We're off to Zurich!
October 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Today, we flew from Portland to Zurich with a layover in snowy Reykjavik. There was just enough time in Reykjavik to clear customs and grab some skyr for breakfast.
Arriving in Zurich
October 14, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
We arrived in Zurich mid afternoon. We took the train from the airport to downtown and made our way to our hotel to check in. After a shower and a change of clothes, we had an early pizza dinner atRead more
From Zurich to Rapperswil
October 15, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Today, we went on a day tour from Zurich to Heidiland and Liechtenstein. The first stop was the village of Rapperswil at the eastern end of Lake Zurich. We toured St. John's Catholic church, visitedRead more
Heidiland
October 15, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
The Heidiland village, or Heididorf, is situated in the small town of Maienfeld in the Swiss Alps. It's the setting for the beloved children's story of Heidi by Johanna Spyri.
Liechtenstein
October 15, 2023 in Liechtenstein ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
Liechtenstein is a small principality located in the alps between Switzerland and Austria. It's roughly 60 square miles and has a population of approximately 40,000. We briefly visited the capitalRead more
Zurich City Tour
October 16, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
Today, we joined a Zurich city tour for an overview of the city. We visited the marina at Lake Zurich, a panoramic viewpoint, and walked through the old town. The murals in the cloister ofRead more
Lindt Home of Chocolate
October 16, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
The second half of our tour included a cruise on Lake Zurich and a tour of the Lindt chocolate factory in Kilchberg. The museum featured the history of chocolate production in Switzerland and lots ofRead more
Evening in Zurich
October 16, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
This evening, we enjoyed a casual stroll through the old town with a stop for a delicious fondue dinner. The sunset was beautiful, and it was wonderful to see the city lights as the sun went down.
Bienvenue à Paris!
October 17, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
This morning, we boarded the Lyria TGV (train à grande vitesse) high-speed train from Zurich to Paris. It reaches a top cruising speed of 168 Mph (270 Kph). After arriving in Paris, we took the metroRead more
Chartres Cathedral
October 18, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, was constructed between 1194-1220. Four earlier cathedrals, the first of which dates to the 4th century, were all destroyed byRead more
Arriving in Saint-Malo
October 18, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
We arrived in Saint-Malo in the early evening, and after checking into our hotel, we set off to explore and to find a restaurant for dinner. We stopped briefly at St. Vincent's Cathedral to admire theRead more
Dinan
October 19, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 59 °F
Today, we visited Dinan, a town in Brittany known for its medieval ramparts, cobblestone streets, and half-timbered houses. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful interior of Baselique Saint-Sauveur and itsRead more
Dinard
October 19, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 64 °F
This afternoon, we made a brief stop in the city of Dinard situated on the Côte d'Émeraude, or emerald coast, of Brittany. Dinard is regarded as one of the most prestigious seaside resorts inRead more
Walking tour of Saint-Malo
October 19, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 63 °F
We returned to Saint-Malo in the late afternoon and joined our guide for a walk inside the walls of the old city. We took a short walk along the city ramparts, and at low tide, we took a walk to theRead more
Mont Saint-Michele
October 20, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
According to a legend, the archangel Michael appeared in 708 in a dream to Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet of Mont Tombe. Twice, he ignored theRead more
Walking the Ramparts of Saint-Malo
October 20, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
This afternoon, we walked the city ramparts and had one last chance to take in the beautiful sights of the city. There were stops for pastries, shopping, and to end the day a delicious dinner of fishRead more
Château de Fougères
October 21, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 52 °F
Today, we stopped at Château de Fougères on our drive to Le Havre. The castle is strategically situated at the historic border of Brittany, Normandy, and France. The original castle was built in theRead more
Nancy's Here!
October 21, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
We made it safely to Le Havre and boarded the AmaDante around 4:30pm, and Nancy arrived just an hour later. There were lots of hugs and excited voices. These sisters truly love each other, and it'sRead more
Omaha Beach & Normandy American Cemetery
October 22, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
This morning, we set off to visit the Normandy Beaches, the site of the allied forces' amphibious landing that began the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany and led to the end of WWII.
Our firstRead more
Gold Beach
October 22, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
Our next stop was Gold Beach, which was assigned to the British forces. On the cliffs above the beach stand the remains of the German gun battery of Lounges-Sur-Mer. The guns were neutralized quicklyRead more
Juno Beach & Caen WWII Memorial Museum
October 22, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Our next stop was Juno Beach, which was assigned to the Canadian forces. In this location, marshlands rather than cliffs were the primary geographic challenge. Uniquely designed tanks were used toRead more
Caen
October 23, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
Our first stop today was the city of Caen. We visited Château Caen, the medieval fortress and home of William the Conqueror. Then we visited his tomb in The Abbey of Saint-Étienne (St. Stephen),Read more
Bayeux
October 23, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
The Bayeux tapestry depicts the struggle for power between William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold Godwinson, England’s last Anglo-Saxon king. The scenes conclude with William’s successful invasionRead more
A Taste of Normandy
Oct 24–26, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F






































































































































































































































