Not throwing myself off the Ponte Vecchio into the Arno, rather enjoying sunset over Florence.  Those old Italian landscapes are not making up those weird shapes or the colors!

We took the funicular train to the top of Muottas Muragl to see the indescribable grandeur of the Swiss Alps.

The Alps in summer

Engadin walnut torte and the world’s best coffee

The Engadin Valley with its five lakes

The Bernina Pass

I planned the days in Paris and Italy, and Peter the techie made up plans for the other days as we went.  To my surprise and delight, we journeyed to Switzerland.  This is near Heidi’s part of the Alps.

Switzerland is so beautiful that, framed by a moving train or hotel room window, it looks like a painting.

St. Moritz

Monet’s gardens at Giverny.

As beautiful as Monet’s paintings are, the living gardens add fragrance, sound of wind, birds and bees, the caress of wind and sun on skin, and movement of clouds, plants and creatures, that makes the beauty of the living thing surpass the image beyond all bounds.

not a painting

A river cruise at sunset is a fabulous introduction to Paris!  Parisians were out everywhere having picnics and talking with friends–on a Tuesday night.