Arrival - S. Korea

We started our trip to S. Korea from Munich Airport. We flew to Dubai and walked around the airport (it is a beautiful place) enjoying the sights, stores and food for about three hours.

Then, we flew from Dubai to Seoul, S. Korea. What a pleasure it was seeing Paul and Aubrey arrive at the airport. We were so happy to just be together again.

Eating in Sokcho

Our first dinner in Sokcho! We enjoyed eating dinner at a restaurant near Paul and Aubrey's apartment. The food was very good....

Afterwards, we took a walk around their neighborhood........

It was a joy being in Sokcho with Paul and Aubrey!

July 1, 2007---Mount Pilatus

We spent my birthday taking a day long trip to Mount Pilatus. This mountain "looms behind Luzern" and affords the city a dramatic backdrop. Legend is the mountain is named for Pontius Pilate whose body is supposed to be in one of the lakes.

We took Golden Round Trip package to and from the mountain. We began by taking a 90 minute boat ride from Luzern to Alpnachstad. The boat stopped in two or three different towns and people got on/off.

At Alpnachstad we boarded a cogwheel train for the 30-40 minute trip up to Mount Pilatus. Anyone in my family knows that I am not a friend of heights, but this was supposed to have some beautiful views; so, I challenged myself and, I enjoyed the ride! Howard could not believe how calm I was. Each train compartment held about twelve people. Can you believe that I sat next to a young women who was from New Hampshire. She lives about twenty minutes away from me--what a small world!

The views on top of the mountain were just breathtaking. We stopped for a while just to take in the views, have a bite to eat, walk around (or in our case run around as it began to rain) and get ready for our trip down the mountain.

On the way down, we rode in two different gondolas. We saw lots of cows and each one had a huge bell hanging from its neck. We could hear the "clanging" from way up in the gondola! The rain stopped while we were riding down in the gondola, but the "luge" ride was canceled due to bad weather. So, once down the mountain, we took a bus from Kriens back to Luzern.

The trip took about five hours. It was a birthday I will never forget!
Enjoy all the pictures of our wonderful day!

Lake Cruise

We enjoyed just relaxing on the boat while we cruised from Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad. It was our first real glimpse at the depth and breadth of the scenery all around us. And, it was breathtaking.....

Arriving to the mountain

We rode a cogwheel train (supposedly the oldest one in the world) up to Mount Pilatus. Wow...it was a real steep incline!

Mount Pilatus - Vistas

I just enjoy looking at these wonderfully sculptured vistas. What a magnificent God we have that created these sights!

Summit of Mount Pilatus

"Hello" from the Summit of Mt. Pilatus....while up here we enjoyed seeing the gorgeous mountains and the animals that live on them.

Mount Pilatus

Saying "goodbye" in different languages to Mount Pilatus. We went down the mountain on a gondola. What an enjoyable birthday trip! It is one that I will never forget.

Lion Monument - Lucerne

This sculpture is 33 feet long and 20 feet tall. It is carved right into this cliff! In the lion's side is the broken-off end of a spear, which is slowly killing him. This figure represents the Swiss mercenaries who were killed or executed defending the French king in the French Revolution. Thanks to my favorite tour guide, Ric Steves, who writes the "inscription above the lion reads To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss".

It is a very powerful sculpture...if you are ever in Lucerne, you will have to stop by and see it yourself!

Lucerne, Switzerland

Oh, what a wonderful view! Beautiful! Lake Lucerne, Switzerland

I am Back Blogging!

Well...I am back blogging again! February was my last post. We were still in Paris in February.

Since February, I co-chaired the 17th Annual Wine Auction for the American Women's Group in Paris, visited Prague, continued my work at the British School in Paris, and of course, my volunteer culinary activities at the Friday Mission Lunch.

We loved our year in Paris. I heard someone say American is where I love, but my home is in Paris. I cannot wait to return to visit that wonderful city and to see our friends again.

After a wonderful "fond farewell" party, we left Paris on June 30th for a three week trip to Switzerland, Germany, S. Korea and New York City. We traveled by train from Paris to Switzerland. In Switzerland, we visited Lucerne (this photo was taken on Lake Lucerne) and Zurich. We spent a short time in both Munich and Dusseldorf Germany. Then, we flew to Seoul, S. Korea to spent ten wonderful days with Paul and Aubrey. From S. Korea we flew to New York City and spent the weekend with Jon. We were thrilled to spend time with our children in their homes and visit their favorite places.

We are now back in New Hampshire where we will reflect on our trip and certainly savor all the enjoyment all over again by looking at our pictures and writing about our experiences.

So, stay tuned, there will be plenty of pictures forthcoming!