Switzerland & France

A 16-day adventure by Bruce & Stacy Read more

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Trip start
October 13, 2023
Switzerland & France
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Day 1
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 2:52 PM
☁️ 68 °F
Altitude: 26 ft
United States Portland International Airport 45.589923, -122.59942545°35’24” N 122°35’58” W
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.
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Day 2
Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 6:22 PM
🌧 55 °F
Altitude: 1,342 ft
Switzerland Rudolf-Brun Brücke 47.374436, 8.54243647°22’28” N 8°32’33” E
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 at the hotel and then set off to explore the city.Read more
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Day 3
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 11:27 AM
☁️ 52 °F
Altitude: 1,368 ft
Switzerland Fraumünster 47.369878, 8.54181347°22’12” N 8°32’31” E
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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, visited the castle, and walked through the rose gardens. After a delicious lunch of mushroom soup, fresh bread, and salad, we continued on into the alps toward Heidiland.Read more
❤ [Susan St.George]
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Day 3
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 2:59 PM
☁️ 52 °F
Altitude: 2,113 ft
Switzerland Maienfeld 47.016964, 9.54182247°1’1” N 9°32’31” E
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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.
😄❤ [Susan St.George]
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Beautiful scenery wherever you go ❤ 😍 [Susan St.George]
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GREAT SELFIE, BRUCE! [Susan St.George]
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Day 3
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 5:09 PM
☁️ 50 °F
Altitude: 1,503 ft
Liechtenstein Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein 47.140205, 9.52150547°8’25” N 9°31’17” E
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 capital city of Vaduz. The castle of the royal family, Schloss Vaduz, is situated high on the hills overlooking the capital city.Read more
Beautiful scenery ❣ [Susan St.George]
10/17/23Reply
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Day 4
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 12:01 PM
⛅ 48 °F
Altitude: 1,342 ft
Switzerland Fraumünster 47.36999, 8.54221647°22’12” N 8°32’32” E
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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 of Fraumünster church were beautiful.Read more
Very happy tourists! [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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❤ [Susan St.George]
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❤❤ [Susan St. George]
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Day 4
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 1:07 PM
⛅ 50 °F
Altitude: 1,375 ft
Switzerland Seebad Kilchberg 47.318335, 8.55191447°19’6” N 8°33’7” E
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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 of free samples.Read more
❤❤ [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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WOW [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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😂 [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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Day 4
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 6:41 PM
⛅ 52 °F
Altitude: 1,381 ft
Switzerland Paradeplatz 47.370165, 8.53944647°22’13” N 8°32’22” E
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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.
Zurich is very beautiful, love those old house/ buildings. [Annette Kofoed]
10/17/23Reply
Beautiful [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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YUM! [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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Gorgeous! [SUSAN ST GEORGE]
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Day 5
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 4:59 PM
☁️ 63 °F
Altitude: 112 ft
France Champs-Elysées 48.868998, 2.30894848°52’8” N 2°18’32” E
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 metro into downtown and dropped our bags at the hotel. We had a few hours to explore before returning to the hotel for an orientation meeting with our tour director. Tomorrow, we leave Paris and travel via Chartres to Saint-Malo.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 11:07 AM
☁️ 59 °F
Altitude: 538 ft
France Place Jean-Moulin 48.446625, 1.48646748°26’48” N 1°29’11” E
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 by fire.

Legend has it that in the 800s the church acquired the Sancta Camisa, the tunic said to have been worn by Mary at the time of Jesus's birth. Because of this holy relic, the church became a popular pilgrimage site.

