Xanten

The small and charming town of Xanten is located close to Düsseldorf and the Dutch boarder. Its best attraction is the archaeological park Roman Park that includes some buildings of the ancient Roman city Colonia Ulpia Traiana. 

The Romans were in the region between 100 B.C. and the year 400. The buildings are partially reconstructed or rebuilt in their original sizes and are surrounded by a spectacular wall with defensive towers. The park is one of the largest archaeological museums in the world and is a copy of what was a roman village or fortification. For me this was a very informative and a fascinating archaeological experience.

The impressive city gate Kleve Tor dates back to the 14th century and was part of the old city fortification and used as one of the entrances to the town. The three stores gate has circular towers and is a fantastic tourist attraction, which hosts today three holiday apartments.

The entrance to the city.

Not far away from here is a large green area with a beautiful wind mill Kriemhildmuehle.

The mill was part of the city wall but then converted to a mill and now operating as a bakery.

The Gothic cathedral of Xanten is dedicated to St. Viktor and dominates the view of the medieval city. According to the legend the Roman legionary Viktor and his companions died here in the fourth century as Christian martyrs.

Monuments commemorate the tragic event.

The first church was built above the graves of the martyrs. The area developed during the centuries as a settlement which later became the city of Xanten.

The impressive cloister is surrounded by a green courtyard.

I love visiting old churches and was impressed by the atmosphere inside, so beautiful and calm.

Great German Gothic architecture, beautiful glass stained windows and paintings.

Very close is situated the lovely Marktplatz- the central square, surrounded by bakery and pastry shops, cafes, small restaurants. Here we enjoyed good and tasty food and drinks.

We  and visited the small market and the local products and plenty of choices.

The rest of the day we walked along the center and also enjoyed the very relaxing atmosphere.

Xanten is a little town with Roman history and a nice day trip destination from Cologne or Düsseldorf.

Bad Soden am Taunus

Idyllically situated on the southern slope of mountain Taunus, the spa town Bad Soden is well known with its various springs. The town is a nice mixture between modern architecture, nature and a traditional spa town.

The Quellpark is situated in the old town of Bad Soden and inspires visitors with its vast green areas, old trees, beautiful designed paths and many places to just sit and relax. 

The mineral spring Solbrunnen is the first mentioned spring in Baden Soden. 

The beautiful pavilion with the Sodenia statue is one of the landmarks of the city. Its waters are well examined and used for drinking and spa procedures.

Here we enjoyed a beautiful walk along the small stream.

Close to Solbrunnen is the residential building Hundertwasserhaus, a landmark of the town and very impressive with its artistic motives.

In the park is also the Protestant church and the Trinkhalle where water from the springs was served but nowadays the building is used as a dancing school.

It was really nice and relaxing to stroll along the beautiful center. Here we saw the fountain of the Kurgastes, a very interesting fountain of bronze figures with movable joints.

Another big park in the town is the Alte Kurpark, in the center of Bad Soden, which fascinates with its wide variety of old and exotic plants. The magnificent old rare trees bring charm to the park. There are also several buildings like Paulinen Palace, Medico Palace and the old spa house Badehaus. 

In the past in the former bath house were 40 bathing cabins, today the city archives and the city museum are located here.

The New Park is like a green oasis that offers recreation areas with its meadows, playgrounds, benches. Here we also found a place to rest under the shades of the big trees.

Bad Soden am Taunus is a nice place to visit while in Frankfurt. This is an excellent destination to spend a relaxing day surrounded by nature and take many photos to remember our trip.

Basel, Switzerland’s cultural capital

Basel is located where the French, German and Swiss boarders meet. The old university city attracts lovers of art and architecture and is an ideal starting point for all kinds of various excursions. Basel represents an unusual combination of tradition and modernity and is exciting place to visit.

The River Rhine enhances the splendor of the city. The area around is so calm and beautiful, revealing the unique Swiss charm. The river is a perfect place for a pleasant and refreshing dip or a ferry trip.

Rheinfähre are little barges that cross the Rhine River and offer a short trip from one side to the other. It is a worth experience that gives you another view of the city and a great way to feel the power of the current which moves the boat. This is one of the best attractions in Basel. We tried it and we were not disappointed.

The small wooden traditional boats are attached to steal ropes and connect the old town of Basel.

Basel is having a very nice old town with and the old buildings with many fascinating historical and architectural details. We walked along the streets in the pretty old town and passed small boutiques and antique shops. We were really impressed by the old Cathedral made by red sandstone, this is one of the landmarks and main tourist attraction of the city. The cathedral is really spectacular and here are the tombs of Erasmus and some of the greatest Christian theologians.

Delightful views of the imposing Cathedral.

I really loved churches and architecture and was so impressed by this cathedral, its ornaments and the decorated stained glass windows.

We also climbed up the bell tower, the staircase is steep and narrow but we enjoyed the fascinating views from the top.

