When to Travel in Lisbon

Lisbon is one of those European destinations that is beautiful to go to year around.  Of course the winters are more uncomfortable than the other three months, but the temperatures stay reasonable.  The usual temperature of Lisbon is around 63 degrees Fahrenheit or 17 degrees Celsius.  Summers are warm, except for night time when the temperatures seem to go down.  The cool breeze makes it nice to stroll along the bay and admire some of the Lisbon scenery.  Winter is more prone to cold temperatures and rain.  This makes Lisbon less desirable as a destination.  Many people can’t sightsee and walk around to places in cold and rainy weather; it is not pleasant.  Spring is ideal for visiting monuments and museums because it isn’t too hot nor too cold.  There are also, blooming gardens that add something more to one’s visit.  Fall is said to be quiet and romantic.  This is probably because it is much cooler and people don’t feel like being cold so they avoid travelling or they like to snuggle and keep warm.

Religious Travel

People travel for many reasons.  Some want a break from everyday life; others want to discover other countries and cultures; and still others travel based on their passions: architecture, gastronomic, sports, art, or even religion.

Religious or spiritual tours are widely spread.  Sometimes it is organized by the individuals themselves and other times by their church or congregation.  Some religious locations that are renowned include the Holy Land, the Vatican, Lourdes, Easter Island, or the Daphni Monastery.

Spiritual vacations are sought by those who either wish to learn about the history of different spiritual and religious beliefs or for guidance and spiritual growth.  These types of trips are filled with breathtaking monuments and stories.  They are heartwarming to the faithful and educational for the curious minded.

The heart of the Tuscan Oil

The extra virgin oil in the Province of Siena is one of the best products of this Region and the people of Siena are deeply linked to this kind of oil. This union is due from the relationships between the producers and the product in the past that means the oil preparation was really a ritual and has an important role in the community. All the phases of life are accompanied by dishes where olive oil is fundamental, this product has good elements for the people’s health. That’s why the quality of life in Tuscany is due to the quality of their olive oil. So if you are planning a trip to Tuscany and you are looking for an accommodation in one of  Siena hotels or other Tuscany hotels, you can also plan a special tour in the oil valley! There are some hotels in Tuscany that organize or can give some suggestions about this way to do tourism. Enjoy your holidays in hotel and in the same time enjoy the taste of the olive oil in Tuscany.

About Vienna

The history of Vienna (Wien) dates back to the Hapsburg Empire whose period is considered to be the golden age of art and architecture. The wealth of architecture is seemingly attractive that enthralls the visitors. The Wien’s baroque facades are known for being the place where the world’s greatest musicians use to sing once upon a time. There are magnificent examples of the art nouveau(Jugendstil) architecture that also flourished here. An interesting fact about the city is that apart from the capital city it is also known as federal province, surrounded by Niederösterreich (Lower Austria). It is home to most important international organizations including the United Nations.

Prague, how to get around?

The transport system in Prague is not complicated at all. The main element of the system is the Prague Metro (another word for ‘subway’) which contains 57 stations. In general the Metro is the fastest way of transportation specially during rush hours. An over-ground substitute to the Metro is the Tram. There’s a historic tram called the ‘nostalgic tram’ that carries the number 91, you’d be lucky to catch it!

Also, there are the usual buses with their lines and schedules available at some websites (but I couldn’t find any in English unfortunately).

As for the Railway system, the city is an important station in the Czech republic. Not only in the internal transportations that serves many areas and neighborhoods, but it’s also considered as a port to many European cities. For the external services there are two international railway stations, Hlavní nádraží and Praha-Holešovice.

If you decide to take a Taxi you should know that there are 2 main taxi in Prague. The first one is organized by many private taxi companied that allow you to order a taxi anytime you want by phone from your hotel in Prague, or you can find them at taxi stands.

The other system is private also but depends on individuals rather than companies. I don’t recommend them at all because they are said to charge more than the usual and target tourists that don’t know they have other options. Also there are many crime stories that begin with ‘I took a cab and the driver was weird’.. so be aware!

2 foods for vegetarian tourists visiting Prague

Although Czech is known for its high content of animal-protein famous foods, yet there’s hope for vegetarians! Introducing today 2 famous dishes for the tourists visiting Prague, that you may look for in case you’re a vegetarian or can’t eat the available animal protein there for religious reasons.

