Cinque Terre Italy and Nice, France

To whomever has been viewing this blog, here is our last post.  We have had a terrific time and we're certainly ready to come home!  The Cinque Terre is such a beautiful place.  Five old fishing villages along the Italian coast looking like they probably did a century ago.  We drove from there to Nice, France and the harbor was also quite beautiful.  We were able to find the old chocolate shop which has been run by the same family since 1820!  Tomorrow we fly to Munich and then a non-stop Munich to San Francisco.  See you soon!  Love, Kevin & Jenny

Florence

Being that this is our first time in Europe, there were some things we just didn't expect.  Take for instance narrow roadways and toll roads.  We left Varenna via ferry to Bellagio and then drove down the coast on a very narrow road!  There was a tall stone wall on the right and cars coming at us around many of the corners!  The roadway was barely big enough for the both of us and sometimes I wondered how we made it!  Next, we drove onto the autostrade and there was a toll plaza.  I must have picked the wrong lane because the arm was up and there was no way to pay, etc.  Most lanes are automated and so I pushed the button for help, but there was no answer.  Finally, we drove off.  When it came time to exit the autostrade in Verona, there was another toll booth that required a ticket that we never received from the first one.  I pressed the help button and some lady started talking in Italian and I couldn't understand any of what she was saying.  I told her we never received the ticket.   Finally, I put an 10 euro bill in and she said arrividerchi!  I guess she had mercy on us or she just saw the long line of cars piled up behind us!

Anyways, we had a wonderful time in Florence, eating at a little pizzaria in front of the Duomo church, visiting the Accadamia (where the statue of David is) and the Ufizzi Gallery (the first public museum).  We even saw a entertaining mime on the street.  A couple from New York next to us told us the "Grey Mime" is big on youtube.

Varenna on Lake Como

We stayed in Varenna 3 nights and our first full day had beautiful weather.  We took a tour of the lake with Luca at the helm and saw the lifestyles of the rich and famous; some wealthy families from Milan own Villa's on Lake Como.  They visit their Villa for 3 weeks a year in August.  Also on the lake is the Villa del Balbianello.  It was used in both Casino Royale and Star Wars episode 3 movies.  Luca dropped us off at the Villa which is now owned by the Italian government.  Our group took a tour which was fun.  We also visited the town of Bellagio and found a sweet lady who hand painted olive oil decanters and was a good salesperson!  Before leaving Varenna, we had a wonderful meal in a little town above Varenna.  The chef/owner drives down to Varenna, picks you up and drives you up to his restaurant that has been in his family for generations.  There was only Jenny and I and two sisters from Ohio that went.  The food was great but the experience was even better.  Thanks Moreno!

Driving from Switzerland to Italy

When Jenny and I woke up Wednesday, the 22nd, we had no idea that our drive to Italy would place us on a train and a boat!  We left Grindelwald and drove onto a train bound for Bort, Switzerland through a mountain tunnel.  So many of the roads we have driven on in Switzerland take us through tunnels.  (kind of like their cheese!).  Anyways, we found ourselves in the car in this dark tunnel without any idea of how long it was!  It was creepy and fun at the same time.  After 20 minutes we saw the light at the end of the tunnel!  Next we drove into Italy, then back into Switzerland (Lugano, where they drive aggressively!) then back into Italy.  Finally we arrived at Lake Como to learn that we were on the wrong side of the lake!  Thank God for the car ferry across the lake!  Soon we were in this quaint little town of Varenna (and the gelato shops!)

Switzerland

We had an incredible drive from Fussen, Germany to Lucerne, Switzerland.  The GPS took us on little country roads with picturesque villages.  After arriving in Lucerne, we took a walk around the seaside walkway and really enjoyed the classic buildings.  Later, we took a boat ride on Lake Lucerne and ended the day with a wonderful dinner and a rainbow!

Next, we drove from Lucerne to Grindelwald and took a train to the "Top of Europe"  The Jungfraujoch train station is the highest train station in the world at 11000 feet.  The day was cloudy so the view was limited but there was a cool ice palace with interesting ice sculptures.  We even found what happened to scrat and his acorn (from the movie Ice Age).

The next day, Jenny and I took a long hike in the Grindelwald area.  It was so beautiful.  There were even some cows that came up to say hello!

Last Day in Germany, Drive to Switzerland

On our last day in Germany, we visited the Neuschwanstein castle, a bucket list for both Jenny and I.  The castle was amazing.  The most elaborate room, the Throne Room, had above where the throne would go a mural of Jesus on the throne with the 12 disciples!  They didnt allow pictures of the inside  :(