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Eurozine June/July 2008: Summer Fun in the Sun
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Greetings!
Outside
of Philadelphia, in our Media offices, summer is in full swing. I admit
that I'm not an enormous fan of the heat. But, what I do love is
getting outside and catching up on my reading for the year. Most
of all I dream of where I'd ideally be perched while immersed in one of my books...
On a recent work trip to Alsace, I discovered the bounty and beauty of eastern
France. I was amazed by the views from our leisurely hike up to St. Ulrich, the medieval
château high above the village of Ribeauvillé. The trails were clearly marked and the
view at the top absolutely breathtaking. The way up to the castle was marked by
the ruins of old walls. I wondered how enemy armies could have possibly
attacked this intimidating looking fortress. Would they have run up this way? Would they have
been surprised by the walls blocking their ascent?
There on the ramparts overlooking the valley between the
Vosges and the Black Forest would have been a perfect place to while away
an afternoon, reading and
sipping a cool glass of varietal white wine.
In this issue, you'll find a (very) abbreviated reading list for the
summer; a not so abbreviated list of some of our favorite outdoor
adventures; and a story of a somewhat drama-filled hike Kim Paschen, our
Marketing Director, went on in Switzerland.
Here's to summer adventures, sun and relaxation. We can't wait to see you on an an Untour soon!
Wear sunscreen,
Lotta Rao
Eurozine Editor
PS Don't forget to visit our website: www.untours.com
to explore the other 20+ European locations we offer. While our 2009
catalog won't be out for a few months, we will be happy to take your
2009 reservations by phone or email: 888.868.6871 or travel@untours.com |
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Want advice or someone to chat with about your passion for
a European destination? Join the Untours Café!
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Italy
- Umbria: Take a stroll across the Spoleto aqueduct, with
views of the valley and a trail head for hikes into the surrounding hills.
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Tuscany: Plan a leisurely picnic under an olive tree on the peaceful grounds of
the Abbey of St. Antimo, a sacred site since the 9th Century.
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Venice: Take in the sun and go swimming at the Lido, Venice's historic beach
resort.
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Rome: Get away from the hustle of the city with a picnic, stroll or bike ride
in the lavish Villa Borghese gardens in Rome.
Switzerland
- Heartland:
Take the incredible skyline walk we call the Crème De La
Crème for a 360-degree view of the Bernese Oberland. Hint: Get an
early start
for the best weather, take your time, and stop often for
the spectacular views!
-
Oberland: Take the open chair lift up above Kandersteg. Continue
to walk a flat 10 min walk and you will be at the
most picturesque picnic area that you have ever experienced.
The
brave may take a swim in the deep blue, glacier-fed lake with its
mountain
backdrop, which is better than any beach holiday, or there are rowboats
and paddleboats available for hire too. Hint: to save some money,
only buy a
1-way ticket up and take the walking trail back down to the
village. Keep
an eye out for domesticated goats and wild chamois!
Germany
- Bavarian Castle: Take advantage of the bikes for rent at the castle. The area is all flat and
the countryside rural and lovely.
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Rhine:Take
a cruise on one of the KD river boats on the Rhine or the Mosel. Bring a
picnic, sit on the boat's upper deck, order a glass of wine and enjoy the
unique scenery of medieval castles and fortresses. Or, bike
from Bacharach to Bingen: about 1 1/2 hours and mostly flat. You can bring your
bike back on the train or boat. Make sure to bring water and a picnic, or stop
in one of the restaurants along the way.
Greece
- Enjoy some time at Karathonas beach, the closest sandy beach
to Untours' home town of Nafplio, only a 5-minute drive or one-hour walk away. You can rent umbrellas
and sun beds there. If you decide to walk, the trail is unbelievably scenic and mostly
flat, and the path is lined with bougainvillea, oleander, small palms and
prickly pear cactus. If you look out across the water you see hills and
mountains. Simply beautiful!!!
