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albonoooo · 5 months ago

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hiii emy i hope you are ok lately, i love seeing ur presence on the timeline

is there an underrated part of germany u would recommend ppl check out

what are some ways you give yourself grace / are gentle to urself?

what is your favourite playlist lately

-- wiz not on anon lmfao

hi wiz! i'm doing okay, just ready for exam season and this semester to be over. this got very long, so my answers are below the cut 🫠

1. there actually are a lot of beautiful places in germany! you can get a little bit of everything here, coasts, lakes, castles, stalactite caves, mountains, beautiful old towns and so on and so forth, it just depends on where you are.

some castles: burg hohenzollern, schloss neuschwanstein (1st picture), reichsburg cochem, schloss schwerin, schloss braunfels, schloss celle, schloss nordkirchen, schloss drachenburg (2nd picture), burg eltz (3rd picture), schloss moritzburg, schloss wernigerode (schloss is german for castle, if that wasn't obvious by now)

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✨️nature✨️: the devil's wall in the harz mountains (rock formation of sandstone and chalk), the stubbenkammer and the königsstuhl on rügen (two most famous formations in the chalk cliffs), the saalfeld fairy grottos (stalactite cave; 1st picture), the bastei in saxon switzerland (sandstone formation and natural monument; 2nd picture), the hainich national park (beautiful deciduous forest, unesco world heritage site), the old castle rocks in the palatinate forest (group of red sandstone rocks), the sea of rocks in the oden forest (large block accumulation of dark gray quartz diorite), the extern stones in the teutoburg forest (striking sandstone rock formation), the morsum cliff on sylt (steep coast in a unique geotope in europe), the lüneburg heath (flat undulating heath, geest and forest landscape; 3rd picture) (never realised we had so many rocks lol)

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some waters: the triberg waterfalls in the black forest (highest waterfall in germany), the königssee in the berchtesgadener land (1st picture), the mecklenburg lake district (including the müritz, the biggest lake in germany), the blautopf in the swabian alps (karst spring with intensely blue water due to its lime content), the waldnaab valley in the upper palatinate, lake constance (in the foothills of the alps between germany, austria and switzerland), the eibsee in the wetterstein mountains (2nd picture) (see is lake in german)

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old towns (with timbered houses and all that jazz): quedlinburg, heidelberg, rothenburg ob der trauber (1st picture), lübeck, erfurt, meersburg, trier, dinkelsbühl, marburg, freiburg, wismar, bamberg (2nd picture)

picture sources

there also are plenty of nice museums and so much more, but this is already way too long. in short, you'll find a lot of gems aside from the big cities (which usually really aren't that great lmao).

2. permitting myself to take longer for things than other people. for example, i've recently (mostly) come to terms with the fact that i will need significantly more than the three years standard period of study to get my bachelor's degree, for a bunch of reasons, and i am constantly reminding myself that that's nothing to be ashamed of. my reasons are valid and taking the time i need does not make me less qualified to get this degree.

3. i've been making a lot of f1 playlists lately which is a lot of fun and my favourite is one i haven't completely finished and posted yet 🤭 this one is for a much beloved ship so i want it to be as accurate as possible.

thank you for the questions <3

anonymously message me (3) things you want to know about me.

#you got me very excited haha #emy asks <3 #ask games

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sharepal · 3 years ago

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Interesting UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Below are some of the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Presently, there are over a 1000 sites listed, but we have picked out the best of best.

Great Barrier of Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world due to its natural beauty.

One of Australia's greatest gifts of nature, the Great Barrier Reef boasts the breath taking beauty of the world's largest coral reefs. Coral reefs contain abundant marine life and consist of more than 3000 individual reef systems and coral reefs, as well as literally hundreds of image-like tropical islands with the world's most beautiful sun-soaked golden beaches.

Petra, Jordan

Petra is half built and half carved out of the rock, surrounded by mountains with passages and canyons. During the Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine periods, ingenious water management systems allowed for extensive settlement in a largely arid area. It is one of the largest and richest archaeological sites in the world, set in a landscape of dominant red sandstone.

Located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The rock-cut capital of the Nabataeans became an important caravan hub for Arabic incense, Chinese silk and Indian spices during the Hellenistic and Roman eras. It was Arab, Egyptian and Syrian- Phoenician.

Old Havana, Cuba

Havana was founded by the Spanish in 1519. By the 17th century, it had become one of the main shipbuilding centers in the Caribbean. Although today it is a huge metropolis with 2 million inhabitants, its old town retains an interesting combination of Baroque and Neoclassical monuments, as well as a group of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron doors and internal courtyards.

Great Wall of China, China

Since the 3rd century BC Until the seventeenth century AD, the Great Wall, as a great military defense project of the Chinese empire, was continuously built on the northern border, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers.

The Great Wall begins at Shanhaiguan, Hebei in the east and Jiayuguan, Gansu in the west. Its main body is made up of the city wall, the hippodrome, the watchtower and the sheds on the city wall, and includes the city wall and the passage along the city wall.

Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, Austria

From Prussia to Italy, Salzburg is a prominent example of a church city-state unique to the Holy Roman Empire. Most disappeared as political and administrative units in the early 19th century and adopted alternative development trajectories. No other example of such a political institution has survived as completely as Salzburg, preserving its urban structure and individual buildings to such a remarkable degree.

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thewanderingboomerang · 6 years ago

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We visited Vienna at the end of February 2018. We arrived in Vienna at lunch time on a bus from Bratislava.

https://thewanderingboomerang.com/2018/04/16/bratislava/

The taxi from the bus station to our hotel was 15 euro. We stayed in 25 Hours Hotel after a long search on Air BNB and booking.com. I read about this hotel on a Vienna travel blog and made a note of it. I did my usual accommodation research and found that the Air BNB options were more expensive than 25Hours Hotel. The other hotels were also more expensive and old fashioned in comparison. I can’t recommend this place enough. It’s modern, the staff were friendly, it’s right beside the town hall/museum quarter and close to the metro.

The icing on the cake was the spa, the free yoga classes and the eco friendly shampoo and soap that was cruelty free! This hotel was made for me.

We stayed in the standard double room (98 euro). You can stay in a room with a bathtub on the balcony for 187 euro. Sadly that was out of our price range, but the outdoor bathtub nearly tempted me. I suggested we stay one night in the room with the bathtub and one night in the standard, but they don’t let you use the bathtubs in the winter months 😦

I should also note that I write this blog purely because I enjoy it and I don’t get paid to advertise hotels. I only recommend places I truly love. Thankfully they have hotels Berlin, Cologne, Dussledorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Paris and Zurich. I will definitely stay in 25Hours again in future.

https://www.25hours-hotels.com/en/hotels/vienna/at-museumsquartier

We checked into the hotel and walked to Naschmarkt. This outdoor market is 1 mile long and has been running since the 16th century. It was such good fun bantering with the vendors. They shout at you “where are you from” and “try this, it’s an aphrodisiac”. You will get bombarded by vendors giving you free tasters. We nearly had enough samples to fill us for lunch. They vast array of hummus and olives in all different flavours and colours is worth a visit alone. With plastic free fresh produce, falafels and walls of spices and teas it’s a vegans delight. Don’t miss this! On Saturdays they have a flee market at the end of the mile long strip. I was also pleased to find hot mulled wine stands along the market as it was below zero temperatures that day!

http://www.naschmarkt-vienna.com/

We walked to the Opera House in the hope of getting tickets, but we were unsuccessful. I would suggest researching online before your trip and booking in advance. The tickets can range from approximately 45-150 euro. You can get tickets for 3-4 euro if you are willing to spend half a day queuing for standing tickets, and then willing to stand for the entire show. It was a bitter cold day and our time was limited in Vienna, so we opted out! The queue is indoors for the most part.

