Following the footsteps of Bach, Luther and Goethe by Caravan
We decided to try a new type of traveling – caravanning. It’s a popular way to get around and we wanted so see if it was for us.
A Wonderful Week of Summer in Skiathos
Kathrin and I wanted to spend a relaxing week somewhere new. We considered two destinations–Ireland or a Greek island. Since our main goal was to go someplace warm, the question became, where are Condor’s destinations in Greece? A colleague and friend of Kathrin’s recommended Skiathos, a quiet, genuinely Greek island that isn’t overrun by tourists.…
Bruges, Part 2: Castles and Beaches
The next day, Sunday, we went on an all-day bike tour of the castles in the area. I like to think of it as the West Flanders Castle tour. In all, we stopped at 8 castles. They varied in their “castleness”, some looked more like a grand Maison, while others were more noble, there were…
Exploring Bruges and West Flanders, Part 1
Part 1 – City Sightseeing and Castle Tour Following a long, Covid-induced hiatus, Kathrin and I were once again on the road. After considered several destinations both near and far, we decided to stay closer to home and spent 6 days in Bruges. We were there once before, but only for a night or two,…
Our Bavarian Vacation, part 3
Stage 3: Highline179, Zugspitze, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen With stories of royal intrigue behind us, we started our day with the Burgenwelt Ehrenberg and Highline179. Burgenwelt Ehrenberg is a complex of castles and fortifications in the valley and on the mountains above. The complex dates back many hundreds of years ago and was a major defensive facility…
Our Bavarian Vacation, part 2
A pilgrimage stop at Andechs On Monday we traveled on to the next stage of our trip – Bavaria’s most famous castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. But first, we had to make an important stop at Kloster Andechs. What’s so special about the Andechs Monastery? For one thing, it owes its existence to a mouse. According…
Our Bavarian vacation part 1, Munich
What does every American want to see during a vacation to Germany? Neuschwanstein, Oktoberfest, Hofbrauhaus, Linderhof. These are the most famous places in Germany, at least to most Americans. How many of these places have I seen since moving here? 1. Hofbrauhaus. In 7 years I have yet to see the “real” Germany. With COVID-19…
Our Malta Vacation, A Journey in History
Mysterious Malta I have always had this mysterious idea about Malta. An island in the Mediterranean Sea, a gateway between Europe and Africa, home to secretive knightly orders, Knights Templar, the Order of St. John. I discovered that Malta has all that and more to offer. Day 1, Exploring the Neighborhood: Today we had a…
