Feels a lot like Christmas… July 17, 2011

Christmas marts are magical places, the smells of hot  Glühwein,  bratwursts,  and freshly backed breads and candies fill the cold December air. The sound of the carousel and the twinkle of Christmas lights everywhere.

The colors and smells alone make the experience of attending a Christmas Mart one of a kind. There is noting like this magical holiday experience in the US.  The food was as  amazing  as it smelled and the Glühwein kept me warm for hours.

While in Germany I visited Christmas marts in, Erlangen, Nurnberg, Bamberg, and Füssen. Below are a few of my favorite images from the many Christmas marts I visited.

Back to Germany!

After my trip to Berlin in May I have been looking for a way to get back to Germany and see more of what the country has to offer. In December I was given the opportunity to travel to back to Germany on my own to meet my husband in Erlangen a small Bavarian town just outside the city of Nurnberg, Germany. I flew in to Paris, got stuck due to a huge snowstorm, had to take a train to Nurnberg, and continue on to Erlangen via Taxi. After four days of travel I arrived in south Germany and what looked like a winter wonderland or like I like to describe it “the North Pole.”

The excitement of a new adventure in this amazing country kept this Florida girl warm during the snowstorm. I was ready to brave the cold, and head out on my own, just me and my camera.

My Photo Project June 3, 2010

Well here is what you have all been waiting for my final Berlin photo/story! Take a look at all of our hard work, and let me know what you think. I am happy to be home with my husband and puppies, but miss all my new friends in Berlin. I feel like this is some of my best work so I hope you all feel the same 🙂

UF in Berlin

Thanks for following me.

!LHM!

Prague is GREAT! May 29, 2010

So today was my second day in Prague, and I love this place. We went on a Free tour of the city, then to the Old Jewish sector (Ghetto) I was able to visit the cemetery and get lots of great photos. It is always hard hearing the history of  Jewish Europeans’ and the hardships they went through. After this we went to dinner and shopped around. In the Old Town square we came across some dancers, and got some more great action photos. Tomorrow it is back to Berlin, then Amsterdam, and then HOME!

The famous Clock in Prague, it goes off every hour and is very funny.

Our Free Tour Guide.. he works for tips

Jewish people from around the world come to Prague to visit the Cemetery, and the Old -New synagogue.

Random guys in the street dressed up in body-suites.

The dancers in Old Town Square! They were great, and we just happened to walk up to this.

I LOVE this City!

Thats all for now! I am heading home soon and will edit a lot of my photos and post them soon! Thanks for following me during my adventure, I will also post a link to my project when it is uploaded to the website. Off to bed… I have along 2 days ahead of me.

Thanks!

LHM

Hello Prague! May 27, 2010

Today I spent that day in Prague, and I LOVE it here. I am in need of some sleep so will just share a few photos from The Prague Castle’s  Gothic St Vitus Cathedral. ENJOY!!

LHM

Goodbye for now Berlin!!

Last night was our last big group dinner up in the TV-Tower at Alexanderpaltz. We ate lots of great food, and enjoyed each others company  for the last time in Berlin. The two weeks went by faster than I would have liked, but I am glad I was given the opportunity to be a part of this group of photographers. I already miss my classmates and new friends, but it is not back to the real world yet. First I am going to spend some time in Prague with my travel buddy Michelle.

The TV Tower gave us a great 360′ view of Berlin.

My dinner table's reflection in the TV Towers window.

We took one last walk in Alex at night after our group dinner… Everything looks better at night in Berlin.

The TV Tower is the tall skinny thing in that background… that is where our final group dinner was.

Marcela and Dave enjoy our last M4 ride as a group 😦

Jesse and I also enjoy our last m4 ride together 😦

See you in Prague!

LHM

Last Days in Berlin, Germany May 26, 2010

Last night we visited a beer garden outside of town and enjoyed the sun, and some drinks by the water. Afterwords we all enjoyed some drinks, and went to a few local bars.

Marissa enjoying her time and a beer at the beer garden.

Me, Jesse , and Dave enjoying the nice weather on our last day here in Berlin.

Today is our last full day here so we went to get the 360 view of the city at the Reichstag dome. Below are some photos from inside/outside the dome.

Helicopters  fly by the TV Tower in Berlin.

Thats all for now! Tonight is our last group dinner, then Im going to finish packing and get ready for my long Train ride to Prague. I enjoyed my time in Berlin, but am ready to go home a see my pups. Just one more weekend in Prague, then a night in Amsterdam, and I am off to FLORIDA for some sun shine 🙂

LHM

Potsdam Day Trip May 25, 2010

Today a group of us woke up bright and early to visit the town of Potsdam, Germany. It was about an hour out of Berlin, and worth the travel. I would love to go back, but there is not enough time. Two more days left!

Man and a little boy out side of the Sanssouci Castle enjoy a moment.

A couple hugs under an umbrella at the Sanssouci Castle taking in the view on a rainy day.

Sanssouci Castle

Decorated pot out side of the Sanssouci Castle.

We wandered in the wood and came across these ruins in Pots day

Can you see us in this photo? We are hiding in there!

Sculptures out side of the Orangery Palace on a Monday afternoon in Potsdam, Germany.

People walk through and take in the view of the fountain and garden at the Orangery Palace on a Monday afternoon in Potsdam, Germany.

Out side of the Orangery Palace.

Thanks for stopping by.

LHM

Carnival of Cultures May 23, 2010

Carnival of Cultures is an annual event here is Berlin, Germany. Last night we attended, the festivities which included crafts, food, music , and lots of BEER. Today was the Parade, it was a very different fun and crazy side of Berlin I had yet to see.

The Carnival of Cultures at night was crazy people everywhere drinking, dancing, and just having a good time it reminded me of Summer Fest mixed with German Fest and a little rave.

Huge grill!!

Just some heads laying around 🙂

These kids were rocking out on stage during the carnival

From here down are some photos of the parade that took place today at the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin. It was the longest most interesting parade I have ever attended, so it was hard just to pick a few photos… so here are a bunch!

I hope you enjoyed them 🙂

LHM

Concentration Camp

Yesterday was a very interesting day here in Berlin. We all woke up on time and got together to go see the Sachsenhausen Concentration camp and memorial. We took the train out of Berlin, and walked through a quiet historic looking town. All I could think is how can these people live so close to something so evil? We entered the camp and it was quiet, as we walked around we talked softly about things we were seeing and our reactions to them. Overall I am glad I went, but don’t think I have the desire to ever go to another camp again. So many horrible things happened on that very ground I stood and it was hard to deal with. They did the memorial of  cement caskets very well, it was reflective and visually pleasing. People who visited put rocks on top of them to recognize a life lost. I did not take to many photos, because to be honest this was not something I want to look back on over and over.

All of the photos I am going to share are memorials of those lost in the Concentration camp

This go out to all those who have lost someone over fear or hate, and to all those in the world today that are losing there lives to genocide.

Sincerely,

LHM