<![CDATA[SANDRA M. REED - Blog- My Travel Photos Over the Years]]>

<![CDATA[SANDRA M. REED - Blog- My Travel Photos Over the Years]]>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:24:41 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Rick Steve’s Tour 2026 - Munich, Salzburg, Vienna]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:07:26 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/rick-steves-tour-2026-munich-salzburg-viennaRick Steves Tour 2026: Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna

This Rick Steves tour gave me the chance to revisit Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna while reflecting on faith, music, kindness, and the importance of sharing love, peace, and happiness with the world. The song I wrote, “What Happened to this Beautiful World,” echoes the same sentiments and received recognition in Munich and Berlin.
The tour was educational, inspirational, and breathtaking! The people that were on tour with me became a second family; we became remarkably close.

Munich: A Warm Welcome

The plane ride to Munich was surprisingly comfortable.
Déjà vu: I had the whole row to myself, so I was able to lie down and sleep.
Amazingly, I had the same accommodation when I took the Rick Steves tour to Paris.

I took the S-Bahn to the hotel, but instead of turning right from the station, I turned left, which made my walk much longer. I called Hotel Excelsior for directions, and Akeel told me to take a taxi, which I did. As it turned out, if I had turned the other way, the hotel would have been right around the corner. When I arrived at Hotel Excelsior, Akeel treated me like a queen until it was time to check in.

The Bavarians are so nice and friendly in Munich.

Munich is bustling with tourists. Our hotel is in the heart of most tourist attractions.

Salzburg: Music, Mountains, and Memories

The bus ride to Salzburg was beautiful and breathtaking. It truly felt like “the hills are alive with the sound of music.”

Salzburg is Mozart’s birthplace, although he eventually moved to Vienna.
He wrote six hundred pieces of music, which included sonatas, concertos, and operas.

We listened to music from The Sound of Music as well as Mozart’s compositions.
Beer is extremely popular in the region, so we visited a brewery and saw a demonstration of the beer making process.

We also visited a cheese farm and learned how they make cheese and other products. The farmer’s wife also instructs students with special needs on the farm.

Our hotel was near Mozart’s residence.
It was a great and amazing day during our walking tour of Salzburg.
We visited Dom zu Salzburg, St. Peter’s Church, and Mirabell Gardens, where the Von Trapp children sang “Do-Re-Mi” in The Sound of Music.
We then took a cooking class to learn how to make apple strudel. The highlight was an opera singer who sang a song from The Magic Flute and songs from “The Sound of Music” which we had sung along. I genuinely enjoyed every moment.

Bad Ischl and Emmersdorf: History and Scenery

In Bad Ischl, we toured the Kaiser Villa and enjoyed a wine tasting.

We then traveled to Emmersdorf and checked in at Hotel Zum Schwarzen Bären.
The next day, we visited Melk Abbey and took a Danube River cruise.
Vienna: Art, History, and ReflectionWe took a scenic bus ride to Vienna and checked in at Hotel Stephansplatz, an impressive hotel in a fantastic location.

Visited Third Man Museum for a fascinating look at the city's post-WWII history. Our walking tour continues with a visit to the
Kunsthistoriches Museum to marvel at art collection that once belonged.
to Habsburgs.

There were many tourists and activities. I had a formidable time and met new friends, and I will miss my cappuccinos.

]]><![CDATA[Journey into the Light]]>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:26:07 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/journey-into-the-light“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” – Aristotle

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining – they just shine.” ― Dwight L. Moody
]]><![CDATA[Cape Town South African Voices]]>Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:56:48 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/cape-town-south-african-voices

]]><![CDATA[Cape Town South Africa]]>Sat, 29 Jun 2024 14:11:23 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/cape-town-south-africaTraveling 20 hours to Cape Town, South Africa was worth it. Touring the breath-taking scenery, and natural beauty was nature at its best. The people were friendly, kind and welcomed us with open arms. We worked mostly every day with Send Relief, Woodstock Baptist Church and other organizations. The youth also helped. We improved the living conditions at a Senior Housing: painting, hanging curtains, sprucing the landscape and other things. We also fed the homeless and other needs. Seeing the smiles and joy on their faces was a blessing.

“Be a beacon of light in someone’s darkness.”

]]><![CDATA[Paris 2022 -Rick Steves Tour]]>Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:36:53 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/paris-2022-rick-steves-tour

Historic Heart of Paris
Medieval Gothic churches: the resilient and legendary Notre-Dame and the exquisite Sainte-Chapelle, and Latin Quarter

Montmartre, Seine Cruise, and Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

Marais District and the Louvre
Europe's greatest museum where with the works of Raphael, Delacroix, and Leonardo and timeless treasures including the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and hundreds more.

Château de Versailles
The elaborate palace that Louis XIV, XV, and XVI called home. Dazzling Hall of Mirrors and other sumptuous rooms of the palace

Masterpieces of Paris
The Orsay Museum, home to the world's greatest collection of Impressionist art with works from Monet and Degas to Cézanne and Gauguin and beyond

The Orangerie Museum, featuring Monet's magnificent water lilies and other fine works by Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and more.

