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myjapaneseadventures · 6 years

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To Itami and back: First 3 days

Vienna airport

Everything seemed planned fine. Hotel booked. Money transferred to my account, a couple of Euros in my wallet. Everything packed.

The plane was leaving from Vienna airport at 11:15, bus from Brno at 6:40. So I decided to leave at around 5:45 from home to catch a night bus at 5:51, transfer to tram around 6:00, arriving at the station at 6:15 with plenty of time to get to the bus.

Except the night bus didn’t come. Instead of that, a regular bus came at 5:56 and I already knew I am not gonna make it to the planned tram on time. I started panicking a bit, considering getting a taxi at the transfer stop. Fortunately, the next tram came at a reasonable time and I made it to the station with 10 minutes to get to the bus. All was fine, I got on the bus and surprise surprise, the seat next to me was left unbooked. The power of my resting bitch now stretches even across the internet, go go me.

Flights to Tokyo

My first flight in three years made me a bit nervous. I didn’t really remember what to do and there was someone to help me out the last time. Fortunately, I pulled myself together, asked at the information and I headed to the luggage drop off. After that, I went to the duty-free zone, checked some things and decided to move to the security. That was a pretty good decision since I had a ton of electronics in my bag and I didn’t realize I had to take out everything out of the bags. Work laptop, its cables, electronic dictionary, personal laptop, its cables, camera, 3DS. Fortunately, I met a Slovak guy there and he was pretty chill about it, he even chatted with me about the gaming consoles, because he has 3DS, Switch and PS4 himself. Then everything went fine and I headed to the gate for my flight to Helsinki.

Nothing special happened there, the only which stood out was that I was sitting by the emergency exit and I had to save everyone in case something happened. But, fortunately, nothing happened. After landing in Helsinki, I found out that the gate for the flight to Tokyo is very far and it takes 20 minutes on foot to get there. So I bought some Finish chocolate to prepare me for the trip. I saw a cute Moomin shop on my way and it probably took me half an hour to get to the gate since I was checking out other shops too.

After boarding the plane, I decided to watch the Avengers in Japanese. The dubbing was pretty good and I recognized some of the seiyuus from anime. I then realized I was sitting by the wing again and I couldn’t really see anything around. We had a meal while I was watching the Avengers and then I decided to sleep a bit. I was woken up by another meal and I decided to watch The Corpse Bride in Japanese. That was a bit harder because it has been a while since I saw it, they were something singing and I couldn’t make out the words properly.

By the end of the movie, I noticed land under us. Then some really nice clouds. And when I leaned forward a bit, there it was. Mt. Fuji, all majestic just peaking above the clouds. Definitely the best highlight of the flight.

8 hours in Tokyo and to Itami

After landing at Narita airport, I had to get to the Haneda airport for the next flight. I talked to my friend who lives in Tokyo to meet up, so I headed to Tokyo station by Narita Express. I immediately headed to the Pokemon store in Tokyo station, but it is very small and I couldn’t really move around because I had my luggage, so I decided to leave and visit the Pokemon Centre in Kyoto. I was quite hungry, so I grabbed an onigiri, some sweet pastry, and Calpis and I headed outside Tokyo station because I wanted to sit down and rest a bit.

As I was sitting and stuffing my face, I realized how awesome it is to be back after 3 years and a couple months. I didn’t even believe I would a chance like this anymore. But there I was, chilling in front of Tokyo station. With only a couple of hours like twice before. I guess Tokyo is just meant for one-day trips for me.

As I was heading to Starbucks to get the limited edition drink, my friend messaged me saying he thought I would come at the time of the departure. We quickly agreed on meeting at Ikebukuro and for the first time, I had to navigate through the whole Tokyo station. One of the worst experiences ever. But I got to Ikebukuro and finally met my friend.

We wanted to go to Starbucks because it was close, but it was full. So we chose some cafes near the station, got some drinks and chatted for about an hour. Then he came with me all the way to Shinagawa where I had to transfer for the monorail to Haneda airport. I realized only then that I forgot to check in. The application said to check in at the airline’s information desk, but no one was around. After running around a bit, a woman noticed me and she checked me in, but only the middle seats were left. I knew I messed up because we were flying around Mt. Fuji even closer than before and I wouldn’t be able to see from the middle seat.

Going around, I saw Toraya, sweets shop where I worked in Kyoto, and I just had to get something. Ended up with honey youkan and Zangetsu. Then I headed for the security check where I had to unpack all the electronics again. There were not many shops because it is a small airport, so I headed to the gate right away. I think I was the only foreigner there. After boarding the plane, I decided to take another nap since I wouldn’t see Mt. Fuji and I was tired. The landing in Itami was a bit rough compared to the previous ones. I claimed my luggage and headed to the hotel.

First night and day in Itami

I checked in at the hotel and headed to the room. My jaw dropped as I walked in. The room is so big and it is way more than I would ever need. But it is nice to stay in such a place. I unpacked some things and I decided to head to 7/11 for some food. Of course, I couldn’t resist some sweets so I got matcha kuromitsu Haagen Dazs. There was some lottery and I won Pringles and some bar. After finishing the bento and the ice cream, I was just enjoying being back in Japan. I then took a long shower and headed to bed.

In the morning, I dressed up in my suit for the first at the office. I bought a one-day ticket, stopped at the Hankyu Itami station to gather some info and I headed to the office. I met one of my colleagues right before the building because she was on the same bus as me. I called the other colleague who is taking care of me and he came to pick me up.

Entry to the office area was bit of a shock. It looked like somebody just replaced machines with tables. Not even nice new tables. One colleague calls it “Trip back to the 60s”. I would say the 80s, but he is basically right. I met my teams and other colleagues, they showed me around, we had a lunch, I bought some drinks. Fortunately, I wasn’t jet-lagged much and I made it through the whole day. As I was about to leave, I found out that the two buses I used to get to the office are operated by different companies and my plan to get a commuter pass wouldn’t really work. Not even the one-day ticket was valid on the second train but we guessed that the driver let me go because I am a foreigner.

We started talking about it with the colleagues and that’s where the fun started. We discussed all the possible options, including one colleague driving me to and from the office the whole month. I decided to buy the commuter pass and use a different stop than the one in front of the office because I don’t want to bother my colleague that much.

Four of us then drove to the Hankyu Itami station, two colleagues then helped me to get the commuter pass and they headed for the train. I wanted to check out the Fit Joy gym at the station. There was a teenage girl who spoke very good English for her age. She explained me all the fees and it would add to a pretty high sum since I am staying for only a month, so we agreed that I will check out the other gym I previously found, Fitbase 24.

I didn’t have enough time to go all the way there, so I decided to stay at the station. I checked the shops, bought some food and snacks and headed to the hotel.

And those were probably the craziest 72 or so hours of my life.

