From Greek Isles to Swiss Alps: Travel Highlights—and a Mortgage Fun Fact
Last week I promised to share a few snapshots and highlights from our travels—and let me tell you, this trip was one for the books.
Rome & the Cruise
We kicked things off in Rome (our second visit) with some classic sightseeing—wandering around the Colosseum, Vittoriano, and Arch of Constantine. On day two, we ditched the crowds for a small-group golf cart tour that zipped us through some of Rome’s hidden corners. Highly recommend!
From there, we set sail on a 9-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise. Some of the highlights:
- Amalfi Coast & Capri – Fig-filled croissants in Sorrento, ravioli in Capri, and views that looked straight out of a painting.
- Mykonos – Whitewashed alleys, blue domes, and the famous windmills.
- Kusadasi, Turkey – The ruins of Ephesus were jaw-dropping—a city frozen in time.
- Athens – The Acropolis and Parthenon still stand as a 2,500-year-old architectural mic drop.
- Santorini & Crete – Santorini was as dreamy as the postcards (though our knees may vote for more time in Crete next trip).
One of the joys of cruising? Everything runs on autopilot—meals, excursions, logistics—all handled. Which made the next leg of our trip… let’s just say “adventurous.”
Switzerland Adventures
Switching from cruise life to Swiss trains was a reality check. We stumbled a bit navigating from Rome’s regional station to Termini, but by week’s end we were pros with the Swiss Rail app (minus one wrong turn to Rhine Falls—thank you to the kind local who pointed us back on track).
Highlights included:
- Zurich – Dinner at Hiltl, the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, plus countryside views that belong on postcards.
- Lauterbrunnen – Our hotel gave us the #007 James Bond room, and the Jungfrau (“Top of Europe”) felt straight out of a movie.
- Lausanne – Days along Lake Geneva, strolling through the Olympic Museum, Old Town, and cathedral climbs made for the perfect finale.
Fun Fact Corner: Swiss Housing: Because I can’t resist weaving in a little mortgage trivia…
- Median Swiss household income: CHF 75k–80k
- Median home price: ~CHF 1M
- Minimum down payment: 20%
- Homeownership rate: ~43% (vs. 65% here in the U.S.)
It reminded me how fortunate U.S. buyers are—with programs that allow as little as 3% down, especially for first-time buyers.
Bottom Line
The trip gave me beautiful memories and fresh perspective: travel makes us grateful for home. Home is always our anchor. Whether it’s a starter home, a vacation getaway, or a forever home, I’m here to help make those possibilities real—with financing that fits your life.
Thanks for letting me share my highlights—I’d love to hear about your dream destination. Where’s on your bucket list? Maybe you’ll inspire our next adventure.
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Blog post date: Friday, September 26, 2025