We took a walk around and stumbled across Hofburg Palace and the Palmhaus. Go in for a nosey or make reservation to make sure you get a table.

Café Demel is another tick on the tourist list. You can walk in and buy from the shop or queue at the back to get a seat in this beautiful café. We didn’t fancy the queue and opted out!

After exploring on foot all we were exhausted and slightly numb. It was an extremely cold day, so we went back to the hotel to warm our bones in the sauna, before heading back out at night time to the Town Hall. Over the winter months this Town Hall Ice Rink runs daily. You can pay for the whole day of skating, but we were pretty wrecked after an hour of fast skating around the rink and through the trees. This was probably our highlight of Vienna. Do not miss this!

Thankfully our hotel was 5 minutes from the Town Hall or we nipped back to the hotel for dinner at 1500 Food Market. I was able to request a vegan pizza. We went up to the 25Hours hotel rooftop bar to check out the snowy balconies before bed. The restaurant and rooftop bar were busy. I reckon it’s a popular place for the locals at the weekend.

The hotel staff suggested we go to the Burggasse area for Breakfast. It was a 5 minute walk from the hotel. This is a popular place for the locals, and we had breakfast in das mobel café. It had vegan options on the menu and vegan brownies so I was in my element.

I ordered the vegan black bread (coloured with charcoal) with coconut carrot spread and pink chickpeas. Really delicious! I wish we had time to come back here so I could try the rest of the vegan options.

Burggasse is right beside the metro so we jumped on the train to Schonnbrun Palace.

Schonbrunn Palace is a UNESCO world heritage site. The palace has 1441 rooms, and Mozart played here at age 6. You can stay in the palace, if you are willing to part with a good chunk of your spending money.

We walked around the grounds in the snow and sunshine, and found ballet dancers, water features, a zoo, and a café in a monument at the top of the hill to the rear of the palace.

The grounds also have a palmhouse and botanic gardens (7 euro), an orangerie (3.50 euro), maze, labyrinth, playground (5.50 euro), Hapsburgian Imperial Stables and rose gardens, but we had tired ourselves out by then. You could easily spend a whole day here and it’s free to walk around. There’s an apple strudel show outside the Café Residenz every hour (6 euro). You get a sample, the recipe and a free hotline service when making it yourself at home and need help. They also have a panorama train that takes you around the grounds (7euro, 50mins). If you have a Vienna Pass everything is free!

We booked the short tour to go inside the palace and I got a sneaky photo inside the main hall. The audio guide for the tour was interesting and helpful to understand what you were looking at. Don’t do the tour without this!

14.50 euro (short tour 22 rooms)

17.50 euro (long tour, 40 rooms),

or free with a Vienna Pass.

We got the metro back into the city centre and jumped off at St. Stephens Church. It’s free in, but you pay to go to the roof in the smallest lift I’ve ever seen. If your claustrophobic, climb the 343 steps instead. I went up to see the tiled roof but be warned it was bitter cold up there. You can also do a tour of the catacombs below.

There’s also a rooftop bar called ‘Lamee‘ that has a free view of the church roof tiles, although you’ll have to buy a glass of wine or a coffee to sit there.

We walked to Vegiezz for lunch. This is a chain vegan restaurant and we saw two on our walks around the city.

After a long day and a lot of walking, we went back to the hotel for our last go in the spa before dinner.

We went to Glasc briesl for dinner. It was a 5 minute walk from the hotel and suggested by the travel guides provided by the hotel. Good food and decent prices. The Vegan dish only 9.80 euro. I was surprised by the prices. I was warned how expensive Vienna was, but our most expensive meal was in Bratislava.

Our flights were in and out of Bratislava so we booked our train back to Bratislava for 10 euro. When booking the train back to Bratislava we booked online with ‘Go Euro’. It told us to use the ticket machines at the station and use the code to print our tickets. This didn’t work and we ended up in the help desk. They only printed them for us out of pity! I would suggest printing the tickets in your hotel or buy the tickets on the ‘OBB‘ website only. You can also buy tickets at machine in Haubanhof Train Station really easily. There was a Starbucks in the station with a vegan option! They had run out unfortunately. Bring food with you!

There were no vegan options in Bratislava airport! In fact the two food options left a lot to be desired. Eat before you go or bring food with you, vegan or not!

Things we missed in Vienna

Belvedere Palace – (UNESCO) 20 euro or Free with Vienna Pass

Vienna Opera http://www.viennaconcerts.com

St. Peters Church – oldest (and apparently nicer than St. Stephens)

St. Michaels Church – large crypt, 4000 corpses including mummified corpses.

Hofburg Palace – in between the church and the gate, there is a small excavation with a glass covering. Archaeologists found remnants of a roman settlement.

Vienna City Hall – (we didn’t enter the building, just ice skated in front of it! In the summer there is a film festival where the ice rink lives in winter.)

Votivkirche Church

Austrian Parliament Building

Burgtheater – Austrian National theatre

Hundertwasset Haus – It is considered cultural heritage. You can visit the house for free and take pictures from outside. The museum is 12 euro or free with Vienna Pass.

Kunsthauswein Museum

Church of Assisi

State Hall, Austrian National Library – (7 euro or free with VP, 10am-6pm) 200,000 value books and a beautiful building.

Albertina Museum – Monet and Picasso and highly recommended (12.90 euro or free with VP)

Time Travel Vienna – multimedia shows, 50 cinemas (19.50 euro or free with VP)

Capuchin Church + Imperial Burial Vault – resting place of emperors and empresses (free with VP)

Leopold Museum – (13 euro or free with VP)

Mumok Museum – Pop art, cubism futurism, surrealism (11 euro or free with VP)

Natural History Museum – largest and oldest meteriote collection (10 euro or free with VP)

Bank Austria Kunstforum – Modernism, Impressionism, Avant Garde and Van Gogh ( 11 euro or free with VP)

Melk Abbey Church

Johann Strauss Apartment

Sigmund Freud Museum

Kunsthistorisches Art History Museum

Zentralfriedhof Cemetery – 2.5milion tombs including Beethoven)

Karl Marx Hof – 1km long. Longest single residential building in the world (19th district)

Watch an Ice Hockey match

Palais Coburg Wine Cellar Tour – stunning according to a travel blog I read.

Outdoors

Prater – large public park with 250 attractions including a Ferris wheel, Madame Tussauds, Prater Museum, Planetarium, indoor skydiving, bungee jumping etc. Free entry, pay per ride. Closed Nov-Mid March, however the Ferris Wheel remains open.

Vienna Ringstrasse – former medieval city walls, 5.3km. You can rent bikes and cycle or there’s a tram that covers the route.

Volksgarten + Augraten parks

Lainzer Tiergarten – Hike (U4 subway, end of the line Huttledorf 25 mins from Vienna) red line = longer route and orange line = shorter route. Lunch at Rorhaus after.

Krapfenwald Outdoor Pool – 4 euro

Oberlaa Therme Wien – Indoor + Outdoor thermal pools

Kahlenburg or Cobenzi hills – good views.

Wienerwaud – Viennese forest and Heuriggendof Grinzing restaurant (expensive)

Am Himmel – outdoor area with Celtic horoscope tree and Oktogon Restaurant (bus 38a/U4 towards cobenzi)

Danube Island – recreational area, sports and beach activities, water playground, swimming. restaurants and free concerts in the summer.

Wakeboarding at Donaukanal – summer only

River Cruise

Shopping

Mariahilfer Strasse – shopping street

Karntner Strasse – Vienna High street

Kohlmarket – luxury Shopping

Kirchengreasse, Lindengrasse, Neubaugrasse – hipster shops

Spittelburg street – shops/cafes, closed sundays

Local food + Drink to try

Apple strudel

Chicken Schnitzel – Figlmuller’s has repution for being the best schnitzel, so expect a mass of tourists.

