Switzerland in Five Days or Less!

The trip to Switzerland is up on my list of highlights for at the very least this year, if not the entirety of my life. Whether it was due to the fabulous mountain scenery, the chance to use what I learned in high school French, or the quality of my travelling companions, I don't know, but here are my visual records.

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My first view of mountains near Leysin. Bigger than Arthur's seat, but not mountainous enough for me! Now THOSE are mountains. Mountains from above the tiny village. I take a picture of Beth taking a picture of the mountains. But I get the mountains too. Ned stands on, looking amused. If there is one picture of mountains you should look at, it's THIS ONE. Taken from the gondola window. Can't get enough of these craggy peaks.

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On our way up to 2000m above sea level. Via a cart attached to a metal cable. The only way to travel. The Dushman siblings on the quay in Lausanne with a quality mountain backdrop. If only Ned could keep his eyes open. The Lausanne Cathedral. Currently being repaired. Rare birds in a Lausanne park. The sign on the right translates literally to: "Do not give anything to the birds, you will make them die." Lovely birds. Parrots!

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The absolute coolest duck plumage you will ever see. The church at St. Francois. The middle of Lausanne. Mainly known to me for its bus stops. The boat from France. I successfully gave directions in French to French people who got off this boat. Mr. Glickler would be proud. One of these cars is not like the other... The city of Lausanne seen from Ned's dorm. The by now obligatory library picture. This building houses not only Lausanne's library but also several museums as well.

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The left side of the library building. The right side of the library building. The entry way to the Lausanne cathedral. I seem to be standing on an angle. The side of the Lausanne cathedral; nice big windows! I accidentally stumbled across this anime shop in Lausanne! The first one I've found in Europe. The countryside near Gruyere. Due to transportation issues we were only here for an hour, but Beth got to make good use of her French.

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The older part of Gruyere adjacent to the chateau. Reminds me of the city from Chocolat. It also seems I caught Beth by surprise. The city is also home to the strange creations of artist H.R. Geiger. The museum has no burglar alarms because those statues are deterrent enough. Beth poses in front of the chateau which we didn't get to go in, continuing our Day of Bad Timing. A look back at Gruyere with the mountains in the background. The water tower of Lucerne. Reputedly the most photographed monument in Switzerland (and the least useful). Jenny and Beth hang out at the riverside. For my Aunt Marcia. I really wanted to take it, but I don't think it would have fit in my carry on bag.

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The mountains around Lucerne. A really pretty looking hotel that was no doubt too expensive for us to stay in. The old city wall of Lucerne. The towers were sadly closed for winter. More Bad Timing. For some reason, they had yaks here in Lucerne. Also, what appears to be a nylon rope fence in the foreground is actually an electric fence, which I found out the hard way. One of many lovely clock towers in Lucerne's pedestrian center. Two very insane girls pretend to jump in the water. Worth a picture.

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My favorite picture from Lucerne (and possibly the trip). The Swiss National Museum in Zurich. If you can see it beyond the overhead electric wires anyway. The Zurich Library looking impassive (are they getting a visit from the Metallica van?). What will those mad cows do next? The Fraumunster church in Zurich. With lovely Chagal stained-glass windows! Only 19.95 franken! A river runs through Zurich...

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My attempt to take a picture of the Fraumunster's windows. Not very good though :(. The Blues Brothers perform on the streets of Zurich. Ned and I almost get hit by two tramways (not pictured). St. Peter's church has the largest clock face in Europe. So you can read it in case you're not near one of the other five clocktowers in the city. Grossmunster's Church was where Ulrich Zwingli, the Protestant Reformer, preached. Lovely stained-glass windows, with an unfortuantely unsteady-handed photographer. Another one of Grossmunster's stained glass windows. This is how I always pictured myself: sword in one hand, book in the other. I don't think pink and blue are my colors though.

This page created on a Macintosh using PhotoPage by John A. Vink.

