Visit To Kallmünz and Its Castle in Bavaria, Germany

A friend called me yesterday and asked me if I want to go with them a bit sightseeing to some places in Bavaria, Germany. I told her, "sure why not, just leave a message in my facebook and let me know what time are we leaving." And so the story goes...

From my friend's house, the way going to Kallmünz (written in English as Kallmuenz) will be passing to our home, she decided to just pick me up. We left today around 11:10 am. We don't have snow this winter time (and I am glad about it) but still wearing a good winter jacket is a must because it is still cold outside.

To make the story shorter, we climbed the castle ruins in Kallmünz since it is located on top of the hill. From there you will have a fantastic view of the whole town and its surroundings. Here are some of the images I took today.

view of Kallmünz town and the Naab river during our visit today.
You can also see the medieval old stone bridge over the river Naab at the middle of the image here.

Kallmünz is a municipality located in the district of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany.

the imposing tower of Kallmünz Castle's

the Ruins of the Castle's Chapel located near the castle's tower.

Skywatch Friday
Weekend Reflection
Scenic Sunday
Shadow Shot Sunday
Sunday Snapshot

I Love Madrid, Spain

Another dream come true! I had the chance to finally visit the capital city of Spain. Madrid is awesome! I love love love love and love this city. For me, it is the most unique city I visited in Europe. I can't exactly explain as well but there is something in Madrid and in Spain as a whole that captured my heart. I fall in love with this country.

I have been to some big cities in Europe like Vienna, Budapest, London, Brussels, Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Luxembourg, Paris, Cologne, Rome, Monaco, Venice, Frankfurt, Munich, Verona, Salzburg, Dresden, Las Vegas, California, Manila, Cebu, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and so many more but Madrid is simply unique.

When I visited Monaco last spring of this year, I told myself, if I have the chance to choose where I live now, I would choose Monaco. Sad to say, it changed suddenly. When I recently visited Spain, I changed my mind. No more Monaco and how I wish I live somewhere in Spain right now.

Ah, I am dreaming again. But dreaming is the only thing I can have and it is for free. In fact, most of my dreams are coming true now. Most of the places that I am dreaming and aiming to visit went to reality. I was there, to the places where I can never imagine I was.

There are a lot of things I would love to share during our 8-days trip to Spain. I wish I have more time to slowly share it here or maybe in my other travel blogs. So please, sit back and relax..more updates and travel images about Spain to come soon!

Lastly, I would like to say,

"Live with your dreams,
Work for it and One Day,
Those Dreams will slowly come true."

Ruby Benz

I wish I had the chance to go inside this palace but a day trip in Madrid is not enough to see everything. I wish to visit this city again in the future. Taken during our visit last December 10, 2011.

The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) is an enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid, not only for its location on a bluff overlooking the river valley but also for its architecture and the artistic treasures to be found in its rooms.

The Fountain in Monte Carlo

My friend's daughter who was with us during our trip to Monaco last spring time told me that if ever she has a choice, she wants to live in Monaco. She was amazed by the beauty of the place especially that it is located along the waters. If I have the choice and the chance, I want to live there too..lol!

Here is the fountain situated in front of the famous casino in Monte Carlo. It is a privileged to visit and see this place. I wish to go inside the casino in my next visit.


This blog is joining for the first time these lovely memes below.

Watery, Wordful
Outdoor Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

Brussels Town Hall in Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

I miss this place and wish to visit it sometime in the future. I have some good friends and kababayans' in there. That visit and stay in Brussels was a very memorable one for me. I truly had a lot of fun and good memories. Thanks to Ching and the whole family for everything.

Below is an image of Brussels Town Hall. It is located in Grand Place in the city center of Brussels in Belgium.

photo taken during our visit last August 2010.

The Brussels Town Hall stands 96 metres (315 ft) tall and is capped by a 3 metre (12 ft) statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon

The Würzburg Residence in Bavaria, Germany

I had been in Würzburg (written in English as Wuerzburg) for a lot of times already. I had seen the Würzburg Residence but did not had the chance to go inside of it. Hopefully in my next visit, I can already go inside this beautiful and historical palace.

Front of the Residenz and Cour d'honneur. taken during our visit last August 2011.

