Photos and the City

Tag: travel

  • Glenwhan Gardens

    Little did I know I was in for a surprise with my next home for two nights. I had booked this little Shepherd´s Hut at Airbnb just because it seemed a great spot to explore Dumfries & Galloway and I wanted to stay in a lovely hut for some time.

    Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants

    Little did I know it was situated in the most beautiful gardens above the little village of Dunragit. The work on the gardens started about 35 years ago and is an ongoing labour of love.

    It was a wee wet day when I arrived and the little hut seemed even cosier.

    Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants

    But I still had to explore the gardens a little bit.

    The Gardens are a labour of love, hewn from rough moorland 35 years ago. With the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, Glenwhan grows many tender plants from around the Southern Hemisphere, together with large collections of rare trees and shrubs. A numbered tree trail for the dendrologist has been collated, along with a 17 acre moorland walk with 120 species of wildflowers, grasses, and ferns. Two small lakes (Lochans) are the focal point of these family-run gardens, with seats and  meandering paths running along enchanting walks with interesting scupltures, which the visitor will discover.

    (Glenwhan Gardens)

    Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants

    On the next morning, I woke up to sunshine, some lovely visitors and another surprise: the sea!

    Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants

    South facing and 300 ft above sea level, Glenwhan Gardens offer magnificent views over Luce Bay, the Mull of Galloway and the Isle of Man, a perfect backdrop for this garden gem, with leisurely paths and Seats to sit and relax on and enjoy the Spectacular sea Views

    (Scotlands Garden Route)

    Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants

    Glenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plantsGlenwhan Gardens, dumfries, galloway, scotland, uk, garden, airbnb, nature, stranaer, dunragit, flowers, plants

  • Berlin

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the cityBerlin, the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine. 

    David Bowie

     

    It was about time to visit Berlin again – it´s been way to long! Two photoshoots brought me to the city, but there was enough time left to explore, visit old favourites and getting wet!

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city

    I stayed in the district of Neukölln and just had to take a walk at the lovely Landwehrkanal besides trying to check out all the little cafés – which would be a neverending task!

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city

    A day in Pankow – an area I didn´t know at all, but as we mostly photographed inside I didn´t see that much, I´ll just have to come back. That foggy early morning view to the sunny evening at the Bürgerpark was very promising!

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the cityberlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city

    The first time I was here the old “Palast der Republik” was still standing and over the years I saw the deconstruction to the empty space to the start of the new building, the Humboldt Forum. According to this view, it should be finished soon – even so thinking of the new Berlin Airport “soon” sometimes may take longer.berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the cityberlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the cityberlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city

    From the Tiergarten (and the lovely Café am Neuen See) to the Brandenburger Tor and Gendarmenmarkt, I was frozen and wet enough for some hot chocolate at Rausch.

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    Always a must (at least in my book), c/o Berlin and the Helmut Newton Foundation.

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city

    berlin, germany, travel, autumn, rain, city, photos and the city
    My Window view

     

  • Threave Castle

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    A visit at Threave Castle starts with a little 5 to 10 minutes walk through the lush hills and fields until you´ll catch the first glimpse of the castle sitting on a little island in River Dee.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    A small boat of the National Trust for Scotland awaits you and brings you safely to the fortress on the island. It is said that Threave Island was the home of the ancient rulers of Galloway about a 1000 years ago, but the left no trace.

    Today’s tall forbidding tower was built by Sir Archibald Douglas, the new Lord of Galloway but better known as Archibald the Grim, in 1369. He died on Threave as 3rd Earl of Douglas, one of the most influential and important figures in Southern Scottland, in 1400.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    About 50 years later Theave was under a two-month siege when James II tried to overthrow the Black Douglases and brought the Castle under the Crowns command. Later it belonged to the Maxwell Family.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    The tower was (is) 5 storeys high, had storage and service space under its lower floors and houses Archibalds private rooms above. There were a little harbour and several buildings around the castle.

    Threave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summerThreave Castle, scotland, drumfries, galloway, castle, national trust for scotland, travel, my british summer

    More information about Threave Castle is on the National Trust for Scotland site.