One of my reasons for going to London ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ at the beginning of May was a shopping trip. I had to choose a dress for my upcoming birthday. And I found what I was looking for...... 2.5 hours of feeling like a princess ๐ Into the dress, out, next, turn, huge mirrors around you and service just for me. A dream for all girls ๐ฉท I chose the white dress ๐ฉท๐ค as the party theme is pink and white. What else ๐ฅฐ (I had MANY dresses on - these two were in the final selection - which one would you have chosen?) Afterwards I had to rest my tired feet in a super nice pub. Kisses ๐
Hampton Court once had one of the most magnificent gardens in the whole of Europe. And rest assured: the 24 hectares, divided into 3 gardens, are still magnificent today! The royal private garden to the south of the palace was restored in 1995 as a formal Baroque garden as it was in 1702. At the southern end, a richly crafted wrought iron fence runs along the winding banks of the Thames. There is also a so-called knot garden and a pond garden consisting of flower beds. This section is complemented by an orangery (now an exhibition room) and a greenhouse with a vine planted in 1769: 5 metres in circumference and branches up to 36.5 metres long. Wow ๐คฉ. The largest vineyard in the world. On the banks of the Thames is the Banqueting House, an intimate dining room built in 1700 and painted inside. The eastern garden was finally given its present form with lawns and clipped yews and hollies in the 19th century. At the northern end of Breite Weg, which runs along the castle faรงade, is the tennis court, which was laid out around 1620 and still serves as a sports facility today. To the north of the castle in Tudor times was the large orchard and the tournament ground, which had five towers for spectators. The famous trapezoidal maze is the only surviving remnant of this garden. Around 800 metres of winding paths lead through the 1350 mยฒ maze through two-metre-high yew hedges. The rest of the garden is now a meadow planted with trees. The former showground is now divided into smaller gardens, one of the spectator towers is still preserved and is located next to the garden restaurant.
To the east, in a loop of the Thames, the so-called deer park is home to a herd of fallow deer numbering around 270 animals. For the flower lovers among you: In July, the largest annual flower show in the world has been held for 35 years: the week-long Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. An experience for sure! Enjoy the magnificent gardens! Kisses ๐
I really took my time to listen to the interesting description of the audio guide tour of Hampton Court Palace and was able to take a relaxed stroll through the magnificent rooms of the King and Queen, marvelling at Georgian rooms and picture galleries. You should definitely take a day and let it all sink in. Kisses ๐
For me as an amateur chef cuisine, a visit to the kitchen at Hampton Court Palace was of course essential. Wow - I could have let off steam there! Around 1530, Henry VIII had a court of around 1,200 people living with him in the palace. For this purpose, the initially "smaller" kitchen was extended to 50 rooms covering a total area of 3,350 square metres, which were arranged around several courtyards according to an ingenious system. One of the huge fireplaces is still lit for demonstration purposes. And you can get an approximate idea of the temperatures that prevailed when all 6 fireplaces were heated in the one kitchen room. Insane! Kisses ๐.
And inside, the marvellous Hampton Court Palace is no less beautiful. The audio guide leads you through the rooms in an extremely informative way and takes you through the history of the building! Kisses ๐
A walk through Hampton Court Palace. Enjoying the sun โ๏ธ, enjoying the quietness, the incredible castle. If you ever will be there in the area: Visit it! Kisses ๐
Off the ferry, I first went to Hampton Court Palace before London ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐ฉท. A Tudor castle ๐ฐ from the 16th century. It is located in Richmond upon Thames, the rather affluent outskirts of south-west London. No. Social housing is definitely not here. The streets meander along dreamlike villas with beautiful driveways. There's plenty to admire and marvel at. Kisses ๐
Off to London - I'm really in love with London. ๐ฉท And so I could hardly wait to get back over there after what felt like an eternity of 6 months. To avoid the aeroplane, I once again took the ferry โด๏ธ. Overnight stay in Calais - the hotel is simple, but absolutely clean. And located right next to the harbour. I boarded the ferry very early in the morning. I can really only recommend this option for "coming over". Completely relaxed and easy. The priority check-in makes things a lot easier. On board, I enjoyed a relaxed breakfast in the lounge before enjoying the marvellous sunrise towards the chalk cliffs of Dover. Wow. What a play of colours when the rising sun โ๏ธ bathes the white cliffs in a soft light. Dover is the town with the most important English harbour on the English Channel and the chalk cliffs are symbolic sentinels at Britain's closest point to the European mainland. Dover is located in the south-east English county of Kent. Kisses ๐
Today, Rheinfels Castle in the Rheingau is one of the largest castle and fortress ruins in Europe. Developed into a Renaissance castle under the Counts of Hesse and later expanded into an extensive fortress, Rheinfels is one of the most important sites on the Middle Rhine. As one of the few bastions on the Rhine, it was unsuccessfully besieged and not destroyed during the Thirty Years' War and the War of the Palatinate Succession.
