Wrocław, Poland – City Of Gnomes

Aside from its old Germanic name of Breslau and its temporary occupation by the Soviets, Wrocław looks and feels completely Polish today. Though not as pretty or well kept as its southern cousin Kraków, it is still a nice city to visit for a few days.

Wrocław

Situated on the river Oder, Wrocław is today an odd mix of old, new and unfinished. We were actually quite surprised at how often we came up parcels in the city that were either unimproved or totally abandoned. That coupled with the weather, which for us turned rainy, made for a lasting impression of it being a dreary place if it so wished.

Fortunately we had enough good weather, however changeable it was, to tour the entire city and enjoy it. We especially enjoyed the area around the Wrocław Cathedral and would commend you visit there if you have a half day to spare.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Wrocław from Kraków is either by car, bus or train. Since we try to use trains when we can, we took the inter-city train which took about there and a half hours to travel the distance.

Entrance – Wrocław Głowny – Wrocław, Poland

Gnomes Everywhere

In fact, there are over a thousand of these little bronze statues placed throughout the city. It is a great idea, the children love them and families can actually purchase or download and print off a map with the location of all of them. Finding them, of course, is still the tricky part, since it is not always obvious where they are exactly.

Gnomes on Penitent Bridge – Wrocław, Poland

Disappearing Pedestrians – Wrocław, Poland

Slaughterhouse Bronzes – Wrocław, Poland

Rynek Square

The main square in town is the Rynek. It is rather large but contains a number of buildings, as well as the town hall, in a misaligned fashion within the square or plaza itself. It is full a gnomes, so be careful to look while you walk, or you may miss one.

Town Hall – – Rynek Plaza – Wrocław, Poland

The Pillory – Rynek Plaza – Wrocław, Poland

Solny Square

Solny Square or plaza lies corner to corner with Rynek, since the are adjoined to one another on one of the vertices. Here you will find a small flower market which appears to be open every day. Again there are plenty of gnomes to find here, as well as some interesting monuments and sculptures.

Trzech Murzynków Sculpture – Solny Plaza – Wrocław, Poland

Smoki Fountain – Solny Plaza – Wrocław, Poland

Oder River

A portion of the Oder cuts through the city and bisects it. Here you can find a river cruise or tour, as well as magnifacent parks to stretch your legs. There are also plenty of museums in there area. One of particular note and worth a visit is the Panoramic Museum.

Wyspa Piasek – Oder River – Wrocław, Poland

Sand Bridge – Oder River – Wrocław, Poland

Panorama Racławice Museum

The museum provides a panorama of the Battle of Racławice which occurred in 1794 against the Russians. A branch of the National Museum in Wrocław, the museum is housed in a rotunda with a 360 degree canvas, as well as additional dioramatic accessory in the foreground, to give the visitor the feeling of what it might have been like during the battle.

Tickets For Two – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Entrance – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Inside – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

It is a guided tour and language modules are provided so that everyone can enjoy the story of the battle as they move around the theater.

Scene 1 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 2 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 3 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 4 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 5 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 6 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 7 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 8 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 9 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 10 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 11 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Scene 12 – Panorama Racławicka Museum – Wrocław, Poland

Church And Cathedrals

In this city you will find less churches, they are not as abundant as in Kraków. However, the ones you can visit and just as beautiful.

Wrocław Cathedral

Located across the Oder via the Sand and Tumski bridges, the Wrocław Cathedral has beautiful stained glass windows inside. They only adorn one side, since the windows on the other side are obfuscated by an adjoining structure, which in and of itself I found very odd.

Bronze Monument – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Tympanum and Entrance – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Carved Doors – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Nave – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Stained Glass – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Stained Glass Nave – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Altar – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Side Altar – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Consecrated Altar – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Old Door with Iron Hinges – Wrocław Cathedral – Wrocław, Poland

Cathedral Saint Mary Magdelena

The Cathedral Saint Mary Magdelena is the one church where we paid for entrance, so that we could ascend the tower and view the city from the Penitent Bridge.

