Moo!
I was lucky to get this shot when the copter was headed up the mountain (click on the picture to zoom in)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Our anniversary in Gimmelwald, Switzerland!
I can't imagine a better spot to celebrate our 4 year anniversary then Gimmelwald (W's are pronounced with the 'v' sound). It is WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN, EVER!; to experience this with the love of my life is truly amazing and I feel very fortunate. I have taken some pics as well as video, but haven't been able to figure out how to add videos to the blog.
Getting here was not the easiest thing, but we made it, and to anyone who is thinking about traveling to Europe, Gimmelwald is an ABSOLUTE MUST!!!! We arrived on Thursday afternoon after taking a train from Bern to Interlaken, then a train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, a bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg, and then the tram from Stechelberg up to Gimmelwald; the journey was stunning!
We are staying in the Mountain Hostel which overlooks INCREDIBLE views of huge mountains right outside our door, seriously, right outside the door. Our Hostel is great and only cost $26 Swiss Francs per night per person, which is very reasonable. Switzerland on the whole is expensive, the current exchange rate is $.97 US cents to 1 CHF (Swiss Franc) so were not getting much value for our dollar. To put things in perspective, a McDonald's Big Mac was $11.90 CHF. We sleep upstairs in a room with about 14 other beds (but not necessarily 14 other people, although last night it was about full). There is a community kitchen with everything you need to prepare you food if you would like, but you do have to clean up after yourself (Bur) and choose the right time to cook. Showers cost 1 CHF for 5 minutes, but it's really plenty of time considering you move a little faster when you're 'on the clock'. Community tables are in the lounge for everyone to use for eating, drinking beer, playing games, or talking about past and future travels (many great connections can be made as well as valuable information learned).
Cathy and I were eager to check things out so we decided to head to Murren, the small town (but bigger than Gimmelwald) up the path. [Side note-hiking distances are posted in times and not miles, which I thought was interesting] Murren was stated on the sign (everything is extremely well marked) as a 50 minute hike, but we made it in 20. Up we went to this great little town where we went to the local CO-OP for some groceries. Thinking prices would be sky-high, we were pleased to find them very reasonable (50cl bottled Lager beers (about 20 oz) were only .86 cents! We bought some veggies, pasta, wine, beer, and other items (of course Swiss chocolate) for the time we would be here. We made a tasty dinner and had good conversations with the other travelers who are here (most in their 20's). Sleeping was a little difficult until it was 'quiet time' (midnight) as the '20 somethings' stayed up to play drinking games and tool around on the piano-oh joy. Even after 'quiet time' started we had to deal with 'The Snorer', damn that guy was loud, but we finally made it to sleep.
Today we were hoping to go for a monster hike that was sure to be an all day event (up to the Schilthorn where the James Bond movie was filmed- 2970 meters at the top, Gimmelwald sits at 1363 meters, but it's straight up to anywhere you hike), but we woke up to a cloud-filled and rainy day. Throughout the day the clouds/mist would move in and out and the views would take our breath away, along with the incredible waterfalls across the valley. It has been raining on and off the WHOLE day.
During a break from the rain we ventured up to the 'Cheese/Egg lady' just minutes up the path. We went into her small cheese house where the fresh cheese was aging on the shelves and she gave us both a little sample, OMG it was so good! Along with the cheese, we bought fresh eggs that were layed yesterday! So, for lunch it was fried eggs, aged cheese and a fresh baguette, Y U M yum!
Tomorrow is our last day here and we hope to wake up to sunny skies (or at least not raining) so we can do a great hike. We really want to see the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau, which up to this point has been covered in clouds; come on sun!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Arrive in Bern; Our Brushes with Fame
BERN, SWITZERLAND
Today (Wednesday) we arrived in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland located 132 kilometers (82 miles) north east of Geneva at the base of the Swiss Alps. As we pulled into the train station, we knew we were going to love it. This cosmopolitan and charming town is bustling with people enjoying the outdoors-riding their bikes, walking, or running. As we walk through the city, the downtown streets and parks are filled with people enjoying a picnic, playing petanque (a French game similar to bocce ball) while others tube down the Aare River cooling off from the hot day. (See a few pictures located on the right side of the blog.) Tomorrow, we will venture out to find out more about one of our new favorites cities, Bern as well as look for Elke's relatives, Bernese Mountain Dogs.
