The Historic German Corner in Koblenz, Germany

On September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Germany3 Comments

The location where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers merge is known as the German Corner. It is also the location of the town of Koblenz, which is over two thousand years old with beautiful scenery, vineyards, churches, and castles. Across the Rhine River from the German Corner is Ehrenbreitstein, which is the second-largest preserved fortress in Europe. A cable car will take you from the town of Koblenz over the river to the top of the hill where the fortress resides. It is also a great place to get incredible views of the German Corner and the boats traversing the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.

The site was first named by Knights of the Teutonic Order and declared is considered a historic landmark. In 1891, Kaiser Wilhelm II dedicated a statue to his grandfather, Wilhelm I at the site. Although it was destroyed during World War II, a replica of the statue was erected in 1993 and dominates the park area. Seeing it from the hill across the river gives you some perspective on the size of the statue.

Many people come through the area on river boat cruises, but we took a train from Frankfurt to Koblenz and since it was autumn, the leaves were vibrant and colorful. Although there are plenty of reasons to visit Koblenz, including the Stolzenfels Castle as well as the fortress. We found the town to be very relaxing and we enjoyed strolling along the banks of the river and all around the German Corner.

The Ancient Agora of Athens, Greece

On September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Greece7 Comments

Obviously the highlight of any visit to Athens, Greece, probably starts with the Acropolis, but there is so much more to see in this wonderful city. For us, our second favorite location was the Ancient Agora of Athens with the Temple of Hephaestus. The agora was a gathering place for the people of ancient Greece and contains many different structures. It is truly a fascinating place to walk and imagine yourself discussing philosophy or the benefits of a democratic society. When you go to the Acropolis, you can buy a bundled ticket that includes other attractions, including the agora, which makes it well worth the extra money as it will save you money in the long run.

The Temple of Hephaestus, which sits high upon a hill looking over the agora, is one of the best preserved ancient temples in all of Greece. One of the reasons that it is so well preserved is that it had been in continual use for more than two thousand years, even serving as a Greek Orthodox church until the early 1800’s. Hephaestus was the god of metal working, craftsmanship, and fire, perhaps a fitting choice for it to have remained in almost its original condition.

There are so many fascinating ruins to see as you walk through the agora including several statues such as the remaining torso of a statue of Roman Emperor Hadrian. The ancient roads can still be detected as you walk among the ancient ruins. There is also the Museum of the Agora on the grounds, which displays some interesting pieces that have been unearthed during the excavation of the site.

Some people may feel that they have had their fill of ancient ruins and temples after visiting the Acropolis, but we feel that it is well worth taking the time to visit the other sights that Athens has to offer. At least during our visit, there were less tourists at places like the agora and it made walking among those ruins that much more enjoyable. We found the Ancient Agora of Athens to be an almost magical place with so much history and so many artifacts that it can a little overwhelming.

Montmartre and the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris, France

On September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn FranceLeave a comment

One of the most popular destinations to visit in Paris is the Montmartre District. With the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart) sitting on top of the hill with incredible views of the city, it is certainly worthwhile to put it on your itinerary. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés in the area and many people go there just to sit on the steps of the basilica and look out at the wonderful views. We didn’t make it there until our second visit to Paris, which was in the winter and unfortunately it was a cloudy and rainy day, which did diminish the views a bit.

The Front of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur

The inside of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is certainly quite beautiful and might be even more popular with Notre Dame still being repaired. The area is very busy, even on the rainy day that we visited, so be prepared for large crowds when you visit. We only had a few hours in the area during our visit, so we’ll have to take the time to go once again on our next trip to Paris when hopefully the weather will better.