All is good in Germany when it comes to celebrating Christmas. We recently traveled to Munich and drove to several Christmas markets. Our favorite was Nuremberg. In Nurrmberg we stayed at the Saxx Hotel with our room overlooking Christmas market.
The picture below is of a gentleman cooking Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional German alcoholic drink with a rum-soaked sugarloaf set on fire and drips into mulled wine.
Summer is a great time to take a break from school and work to explore new areas. We did just that and had a great time. Driving over 3,500 kl (2,100 mi), we toured through The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.
Our first stop was Cochem, Germany where the Mosell River runs through and the Reichsburg Cochem Castle stands and Cochemer Sesselbahn (or Chairlift) to take us to the top of the mountain to see the entire city. At the top was a cross that lit up the skies at night and a spectacular view.
In Cochem, Germany in a small hotel on the Moselle river, we stayed in a hotel. We walked the riverbanks and took pictures of the castle at night (http://www.burg-cochem.de/lage-der-burg.html?&L=1). The contours of the neo-gothic building was more than about 330 ft above the river Moselle. Cochem Castle was built around the year 1000. Additional “must do” items include: The historical mustard mill (Senfmühle), built around 1810. For around 6 Eros, take the seselbahn to the Pinnerkreuz mountain and hike up to the cross on the top of the mountain. Also, wine cellars tour and tasting possible at: H.H. Hieronimi, Stadionstraße 2.
Cochem gets quite around 18:00 hours. However, make the most of the morning and big German breakfasts most hotels offer. It is a wonderful city and fun for the family.
The Hague is an incredible city. We live just North is a city named Wassenaar (Coordinates: 52°9′N 4°24′E). As Wikipedia states, Wassenaar is, as it has been since the days of Prince Frederik, an official residence: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, his wife, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, and their daughters live in the villa Eikenhorst at the estate De Horsten in Wassenaar; Princess Alexia was baptized at the Romanesque church in Wassenaar. The princesses attend the Bloemcampschool in Wassenaar, founded in 1931.
De Langstraat, the main shopping street in Wassenaar is a great place to find quick gifts and shop for household items.
In addition, several ambassadorial residences are located here, including those of Canada, South Korea, Indonesia, and Ireland. In general, there is a large expatriate community of diplomats and business people in Wassenaar, largely due to its proximity to both the international organizations and embassies in The Hague and to several international schools, including the American School of the Hague (ASH) and the British School in the Netherlands (BSN). The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) is also based in Wassenaar; each year, it provides research time, space and support for foreign and Dutch scholars.
As a community, Wassenaar benefits from several parks and a network of bicycle paths. Trees, mainly beech, oak, and horse chestnut, are widespread, giving the town a provincial characteristic. The town centre supports a number of high end shops, delicatessens and bakeries as well as a cafe, bar, and restaurant. Wassenaar boasts having the best ice cream parlor of the Netherlands, Luciano’s. Luciano’s is very popular and always has a long line full of people throughout spring, summer, and fall. Furthermore, there are Football, Field Hockey, Cricket, Rugby, and Tennis clubs located in Wassenaar for locals to participate in or to enthusiastically cheer on.