Our last day in Germany opened with the bells from the Bruderkirche, the Friar's Church. We ate a leisurely breakfast of hearty German toast and jam, then began a walking tour of Altenburg. We walked into the Markt Square, up to the Burgstrasse to gaze at St. Bartholomaikirche (St. Bartholomew Church), the epicenter of the Reformation where Martin Luther preached several times. We stopped at the Skatbrunnen, or Skat Fountain. Skat is a complicated card game o...

The day began rainy and dreary, a good morning to sleep in, and so we did. Lysann had to work this morning, but we rested. After a late breakfast, we dressed in our rain gear and walked past the Kornmarkt & Topfmarkt to the Market Square. On Wednesdays, vendors set up stalls along the square, selling everything from fish, and meat, cheese and produce, plants and clothing, lingerie and scarves. We walked to the Bruderkirche, or Friar's Church where Mar...

We awoke to the lovely bells of the Friar's Church near our hotel. It was raining and cold, but eager to see some sights, we dressed in layers and soon, Lysann picked us up at the hotel with her friend, Antje, who came along as navigator and co-pilot. Over the years, we have heard a lot from Lysann about Antje and were very glad to at last meet her. She was delightful company and I hope she will come to visit us someday soon! We drove the back roads out of ...

Today was spent mostly in airports or on planes. We rose early for breakfast and to have our suitcases outside our room in Lucerne by 8:00. After a final goodbye to Ria, our PD (Program Director), we hopped into a van driven by Herman, our driver from yesterday, and he took six of us to the airport where we were met by John, our local guide. John showed us how to operate the electronic check-in, but unfortunately for us, our flight number had been changed an...

To the "top of Europe" we went today! We boarded our tour bus early in the morning and drove such a very pretty, scenic way up to the mountains. First there was a photo-op in Brienz, along the Brienzersee, or Lake Brienz, passing dairy cows with their traditional bells, typical Swiss chalets, and gorgeous green fields. Then on up to Interlaken, literally "between the lakes" of Brienzersee and Thunersee. Up, up the mountains to Lauterbrunnen. There we board...