Germany 2012

Click here to play all videos.

In May of 2012, Brad and Susan Imsdahl, along with Richard and Gloria Propson traveled to Germany to visit the town where the Propson family can be traced all the way back to the 13th century. The trip also includes a visit to Amsterdam and Vienna.

Germany 2012 Intro
Video 1 of 30
Introduction to our vacation in May of 2012 when we traveled to Amsterdam, Koblenz, and Vienna.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music Performed by Mark Stillman and Brad Imsdahl

Amsterdam
Video 2 of 30
Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands. On our first day of our vacation, we walk around to see the sights next to our hotel on the Amstel river in the old historical part of the city.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Amarilletje
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Hop On Hop Off Canal Cruise
Video 3 of 30
The hop-on hop-off canal cruise in Amsterdam allows you to hop on the boat, cruise to a point of interest in the city where you can hop-off and walk around to see the sights, then hop-on the next boat to cruise to the next point of interest, and so on.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music performed by Mark Stillman

Bicycles Rule
Video 4 of 30
Bicycles are on top of the food chain in Amsterdam, followed by cars and trams, with pedestrians on the bottom.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
A Bicycle Built For Two
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Keukenhof Gardens
Video 5 of 30
Keukenhof Gardens, located about 30 miles southwest of Amsterdam, is the world's largest flower garden, with 7 million flower bulbs planted annually in the 79 acre park.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Clair de lune
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Floating Flower Market
Video 6 of 30
The floating flower market in Amsterdam is unique because all the merchandise is displayed on floating barges. Dating back to 1862, it has developed into the best-known flower market of Holland.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music by Mark Stillman

Grand Holland Tour
Video 7 of 30
The Grand Holland Tour takes us to the world's largest flower auction in Aalsmeer, then to Rotterdam, then to a pottery factory in Delft, and then to The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Bossa Nova Le Fleur
Written and performed by Brad Imsdahl

Train to Koblenz
Video 8 of 30
On this day of our Germany 2012 vacation, we take a train from Amsterdam to Brussels which is in Belgium. Then we take a second train to Cologne. Then we take a third train to Koblenz, which is in west central Germany.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music by Mark Stillman and Brad Imsdahl

Koblenz
Video 9 of 30
Koblenz has a population of 106,000, and is located where the Rhine and the Mosel river meet in west central Germany. It is also home for Lothar Propson, my wife's cousin, who is going to take us to a nearby town where the family originally came from.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Doudlebska Polka
Preformed by Mark Stillman

Gutenberg Museum
Video 10 of 30
Johannes Gutenberg invented the mechanical movable type printing press in 1439. The first Gutenberg Bible was completed in 1455. His invention, however, was more than just a faster way to print books. It also fueled a revolution, which marked the beginning of the end of the spiritual dark ages.
A film by Brad Imsdahl

Rhine River Cruise
Video 11 of 30
On this day we take a cruise on the Rhine River, which takes us upstream to the town of Rüdesheim. The cruise takes us past numerous medieval castles, a number of vineyards, and quaint little German towns.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music performed by Brad Imsdahl

Rüdesheim
Video 12 of 30
The town of Rüdesheim is a small winemaking town on the east bank of the Rhine River and is a popular tourist attraction. This video features a visit to Siegfried's Mechanisches Musikkabinett which is a museum for old data-storage musical instruments.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Snow Waltz
Performed by Mark Stillman.

