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_After a rather uncomfortable but inexpensive sleep we set off from our pull out north of Balzano and head towards Zurich in the early morning hours the next day.  Taking one of the alternative roads into Switerland requires that we drive through an overpass.  The drive is spectacular and nail-biting.  The steep, winding and twisting road reveals spectacular views at each switch back and as we climb it gets colder and colder and soon we driving through snow covered scenery.  Down the mountain pass and soon we arrive at the Swiss border.  There is a border entrance with the tiny border buildings but no one is inside.  The Swiss are not part of the European Union and I am ready with all our passports in hand but the border is un-manned and we get on our way. 
     Driving in Switerland is candy for all the senses.  Each small town is beautifully kept and you can see tiny villages nestled in the valleys surrounded by mountains.  We decide to . . .



 
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We arrive in Zurich and it is great to see our friend Franz.  After warm embraces, we are shown to our own apartment.  That's right - our own apartment!  As luck would have it, Franz had a vacant apartment in which we could stay!  We parked our new, new car and unloaded our gear and quickly got settled in.  We open the door to the apartment and as we explore our new space, Birch and Allegra immediately find chocolate bunnies on the beds and are ecstatic.  The bunnies were compliments of Franz's mom.  We are then invited for a BBQ dinner at his parents' home just down the road.  We had met his parents about seven years earlier while they were visiting in Canada.  It is great seeing them again on their turf.  We exchange stories and enjoy an excellent dinner together.
     Our time in Zurich was a good mix of . . .



 
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_Our next stop after visiting family in Slovenia is to visit a friend who was our neighbour in Steveston and has now moved back to Zurich.  While in Slovenia we manage to connect with Franz via email and we arrange to visit at the end of April.  After saying our good-byes to Zio Flavio and Mary along with many Slovenian and Italian relatives we head off toward Switzerland armed with print offs of our route from Google Maps and in our New New car.  Driving through Europe is rather easy, the road signs are clearly marked and as long as you know which major city you are heading towards and other large cities on route it is fairly easy to get around, especially if you stay on the major freeways.  We decide to . . .