2008 Europe: 5 Countries in 5 Weeks

Our trip to Europe was for 5 weeks during autumn 2008 from September to October. We stayed in 5 countries starting with Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, and ending with France.

The trip's goal was to search for the best in landscapes, local cuisine, wines, & beer. We stayed in 3 B&B's, 2 Hotels, 2 apartments, & one Pension. Like last year we leased the Hatchback Peugeot out of Montreal which we picked up at the Paris airport. Driving in Europe is a great idea for those who want to go off the typical tourist areas and get out to the country.

We brought a GPS this year for the trip and it was our first experience using this technology. We discovered that you still have to read your maps because not everything shows up on the GPS. Still, we recommend it highly and it allowed for ways to get out of the road mazes within medieval cities and have the confidence to change plans as we go.


Jim drove us across Europe taking the scenic routes which brought us the visual autumn beauty of all the countries traveled. Needless to say, my camera was working overtime. I might not have been sporting a diamond necklace instead around my neck at all times was my digital Rebel Canon SLR... full of visual jewels to share with everyone.

Belgium:

Antwerp, De Haan, Brugge, Wijnegem, Damme

Our leased red Peugeot parks in front of the red door B&B in Antwerp... a designated parking spot which is very important in Antwerp.

Our first stay was in Antwerp Belgium relying on our new GPS to find our reserved B&B within the city. Row housing, twisty streets, and old cobblestone streets make up these cities ambiance of history. Many changes through wars, hostile take over and modern times make for eclectic building designs throughout the city. 

You can hire tour guides to take you through but we chose to walk through ourselves with my camera clicking away at some of the details.

Cogels-Osylei and the surrounding streets in the district of Berchem have art nouveau building styles. The Art Nouveau neighborhood has been saved from demolition and is still in need of preservation by craftsman.

Antwerp

One area worth the walkthrough is the complete and intact art nouveau neighborhood Cogels-Osy Zurenborg. At one-time city developers where going to tear down this incredible neighbourhood but people stood up to them to preserve the neighbourhood full of art nouveau architecture buildings.

Take a tour walk with a guide.

While we walked around we noticed many buildings still waiting to be repaired etc but many others have gone through conservation and restorations, keeping craftsmen workers busy for many years to come. Antwerp has the most intact Art Nouveau buildings anywhere in Europe.

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten 

ENTRANCE

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten

Out front of the museum is a unique pond feature. It is somehow connected & affected by a real tide so the water comes in and out of the pond throughout the day exposing sculptured man-made seaweed.

Tide is out and sculpture is exposed resembling seaweed...

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten

Stone Tiling and mosaics on the floors of the museum...

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten

the tiled entrance foyer...

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten

the cafe inside...

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten

This area is open to the public to view behind Plexiglas

the restoration process of ancient art works.

Very informative even when no one is there,

a film is available to view. 

www.vlaamsekunstcollectie.be

Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten has a splendid collection of Baroque works by Rubens and his contemporaries, as well as works by 19th-century Salon artists and by the Modernist painters James Ensor and Rik Wouters.

We found that Antwerp’s air is smoggy and the roads, sidewalks are in very poor condition. We took bikes out to get around and it was horrible to bike around town and quite dangerous even thou everyone rides about… it’s not Holland that’s for sure.

Antwerp under the train tracks.

Cobble Stone Streets in Antwerp

Gastoff  De Beiaard

Here for some monk brewed beer and a Authentic Belgium food

with new Belgium friends, Lode & Carilyn

Authentic Belgium food...cooked pork in gravy with 

pearl onions served with baked apples in a tart cranberry sauce...and of course BEER.

We ventured into the country side of Belgium and found people to be very friendly and food/ beer excellent. Jim had connected up with a Belgium hockey blogger Lode before we went on our trip and we where invited into his Belgium home. What awesome people Lode and his wife Carilyn where to us… treating us like they have known us for years. They had taken us to a local Monks brewery and restaurant to go out for an authentic Belgium Dinner. Once back to their home they gifted us 30 varieties of beer made in Belgium. 


