THE VILLAGE OF BONIGEN, SWITZERLAND

We just arrived in a place like no other -  where you hear cow and sheep bells ringing,  leave your door unlocked at night, see dandelions and weeds in the yards (no pesticides here), retail stores close early and on Sundays and locals stop to help you if you look lost.  Then there are the beautiful lakeside walks and mountain hikes - I could go on. 

 Bonigen in photos:    

VIEW FROM OUR APARTMENT

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BONIGEN HOME

BRIENZERSEE - VIEW FROM BONIGEN

SIDEWALK UP TO OUR APARTMENT

We are staying one week on the Brienzersee in Bonigen Switzerland which is about two miles from Interlaken.   Our studio apartment was found through VRBO and it is everything we could have hoped for.  I enjoy sitting in the back yard with my coffee (reason I don't have time to write), observing the beautiful snow capped mountains and listening to the birds.   On the side deck we can view the lake and more mountains.
This was a perfect base for our many sidetrips which included Wilderswill, Grindelwald, Murren, Wengen, Bern, Brienz, Baldenberg Museum, Spiez and Kanderstieg. 

HISTORICAL BARN

  

WASSERBURG BODENSEE, GERMANY

LINDAU, GERMANY

The Vintage Traveler is having a great time on the German shores of the Bodensee.  I firmly believe that a real Vintage traveler needs to spend at least a week or longer anywhere worthwhile to get to know it and appreciate it. We are staying in Wasserburg am Bodensee in Germany for five nights and I already know it is not long enough.  Wasserburg is famous for its picturesque peninsula, on which stand the Church of St George (14th century), Wasserburg Castle, and the Malhaus (museum).  There are hikes through beautiful vineyards, and blossoming apple orchards with views of the snow capped Swiss Alps  - not to say anything about the tulips and daffodils that are in full bloom in April. 

 I just took a wonderful walk on one of the well marked walking trails up through the blossoming apple trees with a view back toward the lake with the Swiss Alps in the distance.  It was getting close to dark and I had to return before I reached the last town and church up in the hills.  The view was fantastic and I got to thinking about how rarely anyone who was on a tour or in a quick trip would take time for this hike.
There are a lot of fascinating old towns on the Bodensee - two of my favorites are Lindau and Uberlingen, Germany.   Konstanz is a larger city with more activity due to all the college students and definitely worth a visit. 

LINDAU, GERMANY

Germany has a great deal on travel passes which can be purchased at the local train stations upon arrival. We traveled on a pass through Bavaria one day (29 euros for 2-5 people traveling together on local trains) which allowed for a wonderful walk around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. We also could have used this pass to go to Munich for the afternoon.  On another day, we purchased a 25 euro pass that allowed us to travel around more than half of the Bodensee.  We also enjoyed a great walk from Wasserburg to the nearby towns of Nonnenhorn and Kressborn and then returned by train to Wasserburg.    Biking and boating around the lake is also very popular.


WASSEREBURG ON THE BORDENSEE

We stayed at the  Hotel Zum Lieben Augustin am See in Wasserburg.  It offered a great buffet breakfast and indoor pool and sauna.  It is a ten minute walk from the train station and a short train  or bike ride to Lindau -  I highly recommend it.  Nearby was our favorite restaurant called Haus des Gastes--we loved the tasty and plentiful fish soup. 

LINDAU, GERMANY

BIKING ON THE BODENSEE

CURRENT STYLES IN SOUTHERN GERMANY

 Styles as observed on my most recent "Vintage Journey".    This post is dedicated to the "Classy Career Girl" who is an inspiration to her many readers and this "Vintage Mom".    

Lindau, Germany on the Bodensee, April 17, 2012:

Seen on the streets of Konstanz, Germany on April 20, 2012:

 As seen on the streets of Uberlingen, Germany on April 20, 2012: 

ANTICIPATING A VINTAGE JOURNEY TO EUROPE



It has been said that the best part of a journey is in the planning so I'm writing about a highly anticipated two month trip to Europe - with a departure date less than three days off.    Here are the plans which are subject to change by the "Vintage Journey Travel Planner".   This is an adventure that leaves plenty of room for random exploration (and mistakes).     
 
