We went to Colmar today and then to an Alsatian winery for lunch. We bought some wine for our stay in Milan. On our way to Basel now, for a visit to Zurich tomorrow. We are on schedule and on itinerary. Great weather. The temps have dropped about twenty degrees from a week ago.
Sealord...Do you hear any talk among the tour guides about hardships coming to Germany this winter? I'd be interested in what they might have to say. Thanks!!!
Great pics and comments. We are going on the 7Sept Romantic Rhine on the Inspire. Can’t wait to see it all for ourselves! Go Navy, Sealord- my husband is retired as well.
The French sculptor, Bartholdi, from Colmar designed the Statue of Liberty. It's a well-known fact for New Yorkers and was at one time taught in schools there.
The ‘hardships’ is the fact that Germany relies on gas supplies from Russia more than any other countries, so the government is already making restrictions so that a stock pile builds up to help cover the winter months. It’s going to be the same all over Europe. My British friends tell me their household power bills are going to skyrocket. The government is going to be giving money handouts to those on lower incomes. Let’s hope it’s not a cold winter for them.
Sealord , Good to know that you are headed to Basel. We are on an October Rhine Enchantment tour from Milan and will be boarding the Grace in Basel. Will be watching to see if water levels remain OK. Looking forward to your reports, including Milan
Sealord...Thank you so much for this. Seeing your photos brings back many memories of past trips and--as it always does--gets me excited about our upcoming journey. Stay safe on the rest of your trip! Have a pastry on me.
The point where the Swiss, and the French. and the Germans meet in Basel.
We have departed Basel on our way to Lugano and Milan via train … right now doing one hundred miles per hour. We have three ‘private’ cars on the train..
It is raining in Basel and here.
We are now in the world’s longest railway tunnel at 57 kilometers go 100 mph.
Thank you ever so for your running commentary on this particular trip. We embark on the same cruise in Amsterdam on the 7th. Thrilled to be traveling again! We are doing a back to back month in Europe...The Rhine Enchantment then Milan to Venice for Venice/Florence/Rome land tour. Safe travels home and...again, thank you! And, oh yes...GO NAVY! Gene
Last night was the “Last Supper”. Very moving, but very dark. They keep the light very low on the Last Supper end of the room to help preserve the piece. The pictures actually show more than you can see with the naked eye. The iPhone is better than the eye. Private showing with roughly twenty five in each group. We were told that Tauck is the only tour company that gets after hours private viewings. I don’t know why that is, but they have very strict protocols that are perhaps in anticipation of expanding that program. The Duomo also had strict security … more difficult than getting past the TSA with cobalt knees.
Today we did our final trip. We went to Lake Como. It is a beautiful place. We did see George Gooney’s … sorry … Cloony’s three homes on the water front. Had a large late lunch before our large farewell dinner … I ate maybe half of each. Great trip.
Yep, that’s Covid. I was in our study yesterday while my hubby was talking to a colleague who just came back from the Tauck Danube and that’s what they had, sniffles and they tested positive. Lucky you, you got off lightly.
Thank you. I enjoyed your comments and the photos you shared. Do not allow the entitlement of others to mar your trip experiences and your review. Unfortunately, it is always those with little experience who are the most verbose about everything. Everything. I wish you and your lovely wife a safe trip home.
Well said, cathyandsteve. Please do not refrain from posting your knowledge and experiences on this forum. That's exactly what some want so they can continue with their own personal chat room. I know you have a trip coming up and I am already looking forward to reading about your experiences.
Sealord, I enjoyed your pictures and the sharing of your experiences on this trip. John and I will be on the same cruise starting Oct 26, from Amsterdam to Milan. After reading your cruise comments, I can hardly wait, perhaps we can compare notes in a couple months when we return.
Thank you, Sealord. Although I have not been on this specific adventure, we have seen all your other highlights on other trips. You have triggered (and I mean that in a good way) some wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing yours...with us!!!
