June 11 Home

June 11

We woke up early at 5:00 am to get packed and into the car so we could get going to the airport. This was the final test, as we had to completely fit all of our stuff into 4 suitcases and 4 backpacks after 4 and half months of travel. With every zipper, strap and buckle stressed to the limit we managed to jam everything in. As I packed and gassed up the car Carolyn scrounged up some breakfast boxes and we were finally on the road by 7:00 am. Fortunately traffic was light at that hour so we made good time until we were close to the airport so we were there by before 8:00 am. It was a good thing we were early as it took us a while to find the rental car drop-off and the catch the right trams back to our departure terminal. The stress mounted as we finally arrived at the check in and found out our luggage was 8 kilos overweight so we owed 96 Euros. Instead of paying we held up the whole process so we could take items out of suitcase and shift them into our backpacks. After a stressful 10 minutes the lady finally told us we had removed enough and gave us our boarding passes. The stress mounted as we got held up at the baggage scanner and they randomly decided to search Thea. Just at that moment another man accidently bumped a button and shut down the whole machine. It took 15 minutes to reset and start the scanner and the mile long line up had to assume the family of the girl who had to be searched caused the delay. We finally made it to our boarding gate and were relieved to be taking our seat on the plane. To our disappointment Air Transat was not quite the caliber of Cathay or Etihad. Our final 14-hour flight would be without our own movies and games. We even had to pay for headphones and pop! Despite all this we were glad to be heading home and our spirits were high with anticipation of getting home. The flight passed quicker then we thought and before long we touched down in Calgary to refuel and let off some passengers. After a 45-minute stop we were soon back up in the air on our final leg of our epic journey. Being so close to home we seemed to savour the last 1-hour flight from Calgary. Soon we were over the Rockies and eagerly looking out the window for signs of the Fraser Valley. Soon the pilot announced we were beginning our descent into Vancouver and I can’t describe the feeling of excitement and anticipation. Soon we were cruising over familiar landmarks and buildings and we all smiled as we felt the wheels bounce on the runway. Despite having been in the air for 14 hours we were all smiling and energetic as we moved through the airport. We collected our luggage and moved through customs easier than any other airport we had been in. Finally as we exited the arrival area we could see Poppa along with my parents and my sister and her husband who had come up for a visit from Portland. It was a great surprise and a bonus to be greeted by family after being away for so long. Despite all our adventures, new sights and experiences it was truly great to be home!

June 10 Euro Disney

June 10

We woke early to get to the buffet breakfast so we could get to Disneyland first thing. The kids were too excited to eat but we forced food into them. We dressed for rain expecting the worst and headed off on the shuttle around 9:00 am. At the gate we were nervous whether our bargain, Internet tickets would actually work and to our pleasant surprise they not only worked but they were good for two days not just one! Once inside we all felt that Disney excitement. Euro Disney was very similarly laid out to the original so we felt familiar and enjoyed reliving our old memories. We all agreed our first ride would be the Pirates of the Caribbean although Will was a bit nervous. We walked toward the back of the park and enjoyed taking in many familiar sites but with a European twist. The rest of the day past quickly as we ran around to our favorite rides and sites. We felt like old pros using the Fast Pass system. The park wasn’t too crowded so we were able to fit in a lot. Fortunately the weather held off and we remained dry and cool. We ended the day around 7:00 pm and headed back to the hotel after a great day but also excited about the fact that we were flying home tomorrow. 

June 9 Paris

June 9

Today we headed into Paris by train. The ride in was very straight forward as the train station came right to the Euro Disney site. We caught a shuttle form the hotel and soon were on our way downtown. We got off near the Arc de Triumph and walked from there to the Eifel Tower. We kept trying to impress upon the kids that they were in one of the most famous cities in the world but they were more interested in what was for lunch. Unfortunately the day was cold and wet and not the best day for exploring the City of Lights! We ambled down to the Eifel Tower and we the kids enjoyed seeing something they had heard about for so long, although they thought it would be bigger. We then decided to see the city by taking a boat tour along the Seine. It was something I hadn’t done before and it hit all the major sites. We got off and explored a museum near the D’Orsey and then rode up to the Notre Dame Cathedral. By then we were all wet and cold and glad to go inside. We talked about the story of the Hunchback to get the kids interested but even they were impressed by the magnificent building. After this we were all tired, wet and cold and we decided to head back to our hotel. We only scratched the surface of Paris but we hoped the kids would remember and one day return with their memories. Once back we again enjoyed a swim and a pizza dinner before going to bed looking forward to Disneyland in the morning.

June 8 Paris

June 8

We woke early to pack and get ready to leave at the same time as Chantal and the rest of the family. We regretfully said goodbye to them all but feeling satisfied that we had created memories that we would always have. We left around 8:00 am and began our 6-hour drive to Paris. The weather was cool and wet but it was good for driving. We seemed to especially enjoy this last leg of our trip driving through the Swiss hills and small towns. Within a couple hours we past into France without having to even stop let alone show a passport. The traffic was light and the highways were good so we mad good time. We stopped a gas station / truck stop for lunch about an hour and a half out of Paris. The scenery opened up as we exited the Alpine region and entered the rolling hills and forests of this area. As we entered the outskirts of Paris we began to get more traffic and we had to pay more attention to the traffic signs. Fortunately our directions were good and we arrived at the Explorers Hotel just outside Euro Disney. The kids were very excited to arrive and we were glad to have reached our final destination. The hotel was built for families, with a pool with a pirate ship, slides and several restaurants geared toward kids. After a swim we all went to bed tired from a long day of travel.

