europe trip – Neila Tarchouna Bewerbungshomepage

Blog: European Tour 2019/2020

In this post, I would like to share with you a short story about my wonderful and unforgettable trip around some cities of Europe which I undertook with my brother Yosri Tarchouna after my Bachelor graduation in November 2019.

It was actually a cultural and educational trip instead of an ordinary tourist trip. We visited European monuments from different eras, went to museums and learned about the culture and customs of these countries.

Furthermore, the trip served to deepen our language skills in intercultural exchange with people from different parts of Europe.

We mainly used cars and long-distance buses as a means of transport for the short and long journeys, especially as this was a cheap alternative for the many cities we travelled to.

Cities and towns we have travelled to in late 2019 to mid-2020 include:

Freiburg and Constance in Germany
Kreuzlingen, Basel, Zurich and Davos in Switzerland,
Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse, Paris and Versailles in France
Milan and Venice in Italy
London in England
Barcelona in Spain

I moved to Freiburg for a year with my younger brother. He worked there as Systems Engineer for Microsoft Solutions. I moved there because the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg has a Library that has everything I need as reading material for my Bachelor’s thesis in Linguistics and Translation Studies.

Freiburg an der Breisgau is a beautiful small city in Baden Württemberg in the southern part of Germany.

The city is especially known for its international University. Some of the city’s sights are the Dreisam River, the 7 nature reserves around the Black Forest and the medieval old town.

In the old town you will also find Freiburg’s landmark, the Freiburg Cathedral, which was formerly built as a parish church in Romanesque style and was then completed in Gothic style.

In this photo you can see me with my brother in the shopping street of the old town near the Martinstor.

In fact, France and Switzerland are also very close from this city. I like Freiburg, also known as „Green City“, because it is very eco-friendly.

The share of bicycle traffic here is higher than that of car traffic, which has also prompted me to use the bicycle more often as means of transport.

Relocation to Freiburg 2019

Constance

Our next stop was Constance in Baden- Württemberg. It is the largest city on Lake Constance and is located on the border to Switzerland (Canton: Thurgau – neighbouring city: Kreuzlingen).

Then we strolled through the medieval old town, past many small shops, restaurants, bars and winding alleys, and visited the Romanesque Constance Cathedral with its Gothic tower dating from 600 AD.

Walking through the old town

The Promenade

We then lingered on the promenade to marvel at Lake Constance with its many small yachts, canoes and sailing boats.

Panoramaview

At the old Rhine bridge we had a wonderful panoramic view of the beautiful houses and buildings of Constance.

This lake looks like an ocean

The lake, which glows turquoise in good weather, is so large, that it looks more like an ocean. At the end of the lakeshore we came across the „Imperia“, the town’s landmark.

As already mentioned, Switzerland is not far from Fribourg. It was a unique opportunity for us to visit this small but beautiful country.

Little, beautiful Switzerland

Basel

We have fixed a vignette sticker to the windshield of the car and set off towards the old town of Basel. We visited the market square and the Basel Cathedral, which was built in the 12th century in Gothic style and is decorated with red sandstone and colourful bricks.

Zurich

We then continued towards the capital city of Zurich. There we took a walk in the city centre near the main station and then went to one of the most elegant and expensive shopping streets in Europe, also near the station, called Bahnhofsstraße.

The shopping street stretches all the way to Lake Zurich.

Arriving at the Lake Zurich promenade, we took a short break and enjoyed the fresh lake/mountain air.

Davos

We also explored the Swiss Alps by car, including a trip to the ski and spa resort of Davos.

France - Mulhouse

Since Freiburg is close to France, we also had the chance to explore some of the cities around Alsace.

First, we visited the weekly market in Mulhouse called “ Les Halles du Marché du Canal Couvert“.

The weekly market opens three times a week on the street called “ Quai de la Cloche“. The people of Mulhouse like to come here to buy food like fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, but also other specialities from Alsace, or textiles at the bazaar.

My brother and I noticed that the weekly market looks colourful and has a multicultural character. Be it at the stalls outside the market hall or in the market hall itself. It was a real pleasure for us to taste the delicacies from Alsace.

Colmar

Secondly, we visited the town of Colmar. We first strolled through the old town, marvelling at the architectural buildings in medieval or Renaissance style.

Then we realised that the souvenir stalls in the old town were selling miniatures of the Statue of Liberty and even in the old town there were posters of the Lady Joconde everywhere.

Afterwards we found out that the famous 19th century Alsatian sculptor Auguste Bartholdi was born in Colmar in 1834 and was commissioned to create the Statue of Liberty as a gift from France to the USA.

Christmas in Strasbourg

Our third stop was Strasbourg. The capital of Alsace is also the official seat of the European Parliament.

There we visited the Christmas markets in the old town and were amazed by the Great Christmas Tree with its dazzling, colourful lights at Place Kléber.

The Christmas tree is considered the symbol of Alsace.

