"Germany under a white blanket"

Winter | Germany | 2010-12

After celebrating XMAS 2010 in Berlin we took the ICE train to return to Ubstadt. Here are some pics from the trip. Note that the pics were taken through the ICE windows during a speed from about 200 km/h (125 mph).

"XMAS 2010 in icy Berlin"

XMAS | Berlin | Germany | 2010-12

The whole december 2010 will get into the german anuals as the month with the big snow. After being in Vienna I flew directly to Berlin (luckily during a period where planes could start and land). And so here are the results of some walks through winter wonderland.

"Where Sissi met Franz"

Schoenbrunn Palace | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Palace Schoenbrunn is Vienna's most popular tourist destination, attended by 2,467,000 visitors in 2009. The whole Schoenbrunn complex with Tiergarten Schoenbrunn, Palmenhaus, Wuestenhaus and the Wagenburg, accounted for more than five million visitors. Palace Schoenbrunn is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria.

"A warm place in a cold surrounding"

Palmenhaus Schoenbrunn | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Palmenhaus Schönbrunn is a large greenhouse in Vienna, Austria, featuring plants from around the world. Opened in 1882, it is the most prominent of the four greenhouses in Schönbrunn Palace Park. It is also among the largest botanical exhibits of its kind in the world, with around 4,500 plant species.

"The illumination of an old era"

Nighttime | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Some days before Christmas 2010 the nights in Vienna were very cold and frozen. So taking pictures was a very sportive moment. Nevertheless I shoot some nice pics from the inner city of Vienna.

"When you have taken the 71" - Part 2

Zentralfriedhof | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Opened in 1874 the cemetery spans 2.4 square kilometres with 3.3 million interred here. It is also second largest cemetery, after Hamburg's Ohlsdorf Cemetery (more than 4 km²), by area and largest by number of interred in Europe. The most popular route to the cemetery using public transport is the electric tram numbered "71". Among the Viennese, a popular euphemism for a death is that the deceased person "has taken the 71".

"When you have taken the 71" - Part 1

Zentralfriedhof | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Opened in 1874 the cemetery spans 2.4 square kilometres with 3.3 million interred here. It is also second largest cemetery, after Hamburg's Ohlsdorf Cemetery (more than 4 km²), by area and largest by number of interred in Europe. The most popular route to the cemetery using public transport is the electric tram numbered "71". Among the Viennese, a popular euphemism for a death is that the deceased person "has taken the 71".

"The most famous ferris wheel in the World"

Riesenrad | Prater | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Wiener Riesenrad (German for "Viennese giant wheel") is a Ferris wheel at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Austria's capital Vienna. It is now one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions. The Riesenrad was one of the earliest Ferris wheels, erected in 1897 to celebrate Emperor Franz Josef I's golden Jubilee, and has an overall height of 64.75 meters (212.4 ft).

"Christmas Market in wonderful Surroundings"

Town Hall | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Rathaus (Town Hall) was designed by Friedrich von Schmidt in the Gothic style, and built between 1872 and 1883. On the top of the tower is the Rathausmann, one of the symbols of Vienna. Facing the Rathaus is a large park, the Rathauspark, in which every advent there is a large well-known Christmas Market.

"... can be seen on the 20-Euro-Cent from Austria"

Belvedere | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The extensive Belvedere complex consists of two magnificent Baroque palaces the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a stunning Baroque park landscape in the 3rd district of Vienna, south-east of the city centre.

"Being Guest in Mozart City"

Mix | Vienna | Austria | 2010-12

Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million, more than 25% of Austria's population, and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th-largest city by population in the European Union. Vienna is host to many major international organizations, such as the United Nations and OPEC.

"Last time I saw Knut alive"

Zoo | Berlin | Germany | 2010-08

In August once again we visited the Berlin Zoological Garden. What we didn´t know at that time is, that some months later the world famous Icebear Knut would be dead. But this Zoo is a great pleasure even without Knut and so it surely wasn´t the last visit.

"Riding along the Tegeler See"

Tegel | Berlin | Germany | 2010-08

Here are some pics from a bicycle tour along the Tegeler See in Berlin. I drove for example over the Harbour Bridge in Tegel, known as the "Sechserbrücke" (Six Pence Bridge) because in former times ou have to pay a Bridge toll in the amount of 6 pence.

"The little suicide cemetery in Berlin-Grunewald"

Cemetery | Grunewald | Berlin | Germany | 2010-08

I heard about this cemetery in the berlin television some days before. It was so mysthic and attractive that I decided to take there a short trip. And during a ride by bike around the Wannsee I was looking for this little parc.

"Little animals in big spotlight"

Makro | Animals | Berlin | Germany | 2010-08

In Summer 2010 during my Berlin-Days I saw a fat fly in the garden as well as a little garden spider. Some raindrops complete this session.

