Hoit...Ausfahrt and dorf are my three favorite swiss german/german terms. Hi, car exit and village :)
We left Venice Tuesday morning and although we were a little sad to leave Italy we were ready for the next adventure. And we got it. We trained from Venice to Milan and quickly got a bite to eat since they really don't have anything for less thatn $15 bucks on the train. We have joked alot that we have eaten more bread these two weeks than in our lifetime, and this was no different. We had bread with a thin slice of "meat". NOTHING else and you know, we were starving and so we just sucked it up and downed it with a bottle of water (mine frizzante and Teena's naturale).
We laughed at the people "booking it" through the train station and said to eachother, I'm so glad that's not us. Well as we pulled into Zurich and realized we had only 10 minutes to de-train, find our next platform and get on the next train to Basel, we started running. Track 9 it said, but the time was up by 2 minutes so now we had about 3 minutes and we were "running". Run Jennay as Forest would say.
Then we get to platform 9 and there is literally no train there, and no people and we think, we missed it? It's not here...hmmm. So luckily we decided to huff it back to the main walk way to find ANOTHER train to Basel (ours this time we think) is boarding on platform 15 and leaving in 2 minutes. UHHHHH...ok. RUN TEENA..and we run with all our bags and think....KARMA shouldn't have laughed at those people in Milan. We get to Platform 15, there is only one person next to the train and he works there...so we literally jump on the first coach which is first class (not where we are sitting) and figure we can walk back the 9 cars to our seats while the train is rolling. And since it literally blew it's whistle as we stepped on, that is exactly what we did.
This is how we arrived safely and on time at teh Basel train station and as we stood up, my sweetest of friends Heather knocked on the window and was there waiting to collect us. The best hug ever was exchanged and few words can describe the joy of this reunion for me personally.
We have been welcomed by Tim and Heather's family into their perfectly situated home in Arboldswil with the widest open arms imaginable. We have seen castles, seminaries, views of incredible hills, the alps, a glass factory and the famous bridge in Lucerne. We ate ostrich for the first time last night during our elaborate and phenomenal fondue dinner prepared by George, Tim's dad as another amazing gift to us.
Tomorrow we go with Heather to a spa with various rain forest, salt pool, jacuzzi type goodness and will have to pack to head back on Saturday from Zurich.
Both Teena and I have expressed to each other the amazing things we have seen and the one of a kind expereinces we have had. Feeling incredibly grateful tonight for all the blessings that have been laid on us both.
We miss our kids and our friends and family back home and are ready to start the journey back into "real life" but with a very different perspective on what is important than we had on 9/15/10.
Peace to you all.
Jenn and Teena
I loaded some pictures on photo bucket and included a link http://s1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/jklotz1/Italy%20and%20Swissland/
Can you spell vacation?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
From Florence to Venice...
Today is our last full day in Italy. :(. We are having a wonderful time and meeting so many locals and others travelers from all parts of the world. EVERYONE lives here or visits here.
We spent a day in Siena, two days in Florence and now we are here in Venice for our last full day in this amazing country. Tomorrow we train through Milan and then up to Zurich and on to Basel to stay with my good friend Heather and her Swiss husband Tim for 4 nights.
Many of you know me and know I like lists...so this blog is one for you (especially for you Niah my little list loving son).
Janene and Bruce from California ' Train mates to Venice
Accordian player at lunch in Florence
Eavesdropping on the paid english tourguide at the museum at The David
The best lasagne EVER (sorry mom)
Shopping and bartering like two crazy ladies
Laughing...alot
Saying "Wow, look at that Jenn, or did you see that Teena"
Vaparetto ride up the Grand canal to our hotel
Rearranging the hotel room furniture completely
Trying to steal the basket of baked goodness at the free breakfast...(trying...not succeeding)
Hunting for a geocache in Venice about 1.5 miles from our hotel...in a thunderstorm
Getting out of said storm (after succesful discovery of said cache) for caffe latter, red wine and french fries.
Listening to the sounds of the San Marco Basillica bells throught the alleys as I type this message from our hotel lobby...
We have loved Italy...and are sad to leave, but we know that we will be back some day...and have another advenutre in Switzerland before we hurry home to our loved ones who we miss a great deal.
We spent a day in Siena, two days in Florence and now we are here in Venice for our last full day in this amazing country. Tomorrow we train through Milan and then up to Zurich and on to Basel to stay with my good friend Heather and her Swiss husband Tim for 4 nights.