Arrive in Zurich, Switzerland and take the train (the entire trip is using public transportation). from the airport to Wasserburg, Germany which is on the Bodensee  (also called Lake Constance).   Here we will stay at the Hotel Zum Lieben Augustin am See for 5 nights.  I chose this property because it is on the lake with an indoor pool, a breakfast buffet, convenient transportation, and moderate price.  Most of the reservations on this trip were made through the websites Booking.com and Vrbo.com.   I like Booking.com because it is easy to use and allows for cancellations. 


 
On Saturday, April 21 we will travel to Zurich, Switzerland and stay at a Marriott mainly because we earned a free night and lodging in Switzerland is pricey. 


On Sunday, April 22, 2012, we will travel to the small town of Boenigen near Interlaken, Switzerland. We have a studio rented through VRBO  for one week.  The pictures of the unit and lake views look good. It is on a free bus line so we should be able to do some good exploring in the area. Also, to our benefit,  Rail Europe recently announced a 2 for 1 Swiss Travel Pass that includes trains, buses, and boats. We purchased two 4 day passes which should more than cover our transportation and allow for at least four days of random travel through the alps.
Our next destination is Paris with a two-night layover in Dijon, France along the way.


After much research, we decided to rent a "room with a view" in Montmartre, Paris.    The cost is $1,750 euro for the month (31 nights). Hopefully, it will work out for us but you can never be certain of anything sight unseen. We located it through VRBO which we have had good luck with in the past. The truth is that I have been to Europe dozens of times and yet I have never lived in Paris which was a dream from 1967 when I made my first visit with two college friends. I will not exactly be living in Paris, but at least I will be there for the entire month of May. 

When we depart from Paris on June 1 our next stop will be the small fishing village of  Honfleur, in Normandy France for one week.  The town looks lovely and we've heard good things about it and there are a lot of places to explore nearby.   



Next stop 3 nights in Bayeaux, France and then 4 nights in Dinard, France before heading back to Paris for our return flight to the US. 

ROAD TRIP HOME - DOORS ALONG THE WAY

FAREWELL WINE & CHEESE PARTY

It's always a sad day when we have to leave California and this was no exception.  We say goodbye to loved ones, pack up the van and off we go.   The first night we stayed in St. George, Utah at a Fairfield Inn.  We try to stay at the Marriott Fairfield Inns' because we know what to expect -  comfortable bed, heated pool, free internet,  breakfast and definitely not Vintage.
The next day I drove to Salt Lake City while Ron tried to work and tell me how to drive.  We had a little excitement when a semi- truck started moving into my lane - glad he heard my horn and I was able to slow down.  From then on Ron spent more time telling me how to drive than he did working.  We arrived in time for a nice dinner with Aunt Donna and Mel in Salt Lake city.  It's always a pleasure to spend time with them (and the two cats and dog).  Salt Lake City is one of the nicest cities in the country - easy to get around and world class skiing 30 minutes away. 

After a couple of days in Salt Lake we continued our drive west through Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and finally, Minnesota.   

WELCOME TO DONNA & MELS' ABODE
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

INVERSON MANSION
LARAMIE, WYOMING

LARAMIE, WYOMING

LARAMIE, WYOMING

Back in the 70's  my Aunt Hazel married a Nebraska rancher and consequently moved from Minneapolis to Dix, Nebraska where she lived happily until her passing in 1981.  We decided to stop and take a look at the house and property where she lived.  We were very surprised to see it abandoned and run down.  It brought back lots of memories and a reminder of how things change. 

AUNT HAZEL & LEN'S HOME
DIX, NEBRASKA

OLD BARN ON RANCH
DIX, NEBRASKA

Just in time for Happy Hour in Des Moines, Iowa.

DES MOINES, IOWA

VINTAGE SHOPPING IN SAN CLEMENTE

Today I decided to do a little vintage shopping along Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente. I'm not much of a shopper but once in awhile I get inspired.  I found easy parking on the main street and started walking.   One of the first stops was a pretty florist which smelled like Marijuana - I suppose the flower arranger has a medical need for marijuana and maybe it helps his arranging I don't know but he's starting early in the day.  I then stepped into a few boutiques and clothing stores - all small and nothing special.  I did find  Angel Wings  to be rather creative and interesting with Bohemian style clothing.  I asked if I could take a photo but was was declined, perhaps I shouldn't have asked.  The only chain I recognized was "Fresh Produce" which I think I visited in Hawaii about 25 years ago (it was more my style then).  I was actually searching out stores that sell "vintage" clothing and definitely found a few - my favorite was Antiques and Uniques which had a nice selection. My mothers old raccoon coat would have been a hot item in this store.  I also learned a little bit about the bohemian style which to me is new clothing that looks old - like new sweaters with holes.  Some of the shops described their clothing as contemporary or modern contemporary.  They all had some interesting jewelry displays.  