"Bridges over troubled water"

Bridges | Prague | Czechoslovakia | 2010-08

Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. It is situated on the Vltava River in central Bohemia. The urban living depends on the bridges which connect the inner city with the suburbs.

"Mixed Pictures from Prague - Part 2"

Mix 2 | Prague | Czechoskovakia | 2010-08

Here are some pics which doesn´t fit into another Prague-Category.

"Mixed Pictures from Prague - Part 1"

Mix 1 | Prague | Czechoskovakia | 2010-08

Here are some pics which doesn´t fit into another Prague-Category.

"Where the Deads live"

Old Cemetery | Prague | Czechoslovakia | 2010-08

I spent some hours at the old cemetery in Prague. Not the Jewish Cemetery because it´s not allowed there to take pictures. But in the neighbourhood lies the old cemetery with a lot of old graves from the penultimate century.

"World record at the top of Prague"

Hradschin | Prague | Czechoslovakia | 2010-08

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle (Hradschin) is the largest coherent castle complex in the world with an area of almost 70000 m², being 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.

"When most of the tourists sleep"

Nighttime | Prague | Czechoslovakia | 2010-08

Here are some pics of Prague Old Town taken in the evening.

"Start and Finish of our Prague-Trip"

Train Station | Prague | Czechoslovakia | 2010-08

We travelled to Prague by train from Berlin. It takes around 4 hours driving through a wonderful surrounding belong the river Elbe. The Main Station of Prague is called "Praha hlavní nádraží" and was opened in 1871. From 1945 to 1953 the name was "Wilson station" after former US-President Woodrow Wilson.

"Berlin Mitte - on a summer sunday afternoon"

Mix | Berlin | Germany | 2010-08

These pics were taken for luck on a sunday afternoon. I didn´t go out to take pics, but the afternoon light was so wonderful and impressive, that I had no other change to take out my camera. And so I made some pics from the Oberbaum Bridge as well as from the "pregnant oyster" ... so the Nickname for the Berlin Congresshall.

"Where the 'Wutzel' lives"

Kurpfalzpark | Wachenheim | Germany | 2010-06

The "Kurpfalzpark" is a 700.000 m² Theme Park in Wachenheim/Palatinate with some 150.000 visitors per year. It is well-known for the family-friendly staff and for the raptor show.

"Models in the Garden"

Snails | Ubstadt | Germany | 2010-05

Starting of May 2010 I spotted 2 snails in our garden. So I started a photoshooting with these 2 models.

"Leaving our second home to the first home"

Flight Denver to Frankfurt | Germany | USA | 2010-04

After the 30-days trip this year we left Denver at the end of April from the International Airport. In 2009, Denver International Airport was the tenth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic with 50.167.485 passengers. It was also the fifth-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements with 606.006 movements. The airport's distinctive white tensile fiberglass roof is aesthetically designed to be reminiscent of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in winter.

"Red Rocks and other things"

Denver | Colorado | USA | 2010-04

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure in Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado (west of Denver), where concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a seating area for up to 9,450 people in between.

"Colorado´s wine country"

Grand Junction | Colorado | USA | 2010-04

Grand Junction is located along the Colorado River, where it receives the Gunnison River from the south. The name "Grand" refers to the historical upper Colorado River until renamed in 1921, and the word "Junction" is from the joining of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Hence, Grand Junction has been given the nickname "River City".

"A place with over 2.000 sandstone arches"

Arches National Park | Utah | USA | 2010-04

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. Forty-three arches have collapsed due to erosion since 1970.

"Where is the physical law?"

Landscape Arch | Arches National Park | Utah | USA | 2010-04

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. Forty-three arches have collapsed due to erosion since 1970.

"My third visit of this beautiful monument"

Delicate Arch | Arches National Park | Utah | USA | 2010-04

Delicate Arch is a 52 ft (16 m) tall freestanding natural arch located in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. It is the most widely-recognized landmark in Arches National Park. Delicate Arch is located at the end of a moderately strenuous, 1.5 mi (2.4 km) hiking trail from the parking area at Wolfe Ranch.

"Forrest Gump stopped running here; Thelma and Louise did not."

Monument Valley | Utah | USA | 2010-04

The Monument Valley area is part of the Colorado Plateau. The floor is largely Cutler Red siltstone or its sand deposited by the meandering rivers that carved the valley. The valley's vivid red color comes from iron oxide exposed in the weathered siltstone. The darker, blue-gray rocks in the valley get their color from manganese oxide. Monument Valley was film set for many Hollywood Movies like "Forrest Gump" or "Thelma and Louise".

