The Christmas Markets in Germany

There is something special about travelling overland, through tree lined avenues, combining land based excusions exploring local cultural landmarks and attractions. Countries which involved France Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

Holidaying in the Germany's Mosel Valley was one of the most idyllic settings i have ever experienced. The beautiful Mosel Valley, home of renowned winelands, was where I spent a lovely four days. The rustic wine bars and wine tasting cellars nestled in enchanting medieval towns alongside craggy castles. We visited three towns including Brodenbach, Cologne and Rudesheim traveling between two rivers the Mosel and the Rhine!

Brodenbach has some of the most beautiful landscape views, from valley to mountain side and the roads offer a challenge to road users. The village is set on the right of the Mosel it hosts churches and a ruined castle.

If you’re a fan of negotiating challenging bends, with great views, long fast straights and with little to no traffic, then these road networks may excite you.

The 125 mile long 'Mosel Wine Road' stretches from Koblenz to the ancient city of Trier. The area's almost complete lack of industrialization and development means that the scenery remains magnificent and the villages are peaceful and charming. The great Mosel River snakes in huge curves through the valley. It is an important trade route and heavily laden barges continue to ply up and down as they have done for centuries. But it is the Mosel's wines, excellent dry white Rieslings, which attract most of the visitors.

Vineyards cover nearly every sunny slope of the steep-sided valley. Rough stone terraces, some large enough only to support a few dozen vines, rise precipitously above the river and vineyards cling to the hillsides at crazy angles. The trip meandered through the lower reaches of the vineyards and the thousands upon thousands of identical rows of low green leafy vines can become quite mesmerizing. Our Hotel The Arken Hotel nestled in a nook of the meandering Mosel. And a glass of wine over a relaxing meal was most welcome after our fun filled excursions..

Staying in these private rooms is a great way to meet the local people.

As with the nearby Rhine Valley, (the mosel is a tributary of the Rhine), grapes have been grown for wine along the Mosel since Roman times. The mechanization that has made the lives of vintners in other areas so much easier has proved difficult or impossible to apply to many of the Mosel's steeply-angled vineyards. Thus wine production here is still a tough, back breaking job and in that way little has changed over the last 2000 years. From pruning and weeding to the harvest itself, much of the work is still done by hand. Despite free accommodation, hearty meals and decent wages there is often a shortage of reliable workers at harvest time.

All the hard work, however, is well rewarded in that it produces wines of exceptional quality. In fact, the very things that make cultivation so strenuous are important factors in the wines' quality—the steep slopes maximize the sunshine that reaches the vines and the stony ground absorbs heat during the day and slowly releases it during the night. This results in fantastic wines famous worldwide.

Small wine-producing villages are strung along both sides of the river, often only a few miles apart. Each has an assortment of caf�s and 'Wein Stube' (cozy bars selling locally produced wines) and many retain a wonderfully medieval atmosphere with gabled half-timbered houses lining quaintly crooked cobbled lanes.

From the small settlement of Brodenbach, we travelled, to the city centre of Cologne it was touched by the magic of the festivities of christmas. I visited the magic of Cologne the seven Christmas markets was just one fun filled day during Advent, alongside many other visitors from around the world delight at the goods on sale at the "Buden".

Christmas music filled the city centre, with local artefacts and crafts, toys, Christmas decorations and the scent of the freshly made coffee creating a wonderful atmosphere. It is not just children's eyes that light up when pewter pourers, wreath binders and glassblowers demonstrate their art, and the aroma of mulled wine, hot chestnuts and gingerbread fills the air.

The variety of entertainment included a visit to a Picasso exhibition, the young Doctor Ludwig did a thesis on Picasso and had since gathered the third largest collection of the artist. In this exhibition presented at the Ludwig Museum until January 15th 2012 Doctor Kerstin Stremmel wants to show that the face of Picasso is as well known as his oeuvre . He was portrayed by the most famous photographers and some of these pictures have become iconic. MeMyselfand photo portraits of Picasso brings together prints from 250 photographers such as Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton,Henri Cartier Bresson, Lee Miller and Man Rayand a visit to Cologne Cathedral.

The Cologne Cathedral another attraction, majestic structure is one of the finest I have visited - known as one of the world's great cathedrals: it is the spiritual and geographical heart of the city. The largest Gothic cathedral in Germany. From the top of the south tower, overlooks the panoramic views of the city and surrounding area.

Its construction began in 1248, housing the relics of the three Magi brought to Cologne in 1164 by the Archbishop Reinald von Dassel, chancellor to Frederick Barbarossa. After the completion of the chancel, south tower, and north-side aisles (around 1500), work was halted and not resumed until 1823. In 1880, the great enterprise was completed, and unlike many time-consuming constructions that change styles in midstream, the final result was in the Gothic style, true to the original plans.

