Mont St-Michel

Mont St-Michel, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Like an island on the sea, Mont St-Michel will be surrounded by the sea when high tide.

However, when I went there, the high tide will come only after eight in the afternoon. So, not able to see the postcard view. But still; pretty nice place.

Paris

Paris, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Paris is a huge city with lots of museums and architecture to visit. This is the first city that I bought the tourist pass which allow you to any museum within a fixed period. So; I was very busy to visit 4-5 places everyday.

I spent my first 3 night in a hostel and 4 nights in my friends' place who met me also in Peru.

Paris is also the city I stayed for longest period.

So, is Paris romantic? I don't know. But with local friends here, definitely I enjoy Paris more. Even though the weather is not so good.

By the way, I have made a day trip to Giverny for the garden of Monet.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Strasbourg is my first city in France and I came here to visit my friends. They are French couples traveling with their daughter when I met them in Peru. Then, I met them again in Ushuaia, Argentina. Small planet!

Their house located in the lovely countryside with wonderful view and I had a great traditional Strasbourg meal.

Ghent

Ghent, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Nice and quiet city with historic architecture. This is the place recommended by Piotrek, my friend live in Brussels right now.

I stayed in Belgium for 2 days only and I just do not have enough time to try all the Belgium beer!

Bruges

Bruges, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

A little city in Belgium which has beautiful square and a nice chocolate museum. And, I visited another brewery and a large glass of cold beer!!!!!

Brussels

Brussels, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Brussels, the capital of Belgium, where you can find lots of chocolate shops and hundreds of different brands of beer. I went to a working brewery and tasted their beer. Quite unique as some has sour taste while some added berries.

The comic museum show the cartoon history in Belgium which the most famous one is TinTin.

In Brussels, I stayed in the apartment of my friend, Piotrek, who I met in Peru. Very nice apartment!

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

This is the city for people aged over 18 and also this article. So, please do not continue to read this article if you are aged under 18.

Here, you can buy sex in the red light distinct; Cannabis (Weed) in the coffeeshops (they also sell coffee); and of course you can enjoy Heineken as a local beer. I think this is a beautiful city with water canals all over the city. But, most of the tourists seem to enjoy the special attraction more.

Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

This area has many windmills along the river and close to where I stayed, Rotterdam. Even there are many explanation of the operation of the windmills, I still not understand the whole picture very well.

Keukenhof

Keukenhof, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

This is the place where I should able to see millions of tulips. But, it was the last two day before the closure of th exhibitions and all the outdoor flowers have gone. : (

So, I could only visit the greenhouse, even I still amazed by the color of the flowers, but still very disappointed.

Berlin

Berlin, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

A big city and the capital of Germany. Besides going to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and the Jewish Museum, my major task is shopping! And I finally bought trekking boots which are made in Germany and a new Lowepro camera bag for replacement. However, it would be much cheaper if they do not apply 19% tax on selling goods.

Dresden

Dresden, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

This is the Sistine Madonna by Raphael in Old Masters Gallery. You may not see this whole painting before but I believe you must be very familiar with the two angels on the bottom!

The city of Dresden is quite nice but I am tired of those building already.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

My friends, Linda and Simon live in Heidelberg. I stayed in their house for several days and visited many places, Leica factory in Solms, Schloss in Heidelberg, small town called Speyer, Rhine River and Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

We cooked different dishes and I had very very good meal everyday.

I will remember Germany because of Heidelberg, because my friends are here.

Wurzburg

Wurzburg, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Only stop here for 3 hours and visit the Residenz. It has the world's largest ceiling painting and the rooms inside are luxury.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

Beautiful medieval town and great shopping, this may be the reason why there are so many Japanese tourists.

The shop in the Christmas museum are so nice that I did not pay to get in the museum. And, I can tell you that it is really hard to get out the shop without buying anything!

Romantic Road

Romantic Road, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

It is not really romantic when it rained all day even you traveled in Romantic Road. I took the tour bus along the road from Fussen to Rothenburg ODT, the scenery along is quite nice. Fields, farms, little villages, cows. However, the several stops in between was only 20-30 minutes. Good enough for rainy day.

Fussen

Fussen, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The Neusehwanstein Castle, one of the most famous castle in Germany. Everything is quite well perserved as it has less than two hundred years history. Inside the castle, you will find plenty of deocration with swans. And someone told me that the castle in disneyland is using this as a blueprint.

Munich

Munich, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The Deutsches Museum is about science and technology and it is very interesting for me. From glass making to aeroplane display, it covers more than you expect and also remind you that Germany has long history of industry.

Of course, it is no way that I will skip the beer hall in Munich!

Vienna

Vienna, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The Kiss, painting by Klimt is kept in the Oberes Belvedere museum. She told me that she likes this painting because you can feel that the man is so deeply in love with the woman. So, I really want to go and see the original painting in Vienna.

Eisriesenwelt

Eisriesenwelt, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The world largest accessible ice caves, you can walk into 1km of the cave and see different ice formations. However, the cave itself is much deeper.

There is no lighting inside the cave, just the magnesium burnt by the guide. So, no color lighting on the ice. : )

Hallstatt

Hallstatt, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

A really beautiful village located beside a lake and the trees are green.

There is a bone house with skull painted with cross, flower and snake pattern, pretty nice. The Salzbergwerk, salt mining site, is where people get salt from 1000 B.C. til now.

Salzburg

Salzburg, originally uploaded by Tak from HK.

The movie, The Sound of Music, took this place and the surrounding area as their filming location.

I did not join the tour and did not recognize much of the scene.

I waited on the hill for one hour for the classic night shot but the towers did not light up! So, no postcard photo!

However, the beer hall, Augustiner Braustubl, was really nice. You queue up to buy a ticket for half or one liter and then pick your ceramic mug and wait for the tap of beer. Cool!