A detour to Paris

We also went on a trip to Paris and the surrounding areas with another family member. Of course, we couldn’t miss a visit to the Eiffel Tower.

This iron, yellow-brown coloured, over 300 m long tower is now 134 years old and was designed by the architect Gustave Eiffel.

It is said that Gustave Eiffel had German ancestors who emigrated to France from the small village of Marmagen in the northern Eifel in NRW at the beginning of the 18th century.

At that time, the tower, which is now a listed building, was erected for the Paris World’s Fair in 1889 as a monumental entrance portal and observation tower to mark the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Today it is the symbol of the French capital par excellence.

We then made our way to Versailles

Visiting the Sun King

When we arrived in Versailles, we visited the huge Baroque-style palace of the French King Louis XIV, also called the „Sun King“.

Why is he called the Sun King? – He chose the sun as the most important symbol for his absolutist regime, because he considered not only the sun as the centre of the solar system, but also himself as the centre of France.

The castle, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is visited by up to 15 million guests from all over the world every year. With its 51000 square metres of living space, it is one of the largest châteaux in Europe.

If you want to see how the king lived in his sun castle and immerse yourself in the history, culture and arts of France, this is the place for you.

In the photo you can see me with my mother and brother in the royal courtyard of the castle on the city side.

In this picture you can see the marble courtyard covered with black and white tiles that King Louis XIII originally had built in 1623 for his hunting lodge.

The castle was previously built as a hunting lodge before his son Louis XIV transformed it into a magnificent fairytale palace in 1661.

Black and White Marble Court

The golden entrance gate

It is also fascinating to see how the entrance gate to the castle was restored in 2005-2008 and decorated with gold leaf after the destruction during the French Revolution of 1789 – 1799. On top of the gate you can see the royal crown. You can also see the emblem of the Sun King with the head of Apollo, sunbeams, sceptre and French lilies.

It was originally built in 1680 by the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart for security and ceremonial purposes.

(1)The Sun King loved art, architecture, science and Greek mythology. In his palace garden, his passion for these was reflected in the garden design, which was realised by the garden architects Andre LeNotre and Mansarde.

(2)The picture shows a fountain with the Greek god Zeus‘ mistress, Latona, standing in the centre. She became pregnant by Zeus with the twins Apollo and Diana.

The Laton Basin in the Palace Gardens of Versailles

(3)In revenge, Zeus‘ wife Hera banished her to a small peasant island where she was to give birth to the twins. During the summer heat, the farmers were ungracious to Latona, who was dying of thirst.

She then asked the god Jupiter to take revenge. Jupiter fulfilled her wish and transformed the peasants into frogs and lizards, which can also be found in the design of the fountain.

The Château de Versailles Gardens

(1)The Sun King’s 815-hectare gardens and parks were also intended to reflect Absolutism and Baroque. To this end, he entrusted the garden architect André Le Nôtre with designing the gardens. From all over France, trees were brought in to realise the project.

(2) For this purpose, fountains, water channels, flower beds, sculptures, an orangery, parterres, garden paths and gardens with groves were laid out.

(3) It was important to the Sun King that the perfection of the garden be recognized as a total work of art in which nature is dominated by man to express power and wealth.

(4) Everything should have its strict order and also be aesthetic. In other words, the garden should be strictly geometrical. Symmetry and regularity should be visible everywhere.

(1) We set off to explore the inside of the Château.

The Interior of the Château (Part 1)

(2)As far as the eye can see, there are paintings and golden decorations from floor to ceiling. You find numerous motifs and images from Roman and Greek mythology. Louis XIV liked to compare himself to Apollo, the god of the sun and light.

The Interior of the Château (Part 2)

Louis XIV is often portrayed in an idealised manner in numerous Baroque- paintings. He was thus able to express his claim to power in all its splendour to the outside world.

(1) But you can also see that the habitable rooms have been converted into a museum,

The Interior of the Château (Part 3)

(2) since much of the furniture and decoration that used to be there had either been looted during the French Revolution or sold during auctions after the war.

The Interior of the Château (Part 4)

(1) The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace is considered the central gallery. The ceiling is decorated with paintings and rich gold ornaments/motives.

(2) Numerous chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The vaults of the room are decorated with a multitude of mirrors.

(3) The arrangement of the windows and mirrors brings so much light into the room that the impression of infinity is given, plus it offers a lovely view to the garden area.

1) This room is filled with paintings that tell the story of the French Army.

It is located in the southern wing of the Château on the first floor.

The interior of the Château - The Galerie des Batailles (Part 5)

(2) The gallery was built to honour some of France’s great military victories. The paintings showcase approximately fourteen centuries of French history.

England - Hello, London!

We left the car at home this time, because the country we visited has left-hand traffic. And by that we mean England and its capital London.

As instinctive right-hand drivers and inexperienced left-hand drivers, travelling there by car is for the two of us – Mission: Impossible.

So, to play it safe, we decided to take the long-distance bus from Cologne Airport to London via the Euro Canal to the „Victoria Coach Station“.

