Dresden - the capital of the Free State of Saxony is located right next to the Ore Mountains. And while I'm there, I naturally have to visit this beloved city, which doesn't seem so huge. Pretty much reduced to rubble during the Second World War, it was slowly rebuilt after German reunification. Great importance was attached to the careful restoration of the old town centre. The Frauenkirche church โช๏ธ is located in the centre. The epitome of a memorial for decades. Beautifully restored, it is definitely worth a visit. But you can also simply stroll through the old and new town. The Canaletto view by the painter Bernardo Bellotto can be enjoyed from the right bank of the Elbe below the Augustus Bridge, overlooking the (Catholic) Hofkirche and the (Protestant) Frauenkirche. To the right is the Semper Opera House, behind it the Zwinger, which invites you to take a stroll. The world-famous Meissen porcelain can be purchased opposite the Frauenkirche. (The white baubles from Meissen will be hanging on my Christmas tree again this year). Dresden's Christmas market is world-famous for its Christmas stollen. And a warm eggnog or a (non-alcoholic) warm vanilla milk is a great way to warm up again. ๐ฉท Kisses ๐
I was a guest at the German Bobsleigh Championships ๐ฅ in the Erzgebirge โ๏ธ over the weekend. What a weekend.
Bobsleigh is a winter โ๏ธ sport that was developed by the English in Switzerland at the end of the 19th century and is now part of the Olympic programme at the Winter โ๏ธ Olympics. Etymologically, the word "bob" comes from "to bob". And indeed, the very first bobsleigh riders tried to give the bobsleigh more speed by rhythmically moving back and forth. It was not until the 1970s that the sports bobsleds used had aerodynamic panelling and the front runners could be steered using a cable pull (steering cables). These sports machines, which weigh between 163 kg and 210 kg, are real high-tech devices which, like the cars in Formula 1, may no longer be touched by outsiders once at the start during the competition. There are 4 disciplines: 2-man and 4-man as well as mono and 2-man for the women. It goes down the ice channel at around 130 km/h. Crashes are not uncommon. What an event. And unlike some super sports, it's totally approachable. It's easy to get up close and personal with the Olympic champions and they are on first-name terms as a matter of course. Hats off to these athletes. Kisses ๐
Cocktail evening ๐ธ in London ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ in a sheer dress by Maison Close ๐ฉทand the discovery that you can take great and sexy ๐ pictures in this hotel corridor! Enjoy ๐! Kisses ๐
"Step into a world full of romance and sin. A world in which boundaries are blurred, bohemians and royals lie in each other's arms and party to excess. Pop the champagne ๐พ corks and get ready for the most intoxicating night of your life ๐!"
This is how the musical "Moulin Rouge" is advertised. And it definitely lives up to its promise! ๐ฉท
As it was the 800th show in Cologne, there was a party ๐ฅณ afterwards to celebrate this anniversary in style. What an evening! Thank you! ๐ฉท
By the way: the Broadway version of the musical won ten Tony Awards, making it the most honoured show of 2020. ๐คฉ Kisses ๐
I was at the musical ๐ ! I wore a customised corset ๐ by TomTo from Berlin to match the performance of "Moulin Rouge". And I could easily pass for a member of the ensemble. ๐
"Moulin Rouge!" is a jukebox musical based on a book by John Logan, which is based on the 2001 feature film of the same name by Baz Luhrmann. The musical premiered in Boston in July 2018. It has been performed on Broadway since July 2019. The German-language production has been on show at the Musical Dome Cologne since November 2022.
Of course, we started with the cancan ๐ฏโโ๏ธ , which immediately got everyone excited and carried away. You were immediately "fully immersed".
It's all about a very touching love story ๐ฉท. A story about passionate love, desperate love, crazy love. The kind of love you never forget.
"The story takes place in Paris at the end of the 19th century. Christian, an American writer, falls in love with Satine, a singer at the legendary Moulin Rouge nightclub. This love is put to a tragic test when the influential Duke von Monroth comes into the picture. He wants to take over the financially ailing Moulin Rouge and also its "sparkling diamond" Satine."
I was mesmerised by the outstanding artists in fantastic costumes against a fantastic backdrop. This musical is a must-see! Definitely! Kisses ๐
Sometimes you need to take a few days off and switch off. I was a guest at Dunkeld House Hotel ๐จ . The country house hotel is set in 113 hectares of unspoilt Perthshire countryside. It is a very well-kept, modern and well-equipped hotel with great parkland right on the River Tay, which is famous for its salmon fishing ๐ (which I of course enjoyed in every variation). There is an extensive breakfast with a great view of the countryside.
