Switzerland or Schwiez as they say

So on our way down to Southern Germany to go to EuropaPark we realized, after flipping through a map book, that we were going to be staying about 1 1/2 hours from the border of Switzerland. Huh, we didn't know that we would be so close. Well, we both knew that there is no way we could be so close and not experience another country.

So we found a room in the city that borders Germany and Switzerland. Actually, Weil am Rhine borders Germany, Switzerland and France. Yeah. Cool. And let's just be honest...we picked a bordering German country cuz Switzerland is freaking expensive. Those Swiss Francs don't get you much.

So we had a lovely breakfast as part of the hotel amenities. We have found that this is the case with most of the hotels in Europe. Get the kids stuffed and quiet them down. Not bad. Then we set off for the Alps. That much we knew. Not exactly sure what city. We just started driving. we ended up going via Bern and then we hit Interlaken. Kinda touristy. But the alps are surrounding you. Breathtaking. Then we continued driving and wound our way up and through he Alps. So beautiful.

And we saw cows with bells around their necks. It's really true. We had no idea. We couldn't really figure out what the purpose was for this. I guess you can hear your particular cow escaping and track them down. Yeah, that must be it.

We drove and found a restaurant to stop at. And just because Maya was. napping in the car and we ate while she slept doesn't make us bad parents. It was Mark's idea anyways (yeah right. I know you don't believe that one). And we could see the car. We had an amazing view of the Alps. Amazing setting and great company. Ahhhh. And we fed Maya when she woke up. Stop judging us.

Mark had mentioned that the Pilatus factory was supposed to be in Switzerland. Yeah. Blah blah airplanes. Blah blah. So we were driving down into the valley, sort of back onto the freeway to leave and I saw several signs that related to Pilatus. Not the airplane factory, like a Pilatus train stop and a Pilatus shopping center. Hmmm, plug in Pilatus into the GPS and we came up with the Pilatus Flugzeugwerks pops up. Wait, I know ten words in German and Flugzeug means airplane. That I knew. So we drove around and found the Pilatus Airplane Factory. Mark was giddy. Like a celebrity sighting. I think I may have even heard "Hmmm, I could live in Switzerland."

We had a great day and will savor the memories of Switzerland as a highlight of our trip!



Mark took the girls to the bridge where the 3 countries meet


Ummm, pilot boy in heaven at the Pilatus Factory where baby Pilati are born


Our view from our lunch in the Alps. Bet you can't see we spent $75 for pasta and french fries and apfel strudel. Thanks for not joining the EU Switzerland


Kewl

Bee-yoo-tee-ful


Hello Alps


Glad we made the side trip!

EuropaPark...Pretty darn cool

So we went to EuropaPark for two days. Check it out if you happen to be in Southern Germany with a few days to spare http://www.europapark.de/lang-en/Home/c51.html It is an amusement park that highlights different European countries. Each country has different rides and shops and restuarants. Pretty original concept. I guess it wouldn't really work in the U.S. I mean, Arkansas and Alabama might have some interesting rides. And the restaurants in Minnesota. Well, I doubt a lutefisk snack hut would do so well.

I don't think that much needs to be said about our time there. It was fun. Worth the time and the $. Tantrums were thrown, crappy fried food was eaten, toys were bought. Enjoy the pictures. They say it all...

Stay tuned for the next post where we head to Switzerland, just cuz it was close.


Jolly old England. See Mark in the back?


The mascot Creepy Maus, er, uh Europa Maus


The old shark swallowing the family bit

Boy, the eats in "Scandanavia" sure made me yearn for the simplicity of a corn dog or a funnel cake. Look closely, yes, that's the real deal fish sandwich. Yowza.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee


Lookin' good


Europa Maus's sidekick, Casey


See all the different shows and the different languages they were in. Kewl.


The black taxi ride in "England"



She wanted a dog that looks like our dog Elvis. Oh, and about the hat...

One of the rides. Yup. Fahrt has to do with driving. Something is lost in the translation here...


Pooped from partying

Danke Mama und Papa

Walking in downtown Trier


Waiting for our train to Paris


Girls rule and boys drool



Gramma C supervising the other short people (ha!)



Casey proudly displaying her writing the numbers 1-20 while getting support from me and Gramma


Poppa Jim ropes her into the old "draw a picture on my back" in the name of education. Not cuz he loves his back scratched


Priceless shot of Carolynn Sue and Maya Sue


Took a train to Saarburg and hung out






So I wanted to post some more pics from when my parents came to visit. They are back home now. I am assuming. No, they are. And we were so very fortunate to have them here. We laughed and played and ate. And they watched the kids so we could regain some sanity. Which I have to report is gone again.

I am a lucky girl to have such great parents. I love them lots and I am so glad they are part of my kid's lives. Yippeeeeeeee!

