Trips Around Switzerland (Part VI)

[Previous (day)trips from/around Switzerland: Part I, Part II, Part III, with Olga, Part IV, Lyon, Part V; and Activities Nearby]

After Nate's parents visited, my mom was here for a few weeks to take care of Chase, still on his daycare vacation. During that time, we had time to go on a boat ride on the lake, have drinks by the lake here in Morges, and celebrate Swiss National Day. We also spent a weekend going to Zurich together. We had been to Zurich once before as a day trip, but it was nice to have a bit more time to explore. There, we checked out the churches for the view (Grossmünster) and the Chagall stained glass windows (Fraumünster). We did quite a bit of walking to various parks and squares, and also took a boat on the river and lake, in the middle of the rain. It was quite an adventure!

Sights of Zurich from Grossmünster

Boat ride on our lake 

Drinks in Morges (L: by the lake; R: at Bloody Cat)

Trips Around Switzerland (Part V)

[Previous (day)trips from/around Switzerland: Part I, Part II, Part III, with Olga, Part IV, Lyon; and Activities Nearby]

This summer, for Chase's daycare vacation, we had the treat to have Nate's parents both here for a week. His mom had previously visited on her own (mentioned here but not well documented...whoops), and they had also visited together, but it had been a few years so it was very nice to host them here today. We rented a car for a few days and had the chance to go to Gruyères, as we had with them (and others) before, and Grindelwald. Grindelwald was a new experience for all of us, and it was awesome! I definitely recommend it! We took the cable car up to First and walked around a bit up there, enjoying the Cliff walk and the sights of the glaciers. The weather was perfect up there as it was way too hot down at elevation (Nate's parents visited us during the hottest week of the summer!). We had a drink and played a game up on the observation deck, and then took the cable car back down, stopping to play some mini-golf in Grindelwald itself. We also had the chance to explore Lausanne (Olympic Museum and the Cathedral) and Morges a bit with them!

In Gruyères, visiting the main village. We also visited the château (seen in the right picture a bit) and the chocolate place not far away. 

Up at First doing the cliff walk and posing together. The weather was perfect!

In Morges and Lausanne (C; visiting the Lausanne Cathedral and looking over Lausanne and the lake). My mom had arrived on the last day that Nate's parents were here so we were able to take some pictures all together. 

Day trip to Lyon

[Previous (day)trips from/around Switzerland: Part I, Part II, Part III, with Olga, Part IV; and Activities Nearby]

My parents were going on a vacation through France to Spain and were stopping in Lyon for a night. So I decided to take the train (only 2 hours from Geneva) over to see them for the day. I had never been, and it seemed like a good excuse to explore the city. It was very beautiful and enjoyable! I spent some time exploring on my own until they arrived and then we spent a few hours hanging out together, walking all over Vieux Lyon, and stopping for some wine and crêpes! Super fun day trip!

L: View from the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière onto Lyon; C: Its front facade; R: Steps up to the Basilica from a side way.

L: Lyon Cathedral in Vieux (Old) Lyon region; R: Us having some drinks and crêpes also in Vieux Lyon. 

(Orthodox) Easter in Ukraine!

[Previous trips to Ukraine with Chase: Winter 2019, Summer 2018, Spring 2018, Summer 2017, Spring 2017, Summer 2016, Spring 2016, Summer 2015]

This year, for Easter, we had a visit from Matt and Katrina so we did fun touristy stuff with them. However, that gave Chase and I the chance to visit Ukraine for the second half of his school vacation (and specifically for the daycare vacation part). In Ukraine, we checked out the flowering magnolias at the botanical garden, inaugurated the summer house for the season, went to a soccer game, and had the chance to celebrate Orthodox Easter at midnight (just as we had done two years earlier). It was definitely fun to hang out with my youngest cousin (Chase's cousin uncle) who is growing up fast!

Chase at the botanical garden, which is very close to my grandparents' apartment.

Enjoying ourselves at the summer house. 

L: Soccer game with Anton; C: Blessing of Easter baskets outside a church; R: Easter midnight mass in an original wooden country church. 

Chase at 5 years old!

[Previous Chase updates: starting school, 4 years, 3 years, 25-32 months, 2 years, 15-20 months, 1+ year, first four months in Cambridge, data analysis from first 2 months, first few months]

I can't believe Chase already turned 5 years old. He had a birthday party with all his friends just a few days after his birthday (as Easter fell late this year, so this was possible!). He had a rainbow cake (which Oksana made) because his favorite color now is rainbow. He is very into numbers, writing out math equations regularly (although not always with the right syntax), he loves riding his bike and playing all sorts of board games. He is still quite shy but also becoming more and more independent. Yay, Chase!

Solo work trip to the US

[Previous solo trips to the US: 2018, 2017 #2, 2017 #1, and solo-ish 2015]

I was able to make a trip home as I attended an awesome conference in Breckenridge, followed by a few days in San Diego, and then a flight out of LA. Breckenridge had a crazy amount of snow, and as we had a free afternoon during the conference, I grabbed some snow shoes and explored the hiking paths a bit. It was crazy!

In San Diego, Katya flew down from northern California to hang out for the weekend (we hadn't seen each other in many years!). Olga also flew over from the east coast so Sakina, Mika, and I could hang out all four of us, as we had done for Sakina's baby shower, our trip to Japan, and my babyshower before that. It was so nice to go hiking and go to the beach and just hang out. It's so re-energizing having a trip home and seeing wonderful friends!

My parents had an oscars party that Katya and I attended. 

L: Mt. Soledad (we also went to Wild Animal Park and La Jolla and other generally touristy stuff!); R: our hike up to Iron Mountain (with Olga and Katya)

L: The beach with Olga; R: Our reunion after 2+ years apart -- so nice!

Copenhagen

Since Chase has a week off in February for Relânches, we took that opportunity to meet up with Boris and Laura in Copenhagen. It was quite cold, but we were able to make the most of it. Overall, Nate and I liked Stockholm more than Copenhagen, but it was still a worthwhile visit. Copenhagen was just as pricey as Stockholm or Switzerland, but we felt it wasn't quite as quaint and interesting as Stockholm was.

The first day, we walked around the city, making our way to Nyhavn and took a boat tour to see the city by water (including the Little Mermaid statue). The next day, we went to the National Museum and Tivoli Gardens. The last day, we walked around the city in general and went up the Roundtower. We had some traditional Danish dishes and enjoyed hanging out with Boris and Laura after many years apart.

On the boat

Around the Nyhavn

In Tivoli Gardens (there was this cool program where the kid could get a wristband, and with that, it would allow one accompanying adult to ride along. We got the wristband for Chase and switched off riding rides with him. Unfortunately, sometimes Chase was not into the "more scary" rides so that involved Nate and I strategising who would ride when to optimize the fun rides for us as well!

At the top of the Roundtower