(69K)	(53K)	(66K)	(88K)	(59K)	(44K)
My first view of mountains near Leysin. Bigger than Arthur's seat, but not mountainous enough for me!	Now THOSE are mountains.	Mountains from above the tiny village.	I take a picture of Beth taking a picture of the mountains. But I get the mountains too. Ned stands on, looking amused.	If there is one picture of mountains you should look at, it's THIS ONE.	Taken from the gondola window. Can't get enough of these craggy peaks.
(91K)	(45K)	(66K)	(99K)	(118K)	(166K)
On our way up to 2000m above sea level. Via a cart attached to a metal cable. The only way to travel.	The Dushman siblings on the quay in Lausanne with a quality mountain backdrop. If only Ned could keep his eyes open.	The Lausanne Cathedral. Currently being repaired.	Rare birds in a Lausanne park. The sign on the right translates literally to: "Do not give anything to the birds, you will make them die."	Lovely birds.	Parrots!
(86K)	(81K)	(60K)	(98K)	(44K)	(92K)
The absolute coolest duck plumage you will ever see.	The church at St. Francois. The middle of Lausanne. Mainly known to me for its bus stops.	The boat from France. I successfully gave directions in French to French people who got off this boat. Mr. Glickler would be proud.	One of these cars is not like the other...	The city of Lausanne seen from Ned's dorm.	The by now obligatory library picture. This building houses not only Lausanne's library but also several museums as well.
(76K)	(73K)	(126K)	(56K)	(103K)	(40K)
The left side of the library building.	The right side of the library building.	The entry way to the Lausanne cathedral. I seem to be standing on an angle.	The side of the Lausanne cathedral; nice big windows!	I accidentally stumbled across this anime shop in Lausanne! The first one I've found in Europe.	The countryside near Gruyere. Due to transportation issues we were only here for an hour, but Beth got to make good use of her French.
(61K)	(84K)	(130K)	(80K)	(69K)	(81K)
The older part of Gruyere adjacent to the chateau. Reminds me of the city from Chocolat. It also seems I caught Beth by surprise.	The city is also home to the strange creations of artist H.R. Geiger. The museum has no burglar alarms because those statues are deterrent enough.	Beth poses in front of the chateau which we didn't get to go in, continuing our Day of Bad Timing.	A look back at Gruyere with the mountains in the background.	The water tower of Lucerne. Reputedly the most photographed monument in Switzerland (and the least useful). Jenny and Beth hang out at the riverside.	For my Aunt Marcia. I really wanted to take it, but I don't think it would have fit in my carry on bag.
(44K)	(46K)	(71K)	(122K)	(69K)	(52K)
The mountains around Lucerne.	A really pretty looking hotel that was no doubt too expensive for us to stay in.	The old city wall of Lucerne. The towers were sadly closed for winter. More Bad Timing.	For some reason, they had yaks here in Lucerne. Also, what appears to be a nylon rope fence in the foreground is actually an electric fence, which I found out the hard way.	One of many lovely clock towers in Lucerne's pedestrian center.	Two very insane girls pretend to jump in the water. Worth a picture.
(47K)	(85K)	(134K)	(86K)	(83K)	(73K)
My favorite picture from Lucerne (and possibly the trip).	The Swiss National Museum in Zurich. If you can see it beyond the overhead electric wires anyway.	The Zurich Library looking impassive (are they getting a visit from the Metallica van?).	What will those mad cows do next?	The Fraumunster church in Zurich. With lovely Chagal stained-glass windows! Only 19.95 franken!	A river runs through Zurich...
(67K)	(102K)	(88K)	(79K)	(52K)
My attempt to take a picture of the Fraumunster's windows. Not very good though :(.	The Blues Brothers perform on the streets of Zurich. Ned and I almost get hit by two tramways (not pictured).	St. Peter's church has the largest clock face in Europe. So you can read it in case you're not near one of the other five clocktowers in the city.	Grossmunster's Church was where Ulrich Zwingli, the Protestant Reformer, preached. Lovely stained-glass windows, with an unfortuantely unsteady-handed photographer.	Another one of Grossmunster's stained glass windows. This is how I always pictured myself: sword in one hand, book in the other. I don't think pink and blue are my colors though.