#japan #japanese #itami #kansai #business #trip #business trip #日本 #日本語 #伊丹 #関西 #出張

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postcards-fromafar · 6 years

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Portland

Dan and I decided to head to Portland for a long weekend to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. We had been to Portland once before, but only for a day (and it had been in January so not the best weather). We were excited to get back and do more exploring, go on some hikes, drink lots of beer, and eat some delicious food. Portland definitely did not disappoint!

Highlights

-Staying at The Nines- Dan and I decided to stay in a fancier hotel than usual for this trip since we were celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary. And it was luxurious! Lots of pretty blue accents in the room, a super comfy bed, robes, gentle music, and great housekeeping...I’ve never stayed in a hotel before where they come back a second time to make sure your blankets are turned down and slippers are waiting next to the bed for you at night! The hotel was also centrally located in downtown Portland, which made it fairly easy to get to all of the neighborhoods we wanted to check out within a 15 minute drive.

The hotel left us some fancy chocolates and a nice note for our anniversary...

-Hiking at Council Crest Park- We got up early our first morning and hiked for a couple of hours to the top of Council Crest Park and then back down towards the Portland Zoo. Turns out the hike we did is one “T” of the 4T trail (trail, train, tram, trolley). We took the train back to our hotel at the end to get a second “T” in. It was perfect hiking weather and made for a lovely walk through the woods and up to the top, where we had a nice view of some of the mountains.

Below is one of the fancy houses we glimpsed through the trees as we hiked.

-Exploring different neighborhoods: Portland is definitely a city of neighborhoods, and we made it our mission to check out as many as we could in our three short days there. On Friday, we went up to the Alberta Arts District, an artsy area packed with delicious food spots, beer, coffee, tea, and fancy boutiques. On Saturday, we checked out 23rd street (Northwest Portland), where there was more shopping (some independent spots, some more mainstream). That evening, we briefly wandered down Division St and Hawthorne St (definitely need to spend more time in those areas if we go back!). On Sunday, we did a little more wandering on Hawthorne St before heading to another brewery.

-Oregon Brewers Festival- As luck would have it, we landed in Portland just in time for a massive craft beer festival (Dan was in heaven). They had 80 beers from 80 different breweries, 2 ciders, and 4 wines. For just $20, you could get a plastic tasting mug and 13 tokens (1 3oz sample per token, or a full glass for 4 tokens). We didn’t end up using all our tokens but were able to try a bunch of delicious different beers from various breweries. I’ve recently stumbled into liking sour beers, and they had an amazing selection there! Among the ones I tried were a Framboise Rose Gose and a Belmont Street Bramble sour (sour blond ales aged in oak wine barrels with red raspberries and tangerine peel). We were also able to hang with friends (more on that to come), which always makes things more enjoyable!

-Portland Farmers Market at PSU- This is the most INSANE farmers market we have ever been to. It takes place on the campus at Portland State University and is a hodgepodge of people selling delicious food (hello, biscuit sandwiches), exquisite produce (I so badly wished we could have taken some home!), gorgeous bouquets of flowers, and things like cheese and jam. There were lots of families strolling around, including a couple with sets of twins (Portlanders seem to be a fertile bunch).

-Finishing up the Africa video- After being inspired by Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s music video take on the classic Toto song, Dan and I filmed a lot of footage while in South Africa and Morocco on our trip last year. We decided our 5 year anniversary would be a perfect time to release the video, so we (meaning Dan- I was moral support), spent a lot of time on Saturday at a brewery finishing it up.

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-Hiking at Mount Tabor- A relatively easy but beautiful 3 mile hike. We went early in the day before it got too hot and were treated to the sight of three beautiful red-tailed hawks up close.

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Bummers

-Portland was AMAZING. We could not think of any bummers other than not having enough time... we will definitely need to come back.

Eats

-Fancy brunch fare at Proud Mary- Recommended as a favorite brunch spot by my coworker, Peggy, this definitely lived up to expectations! I got fancy grilled cheese, and Dan got a yummy potato hash dish.

Reba was not a fan of the fancy juice I got at brunch. (”Like old asthma medicine!”)

-Salt & Straw- This is hands down our favorite ice cream in the whole world. While we usually visit in LA (sometimes more than once in a trip) it started in Portland and has since expanded to California (LA, San Francisco, and San Diego) and Washington (Seattle). Dan and I had a Fresh Cheese and Strawberries flavor, which tasted like strawberry cheesecake! One of our favorite flavors is an LA classic- salted, malted, chocolate chip cookie dough (to die for- but unfortunately not available in Portland).

-Tusk- Another recommendation from Peggy that totally paid off. We went here for our anniversary dinner to get yummy middle eastern food. We ended up over ordering and stuffing ourselves, but it was so worth it! Among the highlights were chickpea fries, man’oushe (a Lebanese flatbread), Albacore tuna, and delicious greens.

-Biscuit sandwiches at the Farmers Market from Pine State Biscuits- Fresh made biscuits, fried chicken, bacon, and cheese, slathered in apple butter (me) or gravy (Dan).

-Food trucks- So Portland is known for its food trucks, which we have experienced before, but sadly we did not get to take advantage of this time- so many awesome food spots that we never got around to. Next time!

Drinks

-Kombucha from Townshend’s Tea House- Kombucha is a fermented tea that is apparently a popular thing in Portland. The strawberry one we tried was decent, but in general kombucha is a bit funky for me.

-So. Much. Beer. In addition to the Brewers Festival, we checked out a few different breweries: Great Notion, Cascade, Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery, and Breakside. My personal favorite spot was Cascade- they had an extensive list of sour beers on tap, and all were delicious. Among the ones we tried were an apricot sour and an barrel-aged wild ale called Ingmeyer Bergman that Dan loved.

-Wine at Southeast Collective- We barely dipped our toe in with the Oregon wine scene but did squeeze one wine tasting in. Next time we come back, we are hoping to rent a car and drive out into wine country to do more exploring.

People

-Dan’s aunt Reba and her friend Lisa- Reba lives just over the state border in Vancouver, Washington, and she’s known Lisa for a really long time (they used to work together). The two of them were on their way to a weekend camping trip with friends but met us for brunch in the Alberta Arts District on their way. We enjoyed a lovely brunch with good conversation and lots of laughter.

-Larissa, Kevin, and Lauralyn- Larissa is a good friend of ours from college, and we had not seen her in about four years! She has been living in Portland for the past few years, so we met up with her, her boyfriend, Kevin, and her little sister, Lauralyn at the Brewers Festival. It was great catching up with her, and we are looking forward to her upcoming return to the Midwest!

Observations & Insights

-All of the ride share drivers seem more friendly and chatty than we are used to- it felt like we had the same conversation about the humidity in Chicago about 14 or 15 times.

-Style is very different than back home- there are many more tattoos and more people with fun colored hair.

-There are lots of homeless people in Portland.

Tips

-Carry cash- it seems to be king around the many eateries, markets and watering holes of Portland.