The 167 stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral are the most complete group surviving anywhere from the Middle Ages. Several windows date to the mid-12th century while over 150 survive from the early 13th century.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 5:46 PM
🌧 64 °F
Altitude: 33 ft
France St. Vincent Gate 48.650314, -2.02201148°39’1” N 2°1’19” W
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 the beautiful interior. After dinner, we walked the streets, looking in clothing stores and pastry shops on our way back to the hotel.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 9:55 AM
🌧 59 °F
Altitude: 220 ft
France Beaufort Tower 48.453062, -2.04661348°27’11” N 2°2’48” W
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 its English style gardens. We had time to explore the city market and enjoy a local snack of galette-saucisse for lunch.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 12:23 PM
🌬 64 °F
Altitude: 115 ft
France Anse de Dinard 48.633227, -2.05140448°37’60” N 2°3’5” W
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 in France. From the shoreline, there is a beautiful view across the bay toward Saint-Malo.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 5:03 PM
🌧 63 °F
Altitude: Sea level
France Bidouane Tower 48.650777, -2.03218248°39’3” N 2°1’56” W
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 the Grand-Bé and Petite-Bé islands.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, October 20, 2023 at 10:47 AM
☁️ 57 °F
Altitude: 33 ft
France Mont-Saint-Michel 48.63423, -1.51121348°38’3” N 1°30’40” W
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 the dream, so Michael touched his head during a third dream, and Aubert finally believed. Over the years, Mont Saint-Michele was expanded and rebuilt numerous times, and it has consistently been a destination for pilgrims who risked the dangerous rtdes and quicksand to visit the abbey. Today, twelve monks still serve in the church-abbey and perform mass three times each day.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, October 20, 2023 at 3:48 PM
☁️ 63 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
France Big Gate 48.64923, -2.02593948°38’57” N 2°1’33” W
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 fish and chips accompanied by beer from a local microbrewery.Read more
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Day 9
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 10:33 AM
🌧 52 °F
Altitude: 354 ft
France Fougères Castle 48.35423, -1.20825648°21’15” N 1°12’30” W
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 the mid 12th century by Raoul II, Lord of Fougères with expansions and additional towers constructed during the 13th-15th century. It is the largest medieval fortress in Europe, with a total of 13 towers. It was the site of numerous battles in the 11th-15th centuries known as the Breton Marches.Read more
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Day 9
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 6:22 PM
🌧 55 °F
Altitude: 20 ft
France Bassin de l'Eure 49.488844, 0.1242149°29’20” N 0°7’27” E
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's exciting that they'll be able to enjoy this adventure together!Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 10:25 AM
☀️ 54 °F
Altitude: 20 ft
France Hamel Au Prêtre 49.372799, -0.88570549°22’22” N 0°53’9” W
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 first stop was Omaha Beach, which, along with Utah Beach, was assigned to the American forces.

We also toured the Normandy American Cemetery, the final resting place of so many young men who gave their lives to ensure our freedom.Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 12:38 PM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 246 ft
France Longues-sur-Mer 49.343603, -0.69420549°20’37” N 0°41’39” W
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 quickly by advanced scouting that enabled a massive but precise artillery bombardment.

Along the coast of Gold Beach, the British constructed an enormous breakwater by sinking concrete structures and old ships. They then built Mulberry Harbor to facilitate the unloading of heavy equipment that supported the expanding beachhead and the push deeper into France. The harbor was affectionately nicknamed Port Winston after one of the chief designers, Winston Churchill.Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 61 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
France Seulles 49.336397, -0.46107949°20’11” N 0°27’40” W
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 to clear paths from the beach. One version could unroll tracks ahead of itself so it wouldn't get bogged down in the marshes. Another would thrash the ground with cables to detonate landmines.

The final stop of the day was the WWII Memorial Museum in Caen. There was an extensive exhibit of the Normandy invasion, but also rooms dedicated to other aspects of the war, including the political climate, propaganda, the holocaust, weaponry, and military strategy. There was also an intact German bunker that served as the command center for Nazi forces in the Normandy region.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 11:17 AM
☁️ 54 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
France Le Château de Caen 49.187496, -0.36195649°11’15” N 0°21’43” W
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), also known as Abbaye aux Hommes (men's abbey). This abbey, along with the smaller Abbaye aux Dames (ladies abbey) were built by William as a consolation to Pope Leo IX who disapproved of his marriage to Matilda of Flanders due to their relationship as third cousins.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 2:33 PM
☁️ 55 °F
Altitude: 161 ft
France Bayeux 49.276725, -0.70092949°16’36” N 0°42’3” W
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 invasion of England in 1066 and his victory at the Battle of Hastings, which earned him the British crown and the nickname William the Conqueror. The tapestry is 230 feet long and is amazing for having survived the Hundred Years' War, the French Revolution, WWI, and WWII.Read more
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Day 12–14
October 24, 2023 at 9:15 AM - October 26, 2023
2 nights
⛅ 50 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
France ROUEN From la Haute Vielle Tour.49.44013, 1.09325149°26’24” N 1°5’36” E
A Taste of Normandy
Oct 24–26, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
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Day 12
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 11:42 AM
⛅ 54 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
France Gros-Horloge 49.441568, 1.09103349°26’30” N 1°5’28” E
Rouen
October 24, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
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