Category: Germany

Europe 2016: Amsterdam

Sunday, 2 October 2016

🚗🎶 On the road again. Leaving Münster and Germany behind. This was our 3rd visit to Germany (1997, 2010) & once again we liked it very much.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 2, 2016

🚗 🍴 Nearing lunchtime, Susan spotted a sign for Bussloo. Liking the name and having bought sandwiches at Essman's earlier, we got off …

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 2, 2016

… the highway and 3 km later found a picnic table and a football match in Bussloo. The sandwiches were excellent; the football less so ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/PypKNu459F

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 2, 2016

🚗 🎶 Android Auto is terrific. As you can see, the driver (Susan) can see what's going on and what's next. While listening to Google music! pic.twitter.com/s68uyPb2xH

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 2, 2016

Monday, 3 October 2016

🎶 After hearing Susan's childhood song (Amster-Amster-dam-dam-dam) for many years, Steve has found an antidote: Amster-Amster-tram-tram-tram

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 3, 2016

Wonderful Rijksmuseum today for the most part. These four delightful Vermeers are the only ones they have. The originals are MUCH better! pic.twitter.com/gcKENRaSmA

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 3, 2016

Tuesday, 4 October 2016

Viewing Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum yesterday. Our collection of other things that we particularly liked is here: https://t.co/6Nb5HhIm8y pic.twitter.com/OQc8OoA9h6

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 4, 2016

Listening to Tracy Chapman's Fast Car (a favourite) covered by @RyanMontbleau while finishing a good lunch at The House.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 4, 2016

Currently sitting on the bench next to the bench that featured in a movie called The Fault in Our Stars. It is a lovely spot, featuring …

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 4, 2016

… the junction of two canals, a picturesque bridge, old canal houses and a steady stream of young people getting their picture taken 📽️ ☺ pic.twitter.com/7FS4ZzHUue

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 4, 2016

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

☕️ Back at our local BBrood for elevenses this morning. Delicious appelflap. It is a bakkerij, so we also buy our bread here.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 5, 2016

🍴 Having lunch at Grannies, on Hoofddorpplein. Local place that is well thought of. Hope the food is as good as the WiFi, which is terrific!

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 5, 2016

🍴 As it happens, the food was delicious! Omelettes all around.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 5, 2016

As is often the case, we find ourselves sitting on a park bench. In this case it is the large (47 hectares) Vondelpark on a cool, sunny day. pic.twitter.com/gVsHtywjyL

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 5, 2016

Thursday, 6 October 2016

☕️ Elevenses at @BBROOD (which we've enjoyed) for the last time. A more leisurely morning than we had planned because of a flight delay. pic.twitter.com/DOQY03lQ9Z

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 6, 2016

As usual we took more photographs here than we tweeted. Here's a link to our Amsterdam album – https://t.co/bP0KZR9Qon

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 6, 2016

Europe 2016: Münster

📷 Photographs

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

🚗 Moving on to Münster today. But first one last stop at Hanni's for elevenses while waiting for our laundry, which is just down the street.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 27, 2016

60s decor at Hanni's pic.twitter.com/oMAjALjaws

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 27, 2016

Picnic lunch in the Rosengarten on yet another gorgeous day here. pic.twitter.com/sUvtOqES4I

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 27, 2016

It took a while but Steve finally found a device he could watch UEFA Champions League on. NB: 3 devices beside him all found wanting. pic.twitter.com/6HRMaKQLzg

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 27, 2016

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Fruchte plunder for our first elevenses in Münster. We are at Bäckerei Schrunz, a local chain. pic.twitter.com/oW1NdziMZE

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 28, 2016

🚲 We love the use of bicycles here. This is in the centre of downtown Münster. pic.twitter.com/DSohVaEf2V

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 28, 2016

We have just stepped inside the Dominikanerkirche for an art exhibition of works by Armin Mueller-Stahl (perhaps better known as an actor). pic.twitter.com/Ymx3nT9KVt

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 28, 2016

One of the pieces on display. pic.twitter.com/ehrrveKjDq

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 28, 2016

The Dominikanerkirche is quite a lovely building. pic.twitter.com/pYmM8xGlKY

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 28, 2016

Thursday, 29 September 2016

We are having elevenses at Essman's Backstube. Wonderful place, established 1845. The plum cake is delicious. pic.twitter.com/nvYUmPCOJT

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 29, 2016

St. Ludgeri pic.twitter.com/IhMf7UPImD

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 29, 2016

There are a lot of churches hereabouts! This is St. Paul's Cathedral (St.-Paulus-Dom), built in the 13th century (4 photographs). pic.twitter.com/yXBUG4Lgqg

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 29, 2016

Friday, 30 September 2016

Our regular Münster morning: catch #10 bus at Bonhoefferstraße; get off at Schützenstraße; walk along amazing Promenade Münster (which … pic.twitter.com/j7IVszQMBC

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 30, 2016

… encircles the Altstadt) to Ludgeriplatz; walk into Essman's for elevenses. Today a delicious appleish bun. Nice way to start the day ☕️☺ pic.twitter.com/BNYBEE1J4U

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 30, 2016

Another day wandering around this lovely city. We picked Münster somewhat randomly and are glad for it – it's a wonderful city.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 30, 2016

Got back to our apartment in time to watch our young Canadian women come from behind to win their first match at the U-17 Women's World Cup.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 30, 2016

Saturday, 1 October 2016

☕️ It's 11 o'clock, so we must be at Essman's. This morning we are having the wonderful pflaumenkuchen (sour plum cake) again. Delicious! pic.twitter.com/LD4Xl47w83

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 1, 2016

Glad to find a Waschsalon Eco-Express here in Münster. Laundry keeps its own schedule! pic.twitter.com/jlGlgqdPKz

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 1, 2016

As usual we took more photographs in (and on the way to) Münster than we shared on Twitter. They can be found here: https://t.co/gcPrfRdce8

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) October 1, 2016

Münster has been our favourite spot so far on this trip. Not to denigrate Brugge or the area in and around Neuss (Mönchengladbach – Düsseldorf – Köln). But for a number of reasons, Münster really suited us.