OUR BRUSHES WITH FAME
We have been traveling for just over a week and a half and we have already had two experiences with running into someone famous. Our first was on our flight from New York to Nice, France back on July 12> We shared business class with Stephanie Seymour and her entourage. She is a model/actress and has been featured in such publications as Victoria Secret, Vogue and Sports Illustrated. She was traveling with her two daughters (one of which was the whiniest child I have ever heard), 2 sons and a nanny, whom I did not envy. While we waited for our flight, she gave each of them several $100 bills like she was handing them a tissue after they sneezed. Regardless, she is very beautiful and seems to have a very comfortable lifestyle.
Today, we saw our next famous person in the Geneva, Switzerland Train Station. I will give you a hint -- he's had the role of James Bond, was featured in the movie Hunt for Red October and is from Scotland....did you guess it? Yes - Sean Connery. While Ad and I were in the train station trying to figure out the schedule, I noticed his wife and him standing next to us looking around and trying to figure out which direction they should go to catch their train. And as we all headed up to the same platform, Ad decided to walk over to him and see if it really was him. Just as he was about to approach him, another gentleman suddenly recognized him and walked over to shake his hand and tell him how much of a fan he was of his. And, Mr. Connery graciously thanked him.
Good night!
Today (Wednesday) we arrived in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland located 132 kilometers (82 miles) north east of Geneva at the base of the Swiss Alps. As we pulled into the train station, we knew we were going to love it. This cosmopolitan and charming town is bustling with people enjoying the outdoors-riding their bikes, walking, or running. As we walk through the city, the downtown streets and parks are filled with people enjoying a picnic, playing petanque (a French game similar to bocce ball) while others tube down the Aare River cooling off from the hot day. (See a few pictures located on the right side of the blog.) Tomorrow, we will venture out to find out more about one of our new favorites cities, Bern as well as look for Elke's relatives, Bernese Mountain Dogs.
OUR BRUSHES WITH FAME
We have been traveling for just over a week and a half and we have already had two experiences with running into someone famous. Our first was on our flight from New York to Nice, France back on July 12> We shared business class with Stephanie Seymour and her entourage. She is a model/actress and has been featured in such publications as Victoria Secret, Vogue and Sports Illustrated. She was traveling with her two daughters (one of which was the whiniest child I have ever heard), 2 sons and a nanny, whom I did not envy. While we waited for our flight, she gave each of them several $100 bills like she was handing them a tissue after they sneezed. Regardless, she is very beautiful and seems to have a very comfortable lifestyle.
Today, we saw our next famous person in the Geneva, Switzerland Train Station. I will give you a hint -- he's had the role of James Bond, was featured in the movie Hunt for Red October and is from Scotland....did you guess it? Yes - Sean Connery. While Ad and I were in the train station trying to figure out the schedule, I noticed his wife and him standing next to us looking around and trying to figure out which direction they should go to catch their train. And as we all headed up to the same platform, Ad decided to walk over to him and see if it really was him. Just as he was about to approach him, another gentleman suddenly recognized him and walked over to shake his hand and tell him how much of a fan he was of his. And, Mr. Connery graciously thanked him.
Good night!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday-Tuesday: Annecy, France
After a 6 hour train ride that included a crying child and a Rottweiler dog at our feet (yes, you can bring your dog on the train), Adam and I arrived in Annecy, France. Annecy is a small town located next to a pure water lake (Le Lac) in the French Alps and also known as “Venice of the Alps”. The town is filled with buildings dating back 3100 years before Jesus Christ, water canals, parks, bike paths and colorful gardens. Similar to Boulder, it is known for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation and preserving the environment.
On our first day in Annecy, Adam and I decided to rent “comfort bikes”, heavy bikes with very large seats, and ride to a town on the other side of the lake called Doussard, located 19 kilometers (12+ miles) from Annecy. On our ride we enjoyed photographing spectacular views of the mountains, the lake, greeting others with “bonjour and watching a few locals rock climb. Once in Doussard, we parked and locked bikes and headed to the “le plage” (the beach) to cool off from the ride.
At the beach, we enjoyed a refreshing dip and the cool water of the lake. Next to us was a German family of 5 that Adam called the “naked family” as they seemed to have fewer clothes on than most around us. The youngest was an adorable 1.5 to 2-year old little girl, naked of course, with “floaties” on her arms. She was enjoying the water so much she decided to pooh in it. We thought, cute but not that cute -- time to go!
After returning from our bike ride, we headed to the nearest restaurant that served lunch and televised Stage 16 of the Tour. We enjoyed a few Belgian beers, some food and watching the race with other fans, a Frenchman and his family and a cute couple from Denmark. We were hoping Lance would take the stage, but unfortunately he didn’t have the sprint in him.
