Tag: travel photography

Tenerife, Part II

Did you know the Canary Islands are named for Dogs and not little yellow Birds ?
The Church of San Francisco dates back to the 18th century. It’s adjacent convent now houses The Museum of Fine Arts.
Like many Cruise Ship ports, Tenerife offers a variety of activities for tourists, Bingo Parlors, Casinos and Shopping !
The theater Circulo de Amistad of Santa Cruz de Tenerife opened in 1904. Architecturally, it is a curious building where the bourgeois architecture of the XIXth century and the Art Nouveau architecture of the Canary Islands meet. The building houses a social organization known as “The Recreation” where members enjoy dominoes, swimming, card games, volleyball and a myriad of other sports and activities.
Just a few steps off of the Calle Castillo, I found this unusual building.
Balconies were on almost every building I saw.

Incredible colors and tiles

by janoseagle

Bremerhaven’s Zoo Am Meer

Bremerhaven has a very cool little zoo, Zoo am Meer. Sailors used to bring Monkeys back to Germany as souvenirs, this little guy looked very lonely.
The polar bears were perfectly at home in the chilly weather
This one Sea Lion was very curious about what I was doing there.
He followed me down to the underwater window and kept doing tricks to get my attention.
These penguins were having a major argument.
by janoseagle

Bremerhaven, Germany

We bid a fond farewell to Hamburg and sailed along the coast to Bremerhaven. If you had any ancestors that arrived in the US from Europe, there is a very good chance that they travelled through Bremerhaven.
Bremerhaven has a long history of sailing ships. The German Maritime Museum was founded in 1971 to display the shipping history of Germany. This giant arm stands outside the main building.
Auswander Haus is the Imiigration Museum. You can research your own family tree, see what the living conditions were like on the transAtlantic voyage and explore the lives of other immigrants.
Walls of drawers hold information on passengers from all over Europe. Headsets along the wall relate their stories.

 

 

by janoseagle

Castle Hogwarts

High above the town, looms the magnificent castle of Hogwarts Wizarding School.
We enter the Castle via the massive underground labyrinth. You never know what you may find in the basement of Hogwart’s. This statue of a Hunchbacked Witch figures into Harry Potter’s tale.
Roaming the twisting and turning corridors of Hogwarts castle you are sure to see some amazing things. These portraits aren’t content to smile pretty, they talk to each other and even leave their frames to visit their neighbors.
Our day at the school has come to end as the night envelopes the castle.

We make our way back though the dark streets of Hogsmeade.
Perhaps we have time for one last drink before we leave. It’s a rather quiet evening at the Hogshead tavern in the town. Normally, the place is bustling with witches and wizards.
The namesake of the Hog’s Head Tavern. Here’s a tip, tip the bartender and you may see something fun.
After a delicious frozen Butterbear, we grab an ice cold Pumpkin Juice for the walk back to the Hogwarts Express and reality.
by janoseagle

Exploring The Grounds of Hogwarts

The lovely ladies of Beaux-Baton entertain a crowd of muggles with their ribbon dance.
More of the lovely ladies of Beaux-baton.
An impromptu concert by the Hogwarts Chorus.
The boys of Durmstrang perform some feats of strength.
The gentle Hippogriff sits quietly in it’s nest near Hagrid’s Cottage.

by janoseagle

A Side Trip To A Magical Place

Make your way to Platform 9 3/4 at Charing Cross Station and take the express train to Hogsmeade.
If you’re looking for a new hat, be sure to stop by McHavelock’s Wizarding Headgear.
Maestro’s Music Shoppe has everything you need for the musically inclined. From trombones to sheet music to guitar lessons, Maestro’s has it all.
Be sure to stop by Ollivander’s new location in Hogsmeade for the chance to let a wand choose you. The staff is very helpful and friendly.
A great way to waste an afternoon is browsing all of the wonderful confections of Honeyduke’s. Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Beans of Every Flavor and Cauldron Cakes are just a few of the treats awaiting you.
More delicious, sugary treats from Honeyduke’s.
Stop by the Owl Post to send your letter home and get a special cancellation stamp.
You can send anything and everything from The Owl Post. A full range of postal options is available day and night.
The Owlry provides some much needed shade for the hard working birds of the Owl Post. Be careful where you sit.
Even in the heat of Summer, Hogsmeade maintains a fresh blanket of snow.

by janoseagle

Art on the Street

This little robot dude was standing outside a building near the Landungsbrucken in Hamburg.
“Out of Control” Building near the Fischmarkt
This very cool graffiti was in a parking lot of a Seafood Restaurant near the harbor.

The most unusual thing I saw was in the window of the White Trash Contemporary Art Gallery. I’m not sure how the monkey got a hold of the Pope’s duds but his bubble machine was broken.
by janoseagle

The Magical Reeperbahn

I didn’t discover the Reeperbahn until a day or two before we were scheduled to sail out of Hamburg. The Reeperbahn is a street in the St. Pauli district and is lined with Casinos, theatres, bars, discos and even sex clubs. The Beatles played several clubs in the Reeperbahn during their climb to fame.

Police Station No. 15 is better as Davidwache. The building has been used as locations in German film and tv shows and Paul McCartney and Pete Best were held here on suspicion of Arson in 1960, when they set a condom on fire in a Reeperbahn club.

by janoseagle

Christmas in July (in Germany)

Being in Germany around the holidays was alot of fun. There were several Weinachtsmarkts or Christmas Markets around the city and we hit every one.
Monckebergstrasse was lit with twinkling lights.
On Spitaler Strasse, a giant Weinachtspyramide took centerstage.
At the largest of the city Markets in front of the Rathaus, vendors sold everything from candles and leather sketchbooks to mistletoe.
On a side street, a carousel with some very familiar characters was set up.
A canopy of Christmas lights at the Rathaus Weinachtsmarkt.
Gingerbread Cookies to hang on your Christmas Tree.
Santas in every shape and size
The carousel at Rathaus Markt
The highlight of the Rathaus Weinachtmarkt was the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa rode a motorcycle across a wire while and Angle was suspended underneath in a cloud.
A trio of animated Santas outside St. Petri’s.

by janoseagle

Underneath St. Michelis

St Michaelis also has a vast crypt- the largest in Europe- which contains the mortal remains of a number of illustrious people, including the composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. The crypt is dark and the ceiling is low, so watch your step.

by janoseagle