TravelBlog » Missi

Missi - S M Howell

It's not about the destination, it's about the journey.....A sense of humor, a dose of courage, an ounce of prevention....all of those little sayings are quotes to live by to ensure that the journey is everything you want and more.

This journey was planned beginning in the fall of 2005, over a year in the making. On my previous trip to Germany and Austria, I decided that I really wanted to experience the Weihnachtmarkts - or Christmas markets - of Germany and Salzburg. Things just didn't work out that my husband Jeff could travel with me, nor a friend - so I ventured alone - sort of. My friends/distant cousins on my Orndorff (father's) side, who live in Germany, met me for 3 days while I was in Salzburg, and I ended my trip staying with them for a couple of days. So - it wasn't an entire solo trip, and I enjoyed their company immensely.

I traveled From Jacksonville to Munich on December 10, 2006, arriving in Munich early on December 11. Within the entries is a glimpse into my activities, thoughts, diet and pictures of "How I Spent My Christmas Vacation". Read the entries, look at the pictures, and if you enjoy my journey at least half as much as I did, then it was worth my time in sharing it with you. Thanks for stopping by.....

Private Message Subscribe 4 Forum Posts Top Photos Blog Map

Blog Comments Search Blogs First Entry Latest Entry

Joined on: December 28th 2006
Last Login: October 11th 2008

Blog Entries: 22
Photos: 149

TB Code: [blogger=29012]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Missi, order by Date newest first.

By Missi
December 19th 2006

Historic Dresden

Europe » Germany » Saxony » Dresden

Augustbruke over the Elbe River

I headed back to the Residence Palace to begin my walk around the city to see the more historical sites. From there, I proceeded to Brühl Terrace, which lies between several fantastic architectural photo-ops and the Elbe River. Bruhl Terrace was the main promenade of those who had the desire to be seen during the 1800's. It was also the location of another one of the King's mistress' palace. One of the most interesting buildings is the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden, referred to those of us not German as the Art Academy. What captured my attention was the inscription over [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 19th 2006

Day 9a - Dresdener Streizelmarkt

Europe » Germany » Saxony » Dresden

Dresdener Streizelmarkt
The oldest Christmas Market in Germany, the Dresdener Streizelmarkt.

I awoke an hour before room service arrived, showered and was ready for coffee when the doorbell rang. Yes, a doorbell on my hotel room. Though I was prepared to pay full charge for my room service breakfast, I learned that the "breakfast included with your room", meant also in your room. So, I ate my breakfast and caught up on the day's news - CNN International again is my only English choice, but that's OK. In an hour I hear everything I need to know about world events and then it repeats just in case I missed something the first [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 18th 2006

Day 8c - The Green Vault in the Royal Residence Palace

Europe » Germany » Saxony » Dresden

The Hotel and Residence
The Residence was just across the street from the Taschenberg Palais Hotel. The frieze and fountain were reconstructed with both salvaged pieces and reconstructed pieces, every detailed considered to... [more]

The striking thing about the exterior of the Palace - and typical of most of the restored buildings I see - is that in restoring, they left the soot on the stones from the massive fires after the firebombing of Dresden 60 years ago. Dresden was pretty much wiped out - the temperatures were so hot, that many of the huge sandstones that were used in construction, such as in the Frauenkirche, collapsed due to all moisture evaporating and reducing the stone to sand. The Royal Palace, the Zwinger Museum and the Semper Opera House, all located across from each other [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 18th 2006

Day 8b - Dresden - The Hotel Taschenberg Palais

Europe » Germany » Saxony » Dresden

Hotel Taschenberg Palais
Just a glimpse of the former Palace turned hotel.

So I arrive at Hotel Taschenberg Palais and begin to understand the "Palais" piece of this. The website description of this hotel mentioned that it was a refurbished palace of the mistress to August the Strong, but I had no idea. I later learned that in the year 1705, August the Strong commissioned to construct a palace for his favorite mistress, Countess Cosel - who he later imprisoned. In one of of the photos, you will see the bridge that connects the Royal Residence to the Palace. How convenient. The bell captain opened my taxi door, welcomed me to the hotel, [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 18th 2006

Day 8a - Onward to Dresden

Europe » Germany » Saxony » Dresden

Just over the former border....
A picture from the train stop at Riesa, which was just over the former West/East Germany border.

