My new buddy

Home

And this is what we came home to. Although we were fortunate that several people moved snow from our driveway and our steps. We didn't see any snow until we went across the bridge at Detroit, although it was cold as soon as Missouri as we traveled towards home.

dolphin

While waiting for the ferry Bert saw this dolphin. Quite often you can see them leaping out of the water beside moving boats/ships.

On the jetty at Port Aransas

After leaving South Padre Island we like to camp on the jetty at Port Aransas. They still allow camping right on the beach there and if it is sunny and not too windy it is stunning. Bert likes to watch the fisherman bring in their catch. Here is  a small shark that one of the fisherman caught. He took the hook out and put it back into the shipping channel.

We met this young man who reeled this 45 and 1/2 inch fish in about 5 minutes...not much fight from a big fish like this. He also took out the hook and released it...but not before taking some pictures! He said it was the biggest fish he had ever caught.

There are always pelicans around who will gratefully dispose of any unwanted caught fish.

South Padre Island

Each year we go for a couple of days to South Padre Island to a campground there. And each year it is spring break for the college kids. Bert likes to take walks on the beach.....for some reason!

Texas trip

This picture was taken at Falcon State Park where we stay for the first four or five weeks of our stay in Texas. There is a butterfly garden in front of the recreation centre there and we never noticed the beautiful setting this seat was in that garden.

At this state park we have met many couples who come each year at the same time of the year as we do. The last day as we were getting ready to leave Falcon Park several of our friends came to wish us a safe trip.

Last day of discovering Switzerland

 Carly and Michael drove us to Bellinizona which is in the Italian speaking side of Switzerland close to the Italian border.

 This is a picture of Bert in the grounds of the Grand Castle in Bellinizona.

The four of us walking on the walls of the castle. Tomorrow we take it easy and pack for our early drive to Zurich airport.

Snow in Klosters

We had the first snowfall in Klosters since we arrived and it was a beautiful sight from Carly and Michael's window.

Christmas - 2013

Boxing Day

 The four of us drove over to France for the night in a hotel near the border of Switzerland and France. The big mountain of La Saleve is in the background in the picture of Bert and myself, taken in the hotel parking lot.

We then drove back to Michael's parents apartment for brunch and took this photo of them waving good-bye to us as we leave for the drive back to Klosters. When we were about two miles from Carly and Michael's house it was snowing and we had a white Christmas....only a day late.

Christmas Day near Geneva.

 After a four and half hour drive we joined Michael's parents at the apartment building where they rent a room for when they visit Michael's grandparents. We had a Christmas lunch there with the family.

Carly and Bert in front of the apartment building in Carouge, Switzerland which is like a suburb of Geneva. As you can see it was a green Christmas.

Christmas Eve Fondue

 On Christmas Eve we had a fondue made by Michael and Carly at their place in Klosters.

Monday, Dec. 23

This is a picture of the entrance to Dachau Concentration Camp. We spent some time touring the museum and the grounds. It was the first of many camps built and it was started as a place for political prisoners.

 On our way home we passed this big lake in Austria with Switzerland on the other side.

Heading back to the Alps and Carly and Michael's home.

Sunday, Dec. 22

 On Sunday morning we all went to the Deutsches Museum of Science and Industry in Munich. It was the most impressive of any of the museums of science that we have ever seen and although we were there for most of the day we were unable to see it all.

 After the museum visit we walked to the Munich Christmas market.

 Carly and Michael are buying us all Gluhwein, which is a mulled wine.

 One of the booths at the Christmas market.

We had supper in a beer hall in Munich that had been suggested by one of Carly's co-workers.

Saturday, Dec. 21

 Carly, Michael, Bert and I spent Saturday driving from Klosters to Germany for the weekend. Michael drove us there and first we stopped at the Neuschwanstein Castle that King Ludwig 11 of Bavaria built. Apparently Walt Disney copied his Disneyland castle from this one. We had a wonderful tour through the castle but we were not allowed to take pictures since there were a lot of paintings on the walls etc. and they could be damaged by the flash of the cameras.

 Carly and Michael in front of the castle.

Bert and I on a viewing area which overlooked the fantastic countryside.

All day train ride

 Carly had purchased for us two train tickets that we could use to travel on all trains for that day in Switzerland. So Bert and I were on the trains from 9.30 am until 5.30 pm. There were many viaducts that the train would go over in the mountains and it was hard to take a picture of them while we were going over them.

 There hasn't been a lot of snow in this area of Switzerland so far but higher up in the mountains there still was quite a bit.

 Another viaduct.

We did manage to find an outlet in Lanquart and while in a kitchen supply store Bert was offered an espresso...which he gladly accepted.

Over the Alps to Italy

 Bert and I took the train over the Alps and saw this beautiful lake that was fed by a glacier. Perhaps that is why it is so blue. There actually some people skating on it which surprised me since it is in such a remote area.

 The train goes up to 2300 meters and after going up it uses this ramp-like structure to descend into the valley.

 We ended up in Tirano, Italy where we came upon this old building and were so impressed with the huge doors. It would be interesting to see if they take this building down or renovate it, since that seems to be the norm. I guess that's why they have buildings still standing from the 16 and 17th centuries.

 This old cathedral was quite impressive but we were unable to get inside.

 Still another picture taken in Tirano, Italy.