MB European Delivery Program – An Adventure on Wheels
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Well, that's too bad. I've read many great experiences shared by those who took BMW ED. Might want to search for those trip reports and perhaps ....
FlightNurse had posted one two years ago in this forum. Check it out.
#48
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MidCal
Programs: UA MM 1K, UC, Lifetime HH Diamond, Avis President’s Club
Posts: 353
Allset2travel First off, what a trip report! What a great read! Second, These photos are simply stunning! Would would you kindly share what equipment you use? Are you a professional?
Lastly, I cannot wait to show Mrs. Glasman your photos of the Lauterbrunnen area. We leave next week staying at the Hotel Siberhorn where my daughters will be skydiving as a celebration of my youngest graduation from College. Did you make it up to PizGloria? If so is it worth it?
We have completed 4 ED's. No other way to purchase a car. Sorry we are BMW fanatics.
Lastly, I cannot wait to show Mrs. Glasman your photos of the Lauterbrunnen area. We leave next week staying at the Hotel Siberhorn where my daughters will be skydiving as a celebration of my youngest graduation from College. Did you make it up to PizGloria? If so is it worth it?
We have completed 4 ED's. No other way to purchase a car. Sorry we are BMW fanatics.
Last edited by glasman19; May 18, 2017 at 7:19 pm
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Thanks.
I used Nikon D750 with 28mm-300mm zoom lens + 50mm prime. Filters are ND and PLD. plus Canon G7x. Always shoot in RAW with a little post process in LR.
I frequently use bracketed shots (at least 5), with 1 stop difference from each. post process into HDR.
For panos, I use 5 to 9 vertical shots, hand held. Stitch together in LR.
Sometime I shoot with Nikon D90, mainly with 300mm to get effective 450mm, due to cropped format.
So, no big secrets. Hope this helps.
I used Nikon D750 with 28mm-300mm zoom lens + 50mm prime. Filters are ND and PLD. plus Canon G7x. Always shoot in RAW with a little post process in LR.
I frequently use bracketed shots (at least 5), with 1 stop difference from each. post process into HDR.
For panos, I use 5 to 9 vertical shots, hand held. Stitch together in LR.
Sometime I shoot with Nikon D90, mainly with 300mm to get effective 450mm, due to cropped format.
So, no big secrets. Hope this helps.
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Allset2travel First off, what a trip report! What a great read! Second, These photos are simply stunning! Would would you kindly share what equipment you use? Are you a professional?
Lastly, I cannot wait to show Mrs. Glasman your photos of the Lauterbrunnen area. We leave next week staying at the Hotel Siberhorn where my daughters will be skydiving as a celebration of my youngest graduation from College. Did you make it up to PizGloria? If so is it worth it?
We have completed 4 ED's. No other way to purchase a car. Sorry we are BMW fanatics.
Lastly, I cannot wait to show Mrs. Glasman your photos of the Lauterbrunnen area. We leave next week staying at the Hotel Siberhorn where my daughters will be skydiving as a celebration of my youngest graduation from College. Did you make it up to PizGloria? If so is it worth it?
We have completed 4 ED's. No other way to purchase a car. Sorry we are BMW fanatics.
I did make it PizGloria, and I regretted it. We ran out of time. I hear it id fantastic! Hope you don't miss it.
Skydiving sound like fun. Wish you guys enjoy your trip.
Congrats for being a veteran of Bimmer ED.^
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Part 13 Lauterbrunnen and Murren
We re-visited Lauterbrunnen early morning by hiking around the village. In addition, we also drove around the village to do more exploration.
Lauterbrunnen: The sun was bright and temperature warm
Lauterbrunnen Valley
Since we had planned to do a late lunch in Murren, we dropped off the car and walked to the Lauterbrunnen train station. Next to the station, we hopped on the Lauterbrunnen-Grutschelp cable car to Grutschelp, and transferred to the BLM mountain train. Voila, within an hour, we were there.
Mürren is a traditional Walser mountain village in Bernese Oberland, at an elevation of 1,638m (5,374 ft.) above sea level. Nowhere else is the view of the imposing summits of Eiger, Monch and Jungfaru more incredible! Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this mountain village with its traditional chalets. As a car-free sun terrace, Mürren is heaven for hikers and adventure seekers. We sure enjoyed the visit!
Murren: Wow, what a view!
Murren: More nice views!
Murren: The rustic village
Murren: The view
By now we were famished. With no particular preference other than some place with a nice view (no that hard to find here), we sat down and ordered our food. My meat ball looked more like a thick hamburger, but it was delicious. The salad was fresh.
Murren: Late lunch in Murren
We walked some more, pretty much went through the entire village along the main drag. Then back to the train station. Our return trip was uneventful, but more crowded.
Next up: Revisit of Wenger, Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald-First Gondola. Photo of Grindelwald
Lauterbrunnen: The sun was bright and temperature warm
Lauterbrunnen Valley
Since we had planned to do a late lunch in Murren, we dropped off the car and walked to the Lauterbrunnen train station. Next to the station, we hopped on the Lauterbrunnen-Grutschelp cable car to Grutschelp, and transferred to the BLM mountain train. Voila, within an hour, we were there.
Mürren is a traditional Walser mountain village in Bernese Oberland, at an elevation of 1,638m (5,374 ft.) above sea level. Nowhere else is the view of the imposing summits of Eiger, Monch and Jungfaru more incredible! Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this mountain village with its traditional chalets. As a car-free sun terrace, Mürren is heaven for hikers and adventure seekers. We sure enjoyed the visit!
Murren: Wow, what a view!
Murren: More nice views!
