April in Bavaria & Alsace
Apr 13th, 2026 | 08:30 AM
#22
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 26
Apr 13th, 2026 | 08:58 AM
#23
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Hey guys,
I'm going to pause on the report to see if we (me & Fodors' Tech Pros) can fix the photo problem. I would like to be able to add captions and spaces between photos.
Lol, Mel! The first time I was in a clothing optional sauna, I pulled open the door to get a full frontal of some Jabba the Hut character. I know I shouldn't fat shame the poor guy, but it was a pretty big surprise. I've lived here long enough, I guess, to have adapted some attitudes. First of all, I know my old 71-year-old body is not significantly more hideous than others', and second of all ... I guess we can get a funny story or nothing at all will happen. You can keep the towel wrapped around you the whole time you're in there. You cannot sweat on the wood, so the towel must come between your skin and the wood. You can take 3 or 4 towels if you want.
Thank you, Ingo! You may remember when I first got her. I'm doing ok hobbling along, lol; at least I have an excuse not to try to keep up with Mel's hikes
Thank you ANUJ!
Glad the photos are giving you a smile! I also just adore the Salzburgerland! Thank you so much; yes, it's a tough time.
So, no new photos. But I drove 2h20 from Hohenschwangau to Appenzell. It was pretty easy, but Waze put me on some cowpath over a mountain -- the road was so narrow that one car had to stop if a car approached in the opposite direction. I'm not finding Appenzell very gorgeous. The countryside outside of town is beautiful, but the town is just a few pretty buildings around a central square. If I need to use this area again as a mid-point in a drive, I'll probably stay in a countryside inn.
s
I'm going to pause on the report to see if we (me & Fodors' Tech Pros) can fix the photo problem. I would like to be able to add captions and spaces between photos.
Lol, Mel! The first time I was in a clothing optional sauna, I pulled open the door to get a full frontal of some Jabba the Hut character. I know I shouldn't fat shame the poor guy, but it was a pretty big surprise. I've lived here long enough, I guess, to have adapted some attitudes. First of all, I know my old 71-year-old body is not significantly more hideous than others', and second of all ... I guess we can get a funny story or nothing at all will happen. You can keep the towel wrapped around you the whole time you're in there. You cannot sweat on the wood, so the towel must come between your skin and the wood. You can take 3 or 4 towels if you want.
Thank you, Ingo! You may remember when I first got her. I'm doing ok hobbling along, lol; at least I have an excuse not to try to keep up with Mel's hikes
Thank you ANUJ!
Glad the photos are giving you a smile! I also just adore the Salzburgerland! Thank you so much; yes, it's a tough time.
So, no new photos. But I drove 2h20 from Hohenschwangau to Appenzell. It was pretty easy, but Waze put me on some cowpath over a mountain -- the road was so narrow that one car had to stop if a car approached in the opposite direction. I'm not finding Appenzell very gorgeous. The countryside outside of town is beautiful, but the town is just a few pretty buildings around a central square. If I need to use this area again as a mid-point in a drive, I'll probably stay in a countryside inn.
s
Apr 13th, 2026 | 09:14 AM
#24
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,033
Likes: 0
S, yes I remember. Do you remember that I almost got to see her once on the drive to (or from?) my Swiss vacation?
How do you upload? In my trip report I upload one picture at a time from "Device", meaning the PC's hard drive. I can add titles, then click on upload, then, once it has uploaded, I click enter and then start all over.
How do you upload? In my trip report I upload one picture at a time from "Device", meaning the PC's hard drive. I can add titles, then click on upload, then, once it has uploaded, I click enter and then start all over.
Apr 15th, 2026 | 07:19 AM
#26
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Yes, I remember that vividly, Ingo. Lol that was just the start of her rule over every single aspect of my life..
Yes, I tried it that way, twice, on the test area. It didn't work for me. The only way the photos will load is if I don't hit "return," which means the photos will all run together.
Thanks Adelaidean!
I think I will go ahead and post another day. You can tell me if it's tolerable having the photos run together, or if I should wait and try posting from home, from my laptop or my old tablet.
Yes, I tried it that way, twice, on the test area. It didn't work for me. The only way the photos will load is if I don't hit "return," which means the photos will all run together.
Thanks Adelaidean!
I think I will go ahead and post another day. You can tell me if it's tolerable having the photos run together, or if I should wait and try posting from home, from my laptop or my old tablet.