Front and Facade – Cathedral Saint Mary Magdelena – Wrocław, Poland

Entrance – Cathedral Saint Mary Magdelena – Wrocław, Poland

Nave – Cathedral Saint Mary Magdelena – Wrocław, Poland

City View – Penitent Tower – Cathedral Saint Mary Magdelena – Wrocław, Poland

Restaurants

In Wrocław we decided to scale back on the amount of Polish food we would consume, since it is very rich and calory laden.

Konspira

The exception to the above remark was Konspira. A highly rated restaurant on Polish cusine and an interesting theme, the fight against the Soviets and communism.

Side Exit – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Inside Entrance – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

The traditional Chicken Broth soup was amazingly light and delicious. I can also commend the ribs with horseradish, they were very tasty.

Themed Restaurant – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Patti – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Decor – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Chicken Broth with Dumplings – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Duck with Potatoes and Cabbage – Konspira Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Wiatr Chinese Restaurant

A break away from the traditional food here, we chose to eat Chinese for lunch. The food here is very good and less filling, it is also a bit lighter on your wallet. We found it a good choice for food and speedy service.

Wonton Soup – Wiatr Chinese Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

Chicken with Vegetables and Fried Rice – Wiatr Chinese Restaurant – Wrocław, Poland

9 April, 202611 April, 2026

Luino, Italy – Lacking Service

A popular tourist destination for the Swiss, Germans and Netherlanders is the small town of Luino on the northeast end of Lake Maggiore. The boat services on the lake are divided here for destinations north of it and south of it. From the south, especially from Stresa, it is difficult, if not impossible, to arrange a roundtrip to this town except on wednesdays. Even to get here by train is a three to five hour ordeal and roundtrips by rail or bus are all but out of the question. The town is truely lacking service from the southern end of the lake.

Luino

It seems a popular destination for people from the north, who are either staying in Switzerland or the nearby town of Cannobio. It is especially busy on Wednesdays, this is when the town holds its weekly market. ^[1]Proportedly the largest in Europe, but that is not possible. The one in Turin far eclipses it in size and weekly frequency, being open every day and not just the middle of the week.

Hemlock Near Church Of Saints Peter And Paul – Luino, Italy

At one time the town was heavily industrialized and there were many textile factories here, which accounted for the terrible pollution the lake had to endure for years after its demise. Luckily today, the lake has considerably cleaner water that in the previous century.

Getting There

From the north, the map shows all traffic by boat going through Cannobio. From the south, we took the boat from Stresa. From there we stopped a half dozen times before reaching our destination.

Navigation Map – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

Stresa Boat Dock – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

It should be noted, if you are traveling from the south and want to go further than Luino, you can, you just may have to change boats in Luino.

Beautiful Day – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

Coming Into Our First Stop – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

Arriving In Luino – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

Our Boat – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

From Stresa the trip is not inexpensive to Luino. For roundtrip tickets it cost us €15.20 per person^[2]or about $18 per person.

Tickets For Two – Lake Boat Trip – Luino, Italy

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

A walk through the town and above most if, you will find the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. An unusual church which looks more like an administrative building than a church.

The inside does have some marble, but the rest of the nave and ceiling are painted in the style trompe-l’œil, giving the impression of relief where none really exists.

Nave – Church Of Saints Peter And Paul – Luino, Italy

Altar – Church Of Saints Peter And Paul – Luino, Italy

Restaurants

When we arrived in Luino, we only had three hours before our boat trip back, so we had to make good use of our time. Subsequently, we looked for a place to eat first and chose the Trattoria da Elia e Ugo.

Trattoria da Elia e Ugo

A small restaurant that caters to locals and tourists alike. They speak very good english, so there should be no problem with the language; they are even willing to look words up in order to make sure they have the correct word.

Patti – Trattoria da Elia e Ugo – Via Felice Cavallotti – Luino, Italy

The food is very good and well portioned. The caprese is rather large and good enough for two. The pasta dishes are also fairly large and well seasoned.

Caprese – Trattoria da Elia e Ugo – Via Felice Cavallotti – Luino, Italy

Pasta Special – Trattoria da Elia e Ugo – Via Felice Cavallotti – Luino, Italy

Aside from the popular marketplace on wednesdays and the odd historical monument, there really is not much to see in Lunio. Coming from the south, it can only be commended for the odd day trip with lunch as the primary reason for the expedition, since it is rather far away and the boat service only runs roundtrip on wednesday, so plan accordingly.

