Scenes around Geneva

We are saying farewell to Geneva, so we drove around and took some pictures of the waterfront and the United Nations. The first picture is of the Jet d'Eau. The second is of the grounds by the lake. The third is of one of my favorite statues along the waterfront. The final picture was taken in front of the United Nations. The chair with only three legs is a representation of all the children who have been maimed by mines in many of the African and Middle Eastern countries. Princess Diana was responsible for the chair.

The Medieval City of Yvoire

On Friday, August 14, we drove around Lake Geneva to the medieval city of Yvoire. We were here three years ago and had enjoyed it so much, we wanted to return. We were a little disappointed because now it seemed so commercial with many restaurants and gift shops. It was still interesting to see the walled city, the chateau and all of the beautiful gardens.

Our trip to Mt. Saleve in Geneva

We will be moving to Lyon next week, so we thought we would take a picnic lunch and drive to Mt. Saleve for the afternoon. The first picture is of the little village of Saleve where you can catch the telepherique or cable car to ride to the top of the mountain. We preferred to drive. The second and third pictures are of Geneva looking down from the mountain. You can see the famous Jet d'Eau or water spout. The third picture is a view from the other side of the mountain looking toward the Alps.

Sunday evening with Manuela and Erharh

Since we are moving to Lyon next week, Manuela and Erharh Tschanz invited us to their apartment for dinner. They live on the 9th floor of a beautiful building in downtown Geneva. Manuela is in the Relief Society presidency and I have played the piano while she has led the singing. Both she and Erharh are musically talented.

Chateau de Chillon in Montreux, Switzerland

On August 8th, we drove up to Montreux to visit our friend, Ellen Visson. We had planned to go on a tour through the Chateau de Chillon, but it was an overcast, dreary day, so we just took pictures from the outside. One day, when it is nice, we will go again and have the tour.

The Senior Couple's trip to Strasbourg and Colmar

On July 31, 2009, we loaded five couples into the mission van and set out to see Strasbourg and Colmar. From left to right there are the Hansens, the Doyles, the Badgers, the Joneses and the Hinmans. The trip took four hours from Geneva to Strasbourg. We spent Friday in Strasbourg and stayed at a hotel in Geispolsheim outside of Strasbourg. The next day we headed for Colmar with stops on the way. It was a wonderful time to be with such good friends.

The cathedral Notre Dame de Strasbourg

Our first stop in Strasbourg was to see the magnificent cathedral, Notre Dame de Strasbourg. It was built in the 12th century and is amazing. It was far more beautiful with all the carvings than the famous Notre Dame in Paris. There is a clock inside the cathedral that has moving figures when it chimes at 12:30. We missed the performance because we were looking for the clock on the outside and it was on the inside of the cathedral. When it was built, it was the tallest building in the world at the time.

Scenes around the city of Strasbourg

After admiring the beautiful cathedral, we walked through the city of Strasbourg and then took a boat ride on the river.

Visit to the castle/fortress Le Haut-Koenigsbourg

After leaving the hotel in a suburb of Strasbourg, we drove toward Colmar and stopped to see this beautiful castle in the Alsace Region of France, Le Haut-Koenigsbourg. It was first mentioned in the 12th century. During the Thirty Years War, it was looted and burned by the Swedes. It was abandoned for two hundred years. It was rebuilt in 1899.

Pictures from inside the chateau

This castle or chateau Le Haut-Koenigsbourg was Elder Badger's favorite. These are a few of the pictures of the inside of the fortress.

A picturesque little village in the Alsace Region

We stopped to take pictures in this picturesque little village. We were fascinated by the different colored houses.

On the way to Colmar, France in the Alsace Region

On the way to Colmar, we stopped to stretch our legs and saw some storks hoping to get some crumbs from some people having lunch. We also saw a replica of the Statue of Liberty and discovered that the sculptor was August Bartholdi and he was from Colmar.