3rd February 2020

 Monday 3rd February 2020

Today we are going back to Nimes to finish looking at the Roman sights. We find the Tour Magna, and the Temple of Diana and the Jardins de la Fountaine. They are all together in one area. The Tour Magna, is a watch tower, that is sitting on the highest point in Nimes. When we arrived here, the Tour Magna, was closed to be able to go upstairs and get a panoramic view of the city. It was built in the year 15-16 BCm and  it was originally 36 meters high, but is now 32.5 m.
We meander our way down towards the Jardins de la Fountain, and admire the gardens on our way. The Temple of Diana, is where we next visit, and I am mesmerized by what is left of this place, It was built in the 1st centuary, and was dedicated to the Goddess Diana, the goddess of hunting. These are ruins and as I enter into the ruins, it was just wonderful looking at what is left. Columns and steps and a couple of tunnels, and a small garden. The tunnel was a low archway, and there was no motar between the blocks. Amazing to think it is still almost in tack in some of the places.
Then we wonder around the Fountain area. The fountain and gardens were  built in the 17th century, to complement the Roman buildings. There are ponds filled with fish, and a couple of swans and some ducks. All the water that is flowing here comes from a natural source under the ground. There are a lot os statues and Urns, just wonderful.
We head out of the Gardens towards the street, and there water is used as a feature in the middle of the streets. There is another fountain in the street, and now we look for some lunch.
After we have eaten, we now head back to the car through the gardens again. It has been a great day, and we head back to Lamastre.

Tuesday 4th February 2020

Today we start to collect and organise  our things and pack them away as we leave Lamastre tomorrow. Some cleaning and washing is done.

Wednesday 5th February 2020

Today we left Lamastre heading on to our next league of our travels. Lamastre has been a great place to stay. The weather has been good, and the town is nice and quiet. We get away just after 9am.
We are headed for Vetraz-Monthoux, France, but very close to Geneva. It is a distance of just 272 kms and a 3 hr drive time. We have factored in a stop in Lyon, to see the place. It is an hour and 40 mins from Lamastre. We find parking and try to find where the hop on hop off bus stops. Eventually we find a stop, but not before we find a statue in the town centre, and some subway for lunch. Once on board the bus, we settle in to see whats about this city. Lyon has a Roman Amphitheatre that also dates back 2000 years old. The bus takes us past some amazing old and new buildings, and a Basillica right on top of the mountm there is a tower also onto of the mount, that is similar to the Effel tower. It was built in 1892 and is 281 feet tall, and was created as a monument  for the city. Nowadays, it has lots of television antennas over it.  The modern buildings are amazing, and some of the designs are like almost out of this world. We get of the bus where we got on, and head for the car. We must venture on to our next stop.
From Lyon to Vetraz-Monthoux is an hour and 40 mins drive or 154 kms.
We find our next accommodation without to much hassel and check in works well.
Day is done.

Thursday 6th February 2020

Today we took a drive to go through the Mount Blanc tunnel. Our journey took us back into the snow again, with some wonderful views of the Mountains. Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe, at  a height of 4
We head into Geneva. We walk about the gardens and look at some of the statues and buildings that are about. The lake is very calm, and it has two beautiful old Steam and paddle boats.  They are no longer used as steam, but deisels motors are in them. But they still look lovely. The time that we arrived was to late to take a ride on them, as they only run at 2pm most days. And we won't be around tomorrow, so we miss out.
We go back and head off to find the nights accommodation.     



Friday 7th February 2020

Today we left Vetraz-Monthoux after our two night stay. We are headed Lucerne, in Switzerland, this is a 3 hr trip or 265 kms.
We went back into the city of Geneva to have a look at some more of the city. It was a chilly 1 degrees when we left, and the car was covered with ice. Bob had to use the special ice scrapper that is supplied in the car for just that occasion.
We find the Mont Blanc car park, and park the car, and then we take a wonder and take pics of the Fountain that Geneva is famous for. We then buy tickets to hop on the ferry across the lake, as our timing doesn't suit the streamers, this is the next best thing. We criss cross across the lake, and a  school class hop on board one of the ferries that we are on. Bob is trying to find the Mermaid that is on a Rock that Geneva is famous for, and he asked the school teacher, and she is not familiar with it, and the conversation flits to some of the students and a passenger that are on board aswell, and no one seems to be knowing as to where it is. When we dissembark we ask the skipper if he knew about it's where abouts, and he said it was further up the lake. Ahh well, I will have to take Bobs word for it.
After we finish on the lake, we take a drive to find UNESCO and some of the other leading organisions about Geneva. We manage to find the WHO, and the Labour headcourters, and the World TRade Organization. These places are very discrete with their signage, and one would not know that were there, apart from the very small signage that is on their entrances. But I guess if you tried to enter, it would be a totally different scene.
We leave Geneva, and and head off towards Switzerland. Apparently one needs a Vignette to drive through Switzerland and we do not have one, it does crossl my mind as we travel.. They are in place of Road tolls, and is based on the period of time a vehicle may use the road.
We arrive in Lucerne at our next accommodation, which is businesss apartments, and for the first time we have to use a digital key. It has been set up for Bobs phone and is only valid until 10am the next day. Once we get inside and find our room, we have to charge up Bobs phone, because if it is not fully charged, we might not be able to get inside our room. After we settle, and have a bit of a rest, we decide to go over the road to the shopping area. It is not quite what we thought, as it has a Cinema as well as other outlets. A grocery shopping place, and a Subway and an Uncle Sams.  but it has enough for us to grab something for dinner, and we then go back to the room and call it a day. 