Our 5 weeks travelling was drinking the variety of brands in the three boxes full. Some beers are heavy, thick and some are light but the Belgians take great pride and competition with other countries tooting Belgium make the best! Much to my surprise I enjoyed Belgium’s refreshing fruit & berry beers. Not like anything we get in Canada and not the high sugar sweet/chemical taste we seem to add to our alcoholic beverages.

Axel Vervoodt Interior Designer Studio in Wijnegem, Belgium

Interior Show rooms in huge old warehouses

Axel Vervoodt Interior Designer Studio in Wijnegem, Belgium

Interior design for ultra chic Industrial look mixing

 found and modern pieces with character flaws.

Axel Vervoodt Interior Designer Studio in Wijnegem, Belgium

Every corner and every space is set up catching light from outside showing how placement with windows 

to create mood for interior design.

Axel Vervoodt Interior Designer Studio in Wijnegem, Belgium

Axel Vervoodt Interior Designer Studio in Wijnegem, Belgium

One interesting place called Axel Vervoodt Kanaal studio…. not really knowing what we where going to see but thought it sounded kind of cool so drove to the town called Wijnegem, The most incredible visual experiences in the fusion of interior deign among collections of art, furniture and industrial space. A photographer’s delight.

This place is huge… and a photographers/ interior designer’s visual dream walk through like a museum but all set into industrial spaces. Jim actually ended up meeting this famous designer’s wife in one of the rooms. We where not knowing whether this was a museum honoring this guy named Axel so he asked is this guy Axel alive… she said as far as she knew that this morning he was still breathing! We laughed and she knew we where tourists off the beaten path and told us this place is where they take on world class contracts for interior design! 


Turns out the son of Axel played professional hockey with Lode our new Belgium friend. Sometimes it is a small world and linked together in surprising ways. Anyway if every you’re in town this place is a must to experience.

De Haan..a quaint Belgium tourist town on the sandy beaches.

De Haan's walking promenade and beach with changing huts 

and beach chairs for some serious sun tanning when in season.

Protected Sand Dunes with beaches that go on for miles.

We drove out to the sea and came to an incredible holiday village called De Haan in Belgium's vulnerable sand dunes and seashore. Gorgeous seaside sand beaches for miles and architecture features of Belgium designs for homes and pensions. We found that it was not that expensive to stay here and everyone comes from somewhere else so it’s a very upbeat place to visit with family etc. Great food and shops for deli eating.

De Haan Belgium summer town 

with unique architecture. 

There are lots of apartments, B&B's and hotel to rent in De Haan. A lively place even off season and can catch a train to any city for the day...but then who wants to leave this delightful place....We only stayed for an afternoon but would certainly come here to stay the next time and get into more of what Belgium has to offer.

Brugge, the medieval Belgium city that did not get bombed. 

A maze of streets filled with all kinds of 

Belgium goodies, foods, and their beer!

Entrance to Brugge medieval village.

Famous Belgium Chocolate shops

We stayed for an afternoon then took off to see Brugge another incredible medieval place to visit. We caught just the end of the day walking through Brugge but did manage for another sampling of great Belgium beer. Brugge is a tourist town for sure but well worth the visit as it is a medieval city preserved for tourism with all its little bridges, art, and shops. This is the most delightful place to wander and it is a busy tourist place even offseason.

Water canals throughout Brugge

All throughout these areas is country roads for easy driving and for cycling. Many tourists will stay in other smaller pensions outside of Brugge then rent their bikes for the most wonderful country driving with pit stops for Belgium beer and sandwiches along the way.

Damme is a small village close to Brugge 

There was a Brewery here that made small batches of handmade beer.  Jim just had to seek and drink Pate Van Damme. He bought their beer from the daughter (not the best personality) in their shop which he has since retired from beer making. This village is a cyclist stop over and Beer festivals do still happen in this village of Damme.

Damme Belgium Windmill

We will come back to Belgium to visit Brussels and other quaint villages. I had as a child lived in Verdun and have fond memories of HOT Frits (Belgian fries) cart traveling down the street selling its long style fries and its delicious mayonnaise sauces. Many fond memories. 

