Experience the Samba Festival in Coburg

Hey peeps! Happy spring time in Europe! I don't know if we are really having spring season because the weather was not really good the past days with snow-rain. 

I am finally back here for a short update. I know I was gone for centuries due to the many offline chores that I need to do everyday. This is it when you are already working. I wish I have more time to blog these days but during my off days, there are also some tasks waiting at home.

Participants of the parade during Coburg's Samba Festival.

Let me share quickly that visit to this city which is known as "Europe's Capital of Samba." For those who love dancing especially samba, this is a great festival for you to visit.

It was last minute decision when me and a friend visited Coburg to witness this festival. I asked my friend if she is available to join me during that trip. She did not hesitated and replied me with a big "YES"! We took the train when we went there. After two hours of journey we finally reached our destination. The atmosphere was lively in the city even though it was raining in July last year. The people still have the appetite to watch the big samba celebration.

Remembering the Happy Moments in Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is a lovely town in the Upper part of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. I visited this town five times already. My first visit was in 2008. It was followed when a friend live there, whose husband was stationed  in the U.S. Base in this area. Sad to say, they already left last year because they went back to the United States.

Chirstmas market in Bamberg, Germany.

I and a friend visited her for the last time in December 2012. It was holiday season and there was a Christmas market going on during our visit. We actually attended a Christmas party hosted by this good friend in Bamberg. She prepared some foods and we even had an overnight in their house. I cannot forget the happy moments  we had that night inspite of the heavy snow. That was a snowy winter. We did some karaoke singing, cracking jokes with each other, shared the delicious foods and simply had fun and enjoy laughing.

Since nobody knows how to play a musical instrument during that Christmas party, we just enjoyed singing karaoke. Talking about musical instruments, I am wondering if you ever heard about cheap seagull the original s6 acoustic guitar? I believed some of you especially those who love to play the guitar have ideas about this musical instrument. It was indeed a fun night and we also had an exchange of gifts.

The next day, we went to the Christmas market in Bamberg. It was still snowing very hard when we were walking around. We also did a sightseeing around  the town seeing some of its historic sights. That was my last visit in Bamberg and I still hope to visit it again this  summer.

Please be informed that Bamberg's historic city center is a listed UNESCO world heritage site.

Window Shopping in Dresden's Altmarkt Galerie

Altmarkt Galerie Dresden.

Christmas market trips were over! I just smile remembering the many trips I did in Europe last holiday season. I am happy because I felt I am  very successful with the many travel achievements I did last 2013. I can't even imagine visiting 23 countries in Europe with its many towns and cities.

Last year, one of the cities I visited was Dresden. It was actually my second visit to this city but I still can't get enough of it. I experienced more sights this time. I am happy to experience their famous Striezelmarkt or Christmas market. During our visit in Dresden, we also went to one of their malls. It is called the Altmarkt Galerie. Known in English as Old Market Gallery, it is located in the interior of the old town , right in the city center of Dresden.   We strolled inside the mall, window shopping for electronics, clothes, winter accessories and more. Since I did not found a hardware store inside, I decided to browse www.reidsupply.com when I returned home from my Dresden trip. I also bought some Christmas presents in the Altmarkt Galerie. We also went to an Asian restaurant inside for lunch. That was a nice day inside the mall.

Inspite of the not-so friendly weather during our visit last December 2013, I still enjoyed my visit because I was geared-out with perfect winter boots, jacket, clothing and winter accessories.

I hope 2014  is starting great to you all! I believed,  I am! I am only positive and hoping for it!

Remembering this Birthday Party in Ramstein, Germany

First of all, I want to greet all American and Canadian friends and to everyone who are currently celebrating thanksgiving day! Happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

I miss seeing some good friends in Ramstein-Miesenbach  this month. They  already left and went back to the United States almost two weeks ago.  If I was not sick that time, I should be meeting them before  they left. I believed they are happy now because they are finally back home.

Sumptuous foods during a friend's birthday party in Ramstein-Miesenbach.

I remember the last time we visited them was during her husband's birthday party. It was around 2 or 3  years now. I should be giving a  Jackson Bass as birthday present but that time, I don't have a budget to buy it. It was a very fun party.  Everyone enjoyed it. They had a lot of visitors and the foods  prepared were really very delicious. What do you think with the picture I took during that birthday party?

We also did some karaoke singing that time. Most of the boys enjoyed drinking beer and liquors at the backyard while cracking jokes and laughing. It was indeed a very memorable party.

