Switzerland

My first trip to Europe was in 1988 with my Uncle Mike, Auntie Alix and Cousin Tad. We  planned for 15 days of touring Switzerland, Germany, Austria and England. I am very thankful to my Aunt for making me an amazing scrapbook of the trip, with detailed notes, so I can relive that super fun adventure. 

We started in Zurich, Switzerland and we ate lunch at a sidewalk cafe, we toured Lake Lucerne, a perfectly clear lake lined with beautiful villages with thousands of window boxes full of flowers and charming people, we took the gondola to Mt. Titlis up through meadows with wild flowers & light, brown cows with sinking bells, to the top at 10,000, we toured the fairytale castle of Gutsch, we took pause at the Lion Monument, which is dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died at Tuileries in 1792 for trying to save the life of Marie Antoinette and we explored the Kappellbrucke Bridge that was built in 1333. We enjoyed Wienerschnitzel, canton flags, beer garden radishes, tower climbs, water fountains and staying at the Grand National Hotel, with the most delicious breakfast of the trip. 

We took a day trip to Zurich and enjoyed the wonderful window boxes, the street cars, the lakeside … and many diet cokes. 

Then we were off to Zermatt and enjoyed the alpine flowers and streams as we started up through the Alps. We discovered glacier lakes, stone churches, alpine villages, and more Swiss cows with big cow bells. Our #1 favorite was taking the cogwheel train and two different gondolas to reach the highest point in Zermatt. The views from the Alps are incredible. We stayed at the Alex Schloss Hotel and had stunning views of the matterhorn.