Switzerland and France - Cycling the Jura Mountains - Jul/Aug 2013

This is the third posting on my July/August trip to Germany, Romania, Switzerland and France.  Please see the previous postings.

July 25, 2013 - London to Geneva

I got to the lounge early and had a glass of champagne in honor of Ann and Norman, my UK friends.  I had breakfast in the first class lounge which was good but I prefer the Concord lounge. 

I spent the afternoon relaxing and met some of my fellow cyclists in the lobby.  The group went out for dinner and started with wine at a local street market. We had a fantastic Italian dinner - with much too much wine.

An appropriate sculpture on the side of a building.

Lake Geneva

July 26 2013 Geneva to Lac de Joux

Well its her first day of cycling and I wish I had not had as much wine with our dinner last night. But we all got on our bikes and headed out of Geneva.  I soon got my first sight of the Jura mountains. Out in the distance was a major climb we would make in the afternoon. The morning was difficult but not impossible. After lunch we went straight up, it seems like a 45 degree angle. It took about an hour and a half to two hours to climb 8 kilometers.  I was exhausted when we reach the top.  The rest of the day was more up hill and down hill and I was very relieved when we got to our hotel and the beautiful lake.

I love the sunflowers.

July 27, 2013 - Lac de Joux to Couvet

After lunch I had one of the hardest climbs in my life.  It was very hot and the road went straight up.  There was little shade for relief.  About half way up, the guide, Chris, came to encourage me.  I think I took twenty water breaks, but I made it to the peak.

Before dinner we went to a absinthe manufacturer and tasted to potent drink before buying two bottles to take home.  About 20 years ago it was illegal to sell absinthe in the United States.

July 28, 2013 - Couvet to Saignlegier

Today's cycling and climbs were definitely not as bad as the past two days.  Maybe I'm getting used to the hills.

We followed route 7 for quite a while.

July 29,  2013 - Saigniegier to Basel

Well the clouds opened up today and it was absolutely pouring when we left. We started the day with a nice climb and then a very steep downhill ending in a nice medieval village. At that point I decided I did not feel comfortable riding in the rain so I took the train to Basel. I really didn't do much the rest of the day except relax. We had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant when I had rasti which I have to learn how to make.

July 30th 2013 - Basel

Today was a well needed day off.  I spent the day taking trams throughout the city. I wish we had transportation like this at home.  Tomorrow we start five more days of hilly riding in France.

The river in Basel and the town hall.

July 31 2013 - Basel to St. Hippolyte

It was a beautiful ride out of Basel, Switzerland. We started the day with hill climbing and it was nice to get the hardest climb out of the way in the morning. We cycled up and down medium hills for hours.  We tried to look for a cafe for our morning coffee break, but unfortunately we never found one so we just continue to our lunch break. The afternoon ride was just as beautiful as the morning's.  The scenery was fantastic.  We had one last client for the day of about 150 meters.  I'd like to think it's getting easier but I still had to stop halfway up for a water break. We stopped in Porrentruy where I walked to a castle before having some well deserved ice cream.  After the break we quickly made it to this night's lodging.  This was clearly my best day.  I felt euphoric for hours.  I dread the climb out of this valley in the morning.

On my way to the castle.

These poor cows were locked up.

August 1, 2013 - St. Hippolyte to Le Luisans

Today was a really tough day.  The ride was only 72 kilometers, compared to yesterday's 85.  We started with a nice steady 8 kilometer climb of 400 meters.  Today's total climb was supposed to be 700 meters, so I thought we had completed half the climb in the first hour.  However during the day we kept climbing so I guess we did over 1000 meters.  We are in France until the last day and we have seen our last city in a while. 

The flowered balconies throughout the tour were amazing.

August 2, 2013 - Le Luisans to Malbuisson

Today was an easy day of climbing and one of our shortest in distance.  On one climb I took the lead and won the trophy for the day.

The day I won the trophy.

And yes, there are still dinosaurs in France.

August 3, 2013 - Malbuisson to Les Molunes

Today would have been the toughest day of the tour, so I decided to take the van.  I really didn't want to hold the group up on this day of over 1400 meters of climbing.  I enjoyed the van ride and knew I would be in great shape for the last day.

A beautiful train bridge.

August 4, 2013 - Les Molunes to Geneva

Today was a long day of cycling - 90 kilometers.  Luckily we started at 1200 meters and end the day at 300 meters.  There were some climbs but the downhills were great.  Speaking of downhills, not only was I the slowest climber, I was also the slowest descender.  There are no mountains in Florida and I don't get the practice.

The day I got a bike chain tattoo.

After dropping our bikes off at the Bike Switzerland shop, we headed back to our hotel.  Our farewell dinner was at the apartment of one of John's friends who cooks for the Canadian Embassy.  We ended the tour with fine wine and food.

Here's our entire cycling group on the last day.

August 5, 2013 - Geneva to Dusseldorf

I took the train from Geneva to Zurich and then an Air Berlin flight to Dusseldorf.  I stayed at the airport so it would be easy to catch my morning flight to Chicago.

August 6, 2013 - Dusseldorf to Orlando

Home sweet home after many hours of flying.

