Photos from Weimar 2026

These are some photos from Weimar 2026. Me having a red wine at Venezia. The Frauenplan one afternoon. My dinner at a new restaurant. It is in the old Trattoria and is a Caucussian restaurant. The food is good and is very much like Greek food. This picture shows lamb chops.

Weimar 2026

I know that I have been negligent in my posting this year. I arrived in Berlin on 18 July and was there until 27 July but my chromebook would not connect to the internet at the Hilton. I tried to fix the problem but could not. My phone had no problem. So that is why I did not post. I did a few things that I always like to do. I went to the Humbolt-Forum Stadtschloss museum, the Gemelde Gallerie to see the old masters and the Egyptian Museum. I went for a day up and down Kurfurstendamm and had cake and coffee in KaDeWe. There was a special exhibit of Brancusi at the Neue Nationalgallerie. It was really good. I ate at favorite restaurants and on new place called China City. It had very good food, the service was great and the price was right.All in all a great 9 nights. On 27 July I took the train down to Weimar. So far everything has gone great. I have been to the park to jog/walk twice and I have been to favorite restaurants for dinner. It is always nice to return to places and be welcomed back by people who know you. I have tried to upload some photos but the Google won't let me.

Explora Cruise Day 2 - Zadar

Saturday afternoon, Nicky picked me up and took me to Newark. There were no delays and after 2 wines in the lounge I boarded with no problem. The flight to Venice was under 8 hours and very smooth. The escort from Explora was waiting for me when I came out and took me to the water taxi and then to the hotel. I stayed at the JW Marriott. It is on its own island behind the island where the Hilton is. So not conviently located if you want to sightsee. But I was only there one night. I had to wait about an hour for my room then I took a nap. I walked around after I got up and went up to the rooftop bar. The weather wasn't very nice so I had a Negroni out side and then went in to eat. Since it was only about 4pm there was no one there but me. I had another Negroni and then ate a Club sandwich and fries before I returned to my room to shower and shave. My sleep was ok and I was up early enough to go for breakfast. The same escort from the arrival came to get me to take me to the ship. This hotel was OK. For the price, it was not worth it. At the ship I was checked right in and they sent me to my cabin. It actually wasn't meant to be occupied yet but I put my stuff in and spoke to the cabin attendent, a woman named Setti. I had to watch a safety video and then go to my "meeting Point" and get scanned in. After I went for a coffee and eventually my luggage came and I had a short nap. I ate at the Food Emporium after a pre-dinner Martini in the Explorers Lounge. It is like a wedding reception. You walk around and look at what is available at all the stations and if you want something the worker gets it for you. I had roasted lamb , a salad, steamed vegetables and fried rice. They serve as much as you want. I don't know what time I was back in the room but I do know I was asleep by 10. I woke up at about 3 and eventually went back to sleep and then the fun.

I book an excursion into Zadar, Croatia last night. A walking tour that left at 10:15. I was awoken by an alert from my phone and it was 9:45! I got dressed and left for guest services where they printed my ticket and told me where to go. I was in time. The walking tour was good - a little over 2 1/2 hours. Not too much to see and mostly we were in a Convent Schatzkammer. After we went to a restaurant to sample Marischino. This is the local "hooch". After I came back. I went to guest services and collected 260 euros from the cancelled Istanbul excursion. I am having a coffee in the coffee lounge and tonight I have a 7 pm reservation at the Asian restaurant and at 9:15 I am booked for a Gin tasting!

Summer 2026

Well, a lot of travel is planned and some has already occured. I was in Maroma Beach, Cancun from 28 February to 8 March at El Dorado Maroma Beach Resort. This was the second time I was there and it is great. My room was large and had an infinity pool on the balcony. I love it there. Next I am leaving on 11 April for Venice, Italy. I will stay 1 night and the next day get on a cruise for 20 nights! It is an Explora cruise that will take me to Croatia, a stop in Bari, Italy, around Greece for 2 nights in Istanbul, Tunis, Moracco, Taorima, Sicily, Malta, Ibitza and finally Barcelona. What a trip! But tonight I finished booking my usual stay in Europe. I leave on 17 July for Berlin, as always. I will be in the Berlin Hilton for 9 nights and then it is down to my apartment in Weimar for 5 weeks. From there 5 nights at the Steigenburger in Stuttgart, then 5 nights at the Best Western in Nancy, France and finally 9 nights at the Maison Astor in Paris! Of course I have been to Berlin and Weimar who-knows-how-many-times. But I have not been to Stuttgart in years, I have been there twice and the hotel I stayed at both times is closed. I went to Nancy once a long time ago. I am happy to have all the arrangements done and to know what I am doing . I hope I can find the time and the will to record everything that I see and do on these trips.

