I'm now on my fourth reservation inquiry for the first night in the Black Forest, in or near Baden-Baden. I never did hear back from the first two places, and the third responded right away. I was excited until I ran the email through Google translate. The answer was no. Not sure why as the site indicated they had availability. All I can figure is they didn't want to rent for just one night. I have another inquiry submitted, though, and we'll see. I'm beginning to think it might not be so bad to go to the Formule1 in Strasbourg if I can't find anything around Baden-Baden.
Saturday night, Eric came home late - and with a fresh tetanus shot and six stitches in his arm...he was helping friends move and dropped a large mirror. He said the tetanus shot hurt worse than the stitches. He had come home because our job yesterday was to get his FAFSA filed before the March 1st deadline. The FAFSA turned out a lot better than we thought! After I did some preliminary figuring on our taxes (so I'd have what FAFSA needed) we got into the FAFSA site. When we entered Eric's information, the screen came up with the information that he was now considered financially independent and he didn't have to enter his parent's information! Great news for him as he'll probably (finally) get some grants and such.
After that, Steve and I went to TGI Friday's to meet with other Gold Wing riders in our group for supper. I think there were around 14 of us there. Nice dinner - and there was actually a younger couple than us there. I took my First Class sleeper along to try out in the car. Verry nice and I think it will be wonderful to have on the plane. Steve is still dubious about it, thinks it'll be way too much to carry around. It does have a nice little carrying case so I don't think that'll be a problem. In any case, the rest it will hopefully give me will be worth it.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Today's "learn something new" department
Today's "learn something new" department:
Found out you can download a "kindle for PC" app free from Amazon. So I did. And now I can download as many books as I want to my netbook, and quite a few are free downloads. Now I will have reading material for the plane and whenever else I might want it, and don't have to lug around a bunch of books! I only wish that I'd found this out before I bought Rick Steves' Germany 2011. I could have downloaded it for $9.99. Downloaded about a dozen free books during the kids' naptime at work.
Took a bit to get to work this morning. We had a winter thaw last week, and by the end of a week with above-freezing temps, our driveway was actually clear. But it all came to a crashing end yesterday as we got about 6-8" starting about 1 p.m. Heavy wet stuff too. And since it is President's Day today, and the kids didn't have school anyway (bet they feel "cheated" out of a snow day!) the plows didn't seem to be in nearly as much hurry to get the roads cleaned. WHEN will winter be over?
On the bright side (for Scott anyway) he had today off as well so a group of friends went to Switzerland for the weekend. Steve was a bit jealous of that until I reminded him that that's where we will be in just three short months....
Found out you can download a "kindle for PC" app free from Amazon. So I did. And now I can download as many books as I want to my netbook, and quite a few are free downloads. Now I will have reading material for the plane and whenever else I might want it, and don't have to lug around a bunch of books! I only wish that I'd found this out before I bought Rick Steves' Germany 2011. I could have downloaded it for $9.99. Downloaded about a dozen free books during the kids' naptime at work.
Took a bit to get to work this morning. We had a winter thaw last week, and by the end of a week with above-freezing temps, our driveway was actually clear. But it all came to a crashing end yesterday as we got about 6-8" starting about 1 p.m. Heavy wet stuff too. And since it is President's Day today, and the kids didn't have school anyway (bet they feel "cheated" out of a snow day!) the plows didn't seem to be in nearly as much hurry to get the roads cleaned. WHEN will winter be over?
On the bright side (for Scott anyway) he had today off as well so a group of friends went to Switzerland for the weekend. Steve was a bit jealous of that until I reminded him that that's where we will be in just three short months....
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
More changes
I now can say I have most of our first week planned out. We will leave GR on Thursday, May 12 - and arrive in Frankfurt the next afternoon. Saturday we'll be with Scott in Spangdahlem, picking up the car and seeing the base. AS IT IS NOW PLANNED....
Leaving Sunday to the upper Black Forest. Still haven't heard back from the Gastehof in Bad Peterstal so will have to make some other inquiries. Baden-Baden and a visit to the baths there is still on the agenda. Monday will explore the Black Forest and stop for the night at Titisee at a farmhouse there.