Exceptional service and first-class amenities make for an unforgettable experience.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy nature, tranquillity and the Scottish countryside at its best. From a romantic weekend getaway to short breaks full of fantastic outdoor activities.
Perthshire is also an excellent choice for a Scottish touring holiday. From Dunkeld House Hotel you are only 90 minutes away from 90% of Scotland. I stayed for a few days and enjoyed the best Scottish hospitality. And what a room. WOW! I have used this bathtub ๐ extensively together with a good book ๐๐ฉท. Kisses ๐
St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the 900-year-old main church of the Church of Scotland and one of the most important sights in the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. It is located not far from Edinburgh Castle. Approaching from the front, the first thing you notice is the church tower in the shape of a crown. Today, this is a landmark on Edinburgh's skyline.
Fascinating stained glass windows conjure up a play of light when the sun shines. I was impressed by the blue of the ceiling. Madness.
The church is dedicated to St Aegidius, his deed and his later work in the 8th century AD made him one of the 14 saints of helpers who were often invoked for help in the Middle Ages. Its name in English is St Giles.
St Giles' Cathedral includes the Thistle Chapel of the Order of the Thistle. The neo-Gothic choir stalls have a seat crowned with the coat of arms of each of the 16 regular knights of the order. There are also royal members.
Unlike most honours awarded by the British Crown, the monarch is not bound by government proposals when appointing members of the Order of the Thistle, but is free to decide at his own discretion, which is why admission to the Order is seen as a personal gift from the monarch. With the exception of the Norwegian king, no foreigners are admitted (he is, because he regularly visited the royal family on his yacht in Balmoral a long time ago). And only women since 1987!
By the way. After Balmoral, Her Majesty The Queen's coffin was first taken to the Palace of Holyroddhouse, the official palace of Their Majesties when in Scotland, and then in a procession from there to St Giles' Cathedral, where she lay in state for 24 hours - including a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Majesty The Queen. Kisses ๐
On my ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ tour, I naturally also visited the beautiful city of Edinburgh ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ. The compact, hilly capital of Scotland with a medieval old town and the famous, cobbled and historic "Royal Mile" - certainly one of the most famous streets in the UK, attracts visitors from all over the world. Follow the mile from the historic Edinburgh Castle ๐ฐ , where the annual Military Tattoo takes place (definitely on my bucket list), to the modern Scottish Parliament. The various sights along the way show Edinburgh's development from a dormant volcano to a modern city. A lot of shops invite you to shop for traditional tartan and in cozy pubs you can enjoy a beer ๐ป (or rather a wine ๐ท or coffee โ๏ธ , if the weather is good and warm โ๏ธ ).
The castle ๐ฐ is home to the Scottish crown jewels ๐ and the "Stone of Providence" ๐ , which was used at the coronation of the Scottish kings.
For me, the Scottish capital (alongside Windsor ๐ฉท and London ๐ฉท) is a contender for the title of Britain's most beautiful city. Edinburgh ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ- I'll definitely be back! ๐ฉท Kisses ๐
Last but not least, the Salwey winery. Always Burgundy. Always dry. Always perfect. I picked up an extremely expressive Oberrotweil Pinot Gris with a fine flavour typical of the variety. You can feel the sun on your palate as you savour the flavours of the hand-picked grapes. And what's the best way to get to know a winery? About his estate wines. They form the first quality level of the VDP (Association of German Prรคdikat Wine Estates). They are what represent the winery and its style. At Salwey, these wines are also single-varietal from the best vineyards in the Kaiserstuhl. You can definitely taste the ๐ and ๐. The volcanic rock in the soil provides the typical minerality. A great accompaniment to food, as it is so fresh, light and uncomplicated!
They also distil their own high-proof spirits here. Delicious. A drop on the finger for careful tasting - at over 80% you have to be careful! ๐
One of the next stops among the top wineries in the Kaiserstuhl region of Baden was the Bernhard Huber winery. Completely inconspicuous from the outside. Inside: Wow! Stylish tasting room! Small but fine tasting edition. The sparkling wine comes extremely close to the flavour of a very good champagne - at a lower price. As a sparkling wine lover, of course I had to have it. This was then joined by a cuvรฉe of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, aged in barriques with 1/3 new wood. Even the "nose test" is a journey into other galaxies. Wonderfully fine, apple, stone fruit, almond paired with a delicate floral flavour. The flavour is not exuberant on the palate, rather sparse, yet captivating and mineral, juicy and animating. You can really taste the Pinot Gris very well. A pretty clear wine.
