Saturday, May 12, 2012

Switzerland is Pristine!

After my business finished in the UK, I met a friend at Heathrow and finally started vacation!  Our first stop was Interlaken, Switzerland.  I had never heard of Interlaken or Jungfraujoch before and truly I have Matt Lauer to think for the idea, during his annual "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?".  Once I saw this place on the Today Show I knew I had to go, so here we are :)

Cindy on the balcony of the Hotel Bellevue, Interlaken, Switzerland
The views were stunning, I can't remember ever seeing such clear and untouched beauty.
Junfraujoch, Switzerland - 11,333 Ft. above sea level

At 11,333 ft above sea level, the air is getting a little thin up there, I got dizzy several times and had to sit down to catch my breath.

Sphinx Observatory, Junfraujoch, Switzerland

Me on the Top of Europe, with my trusty raincoat
It was cold in the morning, but by the afternoon, the coat and scarf had come off.

The end of a long walk 
There is along walk from the Top of Europe resort and at the end is a family run restaurant high on the cliff, I highly recommend taking the walk and stopping in for a bite to eat or a beer.

Swiss beer on the Swiss Alps

Lauterbrunen, Switzerland

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Trip to England

I was lucky enough to visit England for business and pleasure.  Some snaps from my trip.
Bracknell, Berkshire

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle


Yummy Sangria after a day of touring


My first time EVER driving in England, was a harrowing experience....Driving on the "wrong" side was the road wasn't that bad, driving a manual transmission wasn't bad (I drive one at home), however those ROUNDABOUTS nearly gave me a heart attack!  We don't really have roundabouts in America so we never really learn how to drive on them, but after a couple of days in England, I'm proud to say, I was navigating them like a pro...err well almost :)
My little VW Golf...Driving on the "wrong" side of the road was an EXPERIENCE

Honestly it was raining so much it didn't really matter what else I packed, I was wearing my rain coat every single day...if I was out touring then I was wearing it ALL DAY :)
The rain coat was the BEST thing I packed

A famous English bread commercial was filmed here in the 1970's, here is the You Tube link, its wonderful to see how some beautiful things remain untouched even after so many years.  I spent some time here with a friend and his wife, they took me to a pub that built in the 16th century.
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Fovant Badges, Witlshire

Fovant Badges, Wiltshire

Itialian Fountain, Kensington Gardens, London

Kensington Palace, London

Tower of London, London

Tower of London Bridge, London

A lifelong dream come true, visiting the British Museum

mmm...Starbucks
You could travel the world and see artifacts from every ancient civilization from the British Museum.
Buckingham Palace

Great underground system, I used it daily

Big Ben, House of Parliament, London Eye

Street Performer, Covent Gardens, London