With more than 160 years of history, the London Underground is the oldest underground railway in the world and has the second-longest network of any European underground railway after the Moscow Metro. In addition to the City of London, it covers large parts of the British capital north of the Thames and some neighbouring areas. And apart from exploring London on foot, it is the best way to get around. Simple, fast, clean. Kisses 😘
Piccadilly Circus is a famous road junction and public space in London's West End, known for its large illuminated advertising signs and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with the Anteros statue. It's a major traffic intersection and a popular tourist destination, located in the City of Westminster. The area is surrounded by theaters, shops, restaurants, and is a central point for exploring the West End. If you want to experience a lively and bustling area, go to Piccadilly. Kisses 😘
Leicester Square is one of the most famous squares in London. It is located east of Piccadilly Circus and north of Trafalgar Square and forms a busy pedestrian zone. Countless tourists flock here. It is the opposite of tranquil. Illuminated billboards surround it. It is loud and bustling.
The square is considered the centre of London's cinema scene, with several large cinemas (including Empire, Odeon and Vue) and numerous premieres taking place there. Among other things, all the Harry Potter world premieres took place here. In the middle is a small park with bronze statues. Of course, you can see me with my beloved Paddington Bear. Then with Mary Poppins, Charlie Chaplin, Mr. Bean and Harry Potter (in that order). Kisses 😘
After enjoying my fantastic hotel and wonderful room, I headed straight to the Builders Arms pub in Kensington, where I had a wonderful glass of Chardonnay 😍 I relaxed for a while longer and then set off for bustling London! Kisses 😘
My perfect day 🩷 in London 🏴 starts in Kensington Gardens, right across from my hotel (Milestone Kensington). There's something magical 🧙 about this garden – or is it just because of its close connection to the classic book "Peter Pan"? 😉 (I love this book and the films based on it – I can practically play along there). Whether you are an art lover (there are two world-famous galleries for contemporary art here and the Architecture Pavilion), a music lover, a nature lover or being not old at heart – there is something for everyone here! It is simply an enchanting park for all ages with many monuments, statues and water features, offering relaxation from sightseeing for all age groups.
From my hotel, I also have a view of Kensington Palace, the palace in the garden, which for many is closely associated with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who lived here and is said to have practised tap dancing and roller skating in the state rooms. Would you like to visit the palace? Be sure to book in advance! Kisses 😘
After my pictures of the Saar, it's time to go back to London. 🩷 Kensington. I love Kensington 🩷 Especially my hotel there: the Milestone Kensington. Directly opposite Kensington Garden, which I absolutely love strolling through. An area to unwind in the glorious weather! And also the residential streets behind the hotel: Breathtakingly great! Tip: The "Builders Arms" pub! Kisses 🩷🤍
Aachen - also known as a spa town - has some remarkable fountains. And Aachen is not Aachen without stopping by the cathedral!
In the pictures you can see (in order from picture 2): Elisenbrunnen: A well-known landmark with an open foyer with a Doric portico and a pavilion to the left and right. The warm thermal water of the Kaiserquelle (52 °C) flows from two drinking fountains, which has a sulphurous odour but is said to have healing properties. Yuck. You really have to control yourself here. 😷
Fountain in the Elisengarten
Directly behind the Elisenbrunnen fountain, a small park invites you to linger. Grab an ice cream, take your shoes off and walk across the lawn or simply stretch your legs and enjoy the sun!
Karlsbrunnen (Marktbrunnen):
Der älteste Brunnen der Stadt befindet sich auf dem Marktplatz vor dem Rathaus. Karl der Große, von 800-814 Kaiser von Deutschland, hatte eine sehr enge Beziehung zu Aachen und starb auch hier. Ihm zu Ehren wurde dieser Brunnen errichtet.
Puppenbrunnen:
Ein beliebter Brunnen in der Krämerstraße, der für seine beweglichen Bronzefiguren bekannt ist und daher sicherlich ein Magnet für die Jüngeren ist.
