Seeking

My hosts in Bergamo insisted that I must visit the ‘high city’, the old section of Bergamo up on the hill surrounded by the city wall. It is one of the largest well-preserved city areas dating from the middle ages that I have seen. In this picture, you can see it in the middle distance. [vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1474561346042-8af89dd9-9dda-8″ include=”2728,2706,2704,2705,2703,2702,2701,2700,2699″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  On my way from St. Moritz to Bergamo, I passed by Lake Como. I took the ferry out to Bellagio, an old, traditional Italian town that has preserved much of its character. [vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1474561582237-9d88e52c-1124-1″ include=”2731,2733,2734,2730,2729,2727,2726,2725,2724,2723,2722,2721″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

I came to Chamonix to hike the Walker’s Haute Route, 116 miles from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. (Walker’s is not a name, it means ‘to walk’. There is a winter ski version of the Haute route also) The Haute route passes by some of the most noteworthy peaks in the European Alps, including Mont Blanc (15,777 feet high) and the Matterhorn, shown above. The route is steep, involving climbing a total of more than 39,000 feet in total elevation, and descending nearly as much.   Haute Route, Day 1  La Tour to Col de la Forclaz On September 5th,…

Chamonix is a resort area about an hour’s drive east of Geneva, Switzerland. It is in a deep valley surrounded by some of the European alps highest peaks, including Mont Blanc (15,777 feet high). In winter, it is a major ski destination. It is also the gateway to the Haute Route, a reknowned circuit around the Mont Blanc area. That is why I went there. Driving up from Geneva, the approach to Chamonix is dramatic: Once you reach Chamonix, you are surrounded by even bigger mountains and many glaciers. I rented a little cabin for 4 days, so I could…

Prague is a city with a long history and many dramatic buildings. Prague Castle, up on the hill [vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/179448455″] I’m pretty sure that is live music, as they closed the windows when it finished. Perhaps a daily opening ceremony? That’s old Prague. On the Charles Bridge, this is the new world: All strings rock and roll. [vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/179177584″] Prague has an extensive and excellent system of public transit, subways, trams, and buses. The signs are understated. Down arrows mean a subway station: The subways are very deep, so you have to take some dizzyingly steep, long escalator rides down…