Zagreb-Ljubljana-Aosta-Martigny-Fribourg-Zurich-Munich-Salzburg-Ljubljana-Zagreb

Beautiful Aosta
see all photos »

Finally the job offer that I had been chasing since the end of March 2007 was coming to a close.

I was required in Zurich, Switzerland to go over my employment contracts with my new employer OnRelay UK and the lawyers that were drawing up the documents and taking care of the payroll.

Only problem was, it's a 1000km drive there and a 1000km drive back, so I asked Mum if she wanted to come along and keep me company.. OF COURSE SHE DID!!!!

We decided to tak ethe route through Italy as it would be the nicest drive and Mum would get a chance to see what there was between Zagreb, Ljubljana and through Venice to Verona and beyond. We had already driven to Verona a couple of weeks earlier, now Mum go to see what lay beyond Verona onto Milan and through the Grand St. Bernard Pass, the border between Italy & Switzerland.

The view above Martigny on the French side
see all photos »

It was very hot and we passed a lot of traffic going the opposite way (Summer holidays) However, we still couldnt avoid the traffic jams around Venice & Milan or the 38C+ heat.

We stopped near Aosta looking for food & coffee and found a great shopping centre where Mum puffed a cigarette and I enjoyed my Latte Macchiato.

The Aosta Valley is absolutely beautiful. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aosta We were driving through as the sun was dipping down behind the mountains and the light on the Alps was magnificent. This is where you enter the Alps through the Grand St. Bernard Pass (what the dogs are famous for!) http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/valais/grandstbernardhistory.html

Also very close to Ivrea on the way to Grand St. Bernard Pass
see all photos »

Inside the tunnel is the Italian/Swiss border. A moment ago we had been drioving through 38C+ heat, wearing shorts a sleeveless t-shirt. Now I was getting out of the car in the middle of the tunnel in 8C!!! to get my passport checked.

On the other side of the tunnel is the picturesque valley of Martigny (famous fo0r its cow fights), Lake Leman (Lake Geneva) and the 60min drive to Fribourg. Absolutely beautiful!