The overall view of the cathedral, from the south transept, you actually can get an idea of its actual size and splendor. The west side (front) is dominated by two towering spires, perfectly proportioned and joined by the narrow facade of the nave. The first two stories of the towers are square, gradually merging into the octagonal form of the top three stories and tapering off at the top with huge finials. There is no great rose window, so characteristic of Gothic architecture, between these spires.

The west doors (main entrance), you are immediately caught up in the cathedral's grandeur. Although this portion of the church is somewhat bare, the clerestory and vaulting give a feeling of the size of the edifice. The towering windows on the south aisles include the Bavarian windows, donated by King Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1848. Like most windows in the nave, they are colored with pigments that have been burned on rather than stained. In the north aisles are the stained-glass Renaissance windows.

The Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. Until 1932 the generally accepted length of the Rhine was 1,230 kilometres (764 miles). It meanders through several countries, I viewed it from several points the most impressive was behind Cologne Cathedralby the banks of the Rhine.

Rudesheim, hosts a beautiful christmas market. This towns history has left a rich heritage here in the wine-growing Rheingau region whose origins date back to pre-Roman times. The inescapable romanticism of the Rhine, the historic palaces and ancient castles, excellent riesling and pinot noir wines, together with Rüdesheim's famous hospitality and conviviality give the town a very distinctive atmosphere.

York Lincoln and Hull

I travelled to York not only physically but also through the timeline of its history from 71AD named by the Romans as EBORACUM to the 700s when it was known as EOFORWIC named by the Saxons and in 866 the Vikings captured the city and renamed it JORVICK.

Infamous character Dick Turpin was hanged here in 1739.

Most importantly for me:

York:

Home of the Quaker villages built by Joseph Rowntree of which there are four.

In 1901, Joseph's son Seebohm Rowntree published a study of the living conditions of the working classes in York. This report entitled Poverty: was a study of town life. It revealed appalling statistics of dark, overcrowded and insanitary housing.

Joseph Rowntree's conviction that it must be possible to provide better housing for people on low incomes led him to acquire 150 acres of land near the village of Earswick, two and a half miles to the north of the centre of York. The planner Raymond Unwin and the architect Barry Parker were commissioned to produce an overall plan for a new 'garden' village and the detailed designs for its first houses. They were to go on to design the garden cities of Letchworth and Welwyn. New Earswick was one of their first opportunities to put their ideas into practice.

The building of New Earswick was an attempt to create a balanced village community where, although rents were to be kept low, they should still represent a modest commercial return on the capital invested. Houses there were to be open to any working people, not just Rowntree employees. The village was to be a demonstration of good practice: if New Earswick was successful, Joseph hoped that similar communities would be built elsewhere in the country.

At Joseph Rowntree's insistence, houses had gardens with fruit trees and enough ground to grow vegetables. The Trust Deed of the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust (which was set up in 1904 to build and manage New Earswick) safeguarded generous open green space. All the grass verges were planted with trees and almost all the roads are named after trees. The village was built from the very ground it stands on: the bricks were made in the brickworks on the outskirts of New Earswick. From 1950 the brickyard, which closed down in the 1930s, was developed into a nature reserve.

New Earswick continues to be a thriving community with a range of facilities, projects and programmes for involving residents of all ages. Accommodation in New Earswick includes housing for families and single people sheltered, housing and care for older people, bungalows and studio flats.

York Minster in comparison to the poverty shown in the above text.

As a visitor to York Minster, a vision of the long history of northern Europe's greatest Gothic cathedral. Every age from the Roman occupation of York onwards to the future of this working and worshipping church. The experience of the Minster shows the wealth of beauty through outstanding architecture, the Quire, Chapter House, Undercroft, treasury and Crypt.

The Minster has outstanding collections of artefact's, records and books, dating from Roman times to the present day. The collections are maintained and developed as a witness to the Christian faith, these are used by the Minster to support its education programme and in other important aspects of its work.

The Usher Gallery York:

I viewed a piece of work of Laurence Stephen Lowry who was born in 1887, in Manchester. An only child he began to draw at the age of eight and began private painting classes at the age of fifteen, the year before he left school. In 1904, he joined a firm of chartered accountants as a rent-collector and clerk and he remained in full-time employment throughout his life until he retired at the age of 65. So concerned was he to be seen as a serious artist that it was not until after his death that it was revealed that he had actually made his living away from the easel.

By the early 1930s he was exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London. He was awarded an honorary MA at Manchester University in 1945, and Doctor of Letters in 1961, elected to the Royal Academy in 1962, and given freedom of the City of Salford in 1965.

He lived in Mottram until he died in 1976 - a death marked by unprecedented homage by the 'ordinary people' of Manchester.