Many of you know me and know I like lists...so this blog is one for you (especially for you Niah my little list loving son).
Janene and Bruce from California ' Train mates to Venice
Accordian player at lunch in Florence
Eavesdropping on the paid english tourguide at the museum at The David
The best lasagne EVER (sorry mom)
Shopping and bartering like two crazy ladies
Laughing...alot
Saying "Wow, look at that Jenn, or did you see that Teena"
Vaparetto ride up the Grand canal to our hotel
Rearranging the hotel room furniture completely
Trying to steal the basket of baked goodness at the free breakfast...(trying...not succeeding)
Hunting for a geocache in Venice about 1.5 miles from our hotel...in a thunderstorm
Getting out of said storm (after succesful discovery of said cache) for caffe latter, red wine and french fries.
Listening to the sounds of the San Marco Basillica bells throught the alleys as I type this message from our hotel lobby...
We have loved Italy...and are sad to leave, but we know that we will be back some day...and have another advenutre in Switzerland before we hurry home to our loved ones who we miss a great deal.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
San Gimmy and Volterra...Yep the one from Twilight
Thursday! We have been in Italy for less than a full week but it feels like so much longer because of everything we have accomplished.
Today we did laundry and hung it out to dry while the lizards around the villa flitted about. We made caffe latte and scrambled eggs with tomatoes and literally fell in love with our breakfast.
We ventured out to two close by towns today in tuscany. We saw another wedding party and so many little shops and museums and churches it can get overwhelming. We tried not to get lost but took some wrong turns in alleys...but everyone is friendly so find our way back EVERY time.
We met an amazing couple from London at dinner in Volterra. This place really is the United Nations. They are on a walking tour of Tuscany. Yep, walking. Every day like 50 or more kilometers. We said, we were just in San Giminango and they said...°oh° we are walking there tomorrow.
And he had actually been to Oregon for a theatre tour when he was acting...small world.
We miss our families and friends but are grateful for each other because we travel well together and that makes it really great.
We were able to upload some more pictures...just a few snippetts.
The next few days we will head to Siena, Florence and then to Venice.....Arrivederci!
Jenn and Teena
Today we did laundry and hung it out to dry while the lizards around the villa flitted about. We made caffe latte and scrambled eggs with tomatoes and literally fell in love with our breakfast.
We ventured out to two close by towns today in tuscany. We saw another wedding party and so many little shops and museums and churches it can get overwhelming. We tried not to get lost but took some wrong turns in alleys...but everyone is friendly so find our way back EVERY time.
We met an amazing couple from London at dinner in Volterra. This place really is the United Nations. They are on a walking tour of Tuscany. Yep, walking. Every day like 50 or more kilometers. We said, we were just in San Giminango and they said...°oh° we are walking there tomorrow.
And he had actually been to Oregon for a theatre tour when he was acting...small world.
We miss our families and friends but are grateful for each other because we travel well together and that makes it really great.
We were able to upload some more pictures...just a few snippetts.
The next few days we will head to Siena, Florence and then to Venice.....Arrivederci!
Jenn and Teena
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Empoli, San miniato, fucecchio, certaldo...
These are the names of the little towns we saw last night when we took the wrong turn off the highway to the villa. So three extra hrs of driving but hey we laughed and totally enjoyed almost every minute.
We love it here. In the dictionary under serenity, peaceful and calm you will the images of this incredible old property.
We each have our room in the apartment and our own bathrooms. So we made dinner, checked in at home (hi Niah, Delon, Alex and Katie) and said goodnight. We didn't emerge until noon! Saweet!
Today was uneventful. But in the best way! We bought groceries, sat by the pool, read our books, strolled around the property and played futbol and volleyball with Marico the sweet 6 or 7 ur old boy outside by himself with a semi flat ball. We only spoke enough to ask names as he didn't speak English! We had a blast for at least 1/2 hour with him as the full moon rose and the sun set. He was called in and we said ciao Marico!
Now we are making Bruscetta and insalata and eating "takeaway" from lunch (or- leftovers)
Tomorrow to explore volterra, San gimiango and Siena!
We love it here. In the dictionary under serenity, peaceful and calm you will the images of this incredible old property.
We each have our room in the apartment and our own bathrooms. So we made dinner, checked in at home (hi Niah, Delon, Alex and Katie) and said goodnight. We didn't emerge until noon! Saweet!
