After spending last year’s summer vacation in the south, it was now time to conquer the north. Although I had already visited Norway and Sweden several times, Denmark had always been left out.Unfairly, as it turned out.
For work, I had to spend two weeks at Gothenburg. Since I had the weekend off, there was plenty of time to explore the city. My first destination was the large Slottsskogen Park. Situated right in the heart of the city, this park not only offers varied vegetation and wonderful views over Gothenburg, but also a variety of animals that can be observed in a small zoo-like area.
The weather forecast for that weekend looked reasonably good, so I spontaneously decided to visit Antwerp in Belgium. I spent the first day in the Trollenbos near the metropolis, located in Boom, enjoying beautiful weather. This park is also the annual venue of the famous Tomorrowland Festival.
In autumn, I decided to make another short-notice trip to the Moselle region. The first stop was Eltz Castle, which sits majestically in the middle of a valley basin and is one of the few castles that was never conquered by force. During a guided tour of the interior, visitors can learn a great deal about its fascinating history, including the fact that it is actually three castles combined into one. The treasury also offers a wonderful glimpse into past centuries through its impressive exhibits.
Only a few years ago, I had already visited the Dinosaur Park in Münchehagen. Since it had left such a great impression, I decided to return. Once again, the enormous dinosaur models were fascinating to behold, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a long-forgotten world.
This summer, the vacation headed south. After a first stop in Kehl on the Rhine, it was just a short bike ride across the bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the river into the French city of Strasbourg. The contrast couldn’t be greater: Strasbourg, with its medieval charm and beautiful old buildings throughout the city center, versus Kehl on the opposite bank, built more functionally and radiating a 1960s vibe.
I had learned through a conversation that there is a zoo in the Netherlands dedicated entirely to monkeys. A quick bit of research revealed that it was Apenheul in Apeldoorn. So, just like that, another destination was added to the zoo list.
It's only been two years since I last visited the NaturZoo Rheine. But even now in autumn, the zoo has its charm. The focus here is on the many species of monkeys that can be observed. Whether it's the lemurs, macaques, or the impressive geladas in their large enclosure. The monkey forest, where you can have close contact with Barbary macaques, whether you want to or not, had already impressed me in my childhood.
Emsflower is the largest nursery in Europe, located in Emsbüren. I had been to the store a few times, but there is also a section connected to the main building where various gardens with animals can be found. One part is a tropical garden with many plants and a large pond where a multitude of butterflies of various species can be observed.
The zoo visits continued this year, and there was a premiere. Although I had studied in Bochum for many years, I was not aware that there was a zoo here. So, on a beautiful autumn day, I chose it as my destination and was really amazed. The exact name is Tierpark and Fossilium Bochum. It is not particularly large, but very beautiful.