Monday, June 13

The train from Paris to Basel and then from Basel to Laufen was relaxing and efficient. The scenery was lovely, and we enjoyed watching the French countryside give way to Germanic Swiss architecture.

It's a holiday here (Whitsunday/Pentacost) and nearly everything is closed! Even our hotel is closed; they left our key in a lock box -- probably only possible in this peaceful village of about 5000 people.

We walked around and spotted reminders of John's ancestors--the Burgers, Meiers, Schumachers. And we enjoyed the pastoral hills and lovely Swiss homes and gardens as well as the history, including the beautiful city gate from 1290 and some ruins recently discovered from life here 2900 years BC!

After dinner we connected with John's cousin, Leonard. (Their great grandmothers were sisters!). We look forward to spending the day with him and drinking in the Swiss village life.



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Location:Laufen Switzerland

Day 6, Thurs, June 9

No rain today! A good day for walking- first along the Left Bank of the Seine to the Musee D'Orsay, created in 1986 from the former railroad station. What a magnificent remodel! Among the impressionists, we particularly enjoyed seeing work of Bougaueau, whose painting "Idyllis Girls" we discovered at The Denver Museum of Art and have in our bedroom. John also enjoyed learning about major donor and physicist, Philippe Meyer. (Those Meyers keep popping up!)

From there we traveled to the grand national symbol:the Arc de Triomphe, beautifully cleaned and restored. Then we strolled down Champs-Élysées with all the other folks, past Hotel George V and beautiful shops along the way.

After dinner and time to rest our feet, we walked to Shakespeare and Co. - funky bookstore for American ex-pats. We got there just after Bruce Springsteen left (that was all the buzz); and learned more about Natasha's friend, Mary Duncan, bookstore supporter and friend, who has homes in LaJolla and Paris.

Now it's time to rest our weary feet!


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Location:D'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Ély, Geo.V, Shakespeare & Co.