After the race finished we headed out to shop for dinner. We decided to enjoy a picnic rather than spend money at a restaurant when we didn’t know what we were ordering (almost all menus are in French). We stopped at the local “chacuterie” (cured meats) for some “saucisson” (salami), then the “boulangerie” for a baguette and finally to the “epicerie” (grocery) for the camembert cheese, a few kiwis and a bottle of Bordeax. All of this for $12 Euros! Hard to believe yet meats, baguettes and wine are incredibly inexpensive as well as delicious in France.
While picnicing out on the deck of our hotel room, we enjoyed live entertainment from a local Frenchman fixing the frame of a futon on his deck. With a hammer in his hand he got into a heated argumet with his neighbor across the building (we believe the neighbor was complaining about the noise of the hammer). After a few heated exchanges in French, the gentleman with the hammer stormed down four flights of stairs to confront his neighbor. Luckily, no blood was shed and Ad and I were happy not witness a homicide.
Tomorrow (Wednesday), we leave for Geneva, Switzerland and then to Bern for the night. Bern is located on the Swiss Plateau just west of the center of Switzerland. The official language of Bern is German yet most residents speak either German, French and/or Italian. Most importantly, Bern is home to Berner Sennenhund (or in English, the Bernese Mountain Dog), referring to the area of the dog breed's origin. We can’t wait to hopefully see little Bernese Mountain pups bouncing around town reminding us of our beautiful and very much missed little girl at home.
Love you,
Cathy and Adam
On our first day in Annecy, Adam and I decided to rent “comfort bikes”, heavy bikes with very large seats, and ride to a town on the other side of the lake called Doussard, located 19 kilometers (12+ miles) from Annecy. On our ride we enjoyed photographing spectacular views of the mountains, the lake, greeting others with “bonjour and watching a few locals rock climb. Once in Doussard, we parked and locked bikes and headed to the “le plage” (the beach) to cool off from the ride.
At the beach, we enjoyed a refreshing dip and the cool water of the lake. Next to us was a German family of 5 that Adam called the “naked family” as they seemed to have fewer clothes on than most around us. The youngest was an adorable 1.5 to 2-year old little girl, naked of course, with “floaties” on her arms. She was enjoying the water so much she decided to pooh in it. We thought, cute but not that cute -- time to go!
After returning from our bike ride, we headed to the nearest restaurant that served lunch and televised Stage 16 of the Tour. We enjoyed a few Belgian beers, some food and watching the race with other fans, a Frenchman and his family and a cute couple from Denmark. We were hoping Lance would take the stage, but unfortunately he didn’t have the sprint in him.
After the race finished we headed out to shop for dinner. We decided to enjoy a picnic rather than spend money at a restaurant when we didn’t know what we were ordering (almost all menus are in French). We stopped at the local “chacuterie” (cured meats) for some “saucisson” (salami), then the “boulangerie” for a baguette and finally to the “epicerie” (grocery) for the camembert cheese, a few kiwis and a bottle of Bordeax. All of this for $12 Euros! Hard to believe yet meats, baguettes and wine are incredibly inexpensive as well as delicious in France.
While picnicing out on the deck of our hotel room, we enjoyed live entertainment from a local Frenchman fixing the frame of a futon on his deck. With a hammer in his hand he got into a heated argumet with his neighbor across the building (we believe the neighbor was complaining about the noise of the hammer). After a few heated exchanges in French, the gentleman with the hammer stormed down four flights of stairs to confront his neighbor. Luckily, no blood was shed and Ad and I were happy not witness a homicide.
Tomorrow (Wednesday), we leave for Geneva, Switzerland and then to Bern for the night. Bern is located on the Swiss Plateau just west of the center of Switzerland. The official language of Bern is German yet most residents speak either German, French and/or Italian. Most importantly, Bern is home to Berner Sennenhund (or in English, the Bernese Mountain Dog), referring to the area of the dog breed's origin. We can’t wait to hopefully see little Bernese Mountain pups bouncing around town reminding us of our beautiful and very much missed little girl at home.
Love you,
Cathy and Adam
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Another day in the French Riviera
Yesterday (Saturday), Adam, Luc, Genevieve and I explored the French Riviera by car starting in downtown Nice. Elegant and trendy, the downtown area is filled with fountains, colorful buildings, museums, churches and open markets. There are also many visitors and locals walking and riding their bicycles and enjoying the beautiful and very hot day. Nice has both an old and new part of town which is outlined by the color of their rooftops. Old Town has rust-colored rooftops dating back many centuries while the newer building rooftops outline the more recent era.
