Driving in the Alsace Wine Route to Obernai and Ribeauvillé as the first two stops 31 December 2019

View of the castle from the distance from the street of Grand'Rue,  Ribeauvillé 
in the Alsace Region, France

Ribeauvillé (Rappoltsweiler in German) is within the Alsace Wine Route located between the Vosges mountain and the vineyards.  The town was the seat of the Lordship of the   Ribeaupierre (Rappoltstein  in German) family  from the middle ages to their extinction in 1673.  The Lord was said to be the protector of the minstrels wandering in his land  in exchange for tax payment.

Holiday Season in Strasbourg, France with Christmas Markets Experience 30 December 2019

Petite France, Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace Region in the northeast  France, border with Germany formed by the River Rhine  The city is not the capital of France though, but it is the official seat of the European Parliament.  The University of Strasbourg is currently the second largest in France.  Most of the

Visit to Colmar, France with Christmas Market Experience 29 and 31 December 2019

Christmas Markt at
Place des Dominicains
 Colmar, France

Petite Venise
Colmar, France

Colmar is a city in the northeastern France, situated on the Alsatian Wine Route.  The picturesque  narrow cobblestone streets of the city have remained unchanged and are lined with well preserved  half-timbered houses in traditional architectural style.  Christmas Markets in Colmar  has always been one of the best not only in Europe but worldwide.

Places Visited in Düsseldorf, Germany 29 December 2019

For the night goers who love beer and music, Düsseldorf is known as the city with the longest bar in the world.  There are more than 300 bars and disco house next to each other at the city's Old town (Altstadt).  

Holiday Season in Cologne, Germany and Christmas Market Experience with family 28 December 2019

 

We thought we only had to visit the Cologne Cathedral.  We knew Christmas Markets in Germany are opened only till Christmas Eve.  We were in Cologne on 28 December.  There were two Christmas Markets still opened and one was just marvelous!

A quick stop in the Altstadt (Old Town) Frankfurt Am Main, Germany with family 28 December 2019

Römerberg
(Rome Mountain)

Samstagberg
(Saturday Mountain)

Most of the buildings in the Altstadt (Old Town),  Frankfurt were just restored and was fully opened for visitors in 2019.  Around 2,000 half-timbered houses and the Römerberg were wiped out on the night of bombing by the allied forces during World War II.  Only the Haus Wertheim along the Fahrtor had

Holiday Season in Zagreb, Croatia and Christmas Markets Experience with Family 26~27 December 2019

 

We have heard much of Christmas Markets in Zagreb, the very best of the best, ranked #1 for the last three years.  We could not miss it even Croatia is not yet a member of the Shengen.  Nevertheless, special visa was not required as long as we have a valid Shengen Visa.  The Christmas booths are all over the city centre from  the Ban Jelačić Square to the King Tomislav Square.  There could be more though, we just covered those places after our visit at the Upper Town.