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2024 Austrian Alps

August - September 2024
Meeting in Brand with 9 friends for hiking in the Austrian 🇦🇹 Alps followed by a road trip through Italy 🇮🇹 and Switzerland 🇨🇭. Read more

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  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
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Friendship, Group travel, Hiking, Nature, Photography, Sightseeing, Vacation, Wildlife
  • 19.7kkilometers traveled
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  • 27days
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  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps
    111

    Zuoz, Switzerland

    September 9, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    This morning, we had to adjust our travel plans due to poor weather conditions across the entire Tirol region, expected to last for the next four days.

    Instead, we opted to head west towards Zouz in the Engadin valley of Switzerland. It turned out to be a great choice, with the occasional rays of sunshine and glimpses of blue sky greeting us upon our arrival.

    What could have been a 3-hour drive stretched into a 6-hour adventure as we stopped to explore a few picturesque villages along the way. One such stop was Tarasp, home to a charming castle perched atop a hill. Unfortunately, the castle was closed for visits on Mondays, and so were all the local restaurants. However, the kind owner of the Schlosshotel Chastè took pity on us and graciously served us cappuccinos in a 500-year-old room that was once the living space of a farmhouse, now part of this exclusive hotel. It was an unexpected, nice guesture - not typical Swiss.

    Our destination for tomorrow is Locarno where we meet Bernhard & Elisabeth for dinner.    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps
    411

    Locarno, Switzerland

    September 10, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    This morning, peeking out of our hotel window, we noticed the mountain peaks dusted with a light layer of snow. After indulging in a lavish breakfast buffet, we wandered through the streets of Zuoz, admiring the stunning old buildings, many dating back to the 12th century. The thick-walled structures are characteristic of the Engadin valley. In this community of around 1,200 people, 40% speak German, 44% Rätoromansch, and 16% Italian. The town's center is paved with cobblestone streets, and the church bells chime on the hour and half-hour, adding to the charm.

    We left Zuoz mid-morning and made our way up the valley to St. Moritz, stopping several times to take in the breathtaking views of the lake and the grand hotels frequented by the rich and famous.

    Shortly after passing through St. Moritz, we veered right to cross the Julier Pass. A few hours later, we traversed the San Bernardino tunnel, eventually descending into the Canton of Ticino and arriving at our final destination, Locarno. The journey was long, filled with winding hairpin turns, tunnels, and bridges, and the scenery was absolutely stunning.

    Tonight, we met our dear friends Bernhard and Elisabeth. We’ve been close friends since 1973. Dinner was at a lovely Italian restaurant called MammaMia. By chance, they were visiting Locarno at the same time as us—what a wonderful coincidence!    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps

    Locarno, Switzerland

    September 11, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Not much to write about today, but we decided to stay in Locarno for another day despite the weather forecast predicting a 65% chance of rain.

    Once again, luck was on our side—the rain didn’t start until we were having dinner at an Italian restaurant between 6 and 7 PM. We had a dry day up until then.

    After a good night's sleep, we took a cable car, gondola, and chairlift up to Cimetta Mountain, sitting at 1,671 meters above sea level. The view from the top was beautiful, overlooking Locarno and Lago Maggiore, though the incoming bad weather made it less crisp and clear than we’d hoped (see attached photos).

    We returned to the hotel around 1:30 PM and I took a nap while Ursula went window shopping.

    Our plan for tomorrow is to visit the Market in Feriolo, Italy.    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps

    Re, Piemont

    September 12, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Our visit to Feriolo, Italy, was delightful, though we discovered that the open market no longer operates. Locals informed us that it only runs during July and August. Nevertheless, the scenic, winding drive along the shores of Lago Maggiore was both picturesque and captivating.

    After indulging in some ice cream on the beach, we decided to head toward Domodossola and explore a steep side valley leading to a ski resort. Along the way, we passed numerous small mountain villages, most of which appeared deserted. After about half an hour, we felt we'd seen enough of the somewhat desolate area and decided to turn back.

    Tonight, we're staying at the Albergo Ristorante Bellavista in Re, a small mountain town in the Vigezzo Valley, home to the famous Madonna del Sangue Basilica. Upon our arrival, the owner's mother informed us that their restaurant had closed two years ago, so we would need to find another dining option in Re, about a 15-minute walk away.

