We had a wonderful outing with our friends the Rich's, Tom and Ruth. They both work in the financial department in auditing. Because I occasionally work in Bad Homburg with them, I have gotten to know them and wanted to go somewhere with them. They are wonderful people and will be leaving the mission for home (Sandy Utah) in March. We headed out to Switzerland and stopped at the city of Bern and Basel Switzerland on the way. Then we headed up the Swiss Alps on a tram to a village where no cars can drive. It was beautiful. When the residence grocery shop, they take the tram down the mountain and bring their groceries back up on the tram and then onto sleds to get them to their homes. So interesting, but I don't think I would like living that way for long! This is mainly a vacation destination and not many people actually "live" there. The village is called Murren.
This picture below was when we stopped at Basel Switzerland. They speak in Alemannic Swiss German dialect. Very interesting to listen to and Tony could not understand them....ha!
Basel is Switzerland's oldest University city. There are many small boutiques and antique book stores. The city sits on the Rhine. We walked along the Rhine along that wall in the photo. It was pretty cold but we were bundled warm and enjoyed the walk.
Town Hall market square
Basel's famous church, Basel Munster
...sometimes HE just can't help himself!
We were able to attend a session in the Swiss Temple on Friday evening. Good way to start our weekend serving there.
This is Gimmelwald where we took the tram up to Murren
Look at the snow on the roofs! Here are photos of the people bringing their groceries to their hotel rooms on sleds. This is right in the middle of a ski resort....so lovely!
Just COLD
Tom, Ruth and Tony
Ruth and Tom Rich will be leaving the mission on March 27th. They have served two years here and not without complications and trials. Tom came down with Bacterial Meningitis and almost died. It attacked his brain and was ill for 2 months. Very frightening for their family!
This is a poem that was hung on the wall of the beautiful chapel in Murren (a ski village)
Carrying groceries
Although we did not stay at this hotel, Ruth and I took a seat because it was such an inviting little porch.....
I need to come back in the Spring time.....winter is gorgeous in the Swiss Alps!
Look at the amount of snow on the roof!
Yes, I know, where are our BOOTS???? We left them in our apartment in Frankfurt!
This was an old tree trunk that someone carved these faces on each side....there was a plaque explaining the art work but we couldn't understand it..... Very cleaver tho!
I have never seen such beautiful, crystal clear water! This comes right down from the Alps, very cold!
Almost all of the buildings have stores on the bottom and apartments on the top where people live.
What can I say?????? It's Tony.....
This is how they live
This is a picture of Bern Switzerland. We went here before with the Roberts in the fall. I love it here.
Then we stopped in a small village on the way to Strasbourg France called Colmar. Colmar is the third largest commune of the Alsace region in north eastern Franc. There are only 67,000 people that live here. This historical center is classes as a "protected area" and has benefited from carful restoration and improvements over the past 20 years.
Tony thinks he's a french man with that hat on!
More pictures of Colmar
We just couldn't pass these pastries........
ah, an AMERICAN FLAG!!!
I loved window shopping......we are now in Strasbourg France. I didn't take too many pictures because I have many from an earlier visit with the Roberts in the Fall. I love Strasbourg. It is my favorite city so far!
Strasbourg France sits directly on the border of Germany and France, it was owned at one time from the Germans and now is part of the country of France so when you visit, you see both German and French influences.
I have pictures in an earlier blog post of this beautiful Gothic edifice of the Catholic church called Our Lady of Strasbourg. It was built in 1187-1439
I made him try this hat on......smile?!!!
Again, the windows are so cool! I almost bought dolls for Makenna and Paisley, our Grandchildren but it costs a fortune to mail them home.......
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