Guide to the Europe 204 trip

Here is an overview of the trip. Each date has the link to that post.

(Jul 11- 14 are all in one blog post)
Jul 11 - flew
Jul 12 - landed in Zurich, afternoon in Zurich

Awaiting the train at Toni-Areal station in Zurich

Jul 13 - series of trains to Wengen, in the Swiss Alps. Afternoon stroll outside Wengen. Called Dad on his birthday

Bought Josh a stylish umbrella in Wengen

Jul 14 -Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Then valley walk to Trummelbachefalle and new boots.

At Trummelbachfalle

Jul 15 - Grutschalp to Murren. Schilthorn revolving restaurant. Steeply down hike Murren to Gimmelwald. Hiked back up thru the Lauterbrunnen valley.

Josh discovers Gimmelwald

Jul 16 - Mannlichen to Kleine Schedegg again. Crazy bus ride. Grosse Scheidegg to First. 4-person cable car. Mini-golf in Grindelwald.

The hills are alive 

Jul 17 - the Jungfraujoch. Josh and Rachel sledded on the glacier! Rachel & Ted long evening hike.

Ice Palace at the Jungfraujoch

Fri July 18 - woke up in Wengen, slept in a hotel in Milan 

At train station in Spiez

Sat July 19 - celebrate Josh's birthday in the morning in Milan, then crazy travel down through Florence to Siena

At tech museum in Milan, thinking of Bill and trains

Sun July 20 - relaxing day in Siena (19 & 20 are in one blog post)

Josh is about to shoot that thing into the sky and have it land on a romantic couple

Mon Jul 21 - explore north: glassworks in Colle di Val d'Elsa, hike near Futerutoli. Monteriggioni; San Gimignano. Best pizza was in Gimi. It also had the store with swords. 

Glass-blowers at Vilca, in Colle D'Elsa

Tue Jul 22 - Siena - Ted and Rachel climbed the tower de Mangia and went inside Duomo. Sam and Rachel shopped. First dinner at the restaurant. 

Ted presents Siena

Wed Jul 23 - explored south of Florence: Montelcino, hike near Bagno Vinoni, Montelpuciano, Pienza

Sandwhiches in Montelcino

Thu Jul 24 - Siena. Ted and I walked out the south gate on the via Francigena. Boys had a lazy morning. We all met at the Campo in the afternoon. 2nd dinner at our favorite restaurant in Siena. 

After walking via Francigena outside Siena

Fri Jul 25 - drove from Siena to Florence, Ted & Rachel did a short bus tour. Evening walk near the hotel, including the Duomo (gorgeous at night) and the Academia. 

Duomo in Florence

Sat Jul 26 - walk around in Florence on both sides of the Arno, shop with Sam. Best gelato. 

At the Piazza Micheleangelo, overlooking Florence

Sun Jul 27 - morning in Florence, then fly home via Frankfurt

Across the street from our hotel in Florence, were these models for Sergio Ferragamo