Good-bye to Appenzell - Saturday July 10, 2010

Good-bye to Appenzell - Saturday July 10, 2010

The first picture shows the farm where we stayed and the 5 level zig-zag to get up out of there. The other 2 pics are of Appenzell area. No pics of the Spreewald area since we have not arrived yet.
We left the Susanne and Benjamin Rempfler farm in Appenzell just after 8:30 am and set the GPS for Zwickau, Germany and started the 5 + hour drive north. It was to be a stopover point on our way to the Spreewald area just south of Berlin. At about 2:30 pm we stopped for coffee at a McDonalds along the autobahn. We were about an hour short of our destination but it was soooooooooooo hot - 34 degrees C outside as we were driving and the hot pavement made it seem worse. Along the way we had seen numerous cars pulled over with motor problems - their hoods up and poor people standing along the autobahn must have been horrendous. Several accidents and 3 or 4 tow trucks loaded so we decided to get a motel right here behind McD’s rather than pushing our luck further. Turning off also we saw a couple stores much like our Dollar Stores so we went in there to cool off a bit. In a drug store they were selling Blau World phone cards which I figured I needed since I had been getting a message that time was running out. Bought the 15 Euro card and asked the clerk for help with the German to load the card. Come to find out there are 2 Blau World companies - one is Blau.De and one is just Blau so the 15 Euro card of coarse was the wrong one and it would not work. After 30 min. messing with the silly thing the clerk called the manager and they agreed to give me my money back. The nice guy that I am - I gave the girl 5 E and said thank you - Merry Christmas and walked out to the car.
The room in the FICHTELGEBIRGSHOF Hotel ( try to say that 10 times fast) was small, fairly warm with no air conditioning but we managed. After supper in our room we walked over to a Burger King and had milk shakes to cool off a bit. It did cool off later in the evening - windows wide open - no screens - no flies or bugs here - how do they manage that?

More pics of Seealpsee

Re: Just When We Think We've Seen It All OR Are We Crazy Or What - Friday July 9, 2010

Title: Just When We Think We've Seen It All OR Are We Crazy Or What - Friday July 9, 2010

In pondering what to do the last day here in Appenzell, we decided to check out the Seealpsee, a small lake we had seen from the top of Ebenalp several days ago. It looked like a small lake at the end of a small river below us and fairly easy to navigate. We drove to the end of the road at Wasserauen, parked the car and headed up the start path. The wegway sign said 40 min. to the hotel back there - couldn't be too bad. At first it was a slight uphill walk on pavement alondside the river but soon it turned into a steeper climb. After 40 minutes of a very, very steep climb that curved around rocky overhangs we could see no end in sight. We stopped very frequently to catch our breath. Other folks were coming down and still others were passing us and disappearing out of sight up around the corners so it couldn't be too bad. Climbing higher and higher for another 30 min. Along the way we had to stop for cows that were crossing the pathway searching for new grass on up higher. Occasionally we would see a little shack/barn across the valley on the other side or on up ahead. One little shack had a sign that said Ebenalp and up behind was a lift presumably for transporting supplies way up to where we had seen the little lake a few days previous. We finally came to a sign that said "Seealpsee 10 min." Shall we go on?? - a question asked many times as we resyed frequently. Sure Jean said, "We're this far and it would be a shame to turn back now". Finally we rounded a corner and the road levelled out to a beautiful blue lake, cows grazing all around and barns visible at the far end of the lake. It had taken us double the time stated on the little signs - must have been the time for athletes in perfect condition. After resting and numerous photo shots we started back down in about an hour. There was a path around the lake - it said 40 min. as well - maybe that was all their sign man could write - "40 min." - seems like we have seen it a lot since we have been here.

If that wasn't enough the trip back down was just as strenuous if not worse. On the way up, we would see people almost jogging on the way down - boy they must really be in shape so we thought we might try it. Turns out for a steep grade like that it does work better - just many fast little steps - arch your body forward - put your head down and just hope the bottom comes soon. Ever feel like your toes were coming right through your hiking boots/running shoes?? Probably another crazy trip we will never do again!!
We arrived back down at the base in about an hour - the sign at the top said again "Wasserauen 40 min." - we're getting closer to their target.
All that before lunch - now what do we do? One of the freebies on the Appenzeller card was a tour of the Stein Schaukaeserie or Stein Cheese factory so we took that in before heading home for an afternoon nap.