Tuesday we will venture into Switzerland, stop at Teufenthal for a few hours (if that - don't anticipate a lot there to see) then head down to Martigny and a bit beyond - have found reservations at a "chalet" near the Great St. Bernard Pass.
Wednesday we will continue south into the Valle d'Aosta, Italy, go over toward Monte Cervino (Matterhorn) then back toward Aosta and over to Mont Blanc and Chamonix, then back toward Martigny. Leaving the accommodations open at this point because we may not get all the way around in a day.
Thursday we will head to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and spend two nights there. The place that wasn't available in our first plans opens back up on May 19 (they will return from their vacation...) and we now have reservations there, in Stechelberg. We will spend the remainder of the day we arrive checking out the waterfalls and such in the valley, then take the trip up to the Schilthorn the next day, checking out the Alpine villages on the way back to Stechelberg.
We'll leave Stechelberg on Saturday morning - and there's where the definite planning ends for the moment. Had in mind that we would then head back to Spangdahlem, pick up Scott and travel to Munich/Salzburg and the romantic road for the rest of the week. Now Scott may be in a training class during that time, which means that he'll be in Spangdahlem but not able to leave the base during the week. So leaning toward heading north/east through Liechtenstein to Fussen so we can see Neuschwanstein, then head back to Spangdahlem via the romantic road and get back mid-week. Then spend the rest of the week on day trips in Scott's area so we can visit with him at night and go with him somewhere close over the weekend. That would leave out Munich and Salzburg but there's always another trip. Visiting two cities didn't quite fit in, in some ways, with our other plans anyway.
Giving this last bit some thought and will wait a week or two before making any further reservations. It's soooo much fun working around the Air Force! Of course, without the Air Force sending Scott to Germany in the first place, this trip might not have even happened. Steve's always wanted to see the Alps, but knowing 2011 would be our last chance to visit Scott while he's in Germany kind of forced the issue.
Leaving Sunday to the upper Black Forest. Still haven't heard back from the Gastehof in Bad Peterstal so will have to make some other inquiries. Baden-Baden and a visit to the baths there is still on the agenda. Monday will explore the Black Forest and stop for the night at Titisee at a farmhouse there.
Tuesday we will venture into Switzerland, stop at Teufenthal for a few hours (if that - don't anticipate a lot there to see) then head down to Martigny and a bit beyond - have found reservations at a "chalet" near the Great St. Bernard Pass.
Wednesday we will continue south into the Valle d'Aosta, Italy, go over toward Monte Cervino (Matterhorn) then back toward Aosta and over to Mont Blanc and Chamonix, then back toward Martigny. Leaving the accommodations open at this point because we may not get all the way around in a day.
Thursday we will head to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and spend two nights there. The place that wasn't available in our first plans opens back up on May 19 (they will return from their vacation...) and we now have reservations there, in Stechelberg. We will spend the remainder of the day we arrive checking out the waterfalls and such in the valley, then take the trip up to the Schilthorn the next day, checking out the Alpine villages on the way back to Stechelberg.
We'll leave Stechelberg on Saturday morning - and there's where the definite planning ends for the moment. Had in mind that we would then head back to Spangdahlem, pick up Scott and travel to Munich/Salzburg and the romantic road for the rest of the week. Now Scott may be in a training class during that time, which means that he'll be in Spangdahlem but not able to leave the base during the week. So leaning toward heading north/east through Liechtenstein to Fussen so we can see Neuschwanstein, then head back to Spangdahlem via the romantic road and get back mid-week. Then spend the rest of the week on day trips in Scott's area so we can visit with him at night and go with him somewhere close over the weekend. That would leave out Munich and Salzburg but there's always another trip. Visiting two cities didn't quite fit in, in some ways, with our other plans anyway.
Giving this last bit some thought and will wait a week or two before making any further reservations. It's soooo much fun working around the Air Force! Of course, without the Air Force sending Scott to Germany in the first place, this trip might not have even happened. Steve's always wanted to see the Alps, but knowing 2011 would be our last chance to visit Scott while he's in Germany kind of forced the issue.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
You knew a glitch or two just had to pop up...