Holland The Netherlands:

Rotterdam, Den Haag, Delft, Schipluiden, 

Maasland, North Sea Dyke, Friesland

Buck540 quote: "The name Holland is widely used as being equivalent to the Netherlands; its use is similar to the use of England for the United Kingdom, or Russia for the defunct Soviet Union. Mainly people from other parts of the Netherlands sometimes object to this. They will point out that they are from the Netherlands, instead of the smaller part of the country that is called Holland. People from the southern provinces Limburg and Noord Brabant (Northern Brabant), which are mainly Roman Catholic, retain some bad sentiments against Holland. During the time of the United Provinces, these areas did not have any political liberties and were exploited as colonies. A culture of this exploitation and the feeling of being exploited remained until the second world war; only after this war, with the true modernization of the Dutch society did they become freer and did their relative power increase. The anti-Holland sentiment remained, however, and is still relatively alive in these parts of the country." unquote

Rotterdam and its new architectural designed city.

Rotterdam is designing with geometry & 

sculpture for their buildings...most incredible.

We drove to Rotterdam just to check out the newly built city and discovered some really exciting and unusual architecture. We didn’t stay but glad we stopped and walked around the city. 

Den Haag, Downtown

A busy city Den Haag...most upbeat and clean.

Den Haag, Esher art in the Het Palais Museum...a must to see

Den Haag, Art Museum Gemeente..

Our B&B in Den Haag, Holland

Den Haag B&B

www.polls-bedandbreakfast.nl 

We had another B& B reservation in Den Haag, with hostess Francoise Poll. We enjoyed the historical rooms and walking distance to all that makes Den Haag and entertaining city. Francoise sets a fine table for breakfast with delightful gourmet choices in an all antique room which you share with other B&B quests. Our destination B&B was most excellent and the service, food, room was top notch. 

Den Haag, the Parliament 

and the collection of fine Dutch art museum inside.

Den Haag was a delightful place to hang out walking the lively city core, parks, and excellent art museums. Highly recommend this city and what it has to offer.

Escher in Het Paleis is a must to see as everyone has at some time seen the playful illusions of Escher's artworks. This place is gorgeous and it's interactive displays demonstrate some of the illusions Escher drew upon in his artworks. A MUST SEE. http://www.escherinhetpaleis.nl/

Den Haag, Art Museum Gemeente..

A room displayed with antiquities of Holland

Den Haag, Art Museum Gemeente..

Showcase of men and fashion over the decades to now, most interesting.

Mauritshuis Dutch Art Museum is a great collection of the finest Dutch paintings in one place. Wonderful building to walk around and can get close to see masters of fine art.

Gemeente museum in Den Haag has the most unbelievable wide collection of artists including the masters and contemporary, including historical displays, etc to be featured here. You need a couple of days to get through the architecturally designed building full of something for everyone. A MUST SEE. www.gemeentemuseum.nl/

Delft canal

Jim decided the next destination was to go to more countryside and a medieval Dutch city called Delft, famous for their Blue & White dinner porcelain. This area presented the most awesome biking experience for us. Our B&B hosts in Delft, Kiki & Ton Berendsen presented a personal cozy home in a park-like area and the most delightful hosts. www.delftbedandbreakfast.com they gave us two bikes to tour the whole area with some suggestions we might like to view. 

The bike ride was the most incredible experience and the best way to gt to know the Dutch countryside filled with little villages, pastry, beer, and scenery PLUS!

Kleyweg's Stads Koffyhuis

Truly the best gourmet sandwiches and place to have a beer in Delft.

These Delft famous sandwiches are in designer buns 

with fillings such as cranberries, eggplant, etc. 

and wonderful mayonnaise dressings too...

try some of the Dutch beer with it.

The bathroom inside shows the famous blue and white Delft 

china collage and tiled onto the wall.

Delft Shopping in the square for tourists.

Delft has street parking but mostly everyone rides
 a bike to get around town.

Delft Streets

Delft children riding their bikes home and 

this daycare bike wagon filled with young children 

and a fit young guy pedaling them home! 

