A Must Read

I am always on the lookout for good books to read!   I have rediscovered my love for reading as of late since I do not have the "distractions" of a real job and I have totally enjoyed being able to get the chance to revisit this lifelong love of mine.   Books just take me away.   Hard for me to put them down. Chris bought me a Kindle a year ago and I have loved having that option since it is so portable!  I am able to take it on trips and have as many books as I want to have just in one little device.  I didn't think I would like it but I do!!!

One of the books that I have had the pleasure of reading lately is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.  This book was recommended to me by a friend and Facebook buddy in North Carolina and I totally enjoyed it.   It is one of those books that opens your eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about what it was like for blacks and whites in 1962 in the South---amazing that this was actually thought to be appropriate behavior.   Below is a link to a better description of the book than I can write myself!  Let me know if you read it and what your thoughts are.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=the+help&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=10167250243368839003&ei=pVGzS9niN5CCNuLAlJkE&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CBYQ8gIwAg# 

Cute Picture Alert

I didn't take it but isn't this an adorable picture????

Back Home and Happy!!

Chris and I got home Sunday night and it is great to be home! It was a great 2 weeks but there is nothing like getting back to your own home ! Our last day in Lausanne was fabulous ---we got up early and went to the City Center and walked around and actually got to do a lot before we had to head to the airport. We lucked upon getting in on the rehearsal at the Notre Dame Cathedral which was spectacular. We probably spent an hour listening to the soloists, orchestra and choir rehearse for a concert they were having that evening. It was fabulous! We had a long trip home---10 hour layover in Amsterdam but we survived and it is great to be back home.

Laundry is done, house is getting clean again and life is going back to normal!!!

Things I Have Learned While In Switzerland

1. If staying in a posh hotel (and maybe ANY hotel) make sure if you want to sleep like you are used to that you ask for a "french bed". Otherwise you get something that is a little unusual---our king is 2 twins with separate bedding. We both have our own individual duvets---no top sheet. I feel like I am sleeping in a sleeping bag.

2. If you take the train make sure you get in the correct car. In other words, if you pay for second class don't try to ride in first class. You will be told by the train dude and either have to move or pay the difference. They have the number 1 and 2 on the cars for a reason.

3. The taxis we encountered only take cash--no credit cards. Make sure you have some Swiss francs if you need to catch a ride.

4. Read all the directions and instructions that you can. If I had not read that the jacuzzi had a self cleaning function I would have really freaked out the other night after we went to bed and the jacuzzi automatically turned on.

5. Exercise caution with sitting by the lake reading. I got a little lobstery AND discovered that yes, you can tan through nylon....I have very weird tan patterns on my feet now.

6. Don't walk around looking too self assured. I had 2 ladies ask me in German for directions yesterday AND a man asked me to sign a petition of some sort.

7. Take lots of money if you want to eat. Things are expensive here. Or at least in this area they seem to be.

8. Chocolate tastes better here.

Winding Down ....

We are winding down our time in Switzerland---it has been fun for me, work for Chris. I guess this was my true vacation---I had time to just read and relax and do whatever I wanted to do which was wonderful.

I went to the Olympic Museum and spent several hours browsing all the exhibits. They had a great section devoted to Vancouver and the First Nation art which was spectacular. Outside the museum the gardens are beautiful with many sculptures and it is in a beautiful setting on the hill overlooking Lake Geneva. I spent a lot of time just walking around taking shots of the different sculptures and just enjoying it all.

The exhibits inside were really great also--complete in English for all the visitors who come who do not speak French or German. There was a display of all the torches that have been used over the years, displays of all of the medals, all the costumes of the skaters, shoes, skis, snowboards, etc. And a huge area devoted to "doping" and the effect of that on the Olympics. Great place and definitely worth the 15 francs admission fee.

I was glad I got there when I did as the "schoolies" started coming in later on and it was a lot noisier than it had been when I started my tour!!! Glad I got it underway early!!! They did not really seem all that interested in the exhibits as they were texting and talking more than looking!! Guess I probably would not have been any different at their age...I am getting old!!!

So today is Chris' s last day of his course and he should be home earlier than the 11 pm he got home last night!! It is going to rain today so it may curtail the walking about a bit but we will see what he is up to. Gotta get ready to leave for home tomorrow--glad he decided to stay the extra night as it would have been rushed to make it to the airport tonight since you have to take a taxi to the train to the airport! Tomorrow we will have plenty of time which is a good thing!

