catching up

So, obviously the blogging-while-traveling didn't go very well. It occurred to me late in the process that there is probably an app for that, but never mind, I suspect no one died of the suspense. But, without further ado: what I did on my summer vacation.

• Saturday: Caroline and I traveled to Lausanne to (briefly) see Dan's mom Monika (who flew in last week from California) and her sister and her niece and her niece's kids.

  

  in which Caroline is baffled by some Swiss-French art

• Sunday: onward to Geneva to meet my college-bestie Rachel and her family, and also my college-and-Switzerland friend Brian and his family. A mini reunion!

  

  bcheney takes us on a cruise across Lake Geneva

• Monday: a tour of CERN, then onward to join Daniel and Christopher in Zermatt, where the apartment we rented has gorgeous views of the Matterhorn at the price of a mini-hike up some gravel switchbacks.

  

  gummi bears were required, but it was worth it in the end

• Tuesday: the "five lakes walk" in Zermatt. There were indeed five lakes. And many beautiful views of the Matterhorn. We introduced our guests to that fabulous Swiss institution, the hike-to-a-delicious-restaurant.

  

  out for a stroll with the Matterhorn

• Wednesday: the cog wheel railway up to the Gornergrat, which for the record does not have a delicious restaurant (too easy to get to?), but does have stunning views of (can you guess?) the Matterhorn! and some glaciers. 

  

  actually the Matterhorn was in the clouds, but never fear, we found a way to see it!

• Thursday: Mass exodus from Zermatt to the stunning pools and water slide of the Brigerbad, from which Rachel and family left for Rome and we picked up Monika for a ride back to Zermatt.

  

  after a good swim, it's time to relax and talk Pokémon

• Friday: Monika and Dan hiked the entire "Botanischer Lehrpfad"; the kids and I wimped out after the first delicious restaurant, but then ended up walking up a steep hill in another direction in search of the Ricola Herb Garden - which I do not recommend! Herbs should not require walks up steep hills! but luckily there was another delicious restaurant to soothe us with ice cream! Then we went back down the hill and got our fill of the many kitschy souvenir shops in Zermatt.

  

  They are running down the hill because it's finally time to go souvenir shopping. But still, this is maybe my favorite picture of the whole week.

• Saturday: Apartment cleaning and departure. We had a beautiful drive home through the Rhone valley and on the Furka car train, with stops for cheese in Bitsch (yes) and lunch-and-church-viewing in Stans.

  

  Some very refined cows.

  And with that, it's time for bed tonight. I hope I will catch up on the photos and deep thoughts in the next few days!