Lithunia is still a hidden treasure for most Western Europeans, although its time of being a part of the former Soviet Union ended in 1990. Also only few people know Vilnius, the beautiful capitol of Lithunia, whose old, mediaval downtown was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site back in 1994.
Simply beautiful: We booked a day trip with Cretan Daily Cruises and had a fantastic day at Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island!
Six months after I visited Iceland in February we came back to see the island in summer. Our destination: Snæfellsnes. This peninsula in the western part above Reykjavik is often called a miniature of Iceland. The landscapes and views it offers are breathtaking!
Once every year, placid Ulm transforms into a vivid, loud (and wet) party zone. This special day in Ulm is celebrated since the 14th century and it marks the end of the annual oath taking week. It's called "Schwörmontag": oath taking Monday (learn more in this short video, if you're interested). Anyway, one of the most fun aspects of the city's celebration is the "Nabada", which, roughly translated, means: bathing down the river. Imagine thousands of people, tubing on the Danube on anything that floats, and forming a gigantic, colourful water parade. Compare it to the Fiesta San Fermin in Spanish Pamplona or La Tomatina near Valencia. If you'll ever have the chance to see it: the Nabada usually takes place on the third Monday of every July.
Out of nowhere - and actually for the first time since we're living here - a stone marten appeared on our street and in our garden.
Warbirds, aerobatics, drones, jets and helicopters: Model flight at its best fascinated the spectators of the remote-controlled flight days on the airfield of Sonderbuch near Blaubeuren, hosted by the "Modellsportverein Blaustein-Bermaringen".
We were strolling through the woods near the local restaurant "Schillerstein", when we suddenly detected something "artificial": an old, deserted lodge. Even more gripping: nearby we found the entrance to that old tunnel. Later, the aged owner of the tavern told us, that this tunnel once was used to transport abort from a stone quarry, that was abandondend around the year 1900. Fascinating!
Maybe we should check, whether the tunnel today is already used for geocaching?!
Just to end the hexalogy of my trip to Iceland, here are some remnants of my short visit in Reykjavík: a collection of typical front doors of Icelandic houses. More or less beautiful wooden show pieces (my favourite pic is no. 7)!
What the Opera House is for Sydney and the Elbe Philharmonic Hall will be for Hamburg, is the Harpa in Reykjavík: A modern concert hall and conference centre. A visit there is mandatory. I had the chance to see the backstage areas of that stunning building and I found its architecture more than impressive! The main hall seats between 1600 and 1800 people and is fitted out like the dark red inward of a vulcano.
