Category Archives: travel

strasbourg

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Continuing our journey, we drove from Heidelberg across the border into France.  Upon arriving in Strasbourg, we found our hotel…finally. We might have “accidentally” driven down a sidewalk and into a courtyard, but we found it. We ventured out into the heart of the city, and I felt immediately comfortable there. This trip had a lot of sentimental value…my great grandparents were born in Strasbourg. The structures are amazing, with their classic timber-framed charm. The surprise for me was the cathedral, which towers over the main square. It was the world’s tallest structure from 1647 to 1874. Victor Hugo described it as a “gigantic and delicate marvel”, and that is the perfect description. More to come on this historic city…

 

mark twain on heidelberg

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Mark Twain described the Heidelberg Castle in his 1880 travel book A Tramp Abroad…

“A ruin must be rightly situated, to be effective. This one could not have been better placed. It stands upon a commanding elevation, it is buried in green woods, there is no level ground about it, but, on the contrary, there are wooded terraces upon terraces, and one looks down through shining leaves into profound chasms and abysses where twilight reigns and the sun cannot intrude. Nature knows how to garnish a ruin to get the best effect. Misfortune has done for this old tower what it has done for the human character sometimes−improved it.”

heidelberg suites

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This was taken in the breakfast room of our hotel in Heidelberg, Germany…the Heidelberg Suites. It is an amazing boutique hotel which opened in 2008, and the entire place is so photogenic it’s ridiculous. I took so many shots I could fill an entire page with them, but I figured I would just share one and let you discover the others on their site if you wish. I highly recommend it-not only are the interiors sophisticated and to die for, the service was impeccable, the location perfect, and it was extremely romantic! More to come on Heidelberg…

 

(just realized mr. fleurishing’s reflection is in the mirror, hehe)

german beginnings…

 

 

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After arriving in Frankfurt, our first adventure in Germany was driving to Worms,  where my parents lived after getting married. I grew up hearing such happy stories, and they still say it was like a 3 year honeymoon. In case you are wondering…my father was a Lt. Colonel in the army, and was stationed there. It is a quaint and charming town, situated on the Rhine River, and has existed there since before Roman times. The main cathedral, Dom St. Peter, is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Germany and dates back to the 11th century. The most amazing part for me was walking the streets that my parents did, seeing the places they've always talked about, and even standing outside the home where I was, well…"created". Yes, that's right ladies and gents…my parents returned to the states while expecting me, and I am very proud of my german beginnings!