June 7 Switzerland

June 7

On Monday we woke up after the boys had already made there way off to catch the bus for school. We had a nice breakfast before packing our swim trunks to head off to the spa at Lavee de Bains. These thermal baths have been around for centuries and were recently updated to be a modern spa. The best part is they are only 5 minutes from Chantal’s. We paid roughly $70 for the whole family and were very impressed with the facility. There were several pools. They all had unique features such as symphonic music, whales sounds, hydro beds, a whirlpool etc. As well, there were steam rooms and one that was featured light and aromatherapy. The kids enjoyed it despite being the youngest ones there and not being allowed to do cannonballs. We all left feeling more relaxed when we didn’t think that was possible. Once back at home Carolyn and I went on our own into Saint Maurice to take some pictures, see the town and see Rachelle’s flower and pottery shop. The town was like something out of a postcard with small shops, an old church, narrow streets with banners draped across for an annual festival they had just had. It was a treat to see Rachelle and her sister’s shop and she also took us by her apartment in the center of town overlooked by the old church cut into the mountain. Carolyn ended up buying a sugar bowl form the shop but Rachelle’s sister generously gave it to her. We bought some groceries and headed home for a much anticipated, authentic Raclette dinner. We were joined by Rachelle and her family as well as David’s parents. Chantal and David cooked a huge wheel of Raclette served with potatoes, bread, cured meats, olives and pickles. The dangerous part of Raclette is that you don’t have one serving. Instead it is an ongoing process where people take turns taking the next melted slice of the cheese. It is very social and relaxed so before you know it you have eaten much more than you normally would. It is way to easy to have just one more slice. The only thing better than the food was the company and we eventually pried ourselves away from the table basking in yet another memorable day topped off with a world-class meal. We said goodbye to Rachelle and her family with promises to try and see each other again soon.

June 6 Switzerland

June 6

We woke up lazy the next morning and enjoyed breakfast under the Alps. Rachelle came back over and brought fresh croissants and pastries and it seemed like we picked up right where we left off the night before. The weather was good in the morning so we planned to go up to a small chalet up the mountains where Rachelle’s family take their cows to pasture in the summer. We packed everybody up in two cars and drove over 1000 m up the mountain on a zigzagging road. I thought it was a steep drive until we passed a man on a bike. After passing him we saw that we was at least 60 years old. We soon arrived at the small chalet set in a meadow on the side of the mountain. We expected Julia Andrews and the Von Trapps to come over the hill. It was truly a beautiful setting and the chalet was definitely authentic. Rachelle wasn’t sure how old it was but it was around before her and her father before her. The family has used it as a retreat year round. They use it in the winter as a base to use for skiing at a local slope. We were joined by David’s brother Gerard, his wife Kate and their two daughters Misha and Maya. It was Gerard’s birthday so it was a true family get together. David mowed the long grass in front of the chalet with a scythe while the kids explored around the mountain. In the distance we could here the cowbells clanging. After opening up the chalet they started a fire and prepared a gourmet meal with BBQ’d meats, pasta salad, breads and cheeses. I was still full from breakfast but you couldn’t resist the great food and the mountain air made it taste even better. After lunch Rachelle’s Mother arrived after hiking over the mountain and joined us for a lunch of meringue, fresh fruit and chocolate! The Swiss definitely know how to eat. After this we hiked down the mountain to the river that runs through it. We tried to work off our lunch by building dams in the cold water. It was another picturesque moment as the kids splashed and played in the river and we could look back up the mountain and see the water poring down a waterfall. After a couple hours we hiked back up to the chalet and cleaned up before we left. We paused to take a group photo that I am sure will be looked back on for years to come. Everyone headed back to Chantal and David’s and we treated the gang to pizza and Chinese food. To top it all off we were treated to an Alpine thunder and lightning storm as we ate dinner. Another memorable day came to an end, one that will be a highlight of our trip.

June 5 Switzerland

June 5

Moving Day! We got up at 7:00 to pack and clean up the cabin. We were amazed at how much mess we were able to make in just a few days. Fortunately the cabin was small and it didn’t take long to sweep out. We exchanged contact information with Rob and Gazina and said goodbye to them and the boys. We were glad to be on our way to see our friends in Switzerland. The drive once again was beautiful heading past Milan towards the Alps. The highways were clear and the weather was good so we made good time. We chose a route that was a little more scenic and had less tolls via the Simplon Pass. As we left Italy and entered Switzerland we were in the heart of the Alps and we began to ascend to the top of the pass. The views were breathtaking and even caused Will to put down his DS as we passed castles overlooking small villages nestled in the lush green valleys. These were postcards that we were driving through. At the top of the pass we had to stop so the kids could get out and touch the snow. The temperature was around 20 C and the sun was shining. The air was fresh and the spring alpine flowers were blooming all around. It made you feel like yelling “RICOLAAAAAA”. We decided to head on to Brig before stopping for lunch but hindsight told us we should have stopped there as it was the best place that we saw. We ended up stopping in a small town and eating outside a small church around 2:00 pm. The rest of the trip to Lavey Village only took 45 minutes and Chantal’s directions led us right to their place. We were glad to see her come out of the door when we pulled into the driveway. There is no substitute for seeing friends when you are travelling even though we hadn’t seen her in 10 years. Their house was beautiful and built for to contain their 3 boys Jonas (10), Sascha (8) and Noah (5). Chantal made us feel very welcome and before long we were settled in and enjoying a drink on their back patio which has a world-class view of the Swiss Alps. Soon David and the boys came home and the yard turned into a playground full of soccer, slides, ping pong, mini tennis, tag and any other game you could think of. Our other friend Rachelle soon arrived and they prepared a delicious meal with chicken and home made French fries. The food and company were exceptional and we spent the evening catching up and telling old stories while the kids played.