Nuremberg Castle was home to the German kings and kaisers from 1050 to 1571. It was heavily damaged in the Second World War but all parts were restored to its historical form.

Albrecht Dürer is one of the famous citizens of Nuremberg. His most memorable is that of his brother’s hands. Read about the love of two brothers – Albert and Albrecht Durer and its connection to The Praying Hands (currently located at the Albertina in Vienna).

At Nuremberg, we went straight for the Hauptmarkt (main market) where the Schoner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) greets its visitors. Legend has it that those who rub the golden ring is blessed with good luck or fertility. Watch Gina as she demonstrates! Just a few steps away is the Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, where we had some time to enter and pray.

Movie with today’s destinations:

Nuremberg was part of A Taste of the East itinerary.

Lunch at the Hofbrauhaus — an array of German sausages, pretzels and no beer. LOL The group had to stay sharp for some serious shopping of designer bags. Did you know that Adolf Hitler proclaimed the twenty-five theses of the National Socialist program at the Hofbräuhaus?

Munich was part of A Taste of the East itinerary.

Doing a tour at last minute’s notice can be very exciting. I begin a tour in Munich and got in touch with Mabel to meet up and catch up with each other’s lives in the flesh. We’ve kept in touch through Facebook and it was high time to meet her — it’s been 36 years since we saw each other!

I was wondering what it would be like to see her again after all this time. Would it be awkward? We’re not 10 anymore. Sometimes best friends drift apart, not due to distance but due to a million other things. I was nervous.

A knock at the door. Was she really here? I opened the door and screamed with delight! No awkwardness whatsoever. That was a good sign! From the hotel, we just walked a block and found an old and musty bar open. We didn’t care. We were pressed for time so this bar was perfect. We talked non-stop and had time to have our picture taken by the old man behind the bar. Meeting up with Mabel was one of the highlights of my trip to Munich!

Found this gem of a painting on Etsy.com. I love the interpretation of Ginette Creations. Her choice of colors is vibrant — probably the aura of such a beautiful architectural masterpiece. Check more of her works at GinetteCreations.

There is no better way to experience a destination then under your own steam and the tiny Italian island of Sardinia is the ideal place to do this. Instead of the usual fare, you can choose to spend your time flitting between the irridescent blue waters and fine, sandy beaches to ancient remains, through beautiful, wild countryside and back to modernity with a host of fine eateries to satiate your appetite and nightlife to excite the senses.

Whether you are landing at Cagliari Airport, Olbia Airport or Alghero Airport, organising car hire is simple. If you are choosing to centralise your adventure around the south of the island, then you will be landing at Cagliari Airport. There are several Cagliari Airport Car Hire firms and these are AM Service, Autoeuropa, Budget, Dollar/Thrifty, Easycar, Eurorent, Matta, Midarent, Pinna, Ruvioli and Sardinya.

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia and is the largest city on the island. It is a thriving, modern city nestled in the foundations of an ancient past and all just a short distance from some of the most mesmerising beaches in Europe. Evidence of its early occupation are predominantly in the old town. The Piazza Costituzione is partially enclosed by the remants of the Bastione of San Remy, which can be climbed along with the two medieval towers, the Torre San Pancrazio and the Torre dell’Elefante, to get great panaromic views over the city and coastline. In May, the Festa di Sant´Efisio is held to great colourful fanfare as inhabitants deck out in local costume to honour the saint.

Sights worth visiting are the Catherdral of Santa Maria, which offers tours and includes fabulous examples of 15th and 16th century paintings and sculptures, and the Cittadella dei Musei which houses the National Archeological Museum. Displays consist of relics from Nuragic civilization and artifacts dating back to the Phoenician and Roman period, obtained from various parts of mainland Italy and Sardinia. For a slice of horticultural beauty though visit the Orto Botanico, or Botanical Garden, which was founded in 1865 and hosts a variety of tropical plants from around the world.

Just outside the city is one of the top tourist attractions in the region, the magnificent 2nd century amphitheatre, which was originally carved straight into the rock. It is now used to host music and theatre shows. Calamosca and Poetto beach, two of the most popular beaches in Cagliari, are just a few kilometres away on the southern coast and are lined with fabulous restaurants and shops. Yachting and boating activities are available, while the temperate waters and good conditions are also favoured by windsurfers, surfers and those wanting to take their PADI diving courses in an marine environment full of exciting and interesting aquatic life.
To really be at one with nature, there is the Parco dei sette Fratelli, a breath-taking area of protected countryside and home to 115 vertebrate species, including Sardinian deer, wild boars and royal eagles. It is an hour´s drive east along the SS125 towards Castiadas and Muravera and is marked by its sweeping canyon and the Cannas river that runs along bottom of it, as well as its dense forest.

