Orchids

Orchids are very popular here. We see them in store windows, people's homes and especially at the flower stores. At times, I didn't think they were real because they looked so perfect. I've been wanting one for our place but I just wasn't brave enough to buy one. We don't always get very good light and I didn't want to spend money on something that would not last.

In May, one of Kate's friends came to spend the night and she brought us an orchid as a gift. It was a nice surprise and I was very excited. You can see the section where it took some time to adjust but I have to say it is doing quite well. I just need to read up on them to make sure it lasts the winter.

Road Construction Nightmare

This posting is dedicated to my friends - the Taylor Family and the Yee Family who have moved back to the United States. I have finally decided to voice my daily nightmare on the blog!

Let me just say this - Neuchatel is very good about providing job opportunities for their citizens. Sometimes I feel they create road problems just so there is another road construction project to keep everyone employed. I have heard that funds are scarce but I would never know that by the amount of times they have dug up this road.

This is the roundabout right before I get to Katelyn's school. I am waiting at the temporary stop light because it is only one way thru the round about. Parking has pretty much disappeared. Everyone use to park where that yellow building is by the trees or on the road to the right. However, that is all closed. Now we all fight for a spot in a lot belonging to an apartment complex. There is about 6 spaces where we can legally park for 15 minutes.

There was a parking lot up the road in the woods where about 12 cars could easily park. On the first day of school I drove into that lot and found it completely gone. Trees had been planted. There was one little spot where 2 cars could park but that has since changed because now there is a construction dumpster in that spot:)

There are at least 3 of these temporary stoplights along this road and the road that joins it at the roundabout. This construction has been going on for at least a year and a half or more. In that time, some parts of the road have been dug up at least 3 times. It is all within a 1/2 mile radius.

It is so crazy that it has become quite comical to me except for the days I can't find a parking space:) I just always have pictured Switzerland as a place that is always peaceful and efficient. I have been proven that it is just like the rest of the world and they have their own problems too.

Ciao Lugano

Sunday morning we decided to wake up early. We were worried about the traffic going thru the Gotthard tunnel. The previous weekend had waits up to 5 hours because it is only one lane in each direction and many people were ending their holidays in Italy. I guess it has been put to a vote to build another tunnel but has been continuously voted down. We were fortunate and it took us an extra 10 minutes.

The one nice thing about all the rainfall was it made all the waterfalls bigger! It was gorgeous and they were everywhere.

The peaks even had snow!

The drive was very pretty. We went back thru the mountains around Interlaken. It was much more scenic. However, it was also a bit curvier.

We finally saw some blue sky.

The sunshine and blue sky didn't last long but it was a fun drive home.

Neuchatel had horrible rain while we were gone but it did clear up Sunday afternoon. It was a fun trip and another place to add to our adventures.

Just a quick note - on Jason's ride home from work yesterday it was 5 degrees Celsius and sleeting rain. It looks like Autumn is right around the corner!

Lugano (Saturday)

Saturday morning we had slept in. I think it helped that it was a bit dark outside and it looked like rain. We decided to walk around the downtown area.

Lugano is surrounded by hills and that means lots of steps. We thought this was a funny picture of Devin pretending to climb all the steps. It was very steep.


We are still amazed at how many European cities have a statue of George Washingon.

The church of a former Franciscan Monastery, "Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli" built in 1449.

The church contains the most famous Renaissance wall-painting in Switzerland - "Passion of Christ" by Bernardino Luini (1529) It was beautiful.

We continued our stroll thru the streets and doing some window shopping at all the designer stores. We always have fun buying something at one of the stands at the brocante (flea market). The weather just did not want to cooperate and it began to rain and never stopped.

We headed back to the pool and had it all to ourselves. I copied this picture from their webpage.

It was still pouring down rain after 3 hours. We decided to watch movies in the room. There were quite a few that we had not seen and we decided to spend the flat rate for all the movies we could watch. The boys chose "How to train your dragon" which was a very good animated movie. Then Katelyn chose "The princess and the frog" which was good too.

After the movies we were starving. So we decided to head out into the storm and run for 1 block back to the Italian restaurant. Lucas enjoyed his "smile" pleasing calzone.

Of course we had dessert and Kate's strawberries and cream was delicious.

