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German Adventures! PART FIVE |
Posted on Saturday, December 8, 2012 @ 4:58 PM
with 0 Comments
OUR GERMANY ESCAPADE (PART FIVE)
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Hey guys! So I am finally back to blogging after what seems like forever! So sorry dear loyal blog readers! I know most of you have been eagerly waiting for a new blog entry! I finally had time to get one done today! It took me a really long time to finally get this entry up because I just have soooo many pictures to upload, edit, then upload again. Then paste in blogger, then type out the blog entry. On top of that, I still have to upload the videos, edit, and then upload again, and then upload again onto Vimeo. So, the whole process literally , takes hours to finish! But, ahhh... I am finally done with Part Five of my Germany Escapade!!
So for those of you who may be a new blog reader, or have no idea what on earth I am babbling about... early this year in late April, Sondra (one of my besties), and I took a vacation over in Germany! Our way of celebrating since we had both finally graduated from Polytechnic! :)
So before, I go on any further, please read the entries below if you have not read Part 1 to 4 yet! There's quite alot for you to catch up on! Tsk tsk, where were you huh?
If you've not read Part 2 of my Germany Escapade,please click HERE! If you've not read Part 3 of my Germany Escapade, please click HERE! If you've not read Part 4 of my Germany Escapade, please click Click HERE!
So on the 1st of May, Sondra and I woke up early again from the morning call we get everyday at the hotel. Hahah, as usual, I'm always the one who has to answer it, especially since my bed was right beside the phone. Bummer.
So, on the 5th day, Sondra and I did the usual in the morning... got out of bed, showered, got dressed, headed over to the dining area for a buffet breakfast! I finally managed to snap some photos of the food this time because for once, we had time! Hahaha, we were always late for breakfast y'see.. so we always had to rush through our meal. Had a little bit of extra time to spare since we arrived about 20 minutes earlier or so.
I always love love breakfast. The sight of sausages, ham(turkey or chicken of course. haha), fluffly scrambled eggs, hashbrowns etc.. is enough to make me all jumpy and squealy. I'm simply a breakfast person. I can do without lunch or dinner, but NOT breakfast. And I most certainly do not agree that scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, sausages, ham etc... is only meant to be eaten in the mornings. Back home, it could be dinner, and I'd still be whipping myself up some good ol' scrambled eggs and baked beans. Who cares? It's still food!
The different types of cheese they served! :D
Different types of ham! Pork, chicken, turkey....
Yummy array of freshly baked bread! I would have helped myself to a few if we had more time. :(
I always love bread and butter!
Pretzels
For the health conscious people. Fruit and yoghurt
Eggs, sausages, french toast.
  
So this was actually my first serving. The eggs served at the hotel were honestly the best scrambled eggs I've ever tried in my entire life. And believe me, I have tried many!
I swear I overdosed on protein when I was staying at the hotel because I'd always have really generous portions of scrambled eggs.
This was only my first serving, had a second serving after. =x
Pig? yes I know. I eat alot, and then self loathe after for eating so much. Hahah, it happens. I'm sure many girls know how I feel.
Sondra, however on the other hand, watches her diet really carefully and eats minimal portions. Hahah, during the entire trip, I felt like such a glutton. I'd finish all the food on my plate, and Sondra would ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS, leave a little bit of food on her plate. For good luck maybe? Hahaha.
This is how minimal. Crazy right? So much food, and this is all she took! Tsk tsk.
So after breakfast, we all got on the bus and headed to Würzburg, a city in the region of Franconia, Northern Bavaria, Germany.
It was a 2 to 3 hour bus ride to the place. So aside from sleeping, Sondra and I played many rounds of Guess Who on the bus! Hahah, the toy I got from the kids meal I bought the day earlier at Burger King.
 
