Hello I’m continuing my stroll from Slovakia across Europe and hopefully I’ll reach Le Puy-en-Velay in France to connect with my previous walks to Compostela. I stopped in Rapperswil last year and this year I’m starting in Konstanz on the Rhine. Konstanz is a traditional starting point for pilgrims heading to Spain.
Konstanz is in Germany. The Rhine flows through town but the German border grabs the whole city ensuring citizens pay high German taxes. The Swiss/German border is full of anomalies. Rather than following the Rhine, it ignores obvious physical features and instead maps out medieval prejudices. Look at nearby Büsingen am Hochrhein which is German but wholly within Switzerland. It’s not in the EU but has a trade deal which was probably negotiated one morning. There’s a pub where you can buy your beer at the bar in Switzerland and take it into the garden in Germany. And then nip back to Switzerland for the next round.
Anyway, after a riotous night in Germany I’ll soon reach Switzerland tomorrow morning. It was a rather lonely walk last year but I’m off to a good start because I’ve got company for a few days. Paul & I met Eveline and Beat on St Martha’s Hill on the second day of our walk to Rome. They walked the whole of the E2 from Scotland to Nice and they live in Switzerland. We were going to walk last year but I changed my plans so I’m glad it’s all worked out now.
We’ll reach Rapperswil in a few days, en route to Geneva and then France. But first I’m off to Germany
Pilgrimage 
All the best for your latest adventure Tim, looking forward to following your travelogue in real time. Or are you using AI to write it this year?
AI would make sense. There would be more useful information about the walk and I could sit at home instead
Nothing beats your narrative Tim and I love the idea that you order a beer in Switzerland and drink it in Germany. We are sitting in a brewery in York drinking ‘black sheep’ beer and reading your first blog – nothing better👍🍺
Thanks Nick. I wonder if there’s a pub where you order in Germany and drink in Switzerland. Much cheaper! Enjoy York
Enjoy your walk Tim – what is the distance you will be walking between Konstanz and Le Puy-en-Velay?
Hi David, it’s around 800 Km to Le Puy, perhaps 36 stages but I may continue down the Stevenson Trail if I feel like I need a bit more
Ah – being an hopeless romantic the Stevenson Trail has been on my list of trails to walk one day, so I hope when you reach Le Puy you will continue on!
Fortunately Avis are out of donkeys
Good luck.
Cheers!
Have a great walk Tim! Peter and I are in Paris having completed the second half of the Le Puy route from Moissac to St Jean this month and we fly home tomorrow. We’re counting on your superb photos and blog to help us overcome the pangs of regret at not being able to keep walking! Ultreia, Philippa T.
Hi Philippa, that’s a gorgeous walk down to St Jean. I hope this will be good
Tim, wonderful to know you’re on the road again. Your blogs are always interesting, informative and amusing. Kia Kaha, Vicky
Hi Tim, delighted to read that you’re back on the road. Your blogs are always informative, interesting and amusing. I look forward to my daily dose. Kia kaha, Vicky
Hi Vicky, welcome back! I also look forward to reading your comments
Hi Tim
Enjoy the walk with good company and forget about Chelsea for a few weeks/years. You don’t want to hear about todays misery! Looking forward to more of the epic travelogue.
Yes, more misery at Old Trafford. Two years after winning the Champions League we can’t even qualify for the Europa conference games. On a positive note, it’s easy to buy a ticket at Stamford Bridge
Happy you have returned, buona Fortuna
Hello Walkmag, thanks and I hope so.
Glad to be reading your blog once again, have a great walk!
Yep, back on the road again
Yay, yay, yay! 🎉
Another Tim Adventure to relish each day…& I’m not late to the party this time (although too to partake in multi-national drinkies 🍻 it would seem… 🤭). Lovely to see your usual cheer squad names onboard again.
Happy trails dear Tim…& safe ones!
Always love seeing your comments, Karen. I think I’m ready to start now
ティムさん！
You are on the truck again. Really looking forward to be there in spirit and enjoy the journey. All the best😊がんばってください
Thank you みゆき先生, great to hear from you. My Japanese is evaporating!