Leaving downtown Nice, we drove further down the coast and stopped on a hilltop. The views were breathtaking, a blue coastline was filled swimmers and boaters enjoying the beaches, water, and sun. You could see far down the coast beyond Cagnes Sur Mer and discover the length and beauty of the French Riviera.
Our next stop was a small and very exclusive area called St Jean Cap Ferrat. This area was gorgeous with a small lively downtown filled with people enjoying their lunch overlooking the Mediterranean. Music could be heard from the promenade and many were enjoying a post-swim glass of wine.
After St. Jean Cape Ferrat, we were off to Eze, a small town perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea. In the heart of village there are two 4-star hotels featuring amazing views of the Mediterranean. With a total of 44 rooms available, each offer private gardens, fine dining, and exclusive views. All of this for the low price of only $1300 Euros per night. Uh, not in our travel budget!
Next, we headed to the furthest town on the east coast of the French Riviera, Menton. Menton is a quiet beach town bordering Italy and was described to us as a quiet place for those looking to retire. Surrounded by both French and Italian accents, we enjoyed a small lunch and refreshing dip in the Med.
Time to go peel potatoes for dinner tonight (while we visit these places of the rich and famous, we are still serfs).
Au revoir!!!
Cathy and Ad
(Saturday's photos are listed under French Riviera)
Leaving downtown Nice, we drove further down the coast and stopped on a hilltop. The views were breathtaking, a blue coastline was filled swimmers and boaters enjoying the beaches, water, and sun. You could see far down the coast beyond Cagnes Sur Mer and discover the length and beauty of the French Riviera.
Our next stop was a small and very exclusive area called St Jean Cap Ferrat. This area was gorgeous with a small lively downtown filled with people enjoying their lunch overlooking the Mediterranean. Music could be heard from the promenade and many were enjoying a post-swim glass of wine.
After St. Jean Cape Ferrat, we were off to Eze, a small town perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea. In the heart of village there are two 4-star hotels featuring amazing views of the Mediterranean. With a total of 44 rooms available, each offer private gardens, fine dining, and exclusive views. All of this for the low price of only $1300 Euros per night. Uh, not in our travel budget!
Next, we headed to the furthest town on the east coast of the French Riviera, Menton. Menton is a quiet beach town bordering Italy and was described to us as a quiet place for those looking to retire. Surrounded by both French and Italian accents, we enjoyed a small lunch and refreshing dip in the Med.
Time to go peel potatoes for dinner tonight (while we visit these places of the rich and famous, we are still serfs).
Au revoir!!!
Cathy and Ad
(Saturday's photos are listed under French Riviera)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Plan
Yesterday Cathy and I went to a travel agency (Luc came to help) to try to put a 'plan' together for the next part of our trip; it was driving us CRAZY trying to do it ourselves (I didn't think it would be so difficult). At first I thought we would just be able to look at schedules and maps online and book our tickets, but being peak season most places and many trains are booked and prices are very expensive. Also, you can't just book a train from Nice, France to Interlocken, Switzerland and go, there are a few different connections and a bus ride you have to take to get there. Coordinating times, places to sleep, reservations, etc... is a headache and best left to the travel agency to figure out; I am very glad we did this as we were in the office for 3 hours!!
However, we now have our plan that takes us up until July, 25. We will leave Cagnes-Sur-Mer early Sunday morning to make our way up to Annecy, France. This is a place where the Jaujous stayed and said it was pretty amazing (the pictures they showed us were great!). We will be there for two days then make our way up to Switzerland. Our first stop will be in Bern (hopefully we can see some Bernese Mountain Dogs) via Geneve for one day, then on to Interlocken. From Interlocken we will make our way up into the mountains to the SMALL town of Gimmelwald (we hope there is room for us for a day or so- there are only two places to stay in the town). I am really excited for this place as the pictures I have seen are unbelievable!
After these few days in Switzerland we will head to Paris to watch the last day of the Tour on the Champs Elyese, but only after a 4-5 hour train ride. We leave Interlocken at 6:30am and arrive in Paris at 11:30am, giving us a few hours to squeeze onto the barrier on the Champs Elyese before the riders arrive. My hope is to get some sweet video and pics of the riders as they do their 8 laps before finishing. After this I am sure Lance will want to hang out and share some Champagne with us, but I think I will hang with Petacchi (Ali Jet) instead and talk about him winning the green jersey and how Cavendouche had to pull out of the Tour because he didn't have Renshaw to lead him out (HA!).