Bucharest and Transylvania, Romania - July 2013

The is the second posting of my July/August trip to Germany, Romania, Switzerland and France.  

July 21, 2013 - From Dusseldorf to Bucharest, Romania

I hate these early departures, even worse then a 2:00 am flight.  But I was up at 4:30 am and took a taxi to the airport.  The two Air Berlin flights were uneventful.  I will say the transfer in Berlin was a hassle.  There is separate security and passport control at every gate.  Upon arrival I again taxied to my downtown hotel.  I was exhausted and just relaxed the rest of the day.

July 22, 2012 - Bucharest

Today I did the hop on hop off tour of the city.  Below are some of the sights I saw.

This is the second largest building in the world following the Pentagon.  It was built during the final years of Communist control.  Now you know why there was no money for the people.

There is a lot of French influence in Bucharest - including their own Arc de Triumph.

I really liked this elaborate building.

July 23, 2012 - Bucharest

Today's adventure was a 12 hour tour to visit two castles and Transylvania.  It was a full day tour from Bucharest to Transylvania on a very picturesque route through the Carpathian Mountains.

The first, Peles Castle, erected between 1873 and 1914, has been the summer residence of the Romanian Royal family and it is the most visited museum in Romania.  The architecture was influenced by the king's previous German Black Forest residency.

For lunch we stopped in Brasov - a typical old Transylvania city.  Like many Eastern European cities there was little war damage, but you did see the ever present communist build apartments.

Bran Castle (14th century) has been serving for ages as a military fortress controlling the entry route to Transylvania and it is nowadays frequently associated with Dracula's myth.  The guide gave us the historical recap of Vlad the Impailer, who was the basis for Bram Stoker's Dracula. 

Peles Castle

Brasov

Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania

 

July 24, 2013 - Bucharest to London

I picked up my $35 laundry - I think they ironed my t-shirts and underwear for that price.  I walked to the Old Town for a bite before heading to the airport.

I met by good friends Ann and Norman at my London Heathrow hotel.  We had a nice dinner and chat before I headed to bed.  I had another early flight to Geneva.

Dussledorf and Frankfurt, Germany - July 2013

This three week adventure takes me to Dusseldorf and Frankfurt, Germany, Romania and finally a cycling trip in the Jura Mountains on the border of Switzerland and France.  I have included three separate postings.

July 16, 2013

Up, up and away - Orlando to Chicago then to Dusseldorf.  What can I say, they were the typical American Airlines flights - minimal service and old flight attendants.  But I arrived safely, that's all that counts.

July 17, 2013 - Dusseldorf, Germany

The train into town was a breeze, one stop and there I was.  The hotel was only a few blocks away and luckily they had a room for me at 9:00 am.  After a short nap I was ready for sightseeing.

The city isn't that large so I put on my walking shoes and started my adventure.  The Rhine River was my destination and that's where I spent the afternoon and evening.  Dinner was great overlooking the Rhine enjoying German beer and wiener-schnitzel.  It was still light out at 9:30 pm when I returned to the hotel.

I took these photos during my walk to the Rhine River.  The second is a reflection in the water.

July 18, 2013 - Dusseldorf, Germany

What a shock when the phone rang at 1:00 pm.  Jet lag must have really hit me.  But at least I was refreshed.  I walked to the old part of town, which was mainly shopping.  There was a nice assortment of high end chain stores and the local tourist shops.  My only purchase was a 50 year old birthday card for my good friend Julie - no, the card wasn't 50 years old.

The weather was perfect and I walked for five miles before stopping for dinner.  I sat outside watching the tourists pick their restaurant.  I got back early and read.

You know I'm a sucker for flowered balconies.  I'm still waiting for the perfect one to inspire me to paint again.

July 19, 2013 - Dusseldorf, Germany

I think I'm over the jet lag, I woke up in the morning.  Today I again walked to the southern Rhine section of the city.  I passed on climbing the tower - not really very tall.

After lunch I crossed the Rhine River and walked through one of the largest amusement parks I've ever seen.  The most exciting ride for me was the five looped Olympic rollercoaster - no I didn't ride it.  I took the other river back and wearily made it back to my hotel.

Along the Rhine

Olympic roller coaster with five loops.  I passed.

Dinner was awesome, chicken and mushrooms in a cream sauce, with a cold beer of course.  Hope I sleep well because I have two long days coming up.

July 20, 2013 - Frankfurt, Germany

I was off bright and early to see the gay pride parade in Frankfurt.  The hour and a half train ride was comfortable and scenic.  I wish they had decent and efficient trains at home.  I'll just have to visit Europe more often.

The parade was fun and colorful, but not as spectacular as Berlin, Amsterdam or Paris.  There were about 30 floats and many drag queens viewing for a perfect position.  The parade was only an hour long so I spent the afternoon walking around Frankfurt.  I don't think I ever visited the city - only the airport for a connection in 1972.  I was home by 9:00 pm and had to pack for my 5:00 am departure from the hotel.

A big EURO

Lovers continually add their commitment locks to this bridge.  Every few years they cut them off.

This was the main square where the parade started.