The first is “smazeny syr” and the second is “ovocne knedliky”. Although there names sound weird, but they surely are tasty!

Let’s start with the first one which is “Smazeny syr”. This means in English: fried cheese. This is very popular and professionally made there to the extent that many Czechs claim now the there country has got to get a trademark on it! If you are not familiar with the usual additives to fried cheese, I suggest ordering potatoes or fries as side dishes (they usually come as default in restaurants there) and adding some ketchup.

As for “Ovocne knedliky” which means fruit dumplings, they are not the same ‘dumplings’ as those you know. Instead, they are fruity and sweet! They are circular in shape and filled with the fruit of choice. You may choose between strawberry, apricot or plum. To increase the ‘yummi!’ factor in Prague, the dumplings are served with chocolate or sweet cottage!

Attention to the weight-watchers, although these are vegetarian food yet they are far from being low-caloric! 

Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg gate

Symbol of a reunified Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate stands just on the border between West and East Berlin in Pariser Platz.
Brandenburg Gate was built between 1778 and 1791, while the victorious quadriga on top of it was built in 1793. When France occupied Berlin, Napoleon ordered the quadriga to be transferred to Paris. It was taken back to Berlin after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, as a symbol of victory.
Brandenburg Gate, 60 meters high and once the main entrance to the city, is the only gate left of the ones of the old city walls.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall on the 9th of November of 1989, the Brandenburg Gate, previously a symbol of a divided city, became the symbol of a unified country.

Hungary events 2009

On February 22, 2009 the city of Budapest will be having what they call Carnival Sunday. This event takes place on the Sunday before the beginning of Lent and is technically the last time for any sort of enjoyment prior to the fasting that goes on during Lent. You will encounter people having lots of fun wearing masks and costumes dancing the day away. There will be a lot of food and drink so if you want to have a day of total joy the book into a Budapest hotel and go have some fun. Another great festival to be a part of is the Open-Air Summer festival which will be held in Budapest from June 1 to October 31. There will be a number of locations that will host different events and you can gear yourself up for wonderful musical performances, dancing, and theatrical performances. There will be three outdoor stages and visitors will be treated to great performances. This event is ideal for the whole family. The Titanic International Film Festival will be held from March 1-30 and will feature some 50 films, animations and other categories of film work. There will be screening of some of these films and most of the work will be from filmmakers from every part of the globe. This event is a popular and is usually well attended.

Pergamon museum on Museum Island in Berlin

Pergamon museum, Berlin

The Pergamon museum was first opened in 1930; it suffered the bombings during World War II but fortunately enough many items had been safely stored elsewhere while the bigger pieces were “walled in” for protection. Part of Pergamon Museum original collection was taken to Russia, from Pushkin Museum and Hermitage, and although many pieces were returned in the late 1950s, some are still in the Russian museums. Of the 3 sections (Antiquity collection, Islamic Art Museum and Near East Museum), the one containing Greek and Roman antiquities is still considered the most magnificent one. An entire room is required for the Pergamon altar to Zeus (180-160 B.C.) The Near east Collection is home to pieces from ancient Babylonia, Persia and Assyria, masterpieces being the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the facade of the hall where King Nabuchadnezzar had his throne. Pieces of Islam’s art from the VIII to the XIX century (jewelry, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, wood carvings, etc) build up the Islamic art Museum.

Prague: the castle where reigned two suns

prague castle

In Prague Castle walls the two hearts of the Bohemian State keep on beating together: the religious and political one. St. Vitus Cathedral and the presidential palace, along with former Prepositura and the entrance to the old Royal Palace, trace the perimeter of the third courtyard of Prague Castle, where the current arrangement is to be in of Jože in Plečnik Thirty years. At the center of the area, a 18-meter obelisk to honor the fallen of the Great War.

Copenhagen Fashion Week

 Possibly the biggest fashion event in Denmark is the Copenhagen Fashion Week, which will be held in Copenhagen from February 4-8, 2009.  It is also a big event in Europe itself and attracts some of the best fashion designers in Germany and the world. Many of the industry’s best and fines travel to Copenhagen each year to see what the top designers are doing for their latest collections. There will be a number of catwalk shows and exhibitions for all to see and visitors will be in for a treat.

