So.....Let's take a Little Hike....in the Alps...

As I type this, we are in Cervinia, Italy...you'll have to look it up on a map...it's a speck of a ski town in the Italian Alps JUST over the border from Switzerland. We are looking right at the Matterhorn, as a matter of fact.

Our European journey, thus far, as been fabulous...no affects at all from the volcano eruption, and didn't even hear about it for two days...shows how much we keep up with the happenings in the world when we are on vaca...

We started in Munich, Germany, where Josh and his girlfriend, Kathi, met us...there for three days and it was cold and rainy...not what I had in mind as I was thinking about our trip, but good food, good beer, and good company, plus a beautiful city, made it worthwhile...

Now...other than the fact that we flew into Munich and are flying out of Brussels, we had ABSOLUTELY no plans...we have a Eurail pass and that's it!! That's the way Russell loves to fly...me...not so much...I know all of you who know me can't believe that, but it's true, I'll admit it...so...from Munich, we decided we would head to Italy (for the warm, sunny weather)...but first, we had to stop off in Fussen, Germany and see Neuschwanstein Castle...for those of you who have been there...you know...for those of you who don't, it's a mile hike up to the place, then, of course, we had to hike to the bridge that overlooks the lake on the other side of the place...not to mention the, what must have bee,n 1000 spiral steps inside the place (actually, it was probably more like 200).....ok...now on to Italy...nope...WHILE we have to go right through Austria...I hear, let's just stop in Innsbruck and check out the Austrian Alps...so let's recap...Bavarian Alps, check, Austrian Alps, check check....two days in Innsbruck, and three gondola rides to get to the top of some mountain where we then just HAD to hike to the VERY top....and mind you, I brought a light weight fleece and my raincoat...wouldn't exactly need my puffy coat in Africa now would I???

Ok....now on to Italy...ahhh, but wait...why don't we head over to the Swiss Alps, while we're this close, and check out Interlaken...an absolutely stunning little town located in between two lakes (hence the name), at the bottom of the Jungfrau, which they call "The Top of Europe" because the last of the the THREE trains you have to take is the highest train station in Europe...or so they say...who am I to argue...so, of course, we have to take the THREE train rides to the top of the Jungfrau, where it was cold and windy...and wait...still no puffy coat....but we walked through an actual glacier (a tunnel in ice, basically), but the views were stunning and had fondue at the restaurant on top...three nights later and I'm finally thinkin...ok...next stop, Italy!!

But, wait...we've done the Bavarian Alps, the Austrian Alps, the Swiss Alps...why not continue in the Swiss Alps and go see the Matterhorn...ya know...while we're THIS close...ok...three trains later, and Zermatt, there we are...Zermatt is a little Swiss ski village just at the base of the Matterhorn...no cars there...very quaint...but ahhh...the Matterhorn was looking right at us...as if tempting us (oh yeah...ya just know it was tempting ME)...I started getting that smriky little grin from the cutest boy in the world, who I wasn't really convinced, at this point, was going to stay MY cutest boy in the world for 25 more years....and then it happened...the craziest idea in the ENTIRE WORLD, actually came out of his mouth.....why don't we just hike from the top of the ski area in Switzerland (which took a very long gondola and a cable car to access) over to the top of the top of the ski area in Italy (all the while looking at the Matterhorn, of course), then take the the cable car and two more gondolas down to the little Italian ski village of Cervinia (which is on the OTHER side of the Matterhorn).

Oh....I think I looked at him like...WHAHHHTTT did you just say??? Have you COMPLETELY lost your mind...has the altitude finally gotten to you...a stroke maybe....and it didn't help that EVERY single person we talked to said, "oh, no...you can't do that".....and for the record, STILL no puffy coat....but he is a mountain guide...the best I know...and I do trust him, and God...so this morning, bright and early (and it seriously couldn't have been a more beautiful, no wind, bluebird ski day)...we trek off, with our carry-ons...which both make into backpacks...and before you know it, we are at the top of the Matterhorn ski area...and here we go...hiking down the ski slopes like we do something that crazy every day (now I seriously know how Maria Von Trapp must have felt), and exactly one hour later...we are sitting at the top of the Italian ski area having a beautiful lunch...one cable car and two gondolas later, and here we are....

So let's recap....Bavarian Alps, check....Austrian Alps, check check...Swiss Alps, check, check, check...Italian Alps, check, check, check, check....NOW...on to lower Italy...

Ah but wait....we are SOOO close to the French Alps...and then we will have done them all...so tomorrow...one bus ride and two trains later, and we'll be SOMEWHERE in the French Alps...and I don't think we are going to make it to lower Italy, but the plan is to be in PARIS on Sunday and we'll be there for four days....hallelujah!!!

What I can't describe is God's faithfulness in all our travels thus far...the cutest boy in the world better be THANKING HIM....I guess I will keep him around another 25 years :)