Support Group for Those Who Love Switzerland, Part V
May 28th, 2004, 07:22 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Support Group for Those Who Love Switzerland, Part V
Kicking off a new thread to welcome back Swandav and encourage her to write a very detailed trip report! While she is typing, perhaps Ingo or Phil will give us a report on the Basel GTG! Come on you guys, inquiring minds, and landbound souls, need to know!
May 28th, 2004, 08:54 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I met s and Ingo at Basel railway station all right, and I spent a few hours chasing them aroud the city.
As both of them are travelling home while I'm writing this, you will have to wait for their critique (I'm not going to write anything about it, as I was the organiser ;-) ).
Phil.
As both of them are travelling home while I'm writing this, you will have to wait for their critique (I'm not going to write anything about it, as I was the organiser ;-) ).
Phil.
May 29th, 2004, 03:53 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hello? Hello?? Where am I?
Got in last night at 21.00; since then I've been apologizing to my cat and trying to sort out my STUFF.
Phil -- you are truly the magic man. What an incredible, insightful, wonderful, powerful, awesome walking-talk he gave ("tour" is just too limited a word). Without giving away personal information, I can say that Phil managed to get us private access to the Muenster church as well as the Rathaus in Basel. He knows every corner and every small detail of the monuments, art, and the history of Basel and these buildings -- Ingo and I were constantly pointing to things and saying, "What's that . . ." and without hesitation, Phil would give a detailed history of the object. That musty period of the Reformation becomes much more clear and present and important with a knowledgeable friend like Phil!! My only regret is that we didn't have the time to sit and talk -- I'm still full of questions for both Phil and Ingo.
Ingo, even with only these few hours together, I feel like you're my great, *smarter*, talented younger brother. I'm really looking forward to another visit!
And Ursula!!! I forgot to call you Thursday night -- I must have been on "leaving town" mode and was absorbed with packing & calling home to check on the cat! I hope you can forgive me! Ursula is the shopping ueber-guide! We met at Spruengli and had a coffee, followed by champagne at the Zum Storchen (**wonderful riverside bar**), followed by dinner in the Stadelhofen area (can't remember the name of that place -- the little mouse?? --fantastic!!). In between, Ursula led me up one tiny street and down another, into various tiny shops and larger departement stores, giving me a whirlwind insider's view of the old city. We did have some time to sit & talk, and she showed me pictures of her Caribbean adventure!
The other spectacular highlight of the trip was Saanen -- another beautiful place I fell in love with instantly.
I'll write more details later. The worst parts were: Stuck in Martigny with no bikes to rent and running around in the heat of the day wearing cycling pants with, you know, that three-foot padding in the crotch. Heaving on the train tracks in Monteux enroute to Saanen (stomach flu) and spending the first day in Saanen in bed. Missing my luggage for an extra day because I didn't believe the SBB when they said it would be 48 hours to forward my luggage from Saanen to Zuerich; it DID take 48 hours . . . and when I washed out my top & underwear they didn't dry overnight . . . And, of course, you know about the atm troubles.
Stay tuned . . .
s
Got in last night at 21.00; since then I've been apologizing to my cat and trying to sort out my STUFF.
Phil -- you are truly the magic man. What an incredible, insightful, wonderful, powerful, awesome walking-talk he gave ("tour" is just too limited a word). Without giving away personal information, I can say that Phil managed to get us private access to the Muenster church as well as the Rathaus in Basel. He knows every corner and every small detail of the monuments, art, and the history of Basel and these buildings -- Ingo and I were constantly pointing to things and saying, "What's that . . ." and without hesitation, Phil would give a detailed history of the object. That musty period of the Reformation becomes much more clear and present and important with a knowledgeable friend like Phil!! My only regret is that we didn't have the time to sit and talk -- I'm still full of questions for both Phil and Ingo.
Ingo, even with only these few hours together, I feel like you're my great, *smarter*, talented younger brother. I'm really looking forward to another visit!