Kreislauf des Geldes (Geldbrunnen):
Hier ist ein Ensemble von Bronzeskulpturen rund um das flache Betonbecken verteilt. Das Wasser dreht sich gegen den Uhrzeigersinn in die Richtung des dargestellten Geldflusses. Übrigens fließt es auch im Winter, denn es ist warmes Wasser aus den Aachener Thermalquellen.
Die verschiedenen Figuren auf dem Brunnen stellen den Geldkreislauf dar, der dem Brunnen seinen Namen gibt, und haben in ihren dargestellten Handlungen alle etwas mit Geld zu tun. Sie stehen für Geiz, Habgier, Gönnerschaft und Betteln. Außerdem ist ein Kind dargestellt, das seinem Vater beim Zählen des Geldes zusieht.
Augustinerplatz-Brunnen
Ein etwas unspektakulärer Brunnen auf dem Augustinerplatz, gekennzeichnet durch eine Stele und ein Betonbecken. Aber ich mag einfach Wasser!
I had a relaxed morning and lunch in Düsseldorf at the weekend.
Düsseldorf is a well-known fashion and art city in the west of Germany. While the old town (famous for the longest bar in the world, which simply means that one pub is next to the other..... together then the longest bar), modern business and commercial districts lie to the west of the river. There are numerous exclusive boutiques along Königsallee and in Schadowstraße. "See and be seen" is the motto here! The Schadowstraße area was completely and impressively remodelled not long ago in the course of the demolition of the "Tausendfüßler", a well-known elevated motorway, and invites you to linger in one of the many bars or cafés. Enjoy a sunny stroll here. Kisses 😘
The Saar loop. It is not exactly a loop, but rather an almost 360 degree turn of the Saar. One of the most famous sights in the Saarland. Wonderful to sail on excursion boats or to view from above. For many visitors to the Saarland, the view of the Saar Loop will remain unforgettable forever. Kisses 😘
Preparing my bday - next part: Where better to celebrate a milestone birthday than in a place that almost feels like home? Besides Austria, this is definitely the Saar for me. Home means arriving. Feel good without having to sort yourself out. Instant relaxation. The Saar region has plenty of relaxation to offer. And the culinary delights are definitely not neglected. You can go out for a great meal and there are excellent wineries. So for me it means: I'm celebrating my birthday at home, so to speak - even if I give everything away (I've always cooked myself so far - for up to 100 people.....): The organisation is done in the background. I'm a perfectionist at heart. The party also has to be perfect 😍. Kisses 😘
One of my reasons for going to London 🏴 at the beginning of May was a shopping trip. I had to choose a dress for my upcoming birthday. And I found what I was looking for...... 2.5 hours of feeling like a princess 👑 Into the dress, out, next, turn, huge mirrors around you and service just for me. A dream for all girls 🩷 I chose the white dress 🩷🤍 as the party theme is pink and white. What else 🥰 (I had MANY dresses on - these two were in the final selection - which one would you have chosen?) Afterwards I had to rest my tired feet in a super nice pub. Kisses 😘
Hampton Court once had one of the most magnificent gardens in the whole of Europe. And rest assured: the 24 hectares, divided into 3 gardens, are still magnificent today! The royal private garden to the south of the palace was restored in 1995 as a formal Baroque garden as it was in 1702. At the southern end, a richly crafted wrought iron fence runs along the winding banks of the Thames. There is also a so-called knot garden and a pond garden consisting of flower beds. This section is complemented by an orangery (now an exhibition room) and a greenhouse with a vine planted in 1769: 5 metres in circumference and branches up to 36.5 metres long. Wow 🤩. The largest vineyard in the world. On the banks of the Thames is the Banqueting House, an intimate dining room built in 1700 and painted inside. The eastern garden was finally given its present form with lawns and clipped yews and hollies in the 19th century. At the northern end of Breite Weg, which runs along the castle façade, is the tennis court, which was laid out around 1620 and still serves as a sports facility today. To the north of the castle in Tudor times was the large orchard and the tournament ground, which had five towers for spectators. The famous trapezoidal maze is the only surviving remnant of this garden. Around 800 metres of winding paths lead through the 1350 m² maze through two-metre-high yew hedges. The rest of the garden is now a meadow planted with trees. The former showground is now divided into smaller gardens, one of the spectator towers is still preserved and is located next to the garden restaurant.