From here we spend the night in Paris and check out the city a little, then make our way to Dublin, Ireland for about 6 days (we still have to form this part of the 'plan').
That's it for now, later.
However, we now have our plan that takes us up until July, 25. We will leave Cagnes-Sur-Mer early Sunday morning to make our way up to Annecy, France. This is a place where the Jaujous stayed and said it was pretty amazing (the pictures they showed us were great!). We will be there for two days then make our way up to Switzerland. Our first stop will be in Bern (hopefully we can see some Bernese Mountain Dogs) via Geneve for one day, then on to Interlocken. From Interlocken we will make our way up into the mountains to the SMALL town of Gimmelwald (we hope there is room for us for a day or so- there are only two places to stay in the town). I am really excited for this place as the pictures I have seen are unbelievable!
After these few days in Switzerland we will head to Paris to watch the last day of the Tour on the Champs Elyese, but only after a 4-5 hour train ride. We leave Interlocken at 6:30am and arrive in Paris at 11:30am, giving us a few hours to squeeze onto the barrier on the Champs Elyese before the riders arrive. My hope is to get some sweet video and pics of the riders as they do their 8 laps before finishing. After this I am sure Lance will want to hang out and share some Champagne with us, but I think I will hang with Petacchi (Ali Jet) instead and talk about him winning the green jersey and how Cavendouche had to pull out of the Tour because he didn't have Renshaw to lead him out (HA!).
From here we spend the night in Paris and check out the city a little, then make our way to Dublin, Ireland for about 6 days (we still have to form this part of the 'plan').
That's it for now, later.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Visiting the French Riviera
Bonjour!
On Thursday, Ad and I ventured out of Cagne Sur Mer by train and traveled east along the Mediterrean Sea to Villefranche Sur Mer and Monaco.
Villefranche sur Mer is a stunning small village situated in one of the most beautiful and parts of the Côte d'Azur and dates back to 130 BC. In the middle, a picturesque harbor is known to be one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. The village is surrounded by hillsides, luxurious homes and considered one of the most exclusive spots in the area. The port, the old town, and the curve of the hillside all contribute to the beauty of the village.
The port is filled with colorful fishing boats and serves as a base for fishermen, tourists, and offers numerous cruises in the summer. The village is bordered by restaurants, terraces and a popular and lengthy beach to enjoy cooling off from a humid French summer. If you remember the movie Dirty Rotten Scondrels, most of the movie’s scenery takes place in this quaint and beautiful village.
After enjoying the beach, some pizza and a cold French beer, we continued our journey further east down the coast to Monaco.
Monaco is located further east of Villerfranche Sur Mer and is referred to as the Principality of Monaco. Monaco is home to roughly 30,000 residents and its location is between the mountain and the sea. Its gardens, exceptional harbor and cultural events are unique to other nearby villages. As an independent state in Europe, the Principality of Monaco offers exceptional and secure lifestyles by offering the advantages of an attractive fiscal system. In other words, there are a lot of tax breaks for the wealthy in this small town. Their harbor has the largest boats I have ever seen and seems to be host to many of the rich and famous.
Within Monaco is Monte Carlo, a tiny portion less than 3 kilometers long and located in the on a large rock overlooking the sea. This small town is host to a large casino, Hotel de Paris and many rich and famous.
To see pictures, check out the link located to the right of our blog.
Au revoir!
On Thursday, Ad and I ventured out of Cagne Sur Mer by train and traveled east along the Mediterrean Sea to Villefranche Sur Mer and Monaco.
Villefranche sur Mer is a stunning small village situated in one of the most beautiful and parts of the Côte d'Azur and dates back to 130 BC. In the middle, a picturesque harbor is known to be one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. The village is surrounded by hillsides, luxurious homes and considered one of the most exclusive spots in the area. The port, the old town, and the curve of the hillside all contribute to the beauty of the village.
The port is filled with colorful fishing boats and serves as a base for fishermen, tourists, and offers numerous cruises in the summer. The village is bordered by restaurants, terraces and a popular and lengthy beach to enjoy cooling off from a humid French summer. If you remember the movie Dirty Rotten Scondrels, most of the movie’s scenery takes place in this quaint and beautiful village.
After enjoying the beach, some pizza and a cold French beer, we continued our journey further east down the coast to Monaco.