Delft Square

We did as much as we could in one long full day without a map. Biking into different towns each time showing us how attentive the Dutch are for their tidiness in their environment also showing the uniqueness of architecture and landscape. 

Schipluiden and a fantastic bakery shop... 
one must go inside!

The village Schipluiden

Theo Hoek Brood & Banketbakkerij Bakery in Schipluiden

Theo Hoek Brood & Banketbakkerij Bakery Schipluiden

It’s like being in fantasy land but it for real. People live here in Schipluiden… another most incredible quaint village with hand made baked goods in a shop called Theo Hoek Brood & Banketbakkerij Bakery: Found this bakery full of excellent quality baked goods. We had coffee & treats served outside by the delightful proprietor. A MUST EAT HERE. No website but here is the address: Dorpsstraat 29 in Schipluiden… certainly a tongue twister.

Theo Hoek Brood & Banketbakkerij Bakery Schipluiden

 Netherland Windmills are all along our bike travels.

Thatched roof historical farms house along with our bike travels.

A bike path along the Dyke.

We came across these sculptures that turn out to be high chairs for the cyclist to take some time to chill out viewing the Dutch landscapes...

The land around the villages is very precious. 

The government has sheep farms maintaining 

its natural land with lots of care and preservation.

Maasland

Maasland, Cafe De Pynas

Along the way home we stopped in an old town called Maasland, Cafe De Pynas: is worth mentioning to stop in for some hearty fusion food and great Dutch beer. Address:’s-Herenstraat 20 3155 Sj Maasland Delft is full of bike adventures on some incredible bike trails through the county skirting around all the quaint Dutch towns.

Quaint village Maasland by Delft 

found along our full day bike tour. 

The trees are all pruned into pointy shapes in  Maasland.

Maasland, a village along a canal

This marks the end of a long day of biking and now with a full stomach we got to make it back to before it pours rain... we made it just in time! Next country Germany. We enjoy our leased Peugeot which gives us the options to take detours to anything that might interest us. We like to leave a spontaneous moment to discover surprises along our travels and going into Germany we discovered another quaint town we would not otherwise have made appoint to visit...onto the next journal.

Germany:

Walsrode, Cello, Berlin, Mitte, Steiglitz, 

Dahlem, Bavaria, Langenargen

'You Know Your In Germany', 

When you are surrounded by taxidermy!

 Walsrode has horse head coat of arms 
on the tip of the roof peaks.

Walsrode

Europe has excellent graffiti...Walsrode

Walsrode, as we walked around the village, 

noticed many homes and businesses 

relating to the learning and playing of music.

Walsrode village center early morning...

found my bakery for the days shopping for keeping us 

in nibbles as we are to be on the road again.

 Walsroder Hof in Germany was the most wonderful place. Pristine clean, very nice rooms, and a huge bathtub...was PINK and BIG with lots of hot water. The fresh and filling breakfast in the morning is included in your bill.

We noticed many businessmen stay at the Walsroder Hof. The cobblestone streets are done differently here and are very decorative but the interesting thing about these cobblestone streets is the sound of the car tires roll over the streets. It sounds like waves over a rocky beach...very soothing. All streets should sound this good!

In the main part of the town is our Walsroder Hof

The very German Lobby at the Walsroder Hof !

Driving a car throughout Europe let us experience some of the uniqueness of such small towns like Walsrode. It is a quaint little town with the most elaborate cobblestone streets that made the tires sound like waves of water. Walking around town we found many fantastic bakeries, my special passion, as well some interesting architecture of the roofs and front doors. 

A lot of serious music studying and instrument making Luthiers who live here. Friendly town and loved our hotel with the most humorous host of the hotel Walsroder Hof giving us a room with it’s a fantastic HUGE bathtub, comfortable rooms with a well-stocked breakfast & parking included for $70.00 CND.

 Celle Germany

Celle Germany 

A local bar owner from Cello stops to chat 

and give us a free parking pass.

Cello Bar owner, his Hurst Car 

and his funny dog wearing a tube around her neck!

Cello Bar Hurst!

