Travelling opens our eyes & is indeed a privileged best savored with a bit of planning, research & companionship.
In Autumn of 2022, Belinda, my in-laws, Doris & Kim, and I took the opportunity to travel from Barcelona in Northern Spain, then to Avignon in Southern France, stopover in Lausanne & lastly to Interlaken in Central Switzerland.
The well-connected and excellent train system in the European continent made it a breeze to travel from one country to another & also the public transport in Barcelona, Girona & Interlaken to allow us to see most of the top sights. We rented a car in Avignon and Lausanne to visit the quaint medieval towns in Provence and up the French Alps.
We took the opportunity to eat the local produce & yes, the makan, coffee & wine were very very good.
AirBnB was our choice accomodation platform and our apartments in Barcelona, Avignon, Lausanne & Wilderswil was easy reach to Girona, Montserrat, Arles, Chamonix, Gordes, Loumarin, Nimes, Rousillon, Bern, Geneva, Grindelwald, Gruyeres, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Mannlichen & Montreux.
Flying via Singapore Airlines was again outstanding due to its reliability, safety and service.
Trip Highlights
Day 1 (21 Sep) Airbnb Barcelona
- Arrive Barcelona early morning via SQ from Singapore.
- Accommodation at an Airbnb apartment located at heart of Barcelona along Passieg de Gracia and less than 100m from the iconic Casa Batlo, architectural masterpiece of Anton Gaudi.
- Visit La Rambla, Mercat de la Boqueria & many great eats are just a short walk away.
Gaudi's Casa Battlo at dusk
Casa Battlo is one of Gaudi’s architectural masterpiece, located right in the center of Barcelona, & yes, just across the road from the Airbnb apartment where we called home for a few days in Sep 2022.
Built in 1906 for textile industrialist, Josep Battlo, who commissioned Anton Gaudi to design a home like no other. So glad, the local authorities have maintained the heirloom for future generations.
Day 2 (22 Sep) Airbnb Barcelona
- Day trip by train to Montserrat Abbey
- Visit La Sagrada Familia
- Sunset at Sercotal Rosellon Rooftop Bar
Sercotel Rosellon Rooftop Bar
Sercotel Rosellon, a 4-star hotel, located just across the road and north of La Sagrada Familia, has a rooftop bar with awesome view of Gaudi’s best architectural masterpiece.
Best to go in late afternoon and before dusk.
Day 3 (23 Sep) Airbnb Barcelona
- Day trip via high speed train to Girona.
Girona Cathedral
Girona Cathedral & the spectacular Baroque staircase was where the Game of Thrones was filmed.
New series planned in 2024 featuring Chinese pirates collabarating with Tyion Lannister to overthrow Queen Daenerys.
Day 4 (24 Sep) Airbnb Barcelona
- Parc Guell
- La Roca Village Outlet
Parc Guell
Parc Guell is located north of Barcelona city and sits atop Carmel Hill, which provides a panaromic view of the city.
It was the home of Count Eusebi Guell, who commissioned Gaudi, to build a park within a natural park, amidst the homes of the very wealthy Catalans in the early 20th century.
Day 5 (25 Sep) Airbnb Avignon
- Train to Avignon
- Avignon Airbnb apartment is within Papal grounds of Palais de Papes
- Pont d’Avignon
Avignon Palais des Papes
Palais des Papes is the largest gothic medieval palace in the world and was home of 11 popes when Pope Clement V relocated the papacy from Rome to Avignon.
Located along the Rhone river is the iconic Saint Benezet bridge or more popularly known as the Pont d’Avignon.
It was surreal to live on the grounds of the Palais des Papes in a very tastefully renovated apartment.
Day 6 (26 Sep) Airbnb Avignon
- Collect Rental Car
- Pont du Gard
- Arles
- Nimes
Pont du Gard in Nimes
Constructed in the 1st century AD, Pont du Gard is a giant bridge-aquaduct to carry water over River Gard to the colony of Nimes.
It is a must see and truly a global heirloom for future generations to appreciate and marvel at the resourcefulness of the Romans.
Day 7 (27 Sep) Airbnb Avignon
- Gordes
- Loumarin
- Rousillon
- Saignon
Gordes
Gordes is possibly one of the most beautiful villages in France & has an awesome view of the Luberon Valley.
Go in mid morning is best as the street market opens up with wide variety of local produce and there is certainly a buzz.
Day 8 (28 Sep) Airbnb Avignon
- Chateauneuf-du-pape
- Return rental car
The Le Verger des Papes at Châteauneuf-du-Pape serves delicious French cuisine at their Castle Terrace.
The panaromic view was awesome and I will make a footnote to return.
The bonus is the actual castle itself which has a majestic dining room & a wine cellar cherished by the Connoisseurs.
Chocolaterie Castelain in Avignon is just 15km north of Avignon Palais de Papes & is a great gem and must go.
Famous for their chocolates, a real treat beckons when paired with their locally grown wines!
Day 9 (29 Sep) Airbnb Lausanne
- Train to Lausanne
- Check-in to Airbnb Apartment in Lausanne
- Lausanne
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is the largest body of water in Switzerland and shared between France (in the south) and Switzerland (in the north).
Lausanne aka the Olympic Capital of the World and Geneva, the global hub of diploamcy, can be found on the northern shores of Lake Geneva.
Day 10 (30 Sep) Airbnb Lausanne
- Collect Rental Car
- Montreux
- Chamonix
Chillon began as a Roman outpost, guarding the strategic road through the Alpine passes.
Built around 1150, Chillon Castle is a must see as it is located at the far eastern end of Lake Geneva & is just opposite Fort de Chillon, a former military site designed for the defence of Switzerland.
Day 11 (1 Oct) Airbnb Lausanne
- Gruyeres
- Bern
- Return Rental Car
Zytglogge
Zytglogge is a landmark medieval clock tower in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
Some say it is The Clock that changed the meaning of Time.
Day 12 (2 Oct) Airbnb Wilderswil
- Train to Wilderswil
- Airbnb apartment at Wilderswil
- Interlaken
- Harder Kulm
At 1322 m above sea level, the Harder Kulm – the nearest mountain to Interlaken – promises overwhelming views of Interlaken and the peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
The picturesque Panaroma Restaurant of Harder Kulm occupies a magnificient position as it comines fantastic views, delicious food & easy access from Interlaken.
Day 13 (3 Oct) Airbnb Wilderswil
- Jungfrauroch
Jungfrauroch
The Jungfraujoch is a saddle connecting two major 4000ers of the Bernese Alps: the Jungfrau and the Mönch.
Jungfraujoch is the location of the highest train station in Europe.
To get to Jungfrauroch, travel by train or gondolas via Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.
The journey is as memorable as the destination.
Day 14 (4 Oct) Airbnb Wilderswil
- Lauterbrunnen
- Wengen
- Mannlichen
- Grindelwald
Wengen
Wengen is one of the most beautiful villages not only in the Jungfrau Region but in all of Switzerland.
It is a totally unmissable place to be, especially since you can see the best view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is situated in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks.
It is a small Swiss village eesponsible for the inspiration behind Rivendell in J.R.R Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings“.
Day 15 (5 Oct) Airbnb Geneva
- Train to Geneva
- Return flight to Singapore
Alpenrose Garden Hotel Wilderswil
Belinda & I stayed at Alpenrose in 2016, which is a traditional Swiss Hotel, located just 200m from the Wilderswil Railway Terminal.
The hotel is just 600m north of the Airbnb Apartment we booked in Autumn of 2022.
This was our last picture stop before taking the train to Geneva for our return flight to Singapore.
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