Monaco is located further east of Villerfranche Sur Mer and is referred to as the Principality of Monaco. Monaco is home to roughly 30,000 residents and its location is between the mountain and the sea. Its gardens, exceptional harbor and cultural events are unique to other nearby villages. As an independent state in Europe, the Principality of Monaco offers exceptional and secure lifestyles by offering the advantages of an attractive fiscal system. In other words, there are a lot of tax breaks for the wealthy in this small town. Their harbor has the largest boats I have ever seen and seems to be host to many of the rich and famous.
Within Monaco is Monte Carlo, a tiny portion less than 3 kilometers long and located in the on a large rock overlooking the sea. This small town is host to a large casino, Hotel de Paris and many rich and famous.
To see pictures, check out the link located to the right of our blog.
Au revoir!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
We made it!!
Ad and I successfully made it to Nice, France yesterday morning. We left Colorado at 10:30 am, arrived in New York at 4:45 pm then departed at 6:00pm for France. Thanks to our friend, Alan, we were able to enjoy Business class that included champagne, reclining seats, down comforters, dinner and cold sundaes!
We arrived the next morning in Nice at 8:15 am (12:15 am Colorado time). The French Riviera is beautiful, surrounded by mountains, beaches of le gallets (rocks) and the Mediterranean Sea. We took a bus to the village of Cagnes Sur Mer, stopping at the local police station for directions to the Jaujous, the family we are staying with while in Nice. The Jaujous (the father-Luc, his wife-Genvieve, Victoria-daughter, Adrienne-son) are wonderful and we enjoying our time with them as well as their generous hospitality. We connected with them through friends of ours, the Filions- thank you!
After arriving, we took a nap in our bungalow then woke up and enjoyed our first delicious French lunch of salad with rice, peppers, dressing, a plate of fresh tomatoes with olive oil and basil and a fresh baguette. After lunch, Luc let us borrow some bikes and we rode from Cagne Sur Mer to Nice, biking up to a waterfall (Col de Chateaux) just above the town Nice. The Chateaux is an old castle that was used to defend the land and protect it's territory. The views were breathtaking and the falls felt amazing as it was 85 degrees and very humid.
After the ride, we cruised back through town coming upon road closures for the next day's celebration of Bastille Day, France's independence holiday. As we continued to ride through the closure, Ad was stopped by the French police along with Luc and myself, and scolded in French for riding our bikes through a busy area. Ad's face was priceless as he didn't know what to say yet they let us go and we made our way home through the backstreets. The route included riding down the middle of winding roads in two way traffic with motor scooters coming right at us. I called this - French controlled chaos.
Finally home, we enjoyed another delicious dinner of sliced red peppers in olive oil and garlic with red potatoes and a fresh baguette. So simple, fresh and delicious.
Wednesday-- we woke up at almost noon. We needed the rest since we had been up for 41 out of the last 48 hours. We joined Luc for a tour of three areas around Nice: Gourdon, Tourrettes sur Loup and Saint Paul de Vence.
Goudon means "mountain" in French and over looks the Valle du Loup in the Cote d'Azur. Built on an isolated rock, it also served to protect and defend from invasions. The next town, Tourrettes sur Loup, otherwise known as the City of Violets, is a medieval village perched in the back country of Provence and surrounded by fields of violets. It is set between the mountains and the sea. The village is a mecca for artists such as musicians, painters, writers and craftsmen. We learned from two women living in the village that it use to have over 50 violet farmers but now is down to 5 due to a weakened economy.
Our last stop was to Saint Paul de Vence, a beautiful village overlooking Cagnes sur Mer and the Mediterranean sea. It features famous contemporary artists, poets and writers and one of the most beautiful villages in the Provence region. The narrow and picturesque streets are a favorite for those looking for 5-star hotels and dining.
Tonight, we enjoyed another beautiful dinner with the Jaujous out on their veranda. And now, it's time to go to bed.
Goodnight and love to you all,
Cathy and Adam
(To view pictures, look to the right and click "France-Provence")
We arrived the next morning in Nice at 8:15 am (12:15 am Colorado time). The French Riviera is beautiful, surrounded by mountains, beaches of le gallets (rocks) and the Mediterranean Sea. We took a bus to the village of Cagnes Sur Mer, stopping at the local police station for directions to the Jaujous, the family we are staying with while in Nice. The Jaujous (the father-Luc, his wife-Genvieve, Victoria-daughter, Adrienne-son) are wonderful and we enjoying our time with them as well as their generous hospitality. We connected with them through friends of ours, the Filions- thank you!
