Remembering the trip to Italy, 2008

I am putting in the ONE journal post that I made while in Europe this summer. 6 weeks, 1 page. Oh well! At least we have loads of photos to share too.

Here it is (actually written with Celina's help).

The web albums are here!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/seterzio

June 18, 2008 Wednesday

Here I am, sitting with Celina on the couch of our rented apartment in Galtur, Austria. Yesterday was one full day!

We left at 12:00 from Raleigh, on Monday – Jenna, our housesitter came to drive us to the airport, at the same time the big truck from the staircase factory came to deliver our circular stair for the new room. So we were loading the van, moving big boxes, and trying to get out of day in typical chaotic fashion. We made it to the airport, and hurried to our flight, only to have to wait 3 hours for the plane. It was the fastest we had ever gotten through security. The flight was almost cancelled due to weather, but luckily they snuck the plane in at the very last to take off to philadelphia. Once in Philly, we hurried to the other terminal to catch our plane to EUROPE!!!!

We had a long flight, with not much action. Mainly just trying to sleep in uncomfortable positions. Celina is adding that she wasn't uncomfortable, considering she was laid out over her seat and mine. Hmmmppph.

We arrived in Zurich around 9:00ish in the morning, Tuesday, and easily found our new Renault Trafic 9-passenger van, in a pretty emerald green. I want one for home! It is sooooooo comfy. Our family is actually not sitting on top of each other. When Joe comes, we'll even fit him no problem.

We drove on out of Zurich and tried to get to the lake above Zurich for lunch, but managed to drive in circles around St. Gallens about 3 times, finally stopping at a big grocery store and marveling at the selection, got yummy meats and cheeses (swiss of course), and ate in the van. Good enough for a bunch of really tired kids and mom and dad.

We continued on our way to Austria, finally seeing beautiful mountains and valleys. We decided to take the road 188, from Bludenz south to the althocalpen ?? the high road through the mefalon?? valley to Silveratta?? - the road that Roger's father had loved all those many years ago from his childhood in the 30's in Austria before escaping the Nazi's. Roger had also been here as a boy of 12, to ski with his family and remembers it well. It as a beautiful drive, up the mountain valley, and finally to a toll section, closed in the winter, that leads you over the Silveretta pass. It is a winding, hairpin turn, road with snowy mountains and flowery fields all the way above the tree line, where there is a dam and glacial lake at the top. The water has that green, blue, clear look that you only see in the high mountains. Makes your toes turn blue just thinking about jumping in. It was way too cool to think too hard about swimming. Celina says there was lots of snow. More than we get in three years in North Carolina. More than Pup-pup has ever seen. More than Celina could stand in and see above her head. Brrr- it would be scary and cold!

I miss Evie says I. (snuck in by Celina)

So anyway.... We drove on to the other side of the pass, and stopped in Galtur. A very pretty town which is deserted this time of year. We drove through and as we were turning around to go back through, saw a house with apartments for rent. Roger went up and we are now staying in a brand new 3 bedroom apartment with a view of the mountains and a little wooden chapel below. We can hear the cows moo-ing and their bells ringing in the pasture above us. There was a rainbow outside our bedroom window this morning, from the chapel to the mountain. It looks like an idyllic postcard of a place.

Here is the website for the little apartment we stayed in (very nice):

http://www.monterosa.at/

It is 10:30 and just Roger, Celina and I are awake so far. We are letting kids sleep in so that they get back to normal schedules. But we are ready now to start our day. More later.