References[+]

References
↑1	Proportedly the largest in Europe, but that is not possible. The one in Turin far eclipses it in size and weekly frequency, being open every day and not just the middle of the week.
↑2	or about $18 per person

24 March, 202629 March, 2026

Michelstadt, Germany – Odenwald Curiosity

On the border of Hesse and Bavaria, in the Odenwald, is the town of Michelstadt. It’s curious, because its name contains within it a word that most english speaking people would think it should be a city, when in fact, the germans use the denotation for both town and city. Technically, it is considered a Kleinstadt, or small city, or what we call a town and should carry the stadt on the end of its name.

Michelstadt

The town is one of the oldest within what is called the inner Odenwald. There has been some sort of settlement there ever since the eighth century. Like other small towns of this nature, its layout has a certain lazy circle about it, indicating it was protected by some kind of fortification or wall. Evidence of this can be found on Kellerbergstraße, where part of the wall remains, and Mauerstraße where it can be seen in its former glory.

Elephantenhaus – Mauerstraße – Michelstadt, Germany

Getting There

To get to Michelstadt you will take either the 45 or 47 from the north or the south. On the north of town is a very large parking area which we used, conveniently located close to the town’s center.

Zum Grüner Baum – Großer Gasse – Michelstadt, Germany

Oberer Pfarrgasse – Michelstadt, Germany

Town Hall

The Town Hall, or Rathaus, is one of the more prominent buildings in the town. It stands a bit off-center in the Marktplatz and has an old press, a scale and other items associated with the buildings history in the open area underneath it.

Altes Rathaus – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

The Marktplatz contains a main foutain, which the town appears to decorate for holidays and other occasions.

Marktbrunnen – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

Löwenhof – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

Michelstadt Fortress

The Michelstadt Fortress, or Burg Michelstadt, is probably more of a stronghold than any castle or fortress. Though it sits on a high wall with a moat, it is not as impressive as other german castles or fortresses. Today it houses a mill museum, which unfortunately was not open at the time of our visit.

Old Wall – Kellerbergstraße – Michelstadt, Germany

Diebsturm

The Diebsturm, or Thieves’ Tower, is part of and sits next to Burg Michelstadt. The sump or cellar of the tower was used as a prison starting sometime in the early fourteenth century. Prisoners were lowered down on a rope into the cellar to wait our their term. It is one of the more prominent features of the town.

Ericka and Patti – Diebsturm – Marktplatz – Michelstadt, Germany

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum

This museum preserves the jewish past of the town, neatly preserved in the former Synagoge Michelstadt that was destroyed during the prelude to the second world war.

Here one can get a sense of the small jewish population that used to inhabit the town, which also has numerous Stolpersteine^[1]these are small brass memorials laid in the ground for jews and people who were killed, deported or driven to suizide commemorating the people of the town that lost their lives. They can be found throughout Germany and parts of Europe.

The museum also backs up to the old town wall and has a nice little park, where one can quietly sit and enjoy the weather.

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum – Alter Stadtmauer – Michelstadt, Germany

Dr. I. E. Lichtigfeld Museum – Park – Michelstadt, Germany

Restaurants

Due to its size, there is not much to choose from, but there are a few restaurants in the Marktplatz. We chose a brewery close to the edge of town for lunch.

Michelstädter Rathausbräu

The Michelstädter Rathausbräu is a brewery and restaurant. It serves good food typical of the area. They don’t speak much english, so be prepared to whip out your translation guide or phone. However, the food is very good and they have their own brew on tap.

Rathausbräu Restaurant and Brewery – Mauerstraße – Michelstadt, Germany

References[+]

References
↑1	these are small brass memorials laid in the ground for jews and people who were killed, deported or driven to suizide

23 March, 202627 March, 2026

Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany – Bächle Everywhere

The one unique feature this city has over others that we have visited are its Bächle, or small streams or runnels that network themselves through most city streets. Though in the past they were used for waste disposal and fire suppression, their contemporary revision is much cleaner and used more for fun than anything functional.

