August Updates For The Munro's!

Greetings to all our friends and family Stateside. We love you and miss you a lot but we continue to do well here in Germany.  The following gives you an idea on our travel adventures for August.

August 3, 2014 - Worms, Germany: USO Tour

Worms is a city in the Rhineland-Palantine region of Germany. Not far from Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, Worms was originally established by the Celts. Conversation still exists between the towns of Trier, Cologne and Worms about which one is the oldest. Not sure if there will ever be any decision on that one but no matter.

As with most of the older cities here in Germany, Worms was involved in several wars during its early days. Our guide told us that is was shelled and burnt down a number of times before it was rebuilt to the standards it is today. 

City of Worms

 Worms played a big part in the "Protestant Reformation" in the early sixteenth century. It was also the site of Martin Luther's stand before the 1521 Diet of Worms and held a lot of Jewish history as well.

Martin Luther Memorial

 The St. Peter's Cathedral, is one of the grandest sites I have seen and is currently going through a restoration project, due to the many battles throughout history. Worship still takes place in this cathedral today and is a major focal point to the City of Worms.

Outside of St. Peter's Cathedral



An Entry Door to the Cathedral

Inside View of Cathedral

 

Since Worms is near the Rhine River and the area of Germany that supports many vineyards, we could not leave the city without a wine adventure.  We were able to attend the last day of the Worms Wine Festival and were able to sample and buy many of the local wines.  The wine was very tasty and we brought several bottles home with us.

Very interesting place to be in Germany. 

Inside Note: This trip was one that I researched for the USO and lead.


August 9, 2014 - Cologne, Germany USO Tour

The City of Cologne (or the German Koln) is one of the most beautiful I have seen so far in Germany. From the train station that drops you off in the Central Square, to the many museums and of course, the Cathedral.

Train Station and Central Square in front of
The Cathedral

Cologne is the Fourth largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich and is located on both sides of the Rhine River. It was established in the first century AD and was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany during World War II. Almost the entire city was destroyed and the population reduced by 95%. 

Inside the Cathedral

Today, Cologne is a major cultural center for the Rhineland and houses more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. The structures are unique and you get a feeling of peace among the hustle and bustle of the ever continuing crowds.

The Cologne Cathedral is the most famous monument in the City and most respected landmark to the residents. The structure is of a "Gothic" nature and was started in 1248. Completion of the structure ended in 1880. 

I will never understand how the people built these fabulous buildings without any modern equipment. Remember, work started on this cathedral in 1248 and took more than 600 years to complete.

Outside of the Cathedral

Ceiling Inside of the Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

If you choose to visit, you will not be lacking in places to eat or drink. Cologne has more than 3000 pubs, cafes and restaurants. They serve anything you want and at affordable prices. The food is tasty and satisfying and the beer, well remember you are in Germany. Wunderbar!!!!
 
And for dessert, visit the Chocolate Museum which boast demonstrations and tastings, featuring the chocolate of the Lindt Chocolate Factory.  The Lindt Chocolate Factory is housed right next to the museum!!!!

August 30, 2014 Weekend in Prague - USO Tour

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic and is the fourteenth largest city in the European Union. With its beautiful architecture and culture, the city is flourishing. It is truly a beautiful place to visit and a site see.

It boasts 10 museums and numerous theatres and galleries, along with all the historical exhibits you could imagine. Maybe that is why more than 4 million international visitors come to Prague on a yearly basis.

After a long bus ride, we arrived at our hotel in Prague. We ate breakfast and began our walking tour of the Old Town with our local tour guide. We were privy to many sites in the Old Town and had a great time, hearing of the tales behind each monument or building we discovered.

The Astronomical Clock of the Old Town Hall was built in 1410 and was a collaborative effort between the clock makers and professors of the Charles University in Prague.  It is built directly into the façade of the hall and stands several stories high. People gather around to watch the hourly chiming of the mechanical structure, which also includes a person on the top, playing a trumpet.

From the Top of the Clock Tower

Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square

From the top of the Clock Tower

Climbing to the top of the tower, will net you a fantastic view of roof tops of the Old Town and also some of the spires that are featured. Truly a site to behold.
Our day also took us to the famous Charles Bridge, which is Prague's oldest and most famous bridge. Originally called the "Stone Bridge", it dates back to 1357.  The name was changed to the "Charles Bridge" in 1870 after its founder King Charles IV. It spans 515 meters long and features replicas of stone statutes of saints and important people of the Prague region.

It is a pedestrian walkway, with towers at both entrances. On the main entrance from the Old Town, there is a courtyard that you can sit and view the beautiful views and reflect.  Vendors adorn the span of the bridge, offering everything you can imagine. I saw vendors who were selling jewelry, leather goods and photographs.

 


Beginning of the Bridge

Charles Bridge

View from the Bridge at Night

Charles Bridge

The Prague Castle is probably the biggest landmark of this area and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest castle complex in the world. Erected sometime in the 9th century. It is still used today and is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic and houses several buildings in the same area. A long walkway with steep steps, takes you to the outside of the castle were you will witness the changing of the guard and get a spectacular view of the city. You can also visit the gardens and cathedrals that surround the castle.

We did not visit the inside of the castle but heard that, while expensive to get inside, it is a spectacular site to see. We will probably tour the castle on our next visit to Prague. however, we did get some fabulous pictures of the castle from the Charles bridge.

Castle in the Background from the Charles Bridge

Castle and view of the Bridge

 While walking around on our own one day, Sterling and I discovered that Prague had a Lego Museum. The best thing about this museum was the mosaic that spans the entry wall. It is a picture of the City of Prague, built entirely out of Legos and just astonished me. I had to take 2 pictures of it just get it all in.  Can you imagine the time it took to build this? 




Prague is truly an amazingly beautiful city with lots of culture and activities. They say that people either really like it or hate it. We loved it and we are planning to go back and take in some of the sites that we did not have time to fully explore. The food is really great and the beer is always flowing so you will not have any issues with being hungry or thirsty. Plus, there are several other varieties of libations to take in. Get your walking shoes together and come for a visit. You will not regret it.

In closure, Sterling and I were pondering the cities we have visited so far: In Germany, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Worms, Cologne and Berlin. Munich is coming in October.  In Europe, Amsterdam, Reims France, Paris, Prague, Nove, Italy, Bosloweic Poland and probably a few others that I am forgetting.  We have done a lot of travelling so far with much more to see and we are loving the time we spend.

September will not be a heavy travel month for us but October and November will be. Stay Tuned for more updates from us in Germany. Again, we love you and miss you all. Sterling and Deb