Welcome to our Photo Blog.
These are favourite shots from "Travels with Ian and Sue" plus many others that didn't make it to www.motorhometrips.blogspot.com

The idea is that some people would prefer just to see our photos to get the flavour of a place we have visited, plus a little information on where and how the shots were taken - the emphasis is on the pictures rather than our day to day adventures. By the way, clicking on any photo will enlarge the view.

Friday 18 January 2013

Europe Trip 2012/13 - A German Christmas (2)

From Munster we moved on to Osnabruck, a town heavily damaged in the war but still with some ancient parts remaining.

All these shots, apart where indicated other wise, were taken with a Lumix GH1 and 14-140 zoom lens. 






The crowds gather in Osnabruck as darkness falls







Colourful stalls to delight the eye







Gingerbread heart or chocolate covered strawberries?








Ancient buildings provide the backdrop as the party atmosphere builds








Brilliant coloured lighting down every street







And the traditional stuff as well




After Osnabruck we moved onto  Hameln, of Pied Piper fame, the sleet and freezing rain washed away the light snow on the rooftops.








Hameln's old, wet streets light up their charm







Hamelin's Rathaus and the Kirche of St Nikoli's in the rain








The Town Hall, with 24 windows dressed as an Advent Calendar








St Nikoli's church looks over the crowded stalls








The beautifully restored Kartoffelhaus im Büergerhus








Inside, imaginative Christmas decorations  gave a lovely atmosphere





Wernigerode, one of the most complete and beautifully preserved towns of half-timbered houses, with its market square and cobbled side streets, made a perfect destination for the Christmas festivities.







The Johannis Kirche was illuminated only with candles for evensong








Wenigerode's square is the perfect venue for a Weihnachtsmarkt








A magical merry-go-round for the kids








The simple messages were not forgotten








Schneeballen...if you've still got room...








This medieval band of musicians gave it their all




 



Wernigerode's darker side...



A highlight of our stay in Wernigerode was a trip on the Harzer Schmalspur Bahnen or narrow gauge steam railway up to the top of the legendary Brocken






A classic sight!



 




The white top of the broken can just be seen on the top left of the hill









Extreme freezing conditions, only on the top of the Brocken








The train to take us home arrived late, very late...








Chilled passengers hurry home





Also not to be missed in Wernigerode was the Schloss, a true fairy-tale castle







 A haunting presence on the hill, Schloss Wernigerode








The only thing missing was some snow!





Monday 7 January 2013

Europe Trip 2012/13 - A German Christmas (1)

This year we decided to get away before Christmas and do a tour of the best Christmas Markets in Northern Germany – and hopefully get ourselves a white Christmas into the bargain!

On our way up country to see family before getting the Hull-Rotterdam ferry, we stopped off at a lovely country pub near Bristol: The Crown Inn at Winford. If you have an idea of what a proper English pub should be like, then this must come close. It's down a long narrow lane, but has a large car park.

All these shots, apart where indicated other wise, were taken with a Lumix GH1 and 14-140 zoom lens. 




The Crown Inn at Winford
















Off the ferry in Rotterdam, we moved swiftly through Holland, over the Arnhem bridge, and into Germany and our first stop: Xanten.






Lumix TZ7, through the windscreen







Pitched up in Xanten






Sue surveys the magic at Xanten's market



















At Oberhausen they build the Christmas village alongside a canal by a vast shopping and leisure complex – it looks a bit naff in the daylight what with the multi-story carpark and the gasometer, but when it gets dark and the lights come on...





The crowds pour in – even the gasometer gets lit up!






The bratwursts sell non-stop






The lights along the canal are fantastic. GH1













The stall displays are wonderful too... 











Then we moved on to the ancient city of Munster – a different flavour again: small markets dotted around the town.  Drift from one to another, grazing on Gluhwein and bratwurst...




















Is it a bishop or Santa Claus – either way he's on a trike with lots of lights and toys!