Across the Alps to Paradise (aka: Switzerland)

The second part of the "Sisters in Europe along with 52 other people" tour took us to Austria, Germany & Switzerland! How beautiful are the Alps?

Pictures do not do the view justice at all.

Bubble Tea! (Rosie!)

 We visited Dachau, a concentration camp in Germany. Visiting seemed so surreal. It makes the events of the Holocaust real, but even more unimaginable.

We visited the castle that was the inspiration for the Disney castle. I took a pic of a postcard because there was no way to get a pic that captures the whole sight. 

 Making a drawbridge.

 Part of the view from our precious hotel in Switzerland!

Please go to Switzerland. Now.

Al of my students that I've taught who were on the trip. I am honestly not sure where we were at that point. I think it was somewhere in Munich...

Too bad I don't speak German.

A stop at the BMW plant in Munich. Took a pic of a really expensive sponge.

I am not a fan of German food. No, no bratwurst.

We found some tasty pretzels in Obergammerau. 

The beer hall where Hitler first tried to overthrow the government of Germany! He was sentenced to 5 years in prison, but only served 9 months. That is the time he wrote Mein Kampf. Sorry, nobody probably cares about my history notes. 

The bus. we spent a lot of time on this bus. A lot of times with the Ladies...only one person reading this will get that.

Our bus just broke down in Munich. On the Autobahn. Hilarious. We had to evacuate across a street and walk to dinner. Was actually really fun.

We switched places at one point! Probably the first time in over ten years. Was nice to visit old times.

Hofbrahaus! 

Our students were divided into families and we were their "moms", which meant we counted them all of the time, dealt with lost luggage, etc. At one point, they kept asking for juice boxes so Nicole & I found some pear ones in a little town & they were so excited. We never were able to find goldfish crackers, though.

This is not fake.

I am obsessed.

 Are we photoshopped??

 Nicole & I were constantly aware of kids because we were shocked that people actually live in Europe with kids. Turns out toddlers are the same everywhere-this Swiss mom was carrying her bratty toddler by an arm saying all kinds of angry things in German. We took a picture and then said a huge thank you that were not there with our own kids...

 Gianluca was our tour director and he was SO great. If you ever go to Italy, I suggest traveling with him- he has a company of his own, but I'm not sure what it is called. So, that is helpful.

Switzerland: We went up Mt. Pilatus! THE BEST PART OF THE TRIP!

 The view from the train as we went up the mountain.

 At the height, we were over 7000 feet! I love this kid and Breeding!

 Am I just lounging in the Alps?

 One of our sorority sisters lives in Switzerland! Delta Delta Delta!

The whole group in Lucerne. 

Our hotel, again. Sorry these are all out of order.

Swiss breakfast!

Riding around Lake Lucerne.

This is the pic of what we did to go up Mt Pilatus: boat ride, cable car ride, Alpine slide, big gondola, small gondola...SO much fun!

Because I am a grown up, I kept trying to grab the clouds...

and the train...

If we fell backwards, we would have tumbled down 7000 feet. So, like responsible chaperones, we decided to pose.

The Alpine Slide! This is over a mile long & you sit on this little scooter thing as you slide DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN THE ALPS!

Because we are ridiculously lucky, we got to slide twice! Well, Nicole somehow got a third ride, which ended in her being trapped at the bottom with Frederico & 2 other teachers in a rain cloud!! Ferderico is the guy who is at the bottom and helps you hook up to this thing that pulls you back up. (great explanation, I know) He was super nice and I said something about his awesome job & he said, "I work in paradise!" Hence my blog title. This slide was SO MUCH FUN! I cannot explain how surreal it was to be sliding down  a mountain in the Alps!

Swiss fondue!

We were "lucky" to be a part of this Swiss culture night. Really, it was awful. A lot of instruments made out of random things like forks and brooms. Everyone kept trying to escape.

On the way home I took advantage of the free drinks and the fact that I was actually sitting in front of a TV. Modern Family, anyone? I seriously think the last thing I have watched on TV was the season finale of Walking Dead. That's the last thing I remember and I think it was in March. Maybe April, I'm not sure.

A video of the Alpine Slide. It is very high quality. I recorded it on my second ride because the first time was so awe inspiring I just couldn't bring myself to get out of the moment.

Take me back!