When we arrived in London, we intended to use public transport such as the London Underground or the red double-decker buses to tour the city.

We arrived at night and headed towards Bayswater near Hyde Park to our hotel.

You can see here a photo taken at night from the bridge over the Thames with a view to the London Eye Ferris wheel, which stands next to the large Mariott Hotel County Hall.

The colourful lights of London at night are enchanting.

London's green lung

(1) What Central Park is to New York, Hyde Park is to Central London. This beautiful park with its many small cafés, footpaths, cycle paths and sculptures is surrounded by a picturesque lake with lots of white swans swimming in it.

(2) Many Londoners simply go for a walk here to enjoy nature, do sports or have a picnic. You might easily think that you are not in a 9-million world metropolis.

Back then, the park was not open to the public, but only for the royal family.

King Henry VIII had used this park area as a hunting forest in 1536.

(3) Only in 1637, during the reign of King James I, it was opened to the public.

(1) All swans in Great Britain belong to Queen Elizabeth II. The Act of Swans passed by the monarchs of Great Britain has been in force since 1482.

At that time, swans were hunted for their delicate meat and feathers, which is forbidden today. The aim is to save them from extinction.

Swan Lake

(2) These are two photos I took with my phone camera during my lunchtime walk in Hyde Park, showing swans swimming across Lake Serpentine. These beautiful birds are so graceful and peaceful to look at. Arent’t they majestic?

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

(1) In the south-western part of Hyde Park, I came across Diana’s Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in the immediate vicinity of the Serpentine Lake.

(2) The oval-shaped memorial fountain was ceremonially inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 and is made of granite from the Northern Irish town of Cornwall. The oval fountain was designed by the US landscape designer Kathryn Gustavson.

(3) The clear water flows slowly and leisurely in some parts of the fountain, and somewhat more wildly in others. This is supposed to represent the life of the 36-year-old princess (1. Juli 1961 – † 31. August 1997), which was sometimes calm and sometimes wild.

(2) Outside Kensington Palace is a statue commemorating Queen Victoria, designed and erected by her fourth daughter Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, in 1893.

Kensington Palace

(1) Hyde Park is also home to Kensington Palace, which has been the residence of British royalty for more than 300 years.

(3) Queen Victoria was born in 1819 in Kensington Palace, which was also her childhood home. In 1837 she became the new queen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and moved to Buckingham Palace. Her reign had lasted an incredible 63 years. In 1876, she also took on the title: Empress of India.

To celebrate her 200th birthday, Kensington Palace hosted several exhibitions about the childhood and years of the highly revered monarch.

Sunken Garden

(1) I discovered this beautiful garden in front of Kensington Palace. This is the Sunken Garden , which was laid out in 1908.

(3) There is a pond with three small fountains in the middle.
Once you enter here, you feel as if you are in an exotic garden in the midst of India and not in the midst of London.
This is because the garden was redesigned to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 200th birthday, who, as I mentioned earlier, was also Empress of India.
A big compliment to the palace gardeners. They have done a great job.

(2) The garden is planted with colourful and exotic flowers such as tulips, pansies, roses, geraniums, cannas, begonias and so on. However, the flowers are changed regularly by the gardeners to suit the season.

(2) These include Astronomy, Meteorology, Biochemistry, Electronics, Navigation, Aviation, Photography and the History of Medicine.

This is a photo of my brother on the ground floor of the building in the Space Gallery.

Science Museum

(1) Since entrance to London’s museums is free almost everywhere, we didn’t miss this opportunity.
Our first stop was the Science Museum in South Kensington, founded in 1857.
All scientific achievements in the field of research and technology are exhibited here. The museum has 5 floors covering various galleries.

(3) We then visited the Free Object Gallery on the first floor, entitled „Who am I?“.

You can touch objects, artworks and exhibits here and learn about human traits such as personality, intelligence and language and what makes them a successful species on this planet.

Or, for example, how genetics and a person’s brain work together to create a unique identity.

The Tate Modern Museum (Part 1)

(1) Next stop was a visit to the Tate Modern Museum. This is a real highlight for me, as I am very interested in Modern Art. The Tate Modern was formerly a power station that was restructured into a museum in 2000. Today it houses works of art by important artists of classical Modernism and Contemporary Art.
The first painting I photographed with my mobile phone camera was by the French artist Henri Matisse, from 1953, entitled „The Snail“ (see picture on the left).
Matisse uses a new technique in his late works, which he himself calls “ Painting with Scissors“.

(2) A snail is depicted abstractly with coloured paper scraps, recognisable by its spiral shape, which is reminiscent of the structure of a snail shell.
The picture on the right is a work by the Spanish-Catalan painter Joan Miró, who was born in Barcelona.
I remember visiting the Miró Museum during my internship in Barcelona in 2003 and was immediately fascinated by his work.
The painting at the top right, entitled: „Head of a Catalan Peasant“, was painted with oil paints and pencil.
In a surrealistic way, a triangular head, a beard and a red cap (also called a red barretina: a traditional headdress worn by Catalan men) held in place by a framework of lines are visible.

