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Lugano...

Thursday of our trip. Robin, Bob, Jenny, and David graciously offered to hang out with Alex while Michele and I took a trip by ourselves. We took the train to Lugano. A train ride with no worries, no wrangling, and even some conversation. It was nice. The train ride alone was a fantastic break.Then Lugano. A beautiful lakeside town. A little touristy, but lovely to wander around. This is the kind of town, we decided, that we could stay in for a week. Have coffee in the square. Walk along the lake. Lunch with wine. A nap. And then some cocktails. Every day. We could do it.
We saw cute churches...Adorable sloping streets (with cafes and shops)...
Art!...The lake front...
It was a great, relaxing afternoon. We may have to visit this little place again...

Waking up on the wrong side of the world...

I will continue the story of our vacation when I have a few minutes, I promise, but for now this aside...

We are still adjusting to the time change after returning from Switzerland (six hour difference). Yesterday I was up at 2:30am, and Alex at 3. Today I was up at 3am, and Alex at 3:30. I thought I had convinced her to go back to sleep, until I heard a sing-songy little voice from across the house chanting, "Daaaaaaddy... I'm not tired anymore." over and over.

At this slow rate we might be back to our normal 5am wake up by the end of the week. For the record, I am tired anymore. Very Tired.

Luzern...

Tuesday we went to Luzern. We got an early start and met up in Bruenen to catch a boat. Jennie convinced us that it was worth the extra money to upgrade to first class... and she was right! We had a lovely table away from the riff-raff where we spent the leisurly trip back and forth across the lake sipping beer and eating cheese. The sights were beautiful, and we had a blast.

Our first stop in Luzern was the Transportation Museum which was pretty awsome. There were serperate buildings with displays on trains, boats, planes, automobiles, and gondolas. We spent quite a bit of time looking around and Alex was very impressed (especially with the trains). But, since I am a child, I mostly liked this sign...

We left the museum to head for lunch and had the worst part of the day befall us. I won't describe in detail, but Alex drank a bunch of water and then was riding on Michele's shoulders while we ran to catch the bus... Michele then had to wash her hair in the WC and buy a new shirt.

Luzern was old and beatiful and charming. Churches and bridges and statues. We had lunch, at which Alex napped.

We walked around for a while and then caught the train back to Zug and met David for pizza. Great day.

Catching up...

Monday we went to Zurich. Jennie gave us a ride to meet up with Robin and Bob at the train station. There is an area with "Kiss & Ride" stencilled on the street to stop and drop people off... cute. We found our train and settled in for the short ride (usable public transportation is a dream, and we have committed to trying to use what we have at home more often).

Zurich is beatiful. We walked around Old Town, through narrow cobble streets filled with shops. We contemplated buying a Coo-coo Clock. We checked out a gorgeous old church... and Michele & Robin braved the claustrophobic stairs to the top of the tower.

Then we caught another train to do some shopping. Robin got a couple bags, and Michele a wallet, all made from recycled truck parts. It was an intersesting shop. Then back on the train to Zug, a bus to the bottom of the hill, and a long, slow nine minute walk up the stairs to reach the apartment. We had dinner in, drank wine and laughed...

Mountain time...

Yesterday we went mountain climbing. Well, we climbed down a mountain. But up a few little peaks. But mostly down. Fear not, the combination of altitude and sloth made going down difficult enough.

We took the train almost to the top of Rigi (we climbed up the last 500ft, so technically we climbed it). We had a coffee and watched some crazy people jump off the mountain wearing parachutes.

Then we walked down for a bit and, after some debate, climbed up on a little ridge for a view. It was tough, especially with a toddler strapped to my back, but we made it. Alex was pretty relaxed. If you look over her sleepy shoulder you will see the peak on which we started.

After a rest we headed down more. Saw many cows (they seem to be on any tiny scrap of undevelopped land here) and one very vocal donkey. Alex woke up and was entertained. We had lunch in a tiny enclave. Walked some more. And, to David's dismay, chose to take the train the rest of the way instead of walking for another two hours.

We ended staying in and resting in the evening... healing up. Today, Zurich.

Filling in the gap...

Since I can't get Michele to post, here is Robin's version of yesterdays adventure...

Switzerland...

We have been planning and looking forward to our trip to Switzerland for the better part of this year. We are going , along with Robin & Bob, to visit our friends David & Jennie just outside of Zug and climb mountains and eat chocolate. But first we have to get there...




Alex had an annoying cough for the last week or so. No fever. No sick. Just cough. But we decided to take her to see the doctor just for piece of mind (certain that the doc would roll her eyes at us). Here is what the doc told me after listening to her chest, "She has Bronchitis. I guess, technically it's Pnemonia, but I don't want to freak you out so I'm calling it Bronchitis." Amazing. But she also said that the little one would be fine and was okay to travel... good deal.



The flight was scheduled for Thursday evening... we thought alot about what we needed to take. Especially for Alex, to keep her occupied. What we didn't think about until Wednesday night, was where our Passports were. We were up most of the night looking for them, and then scheduling an appointment in Detroit for the morning of our flight to beg for new ones. It was a long night. And then, as we were getting dressed to go do the impossible, Michele found them... in Alex's dresser... in a bag full of Crayons. Of course.

The flights were uneventful, but not restful. But we made it. We ate, and napped, and walked up the hill (hill = holy cow this is steep), and ate, and drank , and went to bed. What a pleasant, beautful place.
Then, of course, I awoke in the middle of the night with a raging, shaking, miserable fever. Par for the course. So, on our first full day of vacation, everybody else went up hiking on a mountain while I stayed in bed. It can only get better though, right?

More to come.