I know I said I’d try to write more about Switzerland, but the truth is, like I briefly wrote yesterday, it is incredibly difficult to articulate colors, sounds and sights like you find here. I can write about taking the Rigi Bahn train up to the top of the mountain here in Vitznau and tell you about how we saw 13 lakes and 3 different countries from an elevation of over 6,000 feet and that it was simply breathtaking. However I think the photo entitled, “Top of the World” says it better than I ever could.
As I mentioned several days ago, we spent four days in the town of Interlaken. Now the draw of this town is that it is supposedly set at the base of the very famous Jungfrau Mountain, or what I’ve been told is one of the largest peaks on the continent of Europe. Our hotel, the beautiful Victoria Jungfrau Hotel, faces directly towards the mountain…we think. However due to some very rare, very unseasonal weather, we never actually saw the majestic glacier peak that has been called “one of the top 100 places to see before you die.” What we did see was the base of a beautiful, green & lush “hill” and then about 5 miles straight up of clouds. I’m still not convinced the mountain even really exists. It’s probably all just a very brilliant marketing scheme to boost a small Swiss town’s local economy! : )
Nevertheless Interlaken still was a worthwhile stop after we took a train up into the Jungfrau’s neighboring peaks and it truly was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. It’s probably been 15 years since I’ve seen the movie “Heidi” but I’m pretty sure she still lives (along with God!) in the area we passed through. It was everything you think of when you hear “the mountains and meadows of Switzerland.” The photo “From the train going up the Mountain” is just an example.
From Interlaken we then made our way to the town of Vitznau, which is where we end our trip. It’s hard to believe this time tomorrow Ryan and I will be on a plane heading home. The town of Vitznau, situated on the unbelievably beautiful Lake Lucerne, about one hour from Zurich & 30 minutes south of Lucerne, is one of THE most picturesque places I’ve seen literally in my whole life! (I know I’ve said that about a million times, but you really can’t blame me!) I wish you could see my view this very moment: I’m watching the rain fall down on the lake with green hills and pastures in the distance and the still snow-topped mountains being swallowed up by smoke-like, white wispy clouds. In the distance I can hear the bells clanging on the cattle probably looking for someplace to shield them from the rain, and also the pitter patter of the rain hitting our balcony. It’s interesting how much rain we’ve had here in Switzerland, every single in fact. However only once did we really get affected by it and that was walking to our hotel from the ferry dock after spending the day in the town of Lucerne. I don’t know if you’ve gotten caught in a rain storm lately, but I think it’s something everyone needs to experience from time to time. Ryan & I were just talking about it while we enjoyed lunch on our balcony a little bit ago. He said that getting caught in the rain has a softening affect on you. It makes you have to laugh and just enjoy it for what it is, and really creates such a simplistic moment. It was so refreshing.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our adventures and seeing the moments we’ve forever captured with our cameras. I will be posting more photos here on this blog in the days to come once we return stateside and readjust to life back home. I will also be posting a new travel gallery on my official website of more of my professional photos (Julie & Ryan kissing photos will not be included!) at http://www.journeyofthelens.com/ sometime soon. In addition to the new travel portfolio I hope to have another photo expo in the months ahead, exclusively featuring my work from this trip. I will keep you posted on the details. Thank you again for sharing in our Journey. All the best to you.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
A thousand words...
i really want to try and explain all we've been experiencing here in switzerland, but i truly think you can't put this kind of beauty into words....
On top of the world
The Swiss town of Weggis 
Dock on the Lake Lucerne 
Train station in the Alps 
The hills are alive... 
The famous Jungrau Mountains
On top of the world
The Swiss town of Weggis
Dock on the Lake Lucerne
Town tucked away in the Jungfrau Mountain
Train station in the Alps
Playing in the fields
The hills are alive...
Swiss Kiss
From the train going up the mountain
Friday, June 6, 2008
I found out where God lives...
...and I’m pretty sure He lives somewhere in between Italy & Switzerland. There aren’t really enough “beautiful’s” and “amazing’s” to describe it. Upon leaving Eze we set out for the Swiss town of Interlaken, set at the base of the Alps, situated in between two lakes. Our drive, which took us through the Provence region of France, back through Monaco, up into the Lake District of Italy with a stop for lunch on Lake Como, then finally crossing over the Swiss border, was everything I had wanted our nightmare train trek from a few days prior to be. The scenery was breathtaking, the photos were spectacular & there was nothing stressful about it. It was just an amazing journey through some of the most awe-inspiring countryside, riverside & mountain ranges….including an 18 mile tunnel that went through an entire mountain! That was a little weird. After mile 5 you start to get a little claustrophobic, by mile 10 I had to close my eyes and pretend I was somewhere else & by mile 15 Ryan reminded me to take some deep breaths. Eventually we emerged into daylight & that’s when I caught the following beautiful photo "Light at the end of the Tunnel", from my seat in the car going 70mph!
There’s much more to tell about Switzerland & all its glory but that will have to wait because it’s way past my bedtime! To be continued….
There’s much more to tell about Switzerland & all its glory but that will have to wait because it’s way past my bedtime! To be continued….
A few more from Eze
I know i didn't talk a whole lot about the specifics of Eze, but I wanted to include a few more photos of it, since I feel I wasn't really fair in giving it the written appreciation it deserves. Hopefully these will show you a bit more of its adorable character.
The view of the town from the bottom of the hill
Room with a view!
From the balcony. That's Nice & Cannes in the distance.
