Paula, Yes and wonderful. thank you again. Spike, Sorry but I am no expert on cactus. Asclepids maybe. I am still learning myself. I look but wait for someone more knownledge to reply. Stush

maire, yes, that's my helicopter. Ha. We were so high in the mountains one day that we looked DOWN and saw a helicopter flying below us. That was weird. Anyway, we drove most days, but we took the train to the top of Jungfrau (where I'm doing my Maria imitation above) from Interlaken, and we took the train/cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Murren. Anything I'd do differently... not too much, I think! I'd stay a couple more days in Zurich. When we arrived at our hotel there was a huge flea market across the street. Heaven! I could have stayed there for hours, but we had only one full day so we had to scurry and do other things. Also, I wasn't thrilled with our hotel in Interlaken considering how expensive it was. It was beautiful but the staff was really indifferent -- after being at the Four Seasons, where they practically fell over themselves to take care of us, it was a real change. The only other issue I had was with the altitude at Jungfrau. We had to cut our visit shorter than planned because I was all loopy. I was okay outside but there are all these tunnels leading to the various areas, and I felt very lightheaded in those interior areas, even in the restaurant. Finally I just had to sit down and zone out. We wanted to go in the ice palace but I just couldn't function. One of my sons had a headache but the rest of the family was fine. Weird how it affects everyone differently. I don't know what, if anything, I could have done to avoid it? It probably didn't help that I had had about 3 hours of sleep the night before because of the heat and the street noise. Next time, I want to go with just DH (love my kids, but...) and stay in Murren for several days as part of our trip. Jean, we were on a 5:30 flight from Zurich to Boston. THe heat on those two days was pretty bad especially when we drove from Geneva to Interlaken with a stop in Bern. We were there at midday and we were just melting, walking around, but we were determined to see some of the city and the Bear Park. A couple more pics -- DS at Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, and DD and me in Murren.

We are in Drenthe now for 4 days. This is a very forested area and then open veld lands. There are boards placed in different areas showing the flora and fauna that lives there. I took pics of two small lakes..one has a beach and lots of people go there to swim, the other was just a beautiful natural lake. Drenthe is known for the hundebed here. These are boulders that were pushed here by the Ice Age upheaval. The people of that time were able to stack them and make burial grounds with these huge boulders. I don't have a good pick of any as there were too many people around this AM...sigh...kids climbing on them which I personally do not like...also adults. I remember when we saw them 25 yrs ago it was frowned upon to climb on them as it was disrespectful...times change I guess. They are scattered everywhere in this country and others of Europe. Our B and B is a 100 yr old thatch roofed farmhouse in an apple orchard. It is amazing. The redo inside is incredible but we are in our own little apt. so I have no pics of her home. She has an Ikea kitchen too ! Every single home we have been to has had one. They love Ikea here. All bed linens and towels even the napkins come from there. Here are some pics of the B and B and from our bike ride this AM. We went 35 km to Borger and back here to Anderen. Oh also in one small village there was a man having part of his roof re-thatched. What a lost art and amazing work. I took some photos. The part you see that is done toward the right of the picture took 2 days...he said it would be a week to get the whole rear done. You see more thatched roofs here in Drenthe than you do anywhere else in Holland. It is VERY expensive to have it done . You can see in the next pics what new thatch and old look like. It fairly glows in the sun. I just love it. our garden seating area...we have several ! breakfast and dinner are here under the walnut tree another lovely breakfast..love the egg cozy! garden horse farm next door gardens views one of the many apple trees..they don't pick or use them anymore...both folks have had this B and B for 25 yrs and quite elderly now. there house...note the low huge windows..they are near the ground but are perfect for looking out from inside...a way of keeping the style of the house intact and yet making soaring ceilings inside..wish I could show you pics..I will perhaps ask if I can take some . another garden " room" ...all the Dutch garden in small rooms..I love love love it..so intimate small beachy lake wild natural one..you can guess which I like best ! nature board at the largest hundebed in the Netherlands thatching process bunches first up on the roof where he uses wire to tie it all together note the ladders used to ascend the roof a new one nearby see how light and an old one unusual detail I spotted on the way out of town... more on other days...thanks for looking and hope you enjoy.

Thanks for looking! We did have a really good time. It was nice winning that big jackpot at the end, but we lost at least that much while we were there, so we didn't really come home "winners." But we don't gamble more than we can afford to lose, of course. DH considers it entertainment. I loved visiting the conservatory! This is the first time I've been there in the spring, so I took tons of photos. I posted less than half of them. The potting shed with the live butterflies in it was awesome! We didn't wander too far on this trip. We made it over to Rio, but decided not to bother with downtown. A few years ago we took a drive out to Red Rock Canyon, which was interesting. It seems like no matter how long we're there, we never have enough time to do all the things I want to do. But DH doesn't want to go for more than 3 or 4 days. I could spend two weeks there and not get bored. Of course, I'd put on about 20 pounds... I was amazed at the number of penny slots! Years ago you were lucky to find half a dozen. Now they're everywhere! Literally dozens and dozens in every casino! I'm already planning our next trip! We may go in November, for our 15th anniversary. (We got married in Vegas!) no, not by Elvis.