LEIPZIG, GERMANY - It’s a bright afternoon, and I’m nursing a warm cappuccino at a café in Old Leipzig’s pedestrian-friendly heart.

NONNENHORN, GERMANY - We climb to the highest spot on Josef Gierer’s sloped vineyard where the young vintner uncorks one of his family’s best vintages and pours me a drink. The view from here is spectacular.

BREMEN, GERMANY - It doesn’t take me long to figure out that this lovely old city that snuggles up to the North Sea is a very special place.

VIENNA - Arriving in Austria's capital at Christmas is like stepping into the pages of a fairytale.

BERLIN - Through billowing clouds of smoke, three “angels”, each holding a candle, walk towards me. Behind them stands a fairytale castle trimmed in twinkling lights. It’s a surreal moment that’s enhanced by the sound of children’s laughter and magical music.

BACHARACH, GERMANY – The charming lady in the housecoat and apron stuffs bread, cheese and a half bottle of wine into the unsuspecting cyclists’ knapsacks moments after they devour the wonderful breakfast she’s prepared.

TRIER, GERMANY – This seems an odd place to see hordes of Chinese tourists. But there they were, pointing cameras at the old slanted stucco building at No. 8 Simeonstrasse and clapping their hands in delight.

BERLIN - “Ich bin ein Berliner!” I couldn’t wait to stand in front of the Brandenburg Gate and yell out (in German) “I am a Berliner” — just as I remember John F. Kennedy doing in 1963 when I was but a youngster.

HAMBURG AND BERLIN- Like stunning siblings — one a sophisticated, petite brunette and the other an outgoing, out-there blonde — these German sisters have their own distinctive personalities. Each is special,each is different. And both are worth getting to know.

SAINT-MALO, FRANCE - Standing on the stonewall of this old town, the salty sea breezes are gentle and the warm sunshine highlights the sea’s multiple shades of blue as the surf comes ashore on the beach below.