Sunday 31 August 2008

Trip to Germany - Day 9

Sadly, this is our last day in Bavaria, as we are moving on to Baccarach on the Rhine tomorrow.  So today we decided that we didn't want to have too long a day and set off meandering along the Trubach valley.  We had heard that at Gossweinstein could be found the most famous baroque basilica in all of Germany, and so we headed there.  We're so glad that we didn't miss out on this opportunity.

On arriving at Gossweinstein, we first climbed to the berg on the hill, this was well worth it for the stunning viewsP1020676 P1020656 

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    We then ventured into the basilica, photos can't do it justice, to say it was stunning is somehow inadequate.  You can judge for yourselves from the sample pictures shown, and the many we will inflict on everyone when we return.  

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Oh, and by the way, I bet you thought we'd forgotten the pictures of Konigstein where we're staying.  We finally got round to taking them this afternoon, so here's a couple.P1020740 P1020743

Saturday 30 August 2008

Trip to Germany - Day 8

This morning our landlady, Frau Scarmacher, suggested we plan our tour via Parkstein for the wonderful views.  We arrived and parked up, saw a small church on the cliff top, and thought should we  or shouldn't we?  Just then a bus trip of pensioners turned up and many set off up.  That did it. Off we set.  Idiots!  137 steps, and that was just to reach the steep hill that led through the ruined castle to the church  at the top.  What stunning views. Clear views for many, many miles over the pine forests.P1020564

    On returning home we told Frau Scharmacher that we had eventually made it to the top, she replied that she hadn't intended us to go up, just admire the view from the bottom!

 

       After getting our breath back, which took quite some time, we went on to Weiden, via Neustadt. The old town hall at Weiden looked magnificent, but unfortunately was closed so we couldn't go in to see the painted ceilings which were supposed to be incredible.P1020584

    The church of St. Joseph here was also well worth the visit, the interior being quite magnificent, as indeed are a lot of the catholic churches in Bavaria.P1020592  P1020589

Friday 29 August 2008

Trip to Germany - Day 7

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Today we decided to give the car a bit of a rest, and only drove 9km to Neuhaus to catch a train to Nurnberg. It only cost €14 for a day rider for the two of us and saved us a 125km round trip.  The journey in was extremely fast, only stopping at one station and taking 30mins.  The return journey was more sedate and seemed to stop at everyone's front door, taking just over an hour.

Nurnberg (Nuremburg) itself is a beautiful walled city with many beautiful buildings, churches and fountains.  Oh and yes Vicky, we found a Claire's Accessories.  We had a "drei im weigel" for lunch (sausage sandwich) and once again forced ourselves to eat some of the delicious ice cream.

PS Note for Vicky, we nearly bought you a car seeing as you're doing so well at driving.   

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Thursday 28 August 2008

Trip to Germany - Day 6

Today saw us driving on tiny country roads to such delightful villages and towns as Traunfeld, Ebermannstadt and Forchaim.  On one tiny road we suddenly came upon a road closed sign, so smugly told TomTom to avoid roadblock.  It must have thought that we were being too cocky because it gave us new directions.  Up a winding single track road, at the top it said "turn left", only thing was that both left and right were unmade unused farm tracks (it didn't look like any tractors had been down in the last year. No possible chance of turning around or even reversing, we ventured on.  After about a mile of this it asked us to turn left onto another farm track, but on looking right saw tarmac.  Guess which way we chose?

Anyway, the prettiest of today's villages had to be Ebermannstadt, with a pretty river, sculptures and a beautiful small church called Marienkappel.

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Wednesday 27 August 2008

Trip to Germany - Day5

Today was a day of driving and walking, driving and walking,driving and walking.  Oh my poor feet.  First we went to Sulzbach-Rosenberg, but for once TomTom went haywire, sending us in circles through the narrowest of streets, and once or twice tried to send us through the middle of buildings!  Needless to say we didn't stop long here.

Then we went to historic Amberg, truly beautiful walled town.  We were told off by a parking attendant, who said there was no need to pay for a ticket, not in his town.P1020415 P1020422

 

 

 

 

From there we drove on more winding roads through magnificent pine forests, past Klosterberg Kastl to Neumarkt.P1020438   P1020433

Tuesday 26 August 2008

Trip to Germany - Day 4

Today we decide to have a trip to Bayreuth, about 60km away, once again by minor roads.  We stopped in a little village called SchnaP1020330belwaid, which had a really pretty church. We also found a small bakery where we bought an apple turnover (sorry Frank).  On then to Bayreuth where we had a walk around for a good hourP1020336

The Altes Schloss (Old Palace)is pictured to the right.  After a leisurely lunch, we drove out of the city to the Eremitage Altes Schloss, a few pictures of which follow.P1020352   P1020349

Monday 25 August 2008

Trip To Germany - Day 3 (Monday)

First of all, sorry I forgot to say where we stayed yesterday, we stayed in a town called Aschaffenberg, at the City Hotel.P1020292

P1020295It's a beautiful town with a large Schloss ,overlooking the river.

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We decided to set Tom Tom to avoid all motorways, which apparently saved us 9km, but added a full 2.5 hours to our journey time.  We are so glad we did, because the scenery was beautiful, lots of forests and winding roads.  Most of these roads weren't even on the map, neither were the many small villages we went through.  Anyway, arrived at Konigstein at about 2:30, and the appartment is wonderful.

Will add photos of Konigstein when we go out tomorrow with our cameras.

Trip to Germany - Day2

Day 2 sees us actually getting to Germany.  The trip through France, Belgium, Holland  and to Germany was very smooth.  Hardly any turns at all, mostly motorways, doing 80/85 mph (legally Alan) and once hit 100 uphill on the unrestricted section (that was flat out though).  Decided to travel more than halfway to give an easier meander tomorrow and finally managed to find this hotel at 5:30.  Very luxurious (4* Hotel) indeed.  No photos today, been motorways all the way.

Saturday 23 August 2008

Trip To Germany - Day1

We had an easy drive down with very few hold ups, until we were on the M25 when Tomtom Traffic told us we wouldn't arrive at the church until 2:58 ( the wedding started at 3:00)  Fortunately by hitting the "minimise delays" button, it managed to re-route us through Barking and Daggenham and got us there by 2:30.  What a brilliant wedding, lovely small church, string quartet playing for the church music, horse and carriage afterwards to take the happy couple to the marquis for the reception.

Asti & stawberries, canapes and sushi, just to put us on until the sit down hog roast dinner was ready - just one word to describe the day - brilliant. 

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Monday 18 August 2008

Sunday Out

On Sunday we all had a day out at Burnsall. Uncle John & Auntie Norma had rented a cottage there for a week, and we took grandma to visit them.  We had a lovely meal at the Craven Arms at Appletreewick, and amazingly the weather stayed lovely.