Category: Travel

  • 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.

    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

    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.

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    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.

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    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.

     

  • Sweetheart Abbey

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

    When her beloved husband Lord John Balliol died in 1268 Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway had his embalmed heart placed in an ivory casket which she always carried with her. And she did quite a few charitable acts in his name, like the founding of the Cistercian abbey of Dulce Cor, the Sweet Heart Abbey, in 1273.

    When Lady Dervorgilla died in 1289 she was buried in front of the abbey church’s high altar, together with her late husband’s heart.

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

    The abbey was demised in 1560 following the Protestant Reformation. Since then a graceful ruin survived wars and time.

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