Europe 2016: Neuss

📷 Photographs

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

While this post is titled (and is centred around) Neuss, today was mostly devoted to our time in and around Ypres. Susan lost two great-uncles and a second cousin at Mount Sorrel 100 years ago. First, a visit to the Menin Gate on the east side of Ypres. Then we spent some time nearby at the Hill 62 (Mount Sorrel) Memorial, which is now a lovely spot. At the time we were not aware that 21 September is the UN Day of Peace, which made our visit all the more poignant.

🚗 Trying to pick up our rental car. Unfortunately @Europcar is being incompetent … 🙁

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 21, 2016

Menen Gate at Ypres. Susan’s relatives – E.A. Ford, W.D. Ford & W. McN. MacLaren – are 3 of the 57,000+ bodies never found & honoured here. pic.twitter.com/Q0CpWFFm91

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 21, 2016

Having lunch at the Hill 62 Memorial, very close to where Susan’s uncles Willie and Eric were killed 100 years ago. https://t.co/TySJYHQ3Bb

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 21, 2016

Thursday, 22 September 2016

Today begins with adventures in laundry. No machine at our apartment here in Neuss, so we have come to the Eco-Express Waschsalon.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 22, 2016

While we wait for the washing, we have walked up the street and are having elevenses at the delightful Hanna’s 60er Jahre Café.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 22, 2016

Pretty slow day here in Neuss (“Germany’s oldest city”) after a long day travelling from Brugge. Not that we are ever overly ambitious 🙂

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 22, 2016

Friday, 23 September 2016

☕️ Back at Hanni’s for elevenses. Bicycle culture (but not like Brugge). pic.twitter.com/gM6Jr9B2vQ

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 23, 2016

Went to Mönchengladbach after coffee to look around and have lunch. Also managed to make a wee purchase … so we will be back tomorrow 🙂 pic.twitter.com/eFahWoGYg4

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 23, 2016

Saturday, 24 September 2016

⚽️ Shuttle after shuttle headed to Borussia Park. We will be on one soon after our picnic in downtown Mönchengladbach. pic.twitter.com/FAgUjNXP3w

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 24, 2016

Kick off in just over an hour. Our view: pic.twitter.com/zdpypxNI53

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 24, 2016

⚽️ Bicycle parking filling up: pic.twitter.com/Aw2obiz0pt

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 24, 2016

⚽️ Kickoff at 3:30 … right on time.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 24, 2016

⚽️ After 40 minutes of fitful football, Mönchengladbach puts together some nice play and goes up 1-0 through Stindl. The crowd goes wild!

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 24, 2016

⚽️ Better football in the second half. And now a second goal for the home side. Oscar Wendt, who had played well, puts the match to rest.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 24, 2016

Sunday, 25 September 2016

Today we spent visiting Düsseldorf, a city of about 600,000 on the east bank of the Rhine. It was a particularly lovely day and the local populace took full advantage. It seems that most of them were on the huge Rhine embankment promenade that seems to go on forever and is lined with cafés and bars. It is a great place to wander about, watching the people (many of them eating ice cream) and the river traffic. Barges, passenger craft and a few small pleasure craft all feature in a continuous march up and down the river. We had planned to visit an art museum (for which Düsseldorf is known), but it was just too nice to go inside!

At Bastian's in Düsseldorf for elevenses: pic.twitter.com/Xp9MctsKjg

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 25, 2016

The Rhine, with Altstadt (old town) to the right of the bridge. pic.twitter.com/pp1N6B8PMz

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 25, 2016

Neanderkirche. pic.twitter.com/WIwbQyLdwY

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 25, 2016

Monday, 26 September 2016

We spent today in Köln (Cologne), which we liked quite a lot. The highlight of our visit was the Kölner Dom (not surprising!), which is really, really impressive. About 40 km south of Düsseldorf, the main part of this city of 1 million lies on the west side of the Rhine. There was a lot to like here and given the chance, we would return for a longer stay.

☕️ ⛪️ Having elevenses at Kamps in the shadow of the cathedral in Köln.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 26, 2016

Inside Kölner Dom. Impressive. pic.twitter.com/2RbQIvjsbR

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 26, 2016

Outside Kölner Dom, with the chancel in the background. Built over 600 years, this part was completed in the 13th century. pic.twitter.com/IFripPD2BL

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 26, 2016

Light through stained glass windows in the Kölner Dom. pic.twitter.com/dhdzyQ1qU8

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 26, 2016

An older bridge across the Rhine here in Köln. This is about 40 kilometres south of Düsseldorf, where we were yesterday. pic.twitter.com/oEVS8Oi1j1

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 26, 2016

We have now experienced two UNESCO World Heritage sites on this trip. Last week was the Historic Centre of Brugge; today was the Kölner Dom.

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 26, 2016

We took a lot more photographs in and around Neuss than we shared here. They can be found at … https://goo.gl/photos/SBfWtDBw5oafPctH9

— Steve and Susan (@KnowmarkTravel) September 20, 2016