Trip Report - Our Big Trip - August 4th, Breisach, Kayserberg, and Riquewihr

We woke up in happy anticipation of the day's activities. The evening before, Tony, the tour director, had described our options: A visit to Colmar, a visit to two Alsation Wine Villages in France, or relax on the ship. We chose the visit to the wine villages.

One of the local guides leads our group through Kayserberg and then lets us have time on our own. This old city, with many half-timbered houses from the 17th Century, is the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer. The colorful houses and winding cobbled streets, the stone bridges over the River Weiss, all make for a charming walk and wonderful photo opportunities.

A beautiful half-timbered house.

This area of the Alsace has many vineyards.

A view from a bridge on the River Weiss

Storks, nesting

Our next stop was Riquewihr, an old walled city. Our guide led us up the ancient cobbled streets through one of the old city gates, the Dolder. The fortress gate dates from the 13th Century. In times of peace, people would take advantage of the old fortress walls and use them as one wall of their house.

Looking through the Dolder down to the City

Outside the city walls

Buildings along the main street

La Légende des Sorcières

One of the shops specializes in witch dolls. We were to see these "sorceress" dolls many times in the souvenir shops. Although the guide doesn't mention it, we are in an area where "witch hunts" destroyed many innocent lives, and I'm not sure I understand why these dolls are so popular, but I see that witch souvenirs are also a popular item in Salem, Massachusetts. ????

The bus returns us to the ship, still docked in Breisach, and after lunch we decide to explore the nearby town before the ship sails away at 4pm.

View of St. Stephan's Cathedral

View of the Rhine from the Cathedral

On the way down from Cathedral Hill, I notice that someone has repurposed the top of an old tower as a patio.

The SS. Antoinette from a distance, starting to look like home.

I should note that Breisach is in Germany, while the villages we visited earlier were in France. In this area the Rhine divides the two countries, but there is free traffic back and forth. Our guides tell us that some products are cheaper in one country, some in another. Further north, there are people who live in France but work in Switzerland because the salaries are better in Switzerland, but housing is less expensive in France.

The whole area along the Rhine has a history of different occupations - Stone age peoples, Celtic, Romans, French, German, etc….Sadly, many old buildings and entire towns were destroyed during the wars, so towns like Kayserberg and Riquewihr are rare.

Trip Report - Our Big Trip - August 1st to 3rd, 2014 - San Diego to Basel

I was all excited when I saw my airline ticket said "Stephanie Meyer, World Traveller" because I thought it was a compliment.  Unfortunately, 'World Traveller" is just a polite way of saying "Lowest Tourist Class" and conveys no benefits.

We flew from San Diego to Heathrow, then to Euro Airport, which is actually in France, not Switzerland. Different airport exits will take you to different countries. We took the exit to Basel, and found that we could take public transportation free since we had verified hotel reservations. We took the bus to Badisher Bahnhof (train station), and then a tram to the Marktplatz stop and then walked to the Hotel Basel. It was nearly midnight, but I was impressed by how well the transit system worked.

A tram station at midnight

Our hotel was billed as a 'gastronomic' hotel, and the breakfast buffet lived up to the description.

Just some of the many cheeses that were on offer.

We had some free time in Basel before boarding the ship for the Rhine cruise, and one of the hotel staff suggested we take the free "Panorama" tour of the City on the city trams.  After that we walked along the Rhine between the Mittlere Bridge and the Weltstein Bridge. There was a city-wide music festival going on in August, and apparently they expected some quaffing to be going on.

Portable mens' room. Where are the facilities for the women?

So much to see, so little time. 

Tourists by a model of the Old City. Minster Cathedral in background. I didn't notice this until Harry pointed it out, but if you look very closely, you can see  tiny dots in the water to the left of the tourists. These dots are swimmers - first they swim briskly upriver, then let the current take them downriver to their starting point!

Minster Cathedral from the river.

A restaurant window.

At first glance this looks like a classic statue, then you see the suitcase.

We had planned part of the trip with the help of a travel agent, and she had called us just before we left to tell us that, because of high water the ship could not go under the bridges to Basel, so we would have to board in Breisach, Germany. The cruise company sent a bus to the original docking place to take us to the ship.  Finally we reach our ship, the Marie Antoinette, have one of many wonderful meals, unpack, and look forward to the next day.