Goulash

Chocolate Torte Cake – Café Demel

Mineral Drinking water from the taps comes straight from the alps

Wine – Vienna is one of the few capitals in the world that produces it’s own wine

Food and Drinks

Café Central – UNESCO building

Café Speri

Lugeck – recommended for traditional Austrian food (reservation required).

Wratschoko Gatwirkschaft – Austrian style food in 1800’s pub

Gasthaus Kopp – recommended on a travel blog I read.

Mini Restaurant – Hungarian food recommended on a blog, reservation required.

Hotel Sofitel – roof garden + sunset views

57 Lounge + Restaurant – tallest building in Austria

Lamee Rooftop – views of St. Stephen’s Church

Miranda Bar

Sign Lounge

7th + 8th district – night clubs and bars

Vegan food spots we missed

Le Burger – Austrian chain restaurant that drove out mcdonalds from the main shopping street. They serve low card lettuce wrapping instead of bread.

Tian– wonderful vegetarian restaurant

Vegetasia – 100% vegan Taiwanese

YAMM – vegetarian, self service (2.70 euro per 100g) expensive, near Opera

Kostlich – 1-2 vegan options, lunch only

Weltcafe – ethically sourced and organic, 2 vegan options

Brass Monkey – vegan Cupcakes

Harvest – vegetarian, vegan options. Lunch menu (weekdays) and Sunday brunch.

Veganista – vegan ice cream

Pinocchio – Pizza with vegan cheese option (hole in the wall)

Deli Bluem – vegetarian, lots of vegan options + organic breakfasts

Swing Kitchen – 100% vegan fast food (8 euro meals)

Fett + Zucker – vegan cakes

Nom Nom Vegan Bakery

Bio Bar – vegetarian, ask for vegan options

Blue Orange – bagels + sandwiches with vegan options – English menu

Cupcakes Wien – vegan options

Delicious Vegan Bistro – beside Naschmarket but hard to find. Lunch + dinner Pizza and juice bar.

Easy Going bakery – vegan cake pops and cake

Landia – vegetarian with vegan options

Pirata – 100% vegan sushi

Dr. Falafel – vegan options

Mikkamakka – 100% vegan, self service local dishes

Rupp’s – vegetarian Irish pub with cheap vegan options

Café Telegraph – Omni – Serves Avocado Burger

Simply Raw Bakery – zoodles, savoury crepes, raw pizza + cupcakes

Die Bio Bar Von Autun – 100% vegan across the street from Simply Raw Bakery. Serves Schnitzel and Goulash

Hollerei – vegetarian with vegan options

Motte Am Floss – beet burgers on the Danube rover. (The café upstairs is cheaper)

Nimmersatt – 100% vegan + Organic take out

Maran Vegan Bistro – 100% vegan supermarket + deli counter

Formosa food – 100% vegan Asian food including curry soy schnitzel

Loving Hut – 100% vegan on Favouritenstrasse

Vegana Indiana – 100% vegan, gluten free + seasonal

Voodles – 100% vegan

Elmira – 100% vegan

Uli’s Veganeria – 100% vegan

Tuwi – 100% vegan

Salonpafond – vegetarian options, organic locally sourced food

vegan in Bratislava – http://www.thewanderingboomerang.com

You can have a look at my Bratislava and Vienna Pinterest Board

https://www.pinterest.ie/wanderboomerang/bratislava-%2B-vienna/?eq=bratislava&etslf=5933

If you have any more tips or good vegan places we missed in Vienna, I’d love to hear! Please comment below.

Enjoy your trip, and return safely,

the wandering boomerang 🙂

Check out my other vegan + travel blogs…

Vienna We visited Vienna at the end of February 2018. We arrived in Vienna at lunch time on a bus from Bratislava.

#Austria #bratislava #slovakia #thingstodoinvienna #vegan #veganinvienna #vegantravel #veganvienna #vienna #viennabestbits #viennatravelguide #viennatraveltips #viennavegan #whattodoinvienna

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c00lmint8123-blog · 5 years ago

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Hiking in Spain

David Brodosi

If you’re looking for a top choice for a hiking and trekking holiday, you can’t do better than Spain, with its varied landscapes, many mountain ranges, coastal routes, and well-marked trails. From the famous Camino de Santiago to the Picos de Europa National Park and the Vías Verdes, covering old disused railway lines across the country, there’s something for everyone.

Ruta del Cares, Picos de Europa

One of the most popular and most beautiful routes in the Picos de Europa National Park, the Ruta del Cares runs for approximately 12 kilometers, from Poncebos in Asturias to Caín in León. Known as ‘The Divine Gorge’, the trail is carved out of the side of the rocks and traverses bridges and streams.

David Brodosi

Ruta del Cares©GabrielGonzález https://www.flickr.com/photos/gaby1/27417146834

Peñalara

One of the best places for hiking near the capital of Madrid, the Peñalaralies in the Sierra de Guadarrama, near to the province of Guadalajara. The hike takes around 3 1/2 hours for a roundtrip, and the route takes you through the Parque Natural de Peñalara, where you can spot many different types of reptiles.

Camino de Santiago

The most famous Spanish walking route is of Course the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St. James. A series of ancient pilgrim routes, the trail starts in few different places along the French border and ends up at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. One of the oldest routes starts at the town of Ovideo in Asturias, but the most popular trail starts at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, just across into France. There is also another path, the Cami Catala, which starts at Montserrat monastery, or in Barcelona, and joins up with the Camino de Santiago to finish up at the in the same place.

Cumbre Vieja, La Palma

The Cumbre Vieja is a volcanic ridge located on the island of La Palma, part of the Canary Islands. Running from north to south, it is approximately 150 kilometers and would take around eight to ten days to complete. If you don’t want to walk the whole thing however, you could opt between two shorter walks – the Ruta de la Cresteria, around the rim of the Caldeira de Taburiente – a collapsed volcano, or the Route of the Volcanoes in the south of island, snaking its way around ancient craters and Martian-like volcanic landscapes.

Caminito del Rey, Malaga

Once named one of the most dangerous hikes in the world, because of its missing sections of pathway and sheer cliffside drops, the Caminito del Rey is located in the region of Malaga. The route was closed for many years due to safety issues, however extensive renovations took place and it reopened again at the start of 2015. Today, the path has been repaired, handrails have been added, as well as bridges and stairs, to create a spectacular, but safe experience. The trail is approximately 7.7 kilometers long and takes around four hours to complete.

David Brodosi

Spain provides some of the best hiking trails in the world with its varied landscapes, mountain ranges and well-maintained trails.

Whether you are a highly skilled hiker or just looking for a new experience, there is definitely a beautiful trail to be experienced in Spain.

For the best hikes in Europe, including France, Germany, Swiss Alps and Italy see our detailed article.

Here is a list of the best hiking trails in Spain.

David Brodosi

5 Epic Hiking Trails In Spain

Camino de Santiago Trail

Camino de Santiago is arguably the most famous Spanish walking route, it is about 500 miles long. It is a series of ancient pilgrim routes that have been in use for a thousand years or more.

It starts in a few different places along the French border and all the routes end at Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The most popular trail starts at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

The trails are flat and easy with many of the tracks being paved and well-maintained. The main routes require very little technical walking so you do not need a lot of hiking experience.

David Brodosi

The routes are also well-marked, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.

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David Brodosi

Barcelona on a Backpacking Budget

Barcelona, The City of Gaudi. Deeply steeped in history, seemingly every nook and cranny of this city has a story to tell. Barcelona is busy, beautiful and expensive. And yet, you can still visit Barcelona on a backpacking budget.

