Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Cold Winter in Germany

Hello folks! Just giving you some updates before I slowly start packing my stuffs. It seems November is also ending. We will be welcoming another wonderful month of December. This also means the start of winter season in Germany. Since October until now, the weather is getting really cold. That is also the reason why I already put-out my winter clothes and other winter accessories. I am planning to buy a heated clothing to keep me warm especially during cold cold nights. Our heater is also running since October. We are using an electric heater and pellet oven as well. The latter is running 24-hours a day to keep the whole house warm. I am quite use with very cold winter weather in Germany. As long as you are using the right winter clothes, you will never get frozen outside.

Here is an image taken somewhere in Schwarzwald or Black Forest in Germany.

Spain Trip Coming Soon

I believed this is one good way of ending the year, a trip to Spain. Two weeks ago, I finally have the confirmation for our trip after being fully paid. A week from now, me and friend will be finally spending a short holiday to one of the famous tourist destinations in Europe. I am thankful that another travel wishlist is soon to materialize.

The Alhambra in Granada, Andalucia in Spain. We will be visiting this palace and fortress during our trip. Thanks to my friend Claudia for this image.

The trip is not so expensive compared to the ones I see on travel catalogs and in the internet. I have been browsing for cheap airline tickets to Spain the past months but I always find expensive ones. The cheapest I found the past few months is around 400.00 Euros and this is only for plan ticket. With the one we booked last time, an 8-day trip cost only 608.00 Euros. Included in this price are the return plane ticket, hotels for 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, 7 dinners and the trips to the different places and cities everyday for the duration of the trip.

I need to slowly pack this week. Seven night from now, we will be flying. Thank you dear Lord for this trip. See you soon Spain.

More on itineraries and updates of the places that we will be visiting in my Euro Travel blog.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Wish to Go Camping

I am back online and ready to share a little update. Its all about planning for trips again. I know it is very impossible to go camping at the moment. It is just so cold outside that sometimes I am lazy to go out for a walk. Hopefully in summer next year, we can plan and do some outdoor activities like camping and hiking. I would love to try one of those eureka tents from RockyMountainTrail.com. Hubby has an old camping tent but it is not so good anymore. When everything will turn out better next year, we could do some little trips and outings again. That would be quite interesting. Goodnight folks! I guess I am quite sleepy now after waking-up so early in the morning.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Thanksgiving is nothing
if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart
to God in honor and praise for His goodness."

Robert Casper Lintner.

Have a happy and wonderful Thanksgiving to everyone
especially to all my American friends around the world!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Christmas Market Highlights in Bavaria, Germany

It is the time to slowly welcome the spirit of the holiday season. It is also the time to smell the aroma of Glühwein (hot mulled wine), to taste Christmas cookies like such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread), the delicious Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds) and the never- to- miss Bratwurst in any German Christkindlesmarkt or Christmas market.

There are a lot of interesting Christmas markets to visit and experience in Germany. I am sharing the ones which are worth- to- visit in the German state of Bavaria.


The Romantic Christmas Market in Augsburg

It's Christmas market is considered to be one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in Germany. It is held every year in its main square in front of its Renaissance Town Hall. It has more than 150 booths selling goods of many kinds. Don't miss the Augsburg Angels Play, where you can witness music-playing angels in the windows of the city-hall.

The market provides plenty to satisfy its guests and visitors. This year's Christmas market starts on November 21 to December 24.

The World's Famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

Germany's famous Christmas market is about to open. Every Friday before the first Advent Sunday, this impressive event will finally take place. Every year, a new Christmas Angel is chosen to open the market, reciting the solemn prologue from the gallery of the church of Our Lady.

There will be about 180 wooden stalls out of the 200 stalls at the Christmas market. For sure, you can find some souvenirs from any of the stalls in the market. From Nuremberg spicy gingerbread to bakery goods and sweets, Christmas decors and ornaments, toys as well arts and crafts products are among the few ones. To keep you warm while strolling around, taste its so-called Glühwein and pair it with the famous Nuremberg roast sausages.

These are some of the reasons why around 2 millions of visitors from Nuremberg and tourists from around the world always take a chance to visit this famous event.

the famous Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. You can see the Church of Our Lady at the background. I always keep on visiting the Christmas market here. This is one of the images I took during my visit last 2008.

The Historical Würzburg Christmas Market

This year's celebration will take place from November 25 to December 23. The Christmas market in Würzburg is considered to be one of the enchanting and prettiest in Germany. It is held in the heart of its historic Old Town near the St. Mary's Chapel. Here you can find and discover authentic and locally made items like Christmas decors from glass to straw, pewter and pottery to wooden toys.

Don't miss to visit the Artist Christmas market held at the courtyard of the Town Hall every weekend. Concerts, plays and exhibition around the city gives you a more festive experience.

Christmas decors at a German Christmas market.

The Traditional Munich Christmas Market

This is one of the best times to go to Munich and stroll around Munich's traditional Christmas market. It opens every Friday before Advent Sunday at around 5:00pm every year. It is held in Marienplatz or St. Mary's Square, right in front of Munich's town hall. According to some sources, the Christmas Market dates back to the 14th century.

You can bring your children with you when visiting this market. Kids can play and do handicrafts free of charge at the 'Himmelswerkstatt'. If you want to see one of the largest Nativity scenes in the world, you can visit the Kripperlmarkt.

I believed some of you are still looking for affordable flights to Germany to witness these famous celebration. You can browse online of Europe's cheap airlines. The German wings, Air Berlin, Ryanair, Iberia, Tuifly, Easy Jet and Norwegian are among the few ones.