The spa.

  

First view of our stateroom. 

Trip Report - Our Big Trip - Overview

This trip was in the planning stage for years, ever since we found that London was bidding to hold the 2014 Worldcon. We wanted to attend the convention, but didn't want to spend all the time and money just to be there for the convention itself, so we decided to add a cruise on the Rhine, a short trip to Paris, and a Chunnel ride to London.

This travel blog is, I suppose, the equivalent of the old "come over and watch the slides of my vacation" only there isn't any popcorn or beer. You have been warned.

Senior Citizens' Guide to San Diego Comic-Con

This guide is for folks like me, who want to go to Comic-Con in San Diego but who are not as spry as they used to be,  and who are worried about keeping up with the youngsters. I would not recommend someone coming from out of town just to go to Comic-Con, but if you are in the area, it is certainly worth a visit. If you can't get tickets, you can always hang around in the area around the Convention Center, where there are usually things going on.

Here are some things to consider.

What to wear: Be sure to wear comfortable shoes,  take sunscreen and a hat, and pace yourself. If you are lucky enough to get a four-day ticket, you can look at the Con in 4- or 5-hour segments.

Getting tickets: Ah, here's the rub. The way things are now, the only way for most people to get tickets is through a computerized lottery system. First you have to sign up for a member ID, then some morning you will have to log in and sit in a virtual waiting room while, it seems, everyone but you gets a badge. If your computer is not up to date, or your reflexes slow, you might want to enlist the help of some young whippersnapper to do the actual logging in, but he or she will need to have all your information and your credit card number.

Another way to get in is to volunteer. You will have to register ahead of time, and there may even be raffles to get a volunteer number, but as far as I know, there is no age limit.

When to go: If this is your first Comic-Con, I would avoid joining the stampede of Preview Night. You could hang around and saunter in about an hour after the gates open, but being in the front of the line on Preview night is akin, in my opinion, to the experience of riding a trike in a buffalo stampede or being first in the line at the Junior Womens' League Rummage Sale. Next most frenetic day is Saturday, followed by Friday. Thursday and Sunday are probably the slowest days, athough early Thursday can be as chaotic as Preview Night.

How to get there: For me, part of the Comic-Con ritual is Taking the Trolley.   Don't try to get on at the six stops just before the Convention Center - the trolleys just get too crowded. Also, if you take the trolley home, you want to get on at the southernmost trolley stop. If you are rich, you could take a taxi or stay at the Marriott, but then you'd miss part of the experience.

A young fan on the trolley.

 Why Go?:  I go because I like to read comics  graphic novels, and this once-a-year event gives me a chance to go and nod to some of my favorite writers and artists, and to reconnect with other fans. In spite of the name "Comic-Con", though, Comic-Con is more a convention of popular culture - movies, television, science fiction, anime  - you name it. In fact, if you want some breathing space on the convention floor, just visit the section where the serious comic book sellers are set up.

Reasons to go to Comic-Con if you don't read comics:

1. To say you've been,
2. To satisfy your curiosity,
3. To pick up things to give as presents (My Little Pony was very popular this year.)
4. To see some 'A' and 'B' list celebrities, or talk to your favorite cartoonist or writer;
5. To see marvelous professional and amateur costumers;
6. To cross it off your bucket list.
7. To get together with friends who are into Comic-Con, too;
8. To practice patience;
9. To get some exercise;
10. To be able to tell yourself "I may be crazy, but I'm sane next to some of these people."

Photo ops abound

Young Jedi at the marvelous LEGO area

 What to do when you are there: DO NOT TRY TO DO EVERYTHING. The groundfloor of the Convention Center is huge! You could spend a day just going up and down the aisles looking at everything for sale or being advertised (I've done that). There are excellent panels, booths, movies, and other activities going on up the escalator from the main floor of the Convention Center, and spilling out to the nearby hotels and the area on the other side of the trolley tracks. Look at the programing schedule and maps ahead of time, and plan what you want to do.