And Ursula!!! I forgot to call you Thursday night -- I must have been on "leaving town" mode and was absorbed with packing & calling home to check on the cat! I hope you can forgive me! Ursula is the shopping ueber-guide! We met at Spruengli and had a coffee, followed by champagne at the Zum Storchen (**wonderful riverside bar**), followed by dinner in the Stadelhofen area (can't remember the name of that place -- the little mouse?? --fantastic!!). In between, Ursula led me up one tiny street and down another, into various tiny shops and larger departement stores, giving me a whirlwind insider's view of the old city. We did have some time to sit & talk, and she showed me pictures of her Caribbean adventure!
The other spectacular highlight of the trip was Saanen -- another beautiful place I fell in love with instantly.
I'll write more details later. The worst parts were: Stuck in Martigny with no bikes to rent and running around in the heat of the day wearing cycling pants with, you know, that three-foot padding in the crotch. Heaving on the train tracks in Monteux enroute to Saanen (stomach flu) and spending the first day in Saanen in bed. Missing my luggage for an extra day because I didn't believe the SBB when they said it would be 48 hours to forward my luggage from Saanen to Zuerich; it DID take 48 hours . . . and when I washed out my top & underwear they didn't dry overnight . . . And, of course, you know about the atm troubles.
Stay tuned . . .
s
May 29th, 2004, 04:15 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh Welcome back, S! and big hugs to Grasshopper and Phil and Ingo and Ursula! What an adventure (and there's never an adventure w/o a few misadventures) and what torture to wait until you recover from jetlag, S', and can begin to write a detailed trip report! J.
May 29th, 2004, 05:13 AM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome back, S! It sounds like a truly action packed time. So so so sorry to hear about the flu thing.... that's no good. But you did have some great GTGs. How lovely!
Can't wait to get the long version. I hope you're sleeping now.
Can't wait to get the long version. I hope you're sleeping now.
May 29th, 2004, 05:47 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello fellows!
I am glad to hear you are back at home, S! I cannot say how much I enjoyed meeting you, my older sister ;-) And I hope our next meeting will be SOON! Really looking forward to it.
Phil, I think S said it all: an outstanding afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed the lunch and the tour of Basel afterwards. How nice of you to organise all this so well! Like one poster earlier said on Fodors, Basel is a jewel, fortunately not overrun by tourists.
More about my trip later in a separate post. Jw, I think I posted on the older thread that I visited the Kunstmuseum and the Schwitters/Arp exhibit - just want to say that it was amazing. Some details will follow in the trip report. No pictures on that, I am sorry (not allowed).
Hugs to all,
Ingo
I am glad to hear you are back at home, S! I cannot say how much I enjoyed meeting you, my older sister ;-) And I hope our next meeting will be SOON! Really looking forward to it.
Phil, I think S said it all: an outstanding afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed the lunch and the tour of Basel afterwards. How nice of you to organise all this so well! Like one poster earlier said on Fodors, Basel is a jewel, fortunately not overrun by tourists.
More about my trip later in a separate post. Jw, I think I posted on the older thread that I visited the Kunstmuseum and the Schwitters/Arp exhibit - just want to say that it was amazing. Some details will follow in the trip report. No pictures on that, I am sorry (not allowed).
Hugs to all,
Ingo
Sep 5th, 2004, 07:30 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bringing this up to say hello to my fellow Suisse fans, express excitement and anticipation about Judi's upcoming trip (2 weeks away!), and remind me of the good folks on Fodors who always have incredibly useful information and nary a nasty word!
Hello to all of you from Keystone, where I woke to a couple of inches of snow this morning!
Hello to all of you from Keystone, where I woke to a couple of inches of snow this morning!
Sep 5th, 2004, 11:04 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi friends,
how nice of Grasshopper to bring this back to the top.
