Europe Trip - DAY SEVEN

{Interlaken, Switzerland}
Our Hotel

{Gimmelwald, Switzerland}
We had to take the gondola up to this quiet little farming town. Awesome views! We made the mistake of buying our tickets to Gimmelwald instead of Murren. We should have done it the other way around...Murren was a 50 minute walk UP the mountain
(on our map it looked like it was below). We gave it a go and I gave up when we were "just about there". That's Derek's opinion, anyway! Two long switchbacks was still a long ways away to me! It was just nice to stop and take in the fresh farm air and the unforgetable views.







{random Switzerland countryside}
These views are what made Switzerland our favorite country of all the places we've been so far!!
okay, maybe not this one

Europe Trip - DAY SIX

{Paris, France}
Paris definitely isn't as pretty during the day, in our opinion. It was still great to experience it and see all of the famous sights that are just about everywhere that you look! We were kind of rushed because we wanted to get to Switzerland so we didn't get to see everything that we wanted......but we saw enough to satisfy us (both good and bad, but I won't go in to any details!)

Notre Dame Cathedral

Louvre

Jardin de Luxembourg

{Interlaken, Switzerland}
What a drive! It took about 6.5 hours to get here from Paris and we drove through parts of the Alps with steep winding roads...at night. The hotel we stayed in, well, let's just say we slept with one eye open! It looked great from the pictures when we booked it, but it was super scary with sketchy people and connected to a hostel (good thing I never saw that movie!) It was really close to the city center, though, so we went out and enjoyed the city for our Thanksgiving evening with a feast of wiener schnitzel and pork burgers. We're so thankful to be alive :)
One of the MANY tunnels we've driven through all throughout Europe
City Center area of Interlaken
Our super scary hallway of the hotel

Europe Trip - DAY FIVE

FRANCE
{Normandy Beaches - Pointe du Hoc & Omaha Beach}
We absolutely loved the beautiful countryside of Western France. We're so glad we took the opportunity to visit the sights of D-day. Truly humbling to see and imagine all that our American soldiers did to fight for us.

Pointe du Hoc
Broken bunkers from all of our ammo
Monument for the rangers that climbed up the side of the cliffs
these massive craters are EVERYWHERE
The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach

{Paris, France}
Night time in Paris is gorgeous! It was so cool to see the twinkling Eiffel Tower and go up and see the city so alive and full of lights.
Arc de Triomphe in the background

Europe Trip - DAY FOUR

Today wasn't much different than yesterday. We got up early and ate breakfast at the hotel and then Derek was off for his conference. Poor guy was so nervous! I'm sure he did just fine though. I came back and slept some more, haha! Then I went off and walked around Ghent.....toured a couple of the cathedrals and that's about it.







Things I've noticed about Europe (or at least Belgium) so far:

• lots of walking and bike riding
• most things are closed on Sundays and Mondays (it was a lot busier out today and so many more things were open)
• what little city center driving there is, it's chaotic! There's driving on "roads" that don't even seem to be roads. (we've even driven these "roads" because the gps tells us to, but we're really not sure if we are supposed to!)
• everything is super expensive...the other day it cost us 10 euro just to make a 4 minute local call PLUS this 24 hour use of the internet is costing us 20 euro!
• pretty much everyone that we've talked to speaks English, which I really appreciate and respect. It really makes Derek and I want to learn at least one other language, if not a couple!
• architecture of the buildings is amazing
• there is a lot of construction....maybe it's just becasue it's sort of the "down" time for tourists.
• cobblestone and brick roads and sidewalks everywhere. It's so pretty!
• There are a lot of restaurants, but they are all really small (with maybe a max of 10 - 15 tables).

We're just really enjoying this experience and grateful for the opportunity that we had to come here. I probably won't be updating the blog again until we get back. It's just too expensive to get on the internet here. Stay tuned, though, for France, Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg!!! Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving! We'll definitely be missing our Thanksgiving feast and our wonderful family that we are so thankful for. Anyone that will see our girls in the next week, please give them big hugs and kisses for us! We miss them soooo much!!

Europe Trip - DAY THREE

Day 3
{Ghent, Belgium}
I’m all alone here while Derek is off at his Click Symposium. I did venture out for a little bit today. I slept in until 1pm though!! It felt really good to catch up on some sleep. I was a little uncomfortable getting out by myself, but once I started walking I couldn’t help but feel at ease because it is all so beautiful! It did start pouring down rain on me, but I found a little secluded and covered area to stand under right by the Gravensteen Castle so it wasn’t too bad. Then I went and got myself a sub to take back to the room for a late lunch. I’m proud of myself for getting out today…totally not easy for me, very intimidating!! It’s too bad Derek won’t really get to see much of Ghent since it will be dark by the time he gets out of his conference each day. Here are the things I’ve seen while out and about on my own:
Belfry, very similar to the one in Brugge
Duivelsteen Castle
Saint Nicolas Church
St Bavo's Cathedral
The Royal Dutch Theater


Gravensteen Castle

There's our wonderful Marriott Hotel!