I am up at 5:30, shower and pack, and am downstairs at 6:15 to await my taxi. The owner was in the breakfast room, and while she didn't quite have everything ready, insisted that I at least have some coffee and a pastry while I wait on the taxi. I sat next to the window as I ate, so that I could see my taxi when it arrived. The frau kept telling me to relax, the driver would ring. Sure enough, he did - no idling the car out front and blowing the horn here. I arrive at the bahnhof, pay [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 17th 2006

Day 7a - Salzburg to Bamberg

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Bamberg

Nurnberg Train Station
Well, we stopped the train at Nurnberg...

I rose early to catch at 6 am train to Bamberg. So far, the weather had been great for sightseeing. Cold, but sunny, with a few days of partial overcast. This morning as I left the Hotel, it was pouring the rain. Not cold enough for snow, dang, but cold nevertheless. I would say it was probably in the upper 30's or low 40's. But, that's what they make a hood on a coat for. I had decided no more than a couple of weeks before leaving, to make a stop in Bamburg. I had originally planned to see Nurnberg, but [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 17th 2006

Day 7 b - Bamberg - The Little City with a lot of Churches

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Bamberg

My Hotel
The exterior of Hotel Weierich

After my visit to the Max Platz market, I set out in search of a couple of other sites in Bamberg that I had recently read about in a book by Steve Berry entitled "The Third Secret". While the book only had a short piece in it about Bamberg, there was enough detail about the city that I was interested in seeing after reading Mr. Berry's descriptions. One was an area along the river called "Little Venice", named because the river abuts the buildings and people board flat river boats for rides there. Also, because even though the city did experience [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 16th 2006

Day 6 - Salzburg and "The Big Hill"

Europe » Austria » Salzburg State » Salzburg

Hohensalzberg on Monchsberg

So today we head out to climb the mountain to see Hohensalzburg - the big white fortress that overlooks the city of Salzburg. This is a very big mountain. Monchsberg is its name, meaning "Monks Mountain", as the first inhabitants were Monks (they pretty much ran the government way back when). Yes, I had to stop a couple of times, but the view was so wonderful that we all took advantage of the break to take pictures. There were apartments built into the hillside along the road that we were walking that were very, very old. One had a sign over [View Full Entry]

By Missi
December 15th 2006

Day 5 - Salzburg and the Alps Tour

Europe » Austria » Salzburg State » Salzburg

Linzergasse

After breakfast, the 3 of us headed toward Linzergasse on the other side of the Salzach River. This area is on the "new" side of town, but quite frankly, their "new" makes most of what is old in the U.S. look like it was built yesterday. The shops here are more practical for the people who "live" in Salzburg - but also have some of the more "high end" shopping for those seeking it. I found a store that sold Lithium batteries for my camera - I've been feeding regular AA batteries for the camera after every 30 pictures or so [View Full Entry]

Santa Claus is coming to the townhouse...

By Missi
December 14th 2006

Day 4a - Fussen to Salzburg

Europe » Austria » Salzburg State » Salzburg

Salzburg
The ever familiar skyline of Salzburg

After breakfast I head to the bus stop to catch my ride to Weizern, which is where I will pick up the train to Munich. The entire journey to Munich is just over 2 hours, and from there another hour and a half to Salzburg. In Munich at the main station I spot a Starbucks. (Note to Jeff - there are Starbucks in Germany). I make my way to the next train, which is only a few tracks away, board and find my reserved seat. This is a nonstop to Salzburg. We depart Munich on time at 11:26. Around noon, I [View Full Entry]

TravelBlog » Missi

Missi | S M Howell | Travel Blog

Missi - S M Howell

Blogs & Travel Journals

Historic Dresden

Day 9a - Dresdener Streizelmarkt

Day 8c - The Green Vault in the Royal Residence Palace

Day 8b - Dresden - The Hotel Taschenberg Palais

Day 8a - Onward to Dresden

Day 7a - Salzburg to Bamberg

Day 7 b - Bamberg - The Little City with a lot of Churches

Day 6 - Salzburg and "The Big Hill"

Day 5 - Salzburg and the Alps Tour

Day 4a - Fussen to Salzburg