After arriving, we took a nap in our bungalow then woke up and enjoyed our first delicious French lunch of salad with rice, peppers, dressing, a plate of fresh tomatoes with olive oil and basil and a fresh baguette. After lunch, Luc let us borrow some bikes and we rode from Cagne Sur Mer to Nice, biking up to a waterfall (Col de Chateaux) just above the town Nice. The Chateaux is an old castle that was used to defend the land and protect it's territory. The views were breathtaking and the falls felt amazing as it was 85 degrees and very humid.
After the ride, we cruised back through town coming upon road closures for the next day's celebration of Bastille Day, France's independence holiday. As we continued to ride through the closure, Ad was stopped by the French police along with Luc and myself, and scolded in French for riding our bikes through a busy area. Ad's face was priceless as he didn't know what to say yet they let us go and we made our way home through the backstreets. The route included riding down the middle of winding roads in two way traffic with motor scooters coming right at us. I called this - French controlled chaos.
Finally home, we enjoyed another delicious dinner of sliced red peppers in olive oil and garlic with red potatoes and a fresh baguette. So simple, fresh and delicious.
Wednesday-- we woke up at almost noon. We needed the rest since we had been up for 41 out of the last 48 hours. We joined Luc for a tour of three areas around Nice: Gourdon, Tourrettes sur Loup and Saint Paul de Vence.
Goudon means "mountain" in French and over looks the Valle du Loup in the Cote d'Azur. Built on an isolated rock, it also served to protect and defend from invasions. The next town, Tourrettes sur Loup, otherwise known as the City of Violets, is a medieval village perched in the back country of Provence and surrounded by fields of violets. It is set between the mountains and the sea. The village is a mecca for artists such as musicians, painters, writers and craftsmen. We learned from two women living in the village that it use to have over 50 violet farmers but now is down to 5 due to a weakened economy.
Our last stop was to Saint Paul de Vence, a beautiful village overlooking Cagnes sur Mer and the Mediterranean sea. It features famous contemporary artists, poets and writers and one of the most beautiful villages in the Provence region. The narrow and picturesque streets are a favorite for those looking for 5-star hotels and dining.
Tonight, we enjoyed another beautiful dinner with the Jaujous out on their veranda. And now, it's time to go to bed.
Goodnight and love to you all,
Cathy and Adam
(To view pictures, look to the right and click "France-Provence")
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Top ten things to do before we leave
As we are gearing up and making final preprations for our trip we decided to post our Top Ten things we want to do before we depart, so here goes:
#10-EAT A BUCKET OF KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AT THE PARK (once a year won't kill you...will it?) - This only applies to Adam
#9-EAT AT BEAUJO'S PIZZA IN SOUTH BOULDER-DONE!
#8-GO ON A THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISER RIDE-NOPE
#7-RIDE THAT BIG CLIMB ON THE BACKSIDE OF CARTER LAKE AFTER YOU GO DOWN THE STEEP HILL AND TURN LEFT-NOPE
#6-HIKE BEAR PEAK FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR-NOPE
#5-HAVE ONE LAST NO-LIMIT TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER GAME WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY RSVP WITH A 'YES' RESPONSE - DONE!
#4-HAVE A VERTICAL WINE TASTING OF 'WINGS' AT JB'S HOUSE (03',04',05',06')
#3-GET AN IPOD TOUCH - DONE!
#2-GO TO THE OUTDOOR CINEMA TO SEE A MOVIE- NOPE
#1-FEEL CONTENT, CONFIDENT, AND PREPARED WITH ALL OF OUR PLANNING KNOWING WE DID THE BEST WE COULD TO BE READY TO GO - WE ARE GETTING THERE!
We also want all of you to know that we sincerely appreciate all of your support and best wishes. We feel extremely lucky to have such amazing friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
(the above list was written by Adam and is subject to change depending upon his mood and/or after his wife reads it)
#10-EAT A BUCKET OF KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AT THE PARK (once a year won't kill you...will it?) - This only applies to Adam
#9-EAT AT BEAUJO'S PIZZA IN SOUTH BOULDER-DONE!
#8-GO ON A THURSDAY NIGHT CRUISER RIDE-NOPE
#7-RIDE THAT BIG CLIMB ON THE BACKSIDE OF CARTER LAKE AFTER YOU GO DOWN THE STEEP HILL AND TURN LEFT-NOPE
#6-HIKE BEAR PEAK FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR-NOPE
#5-HAVE ONE LAST NO-LIMIT TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER GAME WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY RSVP WITH A 'YES' RESPONSE - DONE!
