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Europe 2026 – Day 7a, Freiburg, Germany

This morning  we took a trip to the southwestern corner of Germany visiting Freiburg and the Kaiserstuhl region. Along the way we passed terraced vineyards set on steep hillsides. In Freiburg we walked through the city’s old town with its cobble stone streets and half-timber houses. Highlights of the town included the Freiburg Cathedral, the Munsterplatz, a farmer and craft market, and it’s two remaining medieval gates, the Swabian and Martin’s gates. Also, the Historisches Kaufhaus (merchant hall) a bright red building with ornate bay windows.

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Europe 2026 – Day 5, Lucerne & Basel, Switzerland

Today was primarily a travel day out of the Alps and down to the Rhine River in Basel. We left Grindelwald by train at 8:47, arrived in Interlaken at 9:24, boarded the Interlaken – Lucerne express at 10:04, and arrived at Lucerne at 11:55. You know what – we hit those times exactly – not like the Central Railroad of New Jersey! Arriving in Lucerne, we did a walking tour of the city – a lakeside town with views of the Alps and the towering Mount Pilatus. We walked by half-timbered burgher houses and crossed the Chapel Bridge – a famous covered pedestrian walkway built in the 14th century. Viewed the stately Jesuit Church, consecrated in 1677. Finally, we wandered through the old town admiring the historic buildings. The “Lion Monument,” a ten-by-six-metre work, was created in honour of the Swiss Guards who died in the Storming of the Tuileries in Paris in 1792. But how did this come about? It’s 10th August 1792: on this day, some 1,000 Swiss guardsmen were protecting the life of King Louis XVI of France with unconditional loyalty and bravery. The revolutionaries stormed the King’s residence, which the Swiss were defending, leading to the virtual annihilation of the Swiss Guard. The Lion Monument, a powerful memorial, pays homage to the selfless heroes of these men. Then, a 1.5-hour bus trip to our ship docked in Basel.

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Europe 2026 – Day 4, Jungfrau Region, Switzerland

Restful start today- a 10:20 cog railway train to Klein Schweitzer to view the Eiger, Monch, and the Jungfru mountains at 2061 meters. Followed by another cog rail to Eigergletscher station at 2320 meters. There we switch to a gondola for our return to Grindelwald. The pictures speak for themselves – a wonderful day of high-altitude travel.

BTW, see the end of this blog for a picture I left of Montreux Day 2.

And Yesterdays missing picture:

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Europe 2026 – Day 3, Gstaad, Interlaken, and Grindelwald, Switzerland

We left Montreux at 9:30 in a rail car (Golden Pass Express), which was 80% windows. The first leg of our journey was a scenic climb to Gstaad about 2 hours away. The train needed to zig-zag up the mountain because it was a flat rail rather than a cogwheel train. At Gstaad, we boarded a cable car to reach the summit and Glacier 3000 winter park in the Vaudois Alps. It was clear at the base of the mountain, but as we ascended from 5000 ft to the summit at 9500ft it became cloudier until visibility approached zero. Fortunately, there were breaks which allowed Chris to ride a mountain roller coaster. However, when we headed to walk the peak-to-peak suspension bridge, very little visibility was available- no matter that we hiked across into the clouds. After lunch at a mountain top restaurant, we descended by. gondola and headed to Gstaad to again ride the Golden Pass Express to Interlaken. We were able to walk the town center before we boarded another regular railway to our final destination for the evening – Grindelwald. For tonight and tomorrow, we are staying at Hotel Schweizerhof, a “Romantic Chain Hotel”.

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Europe 2026 – Day 2, Montreux, Switzerland

The tour company provided us with a free morning to get over jet lag – we got about 11 hours of sleep and were up for a 9:00 am breakfast overlooking the lake. We decided to tour old town Montreux, which was an uphill hike for an exhilarating start. We wandered through the winding streets enjoying the buildings, fountains, and views. At the top of our climb, we visited the church of St. Vincent with spectacular views across the lake. Walking downhill, we passed beautiful residences and hotels all with lake views. A stop at the must-see Freddie Mercury Experience at the Casino Barrière Montreux. The museum highlights his shows, music notes, and a recording studio.

In the afternoon, the tour restarted with a bus ride to Vevey to see the Chari Chapman statue and a lake cruise to the Chillon Castle. Chillon Castle is a medieval island castle located on Lake Geneva, south of Veytaux in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It is situated at the eastern end of the lake, on the narrow shore between Montreux and Villeneuve, which gives access to the Alpine valley of the Rhône. The rocky island on which the castle sits was both a form of natural protection and a strategic position to control passage from the north to the south of Europe. The castle took on the oval shape of the genuine island upon which it was built. It is approximately 100m long and 50m wide. It also took its name from the rock; the word ‘Chillon’ meant ‘rocky platform’ in an ancient language.

