“I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again, Oh babe, I hate to go”
-John Denver
-John Denver
(Ok, so not a Rick Steves quote but the sentiments are too accurate!)
- Breakfast at hotel
- Coffee and last walk through Chamonix
- Shuttle to Geneva, Switzerland airport
- Home to dream about this trip forever
Breakfast at the Hotel
Plenty of good breakfast foods at Hotel Plan B available as we prepare for a major travel day heading back to the states today. We feel we could recommend staying one day after the RS trip, especially in case if the weather isn't in your favor for mountain adventures, and you have an extra day for possible better weather. However, arriving at least a day, if not more, prior to the trip has major benefits of getting settled in to the new time zone and new world you have stepped into.
Still, good things must come to an end and home is waiting, including our pup, Lulu!
Still, good things must come to an end and home is waiting, including our pup, Lulu!
Last Walk around Chamonix
We love a local coffee shop and Ashli wanted to check out Natifs Café out for a plain hot latte; luckily we just had breakfast or we probably would have bought an extra luggage piece to fit all these pastry goodies to take home!
Le Petit Casino De Chamonix
Mailing Postcards; yes that's still a thing!
In the fast-paced world instant messages, it's a small treat to receive a travel token via snail mail with a regional stamp and post-mark.
We sent some off to a few family and friends, especially our ski-loving nephew, even though we'd be home long before they'd arrive. We even sent one to ourself as a personal travel souvenir! |
Time waits for no one!
At precisely 10AM, Mountain Drop Offs picked us up directly at our hotel and in fast but nearly one-hour ride later, we were at the airport in Geneva, Switzerland. We had scheduled this prior to departure on the trip, to ensure a smooth pick up and ride to the airport to catch our flight home.
Geneva Airport -GVA
Casablanca movie still shots decorated the rather small but bustling Geneva airport full of last minute souvenirs and lots of chocolate. We bought a few giant bars of Swiss chocolate, though, as we write this now, we wish we had bought more to save, but who are we kidding, they'd be long gone by now!
Goodbye! - "Au Revoir!"
It was hard to be in Geneva, Switzerland without visiting some sites, such as Lake Geneva seen in the photo below, look for the tall fountain!
Minneapolis/St. Paul airport - MSP
After a short layover in Iceland, we arrived safely at our home airport of MSP waiting on our luggage (trekking poles need to be in checked baggage and not in your carry-on). Plus, post-trip, its nice to check your luggage and just keep the essentials, especially if you have a short layover.
Feelings of melancholy but also joy and gratitude for our wonderful trip and arriving home safely and soundly, and to our dog, Lulu! We missed you too, Lulu! |
Post-Tour Thoughts
The Rick Steves MyWay Alpine Europe trip was a dream come true for us.
We still talk about this trip very often and we know that these memories and experiences will keep our souls warm forever.
We would do it every year if we could, and state that each destination should be a week long, making it a 5 week Alpine Journey! ;-)
This trip was very fulfilling and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy the European alps, whether hiking all day in them, or finding a lovely hut and take in the view of them; it's really a trip that you can make it be any kind of alpine trip you want.
We still talk about this trip very often and we know that these memories and experiences will keep our souls warm forever.
We would do it every year if we could, and state that each destination should be a week long, making it a 5 week Alpine Journey! ;-)
This trip was very fulfilling and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy the European alps, whether hiking all day in them, or finding a lovely hut and take in the view of them; it's really a trip that you can make it be any kind of alpine trip you want.
THANK YOU! - Vielen Danke! - Grazie! - Merci!
Our utmost heart-felt thanks and gratitude to our tour manager Axel, bus driver Rob, our tour-friends who were fun and welcoming and also to Rick Steves and all the Rick Steves family, whose careful and thoughtful curation of this glorious trip gave us the experience of a lifetime and will forever put a smile on our faces.