I hope one day, I can visit these good friends in the United States. For sure, I will!

I Love the Colorful Autumn in Europe!

Europe is having autumn season at the moment. Did you already turn back your clocks or watches one hour earlier?  I already did it yesterday because it was the day  when we need to change our time one hour earlier. 

The weather might not be so friendly during autumn season but I still love it!  Sometimes, the sky is gray  and sometimes it keeps on raining. Thanks Goodness, we had a lovely weather the past days. Today,  I heard over the news that some parts of Europe were even experiencing storm especially last night in England.

A bridge in our place and the colorful surroundings during autumn time in  Bavaria, Germany.

The colorful surroundings wherein the leaves of the trees turn from green to orange, yellow, brown, red, pink and other colors simply make it beautiful!

Walking way and the  foliage during autumn.

I remember a friend from the US who said that they are also having  fall season in their area. Yes, our US and Canadian  friends  call  Autumn season as Fall season. This is the time of the  year when summer is over. Autumn is the transition  from summer into  winter. During this time, the days are getting shorter and the nights  longer.

For some people, autumn is a the beginning of melancholy. I guess, this is  because the sun seldom shines. I am happy that the sun was shining the past days and still hoping to shine in the coming days.

There is only one thing I can say, no matter what time  of the year  it is, we must savour each day of it and live life to the fullest!

Cheers and have a wonderful autumn or fall season to all who are experiencing it at the moment!

Booked Christmas Market TripS in Germany

I have been to various Christmas markets in Europe. This is one thing I love to visit especially during holiday season. I just find the atmosphere during this event very interesting and exciting.

I did able to experience many Christmas markets in some places in France, England, Austria, Switzerland and Germany and still hoping to visit more...someday!

Last month,  I received a travel catalogue where various trips are offered. I was already looking for some trips and booked one last month, a trip to Tuscany, a region in Italy for a week. You can find my post about it here.

Christmas market in Bamberg, Germany. Taken  last December 2012 during our visit.

 Last week, I finally decided to book a Christmas market trip to some cities in Germany. I need to book it before September 11 to avail of discounts. There were no more seats to the date I wanted which is written in the travel catalogue they sent me. Thank goodness they offered another dates for that 3-day Christmas market trip.

Included in the places to be visited are Dresden, Marienberg, Meissen and Leipzig. I have been to Dresden two years ago but I still want to go back there. This time I will be visiting during cold winter season but that is not a problem for me. I always pass Leipzig everytime I do some trips in that part of the region but I wasn't able to visit its Altstadt or Old City yet. It will also be my first time in Marienberg and Meissen.

I wanted to search for travel information about these places before our trip commence.

Included in that 3-day trip are 3-star hotel accommodation, bus, breakfast and dinner and the trips to these 4 places. I invited some friends for this trip and we availed a discount because we booked it before September 11. I believed this trip for 118.00 Euros is already very cheap considering the many things included on it. For booking it earlier, we received a 50.00 discount per person.  Truly a good deal! I can already buy souvenirs for that money.

My friends are already very excited about this trip and so do I!

Visit to the Christmas Market in Bamberg, Germany

It was my fifth visit in Bamberg this weekend. We were invited by a friend on her early Christmas party. We already planned to visit Ramstein since October this year,  but due to some unavoidable circumstances like  the change of working schedule of my friend and the weather, we ended up attending this party in Bamberg.

Our second purpose why we went there was to see its famous Christmas market. It was really nice despite the chilly winter weather. It was snowing so hard this afternoon but it did not stopped us and all the people there from going around the areas of the  Christmas markets in Bamberg, Germany.

Another thing why I went there was to look for an exciting gibson les paul melody maker. Sad to say, all the shops were closed on Sundays. There is one more thing I would love to experience in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, to witness the world famous Bamberg Symphony. I hope to experience it in my next visit.

The  Christmas market in Bamberg at the Maxplatz, one of the famous squares  in this city. It was snowing so hard during our visit there this afternoon.

 The Christmas Market in Bamberg is unique in its own. With the music of advent and the Route of Nativity Scenes, are only some of the elements that made Bamberg with a special kind of magic.The Christmas market celebration  in this city started last November 29, 2012 and will last until December 23, 2012.

Summer Trip in Insel Mainau in Lake Constance

Do you love plants and flowers like me?  One of the perfect place for you to visit in Germany is Insel Mainau. This beautiful island of Mainau (Insel  means island in English word) is a paradise for me.  During  my first visit last  August 2012, I feel in love with this island. This park and garden  is  truly a great  place  for me  to visit since I really love  flowers.