Apr 15th, 2026 | 07:22 AM
#27
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Monday 13 April
Today's mission is to drive to Appenzell, which Google maps says should take about 2h30. I left at about 09.00, and despite drizzle and fog, it was an ok drive. Except at one point where Waze had me make a sharp right-hand turn up a mountain on a very narrow road so narrow that one car had to stop and pull over for any cars coming the opposite direction. I arrived around 12.00 to the tiny town. It's really just a cluster of pretty buildings around a square. I'm guessing that the main draw here is the countryside and nearby villages, but with only one night, I didn't have the time to see much. I wandered around town and had lunch, then wondered some more.
The hotel told me that they were going to close completely on Tuesday, that I would be having breakfast at a neighboring hotel, and that I should just put the key in my room when I left. It was quite eerie being the only soul in the hotel in the morning.
Appenzell
That gorgeous countryside outside of town
Not all the buildings are gorgeous and inviting
Today's mission is to drive to Appenzell, which Google maps says should take about 2h30. I left at about 09.00, and despite drizzle and fog, it was an ok drive. Except at one point where Waze had me make a sharp right-hand turn up a mountain on a very narrow road so narrow that one car had to stop and pull over for any cars coming the opposite direction. I arrived around 12.00 to the tiny town. It's really just a cluster of pretty buildings around a square. I'm guessing that the main draw here is the countryside and nearby villages, but with only one night, I didn't have the time to see much. I wandered around town and had lunch, then wondered some more.
The hotel told me that they were going to close completely on Tuesday, that I would be having breakfast at a neighboring hotel, and that I should just put the key in my room when I left. It was quite eerie being the only soul in the hotel in the morning.
Appenzell
That gorgeous countryside outside of town
Not all the buildings are gorgeous and inviting
Apr 15th, 2026 | 08:47 AM
#28
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,033
Likes: 0
Good to see the pictures showing up here ... congrats! ;-)
Appenzell has never been a favourite of mine. Cannot say what it is. Yep, it's picturesque at first sight, but then ... You captured the ambience very well in your photos.
Keep it coming, s!
Appenzell has never been a favourite of mine. Cannot say what it is. Yep, it's picturesque at first sight, but then ... You captured the ambience very well in your photos.
Keep it coming, s!
Apr 16th, 2026 | 07:02 AM
#30
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Thanks Ingo!
Hope this is what you wanted, Ade!
Tuesday 14 April
Google maps said the drive today from Appenzell to Colmar would be about 2h30. Waze laughed. It took 4h. Waze routed me on local roads; I was only on a highway for about 60 of the 240 km. I don't know why it did that; I'm guessing there was so much construction and traffic on the highways that the local roads were actually faster. It was mostly ok but took about an hour to get through Freiburg. My confidence in driving alone through unfamiliar European towns got a big boost though.
I got to Colmar at about 13.00. I parked in the hotel's garage (TIGHT squeeze my car's sensors were SCREEEEECHING at me) and set off to have lunch and explore. What a beautiful town. I fell in love immediately. My hotel is on Rue Turenne, just steps from the canals, but very quiet.
Wednesday 15 April
Today's just for meandering. I wandered the town, found the Medieval Ramparts, the Dominican church and Dominican library, Hansi Museum (really a large shop with a museum at the back, but I didn't go in it reminded me of a Kthe Wohlfahrt store in Germany), the House of the Heads, the Cathedral, and the Unterlinden Museum. I skirted the annoying Easter Market stalls; they felt very kitchy, trying to build on the Christmas markets. Really loved the Unterlinden Museum, especially so many displays with clear German origins such a graphic reminder of how arbitrary country borders can be. Sat and stared at the Isenheim Altarpiece, which was difficult as there were various tour groups and tour leaders speaking in urgent whispers into a microphone. Absolutely adored the cloisters. Then lunch at a truffles restaurant, then got lost, and eventually found my way back to the hotel. Id been on my feet for 4h with no perceptible foot drop, so that's a big win. I was walking super slowly, so I guess that is the key.
Little Venice
Little Venice
Little Venice
Fountaine Rosselmann
Pretty sidestreet
Park
Chapel Saint-Pierre
Park by the chapel
Medieval Ramparts
Medieval Ramparts
Medieval Ramparts
The old town is full of little squares and streets like this
Saint-Martin's Church
Saint-Martin's
Saint-Martin's
And across from tne church, kitchy Easter/Spring Market stalls
Saint-Martin's
Pretty Street
Kitchy neon ride
House of Heads
Hansi Museum
Lovely old half-timbered buildings
Unterlinden Musem, housed in a 13th Century Convent
Pretty buildings
Cloisters of the museum
Cloisters
Cloisters
Pretty street
Pretty building
Interesting street
Love these old stone buildings
Pretty building
Pretty street
Hope this is what you wanted, Ade!