The Würzburg Residence with its Court Gardens and Residence Square was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. According to the Advisory Body Evaluation, the inclusion in the List was a "measure... so clearly desirable that the proposal of the Federal Republic of Germany does not require lengthy justification... The Residence is at once the most homogeneous and the most extraordinary of the Baroque palaces... It represents a unique artistic realization by virtue of its ambitious program, the originality of creative spirit and the international character of its workshop." more about this palace

Visit to the Warwick Castle in England

I was lead to this question of what country in Europe has the most castles. So far when I visited Prague, Czech Republic or Paris, England, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg or Netherlands, I did not see a lot of castles in these countries. I am not really so sure which country in Europe has the most castles then but I found a lot in Germany especially in the state of Bayern or Bavaria. I need to find this out later.

Warwick castle is one of the castle I visited in England. It is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick.

Our visit to this castle was a very memorable one because it was Halloween as we went there.

I took this image during my visit last 2008.

Warwick Castle is situated in the town of Warwick, on a sandstone bluff at a bend of the River Avon. The river, which runs below the castle on the east side, has eroded the rock the castle stands on, forming a cliff.

Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy

The Saint Mark's Basilica, officially known as Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the most famous church in Venice, Italy. It is one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It lies at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco.

the beautiful painting in the front entrance door.

Saint Mark's Basilica taken from St. Mark's Square. I took this image during my third visit July 2011.

Originally it was the chapel of the Doge, and has only been the city's cathedral since 1807, when it became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, formerly at San Pietro di Castello. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, from the 11th century on the building has been known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).

Sightseeing in England- Most Beautiful Gardens To Visit

Sprawled across England are some of the world's most spectacular designer gardens. From the centuries old to the modern to the otherworldly, these gardens are guaranteed to thrill seasoned gardeners to the average traveler alike.

If you are planning to visit Europe especially England, don't miss the chance to go to any of these gardens.


THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN

Decades old and sadly forgotten after the Second World War, it was only in the last part of the 20th century that Heligan made its revival into the sprawling botanical gardens there today. Its 200 acres are divided into four parts; The Northern Gardens, the Jungle, the Wilder Estate, and Horsemoor Hide & Wildlife Project.

The Northern Gardens are the original gardens restored to their former glory and contain fruit, historic flowers, garden accessories, and a grotto hidden amongst the ferns. The Jungle section follows a raised boardwalk among ponds and tropical plants. Hidden in Wilder Estate are flocks of horn sheep, tranquil lakes, and sculptures hidden in the plant life. There is also a restaurant on the estate, meaning the Lost Gardens of Heligan is easily made into a day-long excursion.

SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN

Well loved in the UK is Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Watched over by the National Trust, the garden is divided into enclosed sections or "rooms". The famous White room has all white flowers year round and in the distance you can see Sissinghurst Tower. Other areas include a rose, cottage, and herb garden in addition to the Orchard, the Lime Walk, and the Nuttery. Wandering through each cosy, enclosed room is a romantic, intimate experience.


LEVENS HALL

Levens Hall has the finest, and oldest, topiary in England. This award-winning garden has winding paths which are flanked by yew, box hedges, and flowers such as tulips. The trees are all cut into fantastic, painstakingly maintained shapes. On the estate are also an ornamental vegetable garden, a tea shop, a historic house open for viewing and worth a visit on its own, and a park dating back to medieval days that is home to black deer and a rare breed of horned goat. While the topiary garden is formal and clean cut, the park is undeniably about the beauty of pure nature and provides a pleasant contrast.

This list was gathered by the book experts from Love Reading site.

Europe Travel in Nuremberg, Germany

I am slowly getting back in my Europe travel. I am sharing a bit about Nuremberg today. It is a city in Bavaria, one of the states in Germany. If you travel by regional express train from this city to Munich, it might take around three hours. Nuremberg is the largest city in Franconia.

This city is historical and you can find it especially if you visit the Altstadt of the Old City of Nuremberg. There, you will find some interesting sights like the St. Lorenz Church (St. Lawrence Church), Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain), Heilig-Geist-Spital (Hospice of the Holy Spirit), the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg and a lot more.

This city is famous for its Bratwurst, a kind of sausage and Lebkuchen, a ginger bread. Don't miss it when visiting Nuremberg.

at the Hauptmarkt or Main market where the famous Christkindlesmarkt (English: Christmas market) is held every year. You can see at the background the towers of St. Sebaldus Church and the the Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain).

a miniature of of Nuremberg's sights in the underground train station.
These images were taken during our visit on May 8, 2011.