There are many interesting things to discover in the castle museum with its exhibitions on the historical history of the fortress, Romanticism & Revolution centred around the Romantic poet Ferdinand Freiligrath and various exhibits.
And if you are very quiet, you might spot one of the many bats that live here. Due to their special protection, the tour times are adjusted between October and March! Drive there. It's really worth it! Kisses ๐
Rheinfels Castle, built in 1245 near St. Goar on the Rhine, directly on the Loreley rock, is also considered a ruin. Anyone who imagines a broken or dilapidated castle: Far from it. It still rises majestically above the Rhine Valley today. It has been sensationally preserved. To be more precise, the castle is a spur castle situated on a ridge between the left bank of the Rhine and the Grรผndelbach valley above St. Goar. After its expansion into a fortress, it was the largest fortification in the Middle Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Bingen. The fortress used to be considered one of the most secure and impregnable castles in Germany, and since 1973 there has been a luxurious hotel next door, which has borne the name "Romantik Hotel Schloss Rheinfels" since 2005. Maybe worth a visit sometime! Kisses ๐
The small gondola ๐ก from the 1950s took me high up to the Niederwald monument above Rรผdesheim am Rhein. At its feet are the vineyards of the Rรผdesheimer Berg. While I'm here - a gondola ๐ก despite a fear of heights โบ๏ธ The monument was intended to commemorate the unification of Germany in 1871. Alongside several other monuments, the Niederwalddenkmal is one of Germany's monumental memorials from the time of the German Empire and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley since 2002. In addition to the figure of Germania enthroned at the top, the high relief below the plinth is particularly impressive, showing 133 life-size figures. This makes it the largest bronze relief of the 19th century. The surrounding area is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Kisses ๐
Wine has been cultivated at Eberbach Monastery in Eltville in the Rheingau since the end of the 15th century, as winegrowing was one of the monks' main occupations outside of their prayer times. What was initially intended for personal consumption soon developed into a sought-after commodity that secured the future and prosperity of the monastery.
In the wine barrels of the Domรคne Steinberg in one of the pictures, fine wines from one of the most valuable monopole vineyards in the world (similar to my beloved Scharzhofberg on the Saar) once matured.
You can see original wine presses in the old walls. Wow. What a sight for wine lovers.
Today, Weingut Kloster Eberbach owns top vineyards in both Hessian wine-growing regions, in the Rheingau and also on the Hessische Bergstraรe.