From its Gothic Quarter to the sparkling structures of the modern waterfront, from the works of the genius architect Antoni Guadi to the boisterous atmosphere of Las Ramblas, Barcelona offers days, weeks, and months of adventure and exploration. We have never visited a city quite like it, and Barcelona ranks among out favorite European cities.

Not everything is all sunshine and roses, however. Barcelona is suffering from being TOO popular, and that has led to soaring prices, congested tourist areas, and some ill will from locals to visitors (read more about Barcelona’s problems with tourism here).

So, to get the most out of your backpacking budget, we recommend that you visit Barcelona during its off-peak season. We recommend April through early May, or the middle of September till the end of October. The weather should be good during these months, and the crowds greatly reduced. Visiting during these time periods, or even in the unattractive (weather wise) winter months will greatly reduce your costs, and allow you to experience Barcelona on a backpacking budget.

David Brodosi

Conversely, if you decide to go to Barcelona in the summer be prepared to pay premium prices on just about everything related to tourism. Your costs will spike in the summer as opposed to off season, and you’ll have a hard time visiting Barcelona on a budget.

Either way, off-season or peak season, make sure you get out of the city itself for a few days to explore the beauty of Catalonia. Here are a few great day trips from Barcelona that everyone visiting should really consider taking. Not only will these trips allow you to explore some of the incredible country-side, but by taking one or a few of them you will be helping to alleviate some of the tourist congestion in BCN.

Also, be sure to check out our article on the Top Ten Things to Do on a Budget in Barcelona, Spain.

David Brodosi

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#spain #david brodosi #brodosi #camping #hiking #outdoors #alaska #backpacking #travel #nature

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jpborromeo-blog · 8 years ago

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World Juanderer

It’s true that traveling these days only takes a few minutes of browsing the internet. You jot down attractions, pull up prices, check reviews—the digital age practically made everything easy to DIY. Be that as it may, reality proves, time and again, that in order for you to really prepare for every aspect of your vacation, you need to go beyond your computer screen and do the actual legwork. Luckily, you can get people to do this for you, while you relax and enjoy your trip for what it is—a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a brand new environment without racking your head in anticipation of what could go wrong. Arranging bookings, securing documents, making reservations—these are just a fraction of what World Juanderer, a travel consulting company that specializes in providing excellent travel experiences, can do for you.

With You While You Are Out There “World Juanderer is made up of well-experienced travelers who understand what it takes to have a great traveling experience,” shares World Juanderer Travel Specialist Gabriel San Pedro. “It’s all about understanding our clients, particularly their interests, preferences, expectations and passion, their motivation for exploring the world, and then tailoring a seamless experience around these things.” Prior to booking any trip, World Juanderer conducts a face-to-face interview with the actual traveler to ensure a thorough understanding of how he or she wants each part of the trip to be. And if that is not enough, the company even goes as far as conducting briefings before and after the trip, which covers a rundown of reminders that also touch on travel risks they might encounter and how to use the travel insurance provided. World Juanderer can even do online check-ins for their clients. Aside from that, World Juanderer also offers travel check lists with suggestions on what to wear, activities for the day, weather conditions, and more. “Literally, we have your trip covered. Your every whim—consider them fulfilled,” says Gabriel. For the most part, what World Juanderer offers is a highly-personalized, end-to-end travel management that involves checking up on you at regular intervals to make sure that everything is going to plan. Whatever feedback you may have, or problems that may come up in the middle of your trip, we’ll make sure it’s addressed outright. “We stay with you throughout your journey and offer you a hassle-free travel guarantee,” assures Gabriel.

“Say, for example, you requested to dine at an exclusive restaurant in Paris, like maybe the Georges Paris. We can most definitely make that happen! This also goes for any additional requests you have along the way. In essence, it is like having your personal butler with you while you’re out there,” Gabriel adds. Wherever your wanderlust dictates, World Juanderer is sure to craft the perfect experience to make your travel worthwhile.

Go on an Island Getaway in Capri, Italy—Take a boat ride and explore the Blue Grotto, a stunning natural sea cave, up-close. Go on a chairlift ride from Piazza Vittoriai to the peak of Mount Solaro and enjoy breathtaking views of the island and surrounding sea.

Spend a night in a room made of ice at the ICEHOTEL—Check in at the ICEHOTEL’s art suites in Sweden, each of which areindividually hand carved by ice sculptors commissioned from around the world.

See Easter Island’s Ancient Statues Up-close in Chile—Take travel selfies around Chile with the stoic moai statue of Easter Island. Carved out of volcanic rock by the ancient Rapanui people, the monumental attractions are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

The Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya—Get the best of African luxury in this one-of-a-kind immersive experience. Not only do you get to stay in this colonial era manor-style guesthouse, you can also boast of having had breakfast with the wilderness as gentle giraffes stoop down to join you in your feast.

Take a Mediterranean Summer Adventure in Mallorca, Spain—Take a blissful beachfront vacation and enjoy the best of coastal living as you wake up to postcard-perfect views and sample island cuisine in Mallorca’s soulful hill towns.

The Lavender Fields at Le Château du Bois in France—Stay in a private Chateau and witness the magnificent view of the iconic lavender fields in bloom. Catch a glimpse of its spectacular beauty. Let your sight follow the intense blue landscape as it stretches out to the horizon.

Explore Marine Life on the Underwater Seascapes of Maldives—Go on a tropical getaway that takes you diving to see the marine life in the Coral Garden and the Big Head Reefs of Maldives. Take an equatorial cruise and savor the catch of the day as they cook it right at the boat.

Cross the world's highest glass-bottomed bridge in China—Get over your fear of heights by crossing a bridge made up of 99 panes of three-layered transparent glass that connects two mountain cliffs known as the Avatar mountains.

The Outdoor Sauna in the Swedish Lapland—Take a plunge into icy relaxation and bring yourself to a peaceful meditative state. Cleanse your mind and body as you engage in the ten-step Scandinavian Jukkasjärvi sauna ritual.

Visit Atlanta and Party at Tomorrow World—Over 300 DJs from around the world is set to perform in this year’s TomorrowWorld, Georgia’s own electronic music festival that combines nature with music, good vibes and spectacular visuals.

Party the Night Away at Ultra Music Festival Japan—Go on a wild night of party music and dancing as the world's top EDM DJ's gather to entertain crowds of music festival goers in this year’s Ultra Music Festival in Japan.

Catch the World’s Biggest DJs Perform at Tomorrowland in Belgium—Not only is Belgium a paradise for food lovers, it is also where you can party at one of biggest dance music festival on the planet, Tomorrowland.

Build Clay Houses for the Poor by Volunteering in Namibia—Go for a different kind of adventure by going on your first Voluntourism assignment. Get involved with The Namibia Clay House Project and help construct clay houses in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.

Those are just some of the experiences you can enjoy when you go for a worry-free holiday courtesy of World Juanderer. And if you think that what they offer is reserved only for those who can spend extra, think again. “We’ve also got affordable packages to some of the most visited destinations abroad,” Gabriel adds.

Check out the hottest travel packages World Juanderer can book for you

Journey to the Best European Highlights—Get 15-days worth of adventure as we take you to the breathtaking beauty of everything Europe has to offer. From leisurely strolls down The Avenue des Champs-Élysées to basking in the grandeur of Piazza De Venezia, this package offers a fascinating look into the ancient history of European marvels. (Covering 8 countries : Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium & France)

Plot a Course to Korean Tradition—Experience Korean culture in all its colorful forms when you avail of this package. Considered one of its best highlights, the well-known resort city of Jeju is where you can stay in prestigious hotels while enjoying world-class entertainment at casinos and nature-tripping in its wondrous beaches, mountains, and waterfalls.