Judi is going on a trip in 2 weeks? Please don't say it is SWITZERLAND?!
Snow in Keystone? Hm, usually I would say "I am envious", but in this case ... we had a great late summer day here today (26 Celsius, how much is that F?) with sun and dry and clear air. Went hiking in the hills south of Dresden, which are called "Saxon Switzerland". At least the name reminded me of Switzerland.
S - I am sure summer will come to an end in the south, too.
Have a good week,
Ingo
how nice of Grasshopper to bring this back to the top.
Judi is going on a trip in 2 weeks? Please don't say it is SWITZERLAND?!
Snow in Keystone? Hm, usually I would say "I am envious", but in this case ... we had a great late summer day here today (26 Celsius, how much is that F?) with sun and dry and clear air. Went hiking in the hills south of Dresden, which are called "Saxon Switzerland". At least the name reminded me of Switzerland.
S - I am sure summer will come to an end in the south, too.
Have a good week,
Ingo
Sep 5th, 2004, 12:07 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you, Grasshopper. I am indeed counting the days; I have taken my luggage out of the attic and am ready to pack!
Ingo, I am headed to SWITZERLAND and will be there for three weeks. (I'm sorry for your pain. ;-) )
We have rented an Untour apartment in Sachseln, thirty minutes south of Luzern by train, and will be there for two weeks. I plan to have an adventure every day.
From Sachseln we are going to Montreux for four nights as a tribute to s and Solothurn for two nights because Ingo said it is a nice town. We will spend one night in Zurich before flying out the following day. We have a 22 day SwissPass and I'm sure we will get more than our money's worth.
S, I'm anticipating rain for us later in the week as Frances makes her way through our area. I am ready for fall weather as well.
Grasshopper, I hope you are enjoying your snow. Ingo, 26 C = 78.8 F = beautiful weather!
jw, I wish you a great school year!
I will report on this thread when I return from our trip.
Ingo, I am headed to SWITZERLAND and will be there for three weeks. (I'm sorry for your pain. ;-) )
We have rented an Untour apartment in Sachseln, thirty minutes south of Luzern by train, and will be there for two weeks. I plan to have an adventure every day.
From Sachseln we are going to Montreux for four nights as a tribute to s and Solothurn for two nights because Ingo said it is a nice town. We will spend one night in Zurich before flying out the following day. We have a 22 day SwissPass and I'm sure we will get more than our money's worth.
S, I'm anticipating rain for us later in the week as Frances makes her way through our area. I am ready for fall weather as well.
Grasshopper, I hope you are enjoying your snow. Ingo, 26 C = 78.8 F = beautiful weather!
jw, I wish you a great school year!
I will report on this thread when I return from our trip.
Sep 5th, 2004, 02:00 PM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Snow's all melted now. And the Aspen, which are turning yellow before my very eyes, survived the shock of premature white stuff!
I just read Lorna's latest journal entry and there is a big surprise for some of you. Ingo, I see she asked you for advice. I really appreciate your kindness to her!
I just read Lorna's latest journal entry and there is a big surprise for some of you.
Ingo, I see she asked you for advice. I really appreciate your kindness to her!
Sep 6th, 2004, 11:42 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Judi! The pain is only bearable if you promise to post a trip report and pictures later
Your plan sounds fabulous. Sachseln looks like a good base for adventures. And I am sure you will like both Montreux and Solothurn, too.
Have a great trip!!
Grasshopper, what a nice surprise - Lorna reading "the" book! And now I am sending her to the Alps, hopefully she will not completely fall a victim of the Hans Castorp syndrom
Cheerio,
Ingo
Your plan sounds fabulous. Sachseln looks like a good base for adventures. And I am sure you will like both Montreux and Solothurn, too.
Have a great trip!!
