sneaux.

FIRSTLY... there will be scads and piles and veritable mounds of pics.. but not on this post. but soon, so check back!!


We left Enschede at 4:30am last wednesday, and after a scenic drive through a section of Germany, we went to Strasbourg, France, the town that popularized the modern idea of the decorated Christmas tree! And is the seat for the Parliament of the European Union. It was a very old and picturesque town. The Cathedral du Notre Dame there has the oldest stained glass windows in Christianity. It was beautiful. There were inscriptions from and areas of the church from 400 A.D. i was really overwhelmed that people spent so much money, labor, and time to build a monument to God. ( i know, i'm ignoring all the corruption and taxing the poor to starve them to build a church history.. and choosing to see the cathedral in its purest form.)

Then, onwards to Chamonix. Chamonix held the first ever Winter Olympics, and is in the valley of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain peak in Europe. the town is cute, the people are very French, and so are the fries. :) Its cloudy today.. but you feel so small when the sun is shining on the pointy tips of these huge mountains. the pictures can't possibly do them justice. but.. being the photo fiend that i am.. i attempted it anyways. keep your eyes peeled..

Saturday, we went to Aosta, Italy through a 6 mile tunnel that cuts through a skinny part of the Alps to join France and Italy. Aosta has been called "The Rome of the Alps" and its because it was a hotly contested border town that had a large Roman garrison back in the day. and i do mean back in the day. like.. 23 A.D. and such. There were ruins of an amphitheater, several castles, lots of beautiful churches, an old watch wall, watchtowers, a footbridge (one of the oldest in the world), and they were currently excavating what they just found, and believe to be a learning center/library/debating hall. wow! it was awesome to see all that history. Another claim to fame for Aosta, is that it was home to St. Anselme, the first Apologetic (a person who puts theology and doctrine into practical practice and words to explain and argue for the existence of God) of the early church. There were lots of 'via de la st. anselme' and statues of him. It was a gorgeous town and it was also maybe the coldest wind i have ever felt!

Sunday, we went to the Mer Du Glace, the glacier in the Alps. and that was amazing as well... to see all that frozen ice and see how it has been carving up the mountains. and.. I need to revise and earlier statement i made.. the wind was colder on the glacier than in Aosta. pardon me. it was ridiculously cold! and stupidly expensive as well. $4 for a styrofoam cup of coffee. yikes. but you are so cold, you would pay even more than that.

Today, we are snowed in a bit, so its soup and fire in the fire place.

Tomorrow, we head to Paris! let me know if you need anything :)

miss you all!!

Dag!
Aurevoir!
Arrivederci!
Bye!


it sneauxed (har har har) 10 inches last night, and there should be more tonight. wow.