Prokiller Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 My job has me traveling to a decent amount of places over the years but this time around I had to go to Germany (main office) around the time we were planning a vacation. So we decided to stay in Europe and see Italy. I took a metric shitton of pictures but here's some of highlights. Since I was there a week before, I took a day trip to a castle called Hohenzollern. IMG_4765 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4767 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4781 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4803 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4818 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4819 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4856 by r d, on Flickr Trip started in Frankfurt Germany and we stayed over night in Heidelberg to show the wife the places I go when I'm in Germany. Not many pictures of that this time round since I've been there a bunch of times now, but we will start the next morning on our way to Neuschwanstein Castle or as some might know it is as the "Cinderella castle". It's the castle that Disney modeled their castle down in Florida. The start of the Alps: IMG_4896 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4936 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4938 by r d, on Flickr it's sister castle: IMG_4955 by r d, on Flickr looking down at that one: IMG_4964 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4966 by r d, on Flickr approaching the castle: IMG_4967 by r d, on Flickr IMG_4982 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5010 by r d, on Flickr and now back on the road, some crazy high bridge: IMG_5063 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5067 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5075 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5109 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5122 by r d, on Flickr Castles on the way through Austria and northern Italy: IMG_5147 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5168 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5179 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5213 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5223 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5241 by r d, on Flickr Venice is the next stop... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeahloh95 Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 WOW VERY COOL PICS AND SORRY FOR THE LATE NIGHT CALL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 no worries Troy, you didn't know. Venice was really hard to take pictures of because everything is tall and yet the "roads" are all very small. IMG_5292 by r d, on Flickr San Marco's square: IMG_5294 by r d, on Flickr the grand canal: IMG_5350 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5361 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5386 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5399 by r d, on Flickr Queue the Indiana Jones theme music....this is the "Library Church" that they discover the knight's tomb in the last crusade. It's not a library and there is no manhole cover that they come out of. IMG_5410 by r d, on Flickr the Rialto Bridge. the oldest bridge to cross the grand canal: IMG_5448 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5451 by r d, on Flickr Venician garage: IMG_5460 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5499 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5527 by r d, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Psychorugby Posted May 13, 2016 Moderators Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Taking me back to my honeymoon with the Italy pictures... and my childhood with the Germany pictures. I really wish it wasn't so damn expensive to fly so I could show my wife all these awesome places. Did you make it to Florence, Italy? That has to be one of my favorite cities in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmage Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 wow incredible pictures Ryan. Those landscapes, I would love to have a castle on one of those hills. I'm in awe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 19 minutes ago, Psychorugby said: Taking me back to my honeymoon with the Italy pictures... and my childhood with the Germany pictures. I really wish it wasn't so damn expensive to fly so I could show my wife all these awesome places. Did you make it to Florence, Italy? That has to be one of my favorite cities in Europe. florence is the next city we went to. we took the train from venice to florence. thankfully my flight was paid for through work, but we got her flight for round trip non-stops for only $750. there are deals to be had you just have to look for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTRacing91PGT Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Wow, looks awesome. Totally jealous! Love the pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttocs Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Man I miss Europe and all the really old stuff. I always wanted to hit italy but never made it down there. Now I would recomend spain/barcelona as it was cool as hell and the people could not have been nicer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 we took a train from venice to florence so there wasn't much to look at on that trip but here's some pics from Florence the Duomo: IMG_5640 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5649 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5651 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5687 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5697 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5702 by r d, on Flickr the ponte vecchio bridge: IMG_5715 by r d, on Flickr this is just one area of scooters...these things were E V E R Y W H E R E. IMG_5734 by r d, on Flickr some statues outside the Uffizi museum: IMG_5770 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5803 