And the most important thing: I'm now a regular customer โบ๏ธ It's the only way to get hold of the "nice" bottles of wine. Afterwards I went to the very family-run Knab winery. I love it. I really like the white Burgundy from Schรถnenberg. Grown on volcanic weathered rock. A real cracker. I couldn't leave the wonderfully fruity & juicy Engelsberger Pinot Blanc alone either. Wow. Damn good value for money for all the wines at Weingut Knab! I'll definitely be back! Kisses ๐
Autumn time ๐ is grape harvest time๐. And a wonderful time to head to the vineyards! What fantastic colours of nature. All the more beautiful in top weather โ๏ธ ! I travelled to the Kaiserstuhl - it's near Freiburg in southern Germany and is actually a small low mountain range. Here you are on the sun terrace between the Black Forest and the Rhine. It's not for nothing that the Kaiserstuhl is the warmest wine region in Germany. There were some very good winegrowers on my list. My first port of call was Franz Keller's winery. It is one of the largest and most internationally recognised German wineries. There were excellent Burgundies to taste: Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris and my personal favourite, the Pinot Blanc: well-balanced, racy and fresh with fine fruity notes. The Oberbergener Bassgeige (Pinot Gris) is one of his classics. Powerful, intense fruit, fine minerality, well-integrated acidity. And the Bassgeige Pinot Noir was also included. Wow: berry plus spicy-mineral flavour, fantastically integrated tannins with a soft finish. Already an explosion of flavours in the mouth. But it'll quickly disappear into my cellar so that it can lie dormant for a few more years (certainly 7.......). The football connoisseurs โฝ๏ธ among you should also be familiar with the current owner, Fritz Keller: 2019-2021 he was president of the DFB (German Football Association), previously of SC Freiburg ๐คฉ. Kisses ๐
The ๐ฅ Royal Lochnagar distillery is located right next to Balmoral Castle in the Highlands ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ. Here I finally took part in a guided tour and learned a lot about ๐ฅ production! Don't worry: I'm not starting an in-house production ๐คฃ. But it was pretty interesting ๐คฉ! Kisses ๐
Whisky is made from grain (always barley, also wheat, corn, rye or oats). The production process for whisky is similar to other processes for the production and concentration of ethanol until it is stored. As grain is used as a raw material, there is a particular similarity to the production of grain brandy, and until distillation also to beer brewing.
The production of whisky can be divided into the following steps:
* Preparing the grain (mainly malting, in the case of corn also boiling)
I continue in Speyside to Glenfiddich and GlenFarclas. Glenfiddich is the most awarded single malt Scotch whisky in the world and one of Scotland's largest distilleries ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ ! One of the last distilleries ๐ฅ in family hands. I love it when it is in family hand! You can see for yourself in the pictures - I enjoyed it! ๐ฉท Kisses ๐
Scotland without a whisky tour ๐ฅ is like Bordeaux without a red wine tasting ๐ท - at least for me. I'm on the whisky trail ๐ฅ in Speyside. First stops: Royal Brackla and Glen Morgan. ๐ฅ
Whisky (mostly spelled whiskey in the USA ๐บ๐ธ ) is a spirit obtained by distilling fermented grain mash and matured in wooden barrels.
Within the European Union, whisky must meet the following specified criteria:
* It must be obtained by distilling cereal malt mash.
* It must be distilled to an alcohol content of less than 94.8% by volume.
* It must be aged for at least three years in wooden barrels with a capacity of 700 liters or less.
