Day 15: Strasbourg, France via Lucerne

Lucerne, Switzerland

I believe Katie said today is mostly travel by bus into France. France! They are finally making it to France!

They will have some free time in the morning, but then they jump on board and travel. From Mols, Switzerland to Lucerne is just a little over an hour. The itinerary says they will tour there for awhile and then they go on to France.

Seriously, where is everyone?! Halloo!?!

Then they head to Hotel Les Colonnes Strasbourg-Zenith in Eckbolsheim, France where they will stay one night before heading on to their final destination in Paris for the last three nights of the trip. The drive from Lucerne to Eckbolsheim is about two and a half hours.

Eckbolsheim looks cute but there don't appear to be any people. This should make access to the town easy since they won't have to wait in any lines for anything!

But seriously, on the itinerary they say Strasbourg and that's the big city right next to this little town where they are staying. Strasbourg has a rich architectural history – the entire city center of Strasbourg is classified as world heritage.

Strasbourg, France (close to Germany).

When I talked with Katie today, she thought it was going to be about six hours but Google Maps thinks it's much shorter. I hope so, Lucerne looks like an amazing place to hang out for awhile.

They did make the Apfelstrudel today (and left with the recipe), but Katie said they didn't eat the one they made, they ate other ones (I am thinking that was to their advantage). She said it tasted great. They hotel was really a hostel and there wasn't any place to shop. This was a point of frustration for Katie who clearly hasn't bought enough souvenirs yet.

I could hear her excitement building as they inch closer to France. She sounds so much healthier. Looks like things have smoothed out!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
People to People Itinerary: FRIDAY, JULY 13: Strasbourg, France

• Discover Lucerne, a city in the heart of Switzerland situated on a lake and surrounded by high mountains!

No idea of the kids will see this. The Lion of Lucerne commemorates the Swiss Guards who were
massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution.The American writer Mark Twain praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." 

Day 14: Baking Apfestrudel in Switzerland

Austrian Apfelstrudel.

Oh come on!

Salzburg is absolutely amazingly beautiful (see photo below)! This must be blowing their minds. Today they tour the city and then lunch in Innsbruck at a tourism school (if Katie comes back deciding to major in tourism, People to People better be prepared to hire her!). And they get to learn to cook  Austrian Apfelstrudel and then eat it!? Cool beans.

When it's all said and done, they end up in Switzerland and they are staying at the quaint Hotel Schiffahrt that looks adorable - like something out of Solvang (I know, wrong country - but close!).

~~~~~~~~~
As I updated in yesterday's post, Katie finally called very briefly last night and assured me her health was better and that she had been saving the last charge in her phone for the Eiffel Tower (duh). She'd bum a charge of someone for that day but she was almost out and otherwise fine. What a relief.

Then, this morning, I work up to a miracle. Oh a whim, I decided I'd check the FedEx just to see where in the world it might be (I figured parked in Vienna). But the thing said, "Delivered to Salzburg!" No freaking way! I mean no way!!! I almost couldn't breath. I quickly called the hotel and they confirmed they had it and expected Katie in a couple hours! She'd have it shortly.

Best Face EVER!

Best Text EVER!

Then I got this text. Wow. And a few minutes later, a phone call - with Face Time because they had free wi-fi! You could hear all the kids calling and texting and otherwise being excited with the connection!

Of course I busted her for being sunburned ("first time mom, I promise!) and she told me about the concentration camp and the survivor yesterday ("I couldn't swallow or eat afterward. I had a pit in my stomach that was huge. It was horrible mom"). I am so glad it went in: deep.

So I am breathing again. Relieved off the charts. I already sent FedEx a thank you letter because one woman, Carolyn Harris, did something huge to get that sucker through customs. I don't know what she did, but she did it. That and all the positive thoughts and prayers from everyone who imagined that box getting in Katie's hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People to People Itinerary: THURSDAY, JULY 12: Heidiland, Switzerland

• Uncover Salzburg's hidden treasures as you explore this beautiful and historic city with your local guide.
• In Innsbruck, enjoy a unique lunch at the Villa Blanka. At this tourism school you will learn about the Austrian Tourism School system and have the opportunity to test your skills at baking your own dessert - the famous Austrian Apfelstrudel!
• Board the ship to cross the lake at romantic Heidiland and enjoy the beautiful landscape!

The fortress in Salzburg.