Author Archives: Travel Spirit

Muottas Muragl Panorama Trail to Alp Languard

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On my second and final day in Saint Moritz, I took a 10 minute bus ride to Punt Muragl and purchased a ticket for 39 francs for the funicular, which dates back to 1907, rises to an elevation of 8057 feet (2456 meters) above sea level and covers a distance of 7221 feet (2201 meters) at a gradient of 56% to Muottas Muragl. I then hiked 7 km on the Panorama Trail to Alp Languard. The views were incredible! There were only a handful of people on it and one lady I briefly spoke to said it was the perfect day for it weather wise and also that the crowds hadn’t arrived yet. I had an egg sandwich for breakfast and took a sandwich with me.

At one point in the trail you walk thru a short metal structure, pictured below. There was a hole in it which made a perfect picture frame.

The funicular ride to Muottas Muragi…

Down in the valley the five Engadin lakes were sparkling. The Bernina Massif mountain peaks and glaciers are beautiful!

The trail was mostly flat and well maintained. I had the trail to myself for two of the three hours it took to hike.

There were a few benches on the trail to take a break.

This man was calling for his dog, down on the left, but he came running towards me and then ran to him.

Here’s the chair lift to go back down.

I’ve been on plenty of chair lifts snow skiing, but it’s entirely different hopping on a fast moving one at the top to ride down! Yes, those are La Sportiva hiking boots…love them!

The chair lift ends in Pontresina. I then took the train back to Saint Moritz.

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Two nights in Saint Moritz

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After disembarking in Saint Moritz from my wonderful Bernina Express train ride, I had a 15 minute uphill walk (with luggage) to my lodging for two nights. After checking in I went to the grocery around the corner. Restaurants in Switzerland are very expensive. I walked down to Lake St. Moritz, which is smaller than the main lakes of the Upper Engadin valley, but very beautiful! It was mid-June and the weather was glorious.

These were the views from my accommodations.

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Bernina Express

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After spending three glorious days at Lake Como, I boarded a train in Varenna, Lake Como and arrived 90 minutes later to Tirano, Italy.  This is where the Bernina Express train departs and one of the stops is in St. Moritz, where I stayed for two nights. It actually begins in Lugano and ends in Chur, Switzerland. It’s the highest railway across the Alps.

The views from the train are amazing!  I took a sandwich and cannoli with me for the ride. You pass glistening lakes, majestic mountains, and quaint villages.

Looks like a heart

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Villa Monastero, Varenna, Lake Como

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It was early morning when I left my place in Varenna to explore and my last day at Lake Como. Before leaving I was zooming around on Google Maps to see what might be of interest in Varenna and came across the Villa Monastero, a Villa and botanical garden. It’s only €10 to see both and a little less for just the gardens. It’s another magical place! I arrived when they opened and had the Villa to myself for a while!

The views were stunning!

The inside was interesting also…

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Varenna to Mennagio, Lake Como

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After taking a 15 minute ferry from Varenna to Bellagio to explore, I hopped on another ferry for a 15 minute ride to Mennagio. The scenic shore as we approached Mennagio.

I walked thru a hotel lobby to the pool…so pretty!

Lots and lots of lavender…

Sidewalk cafes…

More delicious Italian gelato!

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Varenna to Bellagio, Lake Como

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On one of the three days I stayed in Varenna at Lake Como, I took a 15 minute ferry (15 euros for all day) to Bellagio and then another 15 minutes to Menaggio. It was a full day of sightseeing. Bellagio was as beautiful as I’d heard. There were maybe a hundred steps to get up into the town and then I veered off to the other side of the lake and took another hundred steps down. I couldn’t wait to round another corner and see what delightful scene I would encounter. The weather was glorious and the sky and lake were so blue! I stopped to smell some honeysuckle as I wandered the streets.

There are lots of shops…

and outdoor cafes…

Goodbye Bellagio!

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Three nights at Lake Como, Italy

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After taking the Gotthard Panorama Express from Lucerne, Switzerland, I arrived in Varenna, Lake Como at 7:30pm. My lodging was located there, only a three minute walk to the train station and three minutes to the water. The next morning I did laundry in my washer, hung it to dry, purchased an all day ferry pass for €15, took a few photos in Varenna and then boarded a ferry for Bellagio (which I’ll cover tomorrow).

Varenna is charming.

The view of Varenna from one of the ferries.

Traveling solo has it’s pros and cons, like anything in life. Although this is a beautiful view, I didn’t sit around much. I was usually walking, exploring, and taking photographs.

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

The Gotthard Panorama Excursion

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The Gotthard Panorama is an excursion that combines a 2 hr. 45 minute boat ride from Lucerne, Switzerland to Flüelen, where you take a 2 1/2 hr. train to Lugano, Switzerland. A first class ticket for the boat ride only costs 36 francs (which is half-price) if you have a Eurail pass.

The boat ride on Lake Lucerne is very scenic.

The small villages along the shoreline are so quaint.

The water is turquoise but appears green at certain angles and light.

Disembarking

Waiting in Flüelen for the train journey

Beautiful countryside and villages seen from the train.

I had two more trains to take before reaching my final destination…Varenna, Lake Como, Italy at 7:30pm.

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Two Nights in Lucerne, Switzerland

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In June of this year, I flew from Chania, Crete at 6:20am to Zurich, Switzerland (with a connecting flight in Athens) arriving at 10:20am. An hour later I was on a 70 minute train from the Zurich Airport to Lucerne. I walked 10 minutes to my hotel, stored my luggage and went exploring.

The Chapel Bridge is very photogenic.

Since Covid-19, many establishments in the U.S. have created outdoor seating areas. I’ve always loved that about Europe.

The Lion Monument, or the Lion of Lucerne, was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution.