(3) This made me realise that Miró remained strongly connected to his Catalan homeland.

(2) The picture at the top right is by one of my favourite surrealist artists par excellence, the Spanish-Catalan painter Salvador Dalí. This artist’s distinguishing feature is to make clear to the viewer the world of the unconscious that appears in dreams.

Salvador’s artwork „Autumnal Cannibalism“ from 1936, is inspired by the horror of the Spanish Civil War. Two faceless figures can be seen embracing each other in a destructive manner.

The Tate Modern Museum (Part 2)

(1) The picture at the top left is by the Belgian artist René Magritte from 1928 with the title: „Man with a newspaper“. The picture was also created under the sign of surrealism.

There are four scenes. In the first scene, a man is sitting at a table reading a newspaper.

In the other three scenes he has suddenly disappeared. As a viewer, you ask yourself why all the other scenes have remained deserted and try to find a change in the other scenes, but there is none. Both confusion and fascination at the same time.

(3) While head and body of the two figures merge, they stab each other in the flesh with knives and spoons. The apple on the figure’s head refers to a William Tell saga in which a father is forced to shoot his son.

The painting below is by the American artist Roy Lichtenstein from the art movement Pop Art. The picture was painted in 1963 and is entitled: „Whaam!“

It is a huge canvas painted with acrylic and oil paint. The painting shows a fighter jet with a speech bubble: „I pressed the fire control … and ahead of me rockets blazed through the sky“. The fighter jet fires a missile. The explosion of the missile is indicated by the sound word „WHAAM!“.

Lichtenstein painted a series of war pictures of this kind in comic style.

The Tate Modern Museum (Part 3)

(1) The picture on the left is a painting on cardboard with nitro varnish by the New York intermedia artist Aldo Tambellini entitled „Painted Poem“ from 1965.

For Tambellini, the colour black plays an essential role, which is why most of his works were created exclusively with the use of black. „Black Mattered“ is his concept.

In this colour he sees his artistic, philosophical and socio-political commitment, which is marked by the Vietnam War, the struggle for racial equality and the exploration of space.

(3) Her face, painted mainly in black and white, contrasts with the green dress and the purple-red dashed background.

The combination of dark and light colours describes the oppressive feeling of fear that the war will never end and at the same time the hope that the war will end soon.

(2) The abstract-style oil on canvas painting on the right is by the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso from 1944. It is entitled: „Bust of a Woman“.

Picasso painted this picture during the last months of the Nazi occupation in Paris in times of the Second World War. It shows a portrait of the photographer Dora Maar.

(2) London’s sights can be seen very well from here.

Panoramic view of London from the Tate Modern Museum

(1) The tenth floor is an observation deck of the Tate Modern building, offering 360-degree views of the city.

(3) For example, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, The Shard and Canary Wharf.

National Gallery (Teil 1)

(1) Near Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery, built in 1837 by William Wilkins. At this gallery you can find more than 2600 works of art by important artists from the 13th to the 19th century.

The first beautiful painting which attracted my attention was by the Venetian artist Canaletto. The artist painted atmospheric images of Venice from different angles.

The 2 m wide oil-on-canvas painting from 1740 is entitled: „Grand Canal with San Simeone Piccolo“.

(3) I like how the artist describes in detailed brushstrokes what everyday life was like over there.

It looks to me like a snapshot taken with a camera.

In fact, Canaletto had produced many paintings of this kind for tourists as souvenirs at that time and had made a lucrative business out of it.

(2) In this one, the painter depicts everyday life on the Grand Canal in Venice. Here, for example, one sees a passenger boat and fishing boats gliding across the calm sea.

The positioning of the boats seems somehow uncoordinated. The calm sea is shown in the shimmering green waters and delicate silver waves. On the left side of the painting, the dome of the church of San Simeone Piccolo is clearly visible.

(2) Grenouillère was a popular bathing and boating resort on the river La Seine with a floating restaurant and boat facilities. Many Parisians came here at weekends to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Monet’s painting technique is characterised by being direct, spontaneous and unpolished. He used an open-air technique in which he immediately captured his fleeting impressions in paintings with broad brushstrokes. His paintings are intended to create a natural and light-like effect on the viewer.

National Gallery (Part 2)

(1) The above oil painting is by Claude Monet, an important French Impressionist painter. It dates from 1869 and is entitled „Bathers at La Grenouillère“. The painting style of Impressionism is characterised by the atmospheric depiction of a fleeting snapshot of a scene.

At that time, Monet was working with the also famous French artist Pierre-August Renoir and they painted together in the seaside resort of Grenouillère, which was about 12 kilometres from Paris.

(3) The oil painting below is by Renoir from 1875 and is entitled: „The Seine at Asnières (La Yole)“. It is also an Impressionist style painting.

The painting shows two elegantly dressed women sitting in a rowing boat on the river La Seine. The complementary, pigmented application of colour with orange, green, white, yellow and blue and the bright glimmer of light suggest that it is a day in summer.

