Just so you know... I didn't forget you! I know there are many other Girl Scout troop out there looking to see how our trip went so they can use the info to plan trips of thier own AND we have many friends looking for pictures of our adventure. I haven't forgotten to share... I have just been recovering!
We returned home Wednesday, July 14 after dinner. While I stayed up until a regular east coast bed time, I still awakend at 3am (8am London time). The next 2 days I did nothing but yawn and nap and unpack. Saturday I spent the day running errands and movie watching with my family and here we are on Sunday. I spent the morning crunching numbers, reviewing receipts and decoding bank transactions to come up with our trip final tally's.
I am happy to say that we ended the trip under budget! Not by alot, but under budget, none the less.
I will begin to post day by day accounts, along with photos and other information Troops may find helpful in planning thier own trips.
Please feel free to contact me or leave a message in the comments if you have a specific question.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
So many sights to see... So little time!
So I have not posted since we left Switzerland and we are already in London! When we get back, I will be posting about each day and other information about the trip for our Girl Scout friends who might want to take this trip some day. The pace is a bit daunting... no down time till very late at night. I got up early this morning so I would be sure to check email and post something here. (Also the internet was SO spotty at the Paris hostel... painfully slow and hardly worth the effort after a long day).
Yesterday was a travel day. We took the Chunnel from Paris to London. Note to self... there is a one hour time difference between London and Paris. So what we thought was a 1 hour train ride, was really 2... but then we got that hour back upon arrival.
Ace Hostel is in a lovely residential neighborhood - way different from where we were in the middle of it all in Paris. The girls are happy to have a bit more freedom to go out to the corner store and to the ATM at will (with a buddy of course). In Paris, we didn't feel safe enough to let them go out on thier own.
Today we have Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, the Guards Museum, and Westminster Abby on the list. Dinner will be at a vegetarian place one of the girls heard about (we have 2 vegetarians in our troop).
I hope to report in more frequently now!
Yesterday was a travel day. We took the Chunnel from Paris to London. Note to self... there is a one hour time difference between London and Paris. So what we thought was a 1 hour train ride, was really 2... but then we got that hour back upon arrival.
Ace Hostel is in a lovely residential neighborhood - way different from where we were in the middle of it all in Paris. The girls are happy to have a bit more freedom to go out to the corner store and to the ATM at will (with a buddy of course). In Paris, we didn't feel safe enough to let them go out on thier own.
Today we have Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, the Guards Museum, and Westminster Abby on the list. Dinner will be at a vegetarian place one of the girls heard about (we have 2 vegetarians in our troop).
I hope to report in more frequently now!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Our Chalet & Arrival in Paris
Today we were up very early to make it to Our Chalet for the tour. We made it down into Kandersteg Village to catch the bus and then enjoyed a long, twisty, turny, bumpy trip up and down the many mountains and hills. Upon arriving at our stop - Adelboden Oey - we were greeted by a Chalet Volunteer and the luggage transport.
Off went Janet and the luggage up the mountain. And off went the rest of us with our guide. I was told it was a fairly easy 20 min walk. Not so easy for flatlanders like us!!! 30 min later, we arrived at Our Chalet. The tour was informative and we all learned the Our Chalet song (and then proceeded to sing it all day as it was stuck in our heads).
I did sit in the rocking chair that was used by the founder of Our Chalet even though the legend is that bad things will happen to those who do. I figured I slid a cheek down the bannister in Savannah at Juliet Lowes house when I was not supposed to, so why break tradition now? I'll let you know if I think I am being punished... :-)
We shopped at the store. Took great pictures of the group and generally enjoyed the international feel that was offered up at Our Chalet.
A quick sprint down the hill (ok... not so quick...) and we were off again on a bus, a train, another train, and yet ANOTHER train to get to Paris. We could never find our track or our seats. Travelling in a group on very crowded public transportation is less then fun. Many hours later... we arrived at Paris EST.
Money was found. Bathrooms had to be paid for. And we ended up taking an "easy 15 minute walk" to our Hostel.... NOT.... and hour later.... we arrived at our Hostel, Le Regent Montmartre. A good nights sleep is in order and we will be off to explore Paris in the morning!
Off went Janet and the luggage up the mountain. And off went the rest of us with our guide. I was told it was a fairly easy 20 min walk. Not so easy for flatlanders like us!!! 30 min later, we arrived at Our Chalet. The tour was informative and we all learned the Our Chalet song (and then proceeded to sing it all day as it was stuck in our heads).