Lake Lucerne is so pretty.

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Three Nights in Chania, Island of Crete, Greece

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I decided to fly from Santorini to the Airport in Chania, Crete instead of taking the ferry because the ferry stops about three hours away from Chania, the town I wanted to visit. I fell in love with Chania! It’s pedestrian only and the pathways are lined with outdoor cafes, flowers, and shops.

Old Venetian Port

This was just outside my hotel…

It’s so colorful!

Daily life…

I had tried Octopus once in Florida, but this was delicious!

Cats everywhere…

Sooo pretty…

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

My Big Fat Greek Lunch Invitation

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I mentioned my friend Rebecca who owns http://www.santorinilocaladventures.com in a previous post.   She invited me to have lunch with her family while I was on Crete in June of this year.  Her husband picked me up (and a couple of visiting relatives) from the city center and drove us about 40 minutes to their home in the country.  It’s surrounded by olive trees. Rebecca told me that they don’t measure the land there by acreage but by olive trees and they have 450.

It was so nice meeting her family and seeing her again! The food was so fresh and amazing and included goat, lamb, rooster, pilafi, two salads, two potatoes, etc. and homemade wine. Of the eleven of us only three people didn’t speak English so it was fun to listen to a combination of Greek and English being spoken. They have goats and chickens and cats and dogs and her husband likes to go rabbit hunting with one of his dogs. Definitely one of the highlights of my Greek experience!

Rebecca and I

Her courtyard

The wine was flowing freely

The drive back home

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Santorini Food and Wine Tour

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Rebecca, a friend that owns http://www.santorinilocaladventures.com invited me to a complimentary tour while I was on Santorini. It began in front of the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, located between the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli.

We strolled along Firostefani’s pathways, tasted local yummy food and spirits, and admired breathtaking views. Here was our group.

We tasted a variety of wines

The tour ended in Fira. It was a fun evening!

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Santorini: Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Open Bar

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My catamaran cruise was amazing!  I booked the “Santorini: Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Open Bar” cruise through Get Your Guide, but it was run by a local company, www.vistayachting.com.  After being picked up at 2:15pm it took about an hour to pick up a number of other people scattered on the island, so I had a little tour of the island.  My phone froze up and wouldn’t work or turn off before I left on the cruise, and I was worried that if it couldn’t be fixed, that my data might not be able to be transferred to a new phone.  I decided not to worry about it and have fun on my cruise.  I took my camera so I could have photos from the trip. 

The “Captain”

We saw Red Beach from the boat, got up close to the volcano, and snorkeled near Mesa Pigadia beach.  I made friends with a young couple from Denmark and did a mini photo shoot for them and another couple at sunset.  I started a conversation with a couple from India, who live in London, and I asked him to take a look at my phone.  He’s an engineer and he fixed it!  I was so relieved I gave him a hug, after asking his wife if that was okay.

Mesa Pigadia Beach

There were snacks and drinks, dinner was delicious, and the scenery was stunning

It was a wonderful outing and the sunset was special!

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Three nights on Santorini Island, Greece

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I took a two hour ferry from Mykonos (€80) to Santorini. Getting on and off the ferry is quite an experience, there are so many people. I had arranged transport through Get Your Guide for the 20 minute ride to my hotel, which was only a 10 minute walk into town. I went exploring the next day before going on a catamaran cruise (tomorrow’s post).

Santorini is dramatic and stunning! The cobalt blue sea is amazing! It’s a photographer’s playground.

I walked through Thera (Fira), almost to the 3 Bells of Fira. I kept wondering where are the pretty houses. I passed by lots of donkey dung. I had done so much research (months) for my 11 week trip especially concerning trains and 21 accommodations/18 day trips and everything else that I just assumed the pretty houses were here.

I finally asked a girl where they were and she said Oia. I saw a bus stop but it was faded and hard to read and she said to go back to Fira, to the bus station. I walked 2 miles total before taking the 8:30am bus, arriving at 8:55. The full size bus was packed.

I made good use of my time, taking paths up and down and back up again.

Here’s my hotel room. I had a patio with a view of the sea.

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Elia Beach and my date on Mykonos Island

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There are lots of beaches to choose from on Mykonos and I chose Elia beach because it’s the longest stretch of Beach and there’s a bus (€4.6 r/t ) that leaves from the Old Port, which was a 15 min. walk from my hotel and takes about 25 minutes to get there.  It actually stops in front of my hotel, but I wanted to see the Old Port anyway.  After researching I knew there would be umbrellas and sun beds available for a fee (€25 per person). One side of the beach is gay-friendly and clothing optional.  The water was cold but refreshing! I would have gone for a walk on the beach but after walking 300 miles according to my Fitbit since April 2nd, I thought I would just relax.

That morning I made reservations for dinner at Karavaki, located less than a 5 minutes walk from my hotel. I made the reservation for two because I thought they might not fit me in if I said one.  While I was waiting for the bus at Elia Beach, I began talking with a man that was also waiting. His name was Olli. He’s from Finland, but splits his time between Belgium, where he works and a city south of Amsterdam where his children and other home is located. Anyway I mentioned my dinner reservation to him and said if he wanted to join me he could just show up. He asked for my phone number, which I gave to him. I told him if he decided to come he needed to be on time because I was going to tell them that my partner didn’t feel well. He arrived to the restaurant a few minutes before I arrived.

We had an enjoyable dinner and the view from the patio was amazing. I made it clear on the bus that I would be paying for my dinner but he insisted on taking care of the bill. That was his last day on the island for his vacation. He walked me back to my hotel and I showed him the steps he needed to go down to get to the Old Port area where his hotel was located (a 15 min. walk) He was afraid of getting lost and doesn’t use Google Maps so I had my hotel call him a taxi.

The view from our table

p.s.  If you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.  Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.