So after a long long long bus ride, we finally reached our destination!
Here's a little bit of history that you can read about Wurzburg before you read the rest of the blog entry below. It'd be alot more fascinating if you understood the history behind the beautiful city.
Founded in the 10th century, Würzburg served as the home of powerful prince-bishops for many centuries. It is renowned for the Residence, regarded as one of the finest palaces in Europe and a high point of Baroque art (also UNESCO cultural world heritage!). Würzburg is also home to one of the oldest churches in Germany, built in the 8th century on top of a former pagan shrine. One of its most famous structures, Festung Marienberg, is a fortress which now surrounds the church. Würzburg was the center of the kingdom known as Franconia. In the 19th century, Napoleon merged Franconia with Bavaria, by which the city is ruled to this day. Würzburg has been home to a large US military installment since post-World War II reconstruction. As a result, many of the locals are familiar with American customs. However, as of 2006, the military base is scheduled to close which will cause the city to lose most of its American presence. 
Beautiful architecture. So much detail is put into every building, and so much history is behind it too.
  
Now entering Wurzburg's Residence, one of the finest palaces in Europe. Sadly, we did not get to go inside. But I do know that the staircase located inside the Palace, is one of the more popular tourist attraction sights. So, you may want to consider going there if you do get a chance to go to Germany, yourself.
Würzburger Residence is one of the finest Palaces in Europe and is famed for its magnificent staircase. It is regarded as one of the finest pieces of Baroque art in the world as such it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The building was designed by Balthasar Neuman, and the Fresco above the Staircase was painted by Tiepolo, it is reputed to be the largest in the world. The palace has 300 rooms, spread over 3 wings. There is also a Chapel decorated by Tiepolo which is free to enter and well worth a visit. Würzburger Residence gardens are situated behind the Palace and are free to enter
So the only place we visited was the Wuzburger Residence gardens, situated behind the palace, and was free to enter. Such a beautiful garden indeed. Saw all sorts of statues, flowers, tree sculptures etc..
  
That's the palace. :) The yellow building.
 
Spot our tour guide!
  
Pretty flowers! I've never seen a black flower before. Was totally fascinated by it.
     
The beautiful Wuzburger Residence.
       
chilly mornings.
  
Hehe, the tour guide.
Such a knowledgeable and friendly man, who is really passionate about his job.
If there's one thing about Germany that I really love a lot, it's all the really beautiful fountains! I know it's not right to compare Singapore and Germany, but I really couldn't help myself. It was just so so so beautiful. Most of which were built hundreds of years ago .
    
In front of the Wurzburger Residence.
How huge is the palace? o.o
So after being shown the gardens at the Wurzburger Residence, our tour guide brought us around the rest of Wurzburg. The more historic sites. Honestly, Wurzburg is one of the most beautiful places I've ever laid eyes on. And when I say ever laid eyes on, I'm even including all of the places and countries that I've ever seen on television also, because I know I hardly ever travel. Hahaha.
    
More pretty buildings.
      
Saw this on the staircase. Hahah.
Pictures just do not do the city justice.
Or maybe I'm just a really bad photographer. Hahah. Either way, you gotta see the real thing for yourself!
Cafes by the walkways. I love these sort of open door restaurant concepts. Too bad it doesn't really work that well in Singapore because of how humid and hot the weather always is.
       
The castle behind is the Fortress Marienberg, is a castle across the Old Main Bridge, overlooking the whole town area as well as the surrounding hills.
Saw this super cool tram? Train? Hahaha. Whatever it was, it was beyond cool!
 
The most beautiful fountain in Wurzburg.
 
Wurzburg is the center of Germany's Franken Wine Growing Region. In addition to excellent white wine and restaurants, Wuzburg offers the visitor a continual array of historic art and architecture spanning the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods.
The Old Main Bridge (Alte Mainbrücke) was built in 1473 and completed in 1543, to replace the destroyed Romanesque bridge that was built in 1133.
  
Simply breathtaking.
 
Beginning in 1730, the bridge was adorned with statues of saints and historically relevant figures, like the one in the picture above.
   
Even the post box is so pretty! What in the world?!
  
Wurzburg is filled with tons of churches. The one in the picture above, is just one of the many others.
   
