Bodensee, Lake Constance

We are staying in Lindau, which sits on Bodensee and looks across the lake to snow covered Switzerland. Fabulous place. We are in the best hotel of our trip. The prettiest building, a gorgeous bigRead more
We are staying in Lindau, which sits on Bodensee and looks across the lake to snow covered Switzerland. Fabulous place. We are in the best hotel of our trip. The prettiest building, a gorgeous big light filled room with everything a traveller could possibly want, and as well as a hotel it is also a konditorei - cake shop! Lindau is so charming, both the shore area and the little island. On shore are the loveliest mansions, with beautiful gardens, quiet lovely spots everywhere, and on the island intriguing medieval half timbered buildings, lanes, passageways and cobblestones streets.Read more
Today I can say, I really loved being on the motorbike. A simply lovely ride through charming villages, lovely French countryside and great curvy but good roads. Pity about the speed limits! Unfortunately it’s hard to get photographs from the back of the motorbikes (I now have huge admiration for the cameramen on the Tour de France). I aim at a village or chateau or castle and get a great image of a tree. On stopping we found the Cathedral of Brioude a great pleasurable surprise. 11th century frescoes still intact on one part of the roof (hidden for centuries).
As usual the food was far too good.Read more
And weather getting warmer! But looks like you are there before the tourist hoards
OMG, That church in Brioude (which I had never heard of) is stunning, both inside and out. You are one lucky traveler. Now off to google to see where in the world Brioude is!
Good day. Short distances and great villages.
Such beautiful countryside and towns and villages. Would suggest visiting Les Baux and Uzes but probably for your next visit.
A good ride today with two UNESCO World Heritage sites thrown in (both also on the route from Arles, one of the 4 great Santiago French pilgrim trails) - St-Guilherme-Le-Désert, a perfectly preserved medieval village in a spectacular gorge and Albi cathedral. Lovely. To Toulouse via the Millau viaduct which has always fascinated Ian. We made it! Now for a few days with our friends - and time out of the saddle.Read more
The memory of benzine in Monte Carlo (for Ian a trip along the famous road circuit) then to Grasse for me to pursue my perfume obsession. Which I did - saved a lot of money by spending some! Then to a charming bed and breakfast in the nearby village of Carnet. Where we had an enormous dinner!Read more
Does read and look like a most enjoyable holiday. Beautiful scenery, plenty of food and a vibrancy to life. Loving your posts.
My goodness, girl, this is quite the gorgeous adventure. Loving your pictures and posts.
The Côte d’Azur. On some good local advice we did some hilly touring to very pretty hillside towns in the Asti area (of Asti Spumante fame) - then an exhilarating (terrifying) ride up and down through the gorges to the coast and a nice family run hotel on the beach front at MentonRead more
Not a very exciting drive (a slow crawl beside the lake followed by many kilometres on a straight road across the Lombardy plain). Again we found a lovely place to stay. Big country house hotel, set in pretty gardens, with an excellent restaurant. And a theatrical barman giving us cocktails in the garden. Tomorrow we shall tour a little instead of driving the kilometres down.Read more
Well, this is stunning. We find ourselves in Torbole. It’s extraordinarily beautiful. Character filled village, reflective lake, surrounded by mountains. The Dolomites. World Heritage stuff. It rather makes up for our extreme bike trip skipping through Austria. Which I do do want to revisit at leisure. Again, trying to keep ahead of the rain, we left Bavaria and headed into the Tyrol. Zipped along the motorway towards very impressive snow covered mountains along a long river valley, the river churning with snow melt. Kept going until the rain caught us.Read more
Quite a road trip you’re on. Stunning scenery, loved Lago de Garda. I think you should consider this trip a reconnaissance for future travels. There’s much to be enjoyed and explored at leisure. Happy Aussie Mother’s Day.
My faith in Google Maps took a beating today. I think we took a 50km detour through the woods to cover 11km. We were gunning it to avoid threatened rain. A long ride from Pilsen past signs all pointing to Munich (which we were trying to bypass) but eventually we finished up on the German Austria border at a friendly pub. Appropriately it was holding a dinner for the local Harley Davidson branch. Good hot food, served by happy hearty lasses in local Tyrolean costumes, and a comfortable bed.Read more
Loving your posts - just catching up the last few days. I've got friends who rave about the Waze app for directions - you could see if it does better than Google maps.
With rain forecast for the next few days, we decided to start west. Our destination is Toulouse, in time for the Eurovision/Australian election soirée next weekend and we need to get in a few km. Being on a bike changes the priorities because it is unpleasant, and more dangerous, to ride in rain. So to Pilsen we went via some pretty minor roads, beside gorgeous river villages. The Czech countryside is so pretty.
Pilsen has the prettiest town square, around the cathedral (closed for restoration until 2020). Ian then toured the Pilsen Brewery and we both drank beer. Here it’s cheaper than bottled water.Read more
Picture postcard
you sure have found some gorgeous places. When you get home ( are you coming home ever?) we will all want a rundown on most decadent/delicious cakes you guys have consumed, as it seems you have given a fair crack of trialling all on offer! As has the model for the fabulous sculpture.
So who are the lucky people who actually LIVE here?! That statue looks like a caricature of a Botero. Jill, this is just an amazingly beautiful trip you are so lucky to be on!!!!