Beat the Summer Heat--Head to Swiss/French Alps!

We were lucky enough to have some of our friends from Mumbai stop by for a week as they were on their way to their next posting. It was so good to have them at our house. The kids were excited to have friends here for their first week of summer holidays. 

The only draw back is that they arrived in the HOTTEST week on record! It was over 105degrees (40celcius) for most of the days they were here. But we tried to make the best of it. We would explore for a bit, then find a place to be in AC (In Germany that is difficult because there are not many places that have AC--including our house). 

We decided to make a journey to the mountains. We drove down to the Swiss and French Alps and stayed in a small village, Chatel, right on the border of the two countries. It was perfection. As we drove up the mountain it became a game to watch the change in temperature. It went for 105 in the valley to 72 up on the mountain top. 

It was picturesque. We were outside the entire day. We explored and played until it was too dark to see. I was so glad to see all the kids get away from screens of any kind and just have fun. 

It was funny to see our friends go from India to places like this and have semi-withdrawals from the lack of noise and lack of people. We went through that last year when we arrived in Germany. The silence sometimes is unnerving. HAHA

We had to stop at French grocery stores and of course a boulangerie for breakfast. The fruit was delicious and the pastries were baked fresh. 

We loved it so much, we went back and bought more! 

Even after it got dark, we went to catch frogs. Our two Muggles were so excited to catch them. They said it was too bad their cousins in Beaver were not there. Last year we were catching frogs with them in Beaver about this same time. 

Rock throwing is always a sport for our Muggles. 

At one point it was thundering. It was AMAZING. I have always loved the thunder. To hear it and feel it. Up this high it was special to hear the thunder roll along the mountains and echo for several minutes. 

This girl charming all of the mountain pets as she always does. 

We were also so happy that we went to three different countries in ten minutes! They asked when we crossed into France to stop for a photo. 

We also spent time exploring Frankfurt while they were here. It was fun to show them our home town.