Italy

tours

Italy is known as a good humored, cultured, stylish place in the world. It is famous for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes and golden light. It also has inspired painters and poets for centuries.

The Kals’ Art winter festival is a very famous and an important event in Italy. This will be held from December 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009. It is a 2-month festival of theater, cinema and music, which takes place all through the streets of Palermo, and its historic buildings, piazzas and parks. Among the various highlights that visitors can enjoy are the cultural events, special guided strolling tours of the town, and the Christmas light decorations.

The momentous horse riding event called La Sartiglia is the largest event in Italy. It is a three day costumed merriment (From February 22, 2009 to February 24, 2009) that revolves at the entire feats on horseback often performed by the Oristano’s guilds representatives. The goal is to cut the core of the star through a weapon, accompanied by rolling of drums and great fanfares.

The Almond Blossom Festival is also a yearly folklore event, which takes place every 1st half of February. The next schedule will be from February 1, 2009 to February 28, 2009. The activity starts with an impressive show performed by the children from the world over and continues at various outdoor and indoor venues of dance and music in regional traditional costumes.

Sigismund Bell

Polish

Cast in 1520 in honor of the Polish King Sigismund I the Old, Sigismund bell in Cracow has been hanging at the top of the Wawel Cathedral belfry since 1521. It is said being realized with metal melted from the armors of soldiers defeated by Polish army. It is about 350 years older than London Big Ben, weights over one ton and more than ten men are needed to ring it, event that happens only on the most important occasions like the election of a new Pope, the outbreak or the end of a war, Christmas night and Easter Sunday.
You can access to Sigismund Bell from Wawel Cathedral and, after climbing many flights of stairs, touch its clapper, whisper your desires which, as the saying goes, will soon become true, and also enjoy the most pleasant view of Cracow town and of its river. This giant Sigismund Bell ranks among the world’s largest bells and has decorations in relief.
A climbing to admire Sigismund Bell is indeed worthwhile.

Madame Tussaud’s Amsterdam

wax museum

If you have ever been to a wax museum any where in the world you will know what to expect. If you have not then you will be very pleasantly surprised. Madame Tussaud’s Amsterdam is a Dutch version of the famous London attraction. Unlike the London version that features waxen stare celebrities and royalty the Amsterdam Madame Tussaud’s features dozens of notable Dutch characters. Some of the more notable Dutch characters are Rembrandt, Queen Beatriz and Mata Hari. You will also find several international favorites such as Churchill, Kennedy and of course Gandhi. The scenery and sets that the characters are presented in are rich and vibrant and make you feel as if you have actually stepped back into history. The Dutch 17th century display is especially memorable. It features roaring canons in the war of liberation against Spain, Vermeer and Rembrandt seem to be painting their next great masterpieces, and you can take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Golden Age Amsterdam. You will also get a chance to rub shoulders with more recent Dutch figures such as van Gogh and Piet Mondrain. If you are interested in other figures, not necessarily Dutch, they are here as well. They include Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Madonna, Aretha Franklin, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many others. One thing is for sure: you will not be bored!

From the hill behind Pitti Palace to Porta Romana: Giardino di Boboli in Florence

Boboli garden

In my opinion the Garden of Boboli in Florence is an elegant gardens in Italian style. Of course it is the result of various steps of restructuring and enlargement work conducted in different periods. But the garden still bears the atmosphere that Cosimo I dei Medici and Eleonora di Toledo, his wife, wanted it to become when they first started the works in the middle of the 16th century. And you can feel as well the hand of architects like Vasari, Giambologna, Buontalenti and Ammannati.
Take a break from Florence museums, churches and shopping and walk along avenues flanked by cypresses and meadows; enjoy small groves and beautiful panoramic views as well as Neptune’s fountain, also known as Fountain of the Fork, because of the Neptune statue placed in the centre of the fountain that holds a big trident, and the giant statues of the Abundancethat are on the hill top and are a Giambologna’s creation. Admire the Amphitheatre, the first construction built in the garden, adjoint to the hill that stands behind Pitti Palace and the Giambologna’s fountain of the Ocean and other statues realized on popular and classic subjects that belong to 1600 and 1700. Garden of Boboli is not only a garden but also an open air museum that you will certainly enjoy.