Grasshopper, what a nice surprise - Lorna reading "the" book! And now I am sending her to the Alps, hopefully she will not completely fall a victim of the Hans Castorp syndrom
Cheerio,
Ingo
Sep 11th, 2004, 04:59 AM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello, gang. What a great surprise to see your notes at Saturday morning coffee time! Judi!!!! I am so excited for you!! Sachseln is a wonderful location! I can't recall which Swiss towns you've already visited, but you'll never run out of places to enjoy! When we stayed on Brienzersee many years ago and daytripped to Lucerne, I was enchanted by the beautiful views from the train that goes through the Brunigpass -- especially the little village of Lungern on its blue-green lake. (And have you already been to the outdoor museum at Ballenberg?) Thun? Oberhofen? Bern?
26 is about 78F, Ingo, and that sounds wonderful to me. Here our highs have come down to about 90, but the humidity is terrible. The sugarcane is high, so as soon as we have our first cool snap, they'll start harvesting and my drive to school will be slowed behind wheeble-wobble sugarcane trucks, and my allergies will go crazy. Ah well. Does anyone out there read the detective novels of James Lee Burke?
Whoa, I'm digressing. Happy trails to all. Are we watching the U.S. Open tennis? Later, J.
26 is about 78F, Ingo, and that sounds wonderful to me. Here our highs have come down to about 90, but the humidity is terrible. The sugarcane is high, so as soon as we have our first cool snap, they'll start harvesting and my drive to school will be slowed behind wheeble-wobble sugarcane trucks, and my allergies will go crazy. Ah well. Does anyone out there read the detective novels of James Lee Burke?
Whoa, I'm digressing. Happy trails to all. Are we watching the U.S. Open tennis? Later, J.
Sep 11th, 2004, 05:19 AM
#14
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
p.s. Grasshopper, I just looked in at Lorna's journal. What a kick! Years ago (good grief, my 'life' is 'years ago), we spent a week in Neckargmund and really loved that part of Germany. Little Dilsberg and hiking (ha) among the four castle ruins along the river near Neckarsteinach (I think). Anyway, I'm trying to locate Horb on my map but must be looking in the wrong section. ? J.
Oct 17th, 2004, 02:28 PM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We had a great time in Switzerland. I was lucky to have two seats on the flights going and returning so I put up the armrest, gathered up some pillows and got some sleep. That's luxury at economy seat prices!
The first two weeks were spent in Sachseln with Untours. It is a sweet and friendly town with two good restaurants, the Schlussel and the Hotel Engel, so we ate well. One evening we attended a Folkdancing Program in Sachseln and although we didn't understand the dialogue we enjoyed watching the local people, especially the children.
We boarded a train every day off on an adventure. We love those Swiss trains! We did a lot of walking, some of which could be called hiking. Our longest hike was from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, starting with a cable car from Wengen and returning to Grindelwald by train. We also walked through the Aareschlucht Canyon near Meiringn.
The villages in the valleys are so picturesque..Giswil, Kaiserstuhl, Lungern... I never tired of looking at them as we rode along in the train.
We took boat rides on Lake Brienz, Lake Luzern and Lac Leman. We upgraded to first class each time and with our SwissPasses it didn't cost much.
We took a long and interesting postbus ride starting in Meiringen via the Grimsel, Furka and Susten Passes. It was a clear day and the seven hours went by quickly.
We went to parades in Thun and Spiez. We went to thr top of the Stanserhorn and Planplatten by way of cable cars and funiculars. We spent a beautiful day at the Swiss Outdoor Museum, Ballenburg.
One Sunday we went to the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln. The interior of the Abbey church is beautiful, very colorful and cheerful.
The first two weeks were spent in Sachseln with Untours. It is a sweet and friendly town with two good restaurants, the Schlussel and the Hotel Engel, so we ate well. One evening we attended a Folkdancing Program in Sachseln and although we didn't understand the dialogue we enjoyed watching the local people, especially the children.
