European Champions League Final 2013

Just a short blog to highlight an important piece of history for Germany that happened last night.  In Europe, the Champions League is made up of each country's top 3 or so teams and they compete all year long to ultimately crown a champion of champions. For example, there may be teams from Spain competing with the best in the UK.  In the last few months, the teams have participated in qualifying rounds to get to the final 2 clubs.  Last night for the first time in history, 2 German teams rose to the top and competed in the final match held at Wembley Stadium in London.  Borussia Dortmund was up against Bayern Munich.  The players from each club made up the lion's share of the German national team. 

The picture shows one of many viewing areas setup in Wiesbaden for the night.  This tent was erected outside of one of our favorite restaurants - Spital.  As you can see, the room was packed around a projector screen on a rainy night.  The fans were all very proud to be Germans that evening and everyone showed respect for each team even if the allegiances were split at least in this room about 50-50. 

Dortmund represents an area of central Germany that is one of the most populous regions in Europe and historically the mining region.  Bayern Munich represents the Bavarian region to the south.  After a few years living here in the central region, most locals consider Bavaria another country!  I'm not sure all the reasons - history, religion, and I think the Bavarians just plain have more fun!

Anyway, on this night, I enjoyed superbly played soccer (I'm beginning to know the difference between good and bad) and great camaraderie from the many fans attending.  The pride in the room was evident - THE biggest European footbal event next to the World Cup, and only German teams playing.

Oh, and one more thing.  Daktronics just installed 2 very large video screens at Wembley along with a 360 degree ribbon board along the upper deck... so, we had even more to celebrate!

Tschus!

Boats, Bicycles and Canals in Amsterdam

Amsterdam was our destination when Emily and Katie visited in March.  It had been one of the "darkest" ie cloudiest winters on record in Europe.  So we were thrilled to have one of the first sunny and warm days of the year to tour Amsterdam.  The city is built on canals dammed from the Amstel River (thus the beer name) and is actually below sea level.  In the 1300s, the Dutch also learned how to control the sea tides by building dikes.  There are over 2500 houseboats in the city - at one time they were actually cargo vessels used to ferry essentials throughout the city and into the North Sea.  

We drove to Amsterdam from Wiesbaden (about 4 hours) on a beautiful day and within minutes of arriving, hopped on a canal tour to see the city from the canal perspective.  Our captain was very informative and it was obvious he truly loved his city. This is a great way to get oriented to Amsterdam and also learn about the history without visiting a boring museum. 

The girls enjoying a sunny afternoon on the canals.  Emily had a blonde moment when she said her headphone commentary on the tour was not working, and then realized the ear buds were not in her ears.

That's my reflection viewing one of the old houseboats that once was a sail-powered ship.

A view from the open air boat to Amsterdam's famous gables. The 2 to the left are called Bell gables.



An example of a sea-going vessel in the Amsterdam harbor leading to the North Sea.



A houseboat permanently anchored with the nice touch of a picket fence.

One of the many tunnels under bridges throughout the city.




A museum that IS well worth a visit is Anne Frank's house and museum. We all remember the movie but to visit inside the actual house, you get the sense of what it was like to be in prison in your own home. All the windows were covered and each room was claustrophobically small. The story is still riveting today and a sad reminder that Anne died in a concentration camp just weeks before liberation. Her father survived and found the diary after the war. The rest is history.

Our gang in front of the iconic and beautiful Amsterdam Centraal Train Station.

The Dutch are famous for legalizing marijuana and prostitution. In "coffeeshops" throughout the city, you can try whatever strength or strain you like.  Although they have strong laws against harder drugs like heroin and cocaine, they believe that a prohibition on marijuana would create more problems than it solves.  Prostitution in the famous red light district has been legal since the 1980s for the same reasons. 

Apparently the first coffeeshop in town.

Bicycles !!  There are so many of these that bikers are far more dangerous than cars in the city.  And every imaginable violation of American standards of safety are on display.  You willl never see a bike helmet in town and yet these bikers constantly navigate around mindless tourists like us with no problem.

Classic way to bring the family along - we saw many variations on this contraption.

And bring the dog too...

Talking on cell phone while carrying a bag of groceries.  I would be in traction.

In the neighborhood, the buildings all look crooked - no lines seem to be straight - from the walls to the windows.

A typical narrow walkway in the city.

This beautiful flat has intricate stone carvings outside, and looking closer...

...you see this sculpture above the doorway depicting...hmmm, I'm not sure.

Dank u wel and Tot Ziens (Thank you and Goodbye!)

