Tag Archives: travel

May17

Rotterdam / The Netherlands

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Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands

renowned as Europe’s largest port and

a hub for modern, innovative architecture,

largely rebuilt after WWII.

Known for its industrial strength and maritime history,

the city features landmarks like the Cube Houses,

Markthal, and Euromast,

offering a vibrant, multicultural,

and cosmopolitan experience.

Cube houses

The remarkable yellow houses

on pylons are designed by architect Piet Blom.

He wanted to create a village in the middle of the city,

in which he compared every individual house with a tree.

100m2 over 3 floors with a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom,

and a top room.

They are all small with typical dutch steps.

Quirky living for sure.

Cubehouses Rotterdam

The Markthal

Around the Markthal are apartments.

The higher they are the more expensive.

They have windows into the markthall.

The ceiling is amazing.

The historic port / part of the Maritime Muesum

Erasmus Bridge 1986

and at the end a refreshing coffee in the Hotel New York.

 
The words

 'Stronger through struggle' 
are chiseled in capital, gold letters on the base of the statue. 
Queen Wilhelmina gave this motto 
to Rotterdam on January 19, 1948, 
almost three years after the end of the Second World War.

All pictures taken by me in Rotterdam with  Google Pixel

May9

The beautiful Leiden / The Netherlands

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We stayed in Leiden,

half an hour train journey away from Amsterdam.

Leiden is such a beautiful town

peaceful and not so crowded.

We walked along the canals,

saw typical Dutch houses and

we visited a Windmill.

Rembrandt was born in Leiden.

In the picture on the left stood his birth house, it was demolished.

The house on the right was his school

where he learnt Latin and Greek as a boy.

 
 "Try to put well in practice 
what you already know; 
and in so doing, 
you will in good time, 
discover the hidden things 
which you now inquire about."

Quote attributed to Rembrandt

Leiden is worth a visit!

All pictures taken by me in Leiden with  Google Pixel

Jan18

Egypt – Cairo – Red Sea

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We went for short holiday

In Hurghada, Egypt

By the Red Sea.

A bit of sunshine and warmth does wonders.

A visit to the local market with fruit and spices

One day we visited Cairo

First the Old Egyptian Museum,

with so many wonderful artefacts.

A trip to the pyramids was just wonderful.

The only wonder of the 7 ancient wonders of the world left to visit.

A bumpy ride by cart and horse it was to the panorama view.

The next stop was the Sphinx –

majestic in front of the Pyramids

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and relaxation by the sea. 


Travelling 

it leaves you speechless,

then turns you into a storyteller.

Pictures taken by me with my Google Pixel.

Nov10

Knole House – a beautiful outing in Kent ready

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We went for a little outing

and discovered

Knole House

a 600 year old estate.

It has 77 chimneys.

Lovely how the light reflects on a sunny day.

We visited the house,

with many showrooms and

the gate tower.

Inside the showrooms are may portraits to admire including Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and many more. Textiles enthusiasts can marvel at the seventeenth century tapestries and furniture that make the collection internationally significant.

Henry IIIV, his daughter Mary and Elizabeth I visited/ lived in Knole house.

You can explore the life and loves of former resident Eddy Sackville-West in the Gatehouse Tower and climb the spiral staircase to take in panoramic views from the rooftop.

Life is a trip.

Travelling is

living twice.

We had a wonderful day with family.

If you are in the area, it is well worth a visit.

Pictures taken by me with my Google Pixel.

Oct19

Blackpool Ballroom – a dream

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One of my dreams came true

when I visited the

Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

What a fantastic Victorian place!

We had a Cream Tea watching people dance.

It has a sprung floor.

There will NEVER be a perfect time 

to pursue your dreams & goals

Life is short, 

fragile and does not wait for anyone.

Picture taken on Google Pixel.

Oct6

Fassade in London

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London always surprises.

Behind a fassade

you find another big building.

I am so happy they left that beautiful fassade

and built the big buiding behind it.

I love the contrast of old and new.

You don’t need a fassade

Be your true self.

always. ♥


To be yourself 
in a world 
that is constantly trying 
to make you something else 
is the greatest accomplishment .

Ralph Waldo Emerson

In between all the glass the little church.


