Around Zürich

Today my husband had some field work to do just outside of Zürich, so bubs and I tagged along and we had a nice afternoon in the sun. We went back to the same small village we went to this time last year when I had a big fat belly. This year bubs got to enjoy the sights and sounds a bit more.

Neunforn is only about a half hour drive from Zürich but it's easy to forget you're anywhere near a big city out here. There were fields of sunflowers and wheat, and plenty of vineyards too. We stopped for lunch next to the river Rhine and then bubs did some serious playing while his dad did some serious work. On the way home we drove back through the village and I took a few shots out the car window. 

We're in Zürich for the next month and then we'll be heading back to Japan for a few weeks as my husband has a conference to go to, so watch this space!

Milan

On Friday afternoon we took the train to Milan. It's a scenic 4 hour journey and bubs was very well behaved. We arrived at the central station and got a taxi to our hotel, which was a minute's walk from the Duomo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Cathedral Dinner was via room service, and then hubby went out to meet his brother whom we had come to see, and bubs and I stayed and admired the view from the hotel.

The next day, after a tasty champagne breakfast, we headed out to see the Duomo. What's especially neat about this Cathedral is that you not only get a view from the top of it but you get to walk all over its roof! It was a tight squeeze in some places and we had to take the pram up and then abandon it, which seemed a bit silly, but it was definitely worth it.

After the Cathedral we headed to other parts of the city where the design fair was taking place, and took a look at a couple of exhibits. Then it was back to the hotel for a snooze for bubs and gelato for me.
Shopping and dinner followed, dinner was at a Pizzeria place not far from the hotel and the pizza was delicious, a far cry from our first pizza experience in Italy last year! Limoncellos were had back at the hotel and then the boys continued their night out, while bubs and I headed for bed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limoncello

The next day allowed for another champagne breakfast, a look at the inside of the Duomo (it was Palm Sunday), and some more shopping, followed by one last gelato and then lunch, before heading off on the train again. Bubs was not quite so well behaved on the way back, and I can only imagine it was his disgust at having to leave such a lovely place.

Recent Travels

Since we came back from New Zealand we have continued to be on the move, first to the States, then to London, and we are currently in Lausanne (the French speaking area of Switzerland). Our trip to the States was visa and family related. We spent a few days catching up with friends in Atlanta and then went up to Wisconsin to see family. We had a great time but it was far too quick and I don't have any photos to share from it.

Our trip to London was also to see family but we squeezed in a little bit of sight seeing too. London is gearing up for the royal wedding later this month (I think that's right), so we stopped by Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abby to see what was going on there. Unfortunately London is not easy to access when you have a baby in a buggy and as a result I didn't get many photos.

After a lovely time in London, we were back home for a week. The weather has been wonderfully warm lately and the weekly markets have opened for the Summer months. The markets sell everything from bread, cheese, meat and fish, to flowers, vegetables and clothing. This is our local market in Oerlikon.

We found these two in a local shopping mall. I was quite surprised to hear the sound they make.

After a week at home, we are now on the road again. My husband is attending a workshop here in Lausanne, and bubs and I have tagged along. It's our first time here, having passed it many times on the way to Geneva. It's a lovely place and the weather has been absolutely amazing. It's so nice to wake up and see the sun shining and feel the warmth from an open window. It's also very nice to have a change of pace listening to French instead of German!

We're staying in a hotel between the lake (Lake Geneva) and the old city, and it's just a 10 minute walk to either. 

As always, the colour has washed out from the lovely bright photos that these are. These next photos, taken yesterday, are better but it's a little disappointing. This is Notre-Dame and the view of the city from there. Hopefully on Friday the three of us will climb up this tower...and maybe, just maybe, stop for crepes on the way back to the hotel...

Our adventure here continues until Saturday when we will hopefully meet up with our friends from Geneva. Then we're back home for a week before heading off to Milan for a quick trip to see one of bubs' uncles...and for me to eat all the gelato I can!

New Zealand

Our trip to New Zealand has been and gone and we are now back in Zürich (for now, we're off to the States tomorrow but that's another post). The snow had all melted when we returned but the last few days has brought back enough to look like everything is covered in icing sugar, quite pretty really. It was very nice to be able to exchange the middle of Winter for the middle of Summer though, and bubs had a great time watching the lovely green trees swaying in the warm breezes.

So, our trip started with a very long journey from Zürich to Christchurch via Singapore. This was bubs' first international trip and he did very well. We also did well out of traveling with a baby, as we got the extra leg room at the front!

Still in his carrier, waiting for passengers to board.

Flying with babies has some advantages at least!

We arrived in Christchurch on the 23rd December, had a lovely Christmas with our families, and then headed out to the family batch at Port Levy.

For those who don't know, Port Levy is a small bay about an hour out of Christchurch, and you get there via other bays (Diamond Harbour, Purau) so it's a lovely drive and we were lucky enough to have a beautiful day for it.

The time between New Years and my birthday was spent catching up with old friends in Christchurch. One very lucky friend of ours has the most amazing home out by the beach in Redcliffs, and we went out there for dinner one evening and got to soak up the beautiful view.

The main event while we were home (aside from introducing our son to his family!) was my sister's wedding. Lots of fun was had in the lead up to the big day, and the big day itself was wonderful. The Bride was beautiful, the flowers were beautiful, and the wedding cheeses were beautiful!

After the wedding, we took a short trip up to Kaikoura with a friend, and stopped off at a winery on the way home. Once again the weather was beautiful.

After Kaikoura we only had a few days left in New Zealand, and we spent those days with our families and close friends, and then, we made the ever so long trip back to Zürich. We had a wonderful time back home and want to say thanks to everyone who took the time to see us and feed us, look after us etc. We miss you all!