Tuesday 14 April
Google maps said the drive today from Appenzell to Colmar would be about 2h30. Waze laughed. It took 4h. Waze routed me on local roads; I was only on a highway for about 60 of the 240 km. I don't know why it did that; I'm guessing there was so much construction and traffic on the highways that the local roads were actually faster. It was mostly ok but took about an hour to get through Freiburg. My confidence in driving alone through unfamiliar European towns got a big boost though.
I got to Colmar at about 13.00. I parked in the hotel's garage (TIGHT squeeze my car's sensors were SCREEEEECHING at me) and set off to have lunch and explore. What a beautiful town. I fell in love immediately. My hotel is on Rue Turenne, just steps from the canals, but very quiet.
Wednesday 15 April
Today's just for meandering. I wandered the town, found the Medieval Ramparts, the Dominican church and Dominican library, Hansi Museum (really a large shop with a museum at the back, but I didn't go in it reminded me of a Kthe Wohlfahrt store in Germany), the House of the Heads, the Cathedral, and the Unterlinden Museum. I skirted the annoying Easter Market stalls; they felt very kitchy, trying to build on the Christmas markets. Really loved the Unterlinden Museum, especially so many displays with clear German origins such a graphic reminder of how arbitrary country borders can be. Sat and stared at the Isenheim Altarpiece, which was difficult as there were various tour groups and tour leaders speaking in urgent whispers into a microphone. Absolutely adored the cloisters. Then lunch at a truffles restaurant, then got lost, and eventually found my way back to the hotel. Id been on my feet for 4h with no perceptible foot drop, so that's a big win. I was walking super slowly, so I guess that is the key.
Little Venice
Little Venice
Little Venice
Fountaine Rosselmann
Pretty sidestreet
Park
Chapel Saint-Pierre
Park by the chapel
Medieval Ramparts
Medieval Ramparts
Medieval Ramparts
The old town is full of little squares and streets like this
Saint-Martin's Church
Saint-Martin's
Saint-Martin's
And across from tne church, kitchy Easter/Spring Market stalls
Saint-Martin's
Pretty Street
Kitchy neon ride
House of Heads
Hansi Museum
Lovely old half-timbered buildings
Unterlinden Musem, housed in a 13th Century Convent
Pretty buildings
Cloisters of the museum
Cloisters
Cloisters
Pretty street
Pretty building
Interesting street
Love these old stone buildings
Pretty building
Pretty street
Apr 16th, 2026 | 09:31 AM
#31
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,033
Likes: 0
I love Colmar. I only visited as a day trip from Freiburg but saw a lot. Unterlinden museum was super fascinating - the Isenheimer Altar stunning. Did you go into St. Martin church? If I recall correctly it has the Madonna im Rosenhag, a lovely altar painting.
Good news on your foot!
Please keep it coming!
Good news on your foot!
Please keep it coming!
Apr 17th, 2026 | 04:26 AM
#33
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Lol Ingo! We have the same taste. Sadly, I didn't go inside the St Martin's Church. I tend to favor Gothic style churches, like the Basilika St Michael in Altenstadt (Schongau). Do you know that one?? I'm mesmerized when I go inside. But it seems I'd like St Martin's, from the photos. I'll see if I can get there.
Lol Ade ... NO! NONOnononooooo
Thursday 16 April
Today's mission was to see Riquewihr. And here's where the problem with public transport comes in. I didn't want to drive the tiny garage, the screeching car, town traffic, and hunting for parking at my destination are just not worth the convenience for me. So, transport options were, one, the Kutzig bus, but it only runs on weekends, when everyone in France who is not at the Eiffel Tower will be in Riquewihr. The second option is a local bus that runs from Colmar to Riquewihr, but only twice in the morning, at 07.45 and 11.10, with returns possible at 15.15 and 16.18. Well 07.45 is too early and 11.10 is too late. Ah well, I decided to take the 11.10. In Switzerland, there would likely be a bus every 15 minutes, and in Germany likely a bus every hour. Well, that's France.
