Hamburg, Germany

We flew into Hamburg airport, caught the Ubahn and were at this immense transit/train center in 30 min. Then we just walked across the street 'n checked into our hotel. An old bldg. but completely redone + like new inside.

There are so many of these fabulous old bldgs in the cities we have visited.

Hamburg surrounds 2 huge lakes...note their Rathaus in background.

Grand !!!

...and the interior !

Gorgeous day for their Harbor Tour

Old warehouses are now becoming refurbished....

This bldg has an outdoor stairway to public space upon top.

This is their new Elbphilharmonic / Concert Hall ~ 2017.

We so enjoyed seeing this historic city !
Tomorrow.. we depart on the Queen Mary 2.

Chamonix, France

Our hotel in Chamonix....

The views from our hotel window.

The valley below as we took the little cog wheel train up to see the Glacier.

The Mer de Glace is 8 miles long, and surrounded by majestic peaks.

Montenvers scenery ~ people have been going up since late 1800's.

Valley view on the way down !

Lausanne

Lausanne on the hill + Ouchy on the lake side.

We went to their Saturday fruit + veg market
and... this unique garden was close by.

The Olympics World Headquarters ~ Museum 

Of course we visited their Cathedral ! It took 20 years to clean the sculptures around the main door. 
A drum roll !! This is the longest church in all of Switzerland.

Cooper... FYI this new organ was installed in 2003 @ cost of 4 million dollars.
It took 10 years to design.

Lauterbrunnen ~ 3

The Launterbrunnen Falls

Everything is "tidy" in Switzerland

Love this pleasant place !

Lauterbrunnen ~ 2

Day 2 ~ We took little yellow cog train up the Wengen side
(see it on top of pic)

~ Wengen ~

And from Wengen, another cog train ride "up" ...our view !  "Top of Europe"

Lauterbrunnen ~1

More Switzerland....rural country !

Lauterbrunnen Valley  ~ We are staying in this little village.

Lauterbrunnen on right. On same side = Murren above us on the "shelf".
Across our little valley is Wengen.

Day 1...going up on cable car

view across at Wengen 

At Murren

Cable car down to Lauterbrunnen Village

Lauterbrunnen ~ as we descend

Bern ~ more

Bern has 11 historical fountains.
These colorful 16th c structures were to show off the town's wealth. 
They still provide cool alpine water + were charming discoveries 
as we walked along the old cobble stone streets.

of note: these original city walls had underground storage cellars. 
See them along the lower left side =above? 
Most are still being used in creative ways.

And...this cellar below was for the city's wine storage..

Original paintings on walls of this lovely restaurant...

....and lounge area.