L.S. Lowry is unquestionably one of the most celebrated British artists and his unique contribution to recording the period, culture and landscape of industrial Salford and Manchester is without parallel. His work is a most distinctive and comprehensive record of the pre and post World War Two northern industrial town.

Many people associate Lowry with “matchstick men”, but he is known to have produced over 10,000 works, ranging from finished oil paintings to hastily drawn sketches. The local industrial scene was his most frequent subject but he also painted seascapes and portraits. He was a great humorist and had intense insight into human nature, characterising it without sentiment.

At the gallery I saw a 1952 commission part of a topographical collection- The Clifford Tower which was unusual as the Tower was being viewed by only a few of his "matchstick men". He was one of twelve artists to paint Clifford Tower.

The stunning panoramic views from the top of Clifford’s Tower, out over the historic city of York, makes it one of the most popular attractions in Yorkshire.

Set on a tall mound in the heart of Old York, this imposing tower is almost all that remains of York Castle, which was originally built by William the Conqueror.

The tower has served as a prison and a royal mint, as well as the place where Henry VIII had the bodies of his enemies put on public display.


Lincoln

A beautiful city which is steeped in history, and brimming with life. The city looks back over 2,000 years of history and discover the city's Roman, Norman, Medieval, Tudor and Georgian heritage.

In the first century the city was called Lindum Colonna and inhabited by demobbed Roman legionnaires and their families. One of the most visible remains of this period is Newport Arch built by the Romans over Ermine Street and still in use by traffic today.

I climbed The Steep Hill to the awe inspiring as Lincoln Cathedral - started in 1072; the original building was damaged by fire and earthquake. Apart from the Norman West Front, the existing Cathedral is largely 12Th and 13Th century. William the Conqueror's castle dates from 1068, the medieval ramparts give magnificent views over Lincoln. Unique Victorian Prison Chapel and King John's 1215 Magna Carta (one of only four in existence).

The Guildhall an ancient Council Chamber contains Lincoln's civic Insignia, considered the finest collection of civic regalia outside

The Collection Art and Archaeology:

These collections contain both artefact's and objects from archaeological and art collections.

The art collection is the finest in the county. It includes superb contemporary art and craft, paintings, sculpture, porcelain, clocks and watches. Treasures include paintings by Turner, Stubbs and Lowry, major porcelain collections and clocks with wooden movements by Robert Sutton.

The archaeological collection covers 300,000 years of history from the earliest inhabitants of Lincolnshire to the Eighteenth Century. Some highlights of the collections are prehistoric finds from the River Witham, treasures from Anglo-Saxon burials and finds from Lincoln’s rich Roman, Viking and Medieval heritage.


For me the trail through the archaeological remains revealed the dawn of the humanities through evidence of humankind alongside the cutting edge of contemporary art.

If I had a favourite the dug out boats from the river bed and the bronze age masks took me back to my school days where we completed pencil drawings of such artefact's.


Hull

Known as Kingston upon Hull. History travels through the majestic mammoths to Saxon invaders, as a visitor to the Hull I lived through the experience of a unique, educational experience, involving fun. The Iron Age village and Iron Age weaponry, Roman bath house with stunning mosaics. And a horde of Viking treasure!

Hull’s unique Museums Quarter - consists of Wilberforce House, the Hull and East Riding Museum, Streetlife and the Arctic Corsair trawler - fun exploring and discovering historic Hull. The Ferens Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum in the city centre, and Hands On History in Trinity Square right in the heart of the City Centre.

Ferens Museum:

I viewed Bigger Tree Near Warter.



David Hockney: Bigger Trees Near Warter

David Hockney's painting Bigger Trees Near Warter, on loan from Tate, is the largest painting the artist has ever produced and measures 40 x 15 feet (12 x 4 metres).

It features two copses, a huge sycamore tree, buildings and early flowering daffodils, the painting comprises of 50 individual canvas panels and takes inspiration from a site at Warter in the Yorkshire Wolds. A beautiful experience.

Watching a video of Hockney, painting en plein air (outside) in six weeks. It explained how the artist used digital technology to help him complete the painting, creating a computer mosaic of the picture which enabled him to 'step back' and see it as a whole.

The painting depicts a landscape prior to the arrival of Spring and before the trees have come into leaf

Peppa Pig visits Drusillas

As we all know childrens education is based on interactive play Drusillas offer activities…and we had fun finding out!


The Drusillas experience offer oodles of hands-on kids educational activities and interactive displays that aim to bring learning to life. At Drusillas, we learnt as having fun with our hands-on activities, which we followed around the Zoo Route we asked qusetions of HOW, WHY and WHAT as we were able to gain a sensory experience in close and personal contact with farm animals and saw recently hatched birds.





