Rhine Falls

Our days in Switzerland are coming to an end and I have a renewed fervor to visit all the areas of Switzerland that we have not yet seen. We hit one of those places this past weekend when we drove over two hours to visit the Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfalls. 

Entrance to the waterfalls from the Schloss Laufen castle

One of several observation points

There were two castles on either sides of the waterfalls. We took boats between the two castles as well as up to a small rock right in the middle of the waterfall.

On our way to climb the rock in the middle of the waterfall

From the top of the rock looking down at the waterfall

View of castle "Schloff Laufen"

We found a nice shady place to sit and enjoy a snack when some couple walked up and sat right in front of us. Not even kidding, they sat down RIGHT in front of us blocking our nice view. What makes it even more odd was that there was plenty of room all around us...

I'm sure I could think of a really funny caption for this if I tried hard enough

My attempt at a self family portrait

Jack strutting his long hair

Solothurn

We have driven by the city of Solothurn several times on our way to various places, but this past weekend we decided to stop and check out this city that is only 30 minutes from our house. 

The city of Solothurn was the 11th canton to become a member of the Swiss confederation. Because of this, they have a special affinity for the number 11. Apparently there are eleven churches and chapels, as well as eleven fountains and towers in this city. They even have a brewery dedicated to the number 11.

And they even have a clock that tells time up to the llth hour.

Prehisto-Parc

During the Easter break we took a day trip to visit the Prehisto-Parc dinosaur park near France. On our way, we stopped by the village of St-Ursanne to eat lunch and snap some pictures.

As luck would have it, the snow started falling as we arrived at the Dinosaur Park. It's a good thing I unpacked all our winter clothes and brought them along just for this trip

Can you see the dinosaurs in the lake?

The dinosaur park was not as cool as I thought it would be. I think Jack would have loved a park where he could climb and play on the dinosaurs, but this being Switzerland and all... each dinosaur had this sign next to it:

"It is forbidden to touch the animals or leave the path"

So we just looked at each dinosaur, then left.

Easter in Switzerland

Our city hosted it's 10th annual easter egg hunt this year.

Jack riding down to the egg hunt

The entire city was there ready for the hunt

Ready, set, go!

2,500 eggs (real eggs, not chocolate) were hidden along a half mile stretch of forest along the lake. Every person was to collect 6 eggs before heading back to claim their prize. Only problem was that these eggs were not easy to find. In fact, I spent 2 hours looking and never found an egg. Luke found 2 broken eggs that we weren't sure if someone else had already found and thrown back under some leaves. Then Jack was given 4 other eggs from various friends.

Frustrated that he can't find any eggs

Finally! Luke found some eggs

Still looking... 

Even though the egg hunt was a bust, Jack did score an extra huge egg when the easter bunny stopped by on Sunday morning. These eggs have to be the best thing about being a kid in Switzerland. They are huge chocolate eggs with a toy inside. This is an especially large egg just for Easter, the typical chocolate eggs are about 1/3 this size.

Half of the chocolate egg and the toy that was inside.