V is for Views

Finally getting to the end of the alphabet series, now onto the letter V and what better word than views. I have seen lots of wonderful views and was hard to pick only five on them, so here goes!

The first photo is of Lake Zug, then we have the city of Zurich from the Uetliberg, then it is Lake Gruyeres from the castle, then the beautiful city of Mahon in Menorca and finally Mont Blanc from Chamonix!

Which ones do you like the best?

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Photo of the Week - Hong Kong Baby!

Oh my God it is hard to believe that in a few days I am off to Hong Kong, I booked my flight back in June last year and then it seemed like a fairy tale. Now it is coming true, got the money, which is rather cool looking! I have a guidebook and have studied others, not to mention looking on the net and lots of blogs for ideas to visit, restaurants and bars to check out.

So if anyone have tips for me, let me know! Thanks

Shop Signs

One of the interesting things about walking around old parts of cities are that often the shop signs literally stand out for you to gaze upon. The first 8 photos are in Zurich and the area behind the Niederdorf, the signs are not just for shops but for bars, restaurants and galleries. I like the hat sign and the old train engine which  is actually a very small restaurant.

The next 6 photos were taken yesterday in Zug, it was a beautiful sunny, cold day, Alessio and I went for the afternoon. There were two oldish streets where I saw the signs, I like the one with the old fashioned weighting scales.

Which ones do you like?

Winter Scenes

The snow has come and gone over these winter months but it has been here with a vengeance for the last week. Do not get me wrong I like the snow but after a while I am quite happy when it goes, it was lovely to see everything covered.

On Thursday we went walking with the kids from work, it was lovely to see the area all full of snow. I walk here nearly every week, but I never tire from seeing the same place again and again. The Au peninsula is always a great place to walk, the kids had so much fun with the snow. From throwing snowballs to sliding down and rolling around it was all fun!

There is always lots of people walking in all types of weather and when the weather is warmer it is just nice to sit and enjoy the view.

I am glad to be taking photos again, having had my camera stolen while I was in Munich, I realise that I usually take lots of photos. I another reason that I am happy to have bought another one is that when I am in Hong Kong there will be lots of photos taken!

Photo of the Week - Fancy a Painting!

I am delving into the past for this photo of the week, as my laptop is playing up I am on the main computer checking all my past photos to see if I can use any. Well I decided on this one which I took back in May 2011.

It is either from an antiques shop or a bric and brac shop, sorry not sure as never gone in the place. I am not in this area of Zurich much, it is road that goes to Forch where the tram 11 goes. There are lots of interesting shops in this area, and some restaurants and bars too.

Gruyeres Castle

We visited Gruyere Castle back in September, when we were returning from a long weekend Chamonix, the plan was to stop and visit the town. Then we decided to visit the castle too, and it is well worth a visit, with lovely views of the mountains and lake.

The first thing you can do is watch a multimedia show which gives the history of the castle and the town. It was very interesting and helpful to know a bit about the castle. The castle between 11th and 16th centuries was the home to 19 Gruyere counts, the last one to live there Michel delcared bankruptcy in 1554. The towns of Berne and Fribourg shared his lands. In 1938 the state of Fribourg bought the castle and opened it as a museum.

Then we walked through the rooms, everything looked well preserved even Alessio liked it. The garden looked lovely but unfortunately we could not visit it.

If we had, had more time it would have been nice to visit Lake Gruyere, so another time for that trip. With my parents coming again in September there will be lots of places for us to visit. Before that there is a trip to Hong Kong and Paris.

Have a great week!

U is for Uetliberg

On 2nd January Alessio and I took the train to the Uetliberg, this is the mountain right next to Zurich in the Albis chain. It is 873m high, we have been here many times but as the weather was great for the day after new year I thought lets go.

As usual it was busy, a mixture of tourists and locals, once up Alessio wanted to climb up the TV tower, so off we went. The reward is brilliant views of the whole area, the lake and surrounding areas.

We had a hot chocolate, they were selling drinks and food outside, but there is a great restaurant called Uto Klum.

Once up you can do the planet walk to Felsenegg, which I have done with Alessio and in winter. You can also walk up or down, we have walked down, not to the bottom but to at least 3 stations down.

Just started is the Kino am Berg, which means cinema on the mountain from 1st feb to 3rd march, they show a film and you eat fondue! Sounds really good to be honest, but you have to be quick tickets go really fast!