September 2007 Blog Posts (31)

We've done many Untours, but it's Switzerland that keeps calling us back. Two years ago, we returned for our fourth visit and this time chose to stay on Lake Thun rather than high in the mountains as we usually do. We stayed at a beautiful chalet in Hilterfingen just a few short blocks up from the Thunersee.

Our balcony had a view out over Lake Thun and was the perfect spot…

The festivities have started in Munich (Bavaria, Germany). The first keg of beer was tapped and the festival began. It runs for two weeks ending in October. To celebrate the event, I have posted pictures from our trip to the Oktoberfest in 2006. You can view them as an album with descriptions from my home page. Hope you…

This is a shot Bill Kover made in Quebec.....(several of our staff stood around and gawked at the monitor displaying this....and someone said, "is that a photo or a painting!?") Here's his blog about…

Episode (3) Reconnecting with family

Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Eleanor's cousin Maurice Vaskelis, and his wife Diane, drove up from Montreal for lunch. Just before they arrived I studied Richard's latest still life with some classical music playing in the background.

Maurice discussed his genealogical trip to Lithuania. His attempts to find information on their ancestors were unsuccessful. But he had some possible new leads from the locals. A…

Episode (2) Settling in

After unpacking, we took a nap. Danielle made her way down the the lakeside dock and snoozed in the bright sun. Refreshed, Eleanor chose the deck to do some reading. Richard showed up with a drink for Danielle, and then joined Eleanor for some relaxing conversation.

Meanwhile, as the sun settled low on the horizon, I scooted around for any potential…

It is always fun when you are traveling to visit local quilt shops or sewing centers. A few years ago I discovered this wonderful quilt shop in Bern. They were closed twice, but I hit the jackpot this year. Now this is not your ordinary "walk-in" shop. Being located in Bern, it is a "walk-down" shop. The shop is located on the main street under the arcade corridor known as a "rohr" I understand that strolling through the town is to go "rohren"…

Episode (1) Through the eyes of an artist

Almost on an annual basis in September, Eleanor and I motor on up to Montreal, or for the past 10 years, the area in Quebec called Mont Tremblant. The purpose is to visit with Eleanor's cousin Richard Vaskelis and his girlfriend, Danielle Ste-Marie. In Mont Tremblant, we have the added benefit of a wilderness countyside to explore as well as some nice little towns, like nearby St. Jovite. Tremblant Village is an expensive shopping and…

The following videos show interaction in a French Restaurant located at St. Jovite, Quebec, Canada. The waitress spoke limited English. We tried to speak French when possible.

1) The Menu

The menu was in French and English.

2) Ordering in French/English with help from Eleanor's French speaking cousin, Richard.…

• Research your destination
• Budget
• Carry a guidebook
• Pack light
• Pack smart
• Manage your money
• Carry a moneybelt
• Sleep cheap
• Eat…

If reed (parlor or pump) organs don't interest you, you can stop reading now. But if they do, or you enjoy finding the biggest or best of anything, read on. We stumbled upon a wonferful bed and breakfast in Truro, Nova Scotia. The warm welcome, the comfortable rooms, the lovely garden and sun room along with a gourmet breakfast are enough to draw one, but the special attraction is the collection of reed organs the owner has assembled. There are over 100 of them, all in working order (except…

I've been vacationing at a cottage my great-grandfather built in Eagles Mere, PA, since my first summer on the planet. I have a lifetime of treasured memories from my time there, the most significant of which is my wedding five summers ago, which took place in a gazebo in the town green and was officiated by the mayor of Eagles Mere. My upcoming trip to Andalusia with my wife is in celebration of our fifth anniversary of that day.

A few weeks ago, I was at the cottage again with my…

Switzerland Vacation – Aug/Sept – 2007

By Bob & Barbara Eslinger – Phoenix, AZ

This was our sixth trip to Switzerland with our first trip ten years ago. We have taken Untours to other countries as well, but always come back to Switzerland. This time we had the normal two week

Heartland Untour followed by a week on our own.

We like to fly into Zurich…