Thank you all for your nice comments. I got a few thank you’s from a few of our companions who ‘outed’ me on the trip. “Are you Sealord?”. I didn’t get any ‘flags’.
Sealord, I have always enjoyed your posts but enjoyed this trip in particular since we going Oct 15. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. A couple questions --
Did you stay in Basel or go to Zurich?
Were there any restaurants you would recommend in Milan? It looks like there are two nights where we are on our own for dinner.
Thanks!
I’ve searched and searched but cannot find the sign of the restaurant we ate in in Milan. I did find pics of food. where we ate lunch in the Galleria
How about all those shaved truffles!
Birder49: We ate at Amami Pizza for the first dinner out, and we also had lunch there … so I guess we liked it. We also ate the second night at Imbarco 10, which is at 10 Marco Polo which is the first street to the right of the hotel as you are walking out. Amami is farther down Marco Polo a couple blocks. Both are close. We liked both choices. Imbarco 10 will require reservations, and we also got reservations for Amami through the concierge. Imbarco 10 is a fish restaurant. Highly rated on TripAdvisor.
We took the day off at Basel … took a walk to the ‘spike’ pictured on my thread. We both had been to Zurich a number of times, and we were a bit tired. Some people were envious when they came back and found us lounging near the hot tub with a glass of champagne.
Sealord, Thanks for the dinner suggestions. I like the idea of dinners close to the hotel. That is interesting that you skipped Zurich. I am not usually a fan of huge cities but felt that since we have been to Basel for Christmas Markets we "should" do Zurich. Now I wont feel guilty if we skip. Laying around the hottub with champagne sounds wonderful!
Comments
We went to Colmar today and then to an Alsatian winery for lunch. We bought some wine for our stay in Milan. On our way to Basel now, for a visit to Zurich tomorrow. We are on schedule and on itinerary. Great weather. The temps have dropped about twenty degrees from a week ago.
Sealord...Do you hear any talk among the tour guides about hardships coming to Germany this winter? I'd be interested in what they might have to say. Thanks!!!
Great pictures Sealord have fun
Great pics and comments. We are going on the 7Sept Romantic Rhine on the Inspire. Can’t wait to see it all for ourselves! Go Navy, Sealord- my husband is retired as well.
The French sculptor, Bartholdi, from Colmar designed the Statue of Liberty. It's a well-known fact for New Yorkers and was at one time taught in schools there.
He also designed every statue in Colmar except the one of himself. Did not hear anything about the winter in Germany from the guides.
The ‘hardships’ is the fact that Germany relies on gas supplies from Russia more than any other countries, so the government is already making restrictions so that a stock pile builds up to help cover the winter months. It’s going to be the same all over Europe. My British friends tell me their household power bills are going to skyrocket. The government is going to be giving money handouts to those on lower incomes. Let’s hope it’s not a cold winter for them.
Don’t want ‘global warming’ but now want a warm winter? (;-)
By the way, the price of gasoline in Germany is lower than the price of gasoline around San Francisco. Go figure.
Sealord , Good to know that you are headed to Basel. We are on an October Rhine Enchantment tour from Milan and will be boarding the Grace in Basel. Will be watching to see if water levels remain OK. Looking forward to your reports, including Milan
Sealord...Thank you so much for this. Seeing your photos brings back many memories of past trips and--as it always does--gets me excited about our upcoming journey. Stay safe on the rest of your trip! Have a pastry on me.
The point where the Swiss, and the French. and the Germans meet in Basel.
We have departed Basel on our way to Lugano and Milan via train … right now doing one hundred miles per hour. We have three ‘private’ cars on the train..
It is raining in Basel and here.
We are now in the world’s longest railway tunnel at 57 kilometers go 100 mph.
The monument in your photo looks like a stylized Bomark. Remember those?
Thank you ever so for your running commentary on this particular trip. We embark on the same cruise in Amsterdam on the 7th. Thrilled to be traveling again! We are doing a back to back month in Europe...The Rhine Enchantment then Milan to Venice for Venice/Florence/Rome land tour. Safe travels home and...again, thank you! And, oh yes...GO NAVY! Gene
The rain in Lugano went away before we got there. One side of the tunnel was rain. The other side was bright sunshine.