Unravel All of Taiwan’s Mysteries—Take a trip to see the great Taipei cityscape and bask in its peaceful countryside views. Uncover secrets of its culture by savoring street food delicacies served on its public food centers.

Into the Rich Artistry of Osaka—Head to Japan's busiest capital for an incredible mix of the ultramodern and the traditional. Explore its neon-lit skyscrapers, historic temples, kabuki theaters, and museums that exhibit classical artistry at its finest.

Experience Dubai’s Take on Luxury—From luxury shopping to ultramodern architecture and a perpetually buzzing nightlife, the things to do in Dubai seems endless. Dubai takes you to a world where high-end style meets old world charm.

A Fascinating Indochina Escape— From the rooftop bars of Bangkok to the elephant trails of Siem Reap, even the Buddhist strongholds of Ho Chi Minh, World Juanderer lets you experience what a genuinely exotic Indochine journey is like in this amazing tour package.

Whether for luxury or for those on a budget, World Juanderer invites you to be part of the many exciting hassle-free journeys the company made easy to enjoy. “Our goal is to make it easier for everyone, specially Filipinos, to see more of the world. There is so much beauty out there waiting to be explored and appreciated and we’re here to help you soak up every bit of the experience without the hassle,” Gabriel ends.

For more information about World Juanderer, please visit www.worldjuanderer.com, send an email to [email protected] or call 3287999 local 110.

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europe4kidstours · 5 years ago

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The 8 best Christmas destinations for families in Europe

Europe is such an incredibly diverse continent, boasting a range of amazing countries. Some may argue that Europe truly blooms in the spring and summer because of the warmer weather and the more outdoorsy nature of daily life. However, Christmas is when you can experience authentic local cultures and traditions of each country…and there is a certain charm in visiting certain European capitals when the bustling streets are covered in powdery snow or spending time in a mountain chalet where the best thing of all is sipping a hot chocolate next to a crackling fireplace! Also, Europe is quite big, so you will still find warm destinations in the southern part of Europe. So let’s get to the list of places you should definitely see when traveling to Europe over Christmas with your family!

1- Berlin, Germany

Germany has the best Christmas markets you will ever encounter! It is definitely an ideal place to go to soak up the season. The Berliner Weinachtszeit, situated just behind one of the main squares in behind Alexanderplatz is one of the biggest. The market, alongside a beautiful FREE ice rink (where you can hire skates for €4) is set up every year on the 27th November and ends on 29th December. Keep in mind that it is even open on Christmas Day! In the background you will get to look at the backdrop of Berlin’s 50-meter-high Ferris wheel. Santa Claus will be on site roaming through the colorful stalls from which a lovely aroma of mulled wine and gingerbread exudes, to chat with the kiddies. For the animal lovers in the family, the Berliner Weinachtszeit hosts a wonderful petting zoo along with pony rides. The little ones will love it. Another great market, called Dresden’s Striezelmarkt, can be found in Dresden. The one in Berlin is bigger and receives more recognition worldwide, but if you are looking for a more authentic experience, than the Dresden market is a much better option. Here you will get a chance to taste regional specialties baked according to the unique Dresden tradition and to play around with the Ore Mountain wood crafts, Lusatian blue-printed fabrics and Moravian stars, which are particularly popular.

2- Tromso, Norway

The biggest attraction around Tromso is no particular museum, restaurant or square. The most incredible attraction Tromso has to offer is its breathtaking nature. You may ask: well, what is there to see that makes this place so special? What about gazing upon the dancing Northern Lights? Forget about conventional Christmas light shows. Go hunting for the best sparkly display of natural lights you will every your eyes on. This is definitely a trip that you and your kids will remember forever. If you are feeling adventurous, take part in one of the many crazy Tromso Safaris that are offered around the local city of Polaria! And if the white powdery snow is getting a little too much for you, then wrap yourself in a blanket by the roaring fire, while sipping hot chocolate and maybe even reading a comforting book. After all, we need to find some ways to convince our little ones to read, and what better setting than the cozy atmosphere in an authentic Norwegian wooden cabin.

3- Tenerife, Canary Islands

If you are trying to run away from the cold on your Christmas holiday to Europe, then you should consider going to a somewhat warmer destination. In this case, the Canary Islands are a great option! The Canaries are a Spanish archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 100 kilometers west from the coast of Morocco. December is the “coldest” month of the year in these islands – but it’s still a lot warmer than most other European destinations, reaching highs of 20°C! Tenerife is the largest and most populated island of the Canaries. There is a lot more to do in the main city. However, if you want a more relaxed and secluded holiday with your family than you could even go to Gran Canarias, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, where people are a lot more in touch with nature and the islands are less congested with tourists. Imagine yourself surfing in the morning, doing some yoga on the beach in the afternoon and lightning fire on the beach at night. This is what your family Christmas could look like!

4- Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is a very culturally rich and engaging city. Copenhagen’s National Museum is the kind of place where you can easily spend hours and hours losing yourself without even realizing it. But then, let’s be real – your kids would probably start complaining mid-way through – so do not fantasize about the hallways of this wonderful collection of Danish art and culture for too long! There’s a remarkable wealth of artifacts here that dates back to all eras of Denmark’s past. The little mermaid statue is an absolute must when you’re in Copenhagen. This is an instantly recognizable landmark inspired by Andersen’s eponymous fairytale. It represents a – drumroll please! – mermaid. When you get up close to the statue you will be shocked by how small it actually is! Also, a visit to the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s venerable 174-year-old amusement park, cannot hurt. Especially during the Christmas holiday season, the lights are simply stunning! You will get the opportunity to see three separate light shows that illuminate the skies every day during this incredibly festive season!

5- Innsbruck, Austria

What better time of the year is there to ski – if not the Christmas break!? If you are trying to make the kids’ school break into an awesome ski trip to take the family on a dreamy snow adventure over Christmas, Obergurgl in Austria is a fantastic resort for beginners that you should definitely have a look at! A one-day lift pass fro adults is €52, whereas for children it is only €34! The village is circa 2,000 meters above sea level, which means that Obergurl generally has plenty of snow – do not worry! There is no way you will get there in December or January and there is no snow! The ski Obergurl resort has 24 ski lifts that you and your little ones can enjoy together. However, if your kids do not feel like skiing, or if they are too young to cruise the icy sloped than you have the option of leaving the youngsters in safe hands with the Esprit Ski childcare while the adults go for a cheeky ride down the mountain!

6- London, UK

The most important thing to do while you’re in London is to check out the world-famous Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Although the general entrance to Winter Wonderland is free, there are a variety of interesting attractions, shows, comedy clubs and scary death rides that you have to book and pay for in advance. Compared to past years, this year’s Winter Wonderland has loads in-store, with fabulous new attractions including the world’s tallest transportable Observation Wheel, a new theme ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Magical Ice Kingdom, a Season Ride Pass, Paddington™ on Ice, Mr. Men & Little Miss and a fantastic new programme of comics at the Winter Wonderland Comedy Club. This attraction, perfect for both adults and kids, is open from the 21st November 2019 to the 5th of January 2020. So hurry up – the clock is ticking! Some other things that you should have a look at doing when in London over the Christmas break are: shopping for gifts at the Southbank Centre’s winter market or the Kingston market, check out the festive decorations and cheerful light displays around Carnaby Street, Regent’s Street, Tower Bridge and Covent Garden, or even skating, either at the Somerset House, the Tower or London, or the Natural History Museum Ice rink! Once you touch down in London you will realize that there are endless possibilities and, in light of Christmas celebrations, whatever your family’s heart desires, you will find in London.

