Vevey-Mont Pelerin Funicular

The funiculare

Gorgeous view of Lac Leman

Hotel Kimpinski terrace

Riding the funicular!

After my Dad's trip to Berlin, he came back to stay with us for one more week in Switzerland. Over the weekend, we took the funicular on Lake Geneva from Vevey to Mont Pelerin. We lucked out with a beautiful afternoon, which provided us with a fantastic view over Lake Geneva. After reaching Mont Pelerin, we headed over to the outside terrace of the Mirador Kempinski Hotel. We enjoyed a fantastic lunch and marveled at the gorgeous weather and the scenery! It was a great way to end my Dad's visit in Switzerland!

Family Reunion in Berlin!

Check out my big gingerbread cookie I got at the neighborhood Autumn festival!

Catching up with the fam!

Sight-seeing in Berlin with Dad

Sight of the Reichstag, Germany's Parliament from the river-boat

One of Berlin's most famous sights, the TV tower which is also an observation viewpoint

It wouldn't be a trip to Germany without some German beer!

My Dad and I at Checkpoint Charlie!

20 years later, standing next to what's left of the Wall

Hanging out with my cousins

My Dad and I enjoying a toast at my uncle's birthday

After my dad's visit in Switzerland, he headed to Berlin to see the rest of his family. I followed a week and a half later and had a great time catching up with everyone. The last time I had been with my Dad in Berlin, it was 20 years ago! We went over in 1990 and Sis and I have pictures knocking down a piece of the Berlin Wall! It was so fun being back with my Dad as an adult and getting to sight-see with him in his hometown ( and have some German beer together)! Those memories will stick with me for a lifetime!

We were lucky to have a couple of great weather days, so my Dad, cousin Simone, her husband Michael and I went on river-boat tour on the Spreyer one afternoon. I got to spend a lot of time hanging out with my aunts and uncles, as well as my cousin Simone and her 3 daughters, my cousins Marie, Nina and Julie. The last night I was there, we went to dinner to celebrate my uncle's 70th birthday! It was a great trip and I can't wait for my Dad to come back for the next reunion trip!

Know-it-all passport!

Mark and I discovered a new expat resource recently through some expat friends that just moved to Switzerland. It is a book called "Know-it-all passport" and it is a great guide for all things in the Geneva-Vaud-and Neighboring France regions. We picked it up from the English bookstore, Books Books Books in Lausanne today (love this bookstore!) and I am already putting things on my to-do list from it! This all-inclusive book is a must for any new expats in Suisse Romandie.

An Expat's Obession with her Webcam!

Having a close-knit group of family and friends in San Diego, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by all of my favorite people when I was living in So-Cal. Now having been abroad for over a year, I will officially state that I have a love-love relationship with my webcam! I am grateful to be living overseas in the technology era where calling loved ones back home lets me have a face-to-face conversation. Thank you Skype and Gchat!