The early medieval town of Bamberg is in northern Bavaria and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It has one of Europe’s largest intact old town squares and is remarkable due to its distinctive half-timbered old buildings.
Bamberg was originally settled by the Slavs and starting in the 10th century served as a link between central and eastern Europe.
In the 11th century the town’s unique style strongly influenced the architectural development of central Europe.
During the 18th century enlightenment, Bamberg was the home of the philosopher Hegel and ETA Hoffman who wrote The Nutcracker.
The Alte Hofhaltung, or Old Palace, dates from 10th and 11th centuries. The inner courtyard is surrounded by half-timbered buildings with steeply pitched roofs and stunning wooden walkways.
Bamberg is a visual feast!
It is also pleasing to the palate with wonderful restaurants and is famous for its beer! The town has nine breweries, one of which makes an unusual smoky tasting brew, which no, I didn’t try, and neither did my husband which is a surprise because he is the beer aficionado in the family. I guess we’ll just have to go back!
The town is ideal for exploring on foot and full of wonderful surprises at every turn.
Cheers to you from the remarkably beautiful old town of Bamberg~
I found the stairway to heaven!
It is in Melk Abbey in lower Austria.
The Benedictine Abbey was founded in the 12th century and is the oldest continuously operating school in Austria.
900 lucky co-educational pupils attend school here.
The Abbey over looks the The Danube River,
and the medieval town of Melk which was the center of intellectual life in Austria in the middle ages.
It is off the beaten tourist path in November and is a wonderful place to explore.
Melk is in the Wachau Valley section of The Danube River which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cheers to you from the stunning Wachau Valley~
It’s November, and one must open one’s windows in order to cool an overheated room. This is when the uniqueness of Amsterdam wafts in, making me think back a lot of years, “Is that incense I’m smelling?”
“Wait no, that’s pot.”
Amsterdam sure is aromatic.
And mellow.
I can see why they have so many incredible pastry shops, and people eating in them all night long!
I mean they even have cannabis lollipops. I never liked pot when I was young, but breathing deeply in my room now, inadvertently of course, as I type this, does bring up the possibility that this might be more medicinal to me in my soon to be descending senior years. I seem to be feeling really relaxed……
Amsterdam is unapologetic about pot. Here you can see oodles of it growing inside this historic old house boat in the UNESCO World Heritage Area.
In Kinderdjik Holland one finds idyllic scenes like these windmills built in the 1700’s and still in use today.
Holland is justifiably famous for its flowers,
and it’s artists!
Cheers to you from Vincent,
Holland, and I~
The old city walls of remarkable Tallinn, the capitol of Estonia.
The first fortresses in Tallinn were built in 1050 and the old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The stunning Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral is the the largest in Tallinn.
Tallinn is visually charming at every turn.
As visitors we felt warmly welcomed, making the city a delight to visit.
The Nevsky Cathedral is astonishing.
As if all this isn’t enough to make you fall in love with Tallinn, it is rated one of the top ten digital cities of the world along with Tokyo and Singapore, because of it’s widely available and free wifi, and it’s general public spirited digital saavy. As a person who travels a lot each year and is addicted to wifi, this is massively appreciated. Thank you Estonia!
For more on the top ten digital cities of the world check out:
http://www.popsugar.com/tech/Top-10-Digital-Cities-World-325012
Cheers to you from the very fast wifi of Tallinn Estonia!
The Palacio in Old San Juan is the oldest continuously occupied executive mansion in the New World. Construction started in 1533. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is currently occupied by the Governor of Puerto Rico and his family. (Please click to enlarge).
The Palacio is built on a prime ocean view spot in Old San Juan and is surrounded by La Forteleza or the old fort walls.
The stunning interiors are like stepping into old Spain.
The gardens are tropical with fruit, vegetables and flowers in abundance. Fountains and tile mosaics abound.
The views are simply spectacular.
Adjoining the residence, is El Hospital, la Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, built in 1556 and currently run by catholic nursing nuns for elderly patients.
I wouldn’t want to be a poltician, but I would love to stay in this house! Saludos a usted!
