Hamburg: wanderlust and a maritime world city

Hamburg, Germany is a gateway to the world, beautiful seafaring hub, maritime capital of the north – even the normally reserved locals find it hard to conceal their pride in their home city, its ambiance and its cosmopolitan charm.

What to see?

Museum of Hamburg History
A great museum to visit if you love Hamburg and want to know more about its history from the Middle Ages to the present days. Theatre and art, fashion, home life and design are well represented and displayed here as is Jewish life in Hamburg.

Chocoversum
You can find out all about the phenomena of chocolate in the CHOCOVERSUM. Following the motto “discover – experience – participate” our experts take you on a gourmet trip. You will discover what impact crushers and broker have on chocolate, you will see live how chocolate is made on historical machines, and we will reveal the secret of 500 aromas. All your senses will be involved and you are more than welcome to try all production steps of the chocolate!

International Maritime Museum
Learn about the history and future of shipping, and Hamburg’s importance, at this tremendous museum. Artifacts include ship models, paintings, uniforms and nautical devices.

The Warehouse District
The 100-year-old Speicherstadt, the world's largest warehouse complex, is situated between the Deichtor Halls and Baumwall. It is a very pretty quarter – not at all the kind of place visitors expect to find in an international port – with its Wilhelminian brick Gothic buildings, unusual gables, little towers and winding lanes. Behind the thick walls, high-value goods such as coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, tobacco and now computers are stored in a temperature-controlled environment. This is also the location of the world's largest Oriental carpet store. The Speicherstadt is one of the main attractions on the great harbour tour.

St. Pauli's District
The Reeperbahn in the St. Pauli district, where the Beatles shot to fame in the 1960s, is Hamburg's top entertainment quarter. It has everything and anything you could wish for. The street on which the 100-metre ropes or reep were once braided is now home to any number of bars, pubs, discotheques, clubs, snack bars and, of course, red light establishments. There's also plenty of more wholesome entertainment on offer at venues ranging from the 'Operettenhaus', Schmidt Theatre and Schmidt's TIVOLI to Café Keese and the Quatsch Comedy Club.

Hamburg Port and Fishmarket
Gateway to the world, beautiful seafaring hub, maritime capital of the north – even the normally reserved locals find it hard to conceal their pride in their home city, its ambiance and its cosmopolitan charm.

St. Michael's Church
Hamburg's famous 'Michel' church is not only the most important baroque church in northern Germany; it could also be seen as one of the world's tallest lighthouses. For many years, it has served as an important landmark for boats travelling on the river Elbe. The 132 metre tower has almost 450 steps leading up to a viewing platform, which offers wonderful panoramic views of Hamburg and the harbour – especially at night. Other attractions include the 52 metre long nave with its impressive 20 metre high altar and Germany's biggest clock tower, whose hands alone weigh 130kg each.

There is so much more to see and do when visiting Hamburg, Germany. You are going to have to just see it for yourself. Travel to Germany with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Rhine Valley, Germany

Where the Rhine carves its way through the slate mountains between Bingen and Koblenz, you're also in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage site, an area full of castles that embody the German Romantic tradition. The settings featured in the Rhine's myths, tales and legends are perfect for discovering on foot or by bike – you're sure to be impressed! Visit our website for Germany Vacation Packages

Germany: Towns and cities – from big nights out to romantic old quarters

 There is something for everyone in Germany's towns and cities – whether it's the big city buzz or the famous architecture, the historic sights or the packed shopping streets, the enchanting medieval houses or the scintillating nightlife.

Incredibly, there are more than 10,000 towns and cities in Germany between the North Sea and the Alps. And each one has a charm all of its own. In these vibrant destinations, you can look forward to concerts, cultural events, and high-calibre museums. There is also plenty to discover in the way of monuments and historical buildings.

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Minack Theatre – Cornwall’s Famous Open air Theater

When traveling to Cornwall, England during the summer season, it is a must to take in a show at the spectacular Minack Theatre. The Minak Theatre is the most famous open-air theater in Britain, possible in the world.

