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Mystery and Mirrors
The winds were overwhelming but calming. The periods of rain were drenching but refreshing. The brisk air cut through your skin but awakened the very breath of life. Standing in its midst was somehow a confrontation with truth. The Highlands of Scotland, with its history and mysticism, struggle for freedom, and bloodshed was one of the most peaceful places I have been. Isolated by its barren lands yet consumed by its beauty, it was a paradox that touched me deeply. How could such bareness and lack of color produce such overwhelming beauty? How can a place engrossed with emptiness be overflowing with an undeniable presence? Standing in…
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Beyond Croatia’s Beauty
Living in Switzerland has allowed us to travel to many places in the world that we may not have otherwise been able to see. However, seeing is one thing; experiencing these places is something else. Some places can give you an aura or feel about them beyond that in which the eye can see. Sometimes, their natural beauty may point to and radiate something more to life than what we can visualize. Other times, it might be the architecture that can tell the stories of their past in ways only our subconscious can fully articulate. And then there are the places still wrestling with their own identities as a country,…
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Bonnie Scotland
Over the course of the last two and half years, we have been very fortunate to have traveled a part of the world that we have never seen before. And I think we can all agree that these experiences are not to be taken for granted. Mainly because every time you have an opportunity to experience a new place, a new culture, or a new landscape, it brings you out of your own ego, your own perceptions, your own narrow reality. And for this, we are very grateful. We have been to many different countries and cities over the course of the last few years and each one has left…
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Nice, France
Earlier this month we took the short 50 minute plane ride from Basel, Switzerland to Nice, France. It was in the middle of the “holiday” season here in Europe so I wasn’t completely sure what we were getting ourselves into, especially with this being our first time to the French Riviera. A couple of things come to mind since we have returned. Distance: One of the great aspects of living in Europe, especially Switzerland because of its central location, is the proximity to other countries. Being an American, our worldview as far as distance is concerned can be at times skewed because in some cases we can drive 8 hours…
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A New Hang Out
A few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, our family decided to take a train to Thun so we could jump on a boat to visit a castle on Lake Thun. It is a place that we have seen many times but never gone. Well, we finally did. And then I had to go back!! For those who have come for a visit or have experienced the Swiss transportation system on your own, you know that the efficiency and quality make traveling around this beautiful country very easy. We have become very accustomed to the accessibility of all forms of transportation, and taking a trip to another city or mountain…
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Domodossola, Italy
On a whim, I took a 7:35 am train from Bern, Switzerland, to Domodossola, Italy. The one-and-a-half-hour train ride is beautiful down through the Bernese Alps. Although it was cloudy and a bit foggy on the Switzerland side of the Alps, the sun was shining as soon as we crossed through the tunnel and came out into Italy. Domodossola is a quaint little town in northern Italy with a beautiful old section. Once you arrive at the station, it is a quick 5-10-minute walk up the main street before you reach the side street that leads to the old section. Once you make your way into the main piazza in…
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A Quick Day Trip to Luzern, Switzerland
With one sick child at home over the weekend and the other not wanting to leave the house because he only wanted to ride his bike, I decided to take a quick day trip to Luzern, Switzerland. After missing the 8 am bus to our village, I began the journey on foot down the hill to catch the train. One of the great aspects of living in Switzerland is its proximity to neighboring European countries and the size of the country itself. Living relatively in the middle of the country in Bern allows you to virtually go to many different cities, mountains, or excursions within a short time frame. Whether…
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Solothurn, Switzerland
What a beautiful little city Solothurn turned out to be. Located in the northern part of Switzerland, situated on the Aare River, Solothurn is the capital of the canton of Solothurn. It sits at the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains. Since moving here, I have meant to take the short 25-minute train ride to Solothurn. I walked the streets of its old town and had a great lunch at one of its many small cafes. The architecture and the way the city was laid out were beautiful to explore, and it is somewhere I want to return to many times to come.
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Tissot Peak Walk, Glacier 3000
I have never been a thrill seeker, but I am completely drawn to Switzerland’s many mountain adventures and excursions. Maybe I trust the “Swiss Made” persona, or perhaps I am getting older, and I am gradually letting go of fears and inhibitions. Either way, the Tissot Peak Walk was something I wanted to do for months. I took the one-and-a-half-hour drive to Les Diablerets, Switzerland, a mountain village in the heart of the Vaud Alps. On this beautiful, clear early morning, I was met with a stunning sunrise and a lovely view of the descending moon over the Alps. (I had to stop so many times to take pictures that…