What not to do: I recommend against A. Standing in line for almost anything,  unless it is something that you absolutely have to have or see. If it is a live presentation you may see it better on UTube later. If it is merchandise, you can probably buy it on EBAY later. B. Accepting all 'freebies'. One of the worst freebie is the Convention 'tote bag'. These things are huge and unwieldy. If you bring a big purse or sachel you can fold it up and carry it, and they do make great laundry bags, hose reel covers, and last-minute gift containers but on the Convention Floor they tend to impede traffic. If you really like them, pick up a few out of the trash while you are in the "Sails" area and then store them at baggage check for a modest fee. Most of the other 'freebies' are at the end of long lines, and some of the swag can be pretty neat, but always check to see what the line is for before wasting your time.

What to Eat While You Are There: The San Diego Convention Center has the worst convention food of any convention center I have ever visited. One exception is the small "Tides" restaurant on the north side of the Convention Center near the hallway. It is probably healthier and cheaper to make a sack lunch and bring it with you. There is also a "Con Suite" (This year it was upstairs at the Marriott) which usually has beverages and snacks, but check the hours before making the trudge over. If you have the time, some of the restaurants in the Gaslamp area have decent food, but be prepared for more lines.

Snacks from the Con Suite

Dr. Who, Tardis, and Dr. Who's companion.

Blathers, from the Animal Crossing Games

Where to Rest:

The majority of attendees just sit down on the carpeted areas in the hallways. As I am of an age where, although I can still get up off the ground it presents a spectacle-never-to-be-missed, that is not an option for me.

On the ground floor there are some limited chairs and tables near the Cafe Express locations, but they were always full when I went by. There is also some outdoor seating on the west side of the Convention Center, but be prepared for sun and stairs.

Further afield, I found places to sit inside the Marriott, and it seemed as if there were more options the further north I ventured. You can also sit inside the Con Suite if it is open, or go and watch a movie or anime presentation. I also saw several people toting portable seats.

Disabled Services also has a small rest area near their booth. These are very nice people (I've volunteered there myself in the past) and will go out of their way to help.

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Hope this helps someone.  There are many good Convention Guides on the net, but I don't know of any others that are geared to older people.



Have fun!

Trip Report - Portland, Oregon - July 8, 2014 - Sky Tram

One of our group had departed and we had one last breakfast at the Pearl Bakery before the other two departed. Harry and I were on our own until our plane left that evening.

We took public transportation to the Sky Tram to the the Marquam Hill campus of Oregon Health and Science University.

At the bottom.

At the top platform

View from the top

Tram descending

At the top of the tram ride you are inside the Oregon Health & Science University where tourists walk through the hallways past clinics.  We walked through some of the buildings to a farmers' market that was being held in the north part of the 113-acre campus. At the farmer's market we had a Columbian sandwich called an arepa followed by oatmeal ice-cream while we listened to a small band.

Arepa, from Columbia, with cornmeal 'crust'. This version had a chicken filling.

 At the bottom of the tram I noticed the large "bicycle valet" parking lot. I guess most of the bikes belonged to OHSU employees.

Part of a large "valet bike lot". Bikes are popular in Portland.

Then, back home. I enjoyed Portland, and I'd like to go back. While I don't think you can judge any city by one visit (or any restaurant by one meal)all in all it was a good experience. I especially love the great public transportation, the good food (mostly), the parks, the people, and the climate. We might even move there. Who knows?

Trip Report - Portland, Oregon - July 7th - Farmer's Market, Mount Hood, Timberline Lodge, Hood River

We hadn't planned anything for the day, so consulted one of the excellent staff of the Tourist Information Center located in Pioneer Square. She mapped out a route to Timberline Lodge near Mount Hood. There was a farmer's market in the square, and I bought some wonderful cherries.

Great!

We decided to drive up to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.  First we had lunch, then visited parts of the lodge. This is an historic building, and there are lots of interesting features, like wonderful wood carvings on the end of the bannisters.

Lunch was excellent. A beef stew with parsnips.

Carving on bannister.

A lower practice ski slope.

I wanted to take the ski lift up the mountain, but by the time I had gathered information and convinced my husband he would like it they had finished selling tickets for the day. Oh well.

Windsurfing and parasailing on the river.