Thanks to this colour composition, the picture radiates warmth. In the picture you can also see a sailboat with open sails and a villa on the riverbank. The picture has a calming and dynamic effect on me at the same time.

National Gallery (Part 3)

(1) The fourth oil painting on wood is by the legendary Italian painter Leonardo Da Vinci from the time of the early Renaissance (1491-1506).

It shows the Virgin Mary in the centre with John the Baptist ( on the left), the Christ Child and an angel (on the right).

All kneel down to worship the Christ Child, who raises his hand in blessing. They sit closely together in a rock cave which is covered with plants.

(3) At the top left of the picture you can see a path. Through the various tufts of grass scattered all over the meadow, you can see ups and downs. So this is a wild meadow rather than a freshly mown lawn.
There are also a few white butterflies flying around the grassy area. Green, yellow, ochre yellow and white are the dominant colours of the painting, complemented by violet, blue and purple.

Van Gogh has shown us a section of untouched nature with this stretch of meadow.

(2) Leonardo uses a painting technique in which the figures are brought into the foreground by bright colours, while nature is held in the background by dark colours.

In his painting he plays with light and shadow effects to create a mystical atmosphere.

Below is a painting from 1890 by the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, when he became a patient at the Saint Paul de-Mausole mental hospital near the village of St Rémy in the south of France.

The Post-Impressionist artwork is entitled „Meadow with Butterflies“. He created numerous paintings and sketches of nature during his stay at that place. The grass clumps are painted with clear brushstrokes and you can see that each blade of grass has a different length.

(2) At the bottom left of the photo you can see a pear-shaped stoneware mosque lamp from the Ottoman Empire period of 1549.

The lamp has been painted with blue, green and black in an arabesque style and bears an opaque glaze. The vase is framed with two blue borders decorated with Arabic white lettering.

On top of the photograph you can see ceramic tiles, also from the time of the Ottoman Empire, probably made in Damascus in the 18th century.

British Museum – Part 1

(1) On our last stop, we visited the British Museum, built in 1848, where the entire cultural history of mankind from the beginnings to the present is exhibited. I was very excited to see the „Ancient Egypt“ section and then the „Albukhary Foundation Gallery“, which opened in mid-2018. This gallery presents the entire collection of the Islamic world from the 7th century to the present.

(3) The tiles represent the interior of a mosque consisting of three arches. Lamps hang down from the arches. There is a crescent moon on the top of the central arch. There are also four cypress trees, perhaps an indication of a garden.

The tiles have Arabic inscriptions:

– Allah, Prophet Muhammed and the names of the first four caliphs:

-Abu Bakr (father-in-law of Muhammed),

-Umar (father-in-law of Muhammad),

-Uthman (son-in-law of Muhammed)

-and Ali (son-in-law and cousin of Muhammad).

British Museum - Part 2 - Arab Clothing

(1) From the Arab world, these garments are displayed in a showcase.

On the left side of the photo, for example, you can see a dress that was used for ceremonial occasions.

(3) It is decorated with numerous floral and star patterns, multicoloured gold and silver sequins and glass beads with cowrie shells.

A headscarf made of georgette silk also belongs to the dress.

(2) It comes from the Hadramaut region in the eastern part of Yemen and was manufactured around 1930.

The dress is made of silk, cotton, gold, silver, cowrie shells, glass and indigo paint.

(2)The shipbuilder sits on a stool and holds an adze in his left hand.

British Museum - Part 3 - Egyptian Statue

(1) We continued towards the Egypt and Sudan section. First I came across the statue of Ankhwa, a shipbuilder from the 3rd Dynasty ( i.e. 2700 to 2620 BC) of ancient Egypt. The statue is made of red granite.

(3) He wears a short kilt as well as a wig with light curls on his head.

British Museum -Part 4 - Egyptian Mummies

(1) On the third floor of the museum is a gallery entitled: Death and the Afterlife of the Egyptians: Mummies. It is absolutely worth a visit. You get an insight into how the ancient Egyptians dealt with death and the afterlife.

(3) The body of the dead was dried with salt, treated with various oils and resins and wrapped in bandages.

(2) Death had a special meaning for them and complex funeral preparations and rites were performed to make the transition from earthly existence to immortality as smooth as possible. The rituals included the mummification of the dead, in which the internal organs were removed and stored in special vessels.

(2) As a German with Tunisian roots, I am very interested in the history of Tunisia, especially the history of Carthage, which was founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC.

Today’s Carthage is a suburb of the capital Tunis and the local ruins are now a World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination. A flying horse is depicted on the Carthaginian silver coin below, minted in Sicily between the years 300-400 BC.

British Museum - Part 5 - Money

(1)The money gallery is also located on the third floor where the history of money can be traced back more than 4000 years. Money from every continent is on display here.

(3) In fact, this is the reverse of the coin with a Pegasus flying to the right.

