Saturday, 4 May 2013

I can't think of a witty title


I fear the travel is catching up with me.  My writing powers are dwindling, prepare for boredom . . .

I've been seriously contemplating taking up some new hobbies, but fear I maybe too old/lazy for them 1) Mountain climbing, 2) snowboarding/skiing (to get down the mountain) and 3) diving (I guess that's fairly unrelated to this adventure, but I kinda wanna do it anyway)

For some reason people in Europe like to have these 'fake' double beds.  They are not conducive to snuggling as a gap gradually (or on the odd occasion, when Karlyn's foot pushes it and Jono is in the middle . . . rapidly) appears.  Do people here not like to share a bed?  There have been very few beds in our travels that actually stay together/don't develop some form of gap if they don't have one already.

With all these tourists taking valuable keepsakes AKA photo's, I've developed this strange desire that I am too shy to fill - but I REALLY wanna photobomb people.  Hardout.  Maybe by the end of the trip I'll develop enough courage?

Jono wanted to see the Matterhorn up close and personal so we jumped on a train to Zermatt.  Which does give a lovely view of the Matterhorn and the perfect place for my toblerone McFlurry (that’s right good ole McDs – I was so happy to see those golden arches so I could get one!! Probably the first time in my life I’ve been that happy to see a McDs).

Mmmm Toblerone McFlurry

Found this in McD's as well - I'm not sure even Ellouise would fit in that slot . . .  Not many pets would

Mmmm Toblerone in multiple forms

The item of Jono's admiration
From Zermatt there are many gondolas up the mountain.  Jono wanted a more up close and personal experience with the Matterhorn, and I wanted to go to the highest place possible (called something like Matterhorn glacier paradise) so off we went (another expensive journey in Switzerland).  It was well worth it though.  The views – AMAZING.


Jono wanted this posted apparently he finds it funny that the only difference between male and female is hip size

The mighty conquerer


Intrepid travellers

Yea lunch views don't get much better - we've been so spoilt on this trip!!

Oh signs and their poor English translation, they sound like rebellious teenagers here



The weather decided to play it’s part very nicely.  It was cheaper then the Jungfrau and we enjoyed it more.  It’s hard to say whether it’s because the weather was better so we could see so much more.  Or because the mountains are bigger and better.  They also had an ice palace thing there, although the things inside aren’t as cool as the other one.  It’s funny that the gondola from Zermatt was cheaper (yet in our opinion better) it almost seems undiscovered by tourists (Yay go us and spontanaiety), most of the people there were skiers. 

Ice cave

One night for dinner in Brig we had the most disgusting Pizza - Jono couldn't even finish it (and that's saying something!!!)

We were heading to Colmar in France, but decided to make a slight (by slight I mean about 3 hours or so) detour to see Geneva on the way (why not, we have a eurail pass, may as well make the most of it, the more trains the better??).  The train ride there was pretty nice, once again mountains, this time with a bonus (the lake), I imagine it is stunning on a fine day, unfortunately for us it was overcast/drizzling restricting our view somewhat.  We just spent a brief time in Geneva – saw the fountain, the flower clock and the cathedral.  I found the experience a little disappointing, maybe cos once again I was lugging luggage around (If I’ve ever felt like a packhorse – it’s now!), or maybe the weather. I also think I'm suffering a bit of 'church fatigue'.  These churches would be amazing in NZ, but here they just seem average, I guess it'd take a pretty darn amazing church to compete with St Peters.



Outside the church, I didn't think the inside was worthy of a photo 

On wards to Colmar (Mara I thought of you often here) – we passed through Basel (in Switzerland) – I’ve never seen such a busy train station!!  I wasn’t expecting it there, I thought the Metro in Rome would be busier than there.  But there ya go Basel for the win (and it's still winning now over Paris).  Colmar was a pretty wee place, shame that we had cold rainy/overcast weather.  I think it considerably dampened my enjoyment of it.  After the expensiveness of Switzerland it was so nice to experience the relative cheapness of France.  We had a 3 course lunch plus some escargos for less then the 1 course meal in Zurich (previous post) – Outrageous.


Jono 'enjoying' escargo - I'm so proud of him for trying one!!
We went to the toy and little train museum.  It was cool.  I loved (SUPRISINGLY) the barbies – some of the outfits were hilarious.  

Pretty choice outfit

Ok not a barbie - but imagine this for fighting fires!!!


I'm after these outfits for Jono and I

In case you can't read the labels - Adam and Eve

Creepy orchestra dolls/puppets
I never realised before, a lot of old dolls looked creepy  (I think if I was alive back then I’d prefer the boys toys, fire engines and the like, or a teddy bear).  We then went on a ‘train’ (It was on the road, and had car wheels), around to see the sights.  Pretty good snapshot I think.




Luckily some of my fourth form French (that I can’t remember hardly any of) paid off whilst reading the bus timetable, I realised that the buses don’t run on Sunday, just as well I looked otherwise we would have been standing at the bus stop for quite some time on Sunday morning.  It’s kinda cool, but also kinda incovenient for us that a lot of things seem to be closed in Europe on a Sunday.  We attended a church service at the Cathedral this morning – it was more ‘personal’ God time since we don’t understand much French.

Said Cathedral for church - the pipe organ sounded awesome

On our way to Ampsterdam, happened to stop off at Koeln (AKA Cologne), and peaked outside to see a massive cathedral, which of course one had to look in.



Amsterdam and Paris have to wait.  Segments seem a must at present.

With all these magnificent sights we've had the privilege of enjoying, a thought I've been pondering is how will heaven be better then some of these things.  I'm sure it will be.  But my head just can't get around how. Some of these sights, just seem so heavenly.  I guess obviously remove human pollution, but human pollution doesn't seem to effect them that much.  I guess heaven must constantly take your breath away everywhere you look.

Prayer thanks
- continued safety and enjoyment on our travels
- my back and Jono's foot have been doing pretty well (must be all your prayers - thank you!!!)

Prayer requests
- we are about to meet up with some of Jono's family in England - so for enjoyable times with them
- continued safety while we travel.
- that God will be number one priority and our marriage number two


2 comments:

  1. Hey Dixons, sounds like you are having such an amazing time... Thinking of you both today and hope that you find that magic inseparable bed :)
    The Willards :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lol. Thanks. Recently we've had inseparable beds, it's been nice! Hope you two are well.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your comments & prayers.
Karlyn and Jono