Aiguille du Midi, the world's longest and highest tramway, is well worth the price of admission. The views from the top of the Chamonix Valley, and of Mt. Blanc and the nearby mountains are spectacular. This natural rock spire is pictured in numerous places in Chamonix. Tourist shops sell paintings of it, postcards, and photographs. It is situated at about 12,600 feet in the shadow of Mount Blanc which rises another 3000 feet or so higher. If … [Read more...]
Chamonix, France – Mer de Glace
Mer de Glace is well worth a visit for visitors of all ages. It is the second largest glacier in the Alps - approximately 9 miles long, almost a mile wide, and about 1200 feet in its deepest places. It moves more than 100 feet every year and is currently retreating. There are several ways to reach the glacier; for those who enjoy hiking, we highly recommend walking from the middle stop on the Aiguille du Midi. This hike works for those who … [Read more...]
Europe
This article differs from a number of other travel articles on Dave's Travel Corner in that it is not written about a specific place, location, or destination. It is written from personal experience based upon numerous trips to Europe and is intended to give the independent traveler to Europe additional information about a diversity of activities or experiences across the continent. The initial countries we visited before writing this article … [Read more...]
Europe- What to Pack
The independent traveler will want to pack as light as possible, especially if planning on taking trains or boats. When I travel to Europe, I take trains or budget airlines everywhere; for the nimble traveler there are certain advantages to packing light. It is easier to keep an eye on your gear and it is easy to fit into the sometimes small luggage compartments. Key words to packing for Europe are: light, light, and light. I fit all my gear into … [Read more...]
Europe – The Locals
I think that whatever country you are traveling in you will meet the bad apples as well as the good oranges. On my first journey through Europe I met some very helpful people who went out of their way to give me advice, show me certain areas, or give me help. Then I met some overly stressed people who all they had to say was "stick it between your teeth". I could definitely tell a general difference in personality between different cultures … [Read more...]
Europe – Thieves
I put myself in a certain "stay away from people" - "trust absolutely no one" zone when I was in train stations or crowded areas. I would keep a good distance from other people and not let anyone get very close to me. My awareness of what was going on around me was extremely heightened to the point of paranoia when I had my backpack with me. If I stopped in a crowded area to look at a map or for some other reason I would always try to make sure … [Read more...]
San Francisco, CA – Driving
San Francisco is NOT a car friendly city for many reasons; it is a very difficult city to drive in. In general, drivers in San Francisco tend to be aggressive and quick to honk. There are numerous hills and many are extremely steep. Space is at a premium in San Francisco - especially on the streets. Some streets do not allow parallel curb parking. They are so steep that you must park your car perpendicular to the curb. There are quite a few … [Read more...]
San Luis Obispo, CA – Downtown
Downtown San Luis Obispo (www.downtownslo.com) is a collection of numerous cafes + restaurants + brew pubs, clothing stores, sports stores, a few galleries, quaint shops, and reflective of a college town, quite a few stand alone bars. The downtown area is best seen by walking. Ditch the car along one of the side streets just outside of the downtown area, or one of three parking garages (Two on Palm Street and one on Marsh Street). Our … [Read more...]
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