Prague
- If
you'd like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, take a tram or
metro to Vysehrad (High Castle), which is considered the mystical birthplace of
Prague. Of interest among other things is the cemetery where famous Czechs like
Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana are buried. The whole complex is an oasis of
green, and you have wonderful views of the city in the distance. Benches invite
to enjoy a picnic lunch.
-
Rent
a paddle boat on the Vltava river, or take a cruise on a small riverboat that
will meander through the canals.
Budapest
- Visit the Szechenyi Baths, a beautiful sprawling
indoor and outdoor thermal bath
 complex, easily reached by subway. Prices are
very reasonable and food is sold there should you get hungry from all the swimming
and floating in the channel. - Buy
picnic supplies at Central Market Hall and spend a day on Margaret Island where
you can take a stroll or rent tandem bikes. It is so peaceful there that you
will forget you are in a city.
Austria
- Vienna:
Enjoy a free opera movie with thousands of locals in front of the
beautiful
Gothic City Hall. In the months of July and August and part of September
when
the Opera and the Boys' Choir are on vacation, Vienna hosts free,
outdoor movie nights. Food stalls sell wonderful local and international
dishes
and drinks. Amazingly enough the plates are porcelain, the silverware
real and
the glasses are glass...
- Salzburg: Don't
miss the ice caves (Eisriesenwelt) in Werfen. The walk/hike/ride up the
mountain is just as gorgeous as the descent into the caves.
France
 Alsace:
Enjoy the clearly marked trails through the vineyards near your
apartment or hike up to the St. Ulrich château above Ribeauvillé for
spectacular views of the countryside.- Provence:
Don't miss the views of lavender fields abloom from the village of
Sault. Get here on a Saturday morning and enjoy the market and local
specialties of nougat and honey.
- Paris: Forget you're in the city and visit the beautiful Buttes Chaumont park, one of our favorites.
Spain
- Andalusia: You
don't have to walk far for spectacular views of the Spanish
countryside...simply meander through the old Arabic quarter in Priego de
Córdoba and enjoy the view from the Balcon del Adarve
- Barcelona: Your urban vacation can become a beach vacation within minutes...don't forget your sunscreen!
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If
I were to advise an Untourist of what to do in Switzerland, I might
apply the old adage, "Do as I say, not as I do." On a recent trip,
my friend, Fabien and I had
planned a hike from Schwarzwaldalp to Grosse Scheidegg, which seemed reasonable until we got a little overzealous.
Upon
arriving at Grosse Scheidegg where we would normally have caught a bus
to Grindelwald, our adventuresome
spirit overtook logic, timetables, and general common sense. We decided
to keep going to First, the next stopping point. It was only another 4
km or so, so it should have been easy. But we underestimated our
fatigue, and after having walked almost
entirely uphill for over 3 hours, we were tired.
The next 90 minutes seemed like forever. The clouds started rolling in,
and like a thirsty voyager lost in the desert who envisions cool oases
off in the distance, I saw one mirage after another of chair lifts and
gondolas, that upon closer look, turned out to be trees or utility
poles. We passed nary a soul in the last 40 minutes of the hike, but I
still thought we had enough time to get the cable car, assuming the last
lift down was at 5pm. Just as we finally spotted the station off in the
distance, we passed a hiker who warned us to hurry as they were closing
down for the night.
 We sprinted up the last couple hills to get to the
station (easier said than done as our legs felt like noodles), and by
sheer luck, caught the lift operator as he was getting ready to hop in a car for a trip down the
mountain. When he saw us, he said something like, "You guys
are lucky I just brought a tour group up [who we passed on our sprint
to the station]. This lift would have normally closed an hour ago."
Two cable cars and a many deep breaths later, we were down in Grindelwald
heading back to Lungern, grateful for the fortunate turn
of events. So when planning your own hikes in Switzerland save plenty of time for gawking, photos, and rest stops,
and remember that the lifts, buses, and trains that will take
you down from your Alpine highs leave with the same precision as the
rest of the Swiss transportation network, except in this one instance.
I guess there's a First time for everything! |
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