In Zurich after all-night flight from Florida, waiting for a train to Slovenia. We were exhausted but enjoyed walking around the city a bit.
After taking the train to Slovenia, we got a rental car and drove to Split, Croatia (because the Swiss companies wouldn't let us drive their rental cars to Albania, which I figured out AFTER buying our plane tickets- oops.) We had a nice evening here, ate some yummy Croatian food and and saw Diocletian's palace area and walked along the cost in the sunset.
The next day we drove as fast as we could to try to get to a missionary farewell dinner in Tirana, Albania. We had to go through Bosnia and Montenegro, over some sketchy roads and construction, so we were a bit late, but we made it!
This is Madi's mission president and wife, the Wiedmans. We were abe to listen to their farewell meeting with departing missionaries, which was neat.
For the next couple days, Madison introduced us to many of her friends in several cities in Albania and Kosovo. It was great to see how much they loved her.
This was some of the worse stretch of road between the countries ...
Madi's friends were so generous, and loved to feed us delicious foods.
another very hospitable family we visited
A stop in a Macedonian city (Skopje) after leaving Kosovo. Alexander the Great statue in the back.
After driving through Serbia we waited for hours for an overnight train back to Zurich. It was rainy, but we were lucky and there was a market, a traditional band playing, and a neat castle to tour. This is Madi by the "Dragon Bridge."
Madi by the Ljubljana Castle. She was released by Skype by her stake Pres so she could wear pants and dance at Isaac's wedding.
After the overnight train, back in Zurich. With all of our luggage, we only had 2 beds between the three of us- part of the adventure.
Sunday picnic near Mulhouse, France.
interesting walk around Colmar France
Madi scaling a city wall in the little French town where we stayed (Neuf-Brisach) the night before getting to Germany.
Picturesque canola fields in Germany
Isaac's wedding party- see next entry for more on that
At Bern Temple for Isaac and Sandra's sealing two days later. It was neat to go back here, because 10 years ago we came with the kids to do baptisms here when we lived in Germany, and stayed in the same little temple dorms.
Finally back home in Florida. Our plane had mechanical problems in New York, so we missed the connection in Charlotte, but we made it safely, and are so glad to have her back for the summer before she goes back to BYU-I this fall.