Next to the church are the cloisters that lead to a small square with benches and nice views. Here we sat for a while and enjoyed the very relaxing atmosphere.

Panoramic views from the Cathedral over Basel.

The Cathedral is set on a beautiful wide square. There are also a group of trees with seats, restaurants and nice buildings.

The old city of Basel is unique and has a rich history and architecture diversity. Here we really got the feeling for medieval times. Thanks to its compact size, the city is easily explored by foot and the small lanes gave us the impression how people lived here in medieval times.

We had fun wandering around and continued our walk to the huge square Marktplatz 

the most impressive building here is the red City Hall with its fairy tale tower and ornate clock.

The interesting and unusual 500 years old building is particularly eye-catching.

The courtyard is covered by fabulous fresco, red and gold decorations,

sculptures and fountains. The colorful façade is very impressive and distinct from all City Halls I have seen so far.

We spent the rest of the day close to the river, the best way for recreation combined by good food and drinks.

I really like architecture, history and shopping and for me Basel is a destination well worth visiting.

Moments of Relaxation in Candelaria

From Santa Cruz we took the trip to Candelaria, a town with a beautiful historical center and exclusive charm. The historical and religious importance of Candelaria makes the city unique in the Canary Islands. The city has its own identity and it is important place of pilgrimage.

A lovely and relaxing walk along the seafront revealed breathtaking views to the sea...

... and the waves crashing against the rocks and the Canary black sand beach.

The beautiful promenade is a few kilometers long.

This small town boasts the Basilica of Our Lady Candelaria, the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands is right near the sea.

We visited the town on 2th February when the festival to honor the Virgen the Candelaria took place. The town was completely overcrowded by tourists and visitors.

This is a very beautiful basilica with a wonderful stained glass windows, impressive altar and very worth to visit. The basilica is welcoming to visitors and is home of the black Madonna. There was a service ongoing when we visited and we really enjoyed the spiritual atmosphere.

The cathedral with its 45m high bell tower.

Next to the Basilica is also the Dominican monastery built in 19^th century.

We had a nice afternoon here and enjoyed a delicious Canary food and freshly prepared fish dishes in one of the nice restaurants around the square Plaza de Patrona de Canarias.

Huge and open square in front of the Basilica.

Right on the square and almost on the edge of the beach there are enormous statues of the Guanches, the ancient inhabitants of the island, who ruled the islands before the conquest of the Spanish trups.

Impressive statues of the nine kings of Tenerife- the Guanches were the natives of Tenerife.

Behind the Basilica is the cave Cueva de Achbinico, called Ermita de San Blass.

Here according to the legend the Guanche King Acaymo has brought the original statue of la Madona. The cave was the first Christian sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Marry.

A view from the cave.

The pedestrian streets are full of shops in which you can find the ideal gift or souvenir of your visit.

We strolled through the streets that are so well preserved, a place where the old architecture is harmoniously combined with the modern one.

Candelaria is an intimate place with a special flair and we enjoyed our visit , here in the fresh air we enjoyed magical views.

San Cristobal de La Laguna

San Cristobal de La Laguna, also known as La Laguna, is the old capital of Tenerife and is considered to be the cultural capital of the island. La Laguna is one of the most beautiful cities in Tenerife. Its cobbled streets and colonial architecture make it a truly unique home of hidden treasures.

We visited the city in a splendid sunny day and spent nice few hours wandering around in this beautiful and peaceful city.

La Laguna historical center is declared a Unesco World Heritage site. Here we stopped to try the local wine and the traditional dishes and enjoyed the surrounded beauty of this place.

La Laguna is ideal to be explored by foot, this is a place full of charm and every corner tells us the history of the islands and their people.

The cathedral is located in the historical center of this fascinating city.

The cathedral is very lovely inside with superb altar, windows paintings and carvings.

Iglesia de la Conception is a five hundred years old church really shows the history of Santa Cruz.

The church is so impressive with its nice stained glass windows and its tranquil atmosphere, just a wonderful place to visit.

People can climb the fascinating bell tower and enjoy spectacular views over the city.

Strolling along the cobble streets we passed through the gorgeous Casa de los Capitales Generales.

The house has such a lovely interior with a patio and a fountain and represents an excellent example of Canary identity.

The area is large and the main attraction is the intact colonial architecture.

Bars, restaurants, shops, museums-there is something for everyone. The city brings a lovely feeling with its mixture from modern and traditional architecture.

Enjoying the area and the history around, we continued our walk to the small square Plaza del Adelantado.

This is a small green area, a nice place to sit and enjoy the sun.

Very close is the Convento Santa Catallina and its attraction the wooden room. From here the nuns could observe the world outside without being seen.

La Laguna is considered to be the most beautiful town in Tenerife and its architecture is used as a model of many colonial towns in America.The city is unique and well preserved with its nice colorful houses, many people and great energy.