Europe – The Travelling Dassie

Triberg Waterfalls

Triberg is a popular tourist town in the Black Forest, in the southwest corner of Baden-Württemberg Germany.

The Triberg Falls are one of the the highest waterfalls in Germany with a total plunge of 163 meters. The falls are in the river Gutach and consists of seven plunge stages/steps. The town of Triberg is at the bottom of the falls

There are three entrances to the Falls. The main, and also most well know entrance is at the bottom of the falls and easily accessible from Triberg. Look for a parking spot or use one of the parkades.

The other two entrances can be reached by traveling further along the road.

Know before you go

The falls are open whole year round.
There are 3 entrances
The falls are open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00. Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
The prices per ticket at time of publishing were €3.50 per adult. Children under 8 can go in for free and those between 8 and 17 pay €3.00 per ticket
If you have a Triberg Guest-Card you can enter for free
There are no restaurants. The only options are before entering
Parking and good public transport options available
You will need about 1 to 2 hours to go walk from bottom to the top, less if you start at the top. Wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the magnificent scenery.
It can be muddy
You can buy nuts to feed the squirrels
More information on the Triberg Tourism Website.

The experience

I have been to many waterfalls, and the one at Triberg is definitely not the most spectacular. What adds to the experience is the fact that it has seven stages, and is set in a really beautiful nature park and woods . Looking down towards the town is breathtaking and makes for the most great photo opportunities. Take time to appreciate the fauna and flora along the well kept pathways.

The awesome stuff

Breathtaking nature.
Easily accessible via train, bus or by road.
The paths are well comfortable and well kept.
Stunning lookout points

The less awesome stuff

It can become overcrowded during the peak times like weekends.
Walking from the bottom entrance to the top is only advised if you are fit or a regular hiker, it is pretty steep.

The verdict

It is well worth a visit. Take time to just enjoy the beauty of nature

Links

Triberg Waterfalls

Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is a must visit when you are in or around Stuttgart. It is a beautiful showcase of Mercedes-Benz cars and tells the history of the company and that of the automobile industry. If you would like to read up about the history before you go, there is information available on the Mercedes Website

We took a trip to the museum with a friend and her young daughter. It was easy to reach with public transport. The process of buying a ticket was quick and the staff spoke English.

Know before you go

The Museum is open most of the year.
During VfB Stuttgart’s football home matches and other major events access to the Mercedes-Benz Museum may be restricted.
The museum is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:00 to 18:00. Closed on Mondays. See the Website for Visitor Information
The prices per ticket at time of publishing were €10 per adult and €5 per child.
Ticket discounts for groups and elderly people. You can buy evening tickets at a reduced price (from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket desk closes at 5 p.m.)
There is a restaurant/bistro where you can buy snacks and drinks.
Parking and good public transport options available
Tours available
You will need about 2 hours to go through the museum. Wear comfortable shoes
More information on the Mercedes_Benz Museum Website.

The experience

You start the tour by swiping your ticket at the turn styles, you can get an audio guide here. The audio guides are available in a selection of languages. You then go to the top floor in a very futuristic looking lift, and are greeted there by a “one horse power”

The first section of the Museum showcases the history of the automobile and also that of the company. There are beautiful old engines, cars and trucks on display as well as examples of the mobility ideas of the time. Each section of the museum focuses on a specific theme. There are classic cars, period cars from the 30’s to 50’s, trucks, buses and tractors.

There is a section devoted to racing. Here you can see some of the Mercedes racing cars and trucks. There is also information on the company’s involvement in F1 racing. In this section there is a race simulator. It is a virtual reality experience of the different types of racing cars, mixed with a bit of a history lesson. You pay extra to go into the simulator.

Another section focuses on technology and the future of Mobility.

There is a section showcasing cars from famous people or events. The display is updated as the availability of the cars changes. When we visited, the car belonging to Princess Diana was on display, the SUV from Jurassic Park, the car the Pope used on some of his trips and many more historic models.