Freiburg im Breisgau

The city lays on the lower west side of the Schwarzwald, or the Black Forest. It is an odd mixture of contemporary and renovated old buildings, but appears to be very liveable. They have an active tram system and local buses, though the residents do appear to enjoy walking for the most part.

Old Freiburger Zeitung Building – Kaiser-Josephstraße – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Zum Meijerhof Restaurant Building – Grünwälderstraße – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Getting There

It is almost necessary to use the A5 to reach the city, though I imagine there might be other ways as well. We entered from the north, via Europaplatz, where we found adequate parking nearby. Europaplatz offers access to the tram system and might be a good starting point for those not wishing to walk.

Habsburgerstraße – Europaplatz – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Friedrichring – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Kaiser-Josephstraße – Monument – Europaplatz – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

The Bächle

The Bächle^[1]the term is Bächlein in german are on most streets, at least in the older parts of the city. As a child, if you’ve ever had the occasion to play in a small stream or ditch, then you would just love Freiburg im Breisgau. They sure delight the city children. The city appears to be very child friendly and they even sell little boats on a string for children to play with in the Bächle.

Ericka, Vlad and Gabi – Bächle – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Schwabentor

The Schwabentor, or Swabian Gate, is the most recent gate to the city and is located on Herrenstraße, another street which has a Bächle.

Herrenstraße – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Freiburger Münster

The first bricks for the large gothik style Freiburger Münster, or Münster Unserer Lieben Frau, were laid around 1146. After several incantations as a small unassuming church through 1260, the church was redesigned with new importance in the late 1200s. It wasn’t until the late 1400s that it attained is final form one can see today.

Münsterplatz And Merchant’s Hall

The Münsterplatz is adjacent to the cathedral and includes several city buildings and businesses.

Münsterplatz – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

One historic building that stands out in Münsterplatz is the Historisches Kaufhaus, or Merchant’s Hall. With its striking red exterior it is impossible to miss and the result of contemporary renovations, having suffered bomb damage and other design changes throughout the years. The facade today is adorned with replicas of Holy Roman Emperors and an Archduke, who did not become emperor because he died before his father and didn’t inherit all of his father’s titles.

Merchants Hall – Münsterplatz – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Augustinerplatz

Though not much to look at the Augustinerplatz is where the museum and several other important government buildings are located, including for us ironically, the Italian Consulate.

Gerberau – Augustinerplatz – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Museum – Augustinerplatz – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Connecting Augustinerplatz to Kaiser-Josephstraße is Gerberau street.

Gerberau – Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Martinstor

A major gate in the city, aside from the swabian gate, or Scwabentor, is Martinstor. Located on Kaiser-Josephstraße, more or less in the center of town, the tower stands above all the other buildings. The street runs directly through the tower, like in many other walled cities in Germany and delineates the old city from its newer parts.

Restaurants

For our day trip we chose to have chinese or japanese and found a nice modern place that opened in the remains of the old Laubfrosch restaurant.

Unkai

If you are looking for either chinese or japanese cuisine look no further than Unkai Asian Fusion.

The decor inside is decidedly modern and the staff is very attentive to your needs, especially if that has to do with children.

References[+]

References
↑1	the term is Bächlein in german

21 March, 202626 March, 2026

Colmar, France – Timber And Sandstone

Anyone walking through the idealic and picturesque city of Colmar, France will notice the abundance of timber and sandstone used in it’s buildings. From simple timber framed houses, to large churches built almost entirely of sandstone.

Colmar

The city of Colmar has benefited from both French and German influences, especially with it’s architecture. This is what makes it such an interesting place to visit. Not only have many of the structures survived the many wars between the two countries, the population has seemed to have taken care of them down through the centuries.

Getting There

From Frankfurt you can the A5, which I believe is only designated a 5 now. We took it and then cut over to France at Strasbourg and took the A35 down. If you take that route you get to enjoy the Statue of Liberty.

Statue of Liberty – 33 Route de Strasbourg – Colmar, France

Timber Houses

The city is repleat with Fachwerkhäuser, or timber houses. Many dating back many centuries and showing their age.

