Wednesday, Return Home and Final Adventures

Hello Everyone,
Here is how the return went on Wednesday. We had the first plane from Geneva to London at noon, we took this opportunity to take a last picture in Switzerland at the airport (picture 1).

In London we had a three hours layover we spent having fun (picture 2).

The trouble started after having boarded the plane, because of the traffic at Heathrow we took off one hour behind schedule. During the flight the pilot could not make up any time because of the strong headwind. We nevertheless got a good look at the mountains and icebergs of Greenland (picture 3).

We landed in Chicago more than an hourway behind schedule. When we finished with immigration and customs, we should have been boarding our connecting flight. We were resigned to spend the night there. At the airline desk we were quickly issued new boarding passes for the following morning. When I inquired about hotel vouchers, another employee informed us that our connecting flight got delayed. We ran across the airport and made it to the gate on time. There, to our biggest surprise, we came across our friend and his son, with whom we had visited Versailles in July. We had time to chat about our great time in Europe before boarding. We learned that the reason for the delay was the storm over Tulsa that occurred earlier on. We retrieved all of our suitcases after landing and went home at almost 1 a.m. but happy to have made it fine. Thank you for taking time to read our blog. I hope your enjoyed it.
Phil

Monday and Tuesday

Hi,
We were down to the last two days of our trip with the return scheduled for Wednesday. On Monday it rained a little bit, but we enjoyed it by having "raclette" (picture 1), which is melted cheese at our friends' house in the countryside. We finished the evening by playing jass, a traditional card game, while the children watched a movie.

Tuesday morning was another beautiful day so we rented again some bikes to ride the obstacle course (picture 2) and the trail in the woods (picture 3).

In the evening we had a last meal with my family (picture 4) that my mom had prepared before getting some rest for the big trip back to Oklahoma.
Phil

Sunday, August 1st, Swiss National Day

Hello,

Our last Sunday in Switzerland was the Swiss National Day in celebration of the charter signed in 1291 among the first three original states. We spend the day with friends who had organized a picnic in the woods close to the alps. On our way we had a good look on the Mont Blanc. We gathered in a nice shelter, much like a log cabin (picture 1), paid for by the village close by and open to the public free of charge.

We had a great time while the many children played together in a field nearby and rode their bike. At the end of the day we drove a short distance to the place where Bryan had a race in the evening. He did very well on the 7k cross and finished 3rd (picture 2).

Because we were in a small village, the people there gathered in an auditorium for the official national ceremony and celebration. It started with free sausages and drinks, followed by the official speech by a member of the municipality. After that everybody went outside for the traditional bonfire (picture 3).

Around 10 p.m. we drove to the Vevey to see the fireworks over the Lake of Geneva (picture 4). We went back home past midnight, it was a long day but one we enjoyed very much.

Phil

Friday and Saturday

Hi,
Unlike Saturday that was uneventful, Friday was quite busy. We started in the morning with a hike in the mountains that culminated over 2'000 m (over 6000 ft) on the top of the "Dent de Jaman", which sides are rather steep (picture 1). The sun was back and we had a great time (picture 2).

In the late afternoon we stopped by old friends for a drink (picture 3) before heading to another place to have dinner with other friends (picture 4). They had prepared fish with orange flavor that was wonderful.

Phil

Last Week in Switzerland

Hello Everyone,
This last full week we spent it visiting different friends who live in the area, including Rebecca's (picture 1) and Chris's godmother (picture 2). We shared delicious meals and good friendship moments. Tuesday through Thursday the weather was nice with a few showers on Thursday.
Phil

Sunday and Monday

Hello Everyone,
We continue to have good weather and mild temperatures (low 60's to high 70's). I took advantage of this to go on a walk by the lake shore on Sunday morning (picture 1). It was wonderful.

We had a barbecue at some friends' house (picture 2), we had a very enjoyable afternoon, talking and eating good food.

This week is our last full week before we return to the States. So, Monday morning we went biking again in the woods. We rented mountain bikes and did the obstacle course and the 10k trail. Before returning the bikes we have to wash them (picture 3).

In the afternoon I walked to downtown, then dropped off Rebecca at her godparents for a couple of days. We had dinner at the Signal-de-Bougy, like last Monday night by ourselves this time. It is the place that overlook the lake with a great view on the mountains.
Phil

Friday and Saturday

Hello,
Friday the weather was on the rainy side so we canceled a hike in the mountains we had scheduled and went running in the woods before 10 a.m. instead. Then, it started pouring and for lunch we ate a raclette, melted cheese with potatoes, which matched the weather perfectly. We watched on TV the "Tour de France" while the bikers were racing for the last stage in the mountains. In the evening we visited friends who had prepared a delicious meal for us (picture 1). We had melon with prosciutto to start with, followed by a lasagna with two different fillings.

Saturday morning we drove to the other side of the border to France for a little bit of shopping before going pick up Joshua who had spent the week with his godparents in Geneva. We had lunch together there. The dessert was an ice-cream cake with nougat made of honey and almonds (picture 2).
Phil