Road trip through Italy, Switzerland and Germany

This is the best spot to bath and enjoy the sea. We were regretting not knowing this before.

Last stop

VERNAZZA

We were down by 6 but all restaurants in this area do not open until 7. So we waited and we luckily got a magnificent view of the sea side while enjoying some Italian food

I had pesto frietti and Kjell ravioli with walnut sauce. Really good! My sister had spaghetti alla carbonara a bit different due the seafood and Pablo had some prosciutto

Serenella is our stop for the night. A very cozy bed and Breakfast decorated with hortencias was our accommodation for the night.

Next morning we went out on a short walk to the surroundings. To take some pictures of the Italian countryside

Recommendations for Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre attracts many tourists during the summer months, so if you can plan your trip before summer or toward the end of it you will avoid the crowds.

You can visit all five villages in Cinque Terre on two days or for a weekend getaway.

And stopped at Lake Como almost by the border with Switzerland to enjoy the view of one of the largest lakes on earth.

LUGANO

We then continued to Lugano to get lunch(some panini and some Italian gelatto)

To get the best view If headed North you can stop up almost by the highway and find good restaurants with panoramic views over the lake.

And at 9 pm we finally made crossed Italy and all of Switzerland to Huningue to visit cousin Cata.

We enjoyed dinner al fresco in the Terrace with wine and cheeses and shared some anecdotes until 11pm.

The day after we did not agree completely on what time to start, so with Kjell Anders we were ready at 930 and left. I looked at the address for the boat to Rapperswil as it was what I did in 1998 when traveling solo and later in 2000 together with Belen.

So the GPS took Us to a place a bit outside the city. It ended up being a perfect vantage point to take the first look at Zurich, a place to fill gas, get something to drink and get help from a local.

Zurich

A lady kindly advised us to drive to Rapperswil.

As charming as I remembered it! I fell in love with Zurich and in general with Switzetland in 1998 and landscapes like the ones in this charming little town are part of the reason.

On the way up the staircase they had a beautiful summer garden with fruits and vegetables that tourists could harvest.

Admiring the colorful rose garden

And from here we drove again 20 minutes back to Zurich to stop at Lindt chocolate factory. Also something I did in 2000 together with my sister

Upon arrival we were directed towards the shop. At the entrance I had to ask about the tour of the factory. To get the following reply “You are only 15 years too late” and yes, I was! That was my last visit to Zurich and to the factory

So instead we ended up buying Swiss chocolates! Did not end so bad!

And just 5 kilometers away, we finally made it to the old part of town in Zurich

Love this city!

During our old-town stroll we saw
The Limmat Quai

The church of St Peter

Down the cobbled street Schpfe to enjoy some shops and boutiques

Lidenhof one of the oldest parts of Zurich.

Medieval kings stopped here and Romans also used the place.

Outdoor chess

Lovely views

And finally to the abbey of Grossmünster, a landmark of the city.

To then find the Fraumünster, were we stopped to admire the amazing stained glass windows by Chagall

And the window by Giacometti

On our way back to the car after 2 hours in the city, we stopped for some burgers. We wanted some sandwiches or something smaller but all you could find along the main streets were restaurants and this was the only other option.

On our Way

On the way back we stopped to see the Three countries bridge.

We had a nice dinner all together prepared by our cousin’s husband, made with local products.

And later that night we went to stand on the three countries bridge

Next morning we had breakfast together and continued North to Hockenheim, where Pablo was going to stay at the Formula 1

Nescafé frappe while waiting for Pablo’s cousin and his girlfriend. Unfortunately their train or bus connection had some problems and they did not arrive.

We left Pablo at the venue and continued

Then we stopped to visit Schwetzingen as suggested by a waitress in Hockenheim.

This is a small charming town which had as main attraction the beautiful castle with its gardens

This day they had a festival going on so we could listen to some music and the entrance was free

Then when we went to pick up Alice at the train station we continued to Heidelberg and got some traditional food

HEIDELBERG

We marked Zentrum and the GPS apparently took us to Zentrum South so we ended up walking a lot to reach the main attraction: the Renaissance palace of Heidelberg

It is very impressing and a world-famous ruins attracting around a million visitors each year.

The views from the castle overlooking all the city center and river are worth the hike up through small cobblestoned streets in a warm day, under the sun

In our way down in the main pedestrian street we stopped for some gelatto and some souvenirs

The main square surrounded by lovely restautants, official building and a fountain in the middle like most towns and old cities in main Europe.

