When the travel bug bites you

[Esther Knapicius]

Three trips planned for the balance of the year. End of September to Branson, MO, to stay in our main timeshare, never been, have to still plan what to see. End of October to Gulfport Miss. to visit with nephew and family. still in planning stages. and then for Thanksgiving flying to Seattle, to be with cousins, there are two places I want to see when there.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

our Gulfport Miss. trip is canceled . my nephew will be working on rebuilding the Florence disaster in the various states needed. that is his construction company specialty. He has a crew of guys from all over that arrive and machinery etc. Part of was not too excited about going, something in my gut. This week to finally sit down and discuss concerts to go to in Branson, MO.

 

[Bootsy]

Since the last places I showed we have been off travelling again to a number of places. To the English Lake District, twice, which is just a 300 mile drive and our favourite place.

The first time we were also going to a wedding up there so Mrs Bootsy took a car full of flowers from the garden to do the flowers for the wedding.

with some of the left overs she made up a few vases for the place that we stay at.

We also spotted some of the local wildlife

And, of course, some of the lakes (and mountains ).

 

[Bootsy]

We also went to a lot of places in Germany.

Berlin has many churches, museums, monuments and large buildings

War memorials and information.

The Berlin wall

One section of the wall is covered in paintings, graffiti and people are allowed to draw and sign their names on parts of it

The Brandenburg Gate - a picture of the picture of the bombing in front of the gate.

 

[Bootsy]

Brandenburg Gate as it is now

Checkpoint Charlie

A sign of the times - the Big M

 

[Bootsy]

Wittenberg, the birthplace of Martin Luther. In that part of the country almost the only religion is Lutheran (Protestant) but we were told that only a small proportion of people were actually religious.

A pretty town

We also visited a lot of other places:- Meissen, Dresden, Potsdam, The Bastei and then on to Prague. I'll try and find time to show some of it.

 

[Becky]

Gosh, sounds like you've been busy @Bootsy! Lovely photos, thanks for sharing them with us I've been to Berlin a couple of times, it's a great city.

 

[Bootsy]

Potsdam - was also enclosed by the Berlin Wall. This bridge became well known when it was used for the exchange of Francis Gary Powers (pilot of the U2 shot down by the Russians) and the Russian spy Rudolph Abel. They made the well known film, Bridge of Spies, about it (rather inaccurate in places but that's quite normal with films).


Then

Now

Not too far from there is the Palace of Sans Souci (similar to a scaled down version of Versailles)

Also nearby is the pretty, small town of Worlitz.

In the mid eighteenth century Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau built Worlitz Castle which is now a World Heritage site and in the grounds it has enormous gardens, lake and a river.

The interior décor is quite ornate

and he was a very liberal and forward thinking person.

He had the church next door - in the grounds

and also built a synagogue in the grounds

He said "both religions had the right to exist. Everybody had to be enabled to decide for himself which belief to follow."

An inscription in a cemetery has a quote of his:-
"Whether Jew, Pagan, or Christian, in death we are all equal; therefore, be and keep being human."

 

[Esther Knapicius]

we are off soon again. this Thursday, to Seattle, WA. driving up to stay on the San Juan Islands, and explore for 5 days, then back down south of Seattle, on the way Deception Pass. then on to my cousins house for Thanksgiving and few days to see the area etc.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

San Juan Islands neat, my first ferry ride with a car from the "main land" to them. Beautiful scenery, then we did deception path on the travel south to stay with cousins.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Not sure what happen with those pictures above, sorry.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

So next trip is this week, we are off on Saturday to Freeport, Bahamas, for a week.

 

[Becky]

Not sure what happen with those pictures above, sorry.

Looks like you added them multiple times, I've sorted it now though. What a beautiful place!

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Thanks for your assistance, @Becky . I was pressing the button for large and forgot which button I had hit. In the past just hitting the top for all large does not seem to work, or maybe its me. It is a beautiful place indeed. The cost of living there is nuts though. Example a dozen of eggs are $8.00. And, one might say, well get chickens. but chicken feed costs lots. I did not really see much fields of grain, corn etc. did see cows. So not sure all the issues. Understand from the B&B they have some interesting regulations there. But only there three days, so no real need for detail understanding of those. Anyway, a neat place to visit if in that area for something else. Would I say, yes, you have to go there in your life or your missing a real treat---Nope would not say that. But, again, a good area to attach to a visit of the Northwest coastline. I also love the Oregon Coastline, and the Washington State Coastline, both have seen twice, now that is an area to must see.

 

[Becky]

Example a dozen of eggs are $8.00

Wow!!

I've not visited NW USA but I'd like to one day