We boarded a train every day off on an adventure. We love those Swiss trains! We did a lot of walking, some of which could be called hiking. Our longest hike was from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, starting with a cable car from Wengen and returning to Grindelwald by train. We also walked through the Aareschlucht Canyon near Meiringn.
The villages in the valleys are so picturesque..Giswil, Kaiserstuhl, Lungern... I never tired of looking at them as we rode along in the train.
We took boat rides on Lake Brienz, Lake Luzern and Lac Leman. We upgraded to first class each time and with our SwissPasses it didn't cost much.
We took a long and interesting postbus ride starting in Meiringen via the Grimsel, Furka and Susten Passes. It was a clear day and the seven hours went by quickly.
We went to parades in Thun and Spiez. We went to thr top of the Stanserhorn and Planplatten by way of cable cars and funiculars. We spent a beautiful day at the Swiss Outdoor Museum, Ballenburg.
One Sunday we went to the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln. The interior of the Abbey church is beautiful, very colorful and cheerful.
Oct 17th, 2004, 02:44 PM
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The coolest thing was having reservations in the Panoramic car of the Golden Pass train from Zweisimmen to Montreux. There are only two rows of four seats in this car so I was glad that I made reservations ten days in advance. It was like ridng in an automobile along the tracks. I don't know where the engineer sat.
We liked Montreux a lot. We started out at the Hotel Golf but we were not happy there so we moved to the Eden au Lac. We were quite happy there! We visited the Hotel Victoria in Glion (s's hotel) and watched the sun set behind the mountains on the other side of the lake. It was a glorious sight! The Victoria and its grounds are pretty and peaceful.
We walked to Vevey from Montreux and enjoyed that town. We took the train to Les Pleiades from there but came right back down.
We took a boat to Ouchy and then a tram to the old town of Lausanne. We didn't care for Lausanne.
Solothurn is a pretty town as well but it rained both days we were there. We visited Bern from there and were glad we were staying in Solothurn. We stayed at the Hotel Krone which was pretty creaky but I passed it off as Old World charm.
We spent the last night in Zurich at the Pension St. Josef, a sweet little pension near the old town. We spent the afternoon walking around and had a nice dinner at Mere Catherine.
We spent a boatload of money but had a shipload of fun!
Photos of this trip can be seen at:
http://homepage.mac.com/pj2592/PhotoAlbum40.html
Thanks, all you lovers of Switzerland, for your help.
We liked Montreux a lot. We started out at the Hotel Golf but we were not happy there so we moved to the Eden au Lac. We were quite happy there! We visited the Hotel Victoria in Glion (s's hotel) and watched the sun set behind the mountains on the other side of the lake. It was a glorious sight! The Victoria and its grounds are pretty and peaceful.
We walked to Vevey from Montreux and enjoyed that town. We took the train to Les Pleiades from there but came right back down.
We took a boat to Ouchy and then a tram to the old town of Lausanne. We didn't care for Lausanne.
Solothurn is a pretty town as well but it rained both days we were there. We visited Bern from there and were glad we were staying in Solothurn. We stayed at the Hotel Krone which was pretty creaky but I passed it off as Old World charm.
We spent the last night in Zurich at the Pension St. Josef, a sweet little pension near the old town. We spent the afternoon walking around and had a nice dinner at Mere Catherine.
We spent a boatload of money but had a shipload of fun!
Photos of this trip can be seen at:
http://homepage.mac.com/pj2592/PhotoAlbum40.html
Thanks, all you lovers of Switzerland, for your help.
Oct 17th, 2004, 03:01 PM
#18
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You won't believe this...but...just returning from a fabulous vacation with Untours in Provence, I just reserved Chalet Berit in Sachseln!!!...starting Sept 7,05. I am dying to know every detail but I will limit it to a few questions now, which two week period where you there, were the train connections easy to get everywhere, how late could you return to Sachseln via train? I'll wait for your answers while I check out your pictures. I just did a trip report on Provence and Untours, I love them.
