The City Gate which tells a tale!
Hi there!
Thanks for joining us here in Bergheim, Germany.
After a smooth ride through France and Belgium from Calais, we crossed over into Germany and BOOOOOM!
Two words: SPEED MERCHANTS !!
Speed limits flung to the wind, indicators switched off, and any respectable stopping distance just an opportunity to squeeze 2 more cars in the gap. The good news is you stay WIDE AWAKE!
So we were truly grateful to arrive safely, and not having had the side of Dave’s pick-up truck ripped off by an Audi-Dudy! They definitely get the prize for speed maniacs.
(ps I drive an Audi myself)
So we checked into a delightful hotel, and then went for a walk into the old town. Two more words:
BLOODY FREEZING !! Hats and gloves out Mum!
Parky, or what?!? But we persevered, and so glad we did!
It’s amazing what’s round the corner sometimes, and unless you turn the corner, you never know, eh…
Check out this GIANT!
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| #spotmum! |
Then we saw a load of people all walking in the same direction,
so we followed them. Now I wouldn’t normally recommend blindly following a crowd, but I remembered watching a documentary on Emperor Penguins. They huddle together to keep warm, and it seemed like a smart option!
So we all walked through this City Gate,
and then another wonderful beautiful thing happened –
All the locals started a countdown…
Then the music rang out and the front of the building became the backdrop for an incredible lightshow.
The facade just kept melting away and turning into another wonderful scene! I have never seen anything like this!
And neither had Mum. I could hear her cooing and wowing next to me . It was magical.
Cold? What cold?
We were swept away in the music and amazing picture play
The cloth banners flying in the wind were clever.
Looked so real.
These nut crackers were awesome – and so was the music!
Cor!!!
Then Santa showed up,
…and it snowed…
The show lasted 10 minutes.
It is played on the hour at 5, 6 and 7 pm every evening.
That’s the thing isn’t it.
If we hadn’t toddled along with the other Emperor Penguins, we would never have known to walk through the Gateway, and we would never have seen this wonderful light & music show.
Then we found a 5 hundred year old German inn,
and ate Goose with dumplings and red cabbage.
Perfect.
Love & Hugs,
Barb
xxx
38 thoughts on “The City Gate which tells a tale!”
FANTASTIC. I Hope Pete MOOREHOUSE doesn't see those Nutcrakers😆😆😆
I had that very same thought Linda! Xxx
Wow that was fantastic was looking through the pictures with are granddaughter Rosy could believe how it kep changing amazing just shows sometimes worth following as sheep enjoy your evening and tomorrow lots love xxx
Ha Linda Page – that's probably where he sent them!! Lol.
How fabulous to be able to watch something so beautiful. Penguins are sooo clever aren't they? Lol
Enjoy the rest of your trip. Xxx
Wow, that looks amazing! I thought of Maria and Pete too when I saw the nutcrackers! Brilliant! Wxx
Wow, I love it when you go exploring & find something magical like that. Thanks for sharing your photos. Enjoy the rest of the weekend & safe journey home.
Barbara amazing thank you for sharing your mum looks so beautiful have a wonderful time more memories to share.congratulations on your wonderful news of your future wedding so happy for you and Dave xxx
I received my grey sale parcel today more lovely clarity goodies thank you to clarity towers xxx
Hello, are you Tom's Sheila from up near Hull? If so where have you been? Really missed you on here. If you aren't, sorry, but just had to say hello in case you were, love and hugs Pam xx
Hello Pam yes that’s me I still read the blog each day some days I play catch up some times I comment I still think of you all love and hugs to each and everyone xxx
Looks like a wonderful time, I love that display, brilliant and worth following all the penguins for. Have a lovely time with your mum. xx
Barbara, you did not have to go that far for snow. We have the real snow right here, right now. Maybe not the light show on the castle though. So glad you are having such a good time with your lovely Mum. (By the way, I did come across one considerate Audi driver the other day so perhaps that was you.) I am staying snuggled up in the warm this weekend. No way am I going out onto roads filled with idiots in a major rush who have no idea how to drive in the lethally icy ungritted conditions out there. Make sure you both stay warm and fill that pick up with plenty of goodies for your family celebrations. xxx Maggie
What a fantastic show – I love unexpected surprises like that. We went to Australia once and Vivid Sydney was on (just by chance) where they do light shows on many of the iconic buildings – fabulous. Enjoy your precious time with your mum x
that light show must have been awesome. viel spass, hugs xx
Wow looked amazing x
What an amazing display!
Happy shopping 🙂
Mxx
Blimey! Thought Maria's Pete had beaten you to that place fire a minute with his nutcrackers lol
Brilliant show, thanks for sharing. Have a lovely time with your mum. xx
Enjoy the projected snow. It’s real here – six inches and counting never mind the ice! Temperatures dipping as the night progresses. Must get my wind spiel out this year and you’ve put me in mind of a brattie! Trying out home-made sauerkraut too ;~}
Because the weather here caused the cancellation of our Christmas party with Maria,I have a large amount of German potato salad to eat. Would it work with Italian salami,do you think? xxx Maggie
Go for it! ;~}
Wow that looks amazing Barbara, what a lovely surprise for you and your Mum. You are so brave driving all that way especially when half of them drive like maniacs?
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and make more beautiful memories with your lovely Mum,xxx
Hi bloggy friends, hope you are all keeping warm and enjoying your weekend.xxx
That light show looked amazing! But I thought the same as s few others when I saw those nutcracker soldiers!
Hope the rest of the weekend is as good! And watch out for those audi drivers! Haha!
Love and hugs! Xxx
thank you for sharing with us xx
Awesome!!
Hi Barbara,
so it wasn´t Baden-Baden what I thought. Never heard of Bergheim. It´s anywhere near Aachen I think. Great lightshow and so unexpected.
But you will come directly into a snow storm today (sunday, 10th of dec.) Hope you don´t have to drive today or late afternoon then it should be finished.
Have fun with your mum!
Rolf xxx
Oh, that looks/sounds amazing/wonderful! Sometimes it's not so bad following the crowd, us it? 😉 When I read you were in Bergheim I first thought "hey, that's just around the corner from here" but I guess, it's not the Bergheim near Cologne. Glad you and your Mutti are having such a great time! Ganz liebe Grüße an euch beide 😊 xxx
WOW….why on earth can't we do stuff like that here. What a brilliant start to your time off. Maybe it will spark a creative urge too!
Love
Maggie (Yorkite)
Magical
Hello Barb, more amazing memories to cherish. So beautiful to see a show like that. Enjoy your time with Mum, and the shopping. Stay safe and more importantly drive safely. Bx
Hi All , what a wonderful light show, it must have been amazing .
Enjoy your time together, have fun !!!! and don't get into any trouble!!!
Lynn xx
Hi Barbara
Good to hear you and Mum arrived safe and sound. Wow what a brillian5 light show to discover, it’s good to follow the penguins sometimes isn’t it. Have fun and keep warm
Love Diane xxx
Now that's definitely something to get you into the Christmas spirit! Enjoy your Christmas shopping with mum, stay safe and warm xxx
Fantastic Barbara so glad you didn’t miss it. xx
Inspiration for the future there!!! xx
Barbara that was fantastic. Hope your trip is going well lovely to be with your mum. Xxx
Beautiful! X
So pleased you and your Mum are having a great time and it shows the worth of going with the flow and unexpected joys occur as the light show must have been really magical. x