Today was uneventful. But in the best way! We bought groceries, sat by the pool, read our books, strolled around the property and played futbol and volleyball with Marico the sweet 6 or 7 ur old boy outside by himself with a semi flat ball. We only spoke enough to ask names as he didn't speak English! We had a blast for at least 1/2 hour with him as the full moon rose and the sun set. He was called in and we said ciao Marico!
Now we are making Bruscetta and insalata and eating "takeaway" from lunch (or- leftovers)
Tomorrow to explore volterra, San gimiango and Siena!
Monday, September 20, 2010
"Chin Chin" and Elvis baby...
Sunday!
We got hit hard with the jetlag last night and neither of us could get to sleep. We tried at 2am...then again at 4am to fall asleep and then finally after talking about everything under the sun like we were new college roommates, we fell asleep at 6am.
Consequently we missed 10am mass (oops). We did however wake in time to eat pizza and hop on the bus downtown for 6pm mass at Saint Mary Maggiore. On the bus ride there we stared in awe at all the plazas and squealed with glee at the fact we knew where we were in this big city from all our exploraton the day before. And in St. Peters Square, Teena leaned over the bus to take a picture and there was a group dressed in...vibrant clothes including a man dressed as Elvis (with Queens makeup I think) shoutly, hey...Elvis baby! Very comical.
We headed off the bus and walked the .5 mile or so to the cathedral. An incredibly stunning piece of architecture and art. We sat through mass sandwiched on all sides by little old women. The kind you see making pasta in the kitchen and beating rugs over balconies 3 stories up from a busy street in EVERY italian movie. The kind who say things like...ai ai ai and ciao bellisima with their wrinkled hands in the air or on your face sweetly and you want to pick them up from their stooped over position and take them home with you. I was especially touched when the four elderly women in front of us turned to share the peace with us like we were their friends since 1915 from the villa next door. We could have done without the person in the back whose phone kept going off though...probably an american ;)!
The music and chanting were beautiful and right when the silence for prayer started, the rain outside started as well. The soothing sound of rain through the windows near the incredibly ornante ceiling made us feel a bit homesick but was a very special moment.
After which we had another very special moment of fancy coffee and our first desserts of the trip. I had limone and mango gelato (mouth just starting watering again) and Teena had a pastry/cookie sort of thingy with all kinds of yummy goodness in and outside of it.
We strolled up and down the bustling streets at 9pm, even ventured into the train terminal for a peek and then just like any confident woman in new york, we hailed a taxi on a back alley and said....Hotel Amalia, 66 Via Germanico per favore. And he understood us which was fantastico.
The evening ended with hand picked chianti and a trip to a plaza where we quite literally sat on the edge of a famous fountain...drinking wine out of plastic cups until 1am...and learning that you say "chin chin" when you toast cheers with plastic cups...why you ask (cause we did) because its the sound the glass would make. Then to get a road stand hamburger from a man from bangladesh with quite possibly the best teeth on the planet. And after we told him that, he would not stop showing them to us. Teena and I are going to eat hamburgers on ciabatta bread with olives and artichokes from now on.
Chin Chin all, we love you!
Jenn and Teena
We got hit hard with the jetlag last night and neither of us could get to sleep. We tried at 2am...then again at 4am to fall asleep and then finally after talking about everything under the sun like we were new college roommates, we fell asleep at 6am.
Consequently we missed 10am mass (oops). We did however wake in time to eat pizza and hop on the bus downtown for 6pm mass at Saint Mary Maggiore. On the bus ride there we stared in awe at all the plazas and squealed with glee at the fact we knew where we were in this big city from all our exploraton the day before. And in St. Peters Square, Teena leaned over the bus to take a picture and there was a group dressed in...vibrant clothes including a man dressed as Elvis (with Queens makeup I think) shoutly, hey...Elvis baby! Very comical.
We headed off the bus and walked the .5 mile or so to the cathedral. An incredibly stunning piece of architecture and art. We sat through mass sandwiched on all sides by little old women. The kind you see making pasta in the kitchen and beating rugs over balconies 3 stories up from a busy street in EVERY italian movie. The kind who say things like...ai ai ai and ciao bellisima with their wrinkled hands in the air or on your face sweetly and you want to pick them up from their stooped over position and take them home with you. I was especially touched when the four elderly women in front of us turned to share the peace with us like we were their friends since 1915 from the villa next door. We could have done without the person in the back whose phone kept going off though...probably an american ;)!
The music and chanting were beautiful and right when the silence for prayer started, the rain outside started as well. The soothing sound of rain through the windows near the incredibly ornante ceiling made us feel a bit homesick but was a very special moment.
