Blogs from Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Europe

Viking Sigrun sailed overnight from Basel to Breisach in Germany. In the process the river cruise ship traversed the Grand Canal d'Alsace (Rheinseitenkanal). Looking out our cabin window in the morning, what did I behold but a swan! A swan swimming in the Rhine! Lohengrin must be nearby! The morning shore excursion was a motorcoach drive into the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) with a stop at the Hofgut Sternen complex at Hollsteig. To get there, the coach followed a route through Freiburg am Breisgau. We didn't stop, but at least had the opportunity to view this city, the gateway to the Black Forest. The coach then began a gradual ascent into the forested mountains and into the region known as the Höllenthal. Our destination, Hofgut Sternen, is known as "The Black Forest Village". It might be seen ... read more

Early morning stroll through the super village of Rudesheim- really lovely. Then, 10.53 ( precisely) local train to Frankfurt followed by the fast train to Freiburg in the Black Forest - home of the gateaux - we will be sampling the local delicacies so I expect my waistline to expand over the next few days. l’ve been to Freiburg before on a German exchange ( about 14 years old! ) so I had to take a pic of the station for sue - my partner in crime all those years ago! In spite of this being a low-carbon holiday - we hired a car from freiburg (I know - what a cop out! - but we have to see the beautiful Swartzwald area and really no other way ?) So having gone through the most forensic ... read more

F: So where are you going next after Amsterdam? Me: Uhm, the plan is to go to Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Bern, … F: Wait – why would you wanna go to Freiburg? There’s nothing to see there. I wouldn’t go there if I were you. Me: Errr…. Have you been there? F just shrugged his shoulder. That’s a good enough answer. Well, travel planning is something very personal. It’s almost as personal as how your last appointment with OB/GYN went. I know someone who had the goals to visit places that she cannot pronounce (Ljubljana being one of them), or someone who would go where the discount ticket goes (suddenly she said – yo Y – I’m going Tibet. I’m like wha???). For me, I’m all about value for money and efficiency. From Frankfurt I’m ... read more

AUGUST 1 On this second day of driving through the Black Forest, we drove the route known as the Deutsche Uhrenstrasse (German Clock Route, as in Cuckoo Clocks). This too took us through amazing scenery and cute towns, including Titisee which reminded us of Lake Donner... but we were challenged with multiple detours along the way! Bryan enjoyed the single vehicle-width roads until he had to reverse to let a tractor by, and his skills were put to the test. We stayed our second night in Freiburg with a home-cooked meal in our little apartment. We had some concerns that our chicken may have in fact been pigeon, as we learned it is eaten in Germany, but luckily we confirmed it was not..!... read more

Charming old German city located in the southwest corner of the state of Baden-Württemberg, very close to the border with France and Switzerland.... read more