Hotel Principe at breakfast.
Last night was the “Last Supper”. Very moving, but very dark. They keep the light very low on the Last Supper end of the room to help preserve the piece. The pictures actually show more than you can see with the naked eye. The iPhone is better than the eye. Private showing with roughly twenty five in each group. We were told that Tauck is the only tour company that gets after hours private viewings. I don’t know why that is, but they have very strict protocols that are perhaps in anticipation of expanding that program. The Duomo also had strict security … more difficult than getting past the TSA with cobalt knees.
Today we did our final trip. We went to Lake Como. It is a beautiful place. We did see George Gooney’s … sorry … Cloony’s three homes on the water front. Had a large late lunch before our large farewell dinner … I ate maybe half of each. Great trip.
So you have Cov a cold?
Yep, that’s Covid. I was in our study yesterday while my hubby was talking to a colleague who just came back from the Tauck Danube and that’s what they had, sniffles and they tested positive. Lucky you, you got off lightly.
Predictable responses. I have no idea what you are talking about. (;-)
All six of our group are going to dinner in Milan tonight.
Sealord's recent reference to his "cold" seems to have vanished.
We fly home tomorrow. Good night.
Y’all…there are summer colds that are NOT Covid…just sayin’.
Sealord,
Thank you. I enjoyed your comments and the photos you shared. Do not allow the entitlement of others to mar your trip experiences and your review. Unfortunately, it is always those with little experience who are the most verbose about everything. Everything. I wish you and your lovely wife a safe trip home.
Well said, cathyandsteve. Please do not refrain from posting your knowledge and experiences on this forum. That's exactly what some want so they can continue with their own personal chat room. I know you have a trip coming up and I am already looking forward to reading about your experiences.
Sealord, I enjoyed your pictures and the sharing of your experiences on this trip. John and I will be on the same cruise starting Oct 26, from Amsterdam to Milan. After reading your cruise comments, I can hardly wait, perhaps we can compare notes in a couple months when we return.
Thank you, Sealord. Although I have not been on this specific adventure, we have seen all your other highlights on other trips. You have triggered (and I mean that in a good way) some wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing yours...with us!!!
Thank you all for your nice comments. I got a few thank you’s from a few of our companions who ‘outed’ me on the trip. “Are you Sealord?”. I didn’t get any ‘flags’.
Sealord, I have always enjoyed your posts but enjoyed this trip in particular since we going Oct 15. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. A couple questions --
Did you stay in Basel or go to Zurich?
Were there any restaurants you would recommend in Milan? It looks like there are two nights where we are on our own for dinner.
Thanks!
I’ve searched and searched but cannot find the sign of the restaurant we ate in in Milan. I did find pics of food. where we ate lunch in the Galleria
How about all those shaved truffles!
Birder49: We ate at Amami Pizza for the first dinner out, and we also had lunch there … so I guess we liked it. We also ate the second night at Imbarco 10, which is at 10 Marco Polo which is the first street to the right of the hotel as you are walking out. Amami is farther down Marco Polo a couple blocks. Both are close. We liked both choices. Imbarco 10 will require reservations, and we also got reservations for Amami through the concierge. Imbarco 10 is a fish restaurant. Highly rated on TripAdvisor.
We took the day off at Basel … took a walk to the ‘spike’ pictured on my thread. We both had been to Zurich a number of times, and we were a bit tired. Some people were envious when they came back and found us lounging near the hot tub with a glass of champagne.
Sealord, Thanks for the dinner suggestions. I like the idea of dinners close to the hotel. That is interesting that you skipped Zurich. I am not usually a fan of huge cities but felt that since we have been to Basel for Christmas Markets we "should" do Zurich. Now I wont feel guilty if we skip. Laying around the hottub with champagne sounds wonderful!