Side trip to Alsace

Riquewihr, is it French or is it German? I'll be honest, I don't know much about this town, due to the fact only 4 hours were spent there. None the less, this village in the Alsace region of France is straight out of a story book. For real, I have the storybook, My Village, illustrated and written by Hansi. I have yet to finish reading the storybook, although it is a picture book, there are 35 pages, all with lots of words. Too much for bedtime.

What I do know is the Alsace region was occupied by the germans during WWI. Hansi, is an artist local to Alsace and is famous for his political cartoons and drawings of traditional dressed children for that time period. Although is drawings are colorful and playful, they are politically loaded and with the small bit of Alsace history one can pick up on where Hansi stood.



In Riquewihr there is a musuem that houses an impressive body of his work. For 2 euro, it is a must see. His styles and medium varies but his skill remains flawless.

More Information:

• Visit the tourist info website for directions to the town along with hotel options.
• See what other travelers's thoughts and photographs here
• See it on the map
• More of Hansi's work

Images: Top is me on the streetz of Riquewihr, Bottom is a Hansi print

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Donto Dent

People who go on trips are categorized into two groups: tourists and travelers. When you find yourself looking for a supermarket or a drugstore because you ran out of shampoo, or you are elated that your hotel/hostel has a clothes line, that's when you have moved into group 2. You are a traveler. One group isn't better than the other although some may disagree, they are just different modes for seeing the world.

I recently came to the reality that I am no longer traveling. My toothbrush I purchased in France has officially expired. My pink Donto Dent is totaled, it's through. Maybe it's silly but each brush took me back to the simplicity of traveling where my biggest concerns were, "Will I find a bed?" or, "Is it acceptable to have gelato again today?" My self-consciousness of having gelato twice in one day was short lived.

At the beginning of a trip most people are tourists. I was. I had packed everything for all types of weather, occasions, and all precautions taken so nothing could hinge on my health. This was for for the first week but I ended up leaving half of my belongings in Bath. The TravelLodge maid had an early Christmas.

Once you have reached the point of your trip where you run out of life's neccesities that's when the adventure has truly begun. Other than trying different gelato combinations, I thoroughly enjoyed European drugstores. Everything is so cool! Laundry detergent, toothpaste, soap, lotion; I saw it in a whole new light and in this light it was much more desireable than back at home. One reason was the hunt and feeling that sense of victory, "Yes, I found it! I overcame the language barrier and I will have clean clothes tonight!"(And yes I am the person who was the most excited about the clothesline out the window of the hostel in the Cinque Terre...what about it.)

Although my Donto Dent has been replace by a snazzy green Colgate, I still have the Balea body cream from Bern. So this traveler's bliss is not over yet.

Read this NGT article on authentic traveling. Far better writing than me ; )

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I went for a hike...

this is what I saw...

someone's perfectly constructed woodpile

cows snacking on grass

...spring bringing new life

fields of dandelions...

and then I saw Kandern.

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Kandern, Germany

If you google "Kandern" the tourist website pops up, some paintings by August Macke, and then mostly information on the Black Forest Academy. My reason for making a stop in this small German village was to visit friends. My friends live in an old factory on the edge of town and are in the process of transforming it into appartments, art studios, gallery space, and a cafè. It is the Art Factory and it's an exciting project in the works. A cute village with an open market on Saturdays, a few restaraunts, and a stop at the Eis Cafè is a must. I just hiked, caught up with my friends, hunted through french flea markets, and french side trips. It was the perfect few days to rest up for adventures ahead.


If you are curious and want to stay off the beaten track there is a hostel outside of town and a handful of hotels in town. See here for a few accomodation options.

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Photo Journal: Bern

the perfect picnic park

the weather was perfect in mid-April

Bern has a good vibe going

School Field Trip in front of Munster Cathedral

Ahead is Zytglogge Zeitglockentrum...or the Clock Tower

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Greetings from Bern

Ad for the deli I ate at. Catchy.

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Heading North

Bern, a laid back capitol city worth a day or two...at least!

Surprising, I was ready to leave Nice and have a change of scenery. Nice in all it's charm was just not quite so charming with the sporadic weather and April showers. I thought heading north would solve that (silly logic, i know) and I was right. With little hassle I had reservations, first class mind you, to Geneva. First class from Nice to Milan and then a jam packed we-don't-wear-deodorant cattle car from Milan to Geneva. Pulling into Geneva shy of midnight. Unfortunately I was heading to Bern the following day, and then on to meet some friends in Kandern, Germany; so I only slept in Geneva. One can't see it all.

I stayed in Bern just for the night but managed to make it a two day event. The weather was perfect and I think I got a better tan there than on the Cote d'Azure! Unbelievable. Well Bern did not fit my expectations of what makes a capitol city....it was better. I could do Bern. I could dwell there for sure. It's laid back, boutique lined streets, and small town feel made me feel right at home. I had a great lunch at Lotschberg, a bit spendy but I blew through the francs during my brief stay. There was this great park off of the Munster Cathedral where I had three different picnic and caught up on my journaling. You can rent bikes for free at the train station, I believe there is a 20 franc deposit that you get when you return. If you are in Bern for 24 hours and the weather is good rent a bike! There is a fabulous path along the glacier blue Aare River.

More Information:
* Get another perspective of Bern from this blogger gent, he's a local!
* Bern Tourist Information
* Bern history and city profile here
* I loved the hostel I stayed at, clean bed, cozy & friendly common room, and a kitchen! Visit here.


Note: The train from Geneva to Bern is gorgeous! I think it took 2 or 3 hours but the ride was filled with alps, lakes, and vineyards. It is an ideal way to enter into this fabulous country's capitol. The train stops at quaint towns worth a visit between the two cities.

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