Real Info on Switzerland and Italy

Ok first of all i forgot to mention that on our way to Switzerland we stopped in Freiburg Germany because we just wanted a break from the train and to our luck there was an international festival there and guess what? There were students from Madison Wisconsin. Now how unreal is that. We actually spent a lot of the day there so we got to Switzerland, the relatives, around six. Well Ann has not been there for twenty years so to find their house was fun. We started headed towards the ski resort but then realized that was not right. We were lucky there was a sign with their name on it so I am so glad otherwise we would have headed right up a hill which would have not been necessary. We stayed with luzi and his wife and their two kids. They were very nice and we enjoyed our stay. On Sunday we went to luz and ruth's house which is luzi's parents for tea. We met a bunch of the other family too. On Monday Luz took us on our own personal tour of Switzerland and I must say i got car sick and I never get car sick. It was nice though and we saw a lot of eastern Switzerland. It is very beautiful and clean and the only thing that would have been better is if we had sun. Then Tuesday we headed out towards Venice. We left at seven thirty, took a couple of buses and then got two trains. Our first train took us to Milano and we got off and had about fifteen minutes to burn until the next train and were walking around and then Ann goes MY BAG. Lets just say she left our life on the train. So she went running towards this train which was like the one we were one but not the one and I watched her with the luggage and I saw her head that way and then that was it. Then the train took off. Here I thought, oh great here she hopped on the train thinking that was the train we were on and it took off and here i sit with the luggage. My game plan was to sit there and wait for her to come back because first of all she had everything. BUT come to find out she had went to the help desk and was working with them so I was happy to see her. It took about two hours until we left because they found the bag and then sent it on another train back and then we got it. Now this was no ordinary bag. This had all the reservations for the rest of our trip and all Ann's summer reservations, her dissertation, the computer, her camera, and all our money. And get this.... all of it was in there when we got it. We must say we love the Italians. So a little delayed we got to Venice but it was like six thirty so not bad. We just toured a little that night and then went to bed. The next tour days we walked the whole city of venice. It was so nice and beautiful and we saw everything. The second day we then had a night train to Paris which is where we are now. We thought our hotel said we could check out late, like around four but turns out they were not very happy with us and we left quick at one. We stored our luggage at the station and then walked around until about seven and then just waited for our train with left around eight. This, as we were told was a special train... for special people I suppose :) Our sleeper car was very nice but very small. It was just the two of us so that was nice but they are made for three and I can't imagine if we had another person in there. Of course Ann entertained me by trying to wash her feet in this little sink and getting herself all tangled up so the ride went fast. We got into Paris about ten on Friday and went to our hotel and left our luggage and then of course had to see EVERYTHING possible :) We first went to the Louvre and were there for a couple of hours. It is huge so we just hit the highlights, such as the mona lisa and micheal angelos sculptures, napolean's rooms etc. Oh let me mention that we really figured out the metro system. The first time we got our tickets we got took... paid for a day pass but got a one time pass because some guy who we thought was really helping us out was not being honest but oh well. Then we continued our art gallery tour by going to the Musee d'Orsay. On the way there this lady claimed to have found a ring right in front of us and wanted to give it to us as a gift. We of course did not want it but she gave it to us and then took off. Well it wasn't long until she was back wanting coffee money so we gave her a couple of Euros because she would not take the ring back. Then across the street, another man found a ring just like the one the lady found. Funny. Although it was funny when ann showed him the ring and said oh i already have one. After that art museam we went to Notre Dame and we climbed the towers. It was a hike but beautiful at the top. We had to wait awhile to get in but it was def. worth it. Then we came back and showered but our night was not over. We then headed towards the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysess. That again was another huge set of stairs to climb but we had no problem whatsoever UNTIL my shoe broke. And it was broke so here I had to walk all the way back barefoot in one of the most fancy parts of Paris. My feet were disgustingly dirty. Anyways we got back around 11 and called it a night as it was just getting dark. Our battery is dying but that gets you caught up til yesterday. We are getting pictures so just wait a lil bit more. Hope you all are doing well!!!!