Croisement Rue des Marchands, Grand Rue – Colmar, France

It is essential to visit the Grand Rue, which is the main shopping street of the city. Here you can shop and dine and explore the many facets of Colmar.

The Rue Vauban is also an important thoroughfare to visit and is itself decorated with many of the timber houses that adorn other parts of the city.

Old Timber House 1562 – Rue Vauban – Colmar, France

Another must-see street is the Rue de Tetes. Here you can find the Maison des Tetes which was built in 1609 by Anton Burger, who later became the mayor of the city. The building owes its name to the many masks and grimacing faces that adorn its exterior. The figure on the top of the three-story oriel is of the twentieth century barrel-maker Auguste Bartholdi, at which time the building was used as a wine exchange.

Maison des Tetes – Rue des Tetes – Colmar, France

Timber Houses – Rue des Tetes – Colmar, France

Place Martyrs de la Resistance – Rue des Tetes – Colmar, France

La Petite Venise

They call it the small Venice, but not really, it’s just one canal and it only goes about one block. It is a very pretty area and is worth a stop if you are in the area.

Gabi and Ericka – La Petite Venise – Colmar, France

There is a gondala ride you can take, if you cannot enjoy the real thing.

Collégiale Saint-Martin

The Collégiale Saint-Martin is a church that is run by a secular group of clergy, that are responsible for the church’s administration as well as several aspects of the attached college. There were at least two churches on the same site, dating back to the eleventh century. The current church grew out of a set of buildings that started the early thirteenth century.

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Clock – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Season Calendar – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Tympanum and Tower – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Tympanum – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Southern Face – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – At Night – Colmar, France

The interior is spacious and maintains a typical cathedral design, with an apse, altar and transept. Over the entrance is located a very large organ, which is accessed by a spiral staircase located in one of the corners.

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Nave – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Crossing and Transept – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Nave and Organ – Colmar, France

Collégiale Saint-Martin – Chapel – Colmar, France

Restaurants

Colmar has numerous restaurants and cafes catering to most tastes. However, we would recommend trying the alsatian food, an interesting mixture of french and german cuisine.

Le Fer Rouge

Le Fer Rouge is a true alsatian restaurant and serves good food. This was our first food stop in Colmar and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

I ordered the Schweinhaxen, or roasted pig shank, and it was delicious. It was marinated in a semi-sweet french sauce that was just outstanding. The Schwarzwälderkirchetorte, or Black Forest Cake, however was not that good. The creme was a bit stiff and the cherries lacked a rich taste, one expects from this dessert; a true dissappointment.

Le Fer Rouge Restaurant – Menu – Rue des Marchands – Colmar, France

Patti, Ericka and Vlad – Le Fer Rouge Restaurant – Rue des Marchands – Colmar, France

Le Fer Rouge Restaurant – Schweinshaxe with Honey, Thyme and Potatoes, Bread – Rue des Marchands – Colmar, France

Le Fer Rouge Restaurant – Stuffed Meat Beef with Mixed Greens – Rue des Marchands – Colmar, France

Le Fer Rouge Restaurant – Rue des Marchands – Colmar, France

Le Fer Rouge Restaurant – Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, Black Forest Cake – Rue des Marchands – Colmar, France

Brasserie Chez Hansi

The Brasserie Chez Hansi is another alsatian restaurant with a simple atmosphere.

The menu is easy to intepret and there appears to be something for everyone’s taste. I would commend however the Sauerkraut and Würste platter, it was excellent.

Chez Hansi – Flammkuchen (Pizza?) – Colmar, France

Chez Hansi – Chicken and Spätzle – Colmar, France

Chez Hansi – Sauerkraut Platter with Würst and Potatoes – Colmar, France

Le Bistrot des Copains

Last, and definitely least, is the Le Bistrot des Copains. It has a very average rating and you will find it is well deserved. The food is okay, nothing to write home about for sure. The service is adequate and they do try to help you with any requests. This restaurant would fall into the tourist trap category, if such a thing exists. It is well attended, but it perplexes me why.