"Beam of lights and flash flood danger"

Antelope Canyon | Page | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest.It is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew. On August 12, 1997, eleven tourists were killed in Lower Antelope Canyon by a flash flood.

"Driving westward through empty plains"

St. George to Page  | Nevada | Utah | USA | 2010-04

This daytrip went along the same routes we made in 2008. But this time we only wanted to come from A (St. George/Utah) to B (Page/Arizona). We didn´t passed the Zion Nationalpark like in 2008, we took the street via Hurricane and Colorado City. First thought was to stay in Page after visiting again the Antelope Canyon, but for some reasons we went further on this day to Monument Valley.  

"Where the stones appear to be on fire" - Part 2

Valley of Fire SP | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Valley of Fire is located 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas and Nevada's oldest state park. It was dedicated in 1935. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays.

"Where the stones appear to be on fire" - Part 1

Valley of Fire SP | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Valley of Fire is located 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas and Nevada's oldest state park. It was dedicated in 1935. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays.

"Unique geologic features, plants and animals"

Red Rock Canyon | Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Red Rcok Canyon is located about 15 miles (24 km) west of Las Vegas, and easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. The area is visited by over 1 million visitors each year. The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 feet (910 m) high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination.

"The Entertainment Capital of the World" ... at daytime

Day | Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, at the close of the century Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in the 20th century. Las Vegas has one of the highest suicide and divorce rates of the U.S. For similar reasons, Las Vegas has also one of the highest marriage rates of U.S..

"The Entertainment Capital of the World" ... at nighttime

Nights | Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, at the close of the century Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in the 20th century. Las Vegas has one of the highest suicide and divorce rates of the U.S. For similar reasons, Las Vegas has also one of the highest marriage rates of U.S..

"One of the last crossings by vehicles"

Hoover Dam | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction; nearly a million people tour the dam each year. Heavily travelled U.S. 93 ran along the dam's crest until October 2010, when the Hoover Dam Bypass opened.

"McDonalds with a teal 'M' instead of a yellow"

Sedona to Kingman | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Sedona's main attraction is its stunning array of red sandstone formations, the Red Rocks of Sedona. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop and so it´s no wonder that in Sedona is the only McDonalds in the world with a teal "M" instead of a yellow "M".

"One of the most unknown beautiful park" - Part 2

Picacho Peak State Park | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Picacho is a Spanish word meaning big peak. This "big peak" is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles. Picacho Peak State Park is celebrated for wildflowers that appear mid-March to early April following good winter rain. For me it was one of the highlights in our 2010-Travel through the USA.

"One of the most unknown beautiful park" - Part 1

Picacho Peak State Park | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Picacho is a Spanish word meaning big peak. This "big peak" is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles. Picacho Peak State Park is celebrated for wildflowers that appear mid-March to early April following good winter rain. For me it was one of the highlights in our 2010-Travel through the USA.

"The town too tough to die"

Tombstone | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Tombstone was founded in 1879 by Ed Shieffelin. He was a scout for the U. S. Army headquartered at Camp Huachuca. Ed frequently searched the wilderness looking for valuable ore samples. Soldiers from the camp told him the only stone he would find was his tombstone. Tombstone is famous for its Western History where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday fought in the well-known OK Corral Gun Fight.

"Spending a wonderful day"

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | Tucson | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place!  The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

"Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona ..."

Tucson | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Tucson means 'at the base of the black hill'. Tucson is the 32nd largest city and 52nd largest metropolitan area in the United States. The Beatles song 'Get Back' talks about Tucson, Arizona:'Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California Grass'.

"Desert Wilderness on the Border to Mexico" - Part 2

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a U.S. National Monument and UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona which shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only place in the U.S. where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild. It takes 150 years to reach maturity and to reach their maximum of 7-8 Meters (23-26ft).

"Desert Wilderness on the Border to Mexico" - Part 1

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a U.S. National Monument and UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona which shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only place in the U.S. where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild. It takes 150 years to reach maturity and to reach their maximum of 7-8 Meters (23-26ft).

"Snowbirds and White Cities"

San Diego to Ajo | California | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

The term Snowbird is used to describe people from the U.S. Northeast, U.S. Midwest, or Canada who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California or Arizona. There are places like Quartzsite, Arizona, that have been labeled "white cities" because from a bird's eye view all the motorhomes cover the landscape in white and then in the summer are gone.

"America’s Finest City"

San Diego | California | USA | 2010-03

Because of the mild climate the Americans nicknamed San Diego as America´s Fienst City. SD is the eight-largest american city. According to Forbes magazine, San Diego was the fifth-wealthiest city in the U.S. in 2005, and the 9th safest city in the top 10 list of safest cities in the U.S. in 2010.