Istria (partly Slovenia partly Croatia)

Piran in Slovenia

Grosnjan in Croatia

Travelling through Croatia proves to be a journey through a holidaymakers paradise full of stunning landscapes, old villages, historic sites and breathtaking beach-scapes. A rental car gives us the freedom to explore and move around as we please. Equipped with a tent, we have resisted campgrounds so far (the nights are still a bit cool) and opted for "wellness" hotels or self catering accommodation. Seeing how everyone is gearing up for the big season (July/August) I am grateful to be here now!

Fazana

The clocktower in Porec

Euphrasian Basilica in Porec

.. and occasionally some "environmental" artwork

The colosseum in Pula

..including gladiators.......

North Italy

Along Lake Como
Dem Comer-See entlang

Veltline, the corner between Italy, Switzerland and Austria
Die Ecke zwischen Italien, Schweiz und Oesterreich

Finn still doesn't believe that snow is cold...

...Finn glaubt immer noch nicht das der Schnee kalt ist......

Entry into Finn's diary:

I did not like Italy because it was dirty. But all my favourite foods are made in Italy such as Spaghetti, Pizza and Lasagne. 

I have learned a few words in Italian like "I puffi" means Smurfs, "Grazie" means thank you and "Ciao" means hi as well as good bye. 

Easter in Switzerland

Michelle, Silvan and Finn, painting Easter-eggs. (Michelle and Silvan are Finn's cousins)

Easter Sunday morning in Fischenthal (the town where I have spent part of my childhood and where my parents live).

Our rental car (for the next two month). 

The family gathering for Easter brunch!

having fun in the snow (at least some of us....)

I almost forgot........

the last word for the toad:

Willkommen!

"The land of cheese and cow-shit"

Switzerland, a living postcard of times gone by. Leave the towns and cities and one steps back in time, to an area where nature has been uninfected for hundreds of years. However, if you should be a magpie attempting to build a nest in suburbia, you had better watch out, the bastards will take a chainsaw to your chosen tree three times over. 

Natural beauty  5 Stars

Food  5 Stars

Cleanliness 5 Stars

Sense of humour  1 Star

Spring temperature 1-5 Stars

Playing in the snow - Interlaken, Switzerland

Finn's first "steps" on ski's

Finn's ersten Versuche auf den Skiern.

The view from the skiing field.
Aussicht auf den Brienzer-See von der Axalp.

We are blessed with a glorious week of warm and sunny weather!

Die Woche bringt uns viel Waerme und Sonnenschein!

Our home just next to Interlaken.  Friends of my sister rent us an apartment for a week for very little money. Interlaken is Switzerlands "adventure-capital on the foot of the Jungfrau-Joch.

Freunde von Erika und Ruedi vermieten uns eine tolle und guenstige Ferienwohnung fuer eine Woche - geich neben Interlaken!

The famous Jungfrau-Joch!

At temperatures of more than 18 degr.cel. the snow is melting fast, even at over 5000 feet!

Bei Temperaturen von ueber 18Grad schmelzt der Schnee ziemlich schnell, auch in grossen Hoehen!

A mountain train takes us up to kleine Scheidegg with our sledges and we are able to drive (or glide) along "Eiger-run" down into the valley (the longest sledge run in Europe). Mike seems a bit apprehensive and Finn can't get enough.....

Von der kleinen Scheidegg fahren wir mit den Schlitten dem Eiger (Eiger-run) entlang in's Tal hinunter. Am Morgen, wenn alles steinhart gefroren ist, geht das ganz schoen schnell. Mike kann sich mit dem Gedanken nicht so ganz anfreunden, fuer Finn jedoch kann es nicht schnell genug gehen!

I hope the film works!!!!!!