Further north from Cagliari near Barumini, around a 65 km or an hour and quarter drive, is the nuragic complex of Su Nuraxi. Dating from the Middle Bronze age, c.1450 BC, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. The impressive fortress at its heart comprises seven turrets with a central tower that stretches over 14m. The ruins of the village which spread out around it include a large meeting hut and various habitations.

Going 40 minutes west along the coast and near the town of Pula, are the fascinating Ruins of Nora. While the Phoenician influence is shows among the foundations of the temple and foundary ruins, the Roman inclusions dominate in the form of a theatre, thermal baths, forum, temple and the Sanctuary of Aesculapius.

Another 30/40 minutes on and your reach the gulf of Teulada a stretch of coastline characterised by its bays and coves. A great spot for fishing or sunbathing away from the masses is the craggy, rocked Punta Niedda or search for urchins in the nearby smooth pebbled beach of Campionna. Marinas to visit are the Porto Zafferano, Portu Tramatzu and the much smaller but charming Porto Budello. Close by is the forest of Gutturu Mannu which makes for idyllic walking with its lush vegetation and olive, pine and cork trees. A little inland is the village of Teulada which offers traditional culinary delights from seafood to suckling pig and goat, which is roast on a spit with local herbs.

Michelle Elkins is contributor to the Sardinia-Airport-Guide.com, which provides information on everything from Sardinia Cagliari Airport car hire to Sardinia Cagliari Airport transfers and Sardinia Calgiari Airport Buses.

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Spotted this Oberammergau vintage ashtray from CallMeOut on etsy! This year is when Oberammergau performs their Passion Play. Don’t you just love vintage pieces? They’ve got other interesting stuff, too.

If you’re planning to include Oberammergau in your trip this year, there are still some tickets left. For more information, Check out my Oberammergau packages.

Located in southern Germany not far from the Austrian border, Oberammergau is adorably charismatic and enchanting. Streets are lined with half-timbered houses whose flower boxes are exploding with brilliant red blooms. Many of the buildings are adorned with ‘lüftlmalerei’ – ornate fresco-like paintings on the outside walls, meant to display the residents’ religious beliefs or family occupation. Since Oberammergau is a deeply religious town, many of the paintings depict saints or other characters from the Bible. However, two houses – nicknamed the ‘Red Riding Hood House’ and the ‘Hansel and Gretel House’ – are colorfully painted with children and are said to have inspired the classic fairytales of the same name.

Oberammergau is also home to some of the most talented woodcarvers in Germany. These thriving little businesses offer exquisite hand and machine-cut plates, bowls, decorative items, toys, and religious icons. Visitors can not only browse a shop’s selection but observe as the resident master creates a work of art out of a simple block of wood. The fresh scent of sawdust and wood chips linger in the air around the stores as if drawing customers in with a signature perfume.

Despite all of its charm and beauty, the magnetism of Oberammergau is its emotional Passion Play. Back in the dark days of the Thirty Years War, the little town watched as Europe fell victim to an even harsher enemy – Plague. This menace brutally ravaged home after home, community after community, city after city and leaving almost no one in its wake. As this Black Death crept over Oberammergau’s borders and her population started to feel its grip, the town cried out to a higher power for help. Not wanting to be obliterated as other places had been, the citizens made a solemn promise to God – the desperate prayer of a desperate people. They swore that if God saved their town, they’d reenact the story of Christ’s death and resurrection every ten years as a commemoration of His mercy. They made this ultimate deal in 1633 and by 1634, they were ready to make good on their bargain. Although Oberammergau lost some to the deadly disease, the town as a whole escaped extinction and the Passion Play began its long-running history. Its first performance was held in the town cemetery, perhaps so even the plague’s final victims could look upon this promise upheld. Even now in these modern times where religion sometimes falls in the cracks, the citizens of Oberammergau refuse to tempt fate and remain faithful to their ancestor’s word. Their beautiful rendition of ‘the greatest story ever told’ runs a whopping six hours and is performed in an open-air theater through all kinds of weather.

Picturesque and eternally grateful, Oberammergau takes its promises very seriously. The next ‘installment’ of that promise is scheduled for May-September 2010.

See more of Europe’s hidden treasures in “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal” by Vicki Landes and available on Amazon.com. http://www.EuropeForTheSenses.com

Initially a skeptic, Vicki Landes was not thrilled when her military husband moved her and their new baby to Stuttgart, Germany – in fact, she went kicking and screaming. She quickly took to Europe and ended up living in Germany for a full seven years. During that time, Landes became an avid world traveler and published author. With a current list of 45 countries under her belt, Landes strives to find the overlooked details that make each place distinctive and unique. “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal” is her first book.

Visit her website: http://www.EuropeForTheSenses.com – access information on the book, Landes’ blog, book reviews, press spots, book trailers, links to purchasing options, sign up for Landes’ weekly newsletter, and her new online photography galleries!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vicki_Landes
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