Switzerland

The itinerary for our summer trip is now finalized. We've been to Switzerland almost every year since we got married--Mary Joy has relatives there (her great-grandfather emigrated to Wisconsin from Unterseen). We didn't get there last year, so this year it's a must.


As in 2006, Mary Joy has been invited to play an organ recital in Germany. Rather than have that hang over her during the trip, the idea is to get there at the very beginning, with several days for practice and to get used to the organ. Then, we can relax during the rest of our vacation.


Figuring a little over three weeks for the entire trip, with four nights in Germany and about a week in Interlaken/Unterseen and Zug, that leaves about a week-and-a-half for wherever else we would go. We've never really spent time wandering around Switzerland: why not get railpasses and see more of the country?

Getting there and back has turned out to be more of a hassle than expected. The airlines are making up for last year's lost revenue. So, all in all, we'll spend most of the time in Switzerland, but have four days in Germany, pass through some scenic parts of Italy in getting to and from Lugano, take a few days in Ireland coming and going, and spend a last night and day in Chicago before getting back to Minnesota.