The Matterhorn

We stayed in Tasch, Switzerland. From Tasch you take a 10-minute train ride to Zermatt (private cars are prohibited from driving to Zermatt) and from there cogwheel trains and cable cars take you up to the ski slopes where you have great views of the Matterhorn (14,690 ft).

It was fun to see sheep just outside our hotel. Our hotel was the Monte Rosa, named after the tallest peak in Switzerland (15,203 ft) and second tallest peak in Europe. Most of the peaks surrounding the Matterhorn are greater than 14,000 ft.

The Tasch train station where we boarded the train to Zermatt.

Once we arrived in Zermatt we boarded the Gornergratbahn, an electric cogwheel train up to Gornergrat, Switzerland's highest open-air train station; as we climbed up out of the Matter Valley we caught are first glimpses of the Matterhorn.

Gornergrat train station (10,132 ft) where we had excellent views of the Matterhorn.

Gorner glacier and several others behind us.

Hadley and Cooper with St Bernards.

Night out eating Swiss cheese fondue.

Standing next to the Vispa River in Zermatt. The water was very opaque with a light grey color from glacier runoff.

The famous view of the Matterhorn from the church square in Zermatt.

Zermatt cemetery where many climbers are buried who died climbing the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks.

Bahnhofstrasse, the mainstreet of Zermatt.

Bern Switzerland Temple.

Pompeii, Italy

Our accommodations at Il Cortile, the agriturismo we stayed at in Cicciano, Italy.

The bathroom was Bonnie's favorite part of the agriturismo (not really); I felt it simply added to the charm and was very reminiscent of my mission.

The gardens of Il Cortile.

The entrance to Il Cortile. This agriturismo was located in the center of town which is atypical; most agriturismos are located in the countryside.

Porta Marina, entrance to the ruins of Pompeii. The city was founded in 600 B.C., then covered and preserved in 30 feet of ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.

Porta Marina. Adjacent to the cypress tree are moorings for boats; over time the sea has withdrawn such that it now lies about 4500 feet to the west.

These stones were placed across the road so Romans could walk across the sewage that was continually flowing through the streets.

The Forum with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Plaster cast of one of the 2000 individuals who were unable to get to the sea in time when hot ash covered the city.

Fairly well preserved frescoes were seen throughout the city.

Original lead pipes forming part of the city's water system. The lead was imported from Brittania.

Entrance to the House of the Faun; this is the largest home in Pompeii. Written on the sidewalk entrance (cordoned off to the left of the stroller) is the Latin word 'HAVE' which is a variant of the Latin word 'AVE' which means "hail to you". Does "Ave Maria" ring a bell?

Just inside the entrance you see a small bronze statue of a dancing faun from which the house receives its name.

The famous floor mosaic of the Battle of Alexander in the House of the Faun. Romans had great respect for Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) who was not only a great conquerer of peoples who would later become enemies to the Roman republic, but had been their contemporary.

Grant enjoying the House of the Faun.

A thermopolium, a forerunner to today's fast-food restaurant. These were found all over Pompeii, usually at the intersection of main roads. Embedded in the countertop were dolia (earthenware jars) filled with dry food. Thermopolia were used primarily by the poor who could not afford a private kitchen.

Grooves made by chariot wheels created over hundreds of years of use; these were seen in all of the main streets.

The Odeion, a theater built around 80 B.C. and could seat about 1500 people.

Huge lemons sold by street vendors to make fresh lemonade or limoncello.

Hiking to the summit of Mount Vesuvius with Naples in the background.

Looking into the volcano. Frequent steam could be seen coming out of the inside walls of the volcano.