Rittersdorf - Propson History
Video 13 of 30
Rittersdorf is a small German town close to the Belgian and Luxemburg boarders. It is also where Mathias Propson was born, who immigrated to the United States in the 1870s and settled in Calumet County in Wisconsin.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Gladiolus Rag
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Trier
Video 14 of 30
Located on the banks of the Mosel River, Trier is the oldest city in Germany, founded around the year 16 BCE by the Romans. A medieval inscription from the 12th century, however, claims that it is much older, dating back to 1,300 years before Rome.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Bavarian Lendler
Performed by Mark Stillman

Mosel Wine Region
Video 15 of 30
The Mosel wine region is the leading wine region in Germany and famous for its wines made from the Riesling grape, which produce light, crisp wines with flowery rather than fruity aromas.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Mosel Blues
Written and performed by Brad Imsdahl

Peace Museum
Video 16 of 30
Two months before the end of World War II, the American forces had advanced all the way to the Rhine River in Germany. They were surprised to find a railroad bridge at Remagen still intact. After capturing the bridge, the Americans were able to cross the river immediately with tanks and trucks full of supplies into Germany's heartland, which helped speed up the end of the war. Today, the site is the location of a peace museum.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Lili Marlene
Performed by Mark Stillman

Beethoven Museum
Video 17 of 30
A visit to the Beethoven Museum in Bonn, Germany.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Beethoven piano sonata Opus 13, 1st movement
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

German History Museum
Video 18 of 30
The House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany is a museum located in Bonn and presents German history from 1945 to the present.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music by Brad Imsdahl

Castle on the Rhine
Video 19 of 30
There are close to 2 dozen medieval castles and forts along the Rhine River between Koblenz and Mainz. We had a chance to visit two of them during our stay in Koblenz.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Beethoven Sonata Opus 10 Nr 2 - 2nd Movement
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Dad in Koblenz
Video 20 of 30
My Dad was stationed in Koblenz shortly after the end of World War II.
A film by Brad Imsdahl

Train to Vienna
Video 21 of 30
The train from Koblenz to Vienna.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Music by Mark Stillman

Vienna
Video 22 of 30
Vienna is called the City of Music because of its musical legacy. I call it the Nashville of Classical Music. Famous composers who lived and worked here include Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Johann Strauss, Franz Schubert, and Gustav Mahler.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Beethoven Sonata Opus 10 Nr 2 - 1st Movement
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

McDonalds
Video 23 of 30
Not surprising to find fast food restaurants in Europe. It was strange, however, to see a McDonalds in a building that is centuries old.
A film by Brad Imsdahl

Panoramic City Tour and Danube River
Video 24 of 30
The Panoramic City Tour takes us up into the hills overlooking Vienna to get a panoramic look at the entire city from above. The tour also takes us to the Danube river, where we hop on a boat to cruise one of Europe's most famous rivers.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
On Top of the Hill
Performed by Mark Stillman
Blue Danube
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Historic City Tour
Video 25 of 30
The Historic City Tour is a bus tour that takes us to the most significant historical sights of Vienna.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Beethoven Sonata Opus 13 - 3rd Movement
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

People Watching
Video 26 of 30
Walking through the crowds in Amsterdam and Vienna.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Tourist Town
Written and performed by Brad Imsdahl

Vienna Mozart Orchestra Concert
Video 27 of 30
We went to the Vienna Mozart Orchestra concert one evening during our visit to Vienna.

Vienna Woods and Mayerling Tour
Video 28 of 30
This tour takes us to the Imperial hunting lodge at Mayerling, the Heiligenkreuz Abbey, and Seegrotte, the largest subterranean lake in Europe.
A film by Brad Imsdahl
Tyrolean Waltz
Performed by Mark Stillman

Hilary Hahn Concert
Video 29 of 30
On the last evening of our vacation, we went to the Vienna Concert House to hear the American violinist Hilary Hahn perform Bach, Beethoven, and a number of contemporary pieces. This clip from a 2007 YouTube video gives you an idea of her talents.

Leaving for Home
Video 30 of 30
Thinking back on our 15 days of travel in Europe, and a thank you to Lothar Propson for making our vacation special.
Susies Boogie
Written and performed by Brad Imsdahl
Beethoven Sonata Opus 10 Nr 2 - 3rd Movement
Performed by Brad Imsdahl

Germany 2012 Slide Show
Bonus slide show video from our Germany 2012 vacation.
Music by Brad Imsdahl and Mark Stillman.

Back to Home Page

_________