Celle Germany

Another day of travels and we decide to take a detour coming into a quaint town called Celle. We managed to find parking out front of a bar which we had the opportunity to meet with the eclectic owner and his dog where a rather huge tube around his neck to keep him from chewing himself...very funny dog! The guy owned an old funeral Hurst car for his ride and offered to get us a free parking pass for a couple of hours out front of his bar so we could go venture into the historical village that survived thwars. . We later stopped into his bar and had a few beers with him. We love to travel and meet new people who make life that much more special.

Hauptbahnhof Train station in Berlin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Hauptbahnhof

We arrive in our favorite European city, Berlin. We are going to stay in Steglitz in our friend's apartment. We park our car and take the metro to everywhere we want to go for the most part.

You can get transportation and museums deals together with ticket purchases. I, fortunately, belong to CARFAC  as an artist member ($55.00 membership per year) in Canada and can through them get a special artist's passport from them for $8.00 to enter most of Europe's museums free. 

The trains are a great way to see the sprawled out city getting off into different areas to explore new areas. Hauptbahnhof Train station in Berlin is the biggest train station for pick-up, transfers, and drops off people coming from all over Europe on all types of trains. Inside is also a big mall filled with all kinds of shops for last minute shopping and food. 

Hitler's airport Tempelhof

We had to take a trip to see the last days of the Tempelhof airport before it was to shut down in 2008. There is talk about what to do with Hitler's architectural structure. Do they turn it into condo's, shops, etc. as the cost of transforming this place is huge and it can not be torn down as its a historical place.

Berlin's Theater 

Many of the new Berlin buildings are designed so beautifully and have a siding that is a mixture that creates texture and color used to shape these wonderful architectural buildings.

Potsdamer: The Schloss (castle) CecilienHof

We spent a day wondering around Potsdamer park with its beautiful lake filled with sailboats and this historical castle that you can stay for a holiday getaway. Architect Paul Schultze-Naumburg built in 1914-1917 the castle Cecilienhof for Prince Wilhelm. 

It's an English Tudor style with lots of gardens throughout the area. The castle is now a hotel.  A busy place to wonder about you can also find a famous beer garden on the lake to drink your thirst away. A very busy place even on the offseason.

Architect Paul Schultze-Naumburg built in 1914-1917 the castle Cecilienhof for Prince Wilhelm. It's an English Tudor style with lots of gardens throughout the area. The castle is now a hotel.  A busy place to wonder about you can also find a famous beer garden on the lake to drink your thirst away. A very busy place even on the offseason.

Berlin: Sony center

Coming into the city center of Berlin, you can not but admire the direction this city is taking, merging their very old standing structures and modern architecture. They want this to be a city filled with the arts, music, theater, history and architectural and I have to agree, it is a marvelous place to explore it all here in Berlin. In the Sony Center is a huge theater where we went to see the movie Tropical Thunder in English. 

Rare Orchids in the Dahlem: Botanischer Garten

Many cacti displayed to walk about and see them in their perfect climate in the Dahlem: Botanischer Garten.

Rare orchids in the Dahlem: Botanischer Garten

Dahlem: Botanischer Garten expansion

Dahlem has a huge garden and a botanical building that was expanding when we where here in 2008. There is a building filled with rare orchids and cacti to wonder around admiring the perfection of such incredible plants. Will certainly stop in again to view the expansion and walk the gardens.


 Pack a lunch...The outside area of the Botanisher Garten is also filled with variety of trees from every corner of the world. Many private places to sit and meditate with the natural surroundings. We went to the Botanical museum  the year before, and inside is a historical layout of ancient plants. In this museum, they have cells of every plant from ancient to current stored at their facilities to study and preserve.

Staatliche: Ethologischer Muesum

Staatliche: Ethologischer Muesum

Staatliche: Ethologischer Muesum

Staatliche: Ethnologisches Museum cafe...
very excellent prices and most delicious!

I have come to this museum twice and still did not get finished with reading and adventuring the displays of every culture around the world. On certain days during the week it is free admission so spend it on a treat and coffee in the cafe! I was surprised to find featured even a Vancouver BC Native artist, Bill Reid. He is someone I have met in the past. What a fantastic place to study cultures from all over the world. the displays are first class involving artifacts, art works, clothing, etc.

