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Dangling Slowly and Silently Past Europe’s Tallest Mountain

The My Way Alpine Europe tour I’m leading includes plenty of free time to ride high-mountain lifts — as you’ll see in this two-part, Alp-happy video. With the help of a three-mile-long cable, we glide slowly, dangling silently over the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) from France’s Aiguille du Midi (high above Chamonix) to Helbronner Point, the border of Italy, on Europe’s highest lift. Then we celebrate the view from Helbronner Point…looking down on the Alps of Italy, Switzerland, and France.

This is Day 64 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more right here on my travel blog.

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At Europe’s Rooftop, the Aiguille du Midi

The My Way Alpine Europe tour I’m leading continues to brave new heights. Here in France, the Aiguille du Midi caps a rock needle high above the alpine resort of Chamonix and just across from Mont Blanc. At 12,602 feet above sea level, the air is thin, people are giddy, and even though the sun’s out, it’s still bitter cold in July. This video clip takes you there. (And tomorrow’s clip takes us over the mountain by gondola into Italy.)

This is Day 63 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more right here on my travel blog.

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Tour Member DJ Party Party

On the My Way Alpine Europe Tour I’m currently leading, my assistant, Trish Feaster, is sharing a few of her guiding tricks — like her (now famous among our guides) “Tour Member DJ Party Party.” During a particularly flat stretch of autobahn, volunteers from the group share their smartphones with their favorite tunes. Here, Dave — who’s the dad in a three-generation family of eight on our tour — plays the family favorite from Aladdin. (Daughter Anna clearly loves this tune.) Notice how comfy our tour buses are — 26 people sharing 54 seats; a high, smooth ride; a wonderful driver (Hilde); and great sound.

Trish also filmed and edited these clips. She’s blogging about our tour at her website, The Travelphile.

This is Day 62 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I lead tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more right here on my travel blog.

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Biking to Fairy-Tale Castles and Thermal Spas in Bavaria

The sun is setting on the foothills of the Alps. Overseeing vast meadows with tiny lanes and lazy cows is the fairy-tale castle of “Mad” King Ludwig of Bavaria (Neuschwanstein). Having borrowed a bike from my hotel, I just soaked my imagination in that Romantic king’s fantasy-come-true…and then soaked my body in a classic German spa (the Königliche Kristall-Therme) that enjoys a poolside view as grand as Ludwig’s — or even better, considering it includes his inspiring castle. Biking through the fields, relaxed as Gumby and reviewing the memories of the day, I savor that moment when the setting sun warms up all the colors and the newly cut hay fills the air with a sweet and fertile humidity. Coasting home into my village, it occurs to me that the Alps — which arc from Vienna to Marseilles — are a symphony of experiences that can endlessly delight lovers of culture, history, and nature. They certainly have for me.

This is Day 61 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I lead tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more right here on my travel blog.