-Samples are the way to go- there are so many beers at each brewery so no sense in getting a full glass. We recommend getting flights instead so you can try more options!

-If you are able to, try to spend a week or two in Portland! There is so much to do, and we just scratched the surface. We are definitely hoping to be back sometime soon!

#portland #oregon #breweries #northamerica

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m1kemedeiros · 7 years

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STRAYA EAST COAST'N - Feb 1st 2018 (Australia ) After travelling to 10 different countries and living in Australia for 2 whole years I've finally set off today on an east coast adventure. I will be travelling almost 2000 kilometres from Cairns to Byron Bay with my gal pal Lauren. Island hopping, boat accommodations, beach exploring, cities and the surf are just a few things we'll be getting into. We took a bus 4 hours from Cairns to Townsville to meet the Sea Link Ferry in order to make it to Magnetic Island. With only half an hour to spare we ran around Townsville trying to get a few things before jumping on the Ferry. Finally "Maggie" Island, outlined in golden sandy beaches and national park. Magnetic Island is home to a small residential neighbourhood of locals, wild koalas and many more critters. It's a great tourist destination and if you're looking for a good time X-Base is where we set up camp amongst many other backpackers looking for a cheap/ fun accommodation. After a relaxed night at Base meeting new people and sipping goon(cheap nasty wine) at a sunset cliff, the next day we explored the island. We hired a convertible 4 wheeler to do some off-roading. We drove across the island to the Fort Walk, I'd say it's more of a hike than a walk but nonetheless it was stunning. Once used for military to store ammunition and camouflage themselves from enemy invaders the Fort is now a popular trek to spot wild koalas and capturing some epic shots of Radical Bay, Arthur Bay and Florence Bay. Including a 360 degree panoramic view of the coast when reached to the tip-top of the Fort. Later we did some SERIOUS off-roading. Lauren drove up and down an extremely steep road with potholes that were 2 feet deep and 1-6 feet wide. There were moments that I thought the vehicle would tip over but we had a cry-laugh about it and explored the 3 bays and national park. If you don't understand "cry-laugh" go slap your funny bone against something hard. After a swim in the ocean we drove to West Point the opposite side of the island, had some ice cream before heading back to base. That evening was well spent with a great couple of American girls, hostel games and loads of dancing. The staff lads at base were such great fellas to party with I felt like I had also worked there for ages. Fun times! The following day after pulling our lives together we headed back to Townsville from the island but had a bit of an expensive hiccup cause Lauren forgot her purse, but it could happen to anyone...all good👌🏼. We now are back on route, down the coast headed straight for the oh so majestic Whitsunday islands. Finally we made it to the small town of Airlie Beach, home to the Great Barrier Reef and gateway to the famous Whitsunday islands. After checking into our accommodation at Nomads hostel we took a stroll around this quiet beach town. I came here to visit exactly two years ago so it was nice to see what changes had been made to this small sleepy oasis. After stocking up on goon we met our new tour group at the marina. We spent 2 days on the Tongarra catamaran soaking up the sun and the sea. Unfortunately for the weather being slightly bipolar, causing major swells, it took ages to get anywhere. We took shelter in Nara Bay an enclosed bay hidden from the rough choppy water. The following day we made it over to the second nicest beach in the world- Whitehaven Beach. Pure beaming white silica sandy beaches, fringed in palm trees and surrounded by swirling blue water, just a few traits Whitehaven is famous for. A $10,000.00 fine goes to anyone caught taking sand from this national park but I couldn't help that a pound of it got caught up in my underwear and swim shorts. Felt lucky to have travelled to this heaven on earth twice ❤️. Riding the catamaran back to Nara Bay we met a hawk that flew down to the boat and we threw raw kangaroo meat in the air to feed it. That night was filled with lots of games, drinks and dancing as loud as we can in this secluded bay somewhere in the Whitsunday Islands. Before heading back to Airlie Beach we all took turns struggling to stay on a banana boat that was dragged around the bay of Nara. After the Tongarra after party, a night filled of dancing with new friends, we spent the following day laying by the gorgeous lagoon before heading to our next destination. After a 14 hour overnight bus we eventually made it to Rainbow Beach. Known for its beautiful multi-coloured sandy beaches and being the gateway to Fraser Island, Rainbow Beach is a small tiny town. We spent only one day here hanging out on the beach and bodysurfing before our next adventure to Fraser Island. The following day we met our new group of roughly 30 people that we would be driving up and down the 120 km long Island with. We were split into groups of 8 and in 4 separate vehicles that we had to drive on the beach along the coast of Fraser. Being very tropical, untouched and the largest sandy island in the world made it difficult to drive around but we all managed. Our first stop on the island was the stunning Lake McKenzie, this fresh water lake was so pure and clean with bright blue water and silica sands too... Like Whitehaven. After some group bonding on the beach we went to our camp off of Cathedral beach to set up where we will be spending a total of 3 days, 2 nights. Before dinner that evening we climbed these amazingly picturesque and extremely steep sand dunes through dingo territory. We climbed to the top of a hill overlooking a part of Fraser Island. The next morning we drove along the shore line to a cove that's called the Champagne Pools. This was a highlight for myself. The Champagne Pools are a series of natural lagoons enclosed by rocks and clusters of shell fish. As the massive swell from the ocean smash up against the cliffside, water rushes in causing bubbles to form all around us like a "champagne bubbly" sensation. Some jelly fish came through too but none were harmful, I picked a few of them up to show the others just how harmless these little jellyfish were. After lunch 7 of us arranged a cheap 15 minute scenic flight over Fraser Island. This was a very small aircraft that would dip and take sharp turns like a rollercoaster over top of Butterfly Lake and other sand dunes. The flight allowed us to see both ends of the island. Later we met with the rest of that gang at Eli Creek- a natural fresh water lazy river that we tubed down in the afternoon to cool off after all the excitement. To end our day of excursions we checked out a beached shipwreck from the 1900s that was one of the quickest boats in its time. Circling the world 5 times in use of medicine and shipping patients this ship was eventually beached and used in the war, later on in life weddings and other events were also held on it until it became what it is today due to corrosion from the sea. That evening myself and a fellow French-Canadian, named Simon teamed up as the "Canadian Connection" and made a big pasta dinner for all 30 of us. The evening was filled with great food and drinking games. Following day we headed over to TeaTree Lake for a dip before heading back. Tea trees outline this freshwater lake and the natural oils from the trees make the lake water an orange colour. The smell of the air and water was so fresh I swam for ages out to the middle of the lake. It was great, quiet and calm and my hair and skin felt great after too. I was randomly greeted by a duck out there. Later we made it back to rainbow beach where some people went their own way but some of us that got along stayed up played a couple rounds of cards against humanity (UK version). Off to the next place! A 2 hour bus ride later, we made it to the gorgeous Noosa. This wasn't very planned so we kinda spent the first day hopping from accommodation to accommodation until we found something available in this tropical surfers paradise. It was kind of love at first sight between Noosa and myself. Noosa is a small separated suburban area surrounded by dense national park full of wildlife. It has incredibly beautiful coastal views, upscale shops, restaurants, stunning beaches and three separate islands. It has a laid back hippie feel but is still clean and upscale.. Like a much larger Port Douglas. Lauren and I spent Valentine's Day together down by main beach. We treated ourselves to a fancy mimosa filled brunch, went on a 3 hour coastal hike through national park and later had an Italian dinner and movie with a few gals we re-met from Fraser Island. We spent our last day hanging out on sunshine beach. She went bodyboarding and I surfed, well attempted to surf. The swell was very large so I got kind thrown around but I'm glad I gave it my all and tried it out. Later we took a long walk into town for dinner and walked back to say our final goodbyes to our short stay in Noosa. I'll be back! *terminator voice*. I'm currently on route from Noosa, through Brisbane to the Gold Coast, the city on the beach. This "Miami" of Australia has tons of attractions to choose from so we decided to stay in the heart of it all, in Surfers Paradise. We lucked out with Happy Travels sorting us out with a free private accommodation at Bunks hostel, best hostel I've ever stayed at in Australia. Our first night out we met a group of travellers who brought us out to a karaoke bar. The night ended with a fat lip I got from swinging the microphone around during a Grease Lightening duet with Lauren. Slapping myself in the mouth with the mic I essentially gave myself a natural self inflicted lip filler (haha). The following day we just laid by the pool, took a long evening stroll along the oceanside and had a fancy dinner at the Hard Rock, well not so fancy and over priced. Sunday we walked one hour to Pacific Fair mall to do some shopping and it was a fantastic shopping centre that felt like it never ended. We later caught the tram, headed back to surfers and shopped around some more before having a late night burger by the beach at bar Cavil. That night we also pre-purchased tickets for the following day for....DREAM WOLRD!!! Dream World is the largest amusement park in all of Australia and Lauren and I had the chance to experience all of it. We went on a Monday, a working day and I'd suggest going on a week day because we had the amusement park and water park to ourselves practically. We even managed on going on the most popular coaster, the tower of terror a total of 3 times. Almost lost my voice by the end of the day. Our tickets included an entry to the observation deck at the Sky View tower back in Surfers Paradise too. We polished off our day at this observation deck, towering 77 stories over the Gold Coast at dusk made for some really spectacular views and great photos. It was a beautiful day and a phenomenal way to end our visit to Goldie, can't wait to revisit one day. FINALLY Byron Bay, the original reason why I left Canada to visit Australia was for this small hippie oasis. This true surfers paradise tucked away in the hills along the most easterly point of Australia. We took a 3 hour bus ride to the famous Byron Bay, a very popular Aussie vacation destination, home to celebrities and very wealthy locals. Shortly after arriving we did a two hour hike to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, the last of the great 19th-century Victorian era lighthouses. This walk has truly spectacular coastal views that wrap around the most easterly part of Byron bay. This was a must-do I'd recommend it to everyone, we even saw a pod of dolphins playing in the waves. Two of my great friends set me up with a two day progressive surf lesson with a company called Stoked, which was how I spent my Wednesday. I've been surfing in 5 different countries and I'm still not very good. This Stoked surf school taught me a few things I've been doing wrong and I eventually managed to ride a number of waves right to the shore. That night we met up with an old pal named Cheeseburger Charles and he took us on a wild night out to a small club called Woodys. Thursday was a hangover day. We spent the day being lazy but later in the evening we met with Charles and went to a really fancy Italian restaurant called Trattoria Basiloco. We ordered almost everything off the menu, calamari, pizza, lasagna, calzone, bruschetta and gnocchi. Unfortunately most of the time spent in Byron was rainy but the next day big, naughty Charles picked up Lauren and I and took us on a road trip for the day. He drove us up to Lennox head, Ballina, through Tweed and into the Gold Coast where we had a late afternoon at an enormous shopping centre. Saturday...our last day was still a wet and rainy one. I did my last class of surfing at Lennox Beach and it was much easier the second time around. The class and I got to relax in the fresh red waters of TeaTree Lake just opposite Lennox Beach after our 4 hour surf lesson, a great way to wind down after battling waves. We spent our last night out at a nice dinner in town. Miraculously on our last day the sun came through the dark cloud barrier that hung over Byron for days. I woke up the KRAKEN(Lauren) at 7am with good news about the weather. We ran down to the main beach of Byron and soaked up 4 hours of sun, I body surfed waves until it was time to pack our things and head home. We now both sit at the Gold Coast airport waiting to head back to Cairns. The east coast of Australia was an absolute blast, naturally stunning and I just had the best time with my gal pal venturing through the many different parts of Straya(Australia). Happy to call this country my home for the foreseeable future.

