Fri, Dec. 13

Great clear morning in Alpbach. Again, driving further east to Kurzbuhel, passing through Kirchberg, a beautiful ski resort town with lots to see!   We stayed the morning.  Driving back to the main highway, then went west towards home, but going through Germany.  We passed through Kempten, did some shopping in Isny, and stayed in the small town of Amtzell past Wargen.    It was mostly an afternoon of driving in the rain and fog.

Kurzbuhel:

Sat, Dec. 14

Discovered Ravensburg in the am! The was the most colorful town on our trip so far.  We enjoyed going through the kiosks on this their market day!  Then went southeast to Meersburg, another old town (they are all old towns!), this one more “Bavarian” looking, much to see.  We crossed the Bodensee at Konstanz by car ferry. 

Meersburg:

We entered Switzerland for a short time on the south side of the Rhine river. We stopped in Stein am Rhein and interesting, touristy town with painted fresco houses.

Stein am Rheim:

Deciding to cross over to Germany again instead of going to Schaffhausen. Stopped for a couple of hours in Singen, Gemany – a great place to shop – many stores and streets decorated for Christmas!  Then it was SE to Helzingen and on to Hwy 314.  We found a Gasthaus in Stuhlingen on the west side. Picture of guesthouse in Stuhlingen (business card):

Sun Dec. 15

We took a wrong turn (easy to do) ouit of Sterlingen in the am, and ended up a mountain plateau, with narrow roads and snow, headed toward St. Mauchen.  Beautiful valley town.  We mad our way back to Hwy 314 towards Waldshut.  This part of 314 along the Rhine river is mostly industrial at first (including a nuclear power plant on the Swiss side), then very scenic. We crossed at Rheinfelden, had fun going through Christmas-deecorated stores in old buildings, then stopped for mitchcafe and ccake in a tea room with high windows overlooking the Rhine.

We took Hwy 12 down, stopped in Solothurn, another painted German town with plenty of shops (unfortunately closed on Sunday).

Solothurn: (first picture is of Patty in front of Waldegg in Solothurn)

Drove then through big city of Bern and stopped for an hour in Fribourg – where shopping was extended this Sunday to 4 pm.  Many shoppers! An interesting town in and on valley sides. We found a place outside of town for Croute aux fromages (bread soaked in a wine mixture, then topped with a raclette-type cheese the put in an oven and baked).

Fribourg:

We then drove home to Lausanne via the autoroute.

Mon Dec. 16

Nadia was back. With her, we left about noon for Einegen.  Took a route through Jahn and Jahnpass – beautiful deep valley, on a clear day with sun and fresh snow on the ground. 

Jahnpasss and YWAM Einegen:

Einegen (just west of Spiez) was in a wonderful setting – mountains, sun, with snowy peaks in the background, and lake in the foreground.  Narrow rods, one car only.  Went to the rail station to ask for directions to the YWAM base.  Stayed a couple of hours with Robert and Louise, the left for Interlaken where we stayed until about 8 pm.

Drove home to Lausanne via Spiez, Zweisimann, Chateau d’Oex, Bulle and autoroute just 2 ½ hours that way.  We all agreed it would be faster to take the autoroute from Interlaken to Fribourg then down again to Lausannne.

Lausanne and Epalinges:

Cathedral in Lausanne and Epalinges where we went shopping when at Chalet-A-Gobet

Geneva:

Second picture: Cathedral in Geneva where Calvin preached.

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