Murren: The rustic village
Murren: The view
By now we were famished. With no particular preference other than some place with a nice view (no that hard to find here), we sat down and ordered our food. My meat ball looked more like a thick hamburger, but it was delicious. The salad was fresh.
Murren: Late lunch in Murren
We walked some more, pretty much went through the entire village along the main drag. Then back to the train station. Our return trip was uneventful, but more crowded.
Next up: Revisit of Wenger, Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald-First Gondola. Photo of Grindelwald
#55
#56
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
Great trip report and photos! It brought back some wonderful memories of my MB European Delivery experience in June, 2010. I purchased an E350 Cabriolet, in red no less. It stood out like a "sore thumb" when viewing the 30, or so, silver, and black, other vehicles due for pickup that day. I kept my license plate and it is now "displayed" on the front of my 350. It begins with "BB."
The lunch was wonderful and, like yourselves, didn't use up all of my voucher. So, they gave me a few bottles of wine to "take with!"
I then drove to Mulhouse to visit friends near there and, on a short stretch of the autobahn enroute, was able to reach a speed of 210km/hr. And was still passed by a Porsche!
Following my stay in Alsace, I drove to Paris to meet my wife and friends. Unfortunately, I wasn't watching my speed close enough and was pulled over by mobile radar for doing 165km/hr in a 130km/hr zone. Following a visit at the nearest gendarmarie, much to my surprise, I was only fined 45 Euros. I was told that they allow 15Km/hr over the limit, so my ultimate fine was for 20 over.
Finally, the organ at the cathedral at Passau is, indeed, the largest functioning church pipe organ. There are larger instruments in the US: the Wanamaker at Macy's dept. store in Philadelphia, and the Atlantic City Convention Center instrument. But, these are, of course, not church organs, and the latter is not fully functioning.
The lunch was wonderful and, like yourselves, didn't use up all of my voucher. So, they gave me a few bottles of wine to "take with!"
I then drove to Mulhouse to visit friends near there and, on a short stretch of the autobahn enroute, was able to reach a speed of 210km/hr. And was still passed by a Porsche!
Following my stay in Alsace, I drove to Paris to meet my wife and friends. Unfortunately, I wasn't watching my speed close enough and was pulled over by mobile radar for doing 165km/hr in a 130km/hr zone. Following a visit at the nearest gendarmarie, much to my surprise, I was only fined 45 Euros. I was told that they allow 15Km/hr over the limit, so my ultimate fine was for 20 over.
Finally, the organ at the cathedral at Passau is, indeed, the largest functioning church pipe organ. There are larger instruments in the US: the Wanamaker at Macy's dept. store in Philadelphia, and the Atlantic City Convention Center instrument. But, these are, of course, not church organs, and the latter is not fully functioning.
4 over is a bit harsh !!!!
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Part 14 Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg and Gridnelwald
This was the last full day here in Berner Oberland. We went back to Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald again.
In Wengen, we hiked through the village searching for a vantage point for some panoramic shots of the Lauterbrunnen valley. Some part of this village is quite hilly. I saw many tourists pulling their luggage up and down the street to get to their hotels or B&B. Wengen, like Murren is a car-free village.
It was a good hike, mostly downhill toward the lower side of the village where I found a spot to shoot this photo.
Panoramic view of Lauterbrunnen Valley from Wengen
Returned back to the Wengen train station. Sat down for a cup of coffee while waiting for the next train to Kleine Scheidegg.
Kleine Scheidegg: Hiking trail
Kleine Scheidegg: Hiking trail
The train coming down the mountain from Jungfraujoch
Kleine Scheidegg: Restaurant
Did not hang around KS for too long before we hopped on the train for Grindelwald. From here, the entire route is heading downhill.
After arrival by train, we strolled around this rather large Alpine village of Grindelwald quite a bit. We took the Grindelwald-First gondola (aka Firstbahn) to the top to take in more alpine views.
Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First
Really enjoyed the time here! We took the last gondola down. The weather soon turned from sunny to cloudiness to rain all within an hour.
We were not prepared for the rain, so we quickly returned to the train station. We wrapped up the day at Grindelwald and took the train first to Interlaken (in hope that the rain would stop, then we would do dinner there, but no such luck) then home back to Lauterbrunnen.
Next up: Thun and Zurich
Zurich
In Wengen, we hiked through the village searching for a vantage point for some panoramic shots of the Lauterbrunnen valley. Some part of this village is quite hilly. I saw many tourists pulling their luggage up and down the street to get to their hotels or B&B. Wengen, like Murren is a car-free village.
It was a good hike, mostly downhill toward the lower side of the village where I found a spot to shoot this photo.
Panoramic view of Lauterbrunnen Valley from Wengen
Returned back to the Wengen train station. Sat down for a cup of coffee while waiting for the next train to Kleine Scheidegg.
Kleine Scheidegg: Hiking trail
Kleine Scheidegg: Hiking trail
The train coming down the mountain from Jungfraujoch
Kleine Scheidegg: Restaurant
Did not hang around KS for too long before we hopped on the train for Grindelwald. From here, the entire route is heading downhill.
After arrival by train, we strolled around this rather large Alpine village of Grindelwald quite a bit. We took the Grindelwald-First gondola (aka Firstbahn) to the top to take in more alpine views.
Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First
Really enjoyed the time here! We took the last gondola down. The weather soon turned from sunny to cloudiness to rain all within an hour.
We were not prepared for the rain, so we quickly returned to the train station. We wrapped up the day at Grindelwald and took the train first to Interlaken (in hope that the rain would stop, then we would do dinner there, but no such luck) then home back to Lauterbrunnen.
Next up: Thun and Zurich
Zurich
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Wenger is beautiful, but Murren trumps Wenger, IMHO.
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581