I did sit in the rocking chair that was used by the founder of Our Chalet even though the legend is that bad things will happen to those who do. I figured I slid a cheek down the bannister in Savannah at Juliet Lowes house when I was not supposed to, so why break tradition now? I'll let you know if I think I am being punished... :-)
We shopped at the store. Took great pictures of the group and generally enjoyed the international feel that was offered up at Our Chalet.
A quick sprint down the hill (ok... not so quick...) and we were off again on a bus, a train, another train, and yet ANOTHER train to get to Paris. We could never find our track or our seats. Travelling in a group on very crowded public transportation is less then fun. Many hours later... we arrived at Paris EST.
Money was found. Bathrooms had to be paid for. And we ended up taking an "easy 15 minute walk" to our Hostel.... NOT.... and hour later.... we arrived at our Hostel, Le Regent Montmartre. A good nights sleep is in order and we will be off to explore Paris in the morning!
Kandersteg Scout Centre - Switzerland
Note to everyone who may want to visit the kandersteg International Scout Centre..... Bring Swiss Francs with you becuase they won't take a credit card for the internet or the key deposits! Our schedule has been so tight that there was barely time to find a bank to get CHF. Luckily a few of the girls had some from an ATM a the train station and it got us through.
We met all sorts of Guides and Scouts from all over - Australia, Texas, Virgina. The staff at the Centre was terrific. Meals were plentiful and choices for all. All the rooms are named for countries. The adults were in German and the girls were in Irish. There were sheep grazing on the mountain out back and we could here them while we slept, baa-ing and thier cow bells ringing.
We rode a gondola up the mountain and found an alpine slide. We all rode it and had a great time! A walk down into the valley found a beautiful glacier lake... blue and cold and clear. Magnificient mountains all around with waterfalls and cows grazing at the waters edge!
(In the US there would be a charge to even get to the lake. There would be lifeguards and a roped off area for swimming and of course there would never be cows!)
Several of the girls swam in the lake and we took lots of pictures. Janet and Donna took the taxi back to the gondola (8 CHF to come down to the lake and 10 to go back... capitalism at it's best!). Trina, Jess, and Katie went off on an adventure to hike back to the Scout centre. Katie had a slip and fall and was lucky to get banadaged up by a Scout from Denmark.
Back at Scout Centre, some of us rested. Some of us went back down to the village to shop in the POURING rain (Peggy very smartly took the bus!) And some of us attended the international campfire.
Early the next morning we were up and packed and ready to roll out.... off to Our Chalet and Paris!
We met all sorts of Guides and Scouts from all over - Australia, Texas, Virgina. The staff at the Centre was terrific. Meals were plentiful and choices for all. All the rooms are named for countries. The adults were in German and the girls were in Irish. There were sheep grazing on the mountain out back and we could here them while we slept, baa-ing and thier cow bells ringing.
We rode a gondola up the mountain and found an alpine slide. We all rode it and had a great time! A walk down into the valley found a beautiful glacier lake... blue and cold and clear. Magnificient mountains all around with waterfalls and cows grazing at the waters edge!
(In the US there would be a charge to even get to the lake. There would be lifeguards and a roped off area for swimming and of course there would never be cows!)
Several of the girls swam in the lake and we took lots of pictures. Janet and Donna took the taxi back to the gondola (8 CHF to come down to the lake and 10 to go back... capitalism at it's best!). Trina, Jess, and Katie went off on an adventure to hike back to the Scout centre. Katie had a slip and fall and was lucky to get banadaged up by a Scout from Denmark.
Back at Scout Centre, some of us rested. Some of us went back down to the village to shop in the POURING rain (Peggy very smartly took the bus!) And some of us attended the international campfire.
Early the next morning we were up and packed and ready to roll out.... off to Our Chalet and Paris!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
We've landed!
After an uneventful plane ride, we have landed safely in Zurich! We had zero issues with security, immigration, and customs. All our baggage arrived safely. Besides the lack of sleep, it could not have gone better!
We are all trying to convince ourselves that it is not really 3am... as it is 9:20am here. We were served dinner and breakfast within hours of each other on the plane and no one got any sleep, except Trina. It was reminiscent of our Amtrak ride home from Savannah!
We took a quick train at the airport to the Immigration/Baggage area and we were greated by Alpine Horns and mooing cows as a soundtrack for the ride... unexpected, but a nice touch to make us really feel like this is not home!
Donna says it feels like Ikea. We didn't mention that Ikea was Swedish. :-) We just asked her not to say that too loudly.