After which we had another very special moment of fancy coffee and our first desserts of the trip. I had limone and mango gelato (mouth just starting watering again) and Teena had a pastry/cookie sort of thingy with all kinds of yummy goodness in and outside of it.
We strolled up and down the bustling streets at 9pm, even ventured into the train terminal for a peek and then just like any confident woman in new york, we hailed a taxi on a back alley and said....Hotel Amalia, 66 Via Germanico per favore. And he understood us which was fantastico.
The evening ended with hand picked chianti and a trip to a plaza where we quite literally sat on the edge of a famous fountain...drinking wine out of plastic cups until 1am...and learning that you say "chin chin" when you toast cheers with plastic cups...why you ask (cause we did) because its the sound the glass would make. Then to get a road stand hamburger from a man from bangladesh with quite possibly the best teeth on the planet. And after we told him that, he would not stop showing them to us. Teena and I are going to eat hamburgers on ciabatta bread with olives and artichokes from now on.
Chin Chin all, we love you!
Jenn and Teena
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Ciao Jennifer and other lovely things Italians say...
Why does everything sound beautiful in Italian.
Ciao bella...Senora...PaPa...Caffe latte and even toileta. We love pretending we are italian and try not to just add a vowel at the end of english words like rooma...streeta... and wina :)
We had an incredible day. We slept til 10 which was nice since we were up drinking wine and eating until almost 1am. We went down to the coffe shop outside the door of our hotel for tomato, mozzarella sandwiches and coffee. That is breakfast here I swear. And as we drank and ate to our hearts content...we watched the United nations of people pass us on the street. The whole world is represented here. We saw a group of teenage boys yesterday all speaking rapid Italian...but one was asian, one was blond and one had the biggest head of red hair I have ever seen.
We bought a 48hr tour bus ticket so we can see EVERYTHING and ride around on the top of a double decker bus all day. VERY great. We can get off and wander and eventually another bus will pick us up.
There are 12 stops. Today we saw 3! In 7.5 hours.
We saw a heart stoppingly beautiful church, the spanish steps (where we were swindled by a street peddler into thinking he was GIVING us red roses), the Trevi Fountain and the Hard Rock Rome. Every other hard rock has pictures or posters of Jimmy Hendrix, this one had a stain glass window of him. Italy!
We walked ALOT and took ALOT of pictures. When we were leaving the chapel at the top of the spanish steps it started to rain. Ahhh just like home we thought. What better time to sit outside at a cafe and drink a latte under a tent. As we were all squished into the few tables that were protected outside from the rain...we met the most amazing older French couple. We shared stories about our kids, as they had just adopted a beautiful 10 year old boy and talked about places in the USA they know. For Teena and I this is what this trip is about. Meeting amazing people from around the world.
We came back towards our hotel, bought some corn nuts and a bottle of red wine and chatted about our day. Then we strolled the streets to find a new place for dinner and found another great place with homemade pasta, a plethora of tomatoes and mozzarella and vino rosso!
Now it is almost 11pm and we are getting a good night sleep so we can go to church tomorrow in the old part of Rome at the Saint Maria church before see the Pantheon, the Colloseum and the museum of archelogy.
We had the most amazing day and talked frequently about how we wished our friends and family could see this, they would love it. So we are including some pictures for you to relive our adventure with us.
Love to all
J and T (or mom to the four of you)
Ciao bella...Senora...PaPa...Caffe latte and even toileta. We love pretending we are italian and try not to just add a vowel at the end of english words like rooma...streeta... and wina :)
We had an incredible day. We slept til 10 which was nice since we were up drinking wine and eating until almost 1am. We went down to the coffe shop outside the door of our hotel for tomato, mozzarella sandwiches and coffee. That is breakfast here I swear. And as we drank and ate to our hearts content...we watched the United nations of people pass us on the street. The whole world is represented here. We saw a group of teenage boys yesterday all speaking rapid Italian...but one was asian, one was blond and one had the biggest head of red hair I have ever seen.
We bought a 48hr tour bus ticket so we can see EVERYTHING and ride around on the top of a double decker bus all day. VERY great. We can get off and wander and eventually another bus will pick us up.
There are 12 stops. Today we saw 3! In 7.5 hours.
We saw a heart stoppingly beautiful church, the spanish steps (where we were swindled by a street peddler into thinking he was GIVING us red roses), the Trevi Fountain and the Hard Rock Rome. Every other hard rock has pictures or posters of Jimmy Hendrix, this one had a stain glass window of him. Italy!