#backpackerlife #backpacking #aussielife #travelaustralia #australia #wanderlust #traveller #islands #beaches #surf #surflife #islandwildlife #nature hikes #getlost #world travel

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coldarefrigeration · 4 years

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How to Fix a Refrigerator that Is Not Cooling Melbourne | Colda

A cool room in Melbourne is the perfect home for anyone with a penchant for cozy, dark rooms. Victoria is the second largest city in Australia, and being near to the water is the best way to escape the heat. Melbourne is known as a tourist destination, but in fact is a very cosmopolitan city.

The weather is warm, with an average of 54 days of sunshine a year, which means that Melbourne can be used as a base to explore the different places in Australia. More than 50% of Melbourne's population is foreign born, and the city is therefore full of exotic sights and sounds. The best thing about living in Melbourne is that there are so many restaurants to choose from, plus there are many bars and nightclubs to entertain the guests.

Hotels are plentiful in Melbourne, and it is only a ten minute walk from the CBD. If you want to get out and about, there are so many options for shopping. Victoria Market is a beautiful site, with many vendors selling souvenirs and handmade goods.

If you don't feel like taking the time off to explore the nightlife in Melbourne, you can always take a taxi. Melbourne has a very easy access to both the airport and train station. It is also possible to find a cheap hotel in Melbourne. If you want to avoid the crowds of hotels in Sydney, Melbourne will be your first choice.

The holiday makers' paradise in Melbourne is always on their minds because of its beautiful beaches. There are so many hotels in Melbourne that cater to beach lovers. With its miles of sand, the ideal holiday getaway is always on the beach. Some of the beaches that make up the perfect holiday destination in Melbourne are Lilydale, Brighton Beach, and Bellarine Beach.

The shopping mall known as Metro City is Melbourne's busiest and the most exciting tourist attraction, but it has other major tourist attractions too. Central Park is a place where visitors can enjoy the lovely view of the city. It is surrounded by skyscrapers, which makes it an interesting landmark. Central Park has two grandstands that give great views of the city.

