For those that never enter the pub, I posted a thread there about our trip to Italy and Switzerland in August. Lots of pics, likely best viewed when on wifi or 5G Trip Report with pics - Italy and Switzerland in August | Swamp Gas Forums (gatorcountry.com)
for those that never venture to the pub I finally finished this trip report and album. The trip report with some pics is at the link to the pub thread in the post above. I make books and give to kids at Xmas of the trips we take. Did this entire trip with a S20. first trip I haven't carried a full size SLR. Seems that for landscape the phones are as good as the SLR. Will still carry a SLR for Alaska next summer for zoom although the range finders mixed with good cell phones are producing some good pictures A link to the complete album is below Trip was in August Mia to Milan 1 full day Milan Train to St Moritz Switzerland for 3 full days Train to Zermatt, 2 full days. loved Zermatt Train to Florence (amazing city) 3 full days 1 family Medici had both Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci under their house support at the same time train to Venice for 1 day/night back to Florence, Florence to Rome Vatican, Pisa, Ruins, Day trip to the Island of Ponza Italy Switzerland 2022
Wonderful. You were able to hit 3 or 4 of my favorite places in the world, particularly Florence (A+) and Zermatt (A++) and to a slightly lesser extent, Rome. Didn’t like Venice much (was there in the month of June and it was too hot and too touristy, and the Square was flooding). Going back to Venice in May 2024 to embark on a Dalmatian Coast cruise that also goes to Corfu and Sicily, before ending in Rome. Gonna hit Milan and Lake Como first (never been to either)-what did you think of Milan?
I was in Germany a few weeks ago. We visited Strasbourg (France), Mainz, and Nürburg. I paid to have a pro driver take me for a lap around the famous Nürburgring in a Porsche 911 GT3. Holy cow, what a ride.
Strasbourg is terrific. The mixture of French and German architecture tells a great story of its border history of going back and forth between the 2 countries.
The Strasbourg Cathedral absolutely blew mind. I couldn't capture all the details with a camera even if I spent multiple days doing only that. There is a nice tribute inside to American soldiers that lost their lives protecting Alsace.
We did a Rhine river cruise in ‘19 and stopped in Strasbourg, and also in Cologne, where the cathedral was as or more glorious.
Cologne is slated for our next trip there for sure. My wife was born in Frankfurt so we go every couple of years.
When we were there Cologne set its all time temperature record. Was brutal. Broke previous record by 5 degrees. Cologne Weather Records 41.1C= 106F
We only had 1 full day so we went to see last supper fresco, painted on a wall, and the duomo which was impressive. Subway system was good, shopping district was ostentatious. I dont know if I would have spent another full day there.
Thanks. We are just planning to use it as a gathering/overnight transition point while everyone flies in from various spots in the US before heading to Como, so that sounds about right.
Late August was hot in Venice but not as hot as home. It was dry and crowds weren't too bad. Didn't stink. I would take another day in Ponza over another day in Venice though
Itinerary not yet set. Have 7 couples flying in from 7 cities into Milan before we all head to Venice to embark. Will ask travel agent bout St Moritz, thanks.
You gotta get out to the countryside when in Italy, IMO. Pienza is my absolute favorite. We try to spend at least a couple nights there every time we travel to Italy. Rome is underrated. The history is absurd and if you know the right spots it’s really cool. Venice is a tourist trap. One day there is enough IMO.
About 10 years ago we rented an apt in Venice for about 4 or 5 days. We met up with our neighbors there. We found a lot of very quiet areas nearly devoid of tourists. It was amazing how much of the tourists stayed only in certain areas. 1 of my fav days travelling was when I spent several hours washing clothes in Venice. There was a bar next door to the laundromat with 70 cent wine & they had 2 guitars. I got drunk & played with a spanish guy.
Great jumping off point. Lot of good value on flights to Milan and good first class reward availability. Book ahead for last supper and duomo tix if going.