The girls are off exploring the train station in groups - shopping, eating, using Swiss ATMs. Donna and Melanie had an adventure to get more detailed train information... first they had to figure out how to open the big glass doors with no handles. (Just walk up... they slide open on thier own). It is always an adventure with us!
I am looking forward to seeing the countryside during the train ride. I hope to post pictures later tonight. Donna and I are off to Swiss Mickey D's!
We are all trying to convince ourselves that it is not really 3am... as it is 9:20am here. We were served dinner and breakfast within hours of each other on the plane and no one got any sleep, except Trina. It was reminiscent of our Amtrak ride home from Savannah!
We took a quick train at the airport to the Immigration/Baggage area and we were greated by Alpine Horns and mooing cows as a soundtrack for the ride... unexpected, but a nice touch to make us really feel like this is not home!
Donna says it feels like Ikea. We didn't mention that Ikea was Swedish. :-) We just asked her not to say that too loudly.
The girls are off exploring the train station in groups - shopping, eating, using Swiss ATMs. Donna and Melanie had an adventure to get more detailed train information... first they had to figure out how to open the big glass doors with no handles. (Just walk up... they slide open on thier own). It is always an adventure with us!
I am looking forward to seeing the countryside during the train ride. I hope to post pictures later tonight. Donna and I are off to Swiss Mickey D's!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Departure Day!
We have been waiting a long time for this. Remember talking about going on a "big trip" someday when we were Brownies? We have worked hard (cookie rally's, camporees, book sale, bake sales, cookie sales, pretzel sales). We have overcome obstacles (who knew we would be left with 1,000's of books after the sale was over!) We have come a long way since our humble beginnings going on day trips to the aquarium, NYC and sing alongs in DC.
Can't wait to get on the plane and have my smart, funny, very capable girls around me. I know that whatever obstacles find us on this trip, we will overcome them and we will do it together, with a smile on our faces, and an inflatable lizard nearby.
Behold the power of Super Lizard!
Behold the power of Super Lizard!Tuesday, June 29, 2010
This time tomorrow...
... we will have taken off!
Wear comfly clothing on the flight.
Bring socks so your feet aren't cold if you are wearing flip flops.
Charge up your iPod.
Send your last text messages.
Pick out a good book.
Sit on that suitcase to make it zip.
Dream tonight about the mountains in Kandersteg, Switzerland!
What are you most looking forward to seeing?
Click the Comments link and tell us what things you are most looking forward to!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Bon Voyage Meeting TODAY
Today we will be getting together from 2 - 4 pm at Joni's house to review our itinerary and handle any last minute questions. Don't forget your passport copies, health forms, and permission slips! Donna and Carol will be driving us to the airport on Wednesday. We meet at the cabin at 1:30! Don't be late! :-)
And I just found out about a 100 Years in Guiding museum exibit that just opened in London. I will add it to our list!
And I just found out about a 100 Years in Guiding museum exibit that just opened in London. I will add it to our list!
Friday, June 18, 2010
What will we see and when?
Last night, Katie and Jess helped me slog through books and websites and maps. We have changed our itinerary a bit to maximize our time in Switzerland and have started to map out our time spent in London. Paris was already organized thanks to Carol! It was a successful planning session and I no longer feel like my head is going to explode... and we all know how good that is... Changes can always be made as we go along, but at least now we have a starting point! I will be spending today typing up our daily itinerary and will get it out to everyone soon!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Only 12 Days!
I can't beleive it is June and almost time for us to leave on our trip! We have been so busy with fundraisers and troop events - Camping, Bridging, Vender Fair, Service Unit Camporee - I didn't even have time to worry until now!
Today I am sending group requests for the trains needed in Switzerland and Paris. We will be looking forward to a 2 hour trip to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre from the airport. After visiting Our Chalet, we will travel to the hostel where we are staying in Paris - Le Regent Hostel Montmartre - and that is a 7 hour train ride. I am predicting lots of gimping, napping, and ipodding...
Thanks to all who have take the time to help plan, attended our fundraisers, purchased cookies, and supported our girls throughout this whole process!
Today I am sending group requests for the trains needed in Switzerland and Paris. We will be looking forward to a 2 hour trip to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre from the airport. After visiting Our Chalet, we will travel to the hostel where we are staying in Paris - Le Regent Hostel Montmartre - and that is a 7 hour train ride. I am predicting lots of gimping, napping, and ipodding...
Thanks to all who have take the time to help plan, attended our fundraisers, purchased cookies, and supported our girls throughout this whole process!
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