I left the hotel at 10.00. Google maps said it would take 15 minutes to walk to the train station. But I get lost a lot, I walk supersuper slowly these days, I needed to find an ATM enroute, and I needed to locate the bus stop. So I left at 10.00. The walk took me 38 minutes, and I found an ATM at a bank across from the Gare. Then I hobbled between the four or five bus shelters, and a few folks and I found the correct one pretty quickly. The drive out was unremarkable. The vineyards did not enchant me. Well, it's early in the year, so there is not much growth yet. But my favorite vineyards are those above Lake Geneva because, well, Alpine lake. So these vineyards were fine.
So I walked through the village taking photos. I get its appeal; it's a beautiful little place. But I found it a bit much. Found a cozy spot for lunch. Walked through town again. Interestingly, I heard mostly French on the street. Maybe two groups of folks speaking English. One group speaking Italian. And lot of German, but it was a different German than I'm used to; it was almost Swiss, very singsong melodic. Don't know if that's typical of Black Forest German or not.
I only had to wait about an hour for the 15.15 bus, and I got to talking with a pretty and sweet Korean young woman who was travelling through France for four weeks. She spoke little English and no French, so we chatted through her phone's translate app. Once at the Colmar Gare, I hopped on the free electric bus for a ride back to the hotel.
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Beautiful buildings
Love the old stone
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
There was one main street through the town, with interesting side streets
There were many small courtyards -- some were shops and some were restaurants
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Unfriendly local. But still a sweet sweet baby baby
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
The edge of town
Edge of town
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Such beauty in the age
Riquewihr
The Ramparts
Edge of town
More locals, more friendly
Evidence of life beyond tourism -- beer & cigar stub
Riquewihr
This was the roof of the restaurant where I ate. Had a wonderful Tarte Flambee with Emmental cheese
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Depiction of Riquewihr
Outside of town
Outside of town
Lol Ade ... NO! NONOnononooooo
Thursday 16 April
Today's mission was to see Riquewihr. And here's where the problem with public transport comes in. I didn't want to drive the tiny garage, the screeching car, town traffic, and hunting for parking at my destination are just not worth the convenience for me. So, transport options were, one, the Kutzig bus, but it only runs on weekends, when everyone in France who is not at the Eiffel Tower will be in Riquewihr. The second option is a local bus that runs from Colmar to Riquewihr, but only twice in the morning, at 07.45 and 11.10, with returns possible at 15.15 and 16.18. Well 07.45 is too early and 11.10 is too late. Ah well, I decided to take the 11.10. In Switzerland, there would likely be a bus every 15 minutes, and in Germany likely a bus every hour. Well, that's France.
I left the hotel at 10.00. Google maps said it would take 15 minutes to walk to the train station. But I get lost a lot, I walk supersuper slowly these days, I needed to find an ATM enroute, and I needed to locate the bus stop. So I left at 10.00. The walk took me 38 minutes, and I found an ATM at a bank across from the Gare. Then I hobbled between the four or five bus shelters, and a few folks and I found the correct one pretty quickly. The drive out was unremarkable. The vineyards did not enchant me. Well, it's early in the year, so there is not much growth yet. But my favorite vineyards are those above Lake Geneva because, well, Alpine lake. So these vineyards were fine.
So I walked through the village taking photos. I get its appeal; it's a beautiful little place. But I found it a bit much. Found a cozy spot for lunch. Walked through town again. Interestingly, I heard mostly French on the street. Maybe two groups of folks speaking English. One group speaking Italian. And lot of German, but it was a different German than I'm used to; it was almost Swiss, very singsong melodic. Don't know if that's typical of Black Forest German or not.
I only had to wait about an hour for the 15.15 bus, and I got to talking with a pretty and sweet Korean young woman who was travelling through France for four weeks. She spoke little English and no French, so we chatted through her phone's translate app. Once at the Colmar Gare, I hopped on the free electric bus for a ride back to the hotel.
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Beautiful buildings
Love the old stone
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
There was one main street through the town, with interesting side streets
There were many small courtyards -- some were shops and some were restaurants
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Unfriendly local. But still a sweet sweet baby baby
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
The edge of town
Edge of town
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Such beauty in the age
Riquewihr
The Ramparts
Edge of town
More locals, more friendly
Evidence of life beyond tourism -- beer & cigar stub
Riquewihr
This was the roof of the restaurant where I ate. Had a wonderful Tarte Flambee with Emmental cheese
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Depiction of Riquewihr
Outside of town
Outside of town
Apr 18th, 2026 | 05:32 AM
#36
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Thanks Ade & Ingo!