Saturday 8th February 2020

Today it is my turn to drive to from Lucern in Switerland, through to Zirl,  Austria, going through Liechtenstein.  This makes it a three country day. This is a journey of 308 kms or three and a half hours, not including stops.  Leichtstien is another small country that is 25 kms long, and it is between Austria and Switzerland. We pass through this country, via its capital Vaduz of which its population is 5450,  and the countrys's population of 38, 557.
There is not much in the way of border crossings, and if you look for the signs, you will notice that that is all there is announcing that you have entered into another country.
There is snow about again, and I drive a bit cautiously, and there are patches on the road that havec been slowed down speed wise because of Ice patches. We get to our Hotel, and it has much snow about it, and has a wonderful view from the resturant, of which we have our evening meal. The food and service was wonderful.

Sunday 9th February 2020

This morning we had the hotel buffet breakfast, and as we were watching the scenery about us, I noticed a plane coming in between the mountains, we watch it, and expect it to turn before the valley we are overlooking, but it follows the valley and is decending at the same time. Not long afterwards another plane comes in aswell. So the Airport must be somewhere near Innsbruck.
Today is an exciting day for me because we are going to Swarovski Crystal main head quarters. Even though you can't go through the factory to see how the wonderful creations are made, one can still do a tour through the history of Swarovski.
From where we are staying it is only a 30 min drive. There is still lots of snow about. But first Bob wants to see what is up the other way from where we are staying. here is not a great deal only snow, and so we find somewhere to turn around, and find ourselves in a parking lot for a skiing place.
We call back at our lodgings, as I forgot to take my sunnies with me, as I was leaving, the the glare from the sun and the snow is to bright not to be without them. We also top up the wiperwasher bottle, as the windscrreen is dirty from the salt and water that is sprayed onto the rod.
So onwards to the crystal mountain.
We get to our destination, and Bob seems to be amazed as to how much parking there is at this place. But lucky for us, there are not so many people around, but it is 10.45, so who knows how busy it will get.
We enter the in via a Gaints head, with water cascading down from hi mouth. Inside there are displays peices that have all got crystals on them. There is a wall of crystals, a horse statue decorated with crystals, and many other items are displayed. The worlds largest hand cut crystal is on display also in the Hall, It has 100 facets, (310 000 carats.) and was created in 1995.
There are 17 rooms to discover, and there are some amazing sights. Some of the exhibits are enhanced by scents that transform you through the room. One room called the Crystal Dome, gives an insight of what it would be like inside a crystal. It also changes sound. It is created with 595 mirrors. All the rooms are very different, and the infinity room is no exception. Once you step inside and close the door, the reflections go on forever.
Once you get through all the rooms as most attractions, you exit through the gift shop, and we spend some time browsing in here. I have a couple people I need to shop for, and also I have been instucted that I need to find something for myself. This is achieved after some time, and I am very happy with what hve been purchashed.
Never in  a million years would I have imagined  that I would be in Austria visiting Swarovski crystal. I am very thankful and it has been a wonderful experience. We go outside after we finish in the gift shop, and find the garden of which the crystal clouds are, and it is a magical place, complete with the snow. There are sculptures featuring the crystals, but with the snow, they are somewhat lost in it. But every now and then the sun catches a crystal and catches the wonderful lights shine. We wonder through the outdoor area, and find an Elephant with crystals, and the pond with scultpures protruding out of the water. It has been a wonderful experience, although maybe not completely Bobs cup of tea, but I think he did enjoy most of it.
After we finish at Swarovski, we head into the town of Innsbruck , and explore the town.    Once again, the part of the city we have found is filled with fabulous old builldings that have been decorated through time, and adds so much character to the centre. I love the exterior of the buildings, there is such a lot of detail on them. After we finish wandering the streets we head back to the Hard Rock cafe, and have some lunch. This building in itself is beautifull to look at.
It has been a great day, and we head back to our room and call it a day.