20 March, 202625 March, 2026

Strasbourg, France – A Quick Visit

It’s been some time since our last visit to Strasbourg, France. So when the opportunity arose to stop there, just for lunch, we jumped at the idea, since it is one of our favorite cities in France.

Strasbourg

The town has not changed much since we were last here, though that was during the summer. The weather however was great, a bit cool but sunny and pleasant. We stopped on our way to Colmar and enjoyed some of the city sights while we walked to our restaurant destination.

Restaurants

Le Gruber

Previously known as Zum Alten Strassburg, Le Gruber offers typical Alsatian cuisine, which is a mixture of french and german. The interior is comfortable and very nice.

Le Gruber Restaurant – Menu – Strasbourg, France

Le Gruber Restaurant – Inside – Strasbourg, France

Le Gruber Restaurant – Patti and Ericka – Strasbourg, France

The food was very good and reasonably priced. I found the potato casserole especially enjoyable and very tasty, though with the Muenster cheese on it, a bit filling.

Le Gruber Restaurant – French Onion Soup – Strasbourg, France

Le Gruber Restaurant – Fish special with noodles – Strasbourg, France

Le Gruber Restaurant – Potato Gratin – Strasbourg, France

Le Gruber Restaurant – Gabis Fried Potato Pancake with Bibaleskaes, Ham and Salad – Strasbourg, France

Le Gruber Restaurant – Potato Casserole and Salad – Strasbourg, France

15 March, 202625 March, 2026

Seligenstadt, Germany – Ancient Castral

Built around the ancient remains of an old Roman Castrum, Seligenstadt is one of Germany’s oldest towns. The Romans established a fortified encampment around the second century and maintained it for over a hundred and fifty years. Some time in the mid third century the germanic tribes repeatedly attacked the castrum, forcing the Romans to withdraw across the Rhine river, leaving a pile of rubble behind. Some time afterwards it was known as Obermühlheim and some of the earliest buildings in Seligenstadt are dated to the seventh century and are still standing.

A stone’s throw from one of the public parking places is the Wendelinuskapelle. A small chapel honoring Saint Wendel, patron saint of farmers and shepards. Built in the late 1800s it stands on the place of a former Heiligenhäuschen. The Baroque doorway is some 160 years older than the chapel itself and was taken from the west portal of the Seligenstadt Basilica, when it was renovated in 1868. The inside is rather plain and in need of some repair.

Seligenstadt

The three main attractions in this town are the Benedictine Monastery, the Einhard-Basilika and the town’s Marktplatz, or marketplace. One can also find along the Große Maingasse a ferry crossing that crosses the Main river, which separates Hesse from Bavaria.

For the most part the town appears to have been saved from the ravages of war. Many of the original timber houses still stand and many have historical markers on them, giving the passer-by a brief history of the structure before them.

Timber Houses – Kleine Rathausgasse 10 – Seligenstadt, Germany

Timber Houses – Kleine Rathausgasse 5 – Seligenstadt, Germany

Benedictine Monastery

The monastery, which was established by the Benedictines in 815, houses a museum now and a beautifully maintained garden overlooking the Main river.

Former Benedictine Abbey – History – Seligenstadt, Germany

Former Benedictine Abbey – Entrance – Seligenstadt, Germany

Former Benedictine Abbey – Gardens – Seligenstadt, Germany

Former Benedictine Abbey – Gardens and Church – Seligenstadt, Germany

Einhard-Basilika

Though started in the early ninth century as the Saint Marcellinus and Petrus church, it is currently known as the basilica of Einhard, who was one of Charlemagne’s closest friends and advisors. The facade of the church is neo-roman, though there are several other styles of note, including early gothic.

Marktplatz

While we were visiting, a political infomation event was being held in the marketplace, which includes the Rathaus. The area is surrounded by quaint little shops, cafes and government buildings.

Restaurants

The weather was cold, cloudy and wet, typical for this time of year. So, when it was time it was essential to find a warm place with good food, so Italian with a pizza oven sounded about right.

Ristorante & Pizzeria 1744

A modern restaurant with a surprisingly large staff was able to accomodate us for lunch. I would expect that during busier times, reservations might be recommended.

