category: the adventuress
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The Art of Cheese Making
Today I visited La Maison du Gruyère (The House of Gruyère), a cheese dairy near Gruyères, Switzerland in the Fribourg countryside, where you can learn the entire cheese making process and do a cheese tasting afterwards!
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Lausanne, Switzerland
My first panorama of the city was from above when I ascended from Lausanne’s metro (the only metro in Switzerland). It was breathtaking. Built on three hills, juxtaposed with low valleys that were formerly rivers, the city was exquisite with its rooftops covered in a layer of snow and the air so crisp and clear that steam rose in smoky tendrils from many buildings. A gothic cathedral dominated one hill along the skyline and many more turrets and towers rose up among the colorful buildings to join it.
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Journey up the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland
The next day I awoke to snow flurries. Perhaps no big deal, but for this Southern California gal, I still get excited catching snowflakes in the palm of my hand. Then again, I can still count the number of times I’ve seen snow.Near the center of town you can board the highest cableway in Europe for the journey to the top of the Matterhorn.
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Italian Lakes: Stresa and Lake Maggiore
Nestled beneath the Alps in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, the beauty of Lake Maggiore is legendary. Here you’ll find a lakeside getaway filled with flowery villas and gardens, perfect for lazy days of aimless wandering. Boat rides and sunshine are obligatory. Seafood and relaxation mandatory.
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A Danish Christmas in Solvang, California
Solvang is the perfect place to spend Christmas. This Danish village, with its large population of transplants from Denmark and Scandinavia, is festive year round with its traditional Danish architecture, illuminated lights at night, abundant wine tasting opportunities, and eateries serving top notch Danish treats.
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Iconic Denver Sculptures
The mile high city seems to have public art springing up on every corner these days. Perhaps the most flashy sculpture of all in downtown Denver, this glowing, rotating heart with a sword stabbed through its center has blood that actually blinks as it drips from the sword that punctured it. You’ll find it in front of the ultra-modern Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver.
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Off to Italy and France!
I am getting giddy with excitement for my upcoming trip to Italy and France! I’m uncharacteristically down to the wire here, still working out all the travel kinks at the very last minute. I ordered two books to get into the mood before the trip and they both arrived today!
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I’ve Just Been Named “Cool Girl” of the Month!
“When she’s not traveling, eating exotic delicacies, playing her pineapple ukulele, drawing space ninjas, or practicing the martial art of Jeet Kune Do, Gayle sets out on individual artistic missions. ‘One year I challenged myself to paint 100 paintings in under a year. I reached my goal in just ten months and have been painting up a storm ever since.’ “
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An Extreme Case of Wanderlust
One could say I’m a bit of an travel junkie. That would be an understatement. My bookshelves are packed with Lonely Planets, Rough Guides, DK picture guides, maps, and phrasebooks covering all the major world languages. Stacks of travel magazines litter my living room. I’ve got jars stuffed with foreign currencies and passports brimming with entry and exit stamps. I’m always studying a different language for fun. Being separated from my passport when it’s out for renewal gives me a serious case of the nerves.