Mitte and graffiti 

Mitte is a funky area in Berlin with houses and entertains many musicians, artists, or anyone wanting to see oodles of graffiti with affordable row housing. The area is full of young energy, artists, musicians and the poorer part of Berlin but certainly most entertaining with concerts etc. with lots to do and see. 

Mitte White Trash Fast food Restaurant...

everywhere is art.

Mitte White Trash Fast food Restaurant

Mitte White Trash Fast food Restaurant

Mitte White Trash Fast food Restaurant
the FUNKIEST place to eat and hang out.

Funk appeal is certainly here and while here you just got to try out his place we recommend…. White Trash Fast Food Restaurant & live music venue has lots of attitudes, visual entertainment, and awesome food selections. It is an enormously popular Anglo-American burger joint and club situated in a former Chinese restaurant. The basement smoky, grotto-like “Diamond Lounge,” hosts bands and parties. 

Karate practice in a Steiglitz laundry!

The Best Bakery in the world is in Steilglitz: 
The Royal Bakery Konditorei Rabien

Germany, Berlin, Steglitz, Konditorei Rabien (Bakery): An absolute must on anyone's list to eat the best cakes you will have ever laid your lips to rest. Since 1878 this family-owned bakery starting with Ernst Rabien was appointed Royal Confectioner. Only the best ingredients and notably about $1.90 Euro for a slice of heaven.  www.rabien-berlin.de

Langenargen Schloss Montfort

Langenargen Germany Hotel Alder: 
The ceramic chicken stairs

Langenargen Germany Hotel Alder: 
The Yellow room

Time for us to do some more travel, not knowing where we are going to stay as we are leaving some parts of our trip spontaneous. We arrived in a sleepy little German tourist town called Langenargen,  as it was after the tourist season. There is a quaint little castle called the Schloss Montfort. 

We tried to find a good rate for three nights as we needed to rest our tired heads. We arrived at Hotel Alder, a BOUTIQUE Hotel, here we found a quirky place to stay, where each room was decorated with KITSCH stuff and each room was a certain color theme! We stayed in the YELLOW room that looked out over the town and water view. 



We were greeted by a pencil thin woman who reminded me of Olive Oil from Popeye. She barked some orders into the kitchen having her Chef come out to carry our suitcases above his shoulder up the stairs, careful to not knock over these absolute STUPID ceramic Roosters set along each step as well as stacked magazines, making it a dangerous place to walk. I noticed a few roosters had lost their heads along the way and were glued back on...WEIRD place but quiet enough for us to have some sleep. We also watched on TV as the whole world had its financial crash. It was a surreal experience. Not cheap place to stay but quiet, good food and easy walking along the town and waterfront. They had fresh food markets on certain days which brought out a lively group of people. 

Next country is Austria where we leave on gorgeous sunny weather and come into a very scary drive through the Alps into a surprise blizzard

Austria:

Zell Am See, Lofer, Schmitten Alps, 
Castel Hoenwerfen, Bavaria

Austria Alps surprise blizzard

We came through the Austrian Alps, leaving on a sunny day but arriving in Austria in a snow blizzard. We passed several motorcyclists attempting the dangerous steep climb, barely hanging on, all of them trapped with the surprise blizzard. We were in a new Peugeot and it was terrifying, to say the least. 

Travelling was at a snail's pace in the blizzard through the Alps. We arrived in a mountain village called Zell Am See and drove to the top of a hill looking for a pension that was open. Many places were closed down for the end of fall, getting ready for their busy season filled with skiers. 

Herbertus Pension  Zell Am See

Fortunately, we came across the most delightful place Herbertus Pension with the 'Hostesses with the Mostesses', Beate and Bernd. He welcomed us into the door with a shot of something strong to settle the nerves from driving out of a blizzard and welcomes us to their Pension. They have had this building in the family for several generations and turned it into the most fabulous Pension. 

Mountain folded pillows and cozy beds.
Herbertus Pension  Zell Am See

The rooms have been all upgraded and you will find Folk style painting on the furniture and clean crisp sheets and pillows they fold into mountains. 

