Star Collector: Norway, Germany & the Kiel Canal

London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.

Haugesund est une municipalité située sur la mer du Nord dans le comté de Rogaland, en Norvège. Bien que la population soit plus importante dans la municipalité voisine de Karmøy, le principal centre commercial et économique de la région de Haugaland dans le Nord du Rogaland et le Sud du Vestland se trouve à Haugesund.

Ålesund is a port town on the west coast of Norway, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord. It’s known for the art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904, as documented at the Jugendstilsenteret museum. There are panoramic views of Ålesund’s architecture, the surrounding archipelago and fjords from the Mount Aksla lookout.

Olden is a village and urban area in the municipality of Stryn in Vestland county, Norway. Olden is located at the mouth of the Oldeelva river at the northern end of the Oldedalen valley on the southern shore of the Nordfjorden.

Bergen is a city on Norway’s southwestern coast. It’s surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, the country’s longest and deepest. Bryggen features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a center of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. The Fløibanen Funicular goes up Fløyen Mountain for panoramic views and hiking trails. The Edvard Grieg House is where the renowned composer once lived.

Hambourg, une grande ville portuaire du Nord de l’Allemagne, est reliée à la mer du Nord par l’Elbe. Elle est traversée par des centaines de canaux et comprend également de vastes espaces verts. Près de son centre, le lac Inner Alster est parsemé de bateaux et entouré de cafés. Le boulevard central Jungfernstieg relie la Neustadt (ville nouvelle) à l’Altstadt (vieille ville), qui abrite des monuments comme l’église Saint-Michel du 18ème siècle.

Hambourg, une grande ville portuaire du Nord de l’Allemagne, est reliée à la mer du Nord par l’Elbe. Elle est traversée par des centaines de canaux et comprend également de vastes espaces verts. Près de son centre, le lac Inner Alster est parsemé de bateaux et entouré de cafés. Le boulevard central Jungfernstieg relie la Neustadt (ville nouvelle) à l’Altstadt (vieille ville), qui abrite des monuments comme l’église Saint-Michel du 18ème siècle.

Warnemünde is a German port town on the Baltic Sea, near Rostock. Its known for its long beachfront and marina, a cruise-ship stop. Nearby, the Alter Strom canal is lined with shops and fishing boats. The Edvard Munch Haus, former home of the renowned expressionist painter, runs exhibitions and events. The late-19th-century lighthouse and neighboring Teepott building display distinctive East German architecture.

Binz is a German resort town on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen. It’s known for its sandy beaches and the Strandpromenade, an elegant seaside walkway. Jagdschloss Granitz is a grand hunting lodge and castle with crenellated towers and a viewing platform. North of town are the ruins of Prora, originally built by the Nazis as a vast resort. The Dokumentationszentrum Prora is a museum chronicling the complex’s history.

Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager. It’s linked to Malmo in southern Sweden by the Öresund Bridge. Indre By, the city’s historic center, contains Frederiksstaden, an 18th-century rococo district, home to the royal family’s Amalienborg Palace. Nearby is Christiansborg Palace and the Renaissance-era Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by gardens and home to the crown jewels.