The Melbourne Museum has a special exhibition on the gladiators, whose bodies were dismembered when they fought. The trams are another highlight of the city, which give easy access to the various sights in the city. When you want to do some sightseeing, the best place to go is along The Melbourne Town Hall. It is one of the largest buildings in the world, and hosts many important events.

One of the most popular places to visit in Melbourne is the Royal Exhibition Building. This is a world heritage site that is part of the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Big Butterfly, which is a giant butterfly and botanical garden is another major attraction in Melbourne.

There are so many things to do when you visit Melbourne, and the city has a very diverse character. It is home to many arts and crafts studios, restaurants, cafes, galleries, gardens, as well as theatres and amusement parks. The most famous thing to do in Melbourne is probably seeing the famed beach in the popular beach destination of Beaches.

Melbourne is the capital of Australia, and offers a complete range of accommodation. There are so many affordable hotels in Melbourne, but if you want to experience the luxury, you should check out the Club C. It is the first all-inclusive hotel in the world. It has a complete service package including water sports, spa and gym facilities, deluxe bathrooms, high speed Wi-Fi Internet, advanced gaming systems, daily continental breakfasts, poolside tea, breakfast buffets, free, unlimited drinks, and Wi-Fi Internetaccess. Club C also has an international meeting area, complete with conference facilities.

For those who like the beach and clubs, many of the hotels in Melbourne have clubrooms. The best thing about Melbourne is that it has everything for tourists. If you are planning a vacation, there is never a shortage of activities or sights to see.

The biggest advantage of living in Melbourne is that you can stay in a cool room. All the people who are serious about their hobbies can spend hours upon hours at their own table in their own cool room. You don't need to leave your home to be surrounded by the ocean!

#cool room repairs melbourne #commercial fridge repairs melbourne #commercial fridges melbourne #commercial refrigeration melbourne #cool room builders melbourne

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thebestintoronto · 5 years

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53 Finest Points to do in Toronto-- A Total Overview to Top Destinations

There are many things to do in Toronto it can be hard to understand where to begin. Being among one of the most multiculturally varied cities on earth, there is something for everybody.

It's our hometown but we've also skilled Toronto as a vacationer and also right here and this detailed guide will certainly give you an excellent base to start preparing your trip to Canada's largest city.

Top Things to do in Toronto

Component 1: Ideal Toronto Traveler Attractions

# 1 CN Tower

The CN Tower is Toronto's a lot of renowned spots. Integrated in 1975, it reigned as the world's tallest structure until 2007 when it was taken control of by the Burj Khalifa in 2008.

Today it is still clinging on the Leading 10 in the 9th place, but it is no much less impressive standing at a large 553.3 m-high (1,815.3 feet).

You can consume supper at the rotating dining establishment, walk on the glass floor, take in the 360 degree sights of Toronto from inside and out, appreciate a virtual reality trip, find out about the making of the CN Tower and for a real excitement, head outside and lean over the edge of the tower on the interesting Edge Stroll.

Place: 301 Front Street, appropriate close to the Rogers Centre where heaven Jays play baseball. Instructions - TTC to Untion Terminal, then walk East on Front Road.

# 2 Ontario Science Centre.

Located north of the city, the Ontario Science Centre has been a favourite for years. There are wonderful hands-on science shows and stunning screens.

Walking through the Living Planet exhibits seriously feels like you are walking through a genuine rainforest.

It has Toronto's only Planetarium and also there is an OMNIMAX Theatre showing new films frequently.

Place: 770 Don Mills Roadway North York: Take the Subway Line 2 to Pape Station, transfer to Bus 25 North to Don Mills at St. Dennis. Or take an Uber, or ride a bike!

# 3 Ontario Area.

I am so delighted that they re-opened Ontario Area at Toronto's Waterfront. Situated at the CNE Grounds on the Lakeshore, it's an exceptional location to invest an afternoon.

It has one of the best exterior celebration stages in Toronto at Budweiser Stage drawing in heavyweights carrying out in an intimate setting (We've seen Aerosmith as well as the Killers below as well as it was awesome!) As well as there's an IMAX theater.

Enjoy the outstanding route for cycling or rollerblading that goes around 7.5 acres of green area. It is transforming annually and you never ever understand what will be new with each season.

Location: 955 Lakeshore West BLVD - Take the 514 Tram bent on Dufferin Gateway Loop. Or ride a bike along the waterside route.

# 4 Hockey Hall of Fame.

Canada enjoys its hockey and you can celebrate everything hockey at the Hockey Hall of Popularity located at the foot of Yonge and Front Road. It houses the Stanley Mug and also it gets on display screen when it's not exploring the nation.

It houses the globe's largest collection of hockey memorabilia, there are interactive screens as well as two theaters. Sports fans will like this area.

Location: 30 Yonge Street - Train Line 1 to King Terminal.

# 5 Casa Loma.

Toronto has a castle and also this is a beauty. It was integrated in 1911 by Sir Henry Pellatt; a regional financier to be made use of as his private home. It was an extravagant residence with 98 rooms at 64,700 square feet (6,011 m2).

There are stables as well as a trainer residence and today it is a preferred traveler attraction.

Dave and also I both operated in Casa Loma often times as Hollywood flicks typically movie on the premises. There is even an 800-foot passage resulting in the stables.

You can explore the several suites, the yard, as well as the premises, there's dining including great dining at the BlueBlood Steamhouse, a laid-back restaurant at the Balcony Grill as well as coffee as well as snacks free Café.

Place: 1 Austin Terrace - Take the Metro Line 1 to St. Claire Station and then walk West to Casa Loma.

Part 2: Ideal Toronto Museums.

# 1 Royal Ontario Gallery.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's largest museum and also one of the top 10 social establishments in The United States and Canada. Located at the edge of University and Bloor, this remarkable gallery melds old and new. The modern style is a beautiful enhancement. It was contributed to the original structure producing a magnificent masterpiece.

It is suitable for a building that houses 13 million artefacts and art work featured in 40 various exhibit spaces and galleries.

You can get breakthrough tickets at Obtain Your Overview for $20. Place: 100 Queens Park - at the corner of Yonge as well as Opportunity Road. Line 1 or 2 Train to Gallery Station.

# 2 Art Gallery of Ontario.

The AGO underwent a significant makeover in 2008 with a stunning style by Canadian musician Frank Gehry. With new life comes brand-new events and also the AGO attracts some of the top displays on earth. The art gallery houses irreversible collections like the Team of 7, The Thomspon Collection and Contemporary Art.

It additionally has a wonderful cafe where locals like to fulfill for a drink or coffee.

Area: 317 Dundas Street West - Line 1 Train to St. Patrick Station.

# 3 Bata Footwear Gallery.

This is among one of the most one-of-a-kind galleries we've experienced with display screens of footwear with background. However you'll likewise get to see star shoes like Elton John's platform boots and also Elvis' Blue Suede Shoes.