And final stop, the main bridge in the city also providing breathtaking vistas

And back to the car

After a long walk we made it back to the parking lot in the Bauhaus store

Our first glimpses of MANNHEIM where we were to spend the night

After not finding the parking, then the apartment we arrived to a very interesting neighborhood which was very international and where we had booked out AirBnb for all 6.

Just 2 minutes away we found a great burger place next to the river.

After a good night sleep and needed, as our feet hurt from last days walk across the center of Heidelberg, we started around 830 to wake up and get ready.

We took the car to see main sights in Mannheim.

First of all we discovered that our neighborhood was a tourist attraction or a place to see, mainly due to a mosque and a Catholic Church and how international it is.

Then we stopped at Paradeplatz in the old part of town, for a short stroll and breakfast

Then we continued to Markplatz or the main square to admire main monuments and architecture

We could not leave without admiring the Wasserturm

Then we continued North towards Frankfurt and stopped at Worms to admire the famous cathedral

WORMS

And finally to Gutenberg’s City, Mainz

Gutenberg’s Museum

FRANKFURT

First glimpses of the modern City of Frankfurt

The only thing is that the closest we got to the hostel by the train station the shadier the area. We were to find out about this area in our Free Alternative walking tour later.

After delivering the car at the airport we took the train back and I immdiately recognized the train station in Frankfurt

We picked up our bags from where the rest of the group where staying – Frankfurt Hostel, right in front of the train station. The place really nice for backpackers and young travelers, just the location was not ideal.

Then we walked 3 minutes to arrive at hour hotel

And then dinner one block away. We had some traditional German food

And Italian dessert, we unfortunately did not know they were so well ranked at trip advisor so we just had some

Profiteroles and tiramisu. They were delicious.

The next day we agreed on meeting at our hotel at 9 am, so that they could leave their suitcases out our place.

Breakfast was really good, lots of variety including hard boiled eggs, apples, cereals, juices, cheeses, 3 types of breads (croissants, whole grain, white) toppings, as well as coffee, milk and tea.

First to the Main Tower and then to the Operplatz

We then followed the Rhin towards the old part of town

On the Eisener Steg with the views over the city skyline and the Rhine river.

The Dom Romer

This house together with the cathedral are the only buildings that are original, all the others were destroyed during WWII.

The cathedral of Saint Bartholomew

A visit to the Kleinmarkthalle

And then to Borsenplatz and for some free wifi to Starbucks

Back to the hostel to meet and say goodbye to Pablo’s cousins.

At 2 pm we joined the Free Alternative walking tour organized by the hostel where B,P and cousins where staying

The Free alternative walking tour.

Some of the places we visited:

The central station neighborhood, then to the western part of the old town inside what was the city wall and nowadays is a park. To see the modern opera house, the highest building in the old part of town, the Kommerzbank, then to spot a second Spider-Man. A project by students in an effort to change the reputation of the city.

In the main square we found the only house in addition to the cathedral that remained after WWII, all other buildings were reconstructed.

And in the floor a plaque marking the place where the students of the national socialistic party burnt books in 1933.

Facts we learned:

The area in front of the train used to be an aristocratic area and built around 100 years ago. It is nowadays the red light district. Until the 80’s there was no police control in the area. It was neglected as the metro connected people to other parts of the city without the need of seeing the area. Due to drug use in the central station neighborhood around 300 people died each year.

There is now a legal consumption drug house to help and support users.

Prostitution is legal since 2002.

About 70% of the city was destroyed during WWII.

Frankfurt is known for its international fairs, airport and banks.

2nd most expensive city in Germany, and the city where Anne Frank was born and Schindler used to live.

At 430 we went with Pablo and Belen to pick up their suitcases, as they were to continue to the train station,

Then to the airport for their flight to Madrid.

We then went to enjoy a 50

Minute boat cruise along the Rhine river

Last meal during our vacations:

We found a very nice restaurant serving Turkish and Mediterranean food near our hotel. Merkez and I enjoyed my eggplant casserole with lamb.

The flight the next day was at 7, so we started our day at 4am. In conclusion, it was a memorable road trip, with lots of spellbinding landscapes, tasty food, great moments shared with family and friends.

A road trip is a really great way to enjoy sights along the road and do things at your own tempo.
Thank you for reading!
Cristina