Late Summer in Leipzig

After our summer road trip there was plenty more fun during the late summer in Leipzig. Our kids had birthdays, there was another wedding and Franzi celebrated her birthday. I was on paternal leave until late September and enjoyed my time with Emilia :)

Emilia at Lotta's birthday party (15.08.)

Wedding of Laura and Tobias (18.08.)

At the wedding party (18.08.)

Emilia's birthday (24.08.) 

Emilia's birthday party (24.08.)

Emilia unwrapping her presents (24.08.)

Food tour through Leipzig Plagwitz with Franzi's family (16.09.)

celebrating Franzi's birthday (30.09.)

celebrating Franzi's birthday (30.09.)

4) Ending the trip in South Tirol

On Monday (07.08.) we left Rimini for South Tirol. We stayed at Hotel Brückenwirt Al Ponte, which had a nice swimming pool that we used right away :) Tuesday (08.08.) we drove to Cavalese and took the steep cable car up to Cermis, where we hiked to the mountain cross and to Laghi Di Bombasel. Back at our car near the cable car station we realized that we lost the car key. Luckily it was found at the cable car station. We then had late lunch and icecream at Cheers Bar in cozy Cavalese. Wednesday (09.08.) we visited Bletterbach gorge, which was nice but not as gorgeous as Cermis. After the hike we relaxed at the pool, went grocery shopping and had dinner at Hotel Tenz. Thursday (10.08.) we drove back home with stops at Cafe Rösler in Rosenheim and Köwe Shopping Center in Rosenheim.

Atop Cermis

hiking Cermis

cable car from Cermis back to Cavalese

relaxing at our hotel's pool

hiking Bletterbach gorge

3) Lago Maggiore, Rimini and San Marino

On Monday (31.07.), we started towards Italy. After 1.5h traffic jam at Gotthard tunnel, we took a short break in Airolo before we stopped for a swim in Como. After a short swim in Lago Como near Tempio Voltiano, we ate icecream and visited Como's beautiful cathedral. Late afternoon we arrive at Lago Maggiore where we stayed at Ritratto Sul Lago. We quickly went for another swim before having a pasta dinner at nearby Ristorante Pirolino. Tuesday (01.08.) we relaxed most of the day at the beach next to our accomodation. In the afternoon, we cycled 15km north at the coast passing Arona, Meina and Lesa. On the way back, we tried to visit the Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo but the way was too steep by bike, so we went for dinner at La Fermata in Arona. The next morning (02.08.) we visited Mattarone, the largest hill at Lago Maggiore, and hiked around its top. Unfortunately, there were no good hiking trails, most of the way was to be covered by car and there were hardly any signposts. We then visited the town Stresa, went for a swim and enjoyed views of Isola Bella. On our way back, we stopped in Arona and walked up to Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo and enjoyed the views from there.

Emilia and I at our accomodation Ritratto Sul Lago

Emilia likes the beach near our accomodation

Emilia and Franzi during our cycling trip

view from Mattarone 

view from Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo

On Thursday (03.08.) we continued to Rimini. Initially, we wanted to stop at Bologna. Yet, it was 42°C when we stopped at the highway near Bologna for lunch. In Rimini we stayed at Hotel Holiday Beach. On Friday (04.08.) we explored Rimini's city center by bike. It was nice, but hot. So we quickly went back to the beach^^. We loved the beach time in Rimini. The water was warm and schallow, yet good for a swim. Emilia loved the water and the beach. We had long beach walks, Franzi and I played a lot tok-tok and we ate numerous pizzas (mostly at restaurant Il Gabbiano) :D

view from our hotel room to the beach

Emilia loved the water...

and the sand...

and the beach in general...

and pizza of course :D

On Sunday (06.08.) we visited San Marino, which offered amazing views. Lunch break was at Piadineria La Capanna and we had icecream of course :D

I, Emilia and Franzi at San Marino castle

simply beautiful :)

2) Vaduz and Bern

Friday (28.07.) we visited Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. We walked up to Vaduz castle and enjoyed the views over little Vaduz city. The city was quickly explored, we had some coffee and Emilia had fun on a playground where we had lunch together.