To the east, in a loop of the Thames, the so-called deer park is home to a herd of fallow deer numbering around 270 animals. For the flower lovers among you: In July, the largest annual flower show in the world has been held for 35 years: the week-long Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. An experience for sure! Enjoy the magnificent gardens! Kisses 😘
I really took my time to listen to the interesting description of the audio guide tour of Hampton Court Palace and was able to take a relaxed stroll through the magnificent rooms of the King and Queen, marvelling at Georgian rooms and picture galleries. You should definitely take a day and let it all sink in. Kisses 😘
For me as an amateur chef cuisine, a visit to the kitchen at Hampton Court Palace was of course essential. Wow - I could have let off steam there! Around 1530, Henry VIII had a court of around 1,200 people living with him in the palace. For this purpose, the initially "smaller" kitchen was extended to 50 rooms covering a total area of 3,350 square metres, which were arranged around several courtyards according to an ingenious system. One of the huge fireplaces is still lit for demonstration purposes. And you can get an approximate idea of the temperatures that prevailed when all 6 fireplaces were heated in the one kitchen room. Insane! Kisses 😘.
And inside, the marvellous Hampton Court Palace is no less beautiful. The audio guide leads you through the rooms in an extremely informative way and takes you through the history of the building! Kisses 😘
A walk through Hampton Court Palace. Enjoying the sun ☀️, enjoying the quietness, the incredible castle. If you ever will be there in the area: Visit it! Kisses 😘
Off the ferry, I first went to Hampton Court Palace before London 🏴 🩷. A Tudor castle 🏰 from the 16th century. It is located in Richmond upon Thames, the rather affluent outskirts of south-west London. No. Social housing is definitely not here. The streets meander along dreamlike villas with beautiful driveways. There's plenty to admire and marvel at. Kisses 😘
Off to London - I'm really in love with London. 🩷 And so I could hardly wait to get back over there after what felt like an eternity of 6 months. To avoid the aeroplane, I once again took the ferry ⛴️. Overnight stay in Calais - the hotel is simple, but absolutely clean. And located right next to the harbour. I boarded the ferry very early in the morning. I can really only recommend this option for "coming over". Completely relaxed and easy. The priority check-in makes things a lot easier. On board, I enjoyed a relaxed breakfast in the lounge before enjoying the marvellous sunrise towards the chalk cliffs of Dover. Wow. What a play of colours when the rising sun ☀️ bathes the white cliffs in a soft light. Dover is the town with the most important English harbour on the English Channel and the chalk cliffs are symbolic sentinels at Britain's closest point to the European mainland. Dover is located in the south-east English county of Kent. Kisses 😘
Today, Rheinfels Castle in the Rheingau is one of the largest castle and fortress ruins in Europe. Developed into a Renaissance castle under the Counts of Hesse and later expanded into an extensive fortress, Rheinfels is one of the most important sites on the Middle Rhine. As one of the few bastions on the Rhine, it was unsuccessfully besieged and not destroyed during the Thirty Years' War and the War of the Palatinate Succession.
There are many interesting things to discover in the castle museum with its exhibitions on the historical history of the fortress, Romanticism & Revolution centred around the Romantic poet Ferdinand Freiligrath and various exhibits.
And if you are very quiet, you might spot one of the many bats that live here. Due to their special protection, the tour times are adjusted between October and March! Drive there. It's really worth it! Kisses 😘
Rheinfels Castle, built in 1245 near St. Goar on the Rhine, directly on the Loreley rock, is also considered a ruin. Anyone who imagines a broken or dilapidated castle: Far from it. It still rises majestically above the Rhine Valley today. It has been sensationally preserved. To be more precise, the castle is a spur castle situated on a ridge between the left bank of the Rhine and the Gründelbach valley above St. Goar. After its expansion into a fortress, it was the largest fortification in the Middle Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Bingen. The fortress used to be considered one of the most secure and impregnable castles in Germany, and since 1973 there has been a luxurious hotel next door, which has borne the name "Romantik Hotel Schloss Rheinfels" since 2005. Maybe worth a visit sometime! Kisses 😘
