Saturday 05 June Nauders - Strasbourg

I load the main cases at 06:45 before having breakfast at 07:00.
We have a good day ahead with an excellent forecast and some lovely places to visit.
Just before we leave I arrange for the group photo to be taken in front of the coach which is parked outside of the hotel entrance.
Charly and Christl join us and gthen Charly produces a camera to take his own picture of the group. he only problem is that his batteries in the camera have run out of power so we have to wait while he rushes off to find fresh batteries!
It is always sad to leave the Hotel Hochland behind as it is always a delight to stay here.
Charly has to be one of the nicest men I have ever met and along with Christl and his girls one of the lovliest families. I can't wait to return as soon as possible.
We leave Nauders bathed in early morning sunshine and the surrounding mountains look absolutely magnificent with the sun glinting off the snow capped peaks. What a picture.
Our first stop today is at a lovely service area just before the Swiss border, about two hours from Nauders.
These sevices really do show our motorway stops up, with fresh food and smiling helpful staff, we could learn a lot.
A lot of the passengers buy made up rolls for their lunch while I just enjoy a small espresso coffee. I am also given a €5 voucher to spend in the shop to be used by the end of June. I will not be back this way before then so decide to put it towards a model coach to add to my collection in the shop.
We leave here and cross into Switzerland and make our way to Scaffhausen and the magnificent Rhine Falls.
This is the best time to see them as the snow from the mountains will melt and swell Lake Constance which in turn will push more water into the Rhine and over the falls.
Being such a bright sunny day only enhances the view. Stunning.
There are literally hundreds of Indian people milling about eating their lunch of curry and rice from plastic containers. I found out later that they are all on holiday on coaches and a van follows them around supplying meals. They even cater for themselves in the hotels with the food van running ahead and preparing Indian meals in a room in their chosen hotel.
I think this rather defeats the object of going to other countries and ejoying different sights and food. If I went to India I would enjoy, and expect, a curry each night but if I'm in Switzerland I want to eat what they eat.
Mind you, you can't beat a decent Ruby and the smells coming from the dishes are pretty good.
From here we cross the border into Germany, after paying €38 in tax for the privelage, and drive through part of the Black Forest.
It is very quiet with very few people about that gives off a very pleasant and sleepy atmosphere. The scenery is more gentle than stunning but no less beautiful and the villages very picturesque.
We stop this afternoon in of Titisee, a popular resort on the banks of a lake with the same name.
Now I know why the villages we passed through are so quiet, everybody is here! It is heaving with folk all enjoying the afternoon sun with an ice cream and a smile. Doesn't the world seem a happier place when the sun is shining.
We are away from Titisee at 16:30 and arrive at our overnight hotel in Strasbourg by 18:00.
We are staying in France on the outskirts of Strasbourg in a Mercure hotel hat is ideal for an overnight hotel. The rooms are comfortable, the food nice, we are close to the motorway and I can park the coach in the grounds of the hotel.
We are having dinner at 19:15 which leaves enough time for a nice cold beer before dinner.
Imagine my surprise when I'm told that the bar is closed and won't be opening. I am not too impressed by this nor are the passengers who have come down early to enjoy a drink before dinner.
I make my feelings known but the restaurant manager is adamant the bar is staying closed. I really do not like this as we are in the middle of nowhere with no alternative for a bar. How can a 3 star hotel that is surrounded by vineyards and hop fields not serve any drinks on a Saturday evening.
Eventually we are told that if we sit at our dinner tables we shall be served there but not in the bar!
This we do and at last I can enjoy that beer although it is not the same as i now have the raging hump!
Dinner is nice and at the end I go to pay for my beer only to be told the drinks served at dinner will be on the house. The manager seems a little put out that he won't open the bar especially as there are now two other coachloads of thirsty people!
I am amzed at this attitude as he must be costing the hotel hundreds of euro's worth of trade.
After the meal most of the passengers sit outside in the warm evening by the swimming pool. It is the last day of their holiday and new friendships have been made as well as old ones being resumed. As they are sitting there talking it would be lovely to be able to have a glass of beer or wine.
I am really not impressed at all as I go off to bed for an early night.