Hello everyone,
I have caught up and posted all my photos. I am under pressure to finish everything...
I am now packing up the 2 boxes I brought with me (I didn't buy many things while I was here - not surprising - I had no time to actually shop!). Tomorrow, I am whipping the apartment into shape for the next expat (yes, they already rented my apartment for July 1st). Monday drop the boxes off at work for shipping, and move into the hotel for 2 nights. I also have to de-register at city hall, turn over the keys to the relocation person Tuesday morning and then the car. Then there is a last minute dinner with a colleague and Wednesday, flying home. Few days to recover and back into the office Monday, July 6th.
I am back to Venlo August 10th for about 2+ months to introduce my replacement to his new job. Once I settle in back home, I need to figure out what I will do here for 2+ months besides work. There are some places I did not get to which I wanted to such as:
1. Cologne, Germany
2. The gardens at Palais Het Loo (I went here but it was winter and no access to gardens)
3. London? Barcelona? Prague? (though I would need to take a few days off here)
4. We are going back to Munich on business in September so who knows what else is there to do here?
5. Zurich...
I am planning to return to Slovenia - I have to nail down the dates but it is most likely mid October. Actual vacation time :-) By the time I get back home, it will be November and then its Christmas - Wow!!!
So I am signing off for now....Back in action after August 10th.
Ciao,
Mary
MM European Adventure 2015
Saturday 27 June 2015
Day 2 of Rhine - Lorch, Bacharach, and Gran Sasso
Stahleck Castle |
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was a toll castle on the Falkenau island, otherwise known as Pfalz Island in the Rhine river near the town of Kaub. It was built in 1327.
Pfalz |
Gutenfels Castle in Kaub |
Another view of the Rhine |
Schonburg Castle (It's a hotel and restaurant today) |
Marksburg Castle (Was once a prison) It has never been destroyed - its original |
Dining room in the hotel where Dad and I had lunch |
If the weather was nicer, we would have ventured out to the deck.. |
This was a painted wall on the deck |
Another wall... |
Another wall... |
Katz Castle from the deck of the restaurant |
Town of St. Goars-Hausen |
Then it started pouring rain just as we near the Lorelei rock, the most famous feature on the Rhine river.
Then we continued onto Oberwesel....
Church in Oberwesel |
Ox Tower as you enter the town of Oberwesel |
We arrived home around 5:30pm after a wet, soggy afternoon. As it was Father's Day, I asked Dad what type of food he wanted and he said Italian so we went to a little teeny restaurant in Bingen called Gran Sasso. It was very small with about 8 tables but the food was all homemade. Dad had spaghetti Bolognes and I had a pizza and brushetta. Wonderful! We then headed back to the hotel around 8:30pm and this was the view from my room window...
Fabulous colors! The camera doesn't do it justice. |
Day 2 on the Rhine - Rudestein and Mouse Tower
After we came down the mountain top from the Niederwalddenkmal, we dropped into Rudisheim, the town and I took a few photos of the Bromserburg Castle. It was built around 1000 AD and today, it is a wine and local history museum.
Then we drove towards the town of Assmannshausen but before we arrive there, we drive pasted the Ehrenfels Castle ruins and the Mouse Tower which was under scaffold and restoration.
Bromserburg Castle |
Gardens at the Castle |
Directly next to the Bromserburg Castle, you can find the Boosenburg Castle. All that remains is the tower built in 12th century, however a large manor home is attached to it in 1900s.
Boosenburg Castle tower |
View opposite the Boosenburg |
Then we drove towards the town of Assmannshausen but before we arrive there, we drive pasted the Ehrenfels Castle ruins and the Mouse Tower which was under scaffold and restoration.
Mouse Tower |
On the middle Rhine, we found castles and towns every few minutes. Hard to believe but this entire area of the Rhine was extremely active with trade and a major waterway through history. The rich robber barrens built their castles and these were later destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed...you get the idea.
Rheinstein Castle |
Reichenstein Castle |
Sooneck Castle |
Day 2 on the Rhine - the Niederwalddenkmal
Now it is Sunday morning and the weather is not very good at all. It is extremely dark and cloudy, so Dad and I decided to not do the river cruise and I am so glad we decided not to. Instead we drove the car to Rudesheim and headed north on the east bank of the Rhine. It took us about an hour to get to our first destination and Dad kept asking me what we were going to see and why we were driving through the "bush" of Germany (didn't want to tell him it was actually a park :-)). I told him that he would see lots of great things today and to just enjoy!
Our first stop was ...Niederwalddenkmal. What is that? It's a 125 foot monument overlooking the town of Bingen and Rudesheim up on the top of the mountain range. It was built in 1883 and is now a UNESCO site. It is made up of 3 statues - 1 Germania on top, 1 angel of war and 1 angel of peace. Guess what? - Dad was impressed...
Because I have so many photos of the 2nd day in the Rhine, I will send numerous posts....
Our first stop was ...Niederwalddenkmal. What is that? It's a 125 foot monument overlooking the town of Bingen and Rudesheim up on the top of the mountain range. It was built in 1883 and is now a UNESCO site. It is made up of 3 statues - 1 Germania on top, 1 angel of war and 1 angel of peace. Guess what? - Dad was impressed...
Angel of War |
Angel of Peace |
At the base of the monument |
The Germania at the top |
"So what do you think Dad?" |
A selfie... |
View of Bingen from the monument (a grey day) |
Because I have so many photos of the 2nd day in the Rhine, I will send numerous posts....
Rhine River Valley in Germany
Dad and I left Saturday, June 20th around 11am and after a quick trip to the bank, headed out for our Rhine River adventure. Cloudy and overcast, we drove out to Bingen, where we would be staying. It's a small town about the middle of the Rhine valley in Germany. We arrived to our hotel around 4pm. It took us so long to get here as we detoured through the German countryside abit to Maria Laach, the volcanic lake area. I was rather disappointed as it was impossible to get a photo of the lake. It is fully surrounded by extremely tall trees and you had to walk quite a distance to get near it.
Once in Bingen, we were a bit tired from all the driving and just checked into our hotel. Dad wanted a nap before dinner so I left him in his room but I decided to scout around for the visitors information centre and drive around town. As always, these centres are very helpful and have many things to see. When I returned to my hotel room, I looked out the window and saw this view...
We had a dinner in the hotel then made an early evening of it. Next morning, we were out the door at 9am after breakfast.
Once in Bingen, we were a bit tired from all the driving and just checked into our hotel. Dad wanted a nap before dinner so I left him in his room but I decided to scout around for the visitors information centre and drive around town. As always, these centres are very helpful and have many things to see. When I returned to my hotel room, I looked out the window and saw this view...
Ruine Ehrenfels (Castle ruins) |
Vineyards on the mountainside overlooking the Rhine |
What a view |
Dad and I having dinner in the hotel NH Bingen |
We had a dinner in the hotel then made an early evening of it. Next morning, we were out the door at 9am after breakfast.
Friday 26 June 2015
Slovenia - Trsk Gora and the final day
What a view. |
The vineyard with a view |
Left to right - Frank, Martina, Natasha (Dusan's wife), Joe, Anna, and Dad |
Vines on the patio at the vineyard |
My cousin, Dusan on the patio overlooking the vineyard |
Pork with swiss cheese and procuitto in the centre |
Greek salad |
Roasted potatoes |
Homemade bread |
Pork ribs with stuffing |
A light cake for dessert |
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