The view of the town from the bottom of the hill
Entrance to our hotel
Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous
It’s our third day here in Switzerland, but I’m trying to go in order here, so you get to hear about Monaco now. As I said before, the country of Monaco, which is really just an even snootier version of France, is really one of the most absurd places I’ve ever been. Truly I’ve never seen pomp like you find on the streets of Monte-Carlo. And even if you’re not the Prince of Dubai or the Princess of Japan, most people think they are anyways. That aspect side, Monte-Carlo is home to some of the most beautiful architecture & sweeping Mediterranean views of any place in Europe, not to mention THE most insanely crazy yachts ever!
All in all, there’s really not much else to say about Monaco except for the money. Unfortunately that’s what it’s all about, really. However, we enjoyed our lovely lunch on the water, walking along the harbor & counting the Ferrari’s & Bentley’s & Astin Martin’s. After a few hours though, we were over it all & were very happy to return back up to the top of the hill to our quiet & charming little town of Eze.
and just to give you an idea of it all....
Just one of the many harbors in Monte-Carlo
Ryan finally found his boat. But it's only a mere 350 feet.
And yes, that is someone's private yacht.
The world-famous Casino de Monte-Carlo
Le Hotel de Paris
All in all, there’s really not much else to say about Monaco except for the money. Unfortunately that’s what it’s all about, really. However, we enjoyed our lovely lunch on the water, walking along the harbor & counting the Ferrari’s & Bentley’s & Astin Martin’s. After a few hours though, we were over it all & were very happy to return back up to the top of the hill to our quiet & charming little town of Eze.
and just to give you an idea of it all....
Just one of the many harbors in Monte-Carlo
Ryan finally found his boat. But it's only a mere 350 feet.
And yes, that is someone's private yacht.
The world-famous Casino de Monte-Carlo
Le Hotel de Paris
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
An assortment of photos
You never know what you're gonna get
We made it to Monaco/France! And let me tell you, there is nothing simple about the trek it took us to get here. I just need to get this out and then I’ll move on. I’m pretty near sure that Italy is where all trains go to die. I’m not even kidding you. The Italian rail system has got to be one of the most dirty, unorganized, chaotic means of transportation I’ve ever seen, including that of some I’ve used in third world countries. I just don’t remember a worse transportation experience. Perhaps it was the fact that half of Italy was on train strike, perhaps it was the fact that the entire train was double oversold. (yes, others had our exact same ticket, down to the seat number!), or maybe it was just the fact that these trains look like they’ve literally just wandered out of hiding from WWII. Who knows. Either way, it was just a mess & what should have been 7 hours of leisurely travel through the Italian countryside & into the south of France took over 12 hours. The adventure also included an 30 minute impromptu stop to revive an unconscious drunk man, as well as a temporary all-car seizure by Italian police frantically checking passports & looking for someone I can only imagine shouldn’t be allowed to use public transportation or roam about the free world.
But moving on...We finally arrived into Monte-Carlo & couldn’t have been happier to get off the train! I don’t know if many of you have ever been to the country of Monaco, but it’s quite a sight to see & I hope to write about it more maybe tomorrow. It’s hard to keep up on the blog thing when you’re in a constant state of moving around. However if you’ve ever wondered what $300 million dollar yachts look like or what Mediterranean mansions look like up close, you can find it all in swanky Monte-Carlo.
From the train station we drove the short 10 kilometer drive back into France to the medieval town of Eze. If you’re not familiar with Eze, it is an old stone village set high into the mountains overlooking the Med Sea, Nice and Cannes just down the coast. Think the Count of Monte Cristo-esque. The entire town is carved into the side of the hill & there are no cars allowed, as the streets aren’t really streets at all but more like little cobble stone alley ways. We’ve also had some of the most amazing meals here with views you’d just die over! There is nothing more incredible than sitting on your balcony, enjoying a glass of wine while overlooking the Cote d’Azur & enjoying the cool Mediterranean breeze. It really was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen in all my life.
Today we went back to Monte-Carlo & spent the day walking, eating & shopping in Billionaires Land, but I’ll have to write about that later. Tomorrow morning we leave for Switzerland, with a stopover in Bellagio’s Lake Como region. (Italy). I can’t even wrap my mind around the photos we’ll find there. I’m living ever photographers dream.
Thanks for taking the time to read about our continuing Journey. Bon nuit.
But moving on...We finally arrived into Monte-Carlo & couldn’t have been happier to get off the train! I don’t know if many of you have ever been to the country of Monaco, but it’s quite a sight to see & I hope to write about it more maybe tomorrow. It’s hard to keep up on the blog thing when you’re in a constant state of moving around. However if you’ve ever wondered what $300 million dollar yachts look like or what Mediterranean mansions look like up close, you can find it all in swanky Monte-Carlo.
From the train station we drove the short 10 kilometer drive back into France to the medieval town of Eze. If you’re not familiar with Eze, it is an old stone village set high into the mountains overlooking the Med Sea, Nice and Cannes just down the coast. Think the Count of Monte Cristo-esque. The entire town is carved into the side of the hill & there are no cars allowed, as the streets aren’t really streets at all but more like little cobble stone alley ways. We’ve also had some of the most amazing meals here with views you’d just die over! There is nothing more incredible than sitting on your balcony, enjoying a glass of wine while overlooking the Cote d’Azur & enjoying the cool Mediterranean breeze. It really was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen in all my life.
Today we went back to Monte-Carlo & spent the day walking, eating & shopping in Billionaires Land, but I’ll have to write about that later. Tomorrow morning we leave for Switzerland, with a stopover in Bellagio’s Lake Como region. (Italy). I can’t even wrap my mind around the photos we’ll find there. I’m living ever photographers dream.
Thanks for taking the time to read about our continuing Journey. Bon nuit.
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