Winter/Spring

Winter/Spring Assorted winter/spring pictures, including Lausanne, Lyon, and Bern.

This skating rink was one of the few good deals in Geneva - free skating, and skate rental only 2 CHF		The bench in the background is supposed to be the longest wooden bench in the world


A model at the Tavel house, one of the oldest houses in Geneva and now a free museum. Geneva was surrounded by massive fortifications until the mdi 1800s.		A sledding trip - we were able to take the train up from Nyon.





Old weaponry at the Geneva Museum of Art and History		These fortifications were discovered when excavating for a parking garage close to the old town of Geneva


Peter discusses the fortifications		In the park next door - Parc de la Grange - after a snowstorm


		After a massive wind storm during ice cold weather, this is what you got on Lake Geneva








		Rescuing a swan stuck in the ice


Peter gets to go to a birthday party


Back at the Bois de la Batie park - the lake is still frozen		The confluence of the 2 rivers - one glacial, one from Lake Geneva


Sentier de Sous Terre - along the Rhone river. There's some old ruins here, interesting to the kids because of all the lizards basking in the sun there.		Old pumping station


Impressive echo under this bridge		A view from the top, including the pumping station and the Jet d'eau in the background


Another view of the merging of the Arve and Rhone		We took the train to Nyon. It was a very short train ride - only about 10 minutes


The castle of Nyon. Inside was a glass and ceramics museum (not very interesting for the kids) and an old prison (much more interesting)		We had to wait a long time before the museum actually opened


		A day trip to Lausanne. Beautiful city, sunny day. Apparently this is the smallest city in the world to have a metro system.





This was a fun little manually-powered merry go round


Biking down the Rhone		Most of the grafitti is just tagging, but these aren't as bad


Biking along Lake Geneva, Jet d'eau in the background		We rented a car and took a trip to the picturesque village of Yvoire. The kids enjoyed skipping rocks into the water most of all


A very long stone bench		Anouk, on Corinna's shoulders, is a friend of Peter's from school


The neighborhood of Eaux Vives held a traditional celebration, burning the embodiment of winter		Biking along the Rhone AGAIN...I think we did this trip 3 times


A weekend trip to Lyon, in France. It was rainy on Saturday, but nice on Sunday. There was some kind of medieval festival going on.


They were demonstating medieval punishments in the street		To escape the rain, we went to a museum of miniatures and film (yes, combined)


This is actually a miniature diorama		... and this as well


My dad would have enjoyed this miniature lathe


At the Roman ruins in Lyon


Some kind of aquaduct?


		Great view of Lyon from the Basilica of Notre Dam


They actually have Communist political candiates here		Kenny arranged a gymastic routine


A stroll around the Saleve. This is a jumping off point for paragliding.		The kids took toys with and occupied themselves with them when we took a break


There was an amazing ball-drop contraption at a Buddhist monastary at the top of the Saleve. This is the maker's website.


Parc de la Grange (next to our apartment) on a sunny day.		Bern - we spent the weekend in this beautiful little city. Here's Kenny on our way to our hotel


The hotel was fine, except for the beds which were rock hard		Open grates next to the fountains





		A well-protected collection box at the cathedral


Views from the top of the cathedral		These metal devices were designed for the fire-spotter to hang flags from, that would indicate in which direction a fire was located.


The little park behind the cathedral had a branch of the city library there, which also loaned out toys!


This pogo stick was pretty frustrating for Kenny


The bears of Bern


Fountains everywhere!		These benches look quite tippy





		We took the funincular train up to Gurten, a beautiful garden/park/playground area








Then we walked to the ruins of an old medieval tower nearby - Aegerten. Only a few of the stones were left, but you could see the moat, and Kenny found an unexpected geocache there!