Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Hiking in the mountains

Having lived abroad for so long we are really more like any other tourist than locals when visiting our home country. It is spectacular, no doubt about it! 



This is near Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland.





Much to my husbands "chagrin" who suffers from hay fever, the paddocks were in full summer bloom.








A very original idea to "recycle" an old golf bag as flower pot which is sitting in front of the club house!

Switzerland

From Fort Lauderdale in Florida we flew to Zuerich in Switzerland. There we did a veritable Tour de Swiss. We went to many places which we had not visited for decades. The weather was like in the USA fantastic. One heatwave after the other! 

Display of decorated alligators in a shopping mall in Florida.







Beautiful old buildings in the eastern part of the Switzerland.








 




On the edge of the Bodensee a mother swan tends to her brood.

travels continue

I just realized I have to abbreviate my musings about our trip somewhat otherwise there will be nothing else but "travelling" in my blog! Anyway, on we drove towards the coast, the Gulf of Mexico and on to Houston. There we went to the Space Center, well worth a visit while in the vicinity! To see all the bits and pieces to travel in space and back is most impressiv.




From desert with its many yucca plants to the swampy countryside of Louisiana was just a couple of days drive. Wise mans beard hang in thick bunches in many of the trees.


So called Antebellum Mansions grace the countryside. Sugarcane Barons used to reside in the sprawling estates. 

Unusually shaped bridges span the numerous waterways. They are built this way to allow easy passage for the ships travelling far inland. 




Alligators are very territorial and can be spotted everywhere.