"Vinum delectat et laetifi cat cor hominum" is written in Latin script on wine press no. 9 - which means "wine delights and gladdens the hearts of the human" (if I, as a completely non-Latin speaker, translate this correctly). How true, how true ๐
Eberbach Monastery was built according to the early Cistercian movement's ideal of solitude. The monks were to concentrate on a life pleasing to God, secluded from the world and away from the important trade routes. The monastery basilica is a dominant building on the southern edge of the complex. It is a three-nave High Romanesque pillar basilica with a transept. The nave, transept and choir have a roof ridge that runs through at a uniform height. Large windows were created in the choir, one of which is still preserved today! There are no fewer than 9 chapels in front of the south aisle, which were used as burial chapels. A wonderful church, a wonderful and peaceful place. Kisses ๐
Once in the area, you have to make a stop at Eberbach Abbey. This monastery is a former Cistercian abbey in Eltville am Rhein in the Rheingau. The monastery, famous for its viticulture, was one of the oldest and most important cisterns in Germany, founded in 1136! Today, the Eberbach monastery is home to the Hessian state wineries - the largest German winery today. The entire complex is a listed building and must be visited if you're ever there!!! Kisses ๐
Who doesn't know them? The chocolates with Asbach Uralt. In fact, Asbach Uralt comes from Rรผdesheim and is the oldest German drink like this - founded in 1892. Hugo Asbach wanted to create something on a par with the French one. Hugo Asbach also invented the name "Weinbrand" to distinguish it from from France. The term "ancient" was intended to indicate the long ageing period. The advertising slogan "The spirit of wine is in Asbach-Uralt", invented in 1937, is still used today. It is also mixed with cola. After several other sales, the original family business is now in the hands of the Underberg company. The original factory was bought by a South African woman who now runs a restaurant and wine shop there. There are 160 different wines available. A winemaker always presents 2 different wines. You insert a coin and take a tasting sip. Afterwards, you can enjoy a delicious snack in the courtyard. Kisses ๐
Off from Calais ๐ซ๐ท to Dover ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ with the ferry of DFDS. Super service. Early bird ๐ฆ and so: 6 am on the ferry โด๏ธ on it. I have booked: First Boarding and Lounge. It's worth it. Really. No waiting, walk through. Parking. And then enjoy absolute peace and quiet in the lounge with all you can eat and drink. The most important thing for me: the peace and quiet! Incredible: the sunrise. And then - finally: the chalk cliffs of Dover. My heart leaps and is incredibly happy ๐ฉท Kisses ๐
On my way to Calais ๐ซ๐ท .... The car needed a pit stop just before Dunkirchen ๐ง๐ช Belgium is incredibly well equipped with charging stations. Tomorrow I'm taking the ferry โด๏ธ to Dover ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐ฉท London is calling ๐ฉท And I'm coming ๐ฉท
I have arrived in Mallorca of the 60s: Rรผdesheim/Rheingau. Whew. Oh well. That's also part of it. The Drosselgasse, a 2 metre wide and around 144 metre long cobbled street in Rรผdesheim am Rhein, which is visited by around three million people every year, is indeed world-famous.
The numerous wine houses, some of which are half-timbered, characterise the image of this small, narrow street alongside gift and souvenir shops. Thank goodness I was here out of season and in the rain. It would be unthinkable if masses of tourists were to push their way through here!
However, I had a very tasty meal in the Schloss Rรผdesheim restaurant run by the famous winemaker Georg Breuer - and of course I also sampled a wine or two. Background music and good service included. For this: A clear recommendation. Kisses ๐
Some days off for me at the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which stretches over 65 kilometres along the Rhine's breakthrough valley through the Rhenish Slate Mountains between Bingen, Rรผdesheim and Koblenz. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. This unique landscape is characterised by the Rhine, its narrow banks and the steep, partly vine-covered valley slopes as well as the numerous castles, palaces, monasteries and churches, combined with myths, legends, works of literature, music and visual art, especially from the 19th century. Of course, the Loreley is also world-famous. And no - it is not a statue of a graceful girl. The Loreley is a 132 metre high, steep slate rock on the right bank of the Rhine in the Rhine Gorge near Sankt Goarshausen and is therefore also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ley means something like stone or rock. A marvellous landscape and wonderfully accessible by car. Kisses ๐
St George's Chapel is a collegiate church in Windsor Castle in Great Britain. The building, constructed from light-coloured sandstone, is considered one of the main works of the Perpendicular Style. This refers to a "perpendicular style" or rectilinear style, an architectural style of the late Gothic period typical of England and neighbouring areas. The chapel was founded in the 13th century under Henry III. It is the final resting place for numerous members of the royal family. Most recently for Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip.
The free-standing, towerless St George's Chapel dominates the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle. Although it officially only has the status of a chapel, at 237 feet (around 72 metres) long it is the size of some cathedrals. The exterior is characterised by the large windows and the richly decorated buttresses. Unfortunately, just like Windsor Castle, it was not possible to take any photos inside. Kisses ๐
