Jul 12, 2012 - Trier, Germany

Another rainy day found us in Germany's oldest city, about 2,000 years old, founded by the Romans. It was interesting to walk around a Roman amphitheater (meaning 2 ovals facing each other). Steps led underground to a vast area of rocks and water where prisons awaited death either from animals or gladiators. The doorways in the theater walls were where the animals entered the 'ring'. Our hour guided walking tour was quite good but somewhat spoiled by the rain. The Ponta Negra (Black Gate) is an amazing section of the old Roman wall. As with...

Jun 22, 2012 - Trier

Trier is not a German city name, unlike Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, etc. that immediately comes to mind as a place to visit when traveling to Germany. How we decided to visit Trier was a result of two events, one that occurred 48 years ago in 1964 and the other that occurred three years ago. In 1964, Harman was a young man in his early twenties making his new life in London. During that time he became good friends with a high ranking German diplomat, Gunter Gabard and his wife, Mary. As a result of that friendship, Harman was introduced to...

Jun 16, 2012 - Family tree day

Today was family history day as we drove around the area my ancestors lived and worked. Our first stop was Boppard. Here I was able to visit St Severus Church. This church was the place of baptism, marriage and burial of several of my family dating from 1710 to 1833. They included my 5th great grandparents (great, great, great, great, great grandparents). The baptism font is earlier than this time, so this would be the actual place they were baptised (see photo). From here we went to Bad Salzig and visited St Giles. This church was also the...

May 14, 2012 - The Mosel River

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND For some general information, here are some exerts from the Lonely Planet – Germany chapter on Rhineland – Palatinate & Saarland: While plenty of places in Germany demand that you hustle, the Moselle (in German, Mosel) gently suggests that you should, well...just mosey. The German section of the river, which rises in France and then traverses Luxembourg, runs 195km from Trier to Koblenz on a slow, serpentine course, revealing new scenery at every bend. Unlike the Romantic Rhine, it’s spanned by plenty of bridges....

May 13, 2012 - Trier

@@@@@@@ BACKGROUND I will write about our experiences in the Moselle Valley and Trier soon, but for some general information, here are some exerts from the Lonely Planet – Germany chapter on Rhineland – Palatinate & Saarland: A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1986, Trier is home to Germany’s finest Roman monuments – including an extraordinary number of elaborate thermal baths – as well as architectural gems from later ages. Its proximity to both Luxembourg and France can be tasted in the cuisine and felt in the local esprit. About 21,000...

Apr 11, 2009 - Trier, Germany

“Trier stood one thousand and three hundred years before Rome.” That is an inscription on the “Red House” on the Hauptmarkt and has little historical background, but it does give a sense of the pride that you feel in Trier. When I was looking through guidebooks on Germany I read that Trier, billed as Germany’s oldest city, housed the greatest collection of Roman remains to be found anywhere north of the Alps. According to legend Trier was founded around 2000BC by Trebeta, son of Semiramis, the queen of Assyria. What actually is documented...

May 31, 2008 - Trier

Trier is one of Germany's oldest cities, founded in 16 BC. It is also the birth place of Karl Marx. We drove from Vogelbach to Trier. Only taking about 45min. After getting lost after exiting from the autobahn, we found our way to the St. Matthias. This church date back into the 5th century. It is the burial site of St. Eucharius and St. Matthew. After wondering around the church and the burial grounds we tried to park the car in a parking garage. However, you would not believe how difficult i was. Once we parked we wondered through the...