Spring Break in the French Riviera

The girls had two weeks off for spring break so we spent one week in the French Riviera, which is in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea.  We stayed in the town of Cassis, a small fishing village along the coast.  Our friends were also visiting Cassis which was a plus since trips are always more fun with friends! 

View from our apartment-

On our first day, we hiked along the famous Calanques; Port-Miou, Port-Pin and Calanque d'En-Vau.  It was a beautiful day to hike with amazing views.  Some parts were really rocky and steep, but the girls did a great job!

Hiking with friends is more fun! 

Port Miou

Overlooking Calanque d'En Vau

After the morning hike, we went to the beach and enjoyed the sun and very cold sea water. 

We love the beach!! 

The next morning, Chris and the girls took a boat ride along the coast to get a different view of the calanques.  That afternoon, we visited Sanary-Sur-Mer, a small village near Cassis.  We enjoyed strolling along the winding streets and admiring the wooden boats in the port. 

Sanary-Sur Mer

On Easter, after attending mass we spent the rest of the day seaside.  I'm happy to report the girls love the beach as much as their mommy! 

After a great time in Cassis, we drove to a small country village, Callas.  Another family we are friends with in Geneva was staying there, so we decided to spend two days with them and explore other areas in the Provence region.  They had rented a house in the countryside surrounded by an olive grove, vineyards and wild boars.  (Thankfully there was an electric fence surrounding the estate!)

Not a bad place to spend a couple days....

Enjoying the pool- although it was very cold water!!  Thankfully kids (and dads!) don't mind.

Once we settled in, we visited a small medieval village surrounded by olive groves, Bargemon.  We love wandering through villages and discovering their unique character. 

The next morning we were all anxious to begin our day trip to view the Gorges du Verdon, which is known as the "Grand Canyon of France."  The gorges date back 250 million years ago, when this particular part of France was under water, which caused limestone and coral deposits to form.  As the waters subsided, distinctive rock formations were formed and after a major glacial period, the landscape opened up deep gorges.  We had heard that the road that leads to the hike and the hike itself are both difficult, so we opted for the safer option, viewing the gorges from a pedal boat.  We pedaled our way into the gorges, and stopped for a scenic picnic along the way.   

Stunning views everywhere you looked-

Hoping they remember days like this...

Once back at the house, the girls enjoyed the pool and playing outside with their friends.  The next morning we said good-bye and drove back to Geneva.  We had a terrific spring holiday in the French Riviera creating many memories as a family and with friends.

I had to include this pic- this is how Americans are viewed in France!!

All the different sizes of ice cream you can get... notice the largest one with all the fixings, that's called the Americain!! 

 

Uncle Ben visits again!!

We have been lucky to host Chris' brother, Ben, three times now.  Each time we have been able to show him different places in and around Switzerland.  Last week, we decided to show him one of our favorite spots, Lauterbrunnen Valley.  This area provides a true Swiss experience; the Alps, waterfalls, glaciers and cows. 

We started the day by visiting the village of Murren, which is only accessible by cable-car.  We ate lunch there while enjoying the amazing views of the Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger peaks across the valley. 

After visiting Murren, we walked the valley. 

-The Alps, waterfall and cows- 

Our next stop was the Saint Beatus Caves.  We have never toured the caves, but we love visiting for the natural beauty.  It was a great place for the kids to play, while we enjoyed a happy hour with a view.

We then headed to our hotel, which was in the mountains and overlooked Lake Thun.  We enjoyed dinner and Ben was able to eat his first Rosti, which is a traditional Swiss-German meal. 

The next morning, we hiked along Lake Thun while spotting the wildlife around us; birds, fish and deer. 

After the hike, we visited Interlaken.  We spent some time walking around the town and watching the paragliders land.  We then headed back to Geneva for Ben to prepare for his next adventure. 

Since traveling within Europe is fairly easy, Ben decided that he would take a short trip to London.  His friend, Adam, was there for work, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to get a glimpse of London.  He flew out Sunday afternoon and was able to visit some of the main sights in the short 24 hours he had to explore. 

Ben in front of Big Ben!

Monday night, he returned back from London.  Unfortunately, he flew out Tuesday morning back to Minnesota.  The girls loved having Uncle Ben visit. 

Spring has sprung in Geneva, so we have been taking advantage by spending a lot of time outside.  Here are a few highlights from the last week:

Picnic in the Lavaux Wine Region- girls wanted to be trolls! 