Mainau is a garden island in Lake Constance, known in German as Bodensee. It is one of the major  tourists attraction in this area. It belong to the Lennart Bernadotte-Stiftung (English: the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation), created by  Prince Lennart, formerly Prince of Sweden and Duke o Smaland.

During our visit, we  had a walk around the island, seeing various  plants and flowers of all kinds including exotic ones. I was truly amazed by the beauty of nature in this island. We also went inside the butterfly garden in the island. There, you can find varieties of butterflies and  information on  the stages of their life development.

The palace in Insel Mainau. There is a church located on the right side of  the palace.

Some of the flowers in the gardens  of  Mainau.
I took all these images during our trip last summer this year.

Having Fun in A German Festival

One of the things I love about Germany is its fairs and festivals. Year round, you can experience a lot of festivals especially during summer. Last spring time, we went to the German-American Volksfest in Hohenfels. I love watching the live bands inside the beer tent . I also love their music instruments.  I am just thinking if they use the  ace frehley budokan custom at musicians friend, they will for sure produce great sounds and music.

There are a lot of things you can experience when going to a German festival.  Live bands, local and international delicacies, carnival rides, German beer of course and other shows and entertainment.

I took a snapshot  snapshot during our visit in this festival last April 2011.

Sights Not to Miss When Visiting Dresden, Germany

Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen), Germany. Due to its rococo and baroque architecture, the city center is called as a Jewel Box. There are a lot of things not to miss when visiting this city.

Frauenkirche

It is also called as the Church of Our Lady, it is considered to be the main historical heart of the city. It was completely destroyed during WWII, and has now been reopened. The City of Coventry, which was raided by the Allied Air Force in WWII, donated the golden cross for the dome of the church.

The historical Frauenkirche in Dresden. such an amazing architecture! taken during our trip last May 2011.

Zwinger Palace

This is the most perfect example of Late Baroque architecture in Germany. It was built in 1710-28 by the architect Pöppelmann in cooperation with the sculptor Permoser. It features a nympheum, many sculptures of Permoser, a bell pavilion and famous art collections. Don't miss to visit the "Rüstkammer" and the "Alte Meister" in Zwinger Palace.

Semper Opera House

Considered to be the most famous opera house in Germany; it houses the Saxon State Orchestra, one of the world's oldest and best-known orchestras. It was Built by Gottfried Semper between 1838 and 1841.

The Semper Opera House. Taken during our visit last May 2011.

Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes)

This is the biggest porcelain painting of the world that shows almost all Saxon princesses and kings on their horses and splendid parade uniforms. This is also the location of a very romantic Christmas market with a big fireplace held every winter time.

It leads to the "Stallhof" - the last preserved tournament place contained in a European castle.

The Albertinum Museum, New Synagogue, Elbe Valley, Dresden Baroque Quarter, Royal Palace are only some of the other interesting sights in Dresden.

Don't miss to browse in advance your Flights to Germany in order to avail of affordable prices. Cheap airlines to Germany include Air Berlin, Ryanair, TUI Fly and Easyjet.

Chinese Fasching in Dietfurt, Bavaria

Germany is still in its Fasching highlights. Fasching also means carnival. Cologne, Mainz and Düsseldorf are some of the cities in Germany that are very famous for its carnival. There will be Fasching events that will be going on next week especially in the nearby towns and cities.

One of the Fasching events I witnessed in Germany is in Dietfurt. This town is very famous for its Chinese Fasching or carnival. Here are some images I took from this town.



It seems like Halloween in here but Germans almost have the same and they call it Fasching or Fastnacht or simply carnival.

Visit to Walhalla, The Parthenon in Bayern, Germany

You might be thinking that only Greece has a Parthenon. Germany has also one. This is the so-called Walhalla which is the hall of fame of famous and distinguished German people in history. I have been to this place for three time already and still want to come back. I wish to share more pictures from the inside next time. I still need to search for it in my picture folder.

taken during my visit in Feb. 2008

The Walhalla is a hall of fame for "laudable and distinguished Germans" resp. "famous personalities in German history – politicians, sovereigns, scientists and artists" "of the German tongue"[1], housed in a neo-classical building above the Danube River east of Regensburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It was conceived in 1807 by Crown Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria, when he had become King, and was built between 1830 and 1842 by the architect Leo von Klenze. The Walhalla hosts about 65 placques and 130 busts of persons, covering 2000 years of history; as the oldest person honored is Arminius, victor in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in the year 9.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walhalla_temple