The pictures at the top of the post are all of outside the museum. The Olympic Totem was created by Jim Hart who lives part time in Vancouver. The totem features an eagle (his own emblem), copper, (greatly valued by First Nations) Orca (revered and respect), Brown bear (open stomach which symbolizes birth but also the possibility of returning for safety), Salmon (essential resource for the First Nations---supports the pole the same way as it meets their needs--the cycle of life).

More Walkabout Photos!

A Day in the Park

 

 

 

 

More Alps

 

 

 

 

Finally some Alps Pictures!

 

 

 

 

Women of Faith!!!

Taking a short break from the travel stories and pictures of the week to post about Women of Faith. If you are not familiar with this wonderful group of Christian women I encourage you to find an event and attend. No, it isn't everyone's cup of tea to come together with thousands of women but all of my experiences have been phenomenal. I have been blessed to go with groups of friends to events in Illinois and North Carolina and now I am going to go celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday (YEP!) by going with my sister to the Columbus, Ohio event at the end of April. I am excited!!! There will be music--lots of it, great speakers and inspiration oozing out of every pore by the time the event is over.

Women of Faith challenges bloggers to answer questions each Wednesday and though it is now Thursday in Switzerland I will do it!!! Today's question is what is your favorite thing about Women of Faith. Now that is a toughie because there is so much but if I HAD to narrow it down it would be just the massiveness of it----the thousands of Christian sisters who make it a priority to attend and be a part of the community and sisterhood for that short time. It is like no other event that I have attended---just the feeling of sisterhood is overwhelming. And this year since I will be attending with my own sister it will make it even more special!!! I am pumped!

So check it out--look it up---grab a friend and go!!! It will be worth it!
http://bachiles.blogspot.com/2010/03/women-of-faith.html

Blogging for Kiva

You all know how much I love Kiva! Well I am going to do an occasional informational blog for them to help spread the word! Today you can learn about what one team has done to honor a girl in Spain!


“Team Tia--Loan Around the Globe” is a Kiva lending team dedicated to Tia, a nine-year old girl living in Murcia, Spain. Tia has been diagnosed with several illnesses including dilated cardiomyopathy, Graves Basedow disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and congestive heart failure.

Tia is a strong girl with a passion for helping others and has enjoyed supporting Kiva entrepreneurs around the globe. Kiva lenders have been inspired by her story and last May, they created “Team Tia” to show their support for her by helping Kiva entrepreneurs. To date, “Team Tia” has 273 members and has made 1265 loans totaling $34,150.

The Kiva community thanks Tia for her dedication to help alleviate poverty throughout the world and we are sending our very best wishes her way!

Views inside the Beau-Rivage Palace

I had my own private tour of the hotel today by Bianca who spoke very good English!!! She has worked here 2 years and was just great at showing me all the great places in the hotel and telling me the history. Pictures are a little difficult to take as it tends to be a little dark and the flash is not big enough to light these huge spaces so I may have to buy postcards but here are a few pictures. The bottom picture is of the library---they have an "open" and a "closed" library and from what she said I guess it is just because the doors close the one in! Beautiful and a great place to curl up with a book in. The hotel employs 350-400 depending on the season and is currently under more renovations which will add another restaurant and outdoor seating area. Everywhere you go here there are cranes and workers and things being done but they are trying to keep it authentic and true to how the place was built. I am just in awe at the beauty of the marble and all the tapestries on the walls, chandeliers, etc.

I walked around in the gardens a bit--they even have a dog cemetery and some of the markers were really old --not sure who gets to bury their dogs there---there was one from 2008 so I guess it still is "open". They are just now getting the spring pansies and other plants set out so it still looks a little bare but in a few weeks it will be masses of color and beautiful.

I found a great bench in the sun on the waterfront and sat and read for a couple of hours, people watched and just enjoyed the outdoors. I did not have a sweater or jacket on and was just perfect--actually got a little hot walking back but the funny thing is that all these other people were really bundled up---coats, heavy sweaters, etc. Maybe Iowa has done something to me!!

Another thing that Chris and I have discovered is that the bedding here is different. We have a king bed which is just really 2 twins pushed together. At least ours has one fitted sheet---I think most times they put twins on . They take the bedspread off at night and when we got here I thought the bed looked really lumpy. Well, good reason! They have 2 separate duvets on it---one for each side, no top sheet, just the duvet. I find it WEIRD! And I am not used to having a sleeping bag like sleeping experience separate from my husband. I am a little worried Chris might get used to it.......

Lausanne

Dog cemetery on the property of the Beau Rivage Palace

Outdoor table tennis, anyone????

A view of the Beau-Rivage Palace from the side

More views of Lausanne