The breakfast is all organic and local, eaten in a room filled with history and Bernd will come to delight you with the daily joke and some conversation that will set your day. We caught the Pension in its last days for the season just as they where closing up for a seasonal cleanup but they let us stay on for a few ore days while they started their season cleaning. Most delightful people and wonderful facilities very close to the ski run.

Schmitten Alps Ski Lodge Zell Am See

Zell Am See, Schmitten Alps 
skiing closed for the season 
but opening soon for winter.

We decided to spend a sunny day visiting a ski slope called the Schmitten Alps. With the recent blizzard of snow fall we got the most incredible sight to see the vast alps for miles. I describe Austria as a treasure of gemstones, rich in color, textures and fresh air.

Zell Am See lake side and walking paths

Zell Am See lake and mountains

Zell Am See Town Center

Zell Am See is a quaint historical town of about ten thousand people which is filled with lots of tourist attractions and great restaurants. Each night we went to one of the places still open after season and ate some of the finest sausage meals and beer. Cozy town with lots of areas to walk and admire the lake and mountain views.

Lofer village

Lofer streets and village

We spent a week in Zell Am See travelling by car to visit other areas. We came across a delightful town called Lofer which again was in off season and barely anyone around but did manage to get into one shop to buy some Austrian sweaters and a knit cap.

Birds of prey at the castle Hohenwerfen

Castle Hohenwerfen

Birds of prey show at the castle Hohenwerfen

We came across a castle way up in the mountain sides and where curious so drove up to the castle and decided to catch a tour of Castle Hoenwerfen. First arriving you notice a tram that takes you up to the castle entrance. You can walk up the hill through the woods but expect a big hike. 

The Castle was built during 1075 used as a military training grounds and a hunting lodge. Inside is also a horrible prison where they tortured people. We decided to take the castle tour with a woman who was very informative and full of humor too, teaching us all about the years of many uses and abuses this castle has sustained and doled out. 


Nothing shiny nor glitzy about this castle but most interesting surprise for us was the Birds of Prey show. They put on a good show getting the variety of birds to swoop down above your heads from one handler to the other. 

Amazing creatures in an amazing setting but wear your good walking shoes to get in and around this area. We decided to go view the birds of Prey museum and then decided to walk out of the castle and head to our parking by taking the woodland pathways to look out over the incredible views while getting some fresh air and much-needed exercise.


Next trip is to France where we do have reservations for a rental apartment in Colmar France.

France:

Colmar, Soultzmatt, 
Alsace, Epernay

Colmar and building details

France is filled to the brim of fantastic foods and wines scattered about many quaint villages full of unique architecture that defines each towns personality and culture influences. Our first village was Colmar for a weeks stay and ending in Epernay the Champagne village. 

Colmar rental apartment

We made reservations a head of time before arriving in Europe, with a  friendly woman Leslie with her rental apartment in the center of Colmar, a most delightful village filled with history, narrow cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. Leslie also has a fantastic bed and breakfast within her home too but we wanted to be on our own for the week.  This village is a shopping dream filled with foods, kitchen supplies, antiques, art, fashion, etc. We like to keep to on our budget and keep from buying stuff but do indulge in looking for local foods and wines.

Colmar building details and colors

Colmar village

Colmar's quaint architecture 

Narrow cobble stone streets of Colmar

Colmar, France is filled with a lot of history and cute marshmallow buildings, painted very colorful with lots of wood details and metal signs. The story on why the buildings where designed top heavy was the taxes where paid on the lower square footage so smart like, they built the next floors up adding more square footage so that no extra taxes needed to be paid on the extra square footage! This village is filled with busy tourists and attractions even in the off season. 

Colmar's Specialty Meat shop called Tempe filled with a variety of gourmet pate and the famous region pork pies.

The Colmar apartment was very cute and comfortable with our own little kitchen so that I could cook up a storm with daily trips, shopping for local foods including our two favorite shops: Fromagerie St Nicolas cheese shop and Colmar's specialty meat shop named Tempe filled with a variety of cold cuts, butcher meats, various pate, and meat pies. Cooking our own foods helped us to keep to our burger budget but with the same delicious gourmet outcome, as if we had paid top dollar in restaurants to dine. 