Kaiserburg, The Castle in Nuernberg, Germany

This is the Imperial castle in Nuremberg or Nuernberg, Germany. Nuremberg Castle is located on a sandstone rock in the north of the historical city of Nuremberg, Germany. It comprises three parts: the Emperor's buildings ("Kaiserburg"), the mostly built buildings of the rulers of Nuremberg ("Burggrafenburg"), and the buildings on the eastern side ("städtische Burganlage"). The castle was damaged in the Second World War but then reconstructed; today it is one of the main landmarks in Nuremberg.

I visited this castle for the first time last December 2007 even though, I had been to Nuremberg for a couple of times already. It was freezing cold as we made a visit here!!

Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg, a city that has a lot to offer. I had been here more than ten times I guess,,,can't count anymore..I usually go here if I felt bored sometimes. I usually go here by the train. This city is also great for shopping!! just sharing to you some pix I got from this interesting city!!
have a great day!!

P.S. I want to let you know that I earn extra income from home.I guess I don't need to find a job anymore especially if the job is quite too heavy for me. I can't do hard job now since I am experiencing back and shoulder pains.

Have fun viewing the pictures here.

one of the landmark in Nuremberg

A Metropolis with a High Quality of Life

Nuremberg boasts a unique mixture of tradition and modern times. Both people born here and people who moved here appreciate its extraordinary quality of life. At the same time, Nuremberg is a modern city with 500,000 inhabitants, and the centre of a prospering European metropolitan region with 2.5 million inhabitants. Its almost thousand years of history are still obvious in its cityscape. (nuernberg.de)

City Portrait

Nuremberg is the second-largest Bavarian city, and fourteenth largest municipality in Germany. Particularly after the EU eastern enlargement, the city has profited from its central location within the European economic region. With 500,000 inhabitants, Nuremberg is the economic, services and cultural centre of Northern Bavaria, and the centre of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region with about 3.5 million inhabitants.

The percentage of foreign nationals of over 18 per cent living in this open-minded metropolis, is well above the average for Bavaria and the Federal Republic. Nuremberg citizens from all nationalities live together in an atmosphere characterised by tolerance and calm co-existence. The city supports international relations to 14 sister cities.

Since the 1970s, Nuremberg has transformed itself into a service centre with high growth rates in the fields of innovative services, focusing on engineering and economic consultancy, market research, facility management and E-business.

Nuremberg is one of Europe's fastest growing trade fair locations. Every year, over 1,2 million people visit about 100 events and about 50 specialist trade fairs and congresses, including the world's largest specialist trade fair for toys. (nuernberg.de)

German Autobahn

Driving in German Autobahn is quite good but sometimes stressful...Oh yeah, I tried that but I really don't drive long distance.The farthest I drove was around 60 km..hahaha!! well, it's always my husband who drives especially if it is quite far...here is a picture of a German Autobahn..

have a nice day to all!!!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn...this is from Wikipedia again!!!

Autobahn(German: IPA: [ˈaʊtoːbaːn], plural Autobahnen; English: /ˈɔːtəʊbɑːn/) is the German word for a major high-speed road restricted to motor vehicles capable of driving at least 60 km/h (37 mph) and having full control of access, similar to a motorway or freeway in English-speaking countries.

In most countries, it usually refers to the German autobahn specifically. The recommended speed of the German autobahn is 130 km/h (81 mph), but there is no speed limit. Austrian and Swiss autobahns have general speed limits of 130 km/h (81 mph) and 120 km/h (75 mph), respectively. In German, the word is pronounced as described above, and its plural is Autobahnen; in English, however, the segment "auto" is typically pronounced as in other English words such as "automobile". The official name of the autobahn in Germany is Bundesautobahn (BAB) (Federal Freeway). Autobahns are built and maintained by the federal government (as are the federal highways), thus the name "Federal Freeway". The first were built in the 1920s, and in the 1930s the official name was "Reichsautobahn" (Freeways of the Reich).

