Sunday, July 11, 2010

July 2nd - 5th, Jungfrau region of Switzerland

We enjoyed a nice four day fourth of July weekend in Switzerland. This region had been described as one of the most beautiful places in Europe, and it did not disappoint.


About halfway to our house in Lauterbrunnen, we stopped here at the Rhine falls in Schaffhausen.





Another beautiful vista in Switzerland much closer to our destination.

We found our rental in Lauterbrunnen and then went for a walk before dinner. The town is beautiful.

We walked up to Staubbach Falls which is right in town. No one had told us about this waterfall, but we quickly found out that you can hike up to the waterfall and the trail goes into the rock right behind the falls.

Behind the falls.

Nolan had been asking for a pocket knife all year since he had joined Boy Scouts. Bill figured that there was no better place than Switzerland to get one for him. He had fun with it on the entire trip!

Day two, we drove around Lake Thunersee in Interlaken and then we decided to rent a sailboat and sail out on the lake. It was a beautiful and hot day, so it was nice to be on the water.

Later that day, we went to Trummelbach Falls. These are the world's only glacier waterfalls that are accessible underground by a funicular. They carry the melted water of the glaciers from the Jungfrau, up to 20,000 liters of water per second.

Chess in Interlaken.



Day three was misty in the morning so we didn't want to hike in one of the mountain towns. So, we decided to drive to Montreux and see the town. The drive was beautiful. The town was having their annual Jazz fest so we got to hear some of that and of course, see the statue of Freddie Mercury.



By the time we got back from Montreux, the sun was out so we drove into Grindelwald and took a gondola up into the mountains.

Happy fourth of July!!

The kids loved climbing on the alpine playground at the top. Bill and I sat and stared at the glaciers and views that surrounded us.



Then we rented these scooters called Trotti bikes and we scooted down the mountain on them. What a ride, we went quite fast!



We stopped only once in this beautiful meadow.

We found some sparklers in a local grocery store.

The view from our balcony, can you stand it??



May 8th - 15th, Cooking school in Tuscany

After hearing about this fabulous cooking school in Tuscany, my good friend Micah and I had decided to go for it. I am so glad I went. I learned to cook some great dishes, enjoyed a week away, saw at least ten hill top towns, and enjoyed some unique experiences and tours that are only a part of this school. My friend Bevin went with us and she brought her lovely mother. It was a great group.


The villa we stayed in. There were ten of us in the class. It was a nice group.

The beautiful town of Cortona. We went here and then we went to see Francis Mayes house which was beautiful (from the street of course).







After Francis Mayes house, we drove to this beautiful Fransiscan monastery, Le Celle.

Bevin and her mom (Ann) at Le celle.

Cooking!

One of the stores in Deruta where we bought pottery.



Pino was our guide for Montepulciano and Pienza. Both towns were so beautiful.

random things

Cesare Mazzetti is one of the few coppersmiths left who are true artists of the trade. He does everything by hand. He was so sweet and showed us his shop and his technique. It was so nice to meet him.

Wine and a tour of the Contucci cellars.



Pienza.

A vineyard in Montalcino. We drove here to see the town and meet the people who make and sell the famous Brunello.





Perugia.



Gubbio, an adorable town that I would LOVE to come back to and bring Bill.

We toured an olive grove owned by a family friend of Faye. The owner later came to the villa and did a olive oil tasting with us. We were able to buy some of the best olive oil I have ever tasted in my life!

Faye and one of the owners of Bonci. Bonci is a factory that makes these cakes that are infused with a local wine, Vin Santo. This place is owned by three brothers and they invited our class to learn to make focaccia bread, tour their factory and have dinner with them. It was a blast, they are so sweet and dinner was a hoot!

Assisi, one of my favorite towns.

In front of the Basilica di San Francesco, filled with frescoes by Giotto, this place was amazing!