They even fit in a trek to Switzerland on their own. First time in Europe.

Danke Mama und Papa~

Four Americans, in a German car, driving through France

Long post alert. Sorry...


So my best bud Karen and her hubby Pat took a military flight and landed at the Cologne/Bonn airport, about 2 hours north of us. I could just leave the sentence as that, but I would be leaving out all of the "fun" that lead up to them actually making it into Germany. Let's just say that that the Military can be rather unpredictable with what hours or even days a flight might leave. And don't press them on which country in Europe the flight might fly into, Sheesh. Free flights are a lot of work...So when we got the word that they were in Germany, Mark and I hopped in the car to pick them up while my parents watched the kidlets.

We all reunited (they live in North Carolina right now, so we don't get to see them very often) and headed to Cologne to check it out. We had a lovely lunch out on a patio. Well, the company was lovely. After the bumbling British waiter, named David, broke the big arse glass of beer on the table, spashing onto me, we knew it would be an interesting time. No worries, he only broke two more things at other tables while we cringed and stifled our laughter. Mark and Pat were extremely happy with their creepy white boiled sausages that were artfully presented to them in a terrine of warm water. Just as I finished laughing at their food, mine arrived. A "sausage" in the form of a Slim Jim. Ya know, like the sad ones displayed at 7-11. Yeah. Karen was the only smart one and ordered a baked potato. Hard to mess that one up.

So we took them back to Trier and hung out for the rest of the evening. They got to catch up with my parents and see the kiddos. We knew that they only had a few days to play, because they had to catch a flight back and they weren't exactly sure when or where it was leaving. Oy.

We were fortunate to have my parents there and willing to watch the kids. So we knew that we had about 3 days to play with. Oh yes! 3 days. I could go to the moon and back. They had mentioned that they were interested in going to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. But they were open to whatever. I wanted to please our guests. But I had just gotten back from Paris not 2 days earlier. I was a bit rummy from traipsing mi momma and mi kiddo there. How could I convince them otherwise. I know. Dazzle them with Amsterdam. Fill their heads with dreams of Brugge. Just don't make me go back to Paris. I wasn't ready for the circus of it all.

In the morning we rallied and decided that we would drive to the Normandy region of France (that's it, swing them past Paris and get them to focus on the beauty of other parts of France). We had our sights set on the D-Day landing beaches for some World War II stuff and a yummy hotel somewhere on my request so I could regroup from all of the going and thinking and moving.

We piled in the Skoda and headed towards France. Road trips with Karen have always been a blast. And this one was no exception. We drive for a while. Through Luxembourg, then Belgium, then we hit France. Not bad for one day. We had been in the car several hours, with Mark at the helm. I decided that it was time for the girls to ride up front. I was the driver and Karen was my co-pilot. We had planned on scooting around Paris and then heading up to Normandy. Ya see, the freeways systems are a bit antiquated in Europe. Go figure. They don't link up so well or give many alternate routes. So you are kinda stuck heading towards major cities, whether you like it or not. So when I took over at about 5pm, we hit Paris traffic. Ugh. We drove through it for a while and then we saw signs for Rouen. And when it was time for me to make the big right towards Rouen, I froze. And then went left. The damn GPS was yelling at me and the traffic and the boys in the back and and. Ugh. So we had to find a place to recalculate our course.

I pulled off the freeway and saw a sign that said "Tracadero". Wait a minute. I know that. It was one of the stops for our freakin' red double decker bus tour only a few days earlier. We were right near the Eiffel Tower. Right where I didn't want to be. But how could I keep this info to myself. Ugh. I told the crew. Mark was not too thrilled. Ya see, we spent our honeymoon in Paris and let's just say he isn't a big fan of the attitudes there. But we conferred for a minute and decided to go for it. We pulled a Chinese Fire Drill right at the traffic light at Mark took over driving. He drove us right up to the back of the Eiffel Tower. And we walked right up to it and took pictures. We were so stoked. Yes, even me. And then he drove us over to the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame. It was such a crazy night!!

We stayed the night in a little non-descript hotel outside of Paris. We reached Caen and the D-Day beaches by late morning. We explored them for a bit and then headed to our delicious hotel in Arromanches that Mark had found for us on the internet the night before. It was so beautiful there. The rest of them crew headed back at to the history stuff while I stayed at the hotel and lounged and napped. I needed it. Whew. They came back a few hours later and we had a great dinner at a local joint. Pat and I split Mussles in a cider cream sauce and Fries. Cider is the regional specialty. Karen and I didn't want to offend anyone, so we partook of a bottle between us. When in France.

We had a great time and then drove back to Trier the next day. K, so it took us FOREVER to get home and we were loopy tired and ready to crash. We knew we were heading for trouble when we were playing "Name the actresses from the original cast of Facts of Life" or "What was the them song to the show Small Wonder". Oh my.

