The Friday afternoon traffic wasn't too bad as we arrived in Zurich. The only issue we had was that the road authorities were making the most of the summer weather and there was construction work happening on many roads. This included the road our hotel was on - there were benefits in this as well as there was no through traffic so was quieter. We off loaded our bags and checked in then returned the rental car. We had driven some 1956 kilometres in the seventeen ...

We have been privileged to visit Grindelwald a number of times now and it was great to return (www.grindelwald.ch). Grindelwald is a mountain village with views of the Swiss Alps all around with trains, gondola and cable cars heading off in all directions to high in the mountains. We were guests of Nicole (our lovely host daughter from 1999), and met her husband, Christoph and their eleven month old daughter, Mia. They live in a newly built chalet with views from...

We have really enjoyed our five days in Germany. There were a couple of things that really surprised us. One was the number of motorbikes of various types that we saw used. Perhaps this was just because we were in the Black Forest and the roads encouraged holidaymakers and the long week-end drivers. It was not unusual to meet large groups of bikers or for cafes and hotels to have signs out say bikers were welcome. The other thing we noticed was the availability o...

Saturday morning while Peter made the customary visit to the baguette shop I packed up the apartment and we were on our way south by 10 am. We are headed into the centre of the Black Forest, a distance of about 80 kilometres from Sasbachwalden but with many stops it took us all day. Our first stop of the day was at a hardware store - those who know Peter well will know that he loves Bunnings and takes every opportunity to visit. Last week we had walked into a har...

Our apartment has outdoor metal blinds which we were told to close at night. They make the apartment so dark inside that Peter thought he had woken during the night when he heard a loud bang. But no, it was after 9 am and I was still asleep! It is so good not having to get up early. We have no internet at the apartment so no need to stay in bed catching up with what is happening in Australia and New Zealand and elsewhere via the I-pad. After a leisurely breakfast...