Paragliding in Fiesch

After just three weeks of marriage, I watched my husband jump off a mountain. At least it was intentional. And with a parachute. And with an instructor. Paragliding over the Swiss Alps is definitely a memory I will cherish. There is something so calm and serene about it, as long as it doesn’t bother you…

Eggishorn and the Aletsch Arena

When we woke in Fiesch, we had no plans. I hadn’t researched much this far into the trip, thinking we would have time on planes and trains beforehand. It didn’t help that wifi and phone signal was spotty, and most of the websites for the Fietsch area were strictly in German, or had limited information…

“Long Lost” Family and Traveling

Phillip gets a birthday card every year from his “Aunt” Olga that lives in the Netherlands. When I asked how they’re related, no one could say for sure, just that her last name is Van Reijn so must be through Phillip’s fathers’s mother. We meant to mail her a letter months earlier, but with wedding…

One Day in Amsterdam

Our hotel in Amsterdam was weird and unexpected. I definitely should have read more reviews and info on their website. Some artist came in and decided to build rooms in what used to be a building lobby, or something similar, in varying themes. We arrived after midnight and after pushing the receptionist’s electronic alert button…

Omaha, Utah, and Gold Beaches

To prepare for our visit to Normandy, Phillip and I watched “Band of Brothers,” especially the episodes surrounding the landings of D-Day. The shows actually gave us a great idea of which areas to research. We started with the nearby Longues-sur-Mer battery, where several German bunkers will still well preserved – excepting the one that…

Paris in a Day

It IS possible to see most the iconic sites of Paris in just one day – in fact, in less than 12 hours. You won’t sit much, even to eat, but it is possible. I didn’t even wear sneakers, though decent pain meds would be recommended. We were also still struggling with bad jet lag,…