And so they have. Glitch #1 - Scott told us on the phone Sunday that he would probably be going on a second TDY back to back from the first one, and wouldn't be back until May 22. We arrive on May 13. Hmmm... We knew nothing is certain with the AF, though, and am adjusting a bit. Leaving Spang now on Sunday instead of Monday, and heading back to Spang after Switzerland to see Scott and go to Bavaria with him.
Glitch #2 - Found out definitely that the "three passes" around Andermatt that we really wanted to go on aren't open until June 1st. So now will have to reroute a bit.
Glitch #3 - Scott called Wednesday morning to find out if we had changeable tickets, as the 2nd TDY won't be returning until June 1st. (They are not changeable.) So now he's probably not going to go on the second TDY. Feel bad that he's missing that opportunity because of us. But will now stick with most of the same plan - even though it sounds like he'll be there from the beginning of the trip. He's been to Switzerland already anyway.
I do have one confirmation back on the three places I've contacted. Have heard nothing from the first place, and it doesn't sound like the third place will have any openings when we need them, but have sent a reply back to make sure.
Not sure I'd ever want to be a travel agent for a living....
Glitch #2 - Found out definitely that the "three passes" around Andermatt that we really wanted to go on aren't open until June 1st. So now will have to reroute a bit.
Glitch #3 - Scott called Wednesday morning to find out if we had changeable tickets, as the 2nd TDY won't be returning until June 1st. (They are not changeable.) So now he's probably not going to go on the second TDY. Feel bad that he's missing that opportunity because of us. But will now stick with most of the same plan - even though it sounds like he'll be there from the beginning of the trip. He's been to Switzerland already anyway.
I do have one confirmation back on the three places I've contacted. Have heard nothing from the first place, and it doesn't sound like the third place will have any openings when we need them, but have sent a reply back to make sure.
Not sure I'd ever want to be a travel agent for a living....
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Starting to come together...
I've spent much of the weekend getting a better sense of how long it will take us to go from place to place while on our trip - and where we will need to find a place to spend the night.
I've made progress! I have the trip laid out in general and have requested accommodations for the first four nights of the trip, after the first weekend spent with Scott in the Spangdahlem area.
We'll head south and east on Monday, heading for Baden-Baden and a short visit there. Then stopping for the night in Bad Peterstal and a nice little Gastezimmer there. The next day, we'll explore the Black Forest some more and spend the night at another little Gastezimmer near Titisee/Neustadt. We had thought to make it all the way to the Teufenthal, Switzerland area (where Steve's relatives came from) but are finding that budget accommodations in Switzerland are much harder to find. On Wednesday, we'll drive to Teufenthal, explore for a while, then head down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and stay at a little hotel in Stechelberg, near the cable car station that takes us to the Schilthorn. We'll spend two nights there, one of the days spent exploring the Schilthorn and two villages on the way back down (Gimmelwald and Murren) the other spent exploring the Lauterbrunnen Valley and its many waterfalls.
We'll head out on Friday towards Martigny. Right now that's where I'm at, accommodations-wise. Another area where it's hard to find something on a budget.
My other concern is road status - end of May in the Alps should be ok for the most part, though there are some passes that may be an issue.
Took a time out from planning yesterday and went to the West Michigan Auto Show with Steve. Eric was able to get us free tickets through work. It was nice to see the new cars though Steve does have his mind set on an Outback when we finally do replace one of the vans. He is waiting for just the right combination of transmission and engine size. Subaru makes the right transmission and the right engine, just not in the same vehicle yet. Had a nice sandwich together at Big Boy afterwards and a quiet evening at home. Steve with TV, me with slow dialup but got some of those reservations requested. Google Translate has become my friend as much of the information on these budget places is just in German.
I've made progress! I have the trip laid out in general and have requested accommodations for the first four nights of the trip, after the first weekend spent with Scott in the Spangdahlem area.
