We did a bit of backtracking for our final chapter, heading back to Europe for the month of August. We found a great deal on a flight from Ecuador to Madrid, Spain, where we intended to spend 2 days enjoying the city before moving on to Switzerland. Unfortunately jet leg got the better of us yet again and we missed almost an entire day sleeping. This left us with just one day to experience Spain. It was great to be back in Europe! Madrid really is a gorgeous city with so much stunning architecture and history. We found ourselves to be there in the midst of the summer’s record heat wave, with temperatures reaching 40…caliente!
When we finally got out and about we took in a tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid followed by a tuk tuk city tour to see some of the many monuments and buildings. Later that evening David and I escaped for a few tapas and some wine at the outstanding Mercado De San Miguel. It was a great (& much needed) date night!
After our brief taste of Spain we flew next to Geneva, Switzerland, where the weather continued to be hot, hot, hot! Geneva is a wonderful city with a gorgeous waterfront overlooking Lake Geneva. We visited the Palais Des Nations, a wonderful learning experience for all of us. We also took in a visit to the Red Cross Museum where we learned about the origins of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which were created in 1863 by five men from Geneva.


Next we drove to Montreux, also on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps. We stopped on the way at Chillon Castle, a medieval fortress on an island near the shore of Lake Geneva. It was very well preserved, and definitely worth a visit.
Unfortunately an Airbnb disaster seriously hindered our time in Montreux. We ended up with only a few hours here, which was disappointing. Unbeknownst to but lucky for us the once-in-25-year wine festival, Fete Des Vignerons, was happening while we were in town. We took advantage of some Swiss wine tasting and entertainment – another great evening out!
Since a visit to Switzerland wouldn’t be complete without some famous Swiss chocolate, we planned a visit and factory tour and tasting at Maison Cailler in Gruyere. Delish! Speaking of Gruyere, did we mention the general aroma of cheese wafting throughout Switzerland? It literally smells like cheese in some places…and depending on your preference this can be a good thing or a bad thing. Some smelled quite pungent while others smelled fantastic.


Next stop was to the mountain resort village of Zermatt, at the base of the famous Matterhorn. Being a pedestrian only town we took the train in and up to this quaint Swiss town with stunning views of the famous mountain. Unfortunately cloud cover kept the top of the mountain hidden from us so we didn’t venture to the top but we did explore the area by foot. It was very quaint and all one would imagine a Swiss village should be.
Zermatt
Moving on our next stop was the breathtaking Interlaken, a fairytale like town nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Breinz. We all agree it was one of the most picturesque towns we have ever visited, with stunning views in every direction. Unfortunately cameras just can’t capture what the eye can see. We happened to be there during Swiss Day, the national holiday celebrated each year, complete with a parade and fireworks display. We also took a boat cruise around Lake Breinz, which was gorgeous, with some of the most turquoise water we have ever seen.
Our final stop in Switzerland was Lucerne, with its medieval bridges. On route we visited with a former patient, who lives just outside of Zurich. Christine and her husband Bruno lived in B.C. for 5 years and we were glad to get to know them during their time in Canada. Unfortunately we learned Bruno passed away this past January but we were happy to visit with Christine and her sons who treated us to a picnic at Bruno’s former vineyard as well as a delicious Swiss lunch and great conversation.

Lucerne was also another opportunity to reconnect with a former classmate of mine. Having lived in Switzerland for the past 15 years, Veronica was instrumental in helping us plan our visit here. We met up with her in Lucerne and spent the day high in the Swiss Alps on Mount Pilatus. We took the cable car up to over 2100 meters to take in the stunning views, and then took the cogwheel train (the steepest in the world) back down. A great day and so nice to catch up!
On our last day in Lucerne we hiked up to Hotel Chateau Gutsch, with its panoramic views over the town. Here we had an cool glass of rose on the patio while we admired the amazing view.


We were so glad we finally got to see Switzerland – it did not disappoint. The Swiss Alps and the many areas of the country we visited were all we imagined they would be!
Next stop…Luxembourg and Belgium.
With Love,
The Travelling Babins
“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport” – Unknown
Absolutely a dream for all of you…..and so great that you’ve taken us along. You’re both perfect journalists, making me feel that I’m right there beside you. Thank you for all the time involved listing where you’ve been, the amazing history of each and every place you visited. I so hope your boys appreciate the long and beautiful history lessons they’ve had. They might not ….now….but definitely will later! I’ve saved all your “history lessons” from each country.
Enjoy your last few days. Safe trip back home. It will seem strange to shop for groceries again….lol. Hope we get to see you very soon. Love you all