Early in September, we took our long-anticipated trip to France and Switzerland. We spent about five days in Paris before traveling to Susanne's wedding in Zug, Switzerland.
Our flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam took off about three hours late, and we missed our connector to Paris, so we arrived later than anticipated on Sunday. We still managed to check into the Hotel Moliere and walk to Notre Dame that evening.
Our hotel, taken very early one morning. The Paris board of tourism places plaques near the doors of all the hotels that advertise how many stars the hotel has - you can see our three.
The back of Ellen's head visits Notre Dame.
Mass was going on while we visited. The combination of the music, the prayers, and the surroundings was quite striking.
On Monday we attempted to visit the Musee Rodin and see the Thinker (and take the obligatory pictures), but the museum was closed. We spent the rest of the day doing the Paris necessaries - the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Elysees. We also had lunch with Monsieur Amado, a Paris attorney who was one of Craig's professors when he studied in France a few years ago.
Hey, it looks like that lamp they used to sell at Target!
The Arc de Triomphe as seen from the top of the Eiffel Tower. You can see how many of the main streets radiate out from it.
Craig and the Arc de Triomphe. We walked through a tunnel that went under the street in order to access the Arc close-up. The names of French soldiers who died are carved in the stone.
Looking down the Champs-Elysees from the Arc. Craig is very proud of the way he shot this photo in between waves of traffic.
Lunch with Monsieur Amado, at a typical Parisian outdoor cafe.
Tuesday was spent on a tour of three chateaux in the Loire Valley. We shared a minivan with our delightful tour guide Honore and six Russian immigrants from New York City. The mix of French, Russian, and history was a bit heady, but it was a wonderful day trip.
Chambord, which was originally built as a hunting lodge.
This double staircase at Chambord was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Two people can enter at opposite sides of the stairwell on the same floor, and each ascend to the next floor without ever meeting.
Chateau d'Amboise is where Leonardo da Vinci died and is buried. Parts of the castle and the adjoining church were sold during the time of Napoleon for the money the limestone brought.
Overlooking the Loire River.
Craig and the town of Amboise.
Our third destination of the day was
Chenonceau, which is built as a bridge over a river.
Across the garden of Diane de Poitiers at Chenonceau.
After returning to Paris, we walked a little ways from our hotel to see the Eiffel Tower lit up and "sparkling."
The Louvre at night.
Wednesday we left Paris again, and took the train to the castle at
Versailles, and later on to
Chartres.
Walking through the gates at Versailles.
Part of the original facade of the chateau.
From our picnic spot on the Grand Canal, looking back at the chateau over the gardens.
The Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
No cake was served.
The cathedral at Chartres. The spire on the left burned in 1194, and was later rebuilt in a different style.
Some of the stained glass in the cathedral dates from the 12th century. On the left is the "Blue Virgin."
This structure screening the choir area from the outer perimeter of the cathedral was carved over a period of 200 years. Forty scenes depict the lives of Mary and Jesus.
These buttresses fly.
On Thursday, we rounded out our tour of Paris necessaries at the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay.
The Mona Lisa, behind some serious protective glass and a bevy of camera-wiedling tourists.
The gallery of Italian painting outside the room that houses the Mona Lisa. I think this is where the opening scenes of The Da Vinci Code took place, but I'm not curious enough to check the book out of the library again to make sure.
Somewhere, a beautifully sculpted pair of arms are missing a body.
Craig and the walls of the medieval Louvre, which was a residence and armory. The wall behind him dates from the 12th century and still rests beneath the museum.
This painting depicts Napoleon's coronation of Josephine. Ellen is added for scale.
The Louvre pyramid and entrance plaza in daylight. The ice cream from the little cart was very good.
Inside the Musee d'Orsay. The building used to be a train station, but was converted to house art from after the period contained in the Louvre, much of it Impressionist.
Sacre Couer, as seen from the fourth floor of the Musee D'Orsay.
Be honest, Vincent - you're showing your good side. The one that still has the ear.
On Friday, we took the TGV train from Paris to Zurich. The ride was quiet and peaceful, but the mountains made it slower than many TGV trips.
Trains at Gare de Lyon in Paris.
The Swiss railways really do run on time.
On Saturday we had a great time at Susanne and Otmar's wedding. The reception was held in a little town up in the mountains. We enjoyed hearing the cowbells clanking above us all evening.
Near the reception site.
The happy couple being showered with streamers during their first dance.
On Sundays, everything in Switzerland is apparently closed. We met up again with Susanne and Otmar, had a nice lunch at their apartment, oohed and ahhed over Tim, and visited Susanne's parents in Malters.
Craig, Tim, and Tim's new Taggie blanket.
Tim is not a terrorist, and has the passport to prove it.
Susanne, Otmar, and Tim, during their day of recovery between the wedding and the honeymoon.
Susanne, Ellen, and Brigitte and Hans (Susanne's parents and generous hosts extraordinaire).
Monday was our last day in Europe. We took the train to
Lucerne and walked around the lake. From there, we took a cruise across the lake, then rode the world's steepest cog railway up
Mt. Pilatus. The peak was cloud-covered, so we couldn't see much of its much-heralded view of the Alps. (The cloud cover did help us figure out why the cows need to wear bells in the mountains, though.) We took a cable car down the side of the mountain, returned to Lucerne, and went back to the hotel. The next day, we flew from Zurich to Amsterdam and back to St. Paul.
Ellen in front of the old covered bridge in Lucerne. The tower houses a gift and jewelry shop.
Looking out over Lake Lucerne. The lake is fed by a glacier, so the water is a clear blue.
On the cog train up Mt. Pilatus. It's hard to tell from our pictures, but the grade is 48% in many places.
Craig in the clouds near the top of Mt. Pilatus.
From the cable car on the way down the mountain.
The mountain in the distance here is Pilatus. No wonder we couldn't see anything at the top.
Craig and the lion of Lucerne. This lion, which is carved into a bluff, memorializes Swiss guards and soldiers.