We'll head south and east on Monday, heading for Baden-Baden and a short visit there. Then stopping for the night in Bad Peterstal and a nice little Gastezimmer there. The next day, we'll explore the Black Forest some more and spend the night at another little Gastezimmer near Titisee/Neustadt. We had thought to make it all the way to the Teufenthal, Switzerland area (where Steve's relatives came from) but are finding that budget accommodations in Switzerland are much harder to find. On Wednesday, we'll drive to Teufenthal, explore for a while, then head down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and stay at a little hotel in Stechelberg, near the cable car station that takes us to the Schilthorn. We'll spend two nights there, one of the days spent exploring the Schilthorn and two villages on the way back down (Gimmelwald and Murren) the other spent exploring the Lauterbrunnen Valley and its many waterfalls.
We'll head out on Friday towards Martigny. Right now that's where I'm at, accommodations-wise. Another area where it's hard to find something on a budget.
My other concern is road status - end of May in the Alps should be ok for the most part, though there are some passes that may be an issue.
Took a time out from planning yesterday and went to the West Michigan Auto Show with Steve. Eric was able to get us free tickets through work. It was nice to see the new cars though Steve does have his mind set on an Outback when we finally do replace one of the vans. He is waiting for just the right combination of transmission and engine size. Subaru makes the right transmission and the right engine, just not in the same vehicle yet. Had a nice sandwich together at Big Boy afterwards and a quiet evening at home. Steve with TV, me with slow dialup but got some of those reservations requested. Google Translate has become my friend as much of the information on these budget places is just in German.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Snowmaggedon 2011
Well, we've survived Snowmaggedon 2011. First inklings that our luck-o-meter as far as snow this winter was about to run out were over the weekend, when there was a "possible" winter event with 6-12 inches on Tuesday. The predictions became more definite and the predicted snowfall increased. Then the winter storm watch. Then Tuesday morning we were upgraded to a Blizzard warning starting at 5 p.m. that day.
We had an appointment with our financial planner at 5:15 - in the opposite direction of home. I dearly wanted to reschedule but Steve was equally interested in keeping the appointment as the snow wasn't going to get bad until later. 5 p.m., the roads were still clear as I headed to Grandville.
6:15 as we left, roads are getting a bit snowy, and the wind has definitely picked up. Steve cleared my windows before his (we came separately from work) It took us a lot longer to get home than usual. And there is a new definition of love - Steve followed me all the way even though I was only going 35-40 mph on the freeway. I know slow drivers drive him nuts so he must love me : )
Once home, we hunkered down for the night. Conditions quickly deteriorated over the evening. When I took Max out for the last time before bed, the paths in the yard were starting to drift over but we could still get through. After going to bed, I definitely heard thunder snow - quite unusual. Snow falling at about 2" an hour from what I've heard.
Woke up this morning to a phone call from my boss that I didn't have to come in (at 7:30 a.m.) Thanks anyway. I'm not scheduled for Wednesdays...anyway noticed that Steve was still here so discovered that he was snowblowing the driveway as there was no way the cars were going through. Very thankful for the John Deere with snowblower attachment - made things much easier for Steve. Opened the door to take Max out and that was as far as I got. Outside door wouldn't budge. BIG drifts. Went out through the garage and trudged through the snow to get back to the front door and shoveled it out, then went for Max. The path went above MY knees so you can imagine what it must have been like for him. Sorta like the Grand Canyon in snow form.
Kept shoveling after Max went in to clear the paths from the driveway to the doors - then in front of the garage doors where the snowblower couldn't reach well. After we were done, came inside and determined that Steve didn't have to work, either. So spent the morning watching TV (Steve) and catching up on bill paying (me.)
About 1 p.m., a knock on the door. Turned out to be my good geo-friend, Joe (aka Macho Homemaker.) He saw my facebook post about my geo-calendar day not looking likely due to the blizzard. Since he needed to keep his geo-streak going and his wife needed a ride to work in Ada, he came out to my place in his 4WD cachemobile. He needed some help on one of my nearby caches so the tradeoff was that he would take me to get a cache for my geo-calendar. Of course I jumped at the chance and we left for my cache. Going down Sargent was quite the experience - the only "path" was one car wide. I don't think my car would have made it. We got to my cache and after going through knee high drifts found the cache ok but buried.