Hohenfels in Bavaria, Germany

Hohenfels is a municipality in the district of Neumarkt in region of Upper Palatinate in the state of Bavaria, Germany. The photo you can see below was taken on top of the ruin castle in Hohenfels. We went walking there last weekend where you can see the beautiful scenery of the whole place. I received sometimes messages from some people especially for those US army personell who will be assigned in US Base in Hohenfels. I guess you have an idea now how Hohenfels looks like. That's the beautiful St. Ullrich Church. Don't miss to go inside once you visit Hohenfels. This church has very nice frescos and paintings made by the famous Asam brothers.

My Euro Travel in Bayreuth, Bavaria in Germany

Let's go back to Bayreuth again! I believed I already posted some articles and photos about Bayreuth. It is the capital city of the Upper Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. I was trying to remember where this photo was exactly taken as we visited Bayreuth in August. I got it now, it was taken in Bayreuther Marktplatz or the so-called town square. This is my first time to visit the city. The last time as we went there, the streets in the Old City is under renovation. We also visited some sights in this city like the Heremitage or Ermitage Palace and the New Castle in Bayreuth. A day of seeing the whole city is not enough. I still wish to visit it next time.

You can also see in the background the Spitalkirche or Hospital Church which was built from 1748-1750. We were not able to visit the Church inside because it was closed. You can see a small water fountain in that monument. More updates to come! Have a wonderful start of October.

that's me striking a pose in Bayreuth's Town Square!

My Euro Travel in Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is considered to be the Manhattan of Germany. It is Germany's financial and transportation centre. You can see in this city a lot of banking and financial institutions that also make it as the financial centre in continental Europe. You can see some skycrapers in my picture here. For more information about Frankfurt' famous skycrapers, please continue to read below. courtesy of Wikipedia..

Frankfurt is the only German city with a significant number of skyscrapers, meaning buildings at least 150 metres tall. There are ten buildings, with two more (Opernturm, 170 m and Tower 185, 185 m) currently under construction. Only Bonn has also one building (Post Tower, 163 m) over 150 m. Most of the skyscrapers in Frankfurt are located in the western part of the city centre known as Bankenviertel. The tallest skyscrapers in Frankfurt are:

* Commerzbank Tower, 259 m — Europe's tallest building (1997–2003), Headquarters of Commerzbank.
* MesseTurm, 257 m — Europe's tallest building (1990–1997).
* Westendstraße 1, 208 m — Headquarters of DZ Bank.
* Maintower, 200 m — Headquarters of Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen with an observation deck open to the public.
* Trianon, 186 m — Headquarters of DekaBank.
* Silver Tower, 166 m — Germany's tallest building (1978–1990), Headquarters of Dresdner Bank.
* Plaza Büro Center, 159 m — Germany's tallest building (1976–1978).
* Deutsche Bank I, 155 m — Headquarters of Deutsche Bank.
* Deutsche Bank II, 155 m — Headquarters of Deutsche Bank.
* Skyper, 154 m.

The Walhalla Temple in Donaustauf in Bavaria, Germany

If Greece has the so-called Parthenon, Germany has also the so-called Walhalla. According to the book which I bought about Walhalla, it is a Hall of Fame and Honor where German people are being recognized due to his/her achievements, great job done or any exemplary works. To give you more info about it, please continue reading below;

photo taken by Ruby Benz during her second visit in Walhalla

The Walhalla Hall of Fame and Honor is a neo-classical hall of fame located on the Danube River 10 km east of Regensburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It was built between 1830 and 1842 by the architect Leo von Klenze.

It was the idea of 20-year-old Crown Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1807, at a time when the German states were defeated and occupied by Napoleon. It was meant as a place for the commemoration of great figures and events in ethnic German history, at the time covering 1,800 years, beginning with the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD).

Whereas the Valhalla of Norse mythology was home to those gloriously slain in battle, Ludwig's Walhalla was intended not only for warriors but also for scientists, writers, clerics and specifically also for women. read more here

Carnival in Velburg, Germany

some of the ladies who participated in the Carnival parade..cool custom huh!! don't forget to visit my other sites..will post more photos later..

I have been in front of my computer for some hours now. After I uploaded the photos in my pc, I was still not able to update my blogs because I did some blog hopping, visited some online shops, checked my email, prepared the dinner , etc..etc..

Let me share to you first about the Fasching which is also called Fastnacht in German and Carnival in English. The Carnival in Velburg was still witnessed by a lot of people despite the snowy and rainy weather. As we first came in there around 1:30 pm, there were still not a lot of people. Around 2 pm, the street were already full of watchers and viewers of this famous event in the different places of Germany. It was an awesome event today!! Just visit my other sites for more photos and updates! have a great evening!