Monday, July 02, 2007
Trip Report 1
Sitting at a computer in a hostel in the Swiss Alps. We are in the town of Gimmelwald which can be reached only by cable car from the valley below. The scenery is absolutely incredible. Our flight over was fine and after picking up our little rental car we hit the autobahn going south from Frankfurt. We drove to baden Baden where we looked around this resort town and then went for a 2 hour treatment at the ancient Roman baths. It is a series of showers, warm pools, cold pools, steam rooms, dry heat rooms, massage and ends with a 30 minute sleep. It is fantastic.
From Baden we drove to Lahr to see where I used to live. The town is changed some but after a few minutes I was able to get reoriented. Dropped by our old apartment to say hello to landlord Herr (Mr.) Frey. From there it was a 20 minute drive to the first night's hostel - a castle on the top of a hill surrounded by vineyards.
Next day we drove into the heart of the Black Forest to visit Triberg, the home of clock making, especially cuckoo clocks. Its where Jill and I bought our grandfather clock 20+ years ago. We hiked up to see Germany's highest waterfall and then we drove about the country for a while getting as far as Tittisee, another resort town. Second night hostel was a nice modern place with Chris and I as the ONLY two occupants.
Day 3 was a drive along the "clockmaker's route" which is an incredible drive through the hills and valleys. We got to the midieval city of Freiburg where a 550 year old university is located plus a fabulous old cathedral. We listened to a bit of an organ concert at the cathedral then wandered around the town where there was all sorts of Saturday market activity taking place. That night we stayed in another hostel, right in the center of the city.
Yesterday we drove 2 hours from freiburg to arrive here via Basel, Bern and Interlaken. We stoppped along the way to watch a bit of a professional whitewater kayac competition. The paddlers went over a 50 foot waterfall on the course. Wild. Then we parked the car, loaded onto the Tram and rode 5 minutes straight up the mountain to get to this town and the famous "Mountain Hostel".
Today is a relaxed day with maybe some hiking if the weather clears. Otherwise, chillin on the deck reading, playing cards and the like.
From Baden we drove to Lahr to see where I used to live. The town is changed some but after a few minutes I was able to get reoriented. Dropped by our old apartment to say hello to landlord Herr (Mr.) Frey. From there it was a 20 minute drive to the first night's hostel - a castle on the top of a hill surrounded by vineyards.
Next day we drove into the heart of the Black Forest to visit Triberg, the home of clock making, especially cuckoo clocks. Its where Jill and I bought our grandfather clock 20+ years ago. We hiked up to see Germany's highest waterfall and then we drove about the country for a while getting as far as Tittisee, another resort town. Second night hostel was a nice modern place with Chris and I as the ONLY two occupants.
Day 3 was a drive along the "clockmaker's route" which is an incredible drive through the hills and valleys. We got to the midieval city of Freiburg where a 550 year old university is located plus a fabulous old cathedral. We listened to a bit of an organ concert at the cathedral then wandered around the town where there was all sorts of Saturday market activity taking place. That night we stayed in another hostel, right in the center of the city.
Yesterday we drove 2 hours from freiburg to arrive here via Basel, Bern and Interlaken. We stoppped along the way to watch a bit of a professional whitewater kayac competition. The paddlers went over a 50 foot waterfall on the course. Wild. Then we parked the car, loaded onto the Tram and rode 5 minutes straight up the mountain to get to this town and the famous "Mountain Hostel".
Today is a relaxed day with maybe some hiking if the weather clears. Otherwise, chillin on the deck reading, playing cards and the like.
# posted by FreddyBeachPete @ 3:22 AM 