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5804 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5784 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5790 by r d, on Flickr stuff in the uffizi: IMG_5900 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5932 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5596 by r d, on Flickr IMG_5600 by r d, on Flickr is that you Keanu Reeves? IMG_6019 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6052 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6057 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6077 by r d, on Flickr The Accademia: IMG_6117 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6119 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6168 by r d, on Flickr Then we rented another car and drove to Pisa as a stopping point on the way to Rome these types of mountains are all over the place, this is where they mined all the marble from: IMG_6206 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6227 by r d, on Flickr let me tell you...this thing freakin LEANS. i mean it's referred to the leaning tower of pisa but my god i didn't realize how much it leans. IMG_6238 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6239 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6255 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6258 by r d, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Psychorugby Posted May 13, 2016 Moderators Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 We got shit faced off cheap wine in front of the Duomo! Such a great city. Venice was amazing too, but godawful expensive. You're making me want to break out my pictures and finish my albums, Ryan. I'd be okay paying $750 for a flight... but we could never find them at convenient times. Now it's impossible with a rugrat due Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1998CobraSVT Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 WOAH! Amazing photos. I have never been to europe, id love to get out their one day. - What is the MP on your camera? Shots are perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 12 hours ago, 1998CobraSVT said: WOAH! Amazing photos. I have never been to europe, id love to get out their one day. - What is the MP on your camera? Shots are perfect! ya know i don't even remember anymore. it's a rebel xsi dslr with a tamron 18-270mm lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95riosnake Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 Holy shit, I'm in architecture awe-overload! I'll comment in chronological order... First off, I think the fact that castles still exist is so incredibly cool. It's literally like stepping back in time. I saw a show on HGTV once that was like House Hunters, but instead it was called Castle Hunters or something. I didn't even know you could buy a damn castle lol, granted you have to bring a metric shit ton of money to the table but still. I think the most impressive aspect is how they managed to build such monstrous structures with zero technology. I mean it would be a massive undertaking to build something of that size and scale with modern technology, let alone back when levers, animals and strong backs were the only tools in the tool box. AND, without the modern understanding and technology of structures that we have today, a great deal of these places are still standing...just incredible. That bridge gives me anxiety just looking at it. There's nothing that could be on the other end of that bridge that would make me cross it for damn sure. 1/4 mile long super high wobbly bridge with other people on it? HELL no. I always somewhat attributed people's fascination with visiting Europe to bragging rights to say they've been there, but seeing these pictures has made me rethink that. I suddenly find myself wanting to join the club. Those buildings are all eye candy to me. I took a lot of architecture courses in college and I feel all that flooding back now looking at these pics. How is the food? I've heard mixed reactions, especially regarding Italy. I'd imagine Germany has great food and adult beverages but I've heard people say true Italian food wasn't what they expected, and it was almost exclusively a la carte. The housing built on top of a bridge is an engineering marvel and nightmare at the same time lol. I agree I never really realized how much the Leaning Tower actually leans, that last picture of it with the other building for reference really shows it. Looking forward to more pics! (if you plan to continue) p.s. are you guys planning to go to Carlisle? Haven't seen you guys in forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 1 hour ago, 95riosnake said: Holy shit, I'm in architecture awe-overload! I'll comment in chronological order... First off, I think the fact that castles still exist is so incredibly cool. It's literally like stepping back in time. I saw a show on HGTV once that was like House Hunters, but instead it was called Castle Hunters or something. I didn't even know you could buy a damn castle lol, granted you have to bring a metric shit ton of money to the table but still. I think the most impressive aspect is how they managed to build such monstrous structures with zero technology. I mean it would be a massive undertaking to build something of that size and scale with modern technology, let alone back when levers, animals and strong backs were the only tools in the tool box. AND, without the modern understanding and technology of structures that we have today, a great deal of these places are still standing...just incredible. That bridge gives me anxiety just looking at it. There's nothing that could be on the other end of that bridge that would make me cross it for damn sure. 1/4 mile long super high wobbly bridge with other people on it? HELL no. I always somewhat attributed people's fascination with visiting Europe to bragging rights to say they've been there, but seeing these pictures has made me rethink that. I suddenly find myself wanting to join the