The moment I saw McDonalds, I was so happy! Sondra and I went there for lunch! You probably must be thinking.... Wah siao ah this two, go all the way to Germany to eat McDonalds instead of authentic German food.
Well, that's how much we love fast food! Hahaha, but that's not really the case la. The downside about going with a tour group is the time limits given to us. Because, we are in a group, and we have many places to go and see, we have a schedule to follow and therefore, time is not really a given luxury for us. But as much as Sondra and I had wished that we didn't follow a tour group, it really would have very difficult to get around Germany since the place is just too huge! So, to all the people who are considering going to Germany for a holiday... well, unless you have people you know in Germany, I'd suggest you follow a tour group! I'll tell you guys the agency I went with, on the very last Germany Escapade entry!
     
Dining in Macdonalds! :D Hehe, it's so cool how Macdonalds in different countries are different. Some of the burgers I saw in Perth, Australia the last time I went, were not in Germany or Singapore's menu. Vice versa. Look at some of the cool stuff they sell!
They have a burger called THE LAUGHINATOR?! HAHA.
Sadly, the fast food places in Germany are mostly non-halal. To be honest, it is actually really hard to find halal fool places in Germany since Pork is somewhat considered a favourite over there. There's pork like... everywhere.
            
Music showcases in the heart of the city.
       
So that was the end of the Wurzburg tour! Here's a short video footage I shot that day. It's not much, but at least you get to see it in video! :D
So after Wurzburg, we headed back to the bus, and went to Stuttgart!
 Stuttgart [1] is the capital of Baden-Württemberg,Germany, with a population of approximately 606,000 in the immediate city and more than 2,6 million people in the metropolitan area. 
Okay I know I shouldn't be taking pictures of dead birds... but the birds ... :'( so sad.... Rest in peace birdies.
At least you died in such a beautiful city/country.
Our tour guide in Stuttgart! :)
  
Walked past a park and was so shocked to see so many people, teenagers mostly, lying down on the grass under the sun. I guess that's how much caucasians love the sun!
        
More beautiful fountains!
     
Our tour manager, Vincent!
 
Always enjoy watching street acts! :)
      
Super cool watercooler!
 
So after the tour, Sondra and I had free time, and so we headed over to a really pretty cafe and sat outdoors. We each had a cuppa hot tea and just sat down to talk and chill! Love love love the place so much. :'( Miss Germany so much already, and even more as I am typing about it..
boohoo..
  
Had really bad hair in Germany :P was all dry and frizzy.
Bestie and I ^^ She's the complete opposite of me. One time, she said this to me that sorta made me tear up. It went something like this. "People always ask me why we're best friends when we are complete opposites. Well, I guess those are the best sort of friendships". :')
Thankful to have her in my life. although we may be complete opposites and have so many different likes and dislikes, she's still my bestest friend. awww... hahaha
 ij
Really have no idea as to how I grew into liking German bread. Sondra finds it gross. Most of my friends found it gross. But I really love it! I guess it's just a taste that grows on you! It's an unsual taste and that's why most Singaporeans would find it gross. It's just like Durian. In Singapore, it's a delicacy but to most Caucasians, it's the grossest thing in the world. It even made its way into being the Top 10 most disgusting foods in the world. Can you believe it? LOL. And durian was even featured in the X factor for the gross food eating challenge la. Hahaha.
After a long day, Sondra and I headed back to the hotel, watched a movie on my laptop whilst eating cup noodles, and then headed to the hotel bar, ordered food and drinks, and stayed there all the way till morning, again whilst chatting the night away. Hehe, actually the reason why I wanted to go to the bar so much was because of the cute German waiter over there, whom I actually ended making friends with on the last night because he approached us! Hahaha, he even asked for my contact number and facebook. hehehe. We both had our eye candies during the trip la, which made it so much more fun! Till the next blog entry! :D
If you can wait... till then! xoxo
Lots of Love,
Sofia Dendroff
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