Nah, that was just us :) We decided to make the 5 hour drive to Aqaba and see something new! It was actually really funny.. we had 2 days and we forgot our IDs but because of his name they let us in... and we decided to look for the beach at night but there were no lights.. and we drove all the way to Saudi Arabia and couldn't find the opening for parking!! LOl! When we got to the border we paniced because we have no IDs... but the guards were laughing so hard at us they didn't even check and let us turn around and come back.

Thanks! The flowers smell heavenly! I have to restrain myself from picking them and wearing them around behind my ear :D I dont know what variety it is, threw the packaging away long ago. I wish I would have kept it now. It did drop its leaves last winter and I panicked thinking it was dying until I edumacated myself on the plumeria. Some suggested using water with epsom salt to help prevent sunburn. We have quite alkaline SALTY tap water here and I've heard, but don't know if its true or not, that you shouldn't supplement with epsom salts if you already have salty water - its like a double dose. Anyone know for sure? Maybe I'll try a LITTLE and see if the plant gets better or worse. Right now I water it twice a month with a weak solution of 12-55-something (10 maybe), and water it with plain water the rest of the time. Its almost like a cactus - it doesnt wilt or dry out very bad!

Candy, I tried to start a 'family album' along with our Inspiration ones, last year or two ago. But didn't get co-operation from these camera-shy gals (or JIM!). just 3 of us did pix. So I asked again recently and am getting some. Thanks Lynne...its just wonderful to SEE you. I sure hope more of you join in. We are such close-knit gang and I think its really neat if we know what one another looks like. hugs, Karen Here is a link that might be useful: our Holiday gang album

maire, yes, that's my helicopter. Ha. We were so high in the mountains one day that we looked DOWN and saw a helicopter flying below us. That was weird. Anyway, we drove most days, but we took the train to the top of Jungfrau (where I'm doing my Maria imitation above) from Interlaken, and we took the train/cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Murren. Anything I'd do differently... not too much, I think! I'd stay a couple more days in Zurich. When we arrived at our hotel there was a huge flea market across the street. Heaven! I could have stayed there for hours, but we had only one full day so we had to scurry and do other things. Also, I wasn't thrilled with our hotel in Interlaken considering how expensive it was. It was beautiful but the staff was really indifferent -- after being at the Four Seasons, where they practically fell over themselves to take care of us, it was a real change. The only other issue I had was with the altitude at Jungfrau. We had to cut our visit shorter than planned because I was all loopy. I was okay outside but there are all these tunnels leading to the various areas, and I felt very lightheaded in those interior areas, even in the restaurant. Finally I just had to sit down and zone out. We wanted to go in the ice palace but I just couldn't function. One of my sons had a headache but the rest of the family was fine. Weird how it affects everyone differently. I don't know what, if anything, I could have done to avoid it? It probably didn't help that I had had about 3 hours of sleep the night before because of the heat and the street noise. Next time, I want to go with just DH (love my kids, but...) and stay in Murren for several days as part of our trip. Jean, we were on a 5:30 flight from Zurich to Boston. THe heat on those two days was pretty bad especially when we drove from Geneva to Interlaken with a stop in Bern. We were there at midday and we were just melting, walking around, but we were determined to see some of the city and the Bear Park. A couple more pics -- DS at Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, and DD and me in Murren.