Mercedes that belonged to Princess Diana

The awesome stuff

It is an interesting and informative museum.
Easily accessible via train, bus or by road.
The displays are well presented.
Interactive

The less awesome stuff

It can become overcrowded during the peak times like weekends.
Taking photos can be a challenge due to the low light inside.

The verdict

It is well worth a visit and a must for auto enthusiasts.

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Steiff Museum – get lost in a world of teddy bears

The Steiff Museum is a delightful place to visit when you are like me, nuts about cuddly toys. We decided to visit the Museum on a Saturday morning, it was already Autumn and it was not too busy for a weekend visit.
We took the train from Ulm to Giengen an der Brenz.

The Museum is very easy to find.
From the station, you follow the signs and will soon see red paw prints along the road ..jip you guessed it ..follow the paw prints.

Know before you go

The Museum is open most of the year. It is closed on Christmas, 26 December, 1 January and on Good Friday.
The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00.
The prices per ticket at time of publishing were €10 per adult and €6 per child.
Ticket discounts for groups and elderly people.
There is a shop where you can buy Steiff products.
There is a restaurant/bistro where you can buy snacks and warm meals, between 11:00 and 17:00.
More information on the Steiff Museum Website.

The experience

After buying our tickets, we browsed through the Steiff shop while waiting for the tour to begin.
The tour is guided by two cuddly toys, Knopf and Frieda. They take you through the history of Steiff, how it all began and the mystery of the teddy bears lost at sea.
They told us that teddy bears like to travel and that they can be found all over the world, bringing happiness and joy to children (and adults) everywhere.
The tour is very interactive and well presented.

After the tour you can go to the Steiff petting zoo. Children can sit on an unicorn, an elephant or a deer, or just marvel at the various stuffed animals

There is also a showcase of all the historical Teddy bears and stuffed animals manufactured by Steiff

You can go to the workshop and watch how the Teddy bears are made.
The journey finishes in the shop, where you can buy mainstream and limited editions. The bears with movable parts are more expensive.
“The famous trademark “Button in Ear”. The Steiff “Button in Ear” design may vary. A yellow tag attached to the Button indicates the toy is part of the current range. A white tag with red writing attached to the button is gifted to all the Steiff limited editions.
And a white tag with black writing attached to the button is gifted to all the Steiff limited edition replica designs.”

The awesome stuff

It is a beautiful and fun place to visit.
Easily accessible via train, bus or by road.
They cater for birthday parties.
You can make your own teddy bear (only for groups between 8 and 25 people).

The less awesome stuff

It can become overcrowded during the peak summer season.
The tour was only available in German, but I think one can still follow the story-line.

The verdict

It is a very nice day trip, definitely worth going.

Blautopf and the Schöne Lau

The Blautopf is a beautiful spring in Blaubeuren, Germany.
It is the source of the river Blau which flows into the Danube.
There are many folk tales about the Blautopf, the most well known that of the Schöne Lau, a mermaid and her husband, a water nix from the Black Sea.
According to legend the Schöne Lau was banished to the Blautopf by her husband because she was always sad and could not laugh. She was doomed to live there until she laughed five times. Only then could she return and give birth to a living child. The Beautiful Lau makes friends with Frau Betha, the landlady of an inn nearby. The good-natured and wise Betha finally helps the mermaid to laugh five times

Know before you go

The best time to visit is on a sunny day in Summer. The intensity of the blue water can vary according to the weather.
Blaubeuren is 16 km from Ulm.
There are train and bus services to Blaubeuren.
There is a gift shop.
Entrance is free.

The experience

A German friend invited us for a visit Blaubeuren and took us to see the Blaufopf and the Kloster nearby. Afterwards we ate freshly caught trout at a restaurant just outside town. I visited a couple of times after that, taking friends to marvel not only at the beauty of the Blautopf but also the surrounding nature.

The Blautopf gets its blue colour from the limestone in the water. The deepest end is 21 meters. Diving is allowed but only for experienced divers and only through authorised organisations.