    For tomorrow we plan to eplore the Centovally valley and visit the open market in Connero on lake Lago Maggiore.    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps
    11

    Lake Como

    September 13, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    The people we encountered at the hotels, shops, and restaurants were nice and friendly, which has definitely added to our positive vacation experience so far.

    A 24 mph wind swept through the Vigezzo Valley as we headed towards the Centovalli—definitely a route for experienced drivers who can handle the hairpin turns and narrow bridges. I was so relieved we made it through without a scratch!

    In Cannero, we easily found the *piccolo mercato* (small open market), which was fantastic. We bought a bag of delicious grapes and dried fruits, and Ursula scored another beautiful leather handbag, while I found a pair of shoes—both at bargain prices!

    We then continued our journey towards Lake Como via Lugano. The GPS malfunctioned a few times, sending us on detours, but we didn’t mind as we weren’t in a rush. The road along Lake Como’s shoreline was quite narrow, requiring extra caution when buses or trucks approached from the opposite direction. At one point, the GPS unexpectedly suggested we take a ferry from Cadenabbia to Bellagio, which turned out to be a great option.

    We finally arrived at our hotel on the outskirts of Como around 5:30 p.m. The hotel owner recommended his sister’s restaurant, just 2 km away—and it was absolutely fabulous!    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps

    Cavalese, Italy

    September 14, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Today's drive from Lake Como to South Tyrol took nearly five hours.

    Traffic was smooth, mostly along highways, but our GPS threw us off course just north of Milan, only to correct itself when we were almost halfway to Venice—quite the hassle, though luckily we weren't in a rush.

    Heading east, the landscape was rather dull, with not much to catch the eye. But once we veered north into the valley toward Bolzano, things got more interesting. The valley, with its fertile soil, stretched out with vineyards as far as the eye could see. Apples and pears also thrive in this region.

    We decided to leave the highway at one point, taking local roads to explore the countryside and pass through small villages. Naturally, we had to stop for a break and enjoy a glass of local Chardonnay.

    In Ora Auer, we took a right onto Route SS48, which led us to the mountain town of Cavalese. We're staying at the Park Hotel Azalea here, surrounded by high mountains perfect for hiking and skiing.    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps
    1

    Tirol Mountains, Italy

    September 15, 2024, Arctic Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 18 °F

    Check out more photos in yesterday’s blog which got messed up because of Internet failure.

    After breakfast and some helpful tips from the hotel manager, Alex, we took a gondola up to Alpe Cermis, where we caught part of the International Women's Rollerski World Championship race.

    With the foothills of Tyrol behind us, we decided to head into higher elevations and embark on a tour of the Dolomites. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking.

    The drive required careful navigation, as we crossed three snow-covered mountain passes with countless hairpin turns. The stick shift stayed mostly in second gear, occasionally in third. The roads were full of cyclists and mountain bikers—clearly, the Dolomites are a paradise for them.

    After a quick stop for cappuccino and a speck lunch, we tackled one more mountain pass before descending into a lower valley, where we found Hotel Ingram for the night. Their four-course dinner menu looks very promising.

    It was a prefect 79th birthday 🎂!    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps
    2

    Return to Brand, Austria

    September 16, 2024 in Austria ⋅ 🌫 46 °F

    We left the Tirol mountains this morning under a stunning blue sky on a beautiful sunny day. It would have been nice to stay longer, maybe take a gondola ride up the mountain or enjoy a scenic hike.

    A few days ago, we received a note from the hotel in Brand, Austria, where we stayed a week ago, informing us that we had left behind some clothes and a jacket in our room. It’s hard to believe, as we usually double-check everything before leaving, but things happen! So, we decided to make a reservation at the same hotel in Brand on our way back to Wally and Marli in Thurgau, Switzerland.

    Tonight, we are excited to dine at the same restaurant where we enjoyed a fantastic dish of smoked Norwegian salmon.

    The drive to Brand took nearly four hours. As we neared the Brenner Pass, rain from Germany swept in, dampening the journey, and by the time we crossed the Arlberg Pass, the rain had turned to wet snow.    Read more

  • Traveler2024 Austrian Alps
    1

    Feldkirch, Austria

    September 17, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Before leaving our hotel room in Brand, we made absolutely sure we hadn't forgotten anything.

    About an hour later, we explored the charming old town of Feldkirch and its bustling open market.

    From there, it was just a short drive to Wängi, Thurgau, where Ursula’s brother Wally and their friend Marli were waiting for us.Read more

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