Hotel Holiday Thun

... only French, she spoke only English, second languages for Both)
game of footy in the park on the way home
-keeper (Smitty) unable to see ball, rocked in face
Bosh's hoolaginistic acts:
-aforementioned pint toss
-throwing Smitty's right sneaker into the fountain in Lausanne after he removed it in an attempt to keep it dry while he went for a swim
-tipping mopeds

... everywhere in Europe. Venice is probably the most condensed touristy place I visited. There were people everywhere! It was nice in some ways though because you felt safe in your tourist adventures. We went to Palm Sunday service at St. Mark's Basilica. It was a little daunting since it was in Italian. Luckily, they gave us books in English that followed along with the service. After our mass, they had the "official" Palm Sunday mass, including a procession of people and ...

... bought cheese! We headed back to Gimel (couple of hours drive in our rented Passat) where traditional Swiss Raclette was served for dinner - the Raclette cheese round is heated, on little hot plates then scraped onto diners' plates on top of firm cooked potatoes (gherkins, pickled onions, sliced peppers, tomato, onion, mushrooms), yum! Served with tea or other warm beverages, or with a type of white ...

... so we sat out in a park and read a bit. Speaking of reading, I finished my very first italian novel yesterday!!....I have to go out and buy the sequel right after this haha. So all in all Switzerland was awesome, we can't wait to go back (of course, right?), and we even learned a little bit of German!!! Well, tomorrow we head to Paris!!! We'll post pictures soon so keep checking back...and PLEEEEAASE write to us people!! We miss the comments lol!!! Miss you all, Nicole and Matthew

... in German) an older man dressed in traditional clothing where the nearest ATM was. We had a short conversation about where I was from etc (in German) and then he took my hand and while Yodelling led me to the next ATM. You had to be there! * Cruise on the Thunsee - Amazing; The size of the mountains is unbeliveable compared to Australia ...

... industrial parts of Zurich.. We arrived in Thun and wow, it really is beautiful, the city castle and church, the mountains and the lake... We went with the bus to the house, had something to eat with Ursula (host mum) and Martina (one of the sisters). I went into my huge old / new bedroom and found a bowl full of delicious Swiss choccies and a pile of about 30 one day GAs (tickets for train, tram, bus, boat travel in the whole of Switzerland). Martina and I went for ...

... I picked up a Tissot t-touch Titanium watch for a good price (ended up being NZ$900, which is better than RRP NZ$1499!) I managed to get the latest watch that they didnt have on display yet. Trude picked up a swiss cap for Kyra, but I think she really wanted a slightly different one. Trude also picked up some Russian style wedding rings for Morgan and Phillipa. Chocolates for the people at work too. We went on a cruise to the base of the cog train that goes up to ...

... t. Kein Wund**, dass man bei uns in Mitteleuropa den Stellenw**t d** Natur g**ne v**gisst, da man kaum mehr einen Flecken unb**ührte Natur findet! Unb**ührt und ursprünglich sollte sie sein, damit man die ihr eigene Logik und Vollkommenheit **kennen kann, und sich nicht bloss das Handeln des Menschen darin wied**spiegelt! Es üb**kommt mich jeweils grosse Ehrfurcht, wenn ich mich durch die Natur bewege. Ein ähnliches Gefühl d** Spiritualität üb**kommt mich, wie es ein ...

... habe ich begonnen, mein Gepäck in den Anhänger und auf das Velo zu verladen, fallen schon die ersten Tropfen und kurz darauf giesst es in Strömen. Doch damit habe ich gerechnet und daher schon die Regenkleider angezogen, so dass ich bald darauf die wunderschön direkt am Meer gelegene Jugendherberge und damit Trieste hinter mir lasse. Der Wind bläst mir ins Gesicht und mit ihm der kalte Regen, der längst durch meine Handschuhe, Regenkleider und die Wanderschuhe ...

... by a healthy dose of Swiss rain (feels the same as the rain in Spain) and cold. I stopped at a hotel and picked up a map. (Note to travelers: Hotels have GOOD free maps!!!) Using the map, I walked around for an hour or so -- I was sure I knew exactly where I was headed even though I couldn't quite find it listed on the map. Rue de Vers. How hard could it be to find that? (Remember, we're talking about ME finding it) So, you guessed it, LOST. I walked around for a ...