few and let me tell you, this is one splurge that is worth it.   I still do not understand why Europe doesn't do air conditioning.  Well, they do but it's not very common.   It's so bizarre because it does get hot here!!  

White Water Rafting in the Swiss Alps

Yep, I typed that out for effect.  And you know why.  Because, I still can't believe sometimes we are doing these things. 

Most of you know I'm not an extreme sports kindof girl, but my fear of missing out on something is finally overcoming my paranoia.  It was so fun!  

The placemats at the restaurants.  Rugenbrau is their local beer brewed up in the mountains.  The key was to our hotel room.  No key cards here..  In fact, I haven't had a key card since we've moved to Europe.

 The view from a restaurant named "Panarama Terrasse"

We would like to do Switzerland one more time..  In the snow!  

What's next?  Well, we have friends planning trips.  Mike will start his traveling season in about a month.  I checked out the list and am most interested in joining him for Instanbul, Turkey.  We have booked a trip to Rome in December.  We wanted to avoid the blistering heat in Italy and the crowds and I've heard December is the perfect time to do that!  It's not as cold down there.  And, I also heard the Pope is in town for Christmas time!