Munchen 2025 Night 5

Well everything has been going great. I arrived on Friday without a hitch. The hotel checked me right in and the King Executive room plus is a dream. An entry way with the closet space, a liuving room with a big-screen TV and a table with 2 chairs and a bedroom with a great bed and a big-screen TV. The bathroom has 2 rooms. The first has the vanity and 2 sinks and lots of storage. The 2nd has the tub, toilet and shower. I am very happy with this set-up. Everyone is as nice as ever. My one gripe is with the bar, again. On night 1, when I returned after dinner, I went for a drink and was pretty much told no. There were at least 5 seats vacant at the bar and I was told they were all reserved. Bar seats? So I tried to sit at one of the tables around the bar, all of which were empty, and was told the same thing. So they sent a nasty young woman to find me a seat, I had one beer and left. Have not been back. I have been to the Altes Pinokotek, the Schatz Kammer and the Lembachaus Museum. All good. After visiting these places I have walked around, since the weather, except for Altes Pinokotek day, has been good. Have stopped for several beers along the way and enjoyed. I have eaten at Piazzaetta, Chandani Chowk, el Gaucho , Pizzarei and tonight Ela na dis, a Greek restaurant. Tonight's is the only "new" restaurant of the bunch. I have enjoyed them all. At Piazzaette I had the grilled Dorade, whole, and the waiter fileted it for me! That has never happened. I don't have the connector for the phone so I can't upload any photos now, hopefully I will remember to do it. On 28 August I went for a 4 night stay in Dresden. I stayed at the newly renovated Taschenburgerpalais Hotel. That is pretty much the reason why I went. After all, I have been to Dresden at least 6 times before and just really wanted to stay there. I had been there once before, pre-Covid, and thios return was totally worth it. I had the biggest "regular" room you could get and it was great. The service was outstanding, including the breakfast. I want to go back already but that would be kind of dumb since I have seen everything there twice, (at least).

Weimar 18 August 2025

I have been in Weimar since 1 August! The time flies and I haven't really done anything. I have been eating and drinking at all my usual places and seeing the people I know who work there. I have also been walking and running in the park almost everyday. I have to say the running has gone better than I thought! One new thing is that I downloaded an app called Joyn onto my Chromebook. It is free and you can stream series and films. So far, I have started watching a series called "das Grosse Backen". It is the German version of the British Baking Show. It is the exact same set-up but one season is only 4 90 minute programs. Tonight I was home from dinner at Texas by 7:30 and booked 4 nights in Dresden. 28 Aug. - 1 Sept. I am staying at the Taschenberger Palais Hotel. I stayed there once before some years ago but in the mean time it has been totally renovated.I thought about staying at the Hilton like I have in the past but there is no way I can get enough nights in this year to remain "gold". And really, it doesn't get you anything.

Berlin 2025 #2

Well believe it or not I have been here for 8 nights. Tonight is my last, the train for Weimar leaves tomorrow at 10:05 am. It is scheduled to arrive in Efurt at 12:15 pm and I should be in my apartment long before 1pm. The weather hasn't been too good the last 2 days. Yesterday I went through the Greek/Roman museum. It has been a while but with museums every time you go you spend time on something new. After I walked over to the Schloss and had a coffee in the cafe. Then I walked up to the edge of the Nicholia Viertal and had a doner and fries in Azem Bistro. I had passed it a few times this trip and wanted to go. It was my first doner of the season. Yesterday I went to Hackershor Markt and had 2 dunkles beers at Weihenstephan and then walked over to Erdinger for an Urweiss. Today I went to the Egyptian Museum and had lunch in the Pergamon Cafe. The Pergamon Museum is closed again! The Deutsches Museem is still closed as well but the special exhibit building is open and I saw a special exhibit there. So actually I only used my 3 day pass twice. The pass was 32euro and each museum was 14 euro. Oh well. I had dinner Thursday night at Brecht's, still good, and went back to Lungomare for a pizza last night. This 9 night stay in Berlin has been a success and I will do it again. Once I am in Weimar I will go to ReWe for some supplies and then see how I am feeling. I will probably eat at Pomodoro. It may sound dumb to say, but it will be nice to not have to do anything. I have not decided yet if I want to go to Dresden for a few nights but I will soon. (probably)