Dinner and dessert killed 2 hours. We got back to the rooms and the kids went to bed. Jason and I stayed up and watched "Shutter Island" which was a good but crazy movie.

Lugano, Switzerland (Friday)

Hello everyone! This past weekend was offically the last weekend of summer for us. Katelyn started school yesterday and so we wanted to get out of town one more time. We decided to head to the Italian part of Switzerland, also known as the Swiss Riviera.

When we left Neuchatel Friday morning, it looked like it was going to rain. It didn't get much better as we drove along.

We approached the famous St. Gotthard tunnel. It is the 3rd longest tunnel in the world at 10.5 miles long.

I was hoping that once we got on the other side of the tunnel that the weather would improve. It was at least a little bit brighter.

We made it to Lugano in about 3.5 hours with one quick pit stop. The sun was out at times and was a beautiful afternoon. This picture shows the view from our room.

We decided to take a boat and visit "Swiss Miniature". From the boat, this picture is of our hotel.

Kate "the movie star" was finishing up her gelato. We couldn't resist the gelato and it was delicious as usual!

There were quite a few storm clouds gathering but we didn't get rained on .

The "Swiss Miniatur" shows 120 of the most pisturesque places of Switzerland at a scale of 1:25.

St. Moritz area

I believe this one is Chateau de Chillon

We loved the small figures.

Zurich airport

Federal Palace in Berne

Jason and Kate look like giants next to the villages.

Of course we had to include Neuchatel's La Collegiale.

Devin, the "teenager", is still a kid at heart.

Lucas being Lucas:)

The fish were huge and Kate refused to put her hand in the water.

It would not have been a complete day without Jason catching up on some email:)

We got off the boat and had a nice Italian dinner before the rain came. We decided to check out the indoor pool/ spa area before bed. It was nice.

Fireworks - National Holiday

August 1st is Swiss National Day (Fete Nationale)



Neuchatel celebrated with fireworks. We believe there were 2 barges on the lake. This was the view from Devin's bedroom window of the barge outside the Port and the Post Office.

The fireworks began about 10:10 and were beautiful. We had a pefect view of almost all of it. The Post Office blocked what was happening on the barge but I think our necks would have been hurting if we were down along the lake from looking straight up at the big ones.

The grand finale was absolutely gorgeous with the way it just lit up our view of the lake. I thought I would post a 1 minute video. Enjoy!

Weekend at the Lake

It was a sports weekend across the street at the port. Friday evening we decided to head over and check out what was happening. They had a huge stage set up and all we knew was it meant trouble for us that night - a big party! They had a poster with all of the events and we were right about the party - DJ and music till 2:00 am Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

While we were there, they were having a demonstration of "American Football". It was pretty funny to see these highschool kids up on the stage tackling each other. They play on the team - Neuchatel Knights. There was about 25 people watching the demonstration. That figure included the 5 of us. Ha Ha Just not a very popular sport here. There were 2 "beach" volleyball courts set up and had a tournament going on. There was also a BMX demonstration which was neat to see. Kate was worried that they hadn't practiced enough. The wood plank obstacles had to take quite a bit of time to make.

Lucas had a try on the tightrope. There was also a bungee jump/trampoline that he went and tried on Saturday morning. It was nice - everything was free. For the bungee trampoline, Lucas had to get a numbered ticket and wait his turn. They only passed out so many tickets which is a great idea. They would let you know what number they were on so you didn't have to stand around waiting too long.

We had perfect weather for the weekend. The highs were around the low 80's. The lake water was probably around 70. It really felt good once we got in. Lucas was enjoying the water.

If you look real close, the Alps are in the background.

Devin and his friend Sebastian took the raft out a bit too far. I actually had to swim to the buoys to get their attention and have them come closer to shore. They said the lake police went by them and didn't say anything. However, it was too far and they were in the middle of the big ferry boats traveling lanes. ( you can double click on this picture to see it better )

Jason getting some sun:)

Devin jumping off the rocks.

How many fish can you see?

Kate is ready to look for some more fish.

The kids just love throwing water. The plastic shoebox is also good for catching fish.

The beach wasn't too crowded but we like swimming a bit further down.

We had a fun weekend. I'm glad we did because we woke up to a rainy Monday!