Nederland

I'm simply going to include a few pics of my time in Holland - The dike picture was when Tante Ali and I went for a bike ride - Zuid Holland. It is beautiful there with all the water!
The picture of the horse was in West Holland when Tante Anneke and Wim and I took Anneke's horse and attached it to a cart, and when we went for a ride! It was so fun, and cute! And the forest around that area is also very pretty.
Our last weekend in Holland, they had their 5th festival of sails in Amsterdam. Boats of all shapes and sizes and colors were in the big canal there. Boats come from all over - even navy's from other countries. Most of those big sail ones were from Russia and Poland.

Off to Nederland

First of all, THANKS to Lauretta and Jair who have joined my blog!

So, after Geneva Landon and I decided to split again for a week. Landon decided to go to Paris (I have already been there before) and I decided to head up to Nederland. We traveled together on the train to paris and then I was to catch another one up north.... Well, while on the train we heard there was a problem at the next station stop, so I had to backtrack and go down south a little bit and ended up being 1 1/2 hrs late to paris! So, I missed my connection to Amsterdam.
The train put me up in a hotel for the night and I caught the first train the next morning, but that also had problems and we arrived over two hours late in Amsterdam. Phew! To be honest it doesn't bother me in the slightest - I absolutely LOVE being on trains!!! I actually wish the rides were longer!

Geneva

I couldn't wait to see Geneva - mostly for John Calvin.... but when we got there, the history is pretty incredible!
I did a walking tour through the "old town" which was really interesting. I will attach this pic of this church in old town - it one building containing four different buildings - four different era's - the last one being the Bizantine. Oh, and the best thing was I went to The Church of Scotland Geneva in the Auditoire de Calvin!!!!! It was a real blessing to be with God's people! And the first hymn was one of my favorites - "Great is Thy Faithfulness"!
Geneva has an attraction called the Je't de Eau This huge surge of water that shoots up - apparently you can see it from the airplane.
We didn't realize it before we got to Geneva, but we came just in time for their once-a-year festival. The "Geneva festival". Every year they have a different theme, and this year was "circus" it was fun. Lot's of people tho - they closed off whole streets for it.
Oh, and they boasted the best fireworks display in the world. Well, Landon said -"I don't know about that, Idaho Falls do cool fireworks" and I said "Ya, Jackson also does cool fireworks".
Oh my goodness! We were blown away!!! Different combinations, and colors, and music over loud speakers that went with them! We got some cool pics actually!
But, yes, they were the best fireworks we have ever seen!

Swiss alps hike

Switzerland

The train trip from Innsbruck, Austria to Zurich, switzerland is GORGEOUS!!!!! Ah, the mountains!! Landon and I went to Interlaken first. We stayed in this Korean hostel.... hmmm. We were very surprised at all the asian folks in Interlaken actually! So, the next day we went and hiked in the Swiss alps!!!!! Wow! It was sooo beautiful! Really difficult hike, and it started raining half way through, but ya, sooo beautiful! We had a wonderful time! At the top I was soooo cold from the rain etc, that I couldn't stop shivering - I was cold to the bone! AND exhausted! Landon was great - he looked after me. I don't know what I would have done without him! That night we went and ate a cheese fondue - It's actually originally a swiss thing! That really warmed us up! We have a cool photo, but it's on Landons computer, so perhaps I will try to include it next time.

Werfen & the Eisriesenwelt Hohle

So, I took a day tour down south to Werfen and the Eisriesenwelt Hohle - that is the world's largest accessible ice caves! The hike up the mountain was long and hot and gruelling, but absolutely GORGEOUS!!! The scenery took my breath away! Every minute I wanted to take another picture!!!
When we got up to the entrance of the cave, we had to put on warm clothes. We had little gas lamps that we held, because no artificial light could be used inside the cave. The tour inside the cave took 75 minutes. It was VERY cold!! The natural Ice formations inside were incredible! However, I had started getting vertigo on the walk up to the cave, and inside it just got worse, so I had to stay close to the guide at the end. Ooh, also - inside the cave we walked 700 steps!!!!!!
I could have stayed longer in the Salzburg area, it was beautiful.
But the city of Innsbruck was recommended alot as a beautiful city, so I jumped on a train and headed west.
Only one night here in Innsbruck. Now off to Switzerland! Now, this is kind of interesting - the whole rest of the European Union uses Euro's as it's currency, but Switzerland has its own still! Also, apparently it is VERY expensive! The train will go from Innsbruck, over the border, then to Zurich, then to Bern, and then down to Interlaken.... so it will be a loooong day.... : ))))

Salzburg!

How beautiful these mountains are!!!
It was raining when we got to Salzburg - but that didn't stop us from going out and exploring - See me on the stairs - we have walked soooo many stairs on this trip!!!
We went to this castle - "Festung Hohensalzburg".
Oh, and some of you may not know that Salzburg is the where "Sound of Music" was set. It's famous around here!
Yesterday Landon and I separated for a little bit - we will meet back up in Switzerland.
It's kind of strange not being able to experience and share and talk about everything with someone else - so, I guess it's nice that I have this blog then.