BEST fresh French Local Colmar cheese shop

The stinky cheese is in the airtight refrigerator at the back...where do you get started? So many cheese and so little time to try them all!

BEST CHEESE please!!... shop at Fromagerie St Nicolas: Taste test all the regions most excellent cheese with shop owners who will guide you through the history of their cheese selections. An unforgettable taste experience. www.fromagerie-st-nicolas.com

Alsace wine village where the wineries 
sell their wines to costumers.

 We rented cycles for the day to tour the Alsace grape vine countryside and peddled through the villages and vine filled hillsides with ripe grapes ready for picking. Most amazing juicy taste right off the vines. Tasting the grapes then trying out the wine was nectar from the GODS no doubt. 

Cite de l'Automible Musee National in Mulhouse

Cite de l'Automible Musee National in Mulhouse

Cite de l'Automible Musee National in Mulhouse

Cite de l'Automible Musee National in Mulhouse

Cite de l'Automible Musee National in Mulhouse

Cite de l'Automible Musee National in Mulhouse

We took a day trip to a car collectors dream museum.  In the village of Mulhouse, is the Cite de l'Automible Musee National: A most prestigious car collection that goes on for miles inside. Cars dating back to the beginning of the automobile and all in running order!. It starts with a collector, Schlumpf, who becomes obsessed in buying his favorite Buggotti race cars to eventually bankrupting and spending the families money owing to the French back taxes so now it's for all of us to see and admire. There are tour headphones to listen to the stories about the collections from Race cars to Royalty cars it is the car buffs most excellent historical collections.

Soultzmatt Winery

We went for a fall scenic drive through the French Vosges mountains and came out to a village called Soultzmatt where this place is famous for the naturally carbonated water. The bi-carbonated water is especially good for stomach ache, liver, kidney and bladder diseases,  and has been sold in bottles since 1853. 

We bought a case of lemon flavored and enjoyed every last drop. Also, this village sells wines and we decided to stop into a local vineyard to buy some wine. We were greeted by a very large St. Bernard who announced our arrival. We were then greeted by 2 generations of women who took us to the outside kitchen house where they cook the meals for the field crews every day.

The women were just cleaning up and sat us down to try their sparkle wines called Grande Cru and Cremant. Jim tried out his French and they opened up to us pouring more glasses of wine. we bought a dozen and set off for dinner at our Colmar apartment where some stinky cheese and pork pies are waiting to be devoured!

Epernay: Moet Chandon Champagne samples after tour.

France Epernay: Moet Chandon Champagne 

Wrapping up our 5 weeks, we decided to end it with Champagne country stopping overnight in Epernay France, staying at a cheap IBIS Hotel. The room was fine but the food was the most disgusting vile plate of ???? I have ever eaten. Shockingly bad, I asked the server and the cook to explain. I am not a super picky person but we are in a champagne country and this was prison food. They didn't take it off the bill but offered dessert. I declined and went to bed hungry instead but thankfully I had a big bar of chocolate and some sparkling lemon Soultzmatt water to wash it down. 


Earlier that day we decided to take the tour in the Moet Chandon Champagne winery. We bought some tickets to sample the champagne at the end of the tour and it turned out our gal opened up the wrong cheaper bottle but opened the most expensive one...OHHH well, she asked if we minded the more expensive taste for the bargain price! BRING it on! 

We got a bit tipsy and staggered out to the streets to walks around an expensive landscape filled with BIG wineries. SAD, its the end of our 5-week tour and have to return the leased Peugeot at the Paris airport. 


We love Europe and plan to make it our regular destination for traveling. Reading history out of a book just is not the same as stepping back into time walking through the ancient and modern countries of Europe.

There are so many more places we want to visit and yet would like to come back to some of the places we have already acquainted our selves. Going to museums to see the art and artifacts brings a richness to our trips. We hope you have enjoyed and become inspired to search out some of the places we have visited and seek out your own adventures.....

Bon Voyage, Minaz & Jim