Inside the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany
Munich, Germany
In October of 2009, Kate and I were blessed to be able to go on vacation in Europe. We flew first to Munich, Germany and spent two days there viewing the local sites such as the Nymphenburg Palace, the Residenz Royal Palace, the Glockenspiel (sp?), and the Englisher Gardens. The people in Munich were beyond friendly, often offering assistance before we even asked. If they saw you with a map looking for something they would often come up and ask if they could assist. Wonderful people and a very enjoyable city.
The Nymphenburg Palace is an amazingly beautiful palace well laid out with large open grounds that are free to the public to use. You could see many joggers and strollers going down the many different pathways of the Nymphenburg’s grounds. Inside the palace are several large and detailed paintings outlining how the palace took shape over time starting with the initial constructions and then as each successive ruler took over the additions and revisions they made to the palace. Inside of course was as lavishly decorated as the outside.
Although the Royal Residenz Palace was also quite impressive and very beautiful on the inside it was harder to truly grasp its size and design due to the way its laid out within the city center of Munich. Surrounded by outlying civilian buildings, one can’t really envision the entire palace like you can with the Nymphenburg palace.
Salzburg, Austria
Panorama of Salzburg Austria from the Medieval Fortress high above the city.
Venice, Italy
From the gondola ride inside the water logged city of Venice.
After Salzburg we caught an overnight train to Venice, Italy. Looking back, a night train that leaves at 1:30am and arrives at 8am in the morning was quite as easy as it initially sounded when we were planning the trip. Sleeping on the train was doable but not enjoyable. Still, Venice was an amazingly unique place to visit and I was quite glad that we did. Although I probably wouldn’t have spent more than the 1 day and 1 night that we did there it was well worth the time. Venice is such a unique city that I’d venture to say there’s not another like it in the world. From first stepping off the train on see the water taxis and shuttle boats passing by you realize what its like in a water logged city. The population of Venice is only about 60,000 people but almost everyone travels by boat. We did the Tourist things, San Marco Square/Basilica, ate delicious Jelatos (Ice cream), and took the obligatory gondola ride through a Venice canal. I was not impressed with the Gondola ride as I knew I wouldn’t be. The primary canal that they use for gondola rides is often jammed with dozens gondolas so that it felt more like a log chute at Adventureland except no fun drop at the end. Further into the canal the water took on an unpleasant smell. So, needless to say that “romantic” is not the word I’d use to describe a gondola ride. “Expensive” is better suited.
Rome, Italy
Near Palatine Hill, the valley of temples. This is part of the temple of the Vestal Virgins.
After Venice we took another train to Rome. The ancient seat of the civilized world, Rome boasts a bevy of ancient wonders including the Coliseum and Palatine Hill. The typical touristy things as well, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and more. Even though some of the ruins are thousands of years old the intricate and detailed design is apparent. There is a pair of massive iron (perhaps copper?) doors that are 1800 years old on this pagan temple/converted church that every year they insert the keys and open them and they still work exactly like they were designed. When the Romans built something they built it to last. Those doors lasted through countless sieges and pillaging conquerors, through landfill and sediment till today.
Rome is in an interesting situations as it has so much history buried underneath the city that practically anywhere you dig you can find artifacts from centuries of years old. There are only two subway lines in Rome because when they try to dig others they find an ancient bath or the remains of a library or something else. The only reason they have the two lines they have now was because of the Benito Mussolini, he didn’t much care what was in the way…
We also visited the Vatican while we were in Rome. The entire city is loaded with marvellous and intricate treasures of the ancient world. St. Peter’s Basilica is cavernous and formed out of magnificent marble pillars that bely credibility.
Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower is beautiful when its lit up at night...
After three days in Rome, Kate and I flew to Paris, France where we spent the next couple of days. It was a wonderful time and although I wasn’t particularly impressed the last time I was in France, this time everyone we interacted with was quite pleasant and helpful. We saw the Eiffel Tower (both in the day and at night), the Musee De Armee/Hotel Des Invalides, the outside of the Louvre (only the outside because apparently they are closed on Tuesdays! Argh!), Notre Dame and the French parliament (Luxembourg buildings). Both Kate and I got very adept at navigating the French underground subway system and went all over Paris. Our hotel was quite close to the Arc De Triomphe which although impressive, much more significant to me was its closeness to a McDonalds! Sweet sustaining McDonalds…
Although it was disappointing that we didn’t get to see inside the Louvre it does give us an excuse to go back sometime! Notre Dame was very impressive although when you are in Europe you find that just about every church you see is impressive, in fact you begin to lose appreciation for all the culture that you see around you because every where you turn is an amazingly detailed and intricate fountain, or a massive cathedral or an ancient castle. No wonder Europeans wonder why Americans are so fascinated with it all, they live with it every day.
London, England
St Pauls Cathedral at dusk
After Paris, we took a flight to London, England to be with my uncle Jonathan and his family. It was a wonderful time spending those days and nights in their home. They have a wonderful family and were the most accomodating hosts anyone could possibly hope for. We were in the Wednesday night prayer service in Luton with the saints and was very blessed by the assembly. We saw old London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, the Eye of London (giant enclosed ferris wheel), Big Ben (Look kids, there’s big Ben again!), Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and much more. We also visited the ruins of Sommier’s castle which is the oldest red brick castle in England (actually it was more of a fortified manor, and actually it was more like some bricks out in this Farmer’s back pastures but it was still pretty neat!) Finally it was time to come back home and we were definitely ready! What a great trip!
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