Friday 17 April
Tired today. Roamed around town, mostly the Little Venice & Tanner's neighborhoods. Found a small jewel for lunch. Couldn't face another restaurant with 100 items on its menu and found L'Arpege, with only 2 menus, one with meat (salmon starter & slow-cooked lamb) and one vegetarian (hummus starter and Samphire main??). I had the lamb. The desert was some amazing 4-things thing with rhubarb and cream and slices of meringue and it was all beyond fabulous. 29.
Beautiful narrow sidestreets
Pretty street
Love the mix of colors
Curves and sunshine
Curves and sunshine
Walking along the canal
The canals
Pretty street
Canals
Behind the covered market
There is so much green space in this town
Lovely walk
Along the canal
Popping out by a small park
Looking back
Canal & houses
Canals
Canals
Schwendi Fountain
Easter/Spring Market decorations
Pretty street
St Matthieu Temple
St Matthieu
Pl. Du 2 Fvrier, a wonderful place to sit and relax
St Matthieu's and attached house
Pretty square
Pretty building
I found the shopping street, Rue des Clefs
Nice greenery
Pretty scene
Still love the old stone buildings
With trees!
The Old Guard House
I popped into a small courtyard, and thus tree took my breath away
L'Arpege reataurant
I ate in this charming garden
Friday 17 April
Tired today. Roamed around town, mostly the Little Venice & Tanner's neighborhoods. Found a small jewel for lunch. Couldn't face another restaurant with 100 items on its menu and found L'Arpege, with only 2 menus, one with meat (salmon starter & slow-cooked lamb) and one vegetarian (hummus starter and Samphire main??). I had the lamb. The desert was some amazing 4-things thing with rhubarb and cream and slices of meringue and it was all beyond fabulous. 29.
Beautiful narrow sidestreets
Pretty street
Love the mix of colors
Curves and sunshine
Curves and sunshine
Walking along the canal
The canals
Pretty street
Canals
Behind the covered market
There is so much green space in this town
Lovely walk
Along the canal
Popping out by a small park
Looking back
Canal & houses
Canals
Canals
Schwendi Fountain
Easter/Spring Market decorations
Pretty street
St Matthieu Temple
St Matthieu
Pl. Du 2 Fvrier, a wonderful place to sit and relax
St Matthieu's and attached house
Pretty square
Pretty building
I found the shopping street, Rue des Clefs
Nice greenery
Pretty scene
Still love the old stone buildings
With trees!
The Old Guard House
I popped into a small courtyard, and thus tree took my breath away
L'Arpege reataurant
I ate in this charming garden
Apr 19th, 2026 | 04:27 AM
#39
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 0
Ingo, sorry, I have no idea. It was just so pretty! I agree; I will definitely be back!
Yes, it was a great find, Ade. It was rated 4.7 on Google maps, so that's how I found it.
Saturday 18 April
The plan today was to see Eguisheim. I wanted to see another Alsacian village, and I hoped that Eguisheim would have fewer crowds than Riquewihr or Ribeauville, even on a Saturday. I took the Kutzig bus that left at 10.15 well it arrived at 10.15, and we all filed in and then driver checked our tickets, so we got started about 10 minutes late.
The Kutzig route runs in one direction, from Colmar - Ribeauville - Riquewihr- Kayserberg - Turckheim - Eguisheim - Colmar. Once you buy the ticket, you can hop on & off all day; it runs from Colmar at 08.30, 10.15, 12.00, 13.45, 15.30, & 17.15.
So, I got on the 10.15 bus, with reservations, and we arrived in Eguisheim at about 11.45. I figured at least I would see pretty scenery and get a glimpse of towns & villages as we went by. The bus was sold out. I happened to sit next to 3 young women in their 20s who were not travelling together but who were making instant friends. The one who talked the most had Valley Girl dictionnnn right??? And the certainty of youth. They discussed the various merits of chateaux near Paris, and Valley Girl pronounced Salzburg lovelyyyyy but not worth an overnight; Prague is wonderfulllll; and Vienna was nice. I kept my resting Cillian Murphy face on. But I was seriously impressed with all the travel these young women had already experienced.
So, finally got to Eguisheim, ate a bite, walked a bit, and found myself half-timbered out. Just could not get excited about more of the same. Took some photos, got the next Kutzig back, then the electric bus home to relax and pack.
I will definitely be back. I adore Colmar, and there's quite a lot I didn't get to the inside of the Cathedral (!), and Haut-Koenigsbourg, for two. And, my friend reminds me, just sitting in a caf drinking wine and nibbling cheese isn't a bad option either in gorgeous Colmar. Today was hot, 22c, and I didn't bring any summer clothes. So when I make it back here, I'll most likely come earlier in April or in late March.
