The second day at the base, we took a tour to Neuschwanstein, probably the most famous castle in the world. It was great, until we walked all the way to the Mary Bridge and saw all the scaffolding on the castle. C'est dommage!!!! We had a great time nonetheless... [View Full Entry]

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Once we got back to the base, we were still restless. We had seen a monastery on the way and decided to go back and check it out. On the way, we found a cool cemetery and took some pictures. [View Full Entry]

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Today, Aunt Lien felt a lot better, or said she did, and so, we decided to head back into Lucerne and hit Rigi Kulm. We had a very nice, hearty Swiss breakfast and we were back to the car and more fun. [View Full Entry]

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Well, my mom finally made it to Europe. This visit included my Uncle Joe and Aunt Lien as well. These are just a few pictures I took of the various places we traveled. I met them in Frankfurt at about 9 am in the airport. They, of course, had a long flight and were beat. Unfortunately, Aunt Lien was feeling a bit under the weather. So, we did what we had to do. We went to pick up the car and prepared to get under way to Lucerne. As you know, one of my favorite places. Picking up the car in [View Full Entry]

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Last night I caught on the internet what I had failed to see in person. I actually spent a good deal of time yesterday trying to get to wherever the protests were. However, no matter which street I went down, no matter what alleyway I took, I could not not get anywhere near the "action". there were cops amd military everywhere. Personally, I think that is a bunch of crap!!!! [View Full Entry]

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For those of who you doubted I really had a ticket!!!! Andrew!!!!!! Well, tomorrow, I get to go to a Town Hall meeting here in Strasbourg, France hosted by the President of the United States of America. Incredible. Talk about lucky!! Well, I have to be at Cine Cite to catch a bus which will take us all to the Rhenus Sports Hall. I have never been there. I guess we then sit around for 2.5 hours until the action starts. I feel like a cross between Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button. It would really be cool if I got to [View Full Entry]

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I almost did not go to Versailles. After I awoke in Rouen, I decided I had plenty of time to catch my train back to Paris and then Metro it to Gare Austerlitz, where I would catch a train to Versailles. Well, as I walked up the boulevard to get to Gare Rouen I looked up at the huge clock on the station tower. Hmmmm, that is odd. The clocktower says 9:05...My watch has 8:05. How can that be??? Oh well. I get to the train station and ask the lady at the ticket window when the next train leaves for [View Full Entry]

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Well, I remember being told the stories about Joan of Arc when I was just a kid in grade school. That was back when the nuns thought they could motivate the kids by giving them balloons and gold stars. Thank goodness, todays employers of high quality professionals would never insult their employees with such a tactic in todays highly competitive work place. But, as usual, I digress. Rouen is evidently where Joan of Arc, a 19 year old was captured, tried and burned at the stake for heresy. Of course, a few years later the Catholic Church thought better of it [View Full Entry]

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One of the trips I wanted to take my mom, my Uncle Joe, and my Aunt Lien on while they are in Switzerland is the Golden Pass Line train ride from Lucerne to Montreux. I was not really sure how to work this deal. But, I did eventually find out. Okay, here it is. In the winter, there are only two "real" Golden Pass Line trains per day. I missed them both, I guess. Now, you can still "do" the ride, just on regular trains. Is it a big deal that you don't do the "real" train. Well, my understanding of [View Full Entry]

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Chateau du Chillon is a magnificent Chateau or castle built in the early Middle Ages. It is also the most preserved examples of this typ of architecture in the world. It is a castle on Lake Geneva slighly north of Montreux. It is maybe 2 kilometers from the city center. The walk is all along the city boardwalk, so, it is a wonderful walk to take. You can take a bus, but why bother. You can take a bus at home. Anyway, go for the walk, and you will see some cool sights, including the bronze statue of Freddie Mercury. I [View Full Entry]

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