Summary of our visit to Switzerland

In the nearly four weeks we were visiting family in Switzerland we had time to see many of the beautiful sites and gorgeous landscapes that the country has to offer.  We traveled to the canton of Bern and visited the Wednesday market in the city, the Paul Klee museum, the Zytglogge (musical clock) and walked in the steps of history to the city's "muenster" (city church), the newly designed bear habitat and under the covered arches of the shopping district.  We also ventured further west and drove through the small villages of Langnau, Wasen, up to the LudernAlp, Thun, Spiez, and onto Interlaken where we spent a couple of days at the "Funny Farm" (a hostel located in an old restored hotel).  Onward, we traveled to Grindelwald and visited a home cheese-maker where we bought some of the best cheese ever!  We passed through the Alps and over the Goddard Pass into the south of Switzerland.  We spent a couple of days in the Tessin/Ticino (Italian part) in the small town of Locarno and enjoyed the stone covered houses and small alleyways that are typical of this area.  Paulie and I stayed in a very cozy Nouveau Style hotel where we watched Italy defeat Germany in the European Finals of football....quite exciting!  Around Zurich, we visited the Rapperswil Kinderzoo which was a great experience to visit a "neighborhood" zoo where you could really get up close with the animals.  We took a couple of day trips to visit the German town of Konstanz, on a beautiful lake, and also to the towns of Hergiswil to visit a glass-blowing factory, to Engleberg to see cheese-making in an old abbey, to Lachen,with Chris Kaelin, our friend we met in Beijing to see a traditional Swiss festival where we enjoyed Pig Knuckles, Alp Horns and other Swiss past-times and also with Chris to the town of Einseideln, home of one of Europe's only Black Madonnas.  We climbed mountains, rode on ancient "gondolas" to the top of the snow-covered peaks, hiked the hills, and walked around the beautiful lakes that dot the country.

Most of all, we had a lot of fun, food and family time with our Swiss cousins.  There were hours of Soccer played, kittens petted, and many wonderful meals shared.  We couldn't have asked for a better or more relaxed time and are so appreciative to them for making us so welcome.