I slent a few minutes waiting at the train station, and thus woman and her travelling cat intrigued me!
The beginning of the outermost ring of Ramparts at Eguisheim
The outermost Rampart
Rampart
Rampart
More half-timbered buildings
Mkre half-timbered
And still more
Towards the inner ring
The back of the chapel
Roaming around an inner ring
Roamjng a ring
Eglise St Peter & Paul
Eglise St Peter & Paul
The inner ring
Entrance to the Eglise St Peter & Paul
The inner ring
The back of the Chapelle
Chapelle St Leon
Insude Chapelle St Leon -- stunning
Stunning
Fountain & statue of St Leon, a loval boy who became pope. The town's concentric ramparts start at this point
Sunday 19 April
Today's a driving day, just 2h20, but still stressful. I arrived in berlingen, had lunch at the Bad Hotel's outside lakeside restaurant while we had sunshine, rain, storm, and hail. It. Is. Seriously. Gorgeous. Lake and flowers and trees, my favorite. I feel that I went from gorgeous civilization to gorgeous nature, and I'm feeling that the Colmar + berlingen combo is going to be on repeat. However, for today, I'm a bit discouraged from venturing out, so I'm settling in and posting photos and doing laundry.
Yes, it was a great find, Ade. It was rated 4.7 on Google maps, so that's how I found it.
Saturday 18 April
The plan today was to see Eguisheim. I wanted to see another Alsacian village, and I hoped that Eguisheim would have fewer crowds than Riquewihr or Ribeauville, even on a Saturday. I took the Kutzig bus that left at 10.15 well it arrived at 10.15, and we all filed in and then driver checked our tickets, so we got started about 10 minutes late.
The Kutzig route runs in one direction, from Colmar - Ribeauville - Riquewihr- Kayserberg - Turckheim - Eguisheim - Colmar. Once you buy the ticket, you can hop on & off all day; it runs from Colmar at 08.30, 10.15, 12.00, 13.45, 15.30, & 17.15.
So, I got on the 10.15 bus, with reservations, and we arrived in Eguisheim at about 11.45. I figured at least I would see pretty scenery and get a glimpse of towns & villages as we went by. The bus was sold out. I happened to sit next to 3 young women in their 20s who were not travelling together but who were making instant friends. The one who talked the most had Valley Girl dictionnnn right??? And the certainty of youth. They discussed the various merits of chateaux near Paris, and Valley Girl pronounced Salzburg lovelyyyyy but not worth an overnight; Prague is wonderfulllll; and Vienna was nice. I kept my resting Cillian Murphy face on. But I was seriously impressed with all the travel these young women had already experienced.
So, finally got to Eguisheim, ate a bite, walked a bit, and found myself half-timbered out. Just could not get excited about more of the same. Took some photos, got the next Kutzig back, then the electric bus home to relax and pack.
I will definitely be back. I adore Colmar, and there's quite a lot I didn't get to the inside of the Cathedral (!), and Haut-Koenigsbourg, for two. And, my friend reminds me, just sitting in a caf drinking wine and nibbling cheese isn't a bad option either in gorgeous Colmar. Today was hot, 22c, and I didn't bring any summer clothes. So when I make it back here, I'll most likely come earlier in April or in late March.
I slent a few minutes waiting at the train station, and thus woman and her travelling cat intrigued me!
The beginning of the outermost ring of Ramparts at Eguisheim
The outermost Rampart
Rampart
Rampart
More half-timbered buildings
Mkre half-timbered
And still more
Towards the inner ring
The back of the chapel
Roaming around an inner ring
Roamjng a ring
Eglise St Peter & Paul
Eglise St Peter & Paul
The inner ring
Entrance to the Eglise St Peter & Paul
The inner ring
The back of the Chapelle
Chapelle St Leon
Insude Chapelle St Leon -- stunning
Stunning
Fountain & statue of St Leon, a loval boy who became pope. The town's concentric ramparts start at this point
Sunday 19 April
Today's a driving day, just 2h20, but still stressful. I arrived in berlingen, had lunch at the Bad Hotel's outside lakeside restaurant while we had sunshine, rain, storm, and hail. It. Is. Seriously. Gorgeous. Lake and flowers and trees, my favorite. I feel that I went from gorgeous civilization to gorgeous nature, and I'm feeling that the Colmar + berlingen combo is going to be on repeat. However, for today, I'm a bit discouraged from venturing out, so I'm settling in and posting photos and doing laundry.
