In Paris, finding the train station
27 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F
Lyria 7999 to Lausanne. The train is amazingly quiet. Had to scramble for tickets, but we had no idea how long customs would be, so no reservations.
Finally stopping for a night
27–28 нояб. 2025, Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F
Oddly, the Freddy Mercury Hotel, because he thought Montreux was such a cool place.
Early for the Christmas Market
28 ноября 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F
Our first real day. Spent the morning at the Christmas market. This is going to be like a continent-wide craft show. A good one. And it was very good. I bought some stuff that, sadly, was lost on ourЧитать далее
ПутешественникNot sure. Couldn't read it. But they remind me of art from "Where the Wild Things Are".
Golden Pass Express
28 ноября 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F
Scenic ride from Montreux to Interlaken. We originally wanted the Glacier Express but it was down for maintenance. No matter. This was everything we could have wanted. It's easy to see why the ancientЧитать далее
Swiss Hut stay in Interlaken
28 нояб.–1 дек. 2025, Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F
After the panoramic train, we arrived at our home away from home for a few days. It will feel nice to leave our bags behind for awhile.
ПутешественникThis town is in the Canton (state) of Bern. Bern means bear. Kind of an important mascot.
Harder Kulm
29 ноября 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F
A funicular to "The Top of Interlaken". This spot gives a sweeping view of the Alps, including Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau.
Schloss Thun
30 ноября 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F
We took the "Faith and Power" tour with Elsbeth Aebersold ... fantastic tour guide, even researched Melchior Brenneman in prep. Very well versed on the Mennonite plight between the 1600s and 1700s.
Stadtkirche Thun
30 ноября 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F
This Reformed Church is adjacent to the castle.
Grindelwald First
1 декабря 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☀️ 30 °F
Took the gondola up to Grindelwald First a peak of the Schwarzhorn, facing the Eiger mountain. It snowed for a few days previously, but the Sun was out.
Grindelwald
1 декабря 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☀️ 39 °F
Checking out the town. It was mostly closed (off season travelers here). We found some great dinner.
A quick stop in Lucerne
2 декабря 2025 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F
A brief stop for personal interests, then moving on for the evening.
Zurich for the evening
2–3 дек. 2025, Швейцария ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F
Stopped in at the home of Anabaptism, stayed overnight in a suburb, Dietikon, which is not a convention for people deliberating over meals and snacks.
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"Here in the middle of the Limmat River, Felix Manz and five other Anabaptists were drowned during the Reformation period between 1527 and 1532. The last Anabaptist to be drowned was Hans Landis, executed in 1614. "
Just passing through
3 декабря 2025 г., Лихтенштейн ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F
This was a travel day. Left Switzerland on the Gotthard Panoramic Express, crossed Lichtenstein, and entered Austria. Fog, like riding through a grey tunnel. It didn't obscure everything but it didЧитать далее
A Good Place to Come in from the Cold
3–7 дек. 2025, Австрия ⋅ ⛅ 36 °F
We're hearing from Mozart and Mohr, among others. At night, usually unconscionably late, this is where we stop.
Music City
4 декабря 2025 г., Австрия ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F
The land of Mozart in the church where he was baptized. This plaza is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. It's architecture makes me easily see how the Apostles felt when the marveled over theЧитать далее
Organ Concert at the Cathedral.
4 декабря 2025 г., Австрия ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F
ПутешественникYou're not kidding. I could spend hours in there, just looking up.
Requiem at Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg
5 декабря 2025 г., Австрия ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F
Listening to Mozart's Requiem on the anniversary of his death. What a piece. The sound from the choir was nearly tangible. The conductor wielded his baton like a mad sorcerer with a willful magicЧитать далее
ПутешественникWe have the technology to make things elaborate for a fraction of the cost and effort. It's a sad statement on our taste and motivation.
Silent Night Chapel
6 декабря 2025 г., Австрия ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F
Oberndorf is included as an element of the UNESCO World Heritage status of the carol as the home of Josef Mohr who wrote the lyrics for Stille Nacht. He was curate for St. Niklaus church and angeredЧитать далее
Bavaria for a minute
6 декабря 2025 г., Германия ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F
Laufen is in the small peninsula surrounded by Austria here in Oberndorf. You just wander across this iron bridge and hey, presto, you're in Germany. Till the Napolionic wars they were one community,Читать далее
Hometown Nurnburg
7–10 дек. 2025, Германия ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F
This is the home of the oldest Christmas Market in Europe, and a couple of the oldest medieval cities.
Oldest Christkindlemarkt
8 декабря 2025 г., Германия ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
The Christkind is not the Christ child, as the name suggests. It's a pretty girl angel who is sent because apparently she will be less intimidating. In spite of the Christian overtone, it's not reallyЧитать далее
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Making a wish as you live out a dream. Does it get any better than this?
ПутешественникI'm not telling what my wish was or it won't come true. Tours of Nuremburg are fond of legends, the stuff the Middle Ages were forged from.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
9 декабря 2025 г., Германия ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
One of the few completely walled medeival cities left.
Lunch in the Middle Ages
9 декабря 2025 г., Германия ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Ratstube does not sound like an appetizing place to eat. But this was quite tasty.
Last day in Nurnburg
10 декабря 2025 г., Германия ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
Took some time at the Hangman's Bridge, St. Jacob's Church, the Christmas Markt and the Bratwursthausle. Nurnberg Brots and strudel.
Long train, back in Paris, Home tomorrow
11–12 дек. 2025, Франция ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
Long train ride to Paris on the fastest train I ever rode. Still took awhile.
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Yum
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Cleanliness is kin to godliness
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🧘
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We are in the land.