Thursday April 17 &  Friday April 18th

It was a long trip from Boston to Zurich,  This included a long lay over at the Dublin Airport where the some who tried to get comfortable and those who spent the time talking to the locals.   Everyone was in good spirits as we finally boarded the plane to Zurich Switzerland.

Suisse Hotel located in Champery Switzerland and the Swiss Alps provided a great view as we traveled to the quaint village in the alps.   Once there we quickly made way to our rooms and changed for Dinner at the Palladium down the big hill from the hotel.

Pictures of the trip from Boston to Champery April 17-18th >>

Saturday April 19th

Our day would start early with the Bantam games at 7:30 and then the Girls and Midgets games.  Our plan for a trip to France and Chamonix and a ride up Mt. Blanc was discouraged due to the weather.  Good choice by all, the sun came out and almost everyone opted for the trip up the top of Champery on the gondola and some had a typical swill lunch at the top while enjoying the sun and the sites.

Highlights of the Trip in Champery:

The Cave, Elevator, Disco for some, the Mountain Lunch and Body Surfing in the snow and Pizza.

Travel Pictures of Champery Switzerland  >>

Sunday April 20th

Our day would include a bus ride as did every day.   We would stop in Lecco Italy for a game for each of the teams.  Here we got a great welcome and the biggest digital scoreboard I have ever seen.   The rink had a nice cafe outside and was along a recreational area along a river.   A nice relaxing afternoon for some.  Of course the gelato was delicious.   After the games we would continue on to Hotel Gardesano in Bussolengo Italy near Lake Garda

Monday April 21st

The weather would turn against us on our first full tourist day.   We left the hotel for the trip to Verona and the rain was coming down steady.   As we arrived at the parking lot it was a downpour.  A great day for the street vendors to be selling umbrellas.   They were 5 Euro right off the bus and few found the vendors to come down on their price.  Better ones were found for the same money inside the city walls.   The weather did not stop many from venturing around the city and into the coliseum which is being renovated and has made little progress since the Golden Eagles visited here 4 years ago.

Our scheduled ride on the lake was replaced with a couple of hours touring a small peninsula and as the rain let up and the Pizza, Sandwiches and out door cafe's provided some great sites we managed to have a pleasant afternoon in Simonelli Italy. 

Pictures of Verona & Simonelli  and assorted others contributed by the folks on the trip - I did not take any due to the rain and potential damage to the camera, if anyone has some classics send them to me and I will create a gallery of pictures from those cities.

I have posted a gallery of Photos from other folks and there are several pictures from people who dared bring their cameras out in the rain.   Thanks to the Fay's and Sarro's and if anyonelse wants to post thier pictures please email me your favorites.  wworks@comcast.net

Tuesday April 22nd

The weather looked better as we made our way to the boats which would take us across to Venice.   We would have about 4 hours in the city of canals.   Here the rain pretty much held off from being an issue.   As the group spread out and headed to the many different parts of this fascinating city the rain stopped for the most part.   The shops were everywhere from very upscale to the street vendor carts.  The sacred pigeons were being fed in St. Marks square as the high tide came and filled the sidewalks.

Highlights of the Trip in Italy:

The umbrellas, Pizza, Disco at Hotel for Kids, the Pool Table, a Kid friendly hotel with giant buffet meals, lasagna, two pastas every night, and the sleep, the Parents even had a curfew.

Travel Photos from Venice >>

Wednesday April 23rd

Our day would include a long bus ride back to Switzerland, along the way we would stop in Innsbruck Austria and spend some time in the town shopping, sightseeing and lunch.  Yes they had a McDonalds or two.  The weather held off pretty good and the sun actually came out and it got hot.   On the way back about 45 minutes out of Zurich the Bantams would stop and play a game in Baeretswill a small village.  The Wetzikon Huskies  we played was actually combined team of 3 villages with similar age groups of boys.

Pictures of our trip from Italy to Switzerland via Innsbruck Austria  >>

Bantams Game in Baeretswill Switzerland vs. the Wetzikon Huskies  

Thursday April 24th

The day would start with a nice breakfast at the hotel and then a trip to meet the boys team at their hotel and then a walking trip in downtown Zurich.   There were so many stores and the best was the Starbucks right there next to the Bus Parking Lot.

Then we were off to cross the lake into Germany to play two games.   At the Ravensburg rink the Girls and Boys team would play some spectacular games against the German teams.  The girls were excited when they found out that two of the girls on the opposing team played on the German National Team.

Pictures of Zurich and our Trip across the lake to Revensburg Germany >>

Friday April 25th

Our Long trip home begins with a 0915 departure from the hotel.  We would travel to Geneva Switzerland to travel on to Dublin Ireland.   We arrived in Dublin with some baggage issues which delayed our arrival to Jury Hotel a little late.  As we all split up and were looking for pubs to find a good Irish meal the city got busy.  This is a city that lives for Friday and Saturday Nights and luck would have it we would be there to witness a Friday Night in Dublin.  

Saturday April 26th

We started out with a mad dash to Carroll's for the final shopping dash.  Since all the shops were closed when we arrived this store did a brisk business on our last day in Europe.

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