7- Prague, Czech Republic

Although Prague with its 1.3 million inhabitants is a relatively small city, hosted by an equally small-surfaced Czech Republic, it holds some of the most precious wonders that Europe gas to offer. There is so much to do and see. So start taking notes, because this will be the trip of a lifetime! You and your family will be delighted to know that in December Christmas Markets and European cities go hand in hand. Make sure you wear your comfortable shoes and brace yourself to hit the ground running in Prague. Any walk around the city will usually start or finish in the idyllic Old Town Square, which – at this time of the year is full of Christmas market stalls. But do not despair — there are Christmas stalls and markets dotted all around the city – you will get plenty of chances to shop for the people at home. If you’re looking for the most scenic Christmas Market and prefer to just visit one then make sure you don’t miss a visit to the Old Town Square Christmas Market and be sure to make your way up to the top of the Old Town Tower for a view from above! Since you are out and about, stop at one of the many pastry shops and get a Trdelník to share. Trdelník is a popular Czech hollowed-out pastry dough covered in cinnamon sugar usually topped with soft-serve ice cream. But this is not the end! Climb to the top of the Charles Bridge Tower, indulge in an incredibly delicious Czech hot chocolate from the renown Cafe Slavia, stroll along the Vltava river at night (with your turtle necks and thick gloves, of course), and let yourself be amazed by the beauty of this wonderful city!

8- Rome, Italy

Last but not least, we have the timeless and picturesque Italian capital! Whether you have been to Rome during other periods of the year, visiting at Christmas is a completely different experience and one which you and your kids should definitely not miss. It is simply priceless to see the world-famous monuments and ancient ruins encompassed by Christmas spirit and colorful lighting!

The must-see things in Rome during Christmas time are the huge Christmas tree standing proud and ornate by the Coliseum, or the one in St Peter’s square, the small and big, Medieval and Rennaisance churches or basilicas, the fun and quirky markets in Campo de’ Fiori or Piazza Navona, and finally the incredible pasta and pizza that you will find in most restaurants around Rome. If you want to treat yourself and enjoy the city through the eyes of an expert, local tour guide, then consider taking a Roman Forum and Coliseum walking tour, hop on a segway or a golf cart adventure with the whole family. Read more about what to do at Christmas with kids in Rome.

Christmas in Europe is a vibrant amalgamation of incredible twinkling lights, amusing carols, and traditional concerts. If you are Christian, you can attend incredibly atmospheric midnight masses, and, if you aren’t, there are plenty of other holiday cheers. Don’t let the Family Christmas break pass you by! Make the most of your time in Europe. Plan ahead and pick your destination wisely!

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suitcasetales · 7 years ago

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Dancing the Vienna Splash (Wednesday)

I think it probably rained all night long and from the looks of things Wednesday morning, the sun was not going to shine on Vienna today and it was cold. We were all scheduled to go on an “included” panoramic bus and walking tour and Viking provided red Viking umbrellas if you wanted to fool with one. Four busloads of us snaked our way along the famous Ringstrasse (Ring Road) and we could kinda see lots of fancy, wet buildings. I mentally checked out of the tour pretty early so I definitely need to add Vienna to my list of places to which to return.

Once we got off the buses for the walking portion, things deteriorated further due to juggling umbrellas, cameras (for what they were worth in the rain), earpieces for hearing the commentary, gloves and hoods or hats.

This is either the Natural History Museum or the Art History Museum; they are twin buildings facing the Maria Theresa Monument.....

....which was revealed in 1888. In many photos for the rest of the week, you will see the beginnings of the Christmas Markets; we missed them by just a few days.

The National Library.

Hofburg Imperial Palace, official winter residence and workplace of the President of Austria.

The best part of all, though, was when we happened to be in the right spot at the right time as some of the famous Lippizzan horses were being moved from their stables to the indoor training arena. Now that was cool! (For you horse people, an optional afternoon tour was a behind the scenes tour of the stables.)

The Spanish Riding School has been in existence almost 450 years. This, the Winter Riding School, is part of the Imperial Palace; during summer, the horses go to the country where they have more space and less training sessions.

The stables:

Someone got left behind — can you see?

The second best thing is we passed a shop that sold the most beautiful and luxurious outerwear and I decided It will be one of my earliest destinations when we win the lottery. It was also the first site of many thoughts akin to, ‘it’s a good thing we don’t have grandchildren’ because there was some beautiful children’s clothing in their window displays, too.

Our guided tour ended when we arrived outside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. We were then given a mere 55 minutes of free time with options to shop, visit the church and to go to one of the numerous cafes for a Vienna coffee. Clearly not enough time to do any of those three things. Janet had not seen the windows of that fancy clothing store during out tour so we briskly walked back to that area so she could see the desires of my heart. She really wanted a coffee but when you’re not looking for a cute little coffeehouse you see them everywhere, right?

Other Vienna store windows and street scenes:

She is made of marzipan!

We ended up back at the Cathedral because we wanted to be sure we saw its interior. That ended up being a bit of a bust as well because there is only one small area that is free to enter; every other area has a separate entrance fee or you can buy a pass for full access. We simply couldn’t justify spending money for a rush job so only looked briefly. It was a very dark space but with it so dreary outside, it was hard to tell its true colors.

Joseph Haydn sang in the choir here as a boy and Mozart was married here in 1782.

Self-portrait by sculptor Anton Pilgrim.

Back outside, we had just enough time to go to a cute little chain coffee house for a drink to go. The guide had mentioned her favorite flavor is Maria Theresia so that is what Janet ordered (expresso & orange liqueur).

Check out the chocolate pumps on the top row.

Their pastries, cakes and meringues looked tempting but again, there was simply not enough time. Walking back to the bus we even passed right by the Hard Rock Cafe and I was afraid I would be left behind if I popped in there. ( We talked to a lady later who said she was two minutes late arriving to our meet-up point outside the church and had to take a taxi back!)

Back on board to dry off, warm up and fill up with lunch, we were back out with a smaller group for the optional tour of UNESCO World Heritage Site Schonbrunn Palace, a huge place on a huge chunk of land and traditionally, the summer home of the President. Once we were off the bus, our guide informed us that backpacks were not allowed (any size purse was okay) and you could carry a camera but not use it. Aargh!

There are 1441 rooms in the summer residence of the President of Austria and we saw about 14 of them — beautiful ballrooms, function rooms and even the Royal bed of the most beloved resident ever, Elisabeth of Austria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I, the empress of Austria. Nicknamed Sissi (or Sisi), this is the same Elisabeth one of those bridges is named after in Budapest. Some are apartments that ordinary people can lease at average rental prices for Vienna. (That is an impressive address!) After the guided tour, we had some free time and although the guide said the cafe there had the best of a particular cake in Vienna, the rain had slowed to a mist so I retrieved my camera and backpack from the coat check and we took a brisk walk in the gardens. It was a welcome stretch of the ol’ legs and we can somewhat imagine how stunning it must look in the spring and summer.

At dusk as we were leaving the Garden, we turned around and the lights of the Gloriette were on so it was absolutely aglow.

It was dark by the time we left the Palace to go back to the ship. We would have had time to go to Hard Rock Cafe but it would have been expensive by taxi, and complicated by metro. Plus, we were tired and the weather remained weary. So alas, another thing to do when we return to Vienna one of these days.

When Mariana, the “hotel manager” on the ship showed us to our suite at check-in, she explained that dining services had been experimenting on our ship with a specialty dinner. Offered on the “Aquavit Terrace,” which is a small dining area on the front of the ship where they offer simpler breakfasts and lunches, it is called “a taste of Manfredi.” There is only space for twenty diners each night so with Mariana’s advice on the best night to miss the regular menu, we had signed up for the Italian dinner tonight.