Canadian tale Terry Fox's running shoe is on display screen from when he attempted to encounter the country for cancer research study after shedding his leg to cancer. He eventually succumbed to the condition, however he is a real Canadian hero.

Area: 327 Bloor Street West. Train Line 1 or 2 to St. George Terminal.

# 4 Fort York.

It's a ft in the middle of the city. Before Toronto came to be the huge city that it is, it was when called York. And this fort based on the shores of Lake Ontario to secure the city throughout the Battle of 1812.

This National Historic Website is open year-round offering led scenic tours, demonstrations, and displays. You'll have fun communicating as well as learning more about history.

Location: 250 Ft York Blvd. Streetcar 511 or 505 or 509 Road Car.

# 5 Aga Khan Museum.

Opened up in Sept 2014, the Aga Khan Gallery is among Toronto's most recent attractions. This museum located in the north of the city at the Don Valley as well as Eglinton features a collection of Islamic, Persian and Muslim Art.

It is The United States and Canada's very first museum dedicated to Islamic Art and also was begun by the private collection of the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan that had been collecting considering that the 1950s.

The gallery residences 1000 objects going back 10 centuries housed in a remarkable distinctive building.

Place: 77 Wynford Drive - Subway Line 2 to Broadview Terminal after that take Bus # 100 to museum.

It's a great museum to visit in conjunction with the Ontario Scientific Research Centre as they remain in the very same area of town.

Suggested Toronto Tours.

Toronto Urban Adventures - Run by Toronto Indigenous and also our friend Jason. This excursion company has some wonderful alternate scenic tours of the city from Graffiti tours, Beer Make History Much Better Tours and also When Pigs Fry.

Obtain Your Guide is a trip company we have actually used around the world and also they provide led scenic tours of Toronto including:.

Toronto Bike Trip - This 3.5-hour bike trip takes you around the major views at a very easy rate. Leave the beaten course to see lots of sites that are not quickly reached by bus or car.

Toronto 5-Hour Ultimate Scenic Tour - This is the utmost Toronto highlights scenic tour beginning at the CN Tower monitoring deck, taking a Harbour Cruise and also a scenic tour of Casa Loma. See various other destinations like the Eaton Centre, Queens Park and St. Lawrence Market.

Distillery Excursion - The Distillery Area was as soon as the largest whisky manufacturer of the British realm. This excursion takes you with the historic area tasting beer and also chocolate.

Toronto Harbour Scenic Tour - A harbour cruise provides bird's-eye views of the Toronto Horizon. 1 Hour is just sufficient to take it all in and also proceed with your day.

Hop-on-Hop-off Bus - We enjoy a get on hop off bus when checking out a brand-new city. They're a good way to navigate, get your bearings and also quickly see all the significant visitor destinations. A 48-hour pass is just $49.

Component 3: Must-See Toronto Attractions.

# 1 City Hall/Nathan Phillips Square.

It's a gathering place for tours as well as meetups. It most likely brings in the most site visitors to Toronto because of the legendary Town hall Building. It is a prominent spot for events, art screens, as well as celebrations.

It's Toronto's Times Square as this is where we celebrate New Year's Eve and the fountain develops into a skating rink during the winter season.

Location: 100 Queen Road West - Metro Line 1 to Queen Road.

Stroll tour of Toronto to see all the significant sites with Get Your Overview.

# 2 Graffiti Street.

Graffiti Alley is picking up vapor with the appeal of Instagram.

Found at Queen as well as Bathurst offers 1 km of walls covered in Graffiti along Rush Lane. Canadian commentator Rick Mercer shot his Tirades along Graffiti Alley over the course of his 15-year program.

Area: South of Queenstreet Between Spadina as well as Bathurst.

# 3 Harbourfront.

Harbourfront has actually come a lengthy way given that we lived there in the 90s. It is now an incredible enjoyment location complete with theaters, galleries, songs places, as well as celebrations.

There are plenty of dining alternatives at Harbourfront and it is an outstanding place to walk along Toronto's beachfront, do some buying in the Harbourfront Centre as well as take some artisan workshops.

Area: Found on Queens Quay - Take the metro to Union Terminal and Walk South to the water. Or take the Spadina Tram all the way to Harbourfront.

# 4 Chinatown.

One of Toronto's the majority of vivid areas in the downtown Chinatown located on Spadina Avenue. Get your preferred Oriental vegetables for authentic cooking, consume extraordinary Chinese food as well as ask for a pot of tea after hrs (you'll get a pot of beer if you know where to go!).

You truly dropped as if you have actually stepped into little China with the sounds, scents and taste of Asia engulfing the senses at every turn. If you take a trip a great deal, this is a wonderful place to get that dosage of Asia you've been missing out on.

Found along Spadina Avenue in between Queen and University.

# 5 Yonge and Dundas Square.

It's our mini version of Times Square. This preferred public square in the heart of Midtown always has something interesting going on. Surrounded by billboards, purchasing, flick theaters as well as City TV, it's an occurring area.

There are constantly outdoor performances, events as well as also cost-free films in the summertime.

Location: At the crossway of Yonge as well as Dundas Road. Take Train Line 1 to Dundas Terminal.

# 6 The Path.

When we take a trip the world, everybody asks us concerning the below ground city in Toronto. Well, it holds true, we have a whole below ground world under the city known as The Course. Starting at Yonge and also Dundas Square it weaves with 30km of the midtown core completely to Union Station.

More than 200k daily site visitors and also travelers stroll the path filled with restaurants, shopping, cafés attaching 75 high-rises, train terminals, outlet store as well as hotels. When it's chilly outside in the winter it's an excellent location to roam and also when the summertime obtain too warm, it's a great getaway from the heat.

Situated: in the downtown core. Just stroll into any kind of structure as well as look for the Course indication. Go to Path.com for maps.

Toronto Day Tours. Niagara Falls Air, boat & Wineries - Niagara Falls is the celebrity attractions, however it has an outstanding wine area. This trip takes you to vineyards as well as you obtain a stunning picturesque plane trip plus a flight on the world-famous - Housemaid of the Haze (currently referred to as the Hornblower.

See The Most Effective Points to do in Niagara Falls. Algonquin Park 3 Day Trip - Algonquin Park is an unbelievable Provincial Park 3 hours north of the city. At 6356 square km (2955 square miles) It would take a lifetime to check out, but 3 days is ample sufficient to detect moose, remain in a cabin in the woods and get a feeling for the Excellent Canadian outdoors.

If you can drive yourself to Algonquin, we recommend a canoe and also outdoor camping scenic tour with Voyageur Quest Tours, the specialists in the location. We spotted 9 moose on our excursion with them.

The Bruce Peninsula - Tobermory is popular for its shipwrecks relaxing in shallow waters. You can either snorkel or if you dive, see the much deeper wrecks relaxing at the end of Lake Huron. Trek the Bruce Path, explore the grotto and take a jet watercraft bent on Blossom Pot Island.