Vaduz castle

view over Vaduz from the castle

Emilia having fun at a playground with a good view of Vaduz castle

From Vaduz we continued to Bern to visit Franzi's friends Katharina and . Together we hiked to Oeschinensee from Kandersteg on Saturday (29.07.). The views during the hike and up at Oeschinensee were spectacular. The lake's water was cristal clear but 15°C cold. We still took a super refreshing swim there. Around Oeschinensee there were plenty cows on the alm and many Asian tourists were trying to get fancy selfies with these cows. After lunch at the Berghaus, we went back to Bern and enjoyed sunset from Rosengarten. Sunday morning (30.07.) Katharina gave us a nice sightseeing tour through Bern and in the afternoon we went swimming in the Aare river, which was a hell lot of fun!

view over Kandersteg from the hiking trail to Oeschinensee

Emilia, Franzi and I hiking to Oeschinensee

All of us in front of Oeschinensee

relaxed after a swim at Oeschinensee

Sunset over Bern

Bern from Nydeggbrücke

Taking a swim in Aare river :D

1) Starting the summer road trip: Augsburg and Lake Konstanz

At the start of our summer road trip (21.07.), I visited the new lab in Jena that I was going to join in October. From Jena we then continued to Marktheidenfeld, where we visited Franzi's friend Bine together with her friends Lisa, Mone and Martin. After a delicious dinner, we went for a Kneipp bath, that was quite fun :)
The next day (22.07.) we continued to Augsburg to visit Franzi's sister Jenny. Franzi and Jenny enjoyed a Robbie Williams concert in Munich, while I went on a cycling trip with Emilia along the Lech river. We repeated the cycling tour the next day (23.07.) together with sun following us all day.

I, Emilia and Jenny enjoying the great wheather at Lech river bank

On Monday (24.07.) we drove to an AirBnB in Friedrichshafen and met Franzi's friends Susanne and Werner for dinner at restaurant Traube. Due to rainy wheather in that area, we visited the indoor pool Aquastaad the next day (25.07.). Emilia enjoyed swimming and Werner and I took a short swim in the 17°C cold water of Lake Konstanz. Later we visited Ravensburg and had dinner at Gasthof Engel.

Emilia, Franzi, Susanne and Werner in front of  Blaserturm

I, Emilia and Franzi at a giant Ravensburger token monument with the Mehlsack tower in the back

The next day (26.07.) we visited the medival fortress town Meersburg together. The fortress at Lake Konstanz makes a really scenic setting. Susanne and Werner went back home in the afternoon and we took over their accomodation in Immenstaad. In the evening we played minigolf their. The next morning (27.07.) we went to Aquastaad again and as the wheather got better we went for a cycling trip in the afternoon. We cycled 18km, passing Friedrichshafen, up to Eriskirch and back.

Emilia and Franzi overlooking Lake Konstanz from Meersburg

Within Meersburg fortress

Meersburg port

At the promenade of Friedrichshafen

Conference in Singapore

On Friday (07.07.) I flew from Leipzig over Frankfurt to Singapore. The connection in Frankfurt was a bit too short and I had to run across the airport to catch my plane. I made, but my luggage didn't. When I arrived in Singapore Saturday morning, I went by metro East-West-Line to Raffles Place in the city center and had breakfast at China Square food court. Then I walked through China Town and hopped on the metro from Clark Quay to Harbour Front and I checked in at Bay Hotel. After a nap, I went to Vivo City shopping center and bought a new shirt before I took the metro to Buona Vista station and visited the conference at Biopolis. At late evening, I visited Marina Bay and the Ce La Vi skybar on top of Marina Bay Sands together with some friends from the conference. The cocktails were expensive, but the view was great.
On Sunday (09.07.) I have been on the conference the whole day. At the evening we visited the Singapore Zoo for a night safari. That was really crowded and we didn't see much of the animals. Better go there during the day! Monday (10.07.) I also spent the whole day at the conference and we had a nice conference dinner at the Sea Scent restaurant at Keppel Club, including some dancing at night.
Tuesday (11.07.) I used for sightseeing as there were no conference topics of my interest. I started my walking tour at Dhoby Ghaut station and walked down the Orchard Road through the Colonial District to the Arab Quarter. I was quite disappointed by the shopping in Singapore, no cheap fake stuff like in Bangkok or Hongkong. Then I walked through Millenia Singapore to the Gardens by the Bay. The gardens were not as impressive during the day. I continued my way to China Town, where I met with two friends from the conference and we enjoyed ice cream and later Singapore's famous Chilli Crab for dinner at Jumbo Seafood at Riverside Point. After dinner we walked along Singapore River to the Bay where we met with more friends from the conference to watch the Light Show at the Bay. That was fun and Thuy-Ai, Thomas and I continued to Gardens by the Bay for a night view and some beers at SuperTree. On Wednesday (12.07.) the conference ended and I shared a cab with Thomas to the airport from the conference location. And Thursday I returned to Leipzig :)

colorful murals at the Arab Quarter

View of Marina Bay Sands from Gardens by the Bay

Awesome living buildings in Singapore

View across Singapore River

Night view of the Merlion at Marina Bay 

Night view of Marina Bay Sands from Gardens by the Bay

Lighted Supertrees in Gardens by the Bay 

Lighted Supertrees in Gardens by the Bay

Night view over Marina Bay from the SuperTree skybar 

Thuy-Ai, Thomas and I at SuperTree skybar

Light Show at Marina Bay