The food was excellent. We tried the soups and main pasta dishes, which most people around us seem to favor; so we cannot really speak about the quality of the pizza. They also have traditional italian coffee and other after dinner amenities.

Ristorante & Pizzeria 1744 – Menu – Seligenstadt, Germany

Ristorante & Pizzeria 1744 – Primitivo – Seligenstadt, Germany

Ristorante & Pizzeria 1744 – Spaghetti with Pine Nuts and Bärlauch – Seligenstadt, Germany

Ristorante & Pizzeria 1744 – Spaghettini Aglio e Olio – Seligenstadt, Germany

29 September, 202511 October, 2025

Luzern, Switzerland – Day Trip

Luzern For A Day

The last time we were in Luzern was in 2020. We came back at the behest of other family members who wanted to visit it for a day and to also check out the wonderful hands-on transportation museum. We therefore made a Tagesausflug, or day trip, from Zürich to Luzern just to see the museum.

Getting There

From Zürich HBf, we took the regional train IR70, which only takes about forty minutes to Luzern. With the half fare card, it only cost us 13.50 Francs round-trip, per person. Luzern train station is right by the confluence of the lake and the river, so it drops you right in the heart of town.

Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Luzerne) – Luzerne, Switzerland

Central Train Station – Luzerne, Switzerland

Luzern The City

Luzern, or Lucerne depending upon your preferred spelling, is a beautiful little city on the banks of the Vierwaldstättersee, or Lake Lucerne. It is bisected by the Reuss River, which in earlier times not only had several mills along it, it was also used to generate electricity for the city when one of the old mills was converted to a hydro-power station.

Hofkirche St. Leodegar – Luzerne, Switzerland

Reusssteg-Brunnen – 1547 – Luzerne, Switzerland

The Bridges

The most interest sight in the city are its bridges. The Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, was originally a fortification, but is now a tourist attraction that almost burnt down in 1993. The paintings that adorn it, and it sister bridge the Spreuerbrücke, are still being restored after the fire and years of neglect.

Spreuerbrücke and Nadelwehr – Luzerne, Switzerland

Baslertor – Spreuerbrücke – Luzerne, Switzerland

Spreuerbrücke – Nadelwehr und Jesuitenkirche (hinten) – Luzerne, Switzerland

Museum Of Transportation

The Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, the Swiss Museum of Transport, is a hands-on museum for people of all ages, but mainly geared toward school children. Even for adults, there are some very interesting and historical items to see, let alone a good record of Switzerland’s contribution in the area of transportation.

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Main Entrance – Luzerne, Switzerland

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Swiss Airline DC3 – Luzerne, Switzerland

The museum is divided into themes, from planes, to trains and automobiles, they even have a brief but interesting exhibit on bicycles and their history in Switzerland.

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Swiss Air Exhibits – Luzerne, Switzerland

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Swiss Maritime Exhibits – Luzerne, Switzerland

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Swiss Automobile Exhibits – Luzerne, Switzerland

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Swiss Bicycle Exhibits – Luzerne, Switzerland

Verkehrshaus der Schweiz – Swiss Railroad Exhibits – Luzerne, Switzerland

Restaurants

We visited on Sunday, so our restaurant choices were rather limited. Sunday in most of Europe is the day of the week that families go out to eat and many normally have reservations for a late day lunch. Most of the establishments along the Rathausquai, Reusssteg and Bahnhofstrasse were busy, but off the beaten path we managed to find something.

Restaurant Fritschi

Tucked away and located Sternenplatz is the Restaurant Fritschi. It offers mostly swiss cuisine, but there are some simpler dishes, if you are not too hungry or prefer not to eat a heavy lunch.

Restaurant Fritschi – Inside – Luzerne, Switzerland

Restaurant Fritschi – Chicken and Salad- Luzerne, Switzerland

Restaurant Fritschi – Schnitzel and Fries- Luzerne, Switzerland

Santa Lucia Ristorante

When we returned to Zürich, we ate at Santa Lucia Ristorante. This restaurant can get very busy, so it is probably a good idea to have reservations. They do however have a downstairs, which is where we were seated; there you can actually witness them making your pizza. They have many other specialities on the menu, so finding something delicious to try should not be a problem.