In Greek mythology, Pegasus was a horse that was a child of the sea god Poseidon and the gorgon Medusa.

The coin was made during the Punic Wars. They were designed in Greek style and were used to pay one’s troops.

The following inscription can be found on the coin: „In the land“. This refers to Sicily.

Camden Town

(1) If you love food, live music and great people, this is a place to go.

(3) Regent’s Canal and its markets in north-east Camden are also worth a visit. Their street food markets offer an incredible variety of food from all over the world.

(2) There are many shopping facilities at Camden Markets and you will find many stalls selling retro & vintage items, accessories, second-hand clothes, shoes, jewellery, etc.

(2) There is an amazing selection of food here from all over the world. For gourmets and all people who like a varied diet, this is the place to be. Street food stalls can be found here in abundance.

Borough Market

(1) One of the oldest food markets in London, for example, is Borough Market, whose history can be traced back to the 13th century.

(3) The selection of fish, meat, vegetables, chocolate, cheese, Indian, Asian, French, Turkish food, etc. is superb. Every taste is catered for here.

Spain-- ¡Hola Barcelona!

(1) This time we travelled to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia in Spain. We took the long-distance bus from Freiburg via France to Barcelona.

(4) My brother gives a thumbs-up to show that everything is great, which also means that he is hugely happy about the beach. There are cafés, bars, restaurants, gyms, etc. all along the palm-lined beach promenade.

This beach area is 4 km long and man-made. It is also very easy to reach by public transport.

Far in the back you can see a sail-shaped building near Barceloneta beach. It is the luxury hotel „W Barcelona“.

(2) When we arrived in Barcelona, we went to a bike shop in the Gracia district called „Rentabike Barcelona“ in the afternoon: We rented a bike there and explored the city and its sights.

(3) We cycled to the seafront on Barcelona’s Mediterranean coast.
Here is a video clip of our bike ride:

Rambla del Mar

(1) You see us standing on a wooden bridge near the old harbour of Barcelona (Port Vell). The wavy shape of the bridge looks impressive.

From here, the famous Christopher Columbus statue and the promenade „Las Ramblas“ are very close. On the left side of the picture you can also see a bit of the Marémagnum, a shopping centre in the middle of the sea.

(3) You can watch boats, yachts and cruise ships. You also have a great view of the W Hotel from here.

(2) The Rambla del Mar was designed by two architects, Helio Piñon and Albert Viaplana, and was finished in the second half of 1994.

You can take a walk here, enjoy the sun and sit by the water.

(2) My brother stands here on one of many public paths leading to the park. The view over the city and the sea is stunning.

On the way to Park Güell

(1) Those who want to enjoy Barcelona’s nature and architecture should not miss the opportunity to visit Park Güell.

Most of the park grounds are open to the public and you can walk through the park on winding and picturesque paths and enjoy the breathtaking views of the city and the sea.

(3) Barcelona’s landmark, the Sagrada Familia church, can also be seen very well from here.

Park Güell - Part 1 - On the Gran Plaza/ Panoramic Terrace

(1) Finally, we reached Park Güell on Carmel Hill in the Gràcia /La Salud district, where we paid admission to enjoy Gaudí’s architectural shard art at close hand. Antoni Gaudí (25 June 1852 – † 10 June 1926) was a Spanish architect from Catalonia, known for his architectural style „Catalan Modernism“ or „Modernisme Català“.

(3) For example, I am sitting here on a bench in the 3000 m² oval and wave-shaped panoramic terrace. The 110-metre-long bench is decorated with fine ceramics and crystal stones that form a mosaic. In addition, there are numerous abstractly depicted signs of the zodiac, stars, flowers, fish and crab patterns.

From here, the entire park can be viewed at a 360-degree angle. Below this terrace is Gaudí’s Hall of 100 Columns.

(2) This architectural style is characterised by curved lines, irregular ground plans, sloping brick supports and natural soft forms with plant and animal motifs. Other preferences of this style were fragments and colourful ceramic tiles, which were often used as design elements in buildings.

The construction of this 17-hectare park took no less than 14 years, from 1900 to 1914. The entrepreneur Eusebio Güell conceived it as an English-style residential and urban garden and then commissioned the architect Antoní to build and design the park. The park was also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

(2) They depict various astrological, mythological or religious motifs. Nevertheless, there are mainly white ceramic tiles on the ceiling.

The hall also plays with colourful lighting effects to create a special atmosphere.

Park Güell - Part 2 - The Hall of 100 Columns

(1) Gaudí’s Hall of 100 Columns actually consists of 86 columns.

The ceiling of the hall is decorated with colourful, imaginative mosaic rosettes made up of countless, colourful broken ceramic tiles.

(3) You feel like you‘ re in a fantasy world when you enter this hall.

Park Guell - Part 3 - The famous dragon and the gingerbread house

(1) Outside in the park, under the large terrace by the stairs, we find a salamander fountain decorated with mosaics (far left in the photo). The entrepreneur and Count Eusebio Güell loved Greek mythology and so he wanted this amphibian to represent the dragon Python guarding the Oracle of Delphi. The salamander is a symbol of destruction, regeneration and new beginnings and is associated with the element of fire.

