September 25 – October 18, 2023

 Nice, France 

Day trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer, France 

Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild 

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Nice 

Musée National Marc Chagall, Nice, France 

Leaving Nice, France 

Avignon, France 

Airbnb in Avignon

Palace of the Popes

On the train to our next town.

Annecy, France

Taverne Le Freti

Lake Annecy

Early morning start for Switzerland

Brig, Switzerland

Hotel Europe

A glorious day on the Glacier Express to our next destination.

St. Moritz

Hotel Nolda

Afternoon trip up the mountain. Funicular from St. Moritz to Chantarella/Corvigliac and then cable car to Piz Nair upper station at 3,056 meters (10,026 feet).

Another excursion. This time on the aerial cable car from St. Moritz Bad to Signalbahn (at about 7000 feet).

La Stalla Ristorante

Off to Varenna Italy on Bernina Express

Train transfer in Tirano

Airbnb in Varenna, Italy

Ferry trip on Lake Como

Villa del Balbianello

The first image below was taken from Wiki to show the villa from the water (we didn’t have an opportunity to get this viewpoint). A dreary day compared to the day we were there.

Restaurant on the way back to the ferry

Stop in Bellagio. Didn’t enjoy our visit because it was extremely overcrowded. Perhaps if it hadn’t been on a sunny weekend.

Next day. Hike up to Vezio Castle from Varenna

Off to Venice with a transfer at Milan train station

Airbnb in Venice

 St. Mark’s Basilica

 St. Mark’s Square

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

Murano Island

Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Cà d’Oro

San Giorgio Maggiore Island

Correr Museum

Train to Florence

Airbnb in Florence (in a private museum!)

Museo Galileo

Galleria degli Uffizi

Pitti Palace

Boboli Gardens

Duomo Museum

Giotti’s Campanile bell tower

DUOMO: Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Flore 

Accademia

Central Market

Bardini Gardens