Cruising in Amsterdam Canals,

Amsterdam is the capital city of Netherlands. It has lovely canals that criss cross the city and is worthy to explore. Its impressive architecture, great shopping and friendly people are only some reasons why Amsterdam is visited by millions of tourists and visitors every year.

One best way of exploring the city is cruising its canals. Some of the companies that offer canal cruises are Amsterdam Boat Guide, Amsterdam Jewel Cruises and The Canal Bus. Check their websites for schedules and more information.

we had a cruise in Amsterdam canals during our visit. It was quite interesting exploring the many canals of Amsterdam.

These are some of the images I took during our visit in Amsterdam last summer 2010.

Turkey Sightseeing

Turkey is one of the countries I wish to visit this year. I find this country very interesting after reading a travel book about it. I also heard from friends who had spent holidays there, that it is truly a country worthy to see and to experience. My eagerness to visit it escalated when I found some cheap holidays online to Turkey. Imagine a 10-day trip for only 499.00 Euros including the flight, 4-star hotel, tours in different places, breakfast and dinner. I can hardly believed it.

Turkey is located in two continents, Europe and Asia. Sometimes, it is called a Euroasian country due to its geographical location. It is a country that has a lot to offer to travellers. Whether you want to spend a holiday on the beach, city break in Istanbul, do hiking and trekking in the mountains, skiing in Bursa, night life in Antalya, shopping to its bazaar or simply see its historical and architectural ruins, there is always something for every tourist to experience in this country.

Here are some of the places that are included in the trip that I mentioned above.

Istanbul- this is the cultural and financial centre of Turkey. This city bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. You can find here the footsteps of history and ancient monuments and architecture dating back to Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. Don't miss to visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), and Basilica Cistern.

The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul is one of the most incredible places of this city. Built by Emperor Justinian Iduring the 6th century. credit

Bosphorus- This is also known as Istanbul Strait. It is the world's narrowest strait used for international navigation. It connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Sights to see include Akaretler Street, Arnavutköy or the so-called Albanian village, Emirgan Park, Rumeli Citadel, Dolmabahce Palace and the Sakip Sabanci Museum is also worthy to visit especially if you love calligraphy and paintings.

Izmir- this is the third largest city of Turkey. I saw some images of a friend who visited this place some years ago. The Konak Square, Alsancak, Kadifekale are only some of the sights to see. Izmir is also known for its beaches located not to far from the city centre. A walk along the Kordon can also be a nice experience. Kemeraltı, a big bazaar in Izmir, is the perfect place for those who love to shop.

Ephesus- I am sharing here some words of an online friend during his trip to this very interesting and major tourist destination in Turkey. It is very touching. Thank you so much Art for this very well-written experience.

"When Jesus died on the cross, He asked his apostle John to take care of his Mother, the Virgin Mary. John brought her to live out her last years at Ephesus, which is right outside of Kusadasi. When I walked into the small stone building that is where she lived, it was the most unbelievable feeling that I have ever felt in my whole life!! And I am not even Catholic. BUT I BELIEVE, especially now! The Greek and Roman ruins at Ephesus are unbelievable. There are more ruins in just Ephesus than there are in all of Greece. I saw where the apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and where he was imprisoned. I saw where John was tried and exiled to a small island just of the coast of Turkey. And all of Ephesus is very well preserved because no cities were built over the ruins like they did in Greece and Italy."

Pergamon- also called as Pergamum, was an ancient Greek city in modern Turkey. This is a historical place and of religious importance for Christians. According to the book of Revelation 2:13, the first bishop of Pergamon, Antipas, was martyred there in ca. 92 AD. Interesting sights to see include Kizil Avlu (Red Basilica), the Town Square which features some columns from Pergamon and Asclepion, the Temple of Serapis, the Acropolis and many more.

The Mountains in Austria

I guess it is time to slowly share images of Europe in this blog. I just made a random choice in my external hard disk . The photo below is the first one where I landed. This was taken last 2008 as we were on our way to Salzburg, Austria. If I am not mistaken, this might be the Alps mountains. Sorry folks, I can't exactly remember now where exactly in Austria I did took this image. More images to come next time!

taken during our bus trip to Salzburg last 2008..see embedded date on the picture.