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

Cycling

Hi All,
Wednesday morning we rented bikes to do the obstacle trail in the woods (picture 1). It is slightly over 3k with some tough obstacles. Next week we want to do it again with pictures this time. In the evening we had dinner with my family.

The next morning we went back with the girls (picture 2). This time we did the off-road trail, 20k while the girls did the 10k. It was challenging with some steep parts.

In the evening we drove to the countryside to have dinner with another great family (picture 3). The kids had a lot of fun and we drove back very late. Phil

New Week

Hello Everyone,

I came back from the mountain Monday afternoon. A couple of hours later, we visited some friends who have a nice patio with a breathtaking view on the lake. We had a good time (picture 1).

Next we had dinner with another family in a restaurant on a hill with huge playground and farm animals. From there we can also see the Mont Blanc (picture 2), the tallest mountain in Europe at 4810 m (over 15000 ft).

On Tuesday we got up early to have a healthy jog in the woods outside Lausanne. After that we drove to Vevey to have lunch with my grandmother (picture 3) who is still doing well for her age despite problems with her eyes. The children enjoyed it very much (picture 4).
Phil

Weekend in the Mountains

Hello,
On Saturday we walked downtown Lausanne. In the afternoon I left to drive to Leukerbad, in the mountains about 90 minutes away. The rest of the family stayed in the city for the weekend. Sunday morning I did a 51/2-hour hike. The weather was great, I saw several wild animals from the Alps, one that look like a mountain goat (picture 1) and another like a big prairie dog (picture 2) that lives in burrows.

I ended up on the top of a mountain that was 3000 m tall (about 9000 ft, picture 3).

Late afternoon I went to the thermal bath to relax with a great view of the surrounding mountains from the outside pools (picture 4).

Phil

Thursday, One More Day in Paris

Hi Again,

We were supposed to drive back today but we decided to stay one more day because we don't get to come often and our hotel is nice. First, we went to the Palace of Luxemburg, which is close to downtown. It has a great public park where people can go to relax (picture 1).

Next, we went to the Champs-Elysee and the presidential palace nearby (picture 2). As we walked by we saw a small crowd with paparazzi taking pictures. We learned that Paris Hilton, her sister, and Nicole Richie were shopping in a small "boutique" across the street. We watched them as they exited back to their limousines and drove off.

Then, we drove to the hill of Montmatre on the northern side of the town. There we visited the Basilica of Sacre Coeur with its white dom. From the hill we have a good view over the city (picture 3). We had dinner in a small, typical restaurant.
On Friday we hit the road back to Switzerland in a little less than 6 hours. The weather was still great, we had an awesome time in Paris.
Phil

Wednesday, Bastille Day

Hello,
That day we started with a tour of Versaille (picture 1), the palace that Louis XIV made famous for its magnificence. To our greatest surprised we came across a couple of dear friends from Amiens, who had along a family from Tulsa.

In the evening we all met in Paris, across the Eiffel Tower on the Trocadero, to watch the fireworks (picture 2) with the huge crowd that had gathered for the occasion. It was really special to be in Paris for the ceremonies.

Phil

Tuesday in Paris

Hello,

On Tuesday we went back to Paris, our hotel was on the suburb. We visited Notre Dame, the cathedral (picture 1) and walked to the Louvre with its pyramid (picture 2). We did not go inside because it was closed that day, in the summer there are way too many people anyway.

After that we drove along the Seine River where we saw the replica of the Statue of Liberty on the Pont de Grenelle.

Phil

France

Hello chris here,
Our france trip went really well. Besides the occasional delay which is normal on long travels i did enjoy it. Going back to Amiens to visit friends was nice everything went according to plan. While on our way to Belgium i got to see something few people ever get to experience, LE TOUR DE FRANCE! Definitely one of the coolest things i have ever seen and one of the neatest things ever. It truly is a one in a lifetime experience that i encourage everyone to go witness. Caught a jersey and i will never forget id like to go again and again! Belgium though we didnt stay there was neat i have never been there however Bruxelles was a very cool city very big! Luxembourg i enjoyed because i got to see my family that i practically never get to see and some ive even never seen. Then PARIS! i liked paris alot saw everything you could possibly see in paris the sights, a mime, a fake statue it was all wonderful. Plus because i was there i know pretty much where everything is located so for a future visit;) overall it went better then expected i was very tired but in the end it was pretty good and i cannot wait to go back and visit! last 3 weeks in Switzerland should be fun as well!

Monday in Paris

Hello,
We finally made it to Paris, the final destination of our trip to France. We visited different places, including the Trocadero in front of the Eiffel Tower (picture 1). We enjoyed our visit very much. In the evening we had lunch with the family (pictures 2 and 3) who hosted Christopher 6 years ago, when he was on the exchange in 5th grade. It was so neat to meet them and, for Chris, to see Flavien again after all those years.
Phil

Sunday

Hi There,
On Sunday we drove to Calais, a little further south from Dunkerque. It is the narrowest point of the English Channel, crossed by numerous ferryboats departing to the British city of Dover. The coastline on the other side is very visible (picture 1). It also is the entrance of the tunnel under the sea that allows cars to go across by train.

In the afternoon we drove along the coast that was heavily defended by numerous German bunkers during WWII. Then, we make our way to Paris on highway A1. Unfortunately, the A1 was shut down about halfway through for at least one and a half hour due to an accident. There was a traffic jam of several miles (picture 2). We made it to Paris but very late. We did not see much of the World Cup final game, but listen to it on the radio.
Phil

Saturday

Hi again,

We spent our Saturday visiting different places in Dunkerque, including the Museum of the Port that retraces the story of the city. In the spring of 1940 the British army and the French forces were almost annihilated before managing to retreat by boat to England. Most of the city was destroyed during the war and the city was the last to be liberated from the Germans. In front of the museum there also is an 3-mast boat for which we had a guided tour (picture 1). In the background of the picture, there is the city hall tower where city council members throw fish during the carnival every February. It is the second largest carnival in France.

We spent the evening at the beach (picture 2) where we also had dinner in one of those restaurants along the seashore.
Phil

Friday

Hello,

On Friday we left Luxembourg to drive to the ocean through Belgium. We stopped in Brussels, the capital (picture 1), before leaving to get by sunset in Oostende (picture 2).

From there we drove a little bit south to Dunkerque, on the French side of the border to spend the night. The culinary specialty of the area is "moules frites" (mussels with fries), which we enjoyed eating (picture 3).
Phil