Our Big Adventure

BAVARIA and BASEL

As we drive further south through Germany the landscape in ever changing, wild mountains and gentle hills. In Fussen, the highest area in Germany and also where ‘Mad King Ludwig II’ built his fairytale castle. Sitting high on the hillside, and overlooking the town and looking very much like Disney’s. Fantasyland castle. Driving along the German Alpine Road, with it’s highest elevation in Germany, towards Austria and Garmisch-Partenkirchen we see some spectacular scenery. We are lucky to have a lovely sunny day because as we slowly climb up the Zugspitze you can see as far as Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Then descending with tight hairpin turns, and steep drops, until we turn west, and along the shores of Lake Constance, to follow the road through vineyards, their vines heavy with grapes. Apple orchards bustling with small tractors towing trailers filled to the brim with apples, the fruit so ripe the sweet smell permeates the air. Further along the road we pass field after field, all with tall poles wired across the top for the hops to grow along. Could this be where those famous German beers begin? This has been a lovely drive, through one of the most picturesque areas of Germany we have seen so far. Our next stop is Basel, in Switzerland. BASEL We have followed the border between France and Germany for some time, the Rhine River flowing through the middle. We pull into a camping park for the night not far from Basel, and as we pour ourselves a glass of French ‘Rouge’ we enjoy the last of the sunshine and look out over the Rhine River with the French Alps in the distance. Today we met with Karen, she is originally from NZ but has lived in Switzerland for 14 years. We have found each other through an internet house/pet sitting site. She is planning a trip home at Christmas and is looking for someone to look after her two cats. We meet her at her apartment, a modern two storey unit in the city and discuss her plans and it looks like we have met with her approval, so we will be spending 5weeks in Basel and hopefully Brian will get to have his first white Christmas.

posted by Brian and Julie @ 5:46:00 AM