Exploring a cave with friends on Mount Saleve-

Hiking is more fun with friends! 

   

From the Alps to the Atlantic

It's hard to believe that it is already the end of February.  Just when the kids were back to their routine after a three-week Christmas holiday, they had another ten days off in February for "ski break."  Europeans love taking proper holidays. 

One weekend in February we headed to Champery, Switzerland and skied the Swiss Alps for the first time.  I will say, you have much more confidence skiing at a place you know, it is very nerve-wrecking not knowing exactly how you are getting down the mountain once you reach the top.  Chris and Adalyn were able to successfully navigate their way down, while I preferred to go down the known with Eliza, the nursery slope! 

We ❤ the Alps! 

After a weekend in the mountains, I was seeking warmth and Chris was seeking culture, so we visited Seville, Spain.  We were very impressed by the city.  We could have spent days meandering our way through the narrow streets discovering new plazas, restaurants, parks and shops.  Seville serves as a great base for visiting Southern Spain. 

The first day we drove only one hour and reached the Atlantic Ocean.  We had a great afternoon walking along Playa de Donana and searching for seashells.  The girls are both beach girls like their momma! 

Walking along the beach-

The second day, we took a day trip to Cordoba, which is historic city in southern Spain.  The main attraction is the Great Mosque of Cordoba which was built in 785.  After the Christian conquest in 1523, the cathedral was built inside.  We were blown away by the complexity and beauty of the Mosque and left wondering how it was built. 

The prayer hall is filled with almost 500 slender columns and striped arches.

On our way there, we stopped at a little town, Carmona.  Carmona is a town built on a ridge, offering many beautiful views.   

Carmona

Carmona surrounded by white villages-

Our third day happened to be the Seville Marathon, so we decided to stay in the city and explore since many of the streets were closed. 

Started the day attending mass in the Cathedral-

The tomb of Christopher Columbus- being held by four figures representing the four kingdoms of Spain during Columbus' life. 

We attended a Flamenco show which is a traditional Spanish form of dance and music.  We all really enjoyed the show and the girls are now both inspired to be Flamenco dancers!!

Walking along the streets-

Carriage ride around the city-

One of our favorite spots in Seville- Plaza de Espana

Bottom's up to a great day in Espana! 

Our last full day, we drove to Portugal.  We first visited Tavira, which is a small town only thirty minutes from the border.

White-washed buildings in Tavira

Our next stop was the beach, unfortunately it was windy and cloudy, but we enjoyed listening to the waves and building sand castles. 

We had a great time and could have spent many more days exploring the Andalusia region.  We highly recommend Seville as a must-see city to visit! 

The weather has been unusually warm this past month, similar to Minnesota, so we haven't been able to ski as much as we had hoped.  This past weekend we attended a Carnival (Mardi Gras) celebration in Sion, Switzerland which was very lively and festive.  This week looks like snow in the mountains, so we are excited to hopefully get back on the slopes! 

Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful holiday in Minnesota spending time with family and friends.  We always look forward to those few weeks, although very busy, they are a lot of fun.  Here are a few highlights from our trip back home.

So happy to be back together!! 

Grandpa Pothen pulling the kids sledding on the lake- Minnesota style fun! 

We were SO excited to see this little guy!!  He has grown up so much! 

Time with grandparents is the best! 

Celebrating Grandma Pothen's Birthday-

We arrived back in Geneva and within two days we were skiing in the French Alps.  This year, all four of us are able to ski together, which makes it a great outing on the weekends.  Adalyn is now able to ski on her own with Chris on the harder slopes, while Eliza and I master the easier slopes!

Last week, we were lucky to have been invited by our friends to stay at their Chalet in Les Gets, France, which is a popular ski resort village.  We had never skied there before, so we were very excited to try it out.  Luckily, they had about a meter of snow right before we got there, so the skiing conditions were ideal. 

Fun skiing with good friends-

Eliza's first chairlift ride and probably her last for the season!! 

A bit stressful...

When there is a ton of snow, this is how you get to dinner! 

One way to ride the magic carpet...

We look forward to spending our weekends in the mountains throughout the winter.  The girls are back to their school routine, while I occasionally am subbing at their school.  It has been fun to get back into my role as a teacher and see how schools operate in Geneva.