From above, it looks as though the Minack Theatre is two thousand years ago, built by the Greeks or Romans. But this amazing theater was built just under 80 years ago! Carved into the granite cliffs of Porthcurno, Cornwall overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Nowadays, the theater is used from June to September for a full summer season of 17 plays, produced by companies from all over the UK and visiting companies from the USA. The theatre is open for visitors throughout the rest of the year and is a must for travelers in Cornwall, England.

Travel to Cornwall with Celtic Tours World Vacations!

Slieve League - Cliffs Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Get up close to cliffs that are amongst the highest in Europe: Paddy is the skipped of the Nuala Star. He'll pick you up from Teelin Harbour on the north side of Donegal Bay, to sail below the sheer granite walls of Slieve League - at 1970 ft. They are amoungst the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe and the huge panoramas presented to you from these cliffs can look different from every angle. Bright azure skies appear next to blue grey shafts of rain which bolt sea and sky together. Still further across this ever changing canvas, beams of light, diffused wisps of thin cloud, gold the wild sea, warming the cool grey water into pools of liquid gold. Sometimes the Nuala Star is joined by dolphins, seals and whales. And in June you may see basking sharks, feeding on the plankton. There's the option to go swimming in the little coves: wetsuits are provided says Paddy, "if you think the water's cold". Once back on dry land, the climb up the Pilgrim's Path is optional. On a fine day, the views from the top - across sever counties - are glorious.

Visit the Slieve League Cliffs and Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations

History of Tea in Britain

Each day in Britain approximately 165 million cups of tea are drunk but how many people know the origins of the tea in their teabag? Tea is so integral to our routine that we might never stop to think about how a unique plant from faraway China became the nation´s favorite drink! We can trace its fascinating story from the earliest times in Imperial China right up to its present place at the heart of British life.

The history of tea in Britain has rather exotic beginnings in China and the Far East. There are various legends surrounding the origins of tea. Perhaps the most famous is the Chinese story of Shen Nung, the emperor and renowned herbalist, who was boiling his drinking water when leaves from a nearby tea shrub blew into the cauldron. He tasted the resulting brew, and the beverage of tea was born.
Tea first became established in Britain because of the influence of a foreign princess, Catherine of Braganza, the queen of Charles II. A lover of tea since her childhood in Portugal, she brought tea-drinking to the English royal court, and set a trend for the beverage among the aristocracy of England in the seventeenth century.

The fashion soon spread beyond these elite circles to the middle classes, and it became a popular drink at the London coffee houses where wealthy men met to do business and discuss the events of the day. But the tea that was being drunk in those seventeenth century coffee houses would probably be considered undrinkable now.

The first tea shop for ladies was opened by Thomas Twining in 1717 where tea is still served today. Slowly tea shops began to appear throughout England making the drinking of teas available to everyone. The British further developed their love of teas during the years of the British Empire in India.

Today tea is enjoyed throughout Britain. Be sure to relax with a cup of tea on your next vacation to Britain with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Heritage on Horseback - Experiences to Savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Out at the very edged of Europe, the Wild Atlantic Way stretched 1500 miles alond Ireland's western seaboard. From Malin Head in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork, through regions like Connemara, Galway Bay and Kerry, it's the longest defined coastal drive in the world!

Here is just one of the experiences to savor on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way:

Heritage on Horseback in the Atlantic: This ride takes about four hours with a lunch stop in the old O'Connor's homestead on Connors Island to the North of Streedagh Beach in North Co Sligo. Begin at Island View Riding Stables near Grange and walk along the shore to Milkhaven Harbour. You will then cross a magnificent tidal lagoon at low tide, going on to the back of Streedagh dunes. See archaeology along the way, have a nice packed lunch out of your saddle bag and hear all about the Spanish Armada ships that wrecked here after a horrendous gale on September 21st 1588. Continuing then to Dernish Island, enjoy this remote seasacape - with ruined cottages standing quiet, lost in time at the back of the island. Heading home then, you can refresh your horses legs in seawatrer and relax, sit back and take it all in!

Visit Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with Celtic Tours World Vacations