25 September, 20258 October, 2025

Grindelwald, Switzerland – Cable Car Excursion

Our Short Cable Car Trip To Grindelwald

With the weather breaking a bit and having a spare day with not much to do, we decided to take a trip to Grindelwald. This is another small ski and tourist town in the Grindelwald Valley on the other side of Männlichen, a sub alpine mountain that divides the two towns.

Getting There

The most direct route for us from Wengen was the Luftseilbahn up the Männlichen, a five or ten minute walk, and then the Gondola ride to Grindelwald. Since the route is part of the Oberlander Pass we were covered and did not have to purchase a round trip ticket at 66 Swiss Francs per person.

Grindelwald Terminal – Luftseilbahn Männlichen – Grindelwald, Switzerland

Luftseilbahn or Cable Car – Wengen to Männlichen – Wengen, Switzerland

Lauterbrunnen Valley – Luftseilbahn Männlichen – Männlichen, Switzerland

Wengen – Luftseilbahn Männlichen – Männlichen, Switzerland

Grindelwald

For Patti and I there wasn’t much to see that we hadn’t already, having been here in 2020. The main street hasn’t changed much, with the exception of a few new small municipal changes here and there.

Patti and Dana – Main Street – Grindelwald, Switzerland

Grindelwald Grund – Grindelwald, Switzerland

My main reason for even coming here again was the view of the mountains. From Grindelwald they are impressive, well at least on a clear day.

Restaurants

Alpenkräuter Bären Restaurant

After we had returned from our day trip we had reservations at the Alpenkräuter Bären Restaurant for dinner. This is a restaurant that prides itself on including and serving items that come from nature, especially natural herbs and spices from the alpine regions.

Alpenkräuter Bären Restaurant – Inside – Wengen, Switzerland

It was definitely more laid back than other restaurants and had the familial feel to it. So if you are looking for real local cooking that is exceptional, this would be a great pick.

Alpenkräuter Bären Restaurant – Alpen Kräuter Soup – Wengen, Switzerland

Alpenkräuter Bären Restaurant – Steak and Fries – Wengen, Switzerland

Alpenkräuter Bären Restaurant – Tiramasu – Wengen, Switzerland

20 September, 20253 October, 2025

Montreux, Switzerland – Lake Stroll

Lake Leman Stroll

From our hotel the Quai de Clarens extends to the left and right. Taking a left while leaving, it turns into the Quai de Vernex within a short time and then it has many other monikers. For an early morning September stroll it is a very picturesque and beautiful walk along the lake, being well maintained by the authorities.

Quai Alfred Chatelanat – Walk To Castle Chillon – Montreaux, Switzerland

Eventually, as you pass the towns of Montreux and Veytaux, it will turn into the Quai Alfred Chatelanat. It is here you will see the Castle or Chateau de Chillon.

Quai Alfred Chatelanat – Castle Chillon – Montreaux, Switzerland

Getting There

To get to Castle Chillon there are many options. One preferrable one, since the walk along the Quai is fairly long, at least a couple of miles, is taking the boat. It docks at several places and has a rather spotty schedule, so check the authorities and the schedule at your location prior to depending upon it. It does however dock just below the castle and had arrived as we were on our tour of it.

Castle Chillon – Lake Boat Embarking – Montreaux, Switzerland

You can also take the bus. This is probably the easiest option and there are numerous bus stops along the way. The 201 from Clarens to Veytaux comes every half hour. We chose this option to return to our hotel. Tickets can be purchases on the SBB mobile application.

Chateau de Chillon

The Castle Chillon was originally built by the Savoy family and has had many different functions since it was first erected. It can be seen in the distance for some time before one notices the gun casement that guards it to the north.

Quai Alfred Chatelanat – Castle Chillon – Gun Casement – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Lake Leman – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Lake Moat – Montreaux, Switzerland

The castle has a number of rooms dedicated to particular themes. Each has a unique story to tell, as well as furnishing that were used in the past by the residents. The following were taken while touring the inside of the castle.