Then off to the nearest chirp cache. Joe knew that I couldn't get chirp caches, which require a particular kind of GPSr that I don't have. So that was his plan and a good one. Main roads weren't too bad though once we got to the chirp stage the road was almost impassable. The 4WD came through ok and off we went to the final. Joe stayed in his car and watched as I made my way through snow and tree branches to find the cache. Broke the branch getting the cache out, then managed to empty a few branches worth of snow down my shirt putting it back. Then an uneventful trip back.
Spent the afternoon surfing the web, mostly travel sites again though I did do some research on geocaches along our proposed route. Caching will be a lot easier than two years ago as I wasn't paperless back then and am now. Steve went into town for an appointment and to check on his dad, and we spent a quiet evening.
Total snowfall around 16 inches. Tomorrow back to work, hoping things are somewhat back to normal.
We had an appointment with our financial planner at 5:15 - in the opposite direction of home. I dearly wanted to reschedule but Steve was equally interested in keeping the appointment as the snow wasn't going to get bad until later. 5 p.m., the roads were still clear as I headed to Grandville.
6:15 as we left, roads are getting a bit snowy, and the wind has definitely picked up. Steve cleared my windows before his (we came separately from work) It took us a lot longer to get home than usual. And there is a new definition of love - Steve followed me all the way even though I was only going 35-40 mph on the freeway. I know slow drivers drive him nuts so he must love me : )
Once home, we hunkered down for the night. Conditions quickly deteriorated over the evening. When I took Max out for the last time before bed, the paths in the yard were starting to drift over but we could still get through. After going to bed, I definitely heard thunder snow - quite unusual. Snow falling at about 2" an hour from what I've heard.
Woke up this morning to a phone call from my boss that I didn't have to come in (at 7:30 a.m.) Thanks anyway. I'm not scheduled for Wednesdays...anyway noticed that Steve was still here so discovered that he was snowblowing the driveway as there was no way the cars were going through. Very thankful for the John Deere with snowblower attachment - made things much easier for Steve. Opened the door to take Max out and that was as far as I got. Outside door wouldn't budge. BIG drifts. Went out through the garage and trudged through the snow to get back to the front door and shoveled it out, then went for Max. The path went above MY knees so you can imagine what it must have been like for him. Sorta like the Grand Canyon in snow form.
Kept shoveling after Max went in to clear the paths from the driveway to the doors - then in front of the garage doors where the snowblower couldn't reach well. After we were done, came inside and determined that Steve didn't have to work, either. So spent the morning watching TV (Steve) and catching up on bill paying (me.)
About 1 p.m., a knock on the door. Turned out to be my good geo-friend, Joe (aka Macho Homemaker.) He saw my facebook post about my geo-calendar day not looking likely due to the blizzard. Since he needed to keep his geo-streak going and his wife needed a ride to work in Ada, he came out to my place in his 4WD cachemobile. He needed some help on one of my nearby caches so the tradeoff was that he would take me to get a cache for my geo-calendar. Of course I jumped at the chance and we left for my cache. Going down Sargent was quite the experience - the only "path" was one car wide. I don't think my car would have made it. We got to my cache and after going through knee high drifts found the cache ok but buried.
Then off to the nearest chirp cache. Joe knew that I couldn't get chirp caches, which require a particular kind of GPSr that I don't have. So that was his plan and a good one. Main roads weren't too bad though once we got to the chirp stage the road was almost impassable. The 4WD came through ok and off we went to the final. Joe stayed in his car and watched as I made my way through snow and tree branches to find the cache. Broke the branch getting the cache out, then managed to empty a few branches worth of snow down my shirt putting it back. Then an uneventful trip back.
Spent the afternoon surfing the web, mostly travel sites again though I did do some research on geocaches along our proposed route. Caching will be a lot easier than two years ago as I wasn't paperless back then and am now. Steve went into town for an appointment and to check on his dad, and we spent a quiet evening.
