What's Old is New Again in Berlin

The Reichstag was the seat of the Parliament before the Nazi takeover of Germany in the 1930s. An imposing structure built in the late 1800s, it was the backdrop for Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, when he was proclaimed chancellor by the ailing President von Hindenberg. A mysterious fire destroyed the building in […]

The Berlin Wall and Topography of Terror

I spent nearly three hours at the “Topography of Terror,” located a few blocks to the west of the famous Checkpoint Charlie at the foundation of what used to be Gestapo Headquarters in the heart of Berlin. This landscape is hallowed ground. Many were tortured or murdered here, all in the name of State Security. […]

Cheap Place to Stay in Berlin

Finding a reasonable place to sleep in the heart of Berlin can be a challenge. Luckily, my friends Georg and Martina are developing vacation apartments in a former spice warehouse and apartment building in Kreuzberg, an exciting and multi-cultural district of Berlin which once butted right up against the former Berlin Wall. I was fortunate […]

The View Is Fantastic

We enjoyed dinner on August 26th at the delightful Hotel Ruebezahl at the foot of the mountains where two of King Ludwig’s castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, are located. It was a balmy evening, the calm and warm before the storm, as it has rained most of today (Friday the 27th) Here are some shots from […]

Travel and Experience Germany in October

Bacharach on the Rhein River is one of the stops on this wonderful autumn tour October is a fine time of the year to experience Germany small group tours. The kids are all back in school meaning the roads are not as congested with holiday travelers. The air is crisp and clear, the nights are […]

European Focus Private Tours – Benefit Number 237

Stopping for lunch is not just a quick “grab and go,” like on the big bus tours. We plan our lunch stops carefully to take advantage of beautiful scenery, great food and a memory to last a lifetime. James took his guests to one of his favorite cafes high above the village of Beilstein, on […]