We travelled on Thomas the Tank Engine with Friends, Thomas, Annie and Clarabel provide a train service throughout the day, a fatastic attraction! We alighted the train at Tidmouth Halt. 'Thomas the Tank Engine' took us through the paddocks. seeing the Fat Controller at Dryaw Halt, James in the engine shed, we saw Diesel around the track, and spotted Cranky in the Sodor Dock yard. Alongside this we viewed the beautiful gardens in Alfriston.


A special event led to the introduction of Peppa Pig, George Pig and dino the dinosaur.




A song we like to sing is based on dinosaurs.

The song is ‘I’m a mean old Dinosaur’

I’m a mean old Dinosaur (make a mean face)
Big and tall (hand movements indicate size)
Here is my tail and here is my claw (hand behind their back and a claw shaped hand)
When i get hungry (rub your tummy)
I just growl
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!
Look out kids I’m on the prowl.


This song is sang to the tune of ‘I’m a little teapot ‘


We saw another interactive session hosted in Churchill Square The dinosaur exhibition. Huge animals, including the terrifying T-Rex, the ‘tyrant lizard’ and king of the dinosaurs!

Alongside the giant T-Rex is fellow Cretaceous-dweller and carnivore, the Baryonyx, a 28ft-long dinosaur with huge claws and finely serrated teeth!

Slightly more mild-mannered in comparison, what the Oviraptor lacked in ferocity it certainly made up for in speed! Just six foot long, the bird-like dinosaur from the Cretaceous period falls into the theropod category alongside the lithe-limbed Ornithomimus.

Dinosaur creative play is fun...planning sessions for the indoor and outdoor environments including scaly dinosaurs and finger painting.

Other creative sessions involving children in action movement and rhyme, this sesssion allows the children to show how to express mathematical skills through hand movement..

Dinosaurs lived when the earth began
Some were tall
Some were small
Some liked water
Some like land

Pteranadons had leathery wings
Brontosauras long necks
But the meanest of all was Tyrannosaurus Rex

Raahhh.....

The Isle of Wight 2011

Taking a short break.

I visited this wonderful island visiting, Godshill, Shanklin, Sandown, The Needles.
The Isle of Wight is a pituresque lowland. The impact of the sea, the quality of the light, the temperate climate and the variety of cultural influences give its own strong 'sense of place'.

We stayed at the town of Sandown, an area which is treasured for its special qualites. The complex and diverse character of the island offers the opportunities it provides for quiet enjoyment, peace and relaxation are equally valued today I reflected on other poets that had visited this island, near to Sandown the town of Shanklin which heralds memories of Keats and Longfellow, Tennyson and Freshwater Bay.

As soon as Keats reached the Isle of Wight, on April 16, 1817, he went to see Shanklin and Carisbrooke, and after some hesitation between the two, decided on a lodging at the latter place.

ON THE SEA

It keeps eternal whisperings around
Desolate shores, and with its mighty swell
Gluts twice ten thousand Caverns, till the spell
Of Hecate leaves them their old shadowy sound.
Often 'tis in such gentle temper found,
That scarcely will the very smallest shell
Be mov'd for days from where it sometime fell,
When last the winds of Heaven were unbound.
Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vex'd and tir'd,
Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea;
Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vex'd and tir'd,
Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea;
Oh ye! whose ears are dinn'd with uproar rude,
Or fed too much with cloying melody -
Sit ye near some old Cavern's Mouth, and brood
Until ye start, as if the sea-nymphs quir'd!

At the Crab Inn in the old village part of Shanklin during July 1868. Longfellow wrote to a friend that he was staying in a lovely little thatched-roof inn, all covered with ivy. Whilst staying here he was asked to write an inscription which now embelishes the fountain outside. It is displayed on a shield with the Union Jack and the Stars & Stripes on either side and reads:

O traveller, stay they weary feet;
Drink of this fountain pure and sweet;
It flows for rich and for poor the same.
Then go thy way remembering still
The wayside well beneath the hill,
The cup of water in His name.

Whereas Poet laureate Tennyson who lived at Farringford from 1853 until the end of his life in 1892. Tennyson wrote of Farringford:

“Where, far from noise and smoke of town
I watch the twilight falling brown,
All round a careless-ordered garden,
Close to the ridge of a noble down.”




Godshill and its magnificent warmth, it reflected the old island which was the last part of the British Isles to accept christianity.





Sandown is the best place to have fun sandy beaches access the sea safely. Lifeguards on patrol to watch over the shore and to help make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

Sandown seafront is just yards from the town's shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, with easy level walking along the broad promenades and sea wall. You will find deckchairs, beach huts, water sports and the pier, which dates from 1879 and now provides all-weather amusements.






This diamond-shaped island has a magic all of its own and is one of the UK's sunniest and warmest places. Measuring 23 miles by 13 miles, the Isle of Wight lies just off England's South Coast. No passport is needed for the short sea crossing - and once you've landed on the Island everything is within easy reach.