* It must have a minimum alcohol content of 40% by volume
It is not entirely clear whether the whisky was first distilled in Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ or Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช . The first tax documents date back to Scotland in 1494. Kisses ๐
Help with the barn work - up close and personal with the cows ๐ฎ . And in a typical German dirndl. It's in my genes ๐งฌ - my family come from a farm. But cows can also enjoy the view ๐ Kisses ๐
I prepare in detail for my trips ๐งณ. Routes are planned precisely. For Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ I had bought a book ๐ about the various distilleries ๐ฅ among other things, worked through it and made a list of the ones I really wanted to visit. Then came Inverness, the Glen Mhor hotel and the hotel bar. And a top bartender who really knew his stuff. ๐ฉท "What would you like to drink?" "I'm on my way to Speyside and would like to visit ๐ฅ distilleries. What can you recommend?" The result was a tasting with 5 different whiskies ๐ฅ and a great explanation. ๐ฉทResult: The way to bed ๐ was thankfully not too long ๐คฃ and my planned ๐ฅ tour was changed at short notice! Perfect ๐คฉ ! Kisses ๐
I'm in Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ . I have to taste whisky ๐ฅ . It hasn't been my drink so far. I was surprised. 1. You donโt drink it in a tumbler. 2. You donโt drink it on ice. 3. much less is poured than I have always seen at home. 4. the drop of water actually changes the taste. 5. there are a lot of distilleries in Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ ๐ฎ, some of which are large, but some of which are also quite small, intimate and charming. Come with me to enjoy the Scottish national drink ๐ฅ. Kisses ๐
From my terminal ๐ back home from London ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ . It was a perfect time there ๐ฉท. Will come back ๐ฉท - definitely. ๐ฉท Kisses ๐
The white castle Dunrobin Castle with its many small turrets, oriels and windows sits enthroned above a large garden. Behind it: Nothing but the vast sea. ๐ฉท Around 1850, the palace was remodelled and the lush garden was laid out - inspired by those at Versailles in France. Although some new plants have been introduced since then, the basic shape has remained the same: Everything is grouped around two circular areas, each with a bubbling fountain. The garden ends at a wall with an iron gate. If you go through it, you get directly to the sea.
I also visited "Hector" (desert buzzard) and "Charly" (falcon). What beautiful animals. You really got something here. ๐คฉ Kisses
Dunrobin Castle is a castle ๐ฐ on the east coast of Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ , the most northerly and the longest inhabited! It's a castle reminiscent of Disney, Neuschwanstein and French chateaux - in the middle of the Highlands. Dunrobin Castle offers a dream setting directly on the North Sea and has been the ancestral seat of the Clan Sutherland and thus also of the Earl of Sutherland for around 700 years, with an impressive 189 rooms. Kisses ๐
I continued my Scotland tour to the capital of the Highlands - Inverness. It is located at the north-east end of the Great Glen. It is the largest city in northern Scotland. Around a third of all Highland residents live in Inverness. Inverness is also famous for being the site of the murder of Duncan I by Shakesspeare's Macbeth. The name comes from the Gaelic and means: the city on the River Ness. The riverside is perfect for a stroll. I did just that extensively. My hotel had a wonderful beer garden right on the River Ness - at 12 kilometres, by the way, the shortest river in Scotland. Hotel: Glen Mhor. Kisses ๐
The legendary Loch Ness. Where Nessie ๐ lives. First of all, it's a lake. It is the easternmost and largest freshwater loch in the Great Glenn and the second largest in Scotland with an impressive size of 56 square kilometres. At its deepest point it is 230 metres deep! So when you consider its expansive surface area and depth combined, Nessie's home could be described as the most voluminous/largest lake in the UK. It is said to contain more water than all the lakes in England and Wales put together!
Nessie's Home has mainly become known for the mysterious sea monster that is said to dwell in its depths. Scientists, who affectionately refer to it as "Nessie", are fascinated by the idea of its possible existence. In 1933, the first report of a "beast" or "whale-like creature", or at least a massive creature living in this hole, was published. Since then, Nessie has found a permanent place in local lore and in the media. But I've heard: who needs Nessie when you have your own personal Nessie (me) sitting next to you ๐๐คฃ And then I went to the smallest distillery in Scotland and bought some gin. What colour was it? Pink, of course! ๐ฉท Kisses ๐ ๐
I am in love! With Galloway cattle! I've had budgies ๐ฆ , rabbits ๐ฐ , hamsters ๐น , turtle ๐ข . I have lots of fish ๐ in the pond and in 2 large aquariums, I have a dog ๐ , my beloved Aziza (Rhodesian Ridgeback lady). I think I could develop further. It's about time! A Galloway ๐๐คฃ Galloways are a dominant hornless beef cattle breed. They originally come from the south-west of Scotland and are now found all over the world. They are peaceful, frugal and hardy and produce good meat performance with excellent meat quality even when kept close to nature. I can definitely confirm this. ๐ ๐คค
And there are sheep in Scotland. And a lot of sheep. Everywhere you look in the vast, green, lush landscape: Sheep. Everywhere. Not fenced in. They stay anyway. For every 5.2 million inhabitants of Scotland, there are around 7 million! And they are so fluffy! ๐ฉท Kisses ๐
