Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Switzerland

As part of their trip over here, Mum and Dad hired a chalet in Switzerland for a week so that Phil, Kylie, Mum, Dad and myself could all go and stay there and see the local sights.

The chalet itself was approx 1.5hrs drive from Geneva in the Alps. We were on the motorway most of the time which was fine, but the trip up the mountain on the B roads was quite scary - especially as I was in the passenger seat and could see straight down the mountain as we went up!

We did some walking as well as some day trips here and there. The highlight was a trip to Glacier 3000 - we had to take 2 cable cars to get up there. At the highest point we were 3000m up. The cable cars took us up a kilometre, so they were pretty exciting as well!


View from our chalet balcony


View from along the road on one of our walks (before we got lost!)


The first cable car up to Glacier 3000. The second went from the top across to the right


View from on top of the Glacier. You could see the Matterhorn as well as Mont Blanc. The rails you see in the foreground were a track with little cars on them, which we all had to have a go on of course!


It's a long way down! From the second cable car


Chateau de Chillon - on Lake Geneva near Montreux


Window inside the Chateau - looking back towards the Alps


From the top of the Keep in the Chateau


A Marmotte - an alpine rodent essentially! Quite cute though!

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Cornwall

It has been a couple of busy weeks with family coming and going from all angles! Phil and Kylie arrived on Sunday evening 2 weeks ago. They stayed in London for a few nights to do the sightseeing thing and then headed north to York and the Lakes.

That Friday, Mum and Dad arrived. They only stayed one night here and we headed off to Cornwall on the Saturday. I had a week off work to spend down there with them which was great.

We based ourselves in a great little cottage in Perrenwell and did day trips to various places each day. We went to Land's End, Tintagel, Clovelly, Newquay and the Eden Project to name a few. The landscape is spectacular and we were really lucky to have relatively good weather the whole time.

Here are a few photos from the trip. Phil and Kylie arrive back here this afternoon for 1 more night before heading off to Paris tomorrow on the Eurostar. I have a quiet week at home and work and then Mum and Dad get back here on Friday, again for 1 night. We then head to Switzerland on Saturday (tough life, I know!) for 1 week. Will post more after that!

One of the locals, Falmouth

St Mawes Castle

Thatched roof, St Mawes

Colourful cliffs at Lizard Point, the most Westerly point of England

Near Tintagel Castle

Clovelly

St Michael's Mount, near Penzance

St Michael's Mount

The Eden Project