Have a safe and wonderful time in Germany!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

A Visit to Landshut, Germany

I am trying to remember the exact date when we visited Landshut. While browsing my images and looking for the date when it was taken, I found out that we visited this city last July 4, 2009. It was a wonderful trip we had because we were able to witness its famous festival called the Landshuter Hochzeit or Landshut Wedding. This festival only takes place every four years. It means that the next festival will take place on July 2013.

Landshut, a city in the state of Bavaria is located in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. It is situated on the banks of Isar River. This city is famous for its Gothic architecture located in its historic city center. Most of it were not destroyed during the World War II attacks.

I want to visit again the next Landshuter Hochzeit festival in 2013.

you can participants of the Landshut Wedding wearing Medieval costumes.

the Church of Saint Martin featuring the world's tallest brick tower.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Grocery Shopping

It seems to be a busy and long day for me today. I woke-up earlier this morning to do some errands and go grocery shopping. I am always telling myself now "no more extras". This is the time to slowly save and spend money wisely. I bought some extras which are not in the shopping list but I have to buy it because I need it next month while it is still available and cheaper now.

I am still thinking of going back to retail and do again salesforce reporting. Being in retail for more than three years was nice but it requires hard work always. Actually if I have to sum-up I am already in retail industry for more than a decade now. I grew up in a family where my Mother always do some retail business. I am still thinking of going back to this industry. I still have to wait a little bit until the result of the job application that I will be sending this week. Wish me luck for this job.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

A Beautiful Sunday Walk in Bavaria

No hectic today besides it is Sunday. I already woke-up late this morning. I went to bed very late last night after watching a movie on Television. After taking our brunch, I told hubby that we must need to go for a walk in the afternoon. At around 1:00pm, we started walking around.

The weather is very cold. What can you expect during Autumn in Bavaria, Germany. It was good today because it was sunny...a perfect weather for wandering. I made it sure that I had the right clothes on. I did not really felt so cold because I wore warm clothes. The scenery around our area is very nice. The hills and valleys are perfect for looking and walking around.

After around two hours of walking in the fresh air, we need to hurry home because hubby wanted to watch a football game in our place.

It was a beautiful Sunday autumn walk today. Thanks God for it. I wish everyone a fantastic week ahead!

the hills and mountains around our area. This is where we sometimes go for a walk. I love it!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Hundertwasser, Vienna, Austria

I thought I can only see images of the Hundertwasser in the internet. During our short stop-over in Vienna, Austria last August of this year, I had the chance to finally see it in person. If you are familiar about Friedensreich Hundertwasser, you might probably have an idea how this house was created. He is an Austrian artist who had this idea of building such architecture. With the help of architect Joseph Krawina who is also his co-co-author this building was materialized.

Don't miss it when visiting Vienna.

This expressionist landmark of Vienna is located in the Landstraße district on the corner of Kegelgasse and Löwengasse. The Hundertwasserhaus is now an apartment house in Vienna, Austria.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Seeing The Sights in Wuerzburg, Germany

Wuerzburg, written in German as Würzburg, is an old city founded in the 10th century. It is located in the region of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is famous not only for its Residence, regarded as one of the finest palaces in Europe but it is also known to be home of one of the oldest churches in Germany.

Getting to Würzburg is quite easy. It has no airport but it is very accessible by train and car. If you are looking for flights to Germany and wish to visit this city, you can take the airport in Munich, Nuremberg or Frankfurt. From there, you can take the Deutsche Bahn or German train. Air Berlin, Ryanair and Easy Jet are among the affordable airlines to Germany.

Here are some of the sights not to miss when visiting Würzburg;

Residence Palace- It is one of the most important and finest palaces in Europe. It is one of the finest Baroque architecture in the world built from 1720-1744. It was designed by Balthasar Neumann with the help of other architects. Good to know that it was not destroyed during the WW II.

The Residence is known for its magnificent staircase. It is included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Residence in Würzburg during our visit last August 2010. I have been to this city for a lot of times already.

Fortress Marienberg- It is a castle on a hill across the Old Main Bridge. From the castle, you can have a good view of the city of Würzburg. The building of the Fortress started around 1200.

The Festung Marienberg or St. Mary's Fortress on the hill. also taken during our visit last 2010.

The Marienkapelle (Mary's Chapel)- It has a Late Gothic architecture which construction started in 1377 and was finished in 1480. After a fire damage in 1945, its interior was replaced. The famous "Beautiful Madonna (around 1420) and "Silver Madonna" (17th century) are found inside the chapel. It contains tombs of Franconian knights and citizens of Würzburg.

The Marienkapelle or St. Mary's Chapel, a very interesting architecture.

The Alte Mainbrücke (The Old Main Bridge)- If you have seen the Charles Bridge in Prague, you will also see almost the same bridge in Würzburg. It was erected from 1473-1543 to replace the old Romanesque bridge. The characteristic statues of the Saints and famous persons were added around 1730.

The Old University- This building has a Renaissance architecture. It was designed by Gerog Robin of Mainz. The southern section contains the "Neubaukirche", nowadays houses the university's assembly hall.

These are only among its interesting sights. You also need to know that Würzburg is famous for its wine. Don't miss testing one when visiting this city.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Goodbye Golden October

Goodbye golden October! We are finally in the month of November. The days are getting shorter, darker and colder. This is the sign that winter is about to come. Are you ready for it? It is inevitable and we have to be always ready. This is the time to be more careful and wear warm clothes outside to avoid getting sick especially with colds.

Fall or autumn is the time of the year when the trees in the surroundings are turning to different colors like yellow, red, brown, orange, gold, etcetera. This is the reason why I also love this season of the year...the colorful surroundings especially in our area where you see a lot of woods.

Here are some of the snapshots I took last month.

colorful trees are still in the corners...soon it will vanished because the leaves are slowly falling down.

one of the thick woods nearby our small town. such an amazing beauty of nature!

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