Erlach, Switzerland 8/13
With most of the country on vacation, the chance of finding a campground with any vacancies on one of the biggest holidays in the country was slim and none. In fact, most Swiss campgrounds are not really open for one or two nighters. They are full of small and medium size travel trailers that have been converted to nearly permanent vacation homes, with ad-on screened sun rooms, snow roofs and storage sheds. There might be a tent spot, but at 60 CHF ($65.20), it’s a joke.
After scouting near the town of Erlach on Lake Biel for other possibilities, we found a large parking lot just a 5-minute walk from a nice public beach on the lake with a little bar/café, internet, clean restrooms and even showers. $10 for each 24-hour stay was a good deal, since we needed no hookups. It was a good place to spend a couple of days and enjoy the Swiss National Independence Holiday, (sort of like the 4th of July in the US), and do some serious relaxing. The night of August 1st was full of firework displays, bonfires, music and partying until after midnight.
The setting on Lake Biel with the snow capped Swiss Alps in the background was a postcard setting.
We hiked to the island of St. Peter (actually a peninsula) and returned to Erlach via boat.
Monika is sporting a real “Swissy” T-shirt in honor of August 1, the National Independence Day.
The medieval town of Erlach, (founded in 1274), was a grand place to celebrate the Swiss National Holiday.
How many cows drank out of THIS fountain?
Modern art in front of the village school next to the castle.
The castle tower of Erlach was founded around 1100.
The public beach of Vinelz just a 5-minute walk from our campsite/public parking area was just what we needed to relax a bit.
The clean beach and refreshing cool but not too cold water was perfect for a morning swim.
Sergio Miranda owns the little bar and café at the beach in neighboring Vinelz. He also offers showers and Wi-Fi Internet.
With most of the country on vacation, the chance of finding a campground with any vacancies on one of the biggest… http://t.co/hAz8b9cWce