Royal Prince Edward Region - Royal Prince Edward Area is Ontario's Second most prominent wine region and it coming to be extra prominent annually. See the areas found on the coasts of Lake Ontario as you drink a glass of wine and also delight in a regional lunch.

Stratford - Long prior to it came to be referred to as the residence of Justin Bieber's youth, Stratford was well-known for its festival. With 4 different theaters, Stratford showcases Shakespeare manufacturings as well as Broadway Musicals. It has actually attracted the similarity Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer, Dame Maggie Smith, and also William Shatner.

See our experience at Stratford Celebration.

Part 4: Toronto - Things to do Outdoors.

# 1 Distillery Area.

The Distillery Area was as soon as residence to Gooderham as well as Worts alcohol distillery, making it the ideal location to exchange among the city's top home entertainment districts.

Walk via the pedestrian pathways along cobblestone roads as you browse the several shops and also art galleries. I enjoy the historical artefacts that are on display throughout the complicated.

In the summer season the streets come to life with outside road entertainers, songs as well as stage efficiencies.

In the winter, the Christmas Markets remain in full speed. There are lots of areas to eat as well as there are some bars as well as microbreweries to wet the palate.

Location: Situated on Mill Street between Parliament and Cherry Road.

A Segway tour of the Distillery is an enjoyable means to navigate as well as discover of its history.

# 2 High Park.

Situated in the West End, the city's largest park brings in site visitors from afar during cherry blossom season, yet there is a great deal more to high park.

Go To the High Park Zoo real estate residential animals like bison, highland livestock, as well as llamas. It's a wonderful park for hiking as well as cycling and in the summer season Shakespeare in the Park starts with online performances from the Bard.

There's Grenadier Fish Pond, the Historic Colborne Lodge and also it is a short stroll to the Lake Shore to delight in the Toronto Waterside.

Location: Take Subway Line 2 West to Keele or High Park Terminal.

# 3 Toronto Islands.

You need to go to the islands for an amazing view of Toronto but there is a whole lot to see out here too!

There is stand paddle boarding, kayaking, and also cycling. You can see the beaches of the island including Toronto's renowned Nude Beach.

We constantly take pleasure in an outing on the islands and there's even a tiny amusement park. The islands are a perfect escape from the city.

Area: Take the ferry from Queen's Quay.

# 4. Evergreen Brickworks.

The latest outdoor market location is the Evergreen Brickworks situated in the Don Valley.

With outside markets, art exhibits and cafés, it's a superb location to spend a couple of hours.

Rental fee a bike from among the city's bike share places as well as market out to the silent district to grab some fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers market.

Area: 550 Bayview Avenue. It's complicated to get to a biking or a vehicle is the best means. By transit, take Subaway line 1 north to Davisville and then bus # 28 to the Brickworks.

# 5 The Beaches.

The Beaches have actually long been a favourite vacationer destination of Toronto.

It is a location where time stands still boutique stores, pastry shops, indie shops and also restaurants line the hectic road. The Coastlines are exactly what you would expect from its name.

Beginning at Ashbridges Bay, you'll find beach volley ball, boardwalks, and also parks extending along Lake Ontario through Kew Beach along the 3km path leading to the R.C. Harris Filtering Plant.

Traffic is an awesome in the summertime, so make use of a bike to get around. Purchase an ice cream cone and also stroll the roads stopping in to pay attention to music or see the farmers market. The Beaches Jazz event takes place during the month of July.

Place: Toronto East -Take the Queen Tram.

# 6 Riverdale Ranch.

You heard me correctly, there is a ranch in the middle of Toronto. Located in the East End of midtown Toronto, this is an actual functioning farm that permits site visitors.

Its 7.5 acres consist of vegetable yards, farm animals, and also a farmhouse and barns. It's a terrific representation of country Ontario farming neighborhood as well as a silent getaway from the pressure of the city.

Area: 201 Winchester Street - Line 1 to University Subway Station transfer to 504 Eastbound bus.

# 7 Toronto Bike Trails.

Toronto has some exceptional bike routes away from the city website traffic. You can use the bike share program to cycle around the city, or you can rent some bike.

Just how around taking a scenic tour with a guide to see some of Toronto's best attractions.

Some of the most effective biking routes are the Beachfront Path, Leslie Spit Path, The Don Valley Bike Path, Trick Yard Belt Line, Taylor Creek Park and also High Park.

Locations: For a full listing of Toronto, Bike Routes check out Toronto.com.

There are lots of biking trips in Toronto to get you began.

The post “53 Finest Points to do in Toronto-- A Total Overview to Top Destinations” was publish first on theplanetD

Vitamin Therapy Toronto - The IV Lounge

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collectofferssg-blog · 5 years

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Everything You Need to Know About the Night Safari in Singapore

The night safari is usually a concept you would find African forests and wilderly lands wherein one gets to experience the noctural wildlife by exploring through the jungles in the night. But then, the cliché’ is never devoid of exceptions and you could find one such unique and interesting concept evolved by the Wildlife Authorities of Singapore. They have taken into consideration all the key aspects of the safari and designed a tour with all those intricate factors embeeded deep within.

The Singapore Night Safari has grown in stature and as one of the highlighted attractions of Singapore Tourism. This customized Jungle Safari has got entertainment and engagement with the raw natural wildlife that can be as real as it can get. This inherent attribute of the safari is not just limited to tourism but also has a deeper sense of wildlife conservation, protection of the endangered species, rescue and research on wildlife and help the public awareness all at the same time. So even if you are against captivating animals in cages as do I, you should actually encourage such an initiative which ensures the wildlife conservation while keeping them in an environment as close as its native habitat. If you are visiting Singapore and want to get the Best Deals on Singapore Hotels, you should check out the Hotels.com Promo Code to save lumps of money on your accommodation expenses while booking the most comfortable luxurious rooms.

About the Safari

This is a special feature provided by the efforts of Singapore Zoo and has been reputed amongst the best places to go with your family and children for fun and learning at the same time. This safari is a moderated one but it does makes you feel the unusual and unknown aspects of the animal kindom during the nights because most animals in the wildlife habitats have a noctural activity period and if to explore the real side of it, night would be the most appropriate time.

This safari takes you through more than 1000 animals living their habitual life residing in the resembling habitat as their own. The whole trip is very nicely curated and divided into different regions that showcase the diversity of animals. There are Tram routes within the park that take you from one place to the other. One also gets to walk around the wilderly trails if need be. Throughout the journey, there are a variety of exotic animal species come under your sight and many of them are ranked as endangered ones by the World Wildlife Federation.