London
is a city of contradiction
and chaos
but that's what makes it 
so thrilling and alive.

♥ I love my London ♥

Picture taken by me Google Pixel

Sep20

007 Island – Khao Phing Kan

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We were fortunate enough to go on a boat trip

To see beautiful islands and caves in Thailand.

One was the famous one where

“The man with the golden gun”

was filmed.

Thailand
Where the smiles are 
As warm as the sunsets.

We kanoeed through caves.

Absolutely beautiful.

What a wonderful picturesque country.

It offers so much.

Pictures by me on my Google pixel

Jul25

Berlin – Capital of Germany

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We visited another city – Berlin

For me as being German it was the first time there.

It used to be impossible while the wall was up.

1989 the wall came down and lots changed, I was in London then.

Finally I made it and it was a memorable visit.

The famous Brandenburger Gate
View from the Brandenburger Gate to the Victory Column
Sieges Säule, Victory Column – The Berliner people call it ‘Golden Lizzy’

…..to the Checkpoint Charlie

the Allied Checkpoint.

Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
Checkpoint Charlie

We walked along the road which was East Germany

War Memorial out and inside / German church and French church at the Gendarmen Market

Further along was the Museums quarter, Opera house, and the Dome

Humboldt Forum
Museum at the ‘Lust Garten’
Deutsche Staatsoper
Berlin Dome

Bebel Platz with the Humboldt University and the opera to the right.

We visited the famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church

which was bombed in WW2 and never rebuilt.

The two concrete buildings on each side are the new church

with blue glass from Chartres/ France

Kaiser Wilhelm Menorial Church

The Kurfuersten Damm – the most famous shopping street

for West Berlin at the time – starts there.

Now with more places which used to be East Berlin like Alexanderplatz,

Friedrich strasse there are more options for luxury shopping.

Another day we passed the Bellevue Castle

which is now the Presidents Residence. (below)

Deutscher Bundestag where German Politics happens.

We also visited the ‘DDR Museum’ the GDR museum

to see how people lived during the 60/70’s in East Germany.

Extremely interesting for me

as I remember my mum telling me that

she used to send food parcels for Christmas to East Germany

with chocolate and coffee.

Left the Dome – right DDR Museum with a bit of sun
TV Tower

A rainy Berlin was still wonderful and exciting.

There are so many places to visit there,

we did not have enough time. These are the bare essentials.

Yet it was a great experience and we loved it. 


A joy that is shared is a joy made double.  

John Ray

May29

Rome, The Eternal City – Part 2

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We walked to all sites we liked to see.

After a couple of days and seeing Rome from the top,

we found our way round quite easy.

Of course on the list was the Colosseum, an Amphitheatre from 80 AD.

It could hold over 50 000 people.

Colosseum 80 A.D.

An amazing experience thinking of what went on thousands of years ago.

We could walk around in the arena and the higher levels.

View from the Colosseum to the Arco di Constantine

The Forum Romanum and the Palatine Hill

next to the Colosseum followed.

Palatine Hill

View from Palatine Hill to Forum Romanum

Next was the Pantheon, a Roman temple then a church.

Almost two thousand years after it was built,

The Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest

unreinforced concrete dome.

The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle

are the same, 43 metres.

The Pantheon
Ceiling, sun through the oculus

An amazing experience.

We lived a couple of steps away from the Leonardo Da Vinci Interactive Museum.
Leonardo Da Vinci Museum.

Together we managed to rebuilt the bridge with 17 sticks.

It was a challenge. 🙂

Of course we could not miss the

Fontana Di Trevi

the very famous fountain from 1762.

Everywhere we walked we found columns

or churches around the corner.

Above is the Area Sacra di Largo Argentina with temple ruins.

Rome is not like any other city. 
It’s a big museum, 
a living room 
that shall be crossed on one’s toes.

Alberto Sordi, Italian actor
Piazza Navona
Palazzo Borghese

On our last day we relaxed in the Botanical Garden in Rome.

What an wonderful city, full of history.

A city you cannot get tired of.

Certainly a city to revisit.

Famous Roman quotes:

Rome wasn't built in a day.

All roads lead to Rome.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

Pictures taken with Google Pixel