ROCKET FIZZ

Another rather unique find was the newly opened candy/pop store called Rocket Fizz that was well worth a stop. After a few hours of looking around I managed to purchase one cupcake tree ornament and a bracelet watch - boring huh?

I also discovered Cabrillo Playhouse on a side street that I would like to visit  for a play some evening. 

      

LOS ANGELES TRAVEL SHOW

FAVORITE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FROM THE TRAVEL SHOW:

Best Airfares:
Arthur Frommer recommended using the aggregators when looking for the best airfare.  These sites tell you what is available on an impartial basis and then you can go direct to the airline website to book the flight.
Here are the recommended aggregators:
Kayak.com
Momondo.com
dohop.com
skyscanner.com
Vintage Comment: I couldn't help but run a test to see if there was much difference between the aggregators and Expedia and Travelocity -  frankly every one of them gave me about the same airfare.  Of course,  they are all worth checking and the prices will vary at times  but I don't know that there is much difference. I have always preferred booking direct with the airline anyway so for me the aggregators are good way to go. 

Hotels and Rentals:
Arthur Frommer suggested  globalfreeloaders.com  for accommodations.
Frequently mentioned websites:  hoteltonight.com for last minutes hotels at 70% discount
vrbo.com  for vacation rentals by owner which  (Vintage comment:  I have had great luck with this website.)
Rick Steves says he always calls and confirms his reservations verbally before arrival. Vintage comment: probably not a bad idea, especially, with the low cost of Skype calls. 
jetsetter.com for reservations 1-3 months out. 
priceline.com which is unfortunately is in the process of reducing the bidding aspect of it's business.


New federal Transportation Department Rules:
One important new ruling that all travelers should be aware of is the  New Total Cost Airport
rule which is effective today. Also included in this ruling is  "a 24-hour window for passengers to hold or cancel a reservation without payment or penalty for reservations made a week or more before the departure date, although some airlines already have voluntarily implemented this policy for years."


Free Travel with Frequent Flyer Miles:
travelhacking.org   this website charges $15.00 per month ($1 for first 14 days)  for advice on acquiring an incredible large number of free airline miles using credit cards.
flyertalk.com  and webtalk.com   are free websites that also offer advice. 
Vintage Comment:  the websites are of value because they have helped my husband and I acquire over 280,000 frequent flyer miles on American Airlines and British Airways in less than a year.

Other suggestions:
Tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews.
Flighttracker.com to follow flights in the air at any time.
Seatguru.com   Vintage Comment: I just decided to give this a try on my seat assignments to Europe which was fortunate because it turned out that the seats we were assigned in both directions were rated as poor by seatguru.com.   Fortunately I was still able to change them.  
Scan the first 2 pages of your passport and e-mail it to yourself so you always have a copy with you.


Photography:
There was a lot about the new apps available for the iPhone and androids and new camera settings like "vivid color"  and "dreamy filter"  I am always amazed at the great photos people take even with the point and shoot cameras and new camera phones - it just keeps getting better.
Vintage Comment:    I am in the market for a new point and shoot camera and I have my heart set on the newly released Canon - PowerShot S100.  It is rated #1 by PC World and others.  I think is would be a good Valentines' gift - don"t you? 

Favorite Travel Blogs:

Finally,  I love to read travel blogs and one of my favorites, which I have been reading for many years,  is Johnny Jet.  He was one of the speakers at the show and I hope you take time to check out his blog to find out "where in the world"  he happens to be today. 


PHOTOS  of a great walk from the Los Angeles Union Station to the Travel Show at Staples Center.  It's just another 80 degree January day in Southern California.

UNION STATION LOS ANGELES

MARKET LOS ANGELES

MARKET