This is a photo of the interior of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany, taken during my 2009 Eurotrip. Through the window in the background the palace gardens are faintly visible.
The woman sitting in the corner jumped up to yell at me when I leaned against one of the large pillars to snap a photo of the ceiling. She then proceeded to follow me around for the rest of my visit. They take their rules seriously. 🙂
This photo of Heidelberg Castle in Germany was taken from a city square during my 2009 Eurotrip. I only spent one day in Heidelberg but it left a lasting impression.
I was heading back to Florence from Cinque Terre when my train stopped in Pisa for a short layover. There was just enough time to make the 30-minute walk to see the Leaning Tower, so I ventured out. On the way, I stopped on a bridge crossing the Arno River to snap this photo.
Date: 10/27/2011 Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ40 Click for larger view
This photo zooms in on a portion of the spectacular medieval wall that surrounds the old city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Taken from the nearby Fort Lovrijenac, it’s a bit dark due to the overcast sky and zoomed-in focal length, but I like the castle-on-the-cliff look with the larger mountain looming in the background.
Date: 11/8/2011 Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ40 Click for larger view
This photo, taken in Lucerne, Switzerland during my first Eurotrip in 2007, features one of the city’s most famous landmarks: the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. There is another uncovered pedestrian bridge visible in the foreground of this photo, but crossing via the Kapellbrücke is much more fun. 🙂
Despite being a heavy tourist destination, Lucerne is one of my favorite European cities, and one of the few that I have visited twice. Whether you’re getting a sky’s eye view from nearby Mount Pilatus, strolling through streets of the charming old city, or sitting by the lake and gazing out at lush green gills that give way to snow-capped mountains, you are surrounded by beauty.
This was taken during my 2011 Eurotrip after my long climb to the top of Giotto’s Campanile (a.k.a., Giotto’s Bell Tower) in Florence, Italy. Once at the top, you are rewarded with a splendid 360-degree view of this historic city, so it’s well worth the climb.
Date: 10/16/2011 Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ40 Click for larger view
Split was the most pleasant surprise of my 2011 Eurotrip. Our primary reason for visiting Croatia had been to see Dubrovnik. We knew we would visit other places along the way but did not have anything specific in mind. A friend of my uncle’s recommended Split and when I saw it on the map, it looked like a good halfway point between Zagreb and Dubrovnik, so we booked three nights.
Built in and around the palace of the ancient Roman Emperor Diocletian, Split is one of the most remarkable cities I’ve ever visited. The old palace structure houses everything from apartments to shops and restaurants; the city is completely integrated with the usable parts of the palace. As you walk around the core of Split, inside the ancient Roman palace walls, you are often strolling on the very same roads used by the Romans, still intact and lined with ancient temples and other structures. If have plans to visit Croatia, a stay in Split should definitely be near the top of your list.
This photo was taken as we hiked up Marjan hill, which overlooks the entire city. Prominent features include the palm tree-lined Riva promenade, a great place to sit and have dinner while gazing out at the Adriatic, and the looming bell tower.
Date: 11/4/2011 Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ40 Click for larger view
This is the famous Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna, Austria, taken on my first Eurotrip back in 2007. The apartment house was designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and built in the early 80’s.
This is a view from the top of Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland, taken on my first Eurotrip back in 2007. I’ve traveled to the top of Pilatus on two separate occasions; it’s a view that never gets old, simply breathtaking.
Here’s another photo from my first Eurotrip back in 2007: King Ludwig II’s fairy-tale castle, Neuschwanstein. Located in Bavaria, Germany, the castle was designed as an homage to the composer Richard Wagner, which becomes readily apparent as you tour the inside of the castle (unfortunately, they don’t allow you to take photos). It was also an inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland.
This photo was taken from the Marienbrücke bridge a short hike away. The bridge, which crosses a huge gorge, provides a perfect postcard photo-op for the castle. I was fortunate to see the castle in all its glory because when I returned two years later, the entire side was covered in scaffolding.
Michael Rappa 