We drove around the mountain to the town of Hood River, where we stopped to watch people engaged in different water sports like windsurfing, kiteboarding, and kayaking.

Dinner in the Pearl District at Tasty n Alder, where everyone else had great burgers and I mistakenly ordered Goat Cheese Dumplings with Arrabiata (hot pepper) sauce and burned my mouth. Live and learn.

Trip Report - Portland, Oregon - July 6th - Mount Saint Helens, Ape Cave,

When Harry and his siblings were younger, one rule on family vacations was that everyone could choose one thing they wanted to see or do. For this trip, one of the group wanted to see Mount St. Helens. I confess that this was on the bottom of my list. Part of my reason was that it was a minimum of an hour and a half drive each way, and the other reason was because I didn't particularly want to see the scene of devastation. It turned out to be very interesting; however, and I'm glad we went.


Because it was a long drive and none of us knew the territory, I suggested that we take a package tour - this time with a small company that had a ten-passenger limit. As it turned out, there were only the five of us, so it was almost like having a private tour.

The Mount Saint Helens area contains multiple parks and visitor centers. Our first stop was at Ape Cave. (Named after the group that discovered it, not because there were actual apes there). This is a long lava tube formed around 2,000 years ago during an earlier erruption from Mt. Saint Helens south flank. Then, about 450 years ago, there was another erruption and more lava flowed through the tube and blocked the cave at its lower end.
Our guide furnished headlamps for all of us, and explained different features as we hiked along.

This is what happens when you all take photos at once.

The Meatball

The inside of the lava tube was DARK. How dark? Well, I had the miner's headlamp, a small travel flashlight, and the 'flashlight' on my smartphone, and it still was dark. Even though it was July above us, the cave was so cold you could see your breath. It was also damp, and the floor was uneven. Since taking this particular tour had been my suggestion, I was chiding myself for not being better prepared and worried that I would fall and break or twist something and ruin everyone's trip. For some reason the phrase "in questa tomba oscura" ("In this dark tomb") from Verdi's Aida kept going through my mind.

This is not a cave with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites like the Carlsbad caverns, but it had some interesting features like the ‘Meatball’ formed when a blob of lava dropped off the ceiling, floated down the running lava, and got stuck at a narrow section of the tube. I found it interesting to think of that ancient erruption when Mount Saint Helens spewed a stream of lava. The the outer shell hardened but the molten basalt interior kept flowing until it had formed the lava tube.

I was so glad to see sunlight again!

Next we walked the "Trail of Two Forests". Ah, sunlight, warmth, and level footing!

Sign for "Trail of Two Forests"

Horizontal tunnel formed by lava covering fallen trees, which then decayed. Great for kids!

A visit to the middle visitor center.

Mount Saint Helens in the distance.

We visited another park where lava had fallen in ancient times and covered standing and fallen trees, which then declayed and left tunnels and wells.  Then we stopped at one of the first visitor centers and took a walk around while our guide put out a healthy lunch. We're getting closer! 

Mount Saint Helens from the second visitor center.

The second visitor center had a unique video explaining the history of the volcanoes and what happened during the most recent eruption. There was another visitor center closer to the volcano, but then the mountain wouldn't have fit into the viewfinder of my camera...

Apparently this is still considered an active volcano, and it is closely monitored. Actually, there are several active volcanoes in this part of the country, including one near Seattle.

After more than 30 years, the landscape recovers slowly.

Another thing I learned was that while the public lands around Mount Saint Helens have been allowed to evolve naturally (except for removing dead wood) the land that is owned by the timber companies have been planted and are covered with trees.  We took a walk from the second visitor center through some 'natural' landscape and I was happy to see the wide variety of shrubs and flowers that were reclaiming the landscape.

Back in Portland our guide offered to drive us over to "Restaurant Row". This is an area on Division Street, east across the Willamette River, where there are more restaurants than food carts.

After walking up and down the street looking at restaurants, the majority voted for Block & Tackle, a seafood restaurant. With my usual talent for choosing the wrong menu item, I chose the fried cauliflower with pecorino, fennel, olive, currant, chilli, and aioli. What I got was fried cauliflower in which the lemon in the aioli totally drowned any of the other flavors.

Then we took the bus back to downtown.