Our friends from San Francisco, a married couple, Edna and Joan, had also, so we dined with them and enjoyed getting to know them better and talking about a whole gamut of topics in a quieter atmosphere. It was a 6-course dinner: A green salad (and bread and butter), fried calamari, cold cucumber soup, pasta in a cream sauce, chicken Parmesan and tiramisu (which I do not like so I had fresh fruit). Even with small portions and a lighter dessert, I was absolutely stuffed and the other three folks had wine.

There were two evening optional excursions — one to a vineyard and one to a classical concert — but I am glad we stayed on board. Passing on the opportunity to see a performance in one of Vienna’s many concert venues was tough but I honestly don’t think I could have stayed awake for it. Another thing for the “next time” list!

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mintychocolatte · 7 years ago

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Europe Trip

Overall:

Hotels generally allow for luggage storage even before check-ins

99% of people we spoke to spoke English

Buses, subways, trams (munis) were not heavily monitored for tickets when passengers board; only trains (DB/WestBahn) checked passengers

No delays with public transportation; if anything, trains and planes left punctually or within 15 minutes! (Not sure why people we've talked to said Europe was notorious for delays...); sightseeing buses did not delay much and boats left dock on time

Airport kiosks are present for electronic check-ins without service workers (this saves time from having to have our luggage weighed); tip: if luggage exceeds limit, transfer items from luggage to carry-on

Euros are accepted in Switzerland

Cobblestone paths are preserved

Sprüngli is associated with Lindt chocolates

10/07 - 10/09: Zurich, Switzerland

$10 Licher beer @ Frankfurt airport

Passports needed for entering through Frankfurt airport, but not for entering Swiss airport because entering Frankfurt airport is entering the European Union; passport is not needed for traveling to other countries once entered through Germany; from Swiss airport, passport is needed to enter back into EU

Outlets are different here - three prongs in Switzerland; adapter is needed everywhere for our US adapters

Swiss people speak 4 official languages: French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German (Zurich)

Zurich is officially Protestant

Water comes from Swiss Alps, goes through cleaning system; 1,226 fountains in Zurich are drinkable!

Beer is the most popular beverage; wine is second

Our dining recommendations: Zeughauskeller, Hiltl for brunch (eclectic buffet); recommended beer: Licher, Amber colored beer

2x as expensive as US (Starbucks is ~$7 for a drink, a meal is ~$20)

Swiss people dress stylish and good-looking! Fair skin and hair

Public transportation is convenient and well-developed - trams, buses everywhere and run frequently; honor system in place: tickets are not checked on public transportation

Recommended: 24hr Zurich card for discounts / free attractions and free public transportation rides

Recommended stay: City Center - close to Limmat River and Lake Zurich and Bahnhofstrasse shopping street

Very clean!

10/09 - 10/12: Berlin, Germany

Recommended beer: Hell from Augustiner

Embassy buildings from other countries established in Berlin have guards roaming around

Water is charged in most places, except if tap in some places

Schnitzel (breaded meat) is a popular dish

Graffiti and vandalization in a lot of places

Public transportation is convenient and well-developed - trams, buses everywhere and run frequently; honor system in place: tickets are not checked on public transportation (our Berlin 72hr welcome cards were checked just once by a girl walking through the underground rail subway); U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains run frequently throughout the day - S-Bahn runs every 10 minutes during rush hour, 30 minutes during non-peak times, until 1 am; U-Bahn runs 5-minute intervals, at night in 10-minute intervals (weekend the U-Bahn runs 24 hours, in the daytime mainly in ten-minute intervals, during the night in 15-minute intervals)

There are 2 ring S-Bahns that go in opposite directions and U-Bahn 55 that runs between 3 stops back and forth

Establishment owners seem to be very hands-off with customers - we walked into a souvenir shop at a train station and the owner did not acknowledge us much or seem to want to answer questions beyond a simple line; we'd have to approach any service workers for directions when signs were not clear

Gloomy feel with gray buildings and memorials set up; tall buildings loomed

Sightseeing tour guides on buses have thick German accents (we were not able to understand much, but saw a lot of monuments)

Ampelmann traffic signals are famous

Known for pig knuckle (crispy skin, but dry meat...)

Some local intersections have no stop signs - pedestrians have to find gaps between cars to cross streets

10/12 - 10/15: Vienna, Austria

A cup of water was 1.20 Euro on a cruise (not recommended: City Cruises on Blue Danube - scenery is just mediocre - graffiti on walls and just a couple of interesting buildings and minimal audio tour guide; water is murky)

Wiener schnitzel is a delicacy!

Concert halls have a formal attire dress code, but tourists were given an exception; standing room tickets are sold for 7 euros for certain concerts with standing rooms (balcony seats are not the best on the sides at the Musikverein - only see half of the orchestra)

Billa is a chain grocery market - dairy products (like milk with 3.5% fat) are yummy; "bio" products are organic

Cafe Sacher is an Austrian delicacy (we found one in Vienna and another one in Salzburg, where we bought Sacher coffee)

Traffic signals are cutesy with couples illustrated with a heart in between; couples - one with a bicycle; restroom gender signs also look like they have the right proportion of limbs

Classy architecture

Rich cafe culture - coffee is popular

10/15: Salzburg, Austria

300,000 tourists come just for Sound of Music tour; small overall residential population

Birthplace of Mozart; called Mozart Town

Mozart Bridge crosses Salzach River

Beautiful natural landscape; view of mountain that divides Austria and Germany

10/15 - 10/17: Munich, Germany

Architecture is newer and fancier than Berlin's - many palaces and castles from Bavarian empire, including Munich Residence and Nymphenburg Palace

Open air market gets crowded!

Hauptbahnhoff station = central station; includes shops and eateries; a lot of smokers surround the station; neighborhood is old and a bit trash-ridden

Marienplatz is popular - cathedrals, old and new city halls, shopping district, open air market (vendors for beer, food, groceries, fruits, souvenirs) ; locals sing and play instruments on the streets at night

Home of FC Bayern / Allianz soccer arena

Home to 6 breweries - Augustiner, etc.

Feedback: - Don't squeeze too many activities in one day (2-3 is enough if considering museums/sightseeing) to leave time for sit-down meals, especially in a foreign country, or cook large brunch before leaving for a destination

- Consider leaving time for shopping, if companions like to shop

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kommabortsig · 5 days ago

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Die_weißkiefer_im_spiegel_der_zeit.JPG

#wikimedia commons #2010s #2015 #Weißkiefer Wölbling #Water reflections of trees #Natural monuments in Austria with known ID #CC-BY-SA-3.0-AT #Self-published work #Images from Wiki Loves Earth 2015 #Images from Wiki Loves Earth 2015 in Austria #Images from Wiki Loves Earth missing SDC depicts #Images from Wiki Loves Earth missing SDC location of creation #Natural monuments in Austria needing check #Uploaded via Campaign:wle-at-nd #Austria photographs taken on 2015-06-28

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thewanderingboomerang · 6 years ago

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We visited Vienna at the end of February 2018. We arrived in Vienna at lunch time on a bus from Bratislava.

https://thewanderingboomerang.com/2018/04/16/bratislava/

The icing on the cake was the spa, the free yoga classes and the eco friendly shampoo and soap that was cruelty free! This hotel was made for me.

https://www.25hours-hotels.com/en/hotels/vienna/at-museumsquartier

http://www.naschmarkt-vienna.com/

We took a walk around and stumbled across Hofburg Palace and the Palmhaus. Go in for a nosey or make reservation to make sure you get a table.

Café Demel is another tick on the tourist list. You can walk in and buy from the shop or queue at the back to get a seat in this beautiful café. We didn’t fancy the queue and opted out!

Burggasse is right beside the metro so we jumped on the train to Schonnbrun Palace.

