Hal Taussig's Blog (10)

I am unable to celebrate Berit Greutert’s life with those who did so in Sarnen on Thursday



I consider her to be my very best friend—that’s counting all my 85 years. I want to honor her now with those of you who knew her and who also frequent the Untours Café.



Those of you who knew her can testify, Berit spread happiness in the wake of every path she walked, a happiness that was a profound version of fun. Berit and I had carloads of fun on day-trips together. I wish to… Continue

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I and Brian Taussig Lux, my nephew and the COO of Untours recently traveled together for ten days in Europe staying in two of our Untour locations: the Rhine and Vienna. The biking video featured here took place the very day after our arrival in the charming town of Kaub. We rented bikes from a hotel just steps away from our apartment. I knew that… Continue

One of the early Untourists to stay in Margrit's apartment was a certain Jim Cashman. Mr. Cashman, who, it happens, owned the Cadillac agency

in Reno, Nevada asked me what the family did to earn a living. I explained that

they had a number of sources of income but that the family saw themselves as

"farmers." They sold their cows' milk

(and cheese made from it); and sometimes they slaughtered a calf or a cow,

selling and eating the meat.



"How many cows do they… Continue

So, Margrit, and about fifteen other landladies agreed to rent their properties to me for almost the entire 1976 tourist season

(late May to mid-September). I was over-confident about the prospect of finding

enough clients to fill these facilities; in fact found clients for only about

1/3 of the space reserved. Aware that I had not met my obligations, I went to

each apartment-owner agreeing to pay the full amount, but bargaining

(successful in all cases but one) for… Continue

I'd like to start a little mini-series of blog posts about our the Untours staff people you meet when you are on site in European countries. . Since I've recently returned from two weeks in Switzerland I begin by musing about our one full-time European colleague. We have about 55 part-time (full time equivalent 25) staff in Europe.

When I took the original six Untour guinea pigs to Meiringen, Switzerland in September, 1975, I stayed…

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Ellen Peter's pictures of Alphorns moves me to muse about this Swiss Alpine instrument. First of all just a bit of background information. The alps (small "a") is not the Swiss word for mountains;

it rather refers to the high meadows where the farmers take their cows to graze during the summer.

On these meadows, huts are… Continue

This discussion about exchange students reminds me that there would be no Untours if it weren't for the fact that, in 1963-64, our family hosted an exchange student, a certain Hartmut Helmchen, a high school student from Berlin who lived with our family for a year--the same year that the person who dreamed up"Untours Café,"

my daughter Marilee, was in the 5th grade.

Some of you may know about Jane Helmchen,Hartmut's…

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This discussion about exchange students reminds me that there would be no Untours if it weren't for the fact that, in 1963-64, our family hosted an exchange student. A certain Hartmut Helmchen, a high school

student from Berlin literally became part of our family for a year--the year that the

person who dreamed up”Untours Café,” my daughter Marilee, was in the 5th grade.

Some of you may know about Jane Helmchen,

Hartmut’s…

Continue

Doris M's pictures and text of Alsace constitute the final bit of evidence--as if we needed it--that Untours Cafe constitutes a unique format for travel reports.



Speaking personally, her combination of skillful writing and photography have brought me to a decision: my absence from this part of Europe is no longer tolerable. ( I think it's been four years since my last visit.) The way village life merges with rural landscape is unequaled in any area of Europe--perhaps the world.… Continue

El Kover and her husband Bill, some well-loved Untourists, recently spent a couple of days in Media, PA where our offices are. We had invited them to come to witness The Today Show filming (which we need not discuss in this space.) Rather today, I want to thank El for being such an observant and thoughtful person. On her first visit to our house she noticed the clothesline

running from our second floor balcony. Later she showed up with two…

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