Other worthwhile attractions around the Blautopf is the hiking trails into the Schwäbischen Alb and the Kloster Blaubeuren.
There is a good choice of regional restaurants, or you could indulge your sweet tooth at one of the many bakeries in town.

The awesome stuff

Tranquil beauty.
Easily accessible.

The less awesome stuff

It can become overcrowded during peak season and weekends.

The verdict

It is a very nice day trip, definitely worth seeing.

Weekend in Switzerland

We had a great opportunity to combine a business trip to Zurich with a visit to a friend who lives there. He turned out to be an excellent tour guide, leaving us with many cherished memories.

Know before you go

Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, but not part of the EU. South African nationals require a Schengen visa to enter.
The local currency is the Swiss Frank (CHF), Euros are accepted but you might not get the most favourable rate.
Nearest commercial airport is Zurich International.
Summer season is from June – August. Winter season is from December – February
Weather: From July to August the daytime temperature range is 18 to 28°C and from January to February the range is -2 to 7°C. In spring and autumn, the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C.

The experience

We traveled from Germany and decided to take the train rather than fly to Zurich. Although the journey takes longer by train, it can be significantly cheaper and you are rewarded with breathtaking views of mountains, lakes and charming small towns. Some of the most scenic railroads are in and around the Alps.

We arrived in Zurich late afternoon and the next morning we took a day trip by car to the Brienzersee (Lake Brienz). We took the ferry boat to get on the other side of Lake Zurich and it was followed by an unforgettable drive into the mountains. The mountains are dotted with small ski resorts and every town is postcard picture perfect. We even got some snow on one of the mountains although it was early spring.

The Brienzersee is surrounded by picturesque little towns and we stopped at one of them for refreshments before driving further to Interlaken, one of the bigger towns situated between Brienzersee and Thunersee. It’s a typical tourist town and we strolled through the small streets admiring the charming old buildings. The air was crispy from the snow on the mountains but filled with the sound of nature.

We had a quick lunch and then continued on our journey to the St Beatus Caves, on the banks of the Thunersee. These are by far the most beautiful caves I ever explored. There are waterfalls inside the cave and even the journey up the mountain is spectacular. Looking up you can see waterfalls coming down the mountain and looking down you have unspoilt views of the lake. The guided tour into the caves takes about an hour. The path you walk on is well designed and we could walk upright the whole time. You are unfortunately not allowed to take photos inside the cave.

The next day we took a train trip to Luzern where we boarded a boat to Mount Pilatus in Alpnachstad. The boat ride itself was such a treat with beautiful views of Lake Zurich and the surrounding mountains. Arriving in Alpnachstad, we bought our tickets for the trip up Mt Pilatus with the cogwheel (Zahnbahn) railway that allows you to enjoy breathtaking views of the lake, mountain and town below. The mountain is 2132m high and the railway is the world’s steepest with a 48% climb. At the top there are many viewpoints where you have picturesque views of the countryside and towns below. There are also some curio shops and restaurants. It was a bit chilly at the top and it can be very windy as well, so dress warm. We took the cable-way down, it is a very steep incline down and if you are scared of heights its best to stand in the middle of the car. You take the cable-way to a summit and from there you take the aerial Gondolas to get the bottom.

Our trip to Switzerland was way too short and I would love to go back and explore more of its beauty.

You are welcome to view my photos of our trip here

The awesome stuff

Pristine and breathtaking scenery
Enchanting old buildings
The best chocolates in the world
Outdoor adventures
Reliable public transport

The less awesome stuff

The weather, it is mostly chilly and often rains.
The prices, everything is expensive. We paid around R50 for a beer, R46 for a coffee. Eating at a restaurant is around R230 for a main course per person. You can get Pizza for around R160

The verdict

There is so much to see and do in Switzerland, all year round. It’s worth a visit, even for a weekend. A very nice way to see the country is by rail. Consider n trip on the Glacies express or the Chocolate train.

Travel tips

Try to get a city card that offers unlimited travel within the city and entrance to most museums.
Buy snacks and light lunches at a grocery store before setting out on day trips.
Always take warm, rain and wind proof clothing with you.

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