Hotel Brienzerburli

... built in the 14th century that had been almost burnt down a few times: the most recent damage still quite visible. The water was quite clear and was home to lots of swans who would follow us as we walked along the boardwalk hoping for a meal.
On the second day we took a train into Zurich and wandered around its streets looking for thegnomes (bankers) and finding a few nice areas to explore. On our last night we went out ...

... ensured that their country can never be taken over by installing hidden fortifications and networks of military tunnels inside the mountains. The country's road and rail tunnels can also be sealed off within 24 hours to prevent an attacking enemy from moving within the country. As we crossed into Switzerland the scenery changed from flat grazing land and vineyards to rolling hills, mountains and lakes. The Swiss Alps seem to rise up to the ...

... as many updates and personal emails willl probably go neglected just so you know! There is not much other news from the day it was mainly a self guided tour day and we may try some fondu tonight then one of our groupies has an interview at 9pm our time so we can#t have too crazy a night :) OH! I did get to try a swiss playground. So far I have seen/tried one in every country. The slide was very strange I will have to show you all pictures when I ...

... and eating glace (ice-cream)-only alot more posh! I love to go there when the sun is shining on Thursdays- my day off. A few people have been asking what l actually do here in Switzerland in day to day life. Basically my job involves getting the breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner ready for the family and cleaning it up, looking after Chloe (the two year old) all day and going to the park, playground and music classes with her ...

Sunday 24th September: Ballenberg Museum Opting for an easy-day today, after yesterday's hectic journey, we chose to visit the Ballenberg museum and then return back to Spiez in the afternoon so we could attend the 'Wine-festival' held today. We had breakfast of croissants & tea at the sports club, by the lakeside, amidst ample sunshine and sails setting off in the Thun Lake. Every little house in this village was so ...

Mountains and lakes oh my!!! We are in the beautiful Berner Oberland region of central Switzerland and staying at one end of an Alpine Lake which is turquoise blue and freezing. That did not stop us from going in for less than a minute to cool off. We met a nice couple from New Zealand (Kiwis) who told us to stay in Brienz instead of the more touristy and overrated Interlaken despite its closer proximity to the regions tallest ...

... had it`s a small world experience at the accommodation. Christa Beer, a girl who stayed with us after her exchange in tassie in Jan, walked in. i had just been telling the scot about her and meant to email her to tell her i was here so i was stoked to see her. she also had all the photos of Matt's farm on her laptop so i got to show those to everyone too. (i forgot mine) it also turns out that my third hosts have pulled out so Christa is going to take me for that time ...

... on his shoulders.. Jessica really freaked out seeing this.. i thought it was hilarious. You can also ride your bike in the train station.. they even have a grocery store.. meat market.. bakery.. you name it and they have it. Today the weather is very nice.. so we may take a swim in the river.. I will let you know how it goes.. This is our first day to see the city. By night it is beautiful! Talk to you soon!!! P.S I miss everyone... and Austin!!!

... day, but a good one all in all. I'm going to end this entry here because it is way too long already. And if I went on about the next weekend (my trip to Spain) then I could just go on and on for another ten pages...so that will just have to be my next entry. I hope you are all well and all had great summers. I can't believe I have already been here for four months...time is really going by quickly! I miss you all a bunch, take care of yourselves and each other, big hugs! Swiss-Miss :)

... direction of my newly targeted mountain, but I reached a dead end. It was a dock surrounded by boats and water. Time to doubleback I thought. The ZZ Top song popped into my head. I realized I hadn't been alone since Munich. I'd been with Del, Nick, Matt, Emily, Kim, May, Ty. And I'd been having such a fun time. It was only when I had some time to myself that I was able to step back out of Interlaken and see the trip as whole again. I've just been all over: London, Paris ...