Berlin Day Hike: A Rainy February Sunday

2. February 2020 hikeminded3 Comments

One of those days. When you stray around in your city – necessary sometimes, to get a feeling of belonging and full of surprising discoveries. When I came here a long time ago, the historical Moltkebrücke (the bridge with the lions you can see below) was a solitary building in the middle of nowhere. And while there are some new, quite impressive corporate and private buildings, their aesthetic expression seams meaningless and empty compared to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Kongresshalle).
My Dad would have had his 76 birthday today.

Wild Berlin

23. January 2020 hikemindedLeave a comment

Sometimes, on a walk through the city, you see more animals than in the forest. For example a grey heron 🙂

Odenwald Hike: Impressions Of The Middle Ages At Hornberg Castle

24. December 201924. December 2019 hikemindedLeave a comment

The castle of Hornberg was first built in the 11th century. Germanys most famous knight, Götz von Berlichingen lived there for 45 years and the winery inside the castle is said to be the second eldest in the whole world.

Azores: A Guided Tour Through The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Angra

22. November 201921. November 2019 hikemindedLeave a comment

We met the priest of the church just when we wanted to leave and he offered to explain his church to us. Unfortunately his English wasn’t as advanced as his enthusiasm was (and neither was our Portuguese). But we really enjoyed the tour where he told us about the saints exposed in the church, the Flemish style paintings in the classic Portuguese altar, the baptismal font out of “singing” stone and the 400 year old seats and cabinets of “iron wood” from the Brazilian colonies. He even tried to explain something about the Jews, the Portugueses, the Spanish and the British how they lived together at the time and how it should be possible today, we tried to understand and it appeared to be really interesting, but unfortunately we weren’t able to get it.

Azores: Impressions Of The Colorful Town Of Angra Do Heroísmo

21. November 201921. November 2019 hikeminded2 Comments

The jewish cemetery of Angra

A chapel with no stairs

(I found the solution on the next house)

Angra from above

In the park of Angra

Churches

Our Hotel in the fortress Pousada de São Sebastião

Angra by night and some restaurant recommendations

Cachalote Restaurant: Frank, the owner lives on Terceira since more than 30 years. He came here from Flores and named his Restaurant “Cachalote”, which means “whale” in Portugues, in respect for the beasts which he saw being hunted and slaughtered as a child.
Best Steak (beef!) I ever had even compared to the 60$-Steak in a fancy restaurant in NY Meatpacking District in 2009. It comes on a very hot lava stone plate and you can cut it and grill the slices on the stone after your wishes. The steak is served with three homemade sauces and french fries.
Restaurant Tasca das Tias: Nice interior, somehow busy service, best grilled tuna we had on the Azores
Restaurant Verdemaça: Small Restaurant with friendly service and comfy, traditional interior

Azores: Impressions From Lajes and Madalena on Pico Island

Gallery16. November 201917. November 2019 hikeminded5 Comments

Pico: Lajes do Pico and Madalena, day and night

Azores: Horta, The Capital Of The Sailors

14. November 201911. November 2019 hikeminded2 Comments

Igreja do Santíssimo Salvador

Peter Café Sport

Leaving Horta on a rainy day

Azores: Vila Franca Do Campo And Nossa Senhora da Paz

Aside8. November 201911. November 2019 hikemindedLeave a comment

Vila Franca Do Campo is the oldest city on San Miguel and its former capital. It was founded by the first settlers in the 15th century. But after an earthquake in 1522 the city was destroyed and most of the inhabitants died. Ponte Delgada then became the capital of the Azores.

Azores: The Convento De São Francisco In Vila Franca do Campo

Aside31. October 201924. November 2019 hikeminded2 Comments

We had the pleasure to stay in this wonderful building for several nights and as it was low season we had it for our own most of the time. The owners carefully restored it and filled it with antiques.
What a feeling to walk through those honorable halls.

Kloster Schöntal: A Baroque Architecture Gem

3. August 2019 hikemindedLeave a comment

Kloster Schöntal is situated picturesquely in Schöntal (“Beautiful Valley”) in Baden-Wurttemberg between Heilbronn and Würzburg. The main structures were built between the 12th and the 17th century, amongst them a baroque abbey and a rococo convent.