club. Those buildings are all eye candy to me. I took a lot of architecture courses in college and I feel all that flooding back now looking at these pics. How is the food? I've heard mixed reactions, especially regarding Italy. I'd imagine Germany has great food and adult beverages but I've heard people say true Italian food wasn't what they expected, and it was almost exclusively a la carte. The housing built on top of a bridge is an engineering marvel and nightmare at the same time lol. I agree I never really realized how much the Leaning Tower actually leans, that last picture of it with the other building for reference really shows it. Looking forward to more pics! (if you plan to continue) p.s. are you guys planning to go to Carlisle? Haven't seen you guys in forever! i hear that. architecture was always one of my hobby studies in school. i actually really was going for that in high school thinking that was going to be my major in college and career, but decided IT was a better industry to get into. I used to think of that too to some degree, but after having traveled a bit more around the world, it's really not. You can appreciate more things back home and then also realize some of the stupid stuff we do that other countries don't even bother with. It's a really great learning experience. It was incredible to stand in front of all these paintings and buildings that you only ever see in pictures in textbooks and in movies. to actually see it in person is a whole other thing. as for the food. germany likes a lot of meat. so schnitzel and wursts and such are on every menu. as you know me, i'll never complain about that. and their beer is always spectacular. they take beer so seriously that they have purity laws that mandate that no beer can be made that doesn't consist of the four main ingredients (barley, malt, hops, and water). you can do anything you want with those 4, but only those 4. so like they won't ever have a blue moon because they aren't allowed to put orange in the beer during the brewing process. but because of that law, the beer quality is great. i've never had a bad beer over there. they have breweries that have been making the same recipe for hundreds of years. As for Italy, the food is great, but you are correct, it is pretty much all a la carte. you'll usually order two courses. you'll do a pasta "second course" which means second to an appetizer. then a main course which will be a more meat dish. it's not that bad or a big deal. their portion sizes are a lot smaller and the pasta isn't full of meat so it's usually a light dish. our typical meal in Italy was a bottle of wine, each a pasta dish, then we would split a main. we were never full, but never hungry after either. seemed a good system. their wine is similar to germany and beer. it's all good, and there is no reason to get the fancy stuff on the menu, the house wines we had were all great. and significantly cheaper. venice was the most expensive of the places we went, but that's to be expected. it's pretty much an island for tourists. but that being said, we were usually paying around 60-80 Euro for dinner. definitely planning to go to carlisle this year. trying like hell now to get the suspension done on the car so i can drive it out, but worst case we'd take the vert if i can't get it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 so now we get to the last stage of the trip which was the longest stay. Rome. saint angelo's castle and the ponte sant'angelo: IMG_6429 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7258 by r d, on Flickr the view from the top IMG_7260 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7262 by r d, on Flickr the borgo pass. it's the "secret" passage way that goes from the papal apartments to the castle in the event of an attack. IMG_7264 by r d, on Flickr now these are inside the vatican museum: IMG_6479 by r d, on Flickr a davinci unfinished painting: IMG_6483 by r d, on Flickr caravaggio: IMG_6498 by r d, on Flickr one of the halls: IMG_6550 by r d, on Flickr leading into the sistine chapel, the whole ceiling is painted as well as big ancient maps on the walls of the chuches influence: IMG_6614 by r d, on Flickr Raphael rooms: IMG_6643 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6625 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6637 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6645 by r d, on Flickr now you aren't allowed to take any pictures inside the sistine chapel, but i was able to snap a few discrete shots. here's the money shot: IMG_6668 by r d, on Flickr and the altar wall: IMG_6670 by r d, on Flickr and exiting the vatican: IMG_6707 by r d, on Flickr saint peter's square: IMG_6711 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6713 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6715 by r d, on Flickr just a ferrari sitting on the street: IMG_6729 by r d, on Flickr and another. a stupid woman then proceeded to layout a map on the hood of the car and her idiot group leaned over to look at it IMG_7284 by r d, on Flickr fountain in front of the pantheon IMG_6736 by r d, on Flickr straight up egyptian obelisk that the church put a cross on top. IMG_6737 by r d, on Flickr the panteon itself: IMG_6740 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6744 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6745 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6768 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6788 by r d, on Flickr don't remember which church this is off the top of my head... IMG_6791 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6794 by r d, on Flickr relics: IMG_6797 by r d, on Flickr trevi fountain: IMG_6804 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6816 by r d, on Flickr random fountain that is so old that it has formed stalagmites IMG_6847 by r d, on Flickr ancient rome symbol statue: IMG_6870 by r d, on Flickr roman forum, well what remains of it at least. the big hill top is the palatine palace IMG_6876 by r d, on Flickr overlooking the