#4-HAVE A VERTICAL WINE TASTING OF 'WINGS' AT JB'S HOUSE (03',04',05',06')
#3-GET AN IPOD TOUCH - DONE!
#2-GO TO THE OUTDOOR CINEMA TO SEE A MOVIE- NOPE
#1-FEEL CONTENT, CONFIDENT, AND PREPARED WITH ALL OF OUR PLANNING KNOWING WE DID THE BEST WE COULD TO BE READY TO GO - WE ARE GETTING THERE!
We also want all of you to know that we sincerely appreciate all of your support and best wishes. We feel extremely lucky to have such amazing friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
(the above list was written by Adam and is subject to change depending upon his mood and/or after his wife reads it)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
How things came about
We have been asked by many people, "How did this all come about?" Here's the story...
We have heard the comment many times, "You are so lucky to be able to do this trip, I would love to do something like that." Well, with all due respect it isn't 'luck' that is allowing us to do this 'Journey of a Lifetime' it's all the saving, planning, organizing and researching that we have done over the past 9 months.
Cathy and I have come full circle in the past few years. We both became professionals in the work force, we bought a new Subaru, bought a big house and got our wonderful dog Elke.
We did it, got all the 'stuff' right? Well, we were (and are) happy, but felt like we were kind of in a rut. We found ourselves doing the same thing everyday and we wanted more in our lives.
Cathy has always wanted to travel to the south of France, but we could never find a time to go that worked for us. One day she came home and asked me this question, "What do you think about packing up our things and traveling for awhile?" I have always been kind of spontaneous and somewhat of a free spirit, so my immediate answer was an enthusiastic "Lets go!!"
We decided to sell our house with the thought, if the house sells it's a sign that we should do the trip, if not, then we shouldn't; the house sold in 30 days, the ball was in motion.
Cathy and I did not make sacrifices for this trip, we made choices; we chose to make this our priority. We feel this trip will make us better individuals as well as a stronger couple.
As I stated earlier, we have come full circle. We sold our big house, quit our professional jobs, sold our new Subi, and moved into a friends house until we leave. When we return from our trip we will be back in our 750 sq ft. condo, driving our 1993 Subi and looking for new jobs.
Something we have realized while preparing for our trip is that, for us, life is not about material things, it's about the experiences you have, it's about the people you meet and the friendships you make; it's about the different cultures you encounter and the places you visit.
Being a teacher I have always told my students to be 'Life long learners,' and to me there is no better education than traveling the world! Next stop...south of France
That's our story and we're sticking to it. Cheers!
We have heard the comment many times, "You are so lucky to be able to do this trip, I would love to do something like that." Well, with all due respect it isn't 'luck' that is allowing us to do this 'Journey of a Lifetime' it's all the saving, planning, organizing and researching that we have done over the past 9 months.
Cathy and I have come full circle in the past few years. We both became professionals in the work force, we bought a new Subaru, bought a big house and got our wonderful dog Elke.
We did it, got all the 'stuff' right? Well, we were (and are) happy, but felt like we were kind of in a rut. We found ourselves doing the same thing everyday and we wanted more in our lives.
Cathy has always wanted to travel to the south of France, but we could never find a time to go that worked for us. One day she came home and asked me this question, "What do you think about packing up our things and traveling for awhile?" I have always been kind of spontaneous and somewhat of a free spirit, so my immediate answer was an enthusiastic "Lets go!!"
We decided to sell our house with the thought, if the house sells it's a sign that we should do the trip, if not, then we shouldn't; the house sold in 30 days, the ball was in motion.
Cathy and I did not make sacrifices for this trip, we made choices; we chose to make this our priority. We feel this trip will make us better individuals as well as a stronger couple.
As I stated earlier, we have come full circle. We sold our big house, quit our professional jobs, sold our new Subi, and moved into a friends house until we leave. When we return from our trip we will be back in our 750 sq ft. condo, driving our 1993 Subi and looking for new jobs.
Something we have realized while preparing for our trip is that, for us, life is not about material things, it's about the experiences you have, it's about the people you meet and the friendships you make; it's about the different cultures you encounter and the places you visit.
Being a teacher I have always told my students to be 'Life long learners,' and to me there is no better education than traveling the world! Next stop...south of France
That's our story and we're sticking to it. Cheers!
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