Total snowfall around 16 inches. Tomorrow back to work, hoping things are somewhat back to normal.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Ok, Aunt Martha : )
Ok, Aunt Martha : ) Just haven't had as much wifi time as I'd like lately. And for some reason when I do have wifi time I'm looking over travel sites. Go figure.
Anyway, I have made progress in plans for our trip. We will spend 2-3 days in the Spangdahlem area when we first get there, seeing the base and surrounding area, and spending time with Scott. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that deployments don't get in the way of that.
Tentatively, the following Monday we will leave for the Black Forest, in our rental car that Scott will arrange for on base. Plan to drive to Baden-Baden or nearby the first day. We're giving serious thought to going to the thermal baths there. The next day, we'll tour the Schwarzwald more thoroughly. Know that Triberg and Furtwangen are on the short list, plans are still developing here. From the Black Forest, we'll travel into Switzerland and spend the night somewhere in the neighborhood of Teufenthal, where Steve's grandmother's family came from. The next day, we'll head down to the Berner Oberland for a few days - definitely seeing the beauty around Lauterbrunnen. Still undecided between the Schilthorn and the Jungfraujoch - would love to do both but the trips are both pricey and more likely we'll just do one, leaning towards the Schilthorn.
From there, we're planning to head down to Martigny for a few nights. One of the days will be spent traveling from Martigny to Chamonix, France, and Mont Blanc, then into the Valle d'Aosta in Northern Italy and seeing Monte Cervino (more commonly known on the Swiss side as the Matterhorn.) Seems less of a hassle to see it from the Italian side (with a car anyway.)
From that area we're headed toward Andermatt - there are some pass roads Steve wants to go on, even though we'll be in a car, not a motorcycle. We know those plans will be weather dependent but hope they'll work out. From there, northeast through Liechtenstein (just so we can say we've been) and into Austria, headed toward Fuessen and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. Probably headed toward Salzburg, Austria from there, then up to Munich for a day or two and headed back toward Spangdahlem on the Romantic Road, stopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber along the way.
Whew! Right now I am in the beginning stages of figuring out where we'll spend the evenings. We could probably get by without reservations this time of year but I do like to nail things down. Would rather change reservations than get stuck without something, or only have a choice of high-priced accommodations. What also will factor in is whether or not Scott will join us for some or all of the time. He knows he's welcome, and I think he's waiting to see just where we'll go (and whether or not the Air Force has other plans. You never know for sure in that regard.)
We want to go but not be extravagant, if you know what I mean. Quite a few picnic meals (and we can stock up at the commissary in Spang before we head out) and inexpensive accommodations. Not averse to hostels and "Zimmer Frei" type places. But on the other hand this may be the only time we ever come this way and I don't want to miss something just because we think it costs too much.
I've read in Aunt Martha's blog about the 1st Class sleeper and no-jet-lag pills. Ordered both from Magellan's already as I know from 2009 that I really struggled to get any sleep on the plane trip over. Hoping they will help. Told Mom about that and discovered she already has a 1st class sleeper and would have lent it to me. Oh well. She may lend it to me anyway if Steve thinks it will help him, then we won't have to buy a second one. Not sure it will work for him because of his height but he can try mine first (before the trip, of course.)
I was able to change our seat reservations on the long-haul trips. Before, I couldn't get a window and aisle together so had put us in a window and then the aisle on the other side of the aisle, hoping that whoever had the preferred seat on the window side of the aisle would be willing to trade. Glad to see that some of the preferred seats were released and now we are together. I'd rather climb over Steve to get to the restroom or stretch rather than a stranger!
We've offered Eric a fairly substantial "carrot" for watching Max and checking up on Grandpa. We're going to get him his passport and use my frequent flier miles to get him a ticket over so he can spend some time with his brother. They are already talking London and Paris which will be cool for both of them. Only problem will be timing, with Eric's school, any plans the Air Force has for Scott, and the FF miles calendar needing to coincide. It may not happen for a while. We'll see.
I will try to keep up the blog a bit more often - got out of the habit of doing it on such a regular basis these last few months.