Prague, The Capital of Bohemia

With a few friends in tow, we finally made it to Prague, Czech Republic, only a 4 hour drive from Wiesbaden.  Since I am told I have Bohemian blood, it was a necessary right of passage to visit. This gorgeous city has only really been seen by foreigners since the fall of communism in 1989.  Prague is the only major city in Central Europe to escape WWII bombs - and it shows.  Everywhere you turn, you're met with a beautiful view like the picture above of the Old Town Square. 

What a history - on May 8, 1945, the Nazis left town.  The very next day, the Russians "liberated" them.  Between then and 1989, Czechoslovakia was part of the USSR and closed off to the world. It is now the second most visited city in Europe after Paris! 

On our February visit, we awoke on Saturday morning to a full on snowstorm that eventually left over 5" of snow.  It did not seem to deter the tourists and made the city look like even more like a fairy tale. 

An example of the architecture in the Old Town Square

The famous Charles Bridge built in 1357

A couple of German tourists in front of the Vltava river.   In the distance is the Prague Castle and church.

Prague castle without tourists standing in front

St. Vitus Cathedral in a driving snow storm



This amazing Art Nouveau stained glass window is in the cathedral, completed in 1931 by a Czech artist





When John Lennon was killed in 1980, a memorial wall filled with graffiti appeared overnite.  Every night the police would spray paint it and every night, Lennon's words would reappear.  During the dark days leading up to the fall of communism in 1989, this wall stood for freedom for many Czechs



I don't leave home without my leopard-print umbrella.

When the snow finally subsided, Heidi and Marcus found this little hut with gluhwein and a great fireplace.

Here's the whole gang on the Charles Bridge (Pete, Mary, Sue, Chris, Heidi, Marcus

A view looking toward the city from the Charles Bridge

We found this great photograph of the bridge from a local artist and tried to find the exact location where he took the picture.

Look at the detail on the side of this building.  The river runs underneath it.

Marcus talked us into getting a drink in the Ice Pub Prague.  Awesomely cool silver jackets!

The Last DJ



So many Russian dolls, so little time.  How would you like to setup this window every day.



More than 500 years ago, the Old Town Hall Astronomical Clock was built.  It's really complex with signs of the Zodiac, Bohemian time, modern time, and even the time of tonight's sunset.  I have no idea how it works.

Another view of the Old Town Square with the fairy tale spires



And a final look at the Old Town during the daytime from a rooftop restaurant
Tschus!!



The Magic of Majorca

We took advantage of a winter getaway to the Island of Majorca just off the coast of Barcelona Spain in the Mediterranean Sea.  The winter had been long, gray, cold and basically ugly up until this visit in mid-February.  There was plenty of sunshine and azure blue water.  It felt like a mix of the Florida Keys, Mexico, and Sardinia with Spanish culture mixed in.  The temperature was about 60 degrees but it felt like heaven compared to Wiesbaden. We visited before the massive invasion of British and German tourists.  Our travel agent in Germany placed us in an area that was bilingual - German and Spanish!  There were Bavarian bier gartens everywhere!  Of course, we visited them and felt like the locals.

There seems to be a micro climate here with a combination of palm trees, cypress trees and pines.  And the almond trees were in full bloom!  Boats and Goats are everywhere.  We stayed in Playa de Palma and had a car for 3 days to sightsee the island.  All sides of the island were less than a few hours away.  Majorca is named the island of calm because of the light winds. 

The town square of Soller inland near the west coast.

Port de Soller on the west coast.

Our friends from Wiesbaden, Ed and Laura, came along with us.

This is the entry into Port de Soller looking west towards Spain.



Another beautiful coastline and accompanying twisty road.



The El Calvario (Calvary Path) 365 steps surrounded by Cypress trees leading to a chapel containing images of the crucifixion.  





This is the stone carving in the chapel that legend has it were found by local fishermen in their nets in the 13th century.





Port de Pollenca



Us girls enjoying the view.  Where's the wine when you need it?

I am standing on the edge of the Cape de Formentor on the north coast.

Ed and Mary walking up to the top...

...to get this unbelievable view.



And finally to the infamous lighthouse at the northernmost cape... and, it was closed!!



Sheep grazing below the flowering almond trees.

One of the many hairpin turns on the way back from the lighhouse.

A flowering almond up close and personal.

Port d' Andratx

Camp de Mar

Laura and Pete taking a break in the harbor of Port d' Andratx with a San Miguel Beer!

The harbor of Port d' Andratx.

These iconic windmills were everywhere on the island.  They are one of the most historic landmarks.  Every farm had one of these to either grind grain or pump water.

Nice to finally be in the sun and feel like Spring is near.
Adios Amigos!