We walked ALOT and took ALOT of pictures. When we were leaving the chapel at the top of the spanish steps it started to rain. Ahhh just like home we thought. What better time to sit outside at a cafe and drink a latte under a tent. As we were all squished into the few tables that were protected outside from the rain...we met the most amazing older French couple. We shared stories about our kids, as they had just adopted a beautiful 10 year old boy and talked about places in the USA they know. For Teena and I this is what this trip is about. Meeting amazing people from around the world.
We came back towards our hotel, bought some corn nuts and a bottle of red wine and chatted about our day. Then we strolled the streets to find a new place for dinner and found another great place with homemade pasta, a plethora of tomatoes and mozzarella and vino rosso!
Now it is almost 11pm and we are getting a good night sleep so we can go to church tomorrow in the old part of Rome at the Saint Maria church before see the Pantheon, the Colloseum and the museum of archelogy.
We had the most amazing day and talked frequently about how we wished our friends and family could see this, they would love it. So we are including some pictures for you to relive our adventure with us.
Love to all
J and T (or mom to the four of you)
Friday, September 17, 2010
Per Favore, Grazie, Prego, prego prego....
We have been in Rome for 4 hours and have successfully found our hotel, used the very very tiny elevator, found an incredible pizzeria for lunch and people watching (we played yay or nay, as in local or tourist) did a little shopping and now before we take an afternoon nap(I mean when in rome people) we are at the internet cafe across from our centrally located hotel.
We will get up for dinner tonight at a great local spot and then tomorrow its off to the vatican which is literally 2 blocks from our hotel.
Neither of our phones are working right now, but we will deal with that after much needed sleep.
We are loving it and feeling not too touristy if thats a word and that was exactly our intent.
J and T
We will get up for dinner tonight at a great local spot and then tomorrow its off to the vatican which is literally 2 blocks from our hotel.
Neither of our phones are working right now, but we will deal with that after much needed sleep.
We are loving it and feeling not too touristy if thats a word and that was exactly our intent.
J and T
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The storm before the calm!
We got up at 4:30 this morning. That didn't stink nearly as bad as the 1.5 (so far) hr delay we are experiencing ON the Tarmac. Seems good ole NYC wants our anticipation for Rome to be prolonged. We just watched an amazing thunder and lightning storm from our seats on the runway. Our seats in Business class!!! Which would be cooler if that meant anything on this plane, but alas we still have no leg room.
We are in good spirits and plan to consume good spirits soon as the plane gets under way.
Next stop! Italia!
J and T
We are in good spirits and plan to consume good spirits soon as the plane gets under way.
Next stop! Italia!
J and T
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The preparation....
I am still amazed that is has to take 3 weeks of preparation (at least) for 2 weeks of vacation. And someone said to me this week...and 3 weeks of work when you get back.
To be honest...I do NOT care. This is a trip I have thought about repeatedly for years. And now...in the next 24 hours...it's here.
Teena and I leave tomorrow evening and land in Rome early Friday morning.
We will see Rome and all it's ancient spendors....Tuscany, Pisa, Livorno, Volterra (Niah's very excited...Twilight fans you feel me) Siena, Florence, San Giminango, Lucca, Venice, Milan and who knows where else the car will end up.
This blog is for our kids, our friends and our family. It's only 2.5 weeks I know...but if you know me and Teena, or just me, or just Teena...you know there will be stories...this blog will just be a snippett :)
Thanks to our mom's for watching our kids, our co-workers for filling in for us and well...Steve Hanneman for hookin us up ALL the way....
Peace for now....
J
To be honest...I do NOT care. This is a trip I have thought about repeatedly for years. And now...in the next 24 hours...it's here.
Teena and I leave tomorrow evening and land in Rome early Friday morning.
We will see Rome and all it's ancient spendors....Tuscany, Pisa, Livorno, Volterra (Niah's very excited...Twilight fans you feel me) Siena, Florence, San Giminango, Lucca, Venice, Milan and who knows where else the car will end up.
This blog is for our kids, our friends and our family. It's only 2.5 weeks I know...but if you know me and Teena, or just me, or just Teena...you know there will be stories...this blog will just be a snippett :)
Thanks to our mom's for watching our kids, our co-workers for filling in for us and well...Steve Hanneman for hookin us up ALL the way....
Peace for now....
J
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