The history of the castle is marked by three great periods: those of the Savoy family, the Bernese bailiffs and the Canton of Vaud. (see https://www.chillon.ch/en/castle/) For more info.

Our local tour guide provided great background on the life cycle of the Castle, the dungeons, wine cellar, dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms.

We bused back to our hotel, refreshed, and headed out to dinner at All’ Angolo – a great outdoor dining experience – limoncello spritz, burratina salad and pinse – made of wheat, soy and rice flour (a lite flatbread). Of course, served with a Petit Verdot and a Limoncello aperitif. Then a pleasant walk back to our hotel just in time to miss a full sunset.

Chillon Castle

Vevey

Montreux Citi Views

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Europe 2026 – Day 1, Montreux, Switzerland

We left Florida on Tuesday, August 4th, and landed in Geneva on Wednesday, August 5th at 10:00 am. We hooked up with our guide and driver for an hour drive to our hotel in Montreux. Montreux is a traditional resort town on Lake Geneva. Nestled between steep hills and the lakeside, it’s known for its mild microclimate and the Montreux Jazz Festival, held in July. The town’s promenade is lined with flowers, sculptures, Mediterranean trees and grand Belle Époque buildings. Offshore is a medieval island castle, Château de Chillon, with ramparts, formal halls and a chapel with 14th-century murals. Montreux is also noted for its relationship with Freddie Mercury and Queen. Our hotel overlooks Lake Geneva (Lac Léman, another of its names). Out of our room window we can see the façade of the town’s main railway station. After settling in, we walked the Lakeside promenade before dinner – enjoying the views of the mountains in France on the opposite shore, the flowers, and the statues of musicians and literary notables spaced along the walk and in several pocket parks.

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China 2026 – June 24 Shanghi (2)

Yuyuan Garden – Its history begins way back in the Ming Dynasty, over 400 years ago. A government official named Pan Yunduan started building the garden in 1559.

He wanted to create a peaceful and happy place for his parents to enjoy in their old age. That’s why it’s called “Yu” Garden, as “Yu” can mean peace, pleasure, or satisfaction.

Over the many centuries, the garden has seen good times and hard times. It has been damaged, repaired, and changed hands, reflecting the ups and downs of Shanghai‘s own history.

The Bund – Huangpu District in Shanghai, historically known as the city’s business center, is home to a mix of old and new, traditional and modern. Iconic landmarks such as the Bund, a riverside promenade lined with colonial-era buildings, and the futuristic Oriental Pearl Tower, dominate the skyline. Shanghai’s oldest and busiest shopping street, Nanjing Road, is located here.

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China 2026 – June 29 – Hong Kong

Symphony of Lights

Repulse Bay Beach and Stanley Market

Repulse Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong. Stanley Market is (was) one of Hong Kong’s most popular shopping and seaside spots – not so much anymore.

On Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen Harbour is an icon of the city, with classic junks, floating seafood restaurants, and captivating views. We took a flat-bottomed sampan boat to tour the harbour. Our first view was that of an abandoned floating restaurant – which was a once-iconic photo of Hong Kong along with 2 other. Besides houseboats, we viewed a hillside cemetery, several of which are visible throughout the island.

The Monster Building from the Transformers movie – with its 300 sq. foot apartments for a mere ?????

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

Chi Lin Nunnery, a large Buddhist temple complex, was originally established in 1934 as a retreat for Buddhist nuns. Chi Lin Nunnery stands as the world’s largest hand-made wooden building constructed without the use of a single nail. This remarkable architectural feat was achieved through the use of interlocking systems meticulously carved into cypress wood, showcasing an incredible harmony with nature.

The Nan Lian Garden is a classic Chinese garden located on Diamond Hill in Kowloon. It covers an area of 35,000 m² and was designed in the traditional Tang Dynasty style. The garden has rockeries, water features, trees, hills, and traditional timber structures. Paths meander through the garden, and at the center are two lotus ponds. 

Victoria Peak & Tram

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China 2026 – June 30

Busy day on our own – no guide or driver today. We wandered by cab, on foot, and by subway.

Kowloon-Walled City Park

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

This temple was amazing – gold everywhere – but no interior photos were allowed.

Views from the Star Ferry – a HK must-do

July 1st is our last day of this adventure. We will visit a couple of museums, then head to the airport for our 10:30 PM overnight flight. 18.5 hours later, we will be back in Florida. Hopefully I will salvage a quirky external hard drive and update the days I haven’t posted.

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