(3) Trencadís (Catalan for „broken“) are broken pieces of porcelain and ceramic glued together with some glass and other fragments of buttons and shells to create patterns in all shapes. This is a popular decorative style of Gaudí.

(2) On our walk we came across this strange little house (see middle photo) that looks like the gingerbread house from the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel. In fact, it feels like we’ve landed in a Grimm Brothers fairy tale. The light roof of the house is made of trencadís.

(2) This 172-metre-high Roman Catholic basilica was also designed by Antoní Gaudi in 1882 and is still unfinished. It is one of Gaudi’s last works. It was important to him that the church tells the life of Jesus Christ and the story of faith. There are 18 towers rising to the sky, each bearing a meaning: 12 towers for the apostles, 4 towers for the four evangelists, one tower for the Virgin Mary and the tallest tower with a cross represents Jesus Christ.

Sagrada Familia

(1) We cycled through the city and stopped at an imposing building on Carrer de Mallorca, the so-called Sagrada Familia (German: Holy Family), which is Barcelona’s landmark.

(3) Construction work on the church is scheduled to be completed by the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death in 2026 at the latest. Since 2005, the church has also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Modernist style is also visible here, but elements of Art Nouveau and Spanish Gothic Revival can also be found.

Panoramic view over the Centro Comercial Arenas de Barcelona

(1) On our way by bike, we discovered this huge shopping centre that looks like a bull arena.

It is also called, according to its shape, „Arenas de Barcelona“, designed in March 2011 by the British architect Richard Rogers in collaboration with the Catalan architect Alonso Balaguer.

(3) We learned from a vendor that „Las Arenas“ had actually been a bullring since 1900 and was used for bullfights until 1977. After that, the arena was listed as a historical monument and renovation work took place in 2003. Incidentally, bullfights have been banned throughout Catalonia since 2012.

On the roof of the arena you have a beautiful view (360 degree panoramic view) over the whole city and the hill Montjuïc.

(2) The only difference is that there are no bullfights here, only prize fights in the individual 115 shops on the 6 floors of the building near Plaça Espanya on the day of our visit. The arena also houses numerous restaurants, a gym and a cinema.

(2) The village was designed by the Catalan architect and important representative of modernism Puig i Cadafalch.

You can see replicas of 117 typical architectural buildings from many regions of Spain on 50000 m².

Poble Espanyol

(1) There is an open-air museum on the hill Montjuïc, which we visited.

The museum is called Poble Espanyol, which means Spanish village. It was built in 1929 for the Barcelona World’s Fair.

(3) We strolled through many small streets, past craft shops, restaurants, a town hall, schools and other shops offering typical local goods for sale.

Castell de Montjuïc

(1) On the hill of Montjuïc is a castle that was built as a fortress to protect the port and the city of Barcelona as of 1640, but only took shape between 1779 and 1799. At that time, the castle was armed with 120 cannons.

(3) We climbed the hill, primarily to enjoy the magnificent view over the port of Barcelona.

(2) For three centuries, the fortress was also used as a prison for political prisoners, for instance during the time of the dictator General Franco from 1936 to 1975. He also built a military museum here, which still exists today. A huge arsenal of weapons and other military equipment can be seen here.

Italy-Buongiorno Milano

Our journey continues to the Lombard fashion metropolis of Milan in Italy. But Italy’s second largest and richest city also has a lot to offer in terms of art, history and culture.

Our first stop: the central seat of Milan and the city’s landmark: the Roman Catholic church of Milan Cathedral in Cathedral Square in the old town.

It is simply a magnificent and gigantic building whose history goes back to the 14th century.

In terms of area, it is one of the largest churches in the world. Construction of the church began in 1386 and is designed in late Gothic style.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

(1) Right next to the cathedral is a shopping arcade called Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Named after the emperor and king of Italy, Victor II.

(3) The view onto the glass vault and the floor, which consists of different coloured marble slabs and mosaics, is also impressive. The coats of arms of the four Italian cities of Rome, Turin, Florence and Milan are depicted on the floor.

(2) The gallery was designed by architect Giuseppe Mengoni in the 19th century with the aim of creating a covered pedestrian zone.

The gallery itself, with its luxury boutiques, cafés, bookshops and restaurant, is built in an eclectic style that combines elements from different architectural periods.

(2) In the 15th century, it was converted into a Baroque-style castle by Duke Francesco Sforza. Numerous architects contributed to the reconstruction, including Bramante, Leonardo Da Vinci, Filarete and Cesare Cesariano.

The castle later served as a military base for many of Milan’s conquerors: the Spanish, the Habsburgs, Napoleon and the Austrians, until Milan became part of the Italian nation state again around 1860.

The Castello Sforzesco Fortress

(1) About a kilometre from Milan Cathedral, on the north-western side of the old town, is the Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress built in the 14th century by the Visconti dynasty to defend against external enemies or internal revolts.

