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Germany

Nuremberg Christmas Markets

In December we took a memorable four day trip to Nuremberg to experience its famous Christmas Markets.  We stayed in the heart of the old town centre, which allowed us easy access to explore the historic centre.

View of one of the historic streets we explored in Nuremberg

Walking into the main square for the first time, was so impressive.  The market sits right in the centre of the old town, surrounded by historic buildings.

We explored Nuremberg’s markets which stretched across different areas of the old town.  

Everywhere we turned there were glowing stalls decorated with evergreen branches, shimmering ornaments, and golden lights. 

Ray standing in the arch of the fortified wall of Nuremberg

The air was filled with the sound of cheerful Christmas music, and chatter and laughter and of course the smell of Sausages roasting on BBQ Grills. 

We wandered from one decorated stall to another, admiring handmade crafts, wooden toys, Children rides, candles, and festive keepsakes.

And oh, the food! We made sure to enjoy the flavours of the season. We had some Nuremberg sausages, grilled and tucked into fresh rolls with spicy Mustard.

Shelley and Ray enjoying traditional Nuremberg sausages

Of course, we couldn’t resist the gingerbread man cookie for dessert. 

There was a historic house which was decorated as an advent Calendar house.

Advent house in Nuremberg

Each window was decorated and numbered for each day in December.  Every evening at 6 PM they would play a traditional German Christmas song along with lighting of each window. We decided to stay enjoy some Glühwein and take in the show.

We walked along the fortified city walls and came to some beautiful areas in the heart of the city. 

 

The Christmas markets in Nuremberg were truly a memorable experience. One we enjoyed but our time in Nuremberg wasn’t only about Christmas. We also wanted to understand the city beyond the holiday cheer, so we spent time visiting some of its World War II historical sites. But that is for another Post.

“Ich wünsche dir alles Gute und frohe Weihnachten”

Australia

Cruising the Wild Daintree: A Riverboat Journey Through Australia’s Ancient Rainforest

We took a riverboat and set off along the Daintree River which is one of Australia’s most ancient and biodiverse waterways

The first thing we noticed is the water which is murky, dark, and hides more than it reveals.

Our guide explained that crocodiles can disappear just beneath the surface, vanishing in a matter of seconds. 

As we cruised deeper into the river, the rainforest seemed to close in around us.

Exotic birds were perched along the mangroves and would fly overhead.  Within the mangroves crocodiles would blend into the mud and practicaly disappear.

Crocodile laying within the mangroves


We spot several crocodiles basking on the muddy banks, but we even discovered a few exotic frogs right in our boat.

Whether they hopped in on their own or were simply along for the ride, they added a quirky dash of personality to the adventure.


The entire journey lasted just over an hour, but it felt like stepping into another world.  Its an untouched corner of Australia which was amazing to experience. 

“Take memories and leave only footprints”

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 1

We knew it would be an adventure visiting Sydney, but we didn’t realize just how much the city would capture our hearts.

We began our first day by  taking a stroll through the lush Botanical Garden of Sydney which is located in the heart of the city. We were surrounded by an array of beautiful unique flowers and vegetation.

The sound of birds singing from the trees was everywhere and as we strolled we came across a few of the local residents of the Gardens.

We walked along the winding paths of the Gardens working our way towards the Opera house. Eventually we could see the iconic white sails of the Sydney Opera House in the distance. 

We continued walking until we turned a corner of the Gardens and found ourselves in the heart of the Sydney Bay. What an amazing sight, there were restaurants and activity everywhere. Our first stop was to check out the Iconic Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House was one of the top things we wanted to see and it did not disappoint.  Seeing it in person was something special and photos just don’t do it justice. We took a guided tour and learned about the building’s fascinating history. We were able to walk through the interior of it and enjoyed seeing the amazing architectural design. 

When we were up close, the tile design is even more incredible. The tiles are made from ceramic created by the Swedish company. They have a self-cleaning glaze, which helps them stay bright despite the weather.  There are two main types of tiles, a glossy white and matte cream which are arranged in a chevron pattern. This gives the shells their shimmering appearance. There are approximately 1,056,006 tiles that cover the roof.

The inside of the Opera house is spectacular with glass walls, pink granite floor tiles, white birch plywood and brush box timber. (an Australian hardwood).

After exploring the Opera House we strolled along the waterfront admiring the views.  

That evening, we dined on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Opera House, and honestly, it felt like something out of a dream.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the harbour turned gold and the lights of the city began to twinkle. We enjoyed our meal and celebrated our first day in Sydney. What an adventure it was.

“Cheers Mate”

Australia

Adelaide National Wine Centre of Australia

Shelley and I spent a wonderful afternoon at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide. It was a great spot for anyone who enjoys a fine wine and a touch of history of the wine industry.

The building itself is an elegant architecture, designed to reflect the rolling curves of wine barrels and the beauty of Australia’s wine-growing regions.

We began our visit by wandering through the interactive displays that explain Australia’s winemaking heritage. The exhibits walked us through the process of wine from the vine to the bottle.

There was a map which explained the diverse wine regions spread across Australia.

 

We were intrigued by the digital tasting tables, where we could explore information about hundreds of Australian wines at the touch of a screen.

After taking in the exhibits, we decided it was time for a more hands-on experience.

We settled into the area entitled “Wined” its a very cozy and inviting space that overlooks the Botanic Gardens.

There, we indulged in a tasting of several South Australian wines, each one unique. To complement the tasting, we shared a platter of local cheeses and meats. They paired very nicely with the wines.

As we enjoyed our wine, one of the staff members shared a bit more about the centre’s history. The National Wine Centre opened in 2001 as both a tourist destination and an educational hub dedicated to promoting Australia’s wine industry. The centre gave us more of an appreciation of Australia’s remarkable wine culture. The combination of history, taste, and atmosphere made it a great experience.

“Life is meant for good friends, adventures and wine”

Australia

Perth, Australia

Shelley at the waterfront in Perth

We started our adventures by flying with a direct flight from London Heathrow to Perth Australia. The 17:30 hour flight was a tad long but it actually was nice knowing when we landed that we were there.  


Perth’s city centre is a mix of sleek glass towers, modern buildings and older heritage buildings which was quite interesting. 

We found ourselves slowing down often, pausing to look up and take in the architecture that gives Perth its unique character.

We noticed that there were lots of statues and unique features almost on every corner.  So of course Ray had to interact with some of the statues.

We took a day and decided to explored and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We walked along the waterfront of the Swan river and this quickly became one of our favourite spots.

 
View of Perth from the shore of the Swan River
walkway along the Swan River in Perth

The waterfront is awesome with well manicured plants, trees, and walking trails. From there  we headed on a short bus ride to the Botanical gardens.

What an amazing spot, the gardens are nestled within Kings Park, overlooking the city skyline and the Swan River. 

Shelley at one of the many look outs in the Botanic Gardens

It covers 17 hectares, and showcases more than 3,000 different species of the state’s unique flora. 

We wandered through the paths, and encountered an assortment of plants and flora. The botanic gardens also celebrates the Aboriginal culture.

we walked along some of the interpretive trails that shares stories of the land’s traditional custodians.

That was quite interesting and enjoyable reading about the history of the land and plants. 

We strolled on the paths, stopping to admire flowers and trees we’d never seen before. There were birds singing and flying about.

It was so peaceful and relaxing. It was the kind of place where time seemed to move slower, and we were grateful for that pause in our trip.

We were tired at the end of the day having walked over 15 kilometres, we went back to our room to rest up for tomorrows adventure, wine tasting tour.

“Laters”