We got home around midnight and slept in (thanks again to my awesome parents for watching the kids). Then we showed K and P around Trier. So fun to show them where we were staying and what we had been up to while in Germany.

They had to catch a flight back home early in the morning. Mark and my dad drove them to Ramstein (did I spell that right?) AFB early the next morning. Thank goodness Mark spent time at the Commisary so we got all filled up on Oreos and mac and cheese. A great time had by all.


These pics are in no particular order...


Hotel in Arromanches


The obligatory pose by the tank shot

Haven't been back there with my honey since our honeymoon

Karen using her French from high school and college to get a map. Good job!

Oh the French and their bread. Mmmmmmmmmm


Driving up to the Arc de Triomphe

Tah dah... Notre dame

How romantic, a crater left by a bomb in Normandy



Dinner in Arromanches. Yum.

Is that the Eiffel Tower, or are you just happy to see me?

Seeing the E. T. from the car. Wowza.

Pat and his baguette. Creep.

Karen giving the girls treats. We love us some Ms. Karen

Paris wit my Mudder (and kid)

Giggles all around...




Well, I haven't posted in a bit because we have been hosting lots o' folks at Casa Trier. And on the go. Whoosh. My parents got here and we showed them around Trier. My best friend Karen and her hubs Pat were headed our way on a military flight (Pat is a Marine. Hoo Rah!) sometime around Friday April 1st. So I had a few days with nothing scheduled. It was a Tuesday night. Oh, I know, hey Mom, want to go to Paris with me tomorrow? She has never been (first trip to Europe at all) Yes, you want to go, oh good. We can take Casey too. Mark and my Dad would take Maya and do some World War II sleuthing.

I stayed up late and got our the computer and got train tickets and a hotel for 2 nights. So we took the train on Wednesday morning and got into Paris 3 hours later. I had found a hotel in the 5th Arrondissiment. It's is know to be a fun area with casual food and cheaper hotels. Near Notre Dame. We took a taxi and found our way to the hotel. Nice enough digs for our needs.

I booked us the old red double decker bus that you can hop on and off. It was good for 48 hours. We didn't waste much time in the hotel and got out and rode the circuit.

I'm sure we had dinner. But it seems like the Paris trip was so long ago because I have packed so much in since then. But let's just assume we had dinner. Oh yeah, now I remember. We had crepes. Go figure. Then we headed back to the hotel to get up early for our adventures. We had one full day to play with. Look out Paris. Here come the ladies...

So we hit the ground running. Double decker bus. Our destination? The Eiffel Tower. Casey and I wanted to go to the top. This was my third trip to Paris and I had never gone to the top. Today was the day. It was drizzly and I hoped that the weather wouldn't turn worse for our adventures. We reached the Eiffel Tower and I loved seeing the looks on my Mom and Casey's face when they saw it for the first time. It really is something to behold. The same feeling I get from the Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum in Rome. Spectacular.

So Casey and I got some tickets and rode up to the first platform. Cool. We got out and looked around. Took some pictures. I was checking on her to see if she was scared. She wasn't. She's rad. I asked if her she wanted to go up to the tippy tippy top. "Um, yeah, let's do it." Gulp. Oh. I was kinda hoping she wouldn't want to. Hmmmm. We got in the elevator and were promptly shoved into the corner while 20 Brazilian teenagers spoke loudly in Portuguese and made out with each other. Ugh. Yuck. Up up up. Come on. My stomach started reminding me of my age. Oy.

We made it and got out and walked around for a few minutes. All the time keeping in mind that my Mom was waiting for us down at the bottom. We rode the elevator back all the way down and felt very accomplished for the day. We ended up getting on the Metro and heading back to our hotel after a day of sightseeing.

I wish I could remember all of the details. Where we ate (yes, there was a Starbuck's and a McDonald's in there). But the deal is that we had a good time and felt like we were so lucky to have three generations of ladies enjoying time together.

And I have to give it to Casey and my Mom. Ya see, my Mom isn't a big traveler. and she is still healing from a broken shoulder (yes, the one she broke tripping over the dishwasher in my house not 5 minutes before we left for this grand 3 month adventure) and she has had 7 hip replacements. So she is a major trooper. And I bossed her around. Boy did I. Because I was the guide. The tour director. And they were in my care. And they fell in line and followed me around Paris. We must have looked hilarious. It was a caravan. Me, then Casey, then my Mom. All in a row, trapsing around Paris. Eating, looking, laughing. Confused at times about which way to go and which train to catch.

But we did it. And we are glad we did. And we were glad to be home. Just in time for the next round of fun...




Now that's my idea of a great day.
On our hotel balcony. Ooh la la.


I love this pic. We did it!




First Eiffel Tower viewing. So cool.


This is what a tired kid in Paris looks like.


Hello river Seine



Shenanigans on the train