(3) The building looks beautiful with the fountain in front of the main entrance. The interior of the fort has a large courtyard, which currently houses various cultural facilities and museums.

Our photographer, my brother, tried all his best to capture an overall picture of the fort.

Piazza della Scala

(1) We found this statue in the Piazza della Scala, not too far from the Piazza Duomo

(3) The sculptor Pietro Magni created the statue and it was inaugurated by King Emmanuel II at a national exhibition in 1872.

(2) It is a portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci, who spent two long periods of his life in Milan.

He was active in various professions, including as a Renaissance painter, architect, musician, philosopher, writer, sculptor, mathematician and geologist.

(2) It was originally built in the 19th century, under Napoleon’s rule, as a gateway to Milan to commemorate Napoleon’s victories.

After Napoleon’s defeat, it was dedicated after its completion in 1815 to the peace of Europe.

Arco della Pace (Arc of Peace)

(1) On our walk through the public city park Parco Sempione near Castello Sforzesco, we came across this granite and marble neoclassical style victory arch, the Arco della Pace.

(3) The 25 m high arch is richly decorated with beautiful marble/bronze statues and reliefs. It bears some resemblance to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Venice Carnival 2020

(1) We continued by car in the direction of Venice. The drive there was an absolute highlight for us, as carnival was being celebrated there at that time.

Fortunately, we were able to experience the carnival before it was prematurely cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.

(3) Much of the building is decorated with marble and mosaics on a golden background in the Byzantine style.

(2) When we arrived early in the morning, it was still quite foggy and humid in the Lombard lagoon city. That’s me in front of St Mark’s Basilica on the central St Mark’s Square in the San Marco district.

This basilica dates back to the 11th century. To me, the whole building looks more oriental than European and could be described as an architectural masterpiece for the fusion of Eastern and Western art.

(2) The brotherhood served to care for the sick, especially in times of plague epidemics.

Inside the building there are also valuable paintings by the famous Italian artist Jacopo Robusti, better known as Tintoretto, which he painted in the Mannerist style.

The Church San Rocco

(1) I came across this building in the San Polo district. It is the church of San Rocco, dedicated to Saint Roch of Montpellier, a saint of the Catholic Church and patron saint against epidemics like the plague.

The church is directly opposite the Scuola Grande di San Rocco (here on the left of the photo), the house of the Brotherhood of Saint Roch, founded in 1478 by very wealthy Venetians.

(3) In art history, Mannerism is a transitional form between the late Renaissance and the Baroque. It was used by artists between 1520 and 1600.

All the technical possibilities of extreme representation were used to emphasise the artist’s personal style.

Waterways, canals and bridges

(1) At noon, the fog lifted and the sun finally came out. This gave us a better view of the whole city. Here are photos of Venice’s waterways and bridges.

(3) Mainly motorboats, gondolas and water buses (vaporettos in Italian) are on the move. Cars, motorbikes and bicycles are prohibited as means of transport here.

(2) It is said that there are up to 400 bridges and more than 150 canals connecting the 100 islands of the city. There is always a lot of traffic on the water.

(2) Many tourists and carnivalists also flocked to sing and dance through the bars of the old town.

Carnival in Venice is very fascinating and I found the carnival dressing very elegant, splendid and expressive.

Between tourists and carnivalists

(1) Many people were out and about in the alleys and canals and gathered especially around St Mark’s Square to celebrate carnival.

(3) People wore elaborate and colourful masks that usually half covered the face.

A little gondola ride

(1) We took a gondola ride through the waterways of Venice, of course.

(3) The gondolier’s long oar symbolically resembles this spear and thus represents a threat to the terrible creature, which is why it keeps away from us.

(2) On the side of the gondola was a green and gold water dragon figure. The gondolier told us that, according to legend, a terrible sea monster lived in the depths of the Venetian lagoon and was only afraid of the gondoliers. At that time, it was said, Saint George killed a dragon with a spear.

(2) I particularly liked this shop with the colourful Murano bonbonnières, bowls and drinking glasses.

A walk through the alleys of Venice

(1) We strolled for a while through the narrow streets of the old town of Venice, past countless souvenir shops, fashion boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, etc.

(3) By the way, Murano is also an island in Venice and famous for its glass production and glass art.

Arsenal in Castello district

(1) We walked to the easternmost part of Venice to the Castello district, where the old Arsenal shipyard and naval base are located. There are very few tourists here.

The Arsenal is surrounded by walls and towers. We are standing here in front of one of the Arsenal’s land gates, which was built in Renaissance style.

(3) It is the “ Lion of St Mark „, which is also mentioned in the Old Testament in the Book of Ezekiel. It symbolises the evangelist Mark, whose bones have been resting in the present-day city of Venice since January 828.

(2) There is a huge lion statue there, which was actually built for the Greek port of Piraeus, but was confiscated by the Venetians as war booty around 1687.