coliseum IMG_6895 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6902 by r d, on Flickr inside the coliseum IMG_6916 by r d, on Flickr what it was supposed to look like but all marble. it's been completely destroyed over the centuries. it's actually quite sad IMG_6921 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6935 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6960 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6950 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6982 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7038 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7070 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7073 by r d, on Flickr our little courtyard area at the hotel: IMG_7112 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7136 by r d, on Flickr inside st. peter's basilica: IMG_7139 by r d, on Flickr IMG_7151 by r d, on Flickr you can go up to the top of the dome and this is a shot from inside before you go out. the letters are something like 10ft high IMG_7174 by r d, on Flickr the stairs up to the top were ridiculous. this is the only shot i took because i was too focused on not falling to my death. the wall curves pretty crazily at points. even with the elevator, you still have to climb over 300 steps to get up IMG_7181 by r d, on Flickr but the view makes it worth it IMG_7191 by r d, on Flickr obelisk at piazza popolo IMG_7300 by r d, on Flickr spanish steps. sadly under restoration, but we did get to climb the side IMG_7314 by r d, on Flickr and for the angels and demons fans, here's the statue of the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa IMG_7339 by r d, on Flickr saint maria maggiore basilica: IMG_7364 by r d, on Flickr [R] the relic of pieces of the manger that jesus was born in IMG_7375 by r d, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95riosnake Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 I feel like you're a tour guide now lol. Just awesome pictures all around. The point of view really gives a sense of scale that I never realized. Especially the view from the top looking in on St. Peter's Basilica. It looks big, then you notice how small a person is inside it and it looks GIGANTIC. The baffling thought is how they constructed all those massive domes and such back in those times. Those slanted stairs are SKETCHY lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmage Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 Insane pictures. Loved going through them. The Collosseum would be incredible to see in person. 3 hours ago, Prokiller said: so_ don't remember which church this is off the top of my head... IMG_6791 by r d, on Flickr IMG_6794 by r d, on Flickr relics: Flickr Saint Ignatius of Loyola? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 48 minutes ago, Blackmage said: Insane pictures. Loved going through them. The Collosseum would be incredible to see in person. [-] RereadReset wpm: Saint Ignatius of Loyola? wow yeah that's it....at first i was like how in the hell would you recognize that, but then a quick google of the head words brought it right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 2 hours ago, 95riosnake said: I feel like you're a tour guide now lol. Just awesome pictures all around. The point of view really gives a sense of scale that I never realized. Especially the view from the top looking in on St. Peter's Basilica. It looks big, then you notice how small a person is inside it and it looks GIGANTIC. The baffling thought is how they constructed all those massive domes and such back in those times. Those slanted stairs are SKETCHY lol. the stairs are flat...it's the walls that are slanted because we're going up the side of the dome. this wasn't even the worst part. because of my height i had to basically walk with a slant to the right tripping over the wall on the side. realized i duplicated an obelisk picture instead of the spanish steps. fixed that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmage Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 1 hour ago, Prokiller said: wow yeah that's it....at first i was like how in the hell would you recognize that, but then a quick google of the head words brought it right up. I'm a huge Church nerd! ..... or good with google. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95riosnake Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 Are there more pictures coming? lol, I've really been enjoying this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 well i took over 2600 total so i guess sure if you wanted to see more of something but these were just the highlights and some cool shots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95riosnake Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 Haha it's all good Ryan, I wasn't sure if posts were coming in waves or what. Either way thanks for posting, very interesting stuff and the fact that you took the time to narrate rather than a simple pic dump is even more appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 i wanted to at the very least throw some up. i'll see how it goes and if i have time, i'll try to throw some more up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95riosnake Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 I think as your job takes you to more places, you should just keep this as an ongoing thread of your travels, would be pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-Oh Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 These pictures are amazing. Great trip Ryan! Want to go to Germany so bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokiller Posted May 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 16 hours ago, Steve-Oh said: These pictures are amazing. Great trip Ryan! Want to go to Germany so bad! its definitely worth trying to get over there. flights are the most expensive thing but really if you keep your eyes open and a little flexible with the dates, you can get deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
