Back in the States

After 3 full, and I mean full, weeks of traveling with my sister around Europe I am back home in Oregon. Great trip, but good to be home and rest a bit.

Here is the rest of trip briefly:

Day 9: July 20, 2007
-Slept in...what an amazing concept.
** Went pedal boating on lake Lugano and jumped in the lake.
-Ate gelati and relaxed
-Saw free outdoor concert (popular hits band) in the center.
Day 10: July 21, 2007
-Walked around Lugano
-Saw sister's school
-Shopped
Day 11: July 22, 2007
-Laundry day
-Day trip to Como, Italy
-Went to Volta museum (guy who invented batteries and conducted experiments on frogs)
-Visited the Duomo
-Went on a boat trip across Lake Como
-Saw WWII Memorial
Day 12: July 23, 2007
-Train to Firenze, Italy (Florence).
-Stayed at beautiful hostel Villa Camarata set away from the city in nature.
-Walked around the city seeing the colorful Duomo, Michaelangelo's house, and Pointe Vecchio.
-Ate a lot of gelati.
-Rubbed the boar's nose to ensure our return to Firenze.
** Had dinner at a restaurant with live Jazz music on the river, and got free drinks from the handsome flirty waiter.
Day 13: July 24, 2007
-Day trip to Pisa, Italy.
-Went to outdoor market and bought exotic dried fruits (made me feel sick) and nougat.
-Walked around the Duomo, old city walls and Leaning tower of Pisa.
**Climbed to the top of the leaning tower!!! Very trippy and scary experience, but well worth it.
-Returned to Firenze and toured the city some more - saw lots of statues.
Day 14: July 25, 2007
-Left Firenze early for train to Milano, Italy.
** Climbed on top of the roof of the Duomo and wandered around. Awesome view and way to see the cathedral. Beautiful.
-Ate Gelati (see a trend here).
-Went to the Galleria with lots of expensive stores and a McDonalds Cafe - so upscale.
-Kicked the bull in the balls and spun on them for good luck.
-Took train back to Lugano.
Day 15: July 26, 2007
-Walked around Lake Lugano.
-Ate the "best Swiss Turkish Kabob".
- Watched sailboat races.
-Ran errands
-Took train to Balsthal, Switzerland and stayed with sister's friend.
Day 16: July 27, 2007
-Drove past Interlachen to the Swiss Alps village Grindewald and the top of Europe.
-Took train halfway up to little tourist village in Alps.
-Ate Cheese fondue.
-Listened to the Alp Horn.
** Hiked around area. Breathtaking view and lots of cows and mountain goats.
-Drove back to Balsthal and went to random birthday dinner party for sister's friend's student.
Day 17: July 28, 2007
-Took train to Frankfurt, Germany.
-Picked up and taken to distant relatives (4th cousins) house.
-Hung out with cousin and his friends watching tv, movies, and playing poker (I won one hand! yay!). They had a "whiskey fetish" with at least 12 different kinds of whiskey out on the table.
Day 18: July 29, 2007
-Raining.
-Took a boat trip on the Rhine river.
** Hiked up to explore 2 different castles.
-Had Bratwurst and Saurkraut for lunch on the boat.
Day 19: July 30, 2007
-Sister's last day.
-Walked around Massenheim, Germany - where the cousins live.
-Went into Frankfurt in the evening with whole big extended family.
-Went to top of 2nd highest skyscraper in Frankfurt (very modern-day city) for a great view for miles.
-Had drinks in a tavern that opened in the 1470s.
-Walked across pedestrian bridge over river to see the city by night.
Day 20: July 31, 2007
-Took sister to train station for a tearful goodbye.
-Sight-seeing trip to Weisbaden with 2 cousins and other American guest.
-Had the "Best German Turkish kabob".
-Hiked up hill for a good view.
-Walked around the city and stopped for coffee in a cafe to chat with cousin.
Day 21: Aug 1, 2007
-Flew home to Salem, Oregon.
** Read Harry Potter on the plane!

** = My favorites

As my sister said, "This isn't vacation, this is travel."