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| My Uncle |
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| Creative Vine Growing |
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| Bernkastel-Kues |
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| Castle Landshut |
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| Local Wildlife |
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel
Whilst in the Mosel region we took a meandering boat trip to the charming and characteristic medieval town of Bernkastel-Kues. Offering stunning views of the Moselle River and valley, we enjoyed a stroll up to the Castle Landshut ruins, a former summer residence of the Archbishops of Trier that was destroyed by fire on 8 January 1692. Bernkastel was first documented in the 11th Century and has since been ravaged by plague, fire and the Nazi Kristallnacht yet the 17th Century gabled timber houses still stand today, as well as the Spitzhäuschen from 1416.
Wine tasting in the Mosel
The Moselle river, home to the Mosel wine region, twists and turns for 546km through Germany, France and Luxembourg. The pictures speak for themselves - the Mosel is simply stunning. From the sprawling, hilly vineyards to the medieval villages and castles.
Making our base staying with a local winemaker, Hans-Joseph Maringer, in Trittenheim, we were treated to a private wine tasting. Famous for its Riesling wines, the steep river bank slopes that are scattered around the Mosel region are considered some of the most labor intensive vineyards in the world. The region is famous for its sweet and semi-sweet wines which have a very high sugar content, occuring naturally due to the production process. We tasted several varieties, notably the Spätlese Kabinett, Jewel and Kerner. Unfortunately conditons weren't right for the most complex and hence expensive Riesling to be produced - the Eiswein, made from grapes picked in a perfect frost, governed by strict rules.
Köln Cathedral
Germany's most visited landmark - a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture, World Heritage Site, attracting 20,000 people a day.
The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the second-tallest spires and largest façade of any church in the world.
A true masterpiece...
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Alster - the watery heart of the city
Hamburg was founded at the mouth of the Alster river in the 9th century as a port city. The Alster as we know it today is formed from two artifical dammed lakes that flow to the River Elbe through a series of small canals, sitting right in the centre of the city.
The Alster is quite an incredible sight, being that it sits directly in the heart of the city, being at one extreme a tranquil boating lake full of small cafes, bridges and lush greenery and at the other, a bustling cityscape. One can sit serenely with a cold beer and watch the joggers tread the stone paths and the rowers cruising through the water, only to turn one's head for quite a different perspective - a horizon dominated by gothic cathedrals, expensive hotels, and fancy shops. This is something I've never seen before in any of the cities I've visited. Most lakes are either miles out from the city else are about the size of a duck pond.
When we arrived in Hamburg in September it was still warm and sunny so we had fun out on a pedalo (quite an experience in the middle of a hundred sailing boats), enjoyed a few beers at our 'local' complete with pier and deck chairs and dodged in and out of the many joggers flying along on our for-hire Stadtad bicycles.
But the Alster isn't just for the summer. In the deep winter, with thick snow underfoot, ten layers of clothing and wooly hats we set out on search of Gluhwein. in -10 degrees we reached our local only to be told they were having a private party. So we carried on walking. We ended up in a bar that has seating for no more than 10 people and they make the Gluhwein using a kettle, nestled in next to a group of businessmen avoiding going home to their wives, facing a giant moose's head on the wall.
Water is at the centre of everything in Hamburg and the Alster is at the centre of that. It doesn't matter if it's a cold winter's day or a hot day in summer, there's always something to discover.
The Alster is quite an incredible sight, being that it sits directly in the heart of the city, being at one extreme a tranquil boating lake full of small cafes, bridges and lush greenery and at the other, a bustling cityscape. One can sit serenely with a cold beer and watch the joggers tread the stone paths and the rowers cruising through the water, only to turn one's head for quite a different perspective - a horizon dominated by gothic cathedrals, expensive hotels, and fancy shops. This is something I've never seen before in any of the cities I've visited. Most lakes are either miles out from the city else are about the size of a duck pond.
When we arrived in Hamburg in September it was still warm and sunny so we had fun out on a pedalo (quite an experience in the middle of a hundred sailing boats), enjoyed a few beers at our 'local' complete with pier and deck chairs and dodged in and out of the many joggers flying along on our for-hire Stadtad bicycles.
But the Alster isn't just for the summer. In the deep winter, with thick snow underfoot, ten layers of clothing and wooly hats we set out on search of Gluhwein. in -10 degrees we reached our local only to be told they were having a private party. So we carried on walking. We ended up in a bar that has seating for no more than 10 people and they make the Gluhwein using a kettle, nestled in next to a group of businessmen avoiding going home to their wives, facing a giant moose's head on the wall.
Water is at the centre of everything in Hamburg and the Alster is at the centre of that. It doesn't matter if it's a cold winter's day or a hot day in summer, there's always something to discover.
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