Europe - daytrip to Venice

I'm not really putting a lot of detail into these posts, I can make a book with everything!  So, I'm trying to keep it simple, yet there's still so much!  We started at the wee-hours of the morning to drive all the way to Venice, Italy.  This is another time when Shayne and I marveled at how much we did with this group - they could easily bag this "day-trip" and save a lot of money.  But it was such a highlight of the trip at the same time, so we're grateful that it's still on the agenda!  We had to all wear matching clothing - which included LONG pants and it was SOOOOOO hot and muggy.  Yucky and mucky!  Having been to Venice now, I'm glad we got to go, but it's not on my go back and see more list.  I was surprised how filthy it was and perhaps the millions and gazillions of people was a little bit of the not-so-fun part.  

They did a demonstration for us and we watched him make this horse - out of glass!  He made it look easy, of course.  But maybe I make a C major scale look easy to others....  ha ha ha

We went to the top of the tower and I was surprised how much we couldn't see!  We weren't high enough to see the canals between the buildings - guess they should do helicopter rides!

Feeding the birds...

Europe - Seefeld, Austria

Look at how lovely this room is!  We quickly found out the norm for a "king size" bed is to push two twins together.  Guess it kept us from stealing blankets from each other!

The view out our window looking over the edge of the downtown area.

The first full day in Seefeld, the group went to a close-by town to see the sites, but Shayne and I opted out of this one excursion.  No, it is not normal to not do the trip as planned, but I guess I just had to ask my dad in my nicest way if we could have the morning off.  He relented and off we went to to rent mountain bikes and go for a ride.  The ride was fantastic.  Nothing technical, just gravel pathways and lame maps sending us all over the country-side.  We found a couple of lakes, breathtaking vistas, and had a great time just being together while riding.  I love hanging out with my best friend.  I think we were riding around for a good 3 hours.  We got home with just a few minutes to spare before the buses returned.

This cow charged at me, scared me to bits.  I don't like you Bessie.

After our morning bike ride, we met my parents and the city coordinators to go to a little town just across the German border.  Here's the cool part - the city coordinator is a family friend from Kansas!  He was the orchestra director when I played in the city-wide honor symphony for 3 years.  He later became the orchestra director at my high school (I was long gone by then), but he's a fun guy to be around and this was an added bonus simply because I'm my parents daughter!  Notice the painting on the city buildings.

An amazing cathedral - Rococo style.  (did I spell it right?)

Now those are some upright pews, we've got it pretty easy.

After our little visit to the small town, Shayne and I went back to our bikes and had another hour to explore the city before they had to be returned.  Check out this MONSTER ant hill.  Seriously - that's an ant hill!!!

For future reference, here's where I want to post some pictures of the band concert and also a photo of us with the city coordinators.  But, I can't find the pictures I thought I had... I hope I find them!

Europe - Crans-Montana, Switzerland

As we were traveling by bus to each destination, we would look out the windows and say, "oh, a castle!  Oh, another castle!  Oh, look at that castle!"  It was picturesque and mind-boggling at the same time.

Crans-Montana is a small ski-town.  We rented these "scooters" (beefy wheels and disc brakes) and took the ski lift up to the first drop-off.  We had a great time riding down the mountainside.  Shayne took to this like a duck in the water - I was slower and more cautious.... but I still did it!  Dave did the ride with us and we sure had a great time the three of us - we even did a little "black diamond" portion - by accident of course.

At the bottom of the hill, we inspected Dave's flesh wounds (yeah, he had a little incident)

We went to Castillo Chillon, in nearby town Montreaux

It's a two seater!

Our lunch - bread, cheese, grapes, and the grossest crackers ever.  Evidently you can't judge a cracker box by it's cover.  We walked along Lake Geneva and had ourselves a little picnic with my dad.

 The next day we went to Zermatt - another ski town known for its spectacular view of the Matterhorn.  This town is unique because they have outlawed all gas driven vehicles - everything is battery powered - the garbage trucks, the buses, everything.  And I heard from a ski pro the other day that this is an AMAZING place to go ski...  we'll have to go back someday!

Enjoying our first 'braut"

The people of Switzerland were the best audience of all the places we performed.  They were so animated and loving the kids and the music - it was really, really fun.  The next night they did a party for us!  They served us a cheese Fondue - a favorite of mine!

They brought in traditional dancers, musicians, and even these Alpine Horns to perform for us.  They also let us try the Alpine horns!

  These three women are sisters and they were the highlight of the night - funny and talented!

Europe - PARIS (say it with the right accent!)

Sacré-Cœur Basilica 

We heard a story about a martyr who was beheaded and picked up his head and walked to the next hill to die.  Here is a statue representing him.

We paid a little extra to be able to walk around in the basement (full of statues) and then walk up to the top!  I loved how worn the stairs were from the main floor to the upper levels - thousands and thousands of priests have walked these steps over the past 100+ years.

A view from the top

It was sad to see the graffiti (scratched in) throughout this amazing building.

We had an afternoon at the "Louvre".  We had to elbow our way to the front of this room - it was packed and felt like Black Friday.

A view of the Louvre from one of its windows.

There is a tradition to put a lock on the chain-links of this bridge.  Actually - there were several bridges covered with locks.  We got to walk on this bridge the next day - see below. 

On our boat tour of Paris.

My parents

We had an early start to get to the Eiffel Tower before it opened.  Many groups have come and haven't had enough time to go up.  We got there while lines were relatively short!  Shayne and I walked up stairs to the first level then took the elevator to the top.  I really enjoyed the Eiffel Tower! 

My favorite pic

Walking around after looking for a good lunch.  Shayne got a Croissant and I opted for a strawberry tart - yummy.  

At the park where the band performed, we had to have a traditional Crepe.  We had one with ham & cheese and another with strawberry jam.  The ham/cheese was my favorite.

 The choir students would join the band for the last number while a few of the students went throughout the audience to shake their hands and say thank-you for coming.  It was very touching and evidently, we're the only group (other states do this tour) who do this and it's a favorite of the locals.

Notre Dame

Another favorite picture.  We walked past a little sidewalk cafe and all the parents had normal food and the kid had Escargot!  So, Shayne grabbed the camera to get a picture of this "kid's meal" to show our kids.  The boy made a face that we couldn't have paid him to make at that very moment... absolutely classic.

On the lock bridge - can we find a spot?

We found one and sealed our love with a kiss and a toss of the key...

Shayne "enjoying" Escargot.