We walked around the grounds in the snow and sunshine, and found ballet dancers, water features, a zoo, and a café in a monument at the top of the hill to the rear of the palace.

14.50 euro (short tour 22 rooms)

17.50 euro (long tour, 40 rooms),

or free with a Vienna Pass.

There’s also a rooftop bar called ‘Lamee‘ that has a free view of the church roof tiles, although you’ll have to buy a glass of wine or a coffee to sit there.

We walked to Vegiezz for lunch. This is a chain vegan restaurant and we saw two on our walks around the city.

After a long day and a lot of walking, we went back to the hotel for our last go in the spa before dinner.

There were no vegan options in Bratislava airport! In fact the two food options left a lot to be desired. Eat before you go or bring food with you, vegan or not!

Things we missed in Vienna

Belvedere Palace – (UNESCO) 20 euro or Free with Vienna Pass

Vienna Opera http://www.viennaconcerts.com

St. Peters Church – oldest (and apparently nicer than St. Stephens)

St. Michaels Church – large crypt, 4000 corpses including mummified corpses.

Hofburg Palace – in between the church and the gate, there is a small excavation with a glass covering. Archaeologists found remnants of a roman settlement.

Vienna City Hall – (we didn’t enter the building, just ice skated in front of it! In the summer there is a film festival where the ice rink lives in winter.)

Votivkirche Church

Austrian Parliament Building

Burgtheater – Austrian National theatre

Hundertwasset Haus – It is considered cultural heritage. You can visit the house for free and take pictures from outside. The museum is 12 euro or free with Vienna Pass.

Kunsthauswein Museum

Church of Assisi

State Hall, Austrian National Library – (7 euro or free with VP, 10am-6pm) 200,000 value books and a beautiful building.

Albertina Museum – Monet and Picasso and highly recommended (12.90 euro or free with VP)

Time Travel Vienna – multimedia shows, 50 cinemas (19.50 euro or free with VP)

Capuchin Church + Imperial Burial Vault – resting place of emperors and empresses (free with VP)

Leopold Museum – (13 euro or free with VP)

Mumok Museum – Pop art, cubism futurism, surrealism (11 euro or free with VP)

Natural History Museum – largest and oldest meteriote collection (10 euro or free with VP)

Bank Austria Kunstforum – Modernism, Impressionism, Avant Garde and Van Gogh ( 11 euro or free with VP)

Melk Abbey Church

Johann Strauss Apartment

Sigmund Freud Museum

Kunsthistorisches Art History Museum

Zentralfriedhof Cemetery – 2.5milion tombs including Beethoven)

Karl Marx Hof – 1km long. Longest single residential building in the world (19th district)

Watch an Ice Hockey match

Palais Coburg Wine Cellar Tour – stunning according to a travel blog I read.

Outdoors

Vienna Ringstrasse – former medieval city walls, 5.3km. You can rent bikes and cycle or there’s a tram that covers the route.

Volksgarten + Augraten parks

Lainzer Tiergarten – Hike (U4 subway, end of the line Huttledorf 25 mins from Vienna) red line = longer route and orange line = shorter route. Lunch at Rorhaus after.

Krapfenwald Outdoor Pool – 4 euro

Oberlaa Therme Wien – Indoor + Outdoor thermal pools

Kahlenburg or Cobenzi hills – good views.

Wienerwaud – Viennese forest and Heuriggendof Grinzing restaurant (expensive)

Am Himmel – outdoor area with Celtic horoscope tree and Oktogon Restaurant (bus 38a/U4 towards cobenzi)

Danube Island – recreational area, sports and beach activities, water playground, swimming. restaurants and free concerts in the summer.

Wakeboarding at Donaukanal – summer only

River Cruise

Shopping

Mariahilfer Strasse – shopping street

Karntner Strasse – Vienna High street

Kohlmarket – luxury Shopping

Kirchengreasse, Lindengrasse, Neubaugrasse – hipster shops

Spittelburg street – shops/cafes, closed sundays

Local food + Drink to try

Apple strudel

Chicken Schnitzel – Figlmuller’s has repution for being the best schnitzel, so expect a mass of tourists.

Goulash

Chocolate Torte Cake – Café Demel

Mineral Drinking water from the taps comes straight from the alps

Wine – Vienna is one of the few capitals in the world that produces it’s own wine

Food and Drinks

Café Central – UNESCO building

Café Speri

Lugeck – recommended for traditional Austrian food (reservation required).

Wratschoko Gatwirkschaft – Austrian style food in 1800’s pub

Gasthaus Kopp – recommended on a travel blog I read.

Mini Restaurant – Hungarian food recommended on a blog, reservation required.

Hotel Sofitel – roof garden + sunset views

57 Lounge + Restaurant – tallest building in Austria

Lamee Rooftop – views of St. Stephen’s Church

Miranda Bar

Sign Lounge

7th + 8th district – night clubs and bars

Vegan food spots we missed

Le Burger – Austrian chain restaurant that drove out mcdonalds from the main shopping street. They serve low card lettuce wrapping instead of bread.

Tian– wonderful vegetarian restaurant

Vegetasia – 100% vegan Taiwanese

YAMM – vegetarian, self service (2.70 euro per 100g) expensive, near Opera

Kostlich – 1-2 vegan options, lunch only

Weltcafe – ethically sourced and organic, 2 vegan options

Brass Monkey – vegan Cupcakes

Harvest – vegetarian, vegan options. Lunch menu (weekdays) and Sunday brunch.

Veganista – vegan ice cream

Pinocchio – Pizza with vegan cheese option (hole in the wall)

Deli Bluem – vegetarian, lots of vegan options + organic breakfasts

Swing Kitchen – 100% vegan fast food (8 euro meals)

Fett + Zucker – vegan cakes

Nom Nom Vegan Bakery

Bio Bar – vegetarian, ask for vegan options

Blue Orange – bagels + sandwiches with vegan options – English menu

Cupcakes Wien – vegan options

Delicious Vegan Bistro – beside Naschmarket but hard to find. Lunch + dinner Pizza and juice bar.

Easy Going bakery – vegan cake pops and cake

Landia – vegetarian with vegan options

Pirata – 100% vegan sushi

Dr. Falafel – vegan options

Mikkamakka – 100% vegan, self service local dishes

Rupp’s – vegetarian Irish pub with cheap vegan options

Café Telegraph – Omni – Serves Avocado Burger

Simply Raw Bakery – zoodles, savoury crepes, raw pizza + cupcakes

Die Bio Bar Von Autun – 100% vegan across the street from Simply Raw Bakery. Serves Schnitzel and Goulash

Hollerei – vegetarian with vegan options

Motte Am Floss – beet burgers on the Danube rover. (The café upstairs is cheaper)

Nimmersatt – 100% vegan + Organic take out

Maran Vegan Bistro – 100% vegan supermarket + deli counter

Formosa food – 100% vegan Asian food including curry soy schnitzel

Loving Hut – 100% vegan on Favouritenstrasse

Vegana Indiana – 100% vegan, gluten free + seasonal

Voodles – 100% vegan

Elmira – 100% vegan

Uli’s Veganeria – 100% vegan

Tuwi – 100% vegan

Salonpafond – vegetarian options, organic locally sourced food

vegan in Bratislava – http://www.thewanderingboomerang.com

You can have a look at my Bratislava and Vienna Pinterest Board

https://www.pinterest.ie/wanderboomerang/bratislava-%2B-vienna/?eq=bratislava&etslf=5933

If you have any more tips or good vegan places we missed in Vienna, I’d love to hear! Please comment below.

Enjoy your trip, and return safely,

the wandering boomerang 🙂

Check out my other vegan + travel blogs…

Vienna We visited Vienna at the end of February 2018. We arrived in Vienna at lunch time on a bus from Bratislava.

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