Frankfurt (Mainz), Germany

27 July 2010

Pretty soon I am going to run out of new and fun places I visit and with so many places I have yet to visit, I am swapping my schedule around so that I go to a new place every trip. Until then, please indulge me while I share pictures from my trip of the week.

I flew into Frankfurt International Airport, but we layover in Mainz, a suburb of Frankfurt. It is about a 30 minute drive from the airport. This is my first time to Germany, and although all these European cities I've been to lately have a lot of similarities but Germany seems more lush and green...but almost over-run kind of green. Seems a little neglected acutally.

This is the best German flag I could find...and no winds today didn't help with the shot.

This neat stone wall down I street I was walking.

Looks like old doorways that were filled in with stones.

Neat fountain in the courtyard in town.

The Mainzer Dom (Catholic Church) in the town square.

Hessen Rheinland-Pfalz
(the river that runs through Frankfurt)
Fresco sculptures of some German knights.

The Theodor-Heuss-Brucke bridge.

Metal sculpture.
Couldn't make my way through a European city without coming across

a statue with some guy on a horse. Well, here it is.

What you have to love about Europe, is that in the middle of every city large and small you will find these peaceful and quiet garden like park spots. Its neat how the city planners thought it necessary to dedicate this prime real estate for these parks...I believe it is one of those little touches that set apart Euopean cities from ones at home.

Prague, Czech Republic

22 July 2010

Another really nice day at work. I have seen so many movies filmed in this city, so I was excited to come and see it for myself. Now I know why...you can look down any given city street and it turns in to the perfect setting for any movie. It seems very old and beautiful, but yet very modern compared to other Italian cities. Interesting and hard to explain. The architecture is very ornate and totally amazing.

Of course you will notice, that I have to have a photo taken underneath a horse
statue in every city I visit.

No, this is not Disneyland.

A sculture of the Czech flag.


This is the garden that surrounds the Senate building. It was amazingly beautiful. Pictures do not do it justice, especially capturing the peace and quietness there.


These peacocks roaming through the Senate garden. This albino one, graciously posed for everyone that walked by and wanted a photo. He thinks highly of himself. And then there was this mother and her chicks running around too.

Also in this garden was this wall....covered in what looked like naturally made stalactities but then again some areas of it looked like a sculpure. Don't know....

maybe will have to google it later.

Sorry I don't have more and better pictures. It was a bit overcast today, (but still hot as heck) and so my little iphone cameras with no built in flash wouldn't allow for a lot of better photos. All the more reason you should just come yourself and see it first hand.

Happy Anniversary

19 July 1996

(Happy Anniversary Maria...love you more today and happier than I was then.)

Milan, Italy

11 July 2010

Italy is fast becoming one of my all time favorite countries of the world. I have yet to visit an Italian city that didn't amaze me. Italy has such a rich history of very cool, smart, and artistic people that it is reflected in everything you see....including the landscape and amazing architecture. You can walk down any street and just be amazed at how so very neat it all is. (Can't believe Darli and her family would ever want to leave?)

Layover hotel...very nice with very comfy bed.

An exceptionally large and elaborate Gothic cathedral on the main square of Milan, the Duomo di Milano is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world. I did not get to enter this cathedral, as they have very strict dress code....as it is a sacred place...you have to wear the appropriate "garments"....I guess much like our Temple...so I understood, but would have liked to have seen inside. Next time I'll wear long pants.

It was a beautiful day, but very hot and muggy...very much like Orlando summer weather.


The Duomo is built in a huge town square. And very similar to Red Square in Moscow, it is surrounded by a cool shopping mall called the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. As Milan is the fashion capital of Italy, it included the most high-brow kind of shopping. Very beautiful.

Like I said, some of the coolest people to have lived...lived in Italy. This statue is to honour Leonardo da Vinci....who I think was a very cool Italian.

The Castello Sforzesco. Built in 1368 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti to defend the city from attack, the castle was enlarged by military architect Magatti under the instruction of Visconti's successor Gian Galeazzo...again so cool and thrown together by some very talented Italians.

Inside the fortress, are beautiful gardens.

Santa Maria delle Grazie ("Holy Mary of Grace") is a another Catholic church and convent. The church is also famous for the mural of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci which is in the refectory of the convent. I didn't get to see it, as I didn't realize it was in there until after I did a little reserach after I got back. I would love to see it, so on my next trip back....I will.

Just a bunch of houses along the way with what I think is the most amazing architechture. And here is someones driveway and garden...just love it. Don't see a place like this in downtown Kissimmee, Florida.

Another cool concept, is this bike rental program. You just walk up to one of these bikes, drop some cash and off you ride. Then when you find another bike rack at your final destination, you just plug it in. What a concept...right?

Can't get over my fasination with the cars in Europe....A tiny Mini Cooper or Smart car is hardly seen on the roadways of the USA. However, in Europe, it is all they drive basically.

But what I also find interesting is that all the taxicabs are Mercedes Benz luxury cars.

Can't figure that one out.

At the end of every street where other streets intersect, you'll find a Piazza. Most seem to have a little park with either a statue of someone or a fountain. Again, a cool concept of using the space and landscape for something relaxing. In American, we would be build a WalMart or a dollar store on that plot of ground.

Couldn't really come to Italy without having pizza.

And looking back at the trip....that is ALL I ate on this entire trip. Pizza. Love it.