Alsace, Germany and the Swiss Alps!

On the first day of the trip to Alsace, Germany and Switzerland we went to a beautiful little town that had been medieval since the 13th century called Riquewihr.  There were still remnants of the mote that had gone around the city and the walls around the city.  Above is one of the streets in the small town.  




This was a really cute macaroon shop where we bought some really yummy treats.  Don't worry, I am bringing some home!  They had flavors like vanilla, pistachio, banana, chocolate and strawberry.  



When we were done tasting wine from Alsace, we crossed the Rhine River into Germany.  The landscape was beautiful, to say the least.  

We saw some swans in the river...






We then walked up to a church that was being rebuilt, as it had been bombed in the Second World War.  We had some great sights of the Rhine and of France right across the way!

I didn't get a picture in a London telephone booth so I thought I would get one in a German booth!

Out first night in Germany we went to a great German bar and watched the Women's World Cup, unfortunately they didn't win :( ... but we still had a great time watching a soccer game in Europe!



Can't go to Germany and not try the beer!  

The next day we went to go see a winery in Germany that was sooo huge! They make millions of bottles a year and although their business was overwhelming, it seemed that they didn't have the love for wine making that we had seen in France and some of the smaller vineyards.  Still, quite a great experience to see how other wineries work.  

Above is a snapshot of their bottling machine.  From the empty bottle to even wrapping the saran wrap around the boxes of bottles of wine, the entire process of bottling, labeling and packaging is entirely done by machinery.  Only a few people were needed to man these machines. 










We then left for the Swiss Alps!! It was cool because Milan was so close!
























We stopped for some coffee before we ascended the mountain. Notice how much everything looks like it has been taken out of The Sound of Music.  Everything was so green and beautiful.  


       




















If you look at the left, lower side of the mountain, you can see a tunnel with grass on top.  This is a part of the road that led up the Alps.  It was probably the safest I felt on the bus going up the mountains...














Notice the small bus on the winding road.  Those turns were very sharp and it was a miracle we made it out alive. 

We stopped half way to the glacier and got some beautiful pictures.  In addition to reminding me of The Sound of Music, the scenery also reminded me of Lake Ireland up in Yosemite when my dad and I went backpacking.  It was incredibly beautiful and surreal to be up in the Swiss Alps.  


The view from where we parked before going to see the Glacier that is the beginning of the Rhone River.  The clouds kept rolling over the mountains and constantly changing shapes.  It was a spectacular view.  

The beautiful glacier! Unfortunately it is melting from global warming, so they put sheets on it to reflect light.  Imagine the glacier about 10 feet higher about 50 years ago.  
































I couldn't rotate this photo...but I still wanted everyone to see how blue the inside of the glacier looked.  We also got to sit inside of the glacier in a cubby hole!  It was amazing to be in a glacier with thousands upon thousands of year old water, and to get a chance to taste it!












The next day we headed out to see the highest vineyard in Europe!  The vines are set on terraces that have been worked since the Roman times and that are very steep!

Trying some Swiss wine that was better than I thought it would be, and even better for being pretty darn cheap!  
















At another Swiss wine tasting with amazing wine and also great cheeses and sausages!
















We ended our trip to Northern France, Germany and Switzerland with a trip Lake Geneva, which seemed like an ocean.  Everything was so amazing and I am still in a little disbelief that I was even there.