Now to get back to that Bavarian B&B site before the kids here at work wake up from their naps...I'm sure I'm not going anywhere tomorrow with the expected blizzard coming so will have time to do some more planning then, too.
Anyway, I have made progress in plans for our trip. We will spend 2-3 days in the Spangdahlem area when we first get there, seeing the base and surrounding area, and spending time with Scott. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that deployments don't get in the way of that.
Tentatively, the following Monday we will leave for the Black Forest, in our rental car that Scott will arrange for on base. Plan to drive to Baden-Baden or nearby the first day. We're giving serious thought to going to the thermal baths there. The next day, we'll tour the Schwarzwald more thoroughly. Know that Triberg and Furtwangen are on the short list, plans are still developing here. From the Black Forest, we'll travel into Switzerland and spend the night somewhere in the neighborhood of Teufenthal, where Steve's grandmother's family came from. The next day, we'll head down to the Berner Oberland for a few days - definitely seeing the beauty around Lauterbrunnen. Still undecided between the Schilthorn and the Jungfraujoch - would love to do both but the trips are both pricey and more likely we'll just do one, leaning towards the Schilthorn.
From there, we're planning to head down to Martigny for a few nights. One of the days will be spent traveling from Martigny to Chamonix, France, and Mont Blanc, then into the Valle d'Aosta in Northern Italy and seeing Monte Cervino (more commonly known on the Swiss side as the Matterhorn.) Seems less of a hassle to see it from the Italian side (with a car anyway.)
From that area we're headed toward Andermatt - there are some pass roads Steve wants to go on, even though we'll be in a car, not a motorcycle. We know those plans will be weather dependent but hope they'll work out. From there, northeast through Liechtenstein (just so we can say we've been) and into Austria, headed toward Fuessen and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. Probably headed toward Salzburg, Austria from there, then up to Munich for a day or two and headed back toward Spangdahlem on the Romantic Road, stopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber along the way.
Whew! Right now I am in the beginning stages of figuring out where we'll spend the evenings. We could probably get by without reservations this time of year but I do like to nail things down. Would rather change reservations than get stuck without something, or only have a choice of high-priced accommodations. What also will factor in is whether or not Scott will join us for some or all of the time. He knows he's welcome, and I think he's waiting to see just where we'll go (and whether or not the Air Force has other plans. You never know for sure in that regard.)
We want to go but not be extravagant, if you know what I mean. Quite a few picnic meals (and we can stock up at the commissary in Spang before we head out) and inexpensive accommodations. Not averse to hostels and "Zimmer Frei" type places. But on the other hand this may be the only time we ever come this way and I don't want to miss something just because we think it costs too much.
I've read in Aunt Martha's blog about the 1st Class sleeper and no-jet-lag pills. Ordered both from Magellan's already as I know from 2009 that I really struggled to get any sleep on the plane trip over. Hoping they will help. Told Mom about that and discovered she already has a 1st class sleeper and would have lent it to me. Oh well. She may lend it to me anyway if Steve thinks it will help him, then we won't have to buy a second one. Not sure it will work for him because of his height but he can try mine first (before the trip, of course.)
I was able to change our seat reservations on the long-haul trips. Before, I couldn't get a window and aisle together so had put us in a window and then the aisle on the other side of the aisle, hoping that whoever had the preferred seat on the window side of the aisle would be willing to trade. Glad to see that some of the preferred seats were released and now we are together. I'd rather climb over Steve to get to the restroom or stretch rather than a stranger!
We've offered Eric a fairly substantial "carrot" for watching Max and checking up on Grandpa. We're going to get him his passport and use my frequent flier miles to get him a ticket over so he can spend some time with his brother. They are already talking London and Paris which will be cool for both of them. Only problem will be timing, with Eric's school, any plans the Air Force has for Scott, and the FF miles calendar needing to coincide. It may not happen for a while. We'll see.
I will try to keep up the blog a bit more often - got out of the habit of doing it on such a regular basis these last few months.
Now to get back to that Bavarian B&B site before the kids here at work wake up from their naps...I'm sure I'm not going anywhere tomorrow with the expected blizzard coming so will have time to do some more planning then, too.
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