The last summer vacation was a bit short, at least relative to the European standard, taking two non-consecutive weeks. However, it is impressive how much variety you have access to in a very short travel time here. It all comes down to distance which seems to be compressed in Europe, and with Switzerland right in the middle of it (at least geographically speaking, since the political integration has not progressed much!), we can enjoy a lot of small weekend getaways.
I can't help but compare this with Canada... when I was about 18, I took a train ride of about 42 hours which took me from Montreal to Regina (roughly 2400 km). During all this time one could only witness two types of landscape (forest and prairie) and a single culture, english canada!
Being totally unfair and bias, this is what I get when looking at all the places I've visited in Europe during my first stay in 2000-2002:
- Algarve in Portugal
- France (Paris, Lyon, the Alpes region, Provence and Côte d'Azur)
- Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Seville, Valence)
- Baviere region in Germany (Munich)
- Italy (Aoste, Piedmont, Lombardie regions)
- England (London, Wales)
- and of course a lot of regions in Switzerland (Romandie, Suisse Alémanique, Tessin)
All these trips offering such a diversity of culture within less than 1000km (except probably south of Spain and Portugal which are a bit further)!
However, now with the kids we are less ambitious ... actually we can reach places within less than 2 hours drive away from home... the exact time before our kids stuck in the car start their rampage! So that is what we did this summer.
Here are some pictures of these trips.
Enjoying the small boat in the lake Du Bourget at Aix-les-Bains.
Here is my mom and sister with the kids while visiting Gstaad.
Eating out at Thoune with my daughter!
I did also quite a bit of biking .. with my longest ride from Lausanne to Bern or about 100km. My longest ascenscion, I did near Thoune (actually between Thoune and Interlaken) where I climb about 1400m.
Next pics were taken about half way toward Beetenberg and Nierderhorn.
You feel lucky to go through this tunnel knowing the quality of road in Switzerland, it was so dark the only thing visible is the small spot of light at the end of tunnel.
Actually the highest altitude road usually winds upward (lacet in french) quite smoothly... they are not nearly as challenging as city roads I regularly ride in and around Lausanne (I guess the logical explanation to this is related to accessibility during winter). For example, a small road I often take has average slope at 20% that rides up to reach "Les trois Chasseurs" from Pully-la_Rosiaz.
BTW, the pictures taken while riding are from my 2 Megapixel Nokia6300, not too bad for a crappy and old mobile phone!
Martin
I can't help but compare this with Canada... when I was about 18, I took a train ride of about 42 hours which took me from Montreal to Regina (roughly 2400 km). During all this time one could only witness two types of landscape (forest and prairie) and a single culture, english canada!
Being totally unfair and bias, this is what I get when looking at all the places I've visited in Europe during my first stay in 2000-2002:
- Algarve in Portugal
- France (Paris, Lyon, the Alpes region, Provence and Côte d'Azur)
- Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Seville, Valence)
- Baviere region in Germany (Munich)
- Italy (Aoste, Piedmont, Lombardie regions)
- England (London, Wales)
- and of course a lot of regions in Switzerland (Romandie, Suisse Alémanique, Tessin)
All these trips offering such a diversity of culture within less than 1000km (except probably south of Spain and Portugal which are a bit further)!
However, now with the kids we are less ambitious ... actually we can reach places within less than 2 hours drive away from home... the exact time before our kids stuck in the car start their rampage! So that is what we did this summer.
Here are some pictures of these trips.
Enjoying the small boat in the lake Du Bourget at Aix-les-Bains.
Here is my mom and sister with the kids while visiting Gstaad.
Eating out at Thoune with my daughter!
 |
| From Juillet - Aout 2008 - partie 2 |
I did also quite a bit of biking .. with my longest ride from Lausanne to Bern or about 100km. My longest ascenscion, I did near Thoune (actually between Thoune and Interlaken) where I climb about 1400m.
Next pics were taken about half way toward Beetenberg and Nierderhorn.
You feel lucky to go through this tunnel knowing the quality of road in Switzerland, it was so dark the only thing visible is the small spot of light at the end of tunnel.
Actually the highest altitude road usually winds upward (lacet in french) quite smoothly... they are not nearly as challenging as city roads I regularly ride in and around Lausanne (I guess the logical explanation to this is related to accessibility during winter). For example, a small road I often take has average slope at 20% that rides up to reach "Les trois Chasseurs" from Pully-la_Rosiaz.
 |
| From From-mobile-phone |
BTW, the pictures taken while riding are from my 2 Megapixel Nokia6300, not too bad for a crappy and old mobile phone!
Martin
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