]]><![CDATA[South of France -2016]]>Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:27:46 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/south-of-france-2016Loved it! French family, chic resorts, delicious seafood, café, cappuccino, old villages, music, love, bling, beautiful scenery, wide sweeping bay and golden beaches! My second home!

]]><![CDATA[Israel Journey (September 1 - 10, 2015)]]>Sat, 19 Sep 2015 17:09:16 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/israel-journey-september-1-10

UBC Team

This spiritual journey was not only for me but for my mother who recently passed away. She always wished to visit Israel; nevertheless, she was with me the whole time. This was a cathartic experience; tears of love, peace and happiness flowed when I was at the Wailing Wall/Western Wall, crossing the Sea of Galilee and Baptism in the Jordan River. Each site I visited brought me closer and closer to God, my Lord and Savior.

The devotional guidance was tremendous, which took me on a biblical as well as a historical journey. Reading biblical verses in reference to several sites set the tone. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) On the tour bus, we sung, praised, and worshipped in spirit and truth.

The journey was incredible, spectacular and simply a blessing. It gave me new meaning to my life and also a different perspective about the tension between factions. I heard the facts and both sides before judging. It takes a lot of energy to hate and less to love. “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (Corinthians 13:13)

At the end of this journey, I am still singing: “What a Mighty God we Serve.” “Worthy is the Lamb.” “This is the Air I Breathe,” "Oh Happy Day," and “You Are the Living Word.” One word sums up this experience/journey, WOW!

Old Jerusalem - Days of Jesus 2000 years ago

Bar Mitzvah Ceremony and Celebration

Remains of Jerusalem main street running the length of the Western Wall in the late Second Temple period

King Herod the Great site

Overlooking the Sea of Galilee

Capernaum Synagogue

Capernaum - Jesus years of ministry and Peter's home

Capernaum Synagogue

Peter statue in Capernaum

Original Fisherman Boat - 2000 years old

Boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee, a cathartic moment

Sea of Galilee

Mount of Beatitudes

Pilgrim Tour Group

Baptism in the Jordan River

Bethlehem first woman Mayor Vera Baboun

Imitation Starbucks in Bethlehem- missed my Lattes but had delicious cappuccinos at the hotels

I loved the Mediterranean Cuisine.

Jericho

A man from Jericho styled this scarf for my head.

Israel jazz musician was awesome!

Qumran Cave- Remains of Dead Sea Scrolls written by the Essenes( about 825 to 870 separate scrolls biblical & non-biblical - 9 copies of the Book of Isaiah, 25 copies of Deuteronomy and 30 copies of the Psalms, Prophecies by Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel not found in the Bible)

Israeli Museum, collections of centuries old Israeli artifacts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, not allowed to take pictures inside

Cable car ride to Masada

Ein Gedi (Spring of Goat) David fled here and hid (Samuel 24)

Masada - King Herod the Great mountaintop fortress

Met a new friend at Masada

Ein Gedi (Spring of Goat)

Wailing Wall/Western Wall

Feeling safe and secure

Bet-She' an Hippodrome

View of the Dead Sea ,formerly Sodom and Gomorrah, no living creatures, lowest place on the earth

Bet She'an was a major Biblical city. King Saul's body was displayed on its walls after his defeat by the Philistines.

Bet-She' an Roman Amphitheatre

Michael (Mickey) Nikolaev, awesome Tour Guide, discusses brief biblical history!

Nazareth Village

Jerusalem - The Dome of the Rock and south looking at El-Aksa Mosque. Both are built on top of Mount Moriah,The Temple Mount.

Dan's Gate

Northern site of Kingdom of Israel - Tribe of Dan

Presumably where Jesus was born in Bethlehem - Star of David

The men take the journey with Pat, helping her through each step. Patience, Kindness and Love

King Agrippa II Palace

Megiddo/Armageddon

King Ahab Tunnel

A extremely unpleasant Dust Storm, so I had to wear a mask.

Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of Mount Olives

On Mt. Zion, ruins of the House of Caiaphas, Jewish High Priest

Golgotha - Place of the Skull

Via Dolorosa, Jesus Tomb

The Garden Tomb

Pastor Allen serving Communion/Last Supper

]]><![CDATA[Prague]]>Sun, 14 Aug 1994 16:43:33 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/pragueOld Town Hall and Astronomical Clock, Franz Kafka Museum, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge

Great coffee places: Muj salek kavy, Café Lounge, and I Need Coffee, EMA Espresso Bar

]]><![CDATA[Vienna Austria]]>Tue, 09 Aug 1994 16:41:24 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/vienna-austria

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna Secession, Burgtheater, Hofburg Palace and Schonbrunn Palace. Coffee is not only drunk in Vienna, it is also roasted here. "Vienna without coffee would be like a latte without foam."

]]><![CDATA[Oslo & Bergen, Norway]]>Wed, 03 Aug 1994 16:45:54 GMThttp://www.sandramreed.com/blog--my-travel-photos-over-the-years/oslo-bergen-norway

Royal Palace, Holmenkollen, Bygdoy Island and the beautiful, breathtaking Fjords

Norwegians love their coffee and artisan coffee bars are not the place to ask for decaf. Recommended coffee scenes in Oslo: Tim Wendelboe, Mocca Kaffebar & Brenneri, Stockfleths Lille Grensen

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