More Pics of Liechtenstein

Biking In Liechtenstein - July 8, 2010

Biking In Liechtenstein - July 8, 2010

Another sunny day was forecast today for Appenzell so we had one other must do before we leave here. It is only about 10 km as the crow flies in fact if we could have gone over the 2nd mountain we were on yesterday, we would be real close but the ridge is high and snow capped so that it was up and over the pass and down the other side then back along the other side. We found a shady spot to park the car about 5 km north of Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein and rode our bikes up the Rhine River for 12 km. It is a paved path up on the dyke that prevents the Rhine from overflowing in spring run offs - just wide enough for a car and in fact they do use the dyke in places probably to escape traffic downtown. Along the dyke on the city side , farmers were busy making hay. We stopped to watch a round baler 'calve' then the bale moves back and it is wound with plastic before it is dropped. After lunch in a shaded spot by the river we headed back toward Vaduz. It was slower going since we were heading into the wind. We found a bike path that led into Zentrum and noticed some major changes in the city - like most other towns we have re-visited (guess that is progress). They have closed off the whole downtown making it a pedestrian only zone with brick pavers in various colors for different parts of the street. Vaduz is home of the ruling Prince Alios and his family who still live in the centuries old castle above the city. He was home today - when the Liechtenstein flag is flying he is home. Only a couple original shops we recognized - they have really spruced it up most shops are modern as in any North American city. While we were sitting in the center of the city resting, security began to be stationed at various points and soon an old English sports car with a driver and a navigator came by and stopped at a check point, exchanged paper and off they sped. While we were there 4 or 5 more pulled up then sped off. On our way back to the Rhine, a security man stopped traffic to let others speed through the intersection without stopping. By the time we made it back to the car we had added 25 km to the bike's odometer today.
On the way home to Appenzell we took a side trip to the little town of Alstatten where Rick Steves recommends a trip by train up to the summit of a pass where there is a little Church built in 1405 stands guard at the top. There is a very commanding view of the Rhine valley below showing where we had been and also the tower of the 2nd climb yesterday. There was also a monument with the dates 1405 - 1905 to commemorate the 500th anniversary year of an Appenzeller victory over the Hapsburgs of Austria. A pine tree (maybe even a redwood) was beside the church - had to be at least 6 feet across at the bottom - amazing that it withstood the winds on that high ridge. With the GPS re-set for Appenzell she took us the back way over more narrow one-lane roads. Very warm at 32 degrees C - sounds like it is worldwide.
We rested a bit after arriving home then headed back into town to the Migros grocery store - they have a great buffet and dining room - soup and salad was the menu for tonight. After supper we walked to Zentrun of Appenzell - we had heard there is a 'concert in the park' type thing every Thursday night in the Rathaus (we think it is the music school). Three young people in their upper teens were playing traditional Swiss music at the Rathaus. It was great -one guy on the string keyboards, a gal on the hammered dulcimer and another guy on the accordian. Great toe-tappin' sounds for 1 1/2 hours.

No Grammy was not one of the hang gliders - more pics for Wednesday July 7, 2010

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Look Where Grammy Went today - Wednesday July 7, 2010T

Look Where Grammy Went Today - Wednesday July 7, 2010

As promised on the first nice day here in Appenzell we wanted to go up to Ebenalp (1640 m). It is basically a one house village high on a narrow cliff on the side of the rocky mountainside. After a cable car ride to the top, I decided to walk down around on the narrow steps to the building known as Berggasthaus Aescher (Aescher Mountain Hotel) - the sign said 12 min. The steps were very steep so Jean decided to remain up top knowing that she would have to climb those steps on return. I got down there in more like 20 min. and was taking a few pictures when I heard her call my name. Now that was a very real surprise since to get down there the trail disappeared into a cave - very steep and damp and dark inside that wound around down to a hole in the rock at the exit onto the narrow rocky trail along the ledge of the rock face. Could not believe it - she said she watched older women disappear around the corner and thought why not!! We looked around there and took some pics then sat on the patio ledge and had a coffee and a sweet roll that we shared. Inside the little gasthaus was a small kitchen and upper sleeping rooms that are rentable as zimmers. The back wall of the house is the bare rock face. Down the narrow rock ledge a bit further was a pigpen and a rabbit pen - these guys get the leftovers from the cafe. Numerous sheep crossed our path and ran on ahead. A sign below the pigpen said 40 min. going on down the trail and on around the mountain back up to the cablecar. We decided to go for it. It was basically a sheep trail along the narrow ledge of the rock face but others had come up that way. Probably at least 90 min. later we reached the top with numerous breathing spots along the path. Yes we were crazy but you know how it goes - once you start down that road it is hard to turn back or even to know what is up ahead. We reached to top at 11:30 almost 3 hours later - should have taken less than one hour so they said. We then sat at the edge of the cliff and ate lunch while watching paragliders and hanggliders jump over the edge to catch the wind and glide to the valley floor over a mile below. It was very entertaining - we counted 15 in the air circling above us at one point - they were "taking off" every couple minutes. Poor Grammy said her legs were like rubber when we touched bottom far below.

Upon arrival at our farm stay here we were given an Appenzeller Card which gave us free travel on 3 cable lifts to different mountains. So after lunch we decided to go to the town of Brulisau and catch the free cable lift to the Hoher Kasten (1795 m.)to a revolving restaurant and great view of the surrounding area. We could see across several peaks to the Ebenalp where we had been in the a.m. - visible as a tiny speck in the distance. We did not repeat the mountain trail trek - legs were already tired from the a.m. Also visible on the other side was the Rhine River and the Country of Liechtenstein with all the little farms and villages in between.

One more freeby on the Appenzeller card was a trip up to Kronberg from the village of Jakobsbad below. It is not nearly as commercialized as the other 2 cable car destinations although there were signs that it is very busy in ski season - large restaurant was almost vacant but would be buzzing in winter. It is a connecting point with several other ski runs although they are not operating in summer. Back down on the ground and Grammy and Papa decided to do the bobsled ride down the same mountain. Yes Grammy had her own "car" so it towed us up the side of the mountain, Papa in the lead and once at the top it is push forward on the hand levers to go and pull back for braking. Papa got to the bottom in no time, hopped out of the car and got his camera ready to take a picture of Grammy. He waited and waited and waited and waited then pretty soon saw a little red speck moving very slowly down the run - Grammy finally made it to the bottom but there was a major traffic jam up behind her - poor guys paid all that money for a SLOW ride down the Bobsled run. More rubber legs.