Europe travel photos and trip planning information
Travel writer Carol Antman surmounts misgivings and mountains in Switzerland When I was invited to tag along as a journalist with Alpine Adventure Trails Tour on a two-week hike in the Swiss Alps, I was eager for my husband Mark to book the trip and come. Somehow he did not share my enthusiasm. “…climbs of 2,500 to 4,000 vertical feet…rugged..strenuous trails with advanced mountaineering options,” I quoted the brochure. “Yikes. We’ll break our legs, or our necks. … [Read more...]
Lausanne, Switzerland. On the Via Francigena When on the Via Francigena, there are precious few opportunities that come your way in regards to being ferried about instead of walking. Such an opportunity arose in travelling from Lausanne to Vevey - by ferry. In the morning, with the bright sun beaming in the sky, we walked down to the wharves at Ouchy past a metal fountain with the heads of three horses drinking. Finding the tourist office we booked two seats on one of the classic lake … [Read more...]
Suddenly the mists parted, revealing the valleyVia Francigena: Martigny, Switzerland. After a filling breakfast we donned our packs and walked out into the wet, overcast weather which was rather pleasant after the past few hot days. We arrived at a park where there was a fork in the track. Decisions. Decisions. One track zig-zagged up a huge ridge, the other along the base of the ridge. The map suggested following the lower track. We asked a group of walkers the best way to Sembrancher and … [Read more...]
From Martigny in Switzerland (along the Via Francigena) we struggled over the hardy obstacle of a mountain ridge. Because a flood two weeks before had washed away the walking track and the railway track - both of which followed the river. We had planned to walk from Martigny to Orsieres that day, mostly along the Dranse Valley, but now we had to reluctantly detour over this ridge. What a pain. Sometimes when travelling, especially by foot, it's difficult to accept some quick unplanned … [Read more...]
What a lavish breakfast at Hotel Helvetie in Montreaux, Switzerland. We were journeying along the ancient Via Francigena, the path that stretches all the way from Canterbury to Rome. After breakfast we decided to take the local bus four kilometers to Chillon Castle which lay on the lake’s (Leman) edge and came face to face with hundreds of other tourists who had come to visit one of the best preserved medieval castles in Europe. The castle was impressive, full of rooms containing … [Read more...]
When I read that there are more than 400 varieties of Swiss cheese, I was astounded. Most non-Swiss people would only know of a handful, the most popular ones being Emmenthal and Gruyère. Still, Gruyère is undoubtedly the big cheese of the Swiss dairy industry, so when we visited the walled city of Gruyères, we of course visited the eponymous factory which is in the AOC Production area. The AOC designation, or Appelation d'Origine Contrôlée, is an official stamp of quality that … [Read more...]
Tax Free Shopping The VAT rate in Switzerland is 8% and is included in the sales price. With prices in Switzerland as they are, any discount is welcome, so don't miss out on your tax refund! All visitors living outside Switzerland are entitled to claim back the VAT if they spend more than CHF 400 in one shop in one day. The goods must be exported within 30 days after the purchase date and the export must be confirmed by an official Swiss customs stamp. So, how do you get your tax refund? … [Read more...]
Glitz and Glamour at St. Moritz - but not so much in Summer... St Moritz is one of the world's glitziest, most expensive ski resorts, deserving its reputation as the St. Tropez of ski destinations. Our tour director describes this place as a ski resort for the "chic-kie mickeys", her description of the jetset types who have heaps of money to burn. In St. Moritz, you can buy everything from Chanel skis to Cartier diamonds in the swanky boutiques. Designer Labels galore For such a … [Read more...]
Post Post offices are usually open from 8 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm on weekdays, although some branches in shopping centres often open the same hours as the shopping centres, and this includes late night shopping (usually Thursdays). On Saturdays, post offices in large cities are open from 8.30 am till 12 noon, but don't count on it in villages. Mail boxes In Switzerland, Mail boxes are coloured yellow and can be found along street and in every Post Office. … [Read more...]
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We're Helen and Tony Page, and we love travelling - lucky as we've been doing it for the last few decades!
Tony has long been a professional photographer and writer, but Helen now writes most of the posts and takes a lot of photos herself!
Travelsignposts is our main travel planning site, but Tony also runs the Travelsignposts Photo and Guerrilla Travel Photography web sites, as well as publishing the Take Better Digital Photos and Guerrilla Travel Photography eBooks.
Read more about Helen and Tony or contact them.