The Wildlife Attractions

The wildlife experience is thoroughly classified in all the divided regions as per their natural habitat. The tour begins by exploring the Himalayan and Tibbetan terrain animals such as Griffon Vulture of Himalaya, the Gaur, Wildebeast, Gazelle. Next comes the Napalese River Valley along the route which offers you the sight of Samba Deers, the Golden Jackals, the beautiful Pelicans of North India and the gaint one horned rhinocerous of Eastern India. The other animals that you would get to see in the section of Indian Subcontinent are the Gir Lions, Swamp Deer, Hyena, Sloth Bear and few other species of the region.

Once you get past it, you would enter into the African Equatorial Region where the wildlife is one of the most outrageously inhabited with a number of popular animals that include the biggest land animals Elephant and Tapirs too. After African region, the group of animals from the Amazon basin are introduced to us such as the Gaint Anteater, the Capybara, Anaconda and many others. By the end of the tour, you finally reach the South East Asia where there are species of Burmese Python (the longest snake species known) and the Eld Deers being the most exciting ones amongst several other animals.

When to Visit

As the name Night Safari suggests, this tour is organized in the night only to provide the genuine noctural experience. The starting of the tour has a 20 minute show known as the creatures of the night which is basically meant to share some information about the animals you would get to see during the trip. The first show is held at 7.30 PM and there are three total shows within a gap for one hour each. After the show, the journey begins on the tram starting with the Himalayan terrains.

For your next trip to Singapore, you can get the Cheapest Flight Booking Deals using the Cheaptickets.sg Promo Code and save a load of sum on your transportation expenditures to make the trip more affordable and budget-friendly.

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mykhronicles · 5 years

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passionate-baker · 7 years

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Bremen, Germany

This might sound weird, but I can remember the exact moment when I decided that I wanted to go to Bremen. I was 17, & I was studying for my final German exam ever. The paper I was studying from was about how the German government was trying to bring tourism to a little city in the north of the country that I had never heard of before: Bremen. My recollections of the paper are pretty vague - I remember that it focused on the fact that the city boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and also that it mentioned something about the city being situated around a river. That said, it must have been a pretty convincing paper. After all, it has been 6 years since then, and I’ve been waiting all that time for the perfect reason to travel there.

The reason that actually cropped up was better than I could have dreamed of. You see, Boyfriend had never been to Germany before. Never. We had talked about visiting my beloved Munich, or Berlin maybe, but both of them have certain aspects that I wasn’t sure he would love - and I needed him to love Germany. Germany is one of my top three favourite countries & I needed to be sure that Boyfriend would love it as much as I do, or at least love it enough to go back for future visits. I took a gamble on Bremen, as I had never been there either, but after doing some investigations online I was 98% sure that it would be perfect for us. Casual & laid back, but with cultural & historical aspects, too. (Besides, it’s pretty close to Hamburg, so I had a backup plan if all else failed.)

Turns out, I was right - Bremen was the perfect place for us. It was, in fact, one of the easiest trips I have ever been on in my life. The flight from Dublin to Bremen takes just under two hours, the tram from Bremen airport into the heart of the city is a mere ten minutes, & the walk to our hotel was a further twelve minutes (give or take). It really was that simple. This was the first thing that warmed us to the city, the following things were the lack of English speaking tourists (obviously my school paper didn’t convince too many others to make the trip), the cleanliness of the city, and the relaxed attitude to life. Needless to say, we loved it. We ate and drank our way around the small city, and then we drank some more. Loads of recommendations below!

Sleep

Motel One // After searching around online for a little while, we decided to settle on Motel One. The place gets amazing TripAdvisor reviews & deservedly so. It was centrally located, comfortable, quiet, and clean. That’s all of our boxes checked!

Schnoor // this was by far our favourite area of Bremen, and it should be the top of your list of things to see. Wandering down the little alleyways of the Schnoor feels like you’ve stepped back in time or onto a film set where everything is almost perfectly crooked. We got up early one day just so we could explore every nook & cranny without the hassle of other people in the way.

Wander down the Bottscherstrasse // basically, this is just a funky old street that dates back to the middle ages. Hidden under the arches, we were able to watch the different demonstrations of candy making, jewellery making, & knife making. Added bonus: you can listen to the bells of the Glockenspiel ring out through the street here.

Schlachte // Boyfriend & I wandered along the Schlachte at night for a drink a few times after dinner. It’s an area along the edge of the river with loads of restaurants & beer gardens. Fun fact: we very narrowly avoided getting hit by flying ducks while out for a romantic stroll along the promenade one evening.

Bremen Cathedral // in all honesty, we kind of only wandered into the cathedral because we had some unexpected free time on our hands & we figured we should do at least one really touristy thing. We were pretty glad we did, the interior is just as beautiful as the exterior.

Am Wall Windmill // we totally stumbled across this while we were tipsy & lost one day, but it is too cute not to mention, and it’s in a nice park.

Eat

Kleiner Olymp // At first, we stumbled across this restaurant without knowing just how good it would be. We wandered in because it was one of the only restaurants around that actually had signs of life inside. We booked a table for that same evening & then went back to the hotel to Google if it would actually be any good. Needless to say, we were more than happy with the results of our search, and we ended up going back twice. Pro tip: get the onion soup to start (the absolute best we’ve ever had), the pork schnitzel for mains, & a glass of Schnoor Brau to wash it all down.

Standige Vertretung // I am reluctant to include this in my list of recommendations because the service was so terribly slow (even by Bremen standards), but I’m going to include it because the food was good (not great, but not awful) & the interior decoration is worth having a look at - every inch of wall is covered in photographs and memorabilia.

Bremer Ratskeller // we arrived in Bremen on Thursday & were unable to get a reservation at the Ratskeller until Monday - the whole weekend was entirely booked up. Housed in the cellar of Bremen Town Hall, it is worth eating here for the location alone: long communal tables dimly lit within the cavernous arches of the cellar. The menu is pricier than most, but definitely do not miss the flammkuchen.

Teestübchen im Schnoor // breakfast in Bremen was a bit of an issue for us the first few days. Our hotel offered breakfast for 9 euro or something, but we thought it would be easy to hunt down a good coffee/pastry place that would kick the hotel’s ass. At first, our search was extremely unsuccessful, full of lackluster croissants & the kind of coffee that made me wish I’d ordered tea. Then, we found Teestubchen, a crooked pointy building tucked down an alley in the Schnoor with a fab breakfast menu. We went back to Teesubchen 3 times during our stay & between us we consumed 6 croissants (the best in the whole world ever), 4 sides of bacon, copious amounts of scrambled eggs, a few slices of rye bread, and drank 8 coffees, 1 tea, and 1 orange juice. Can you tell that we loved it?

Kaffeehaus Classico // we ventured in here because we wanted to double check if Teestubchen was the only good breakfast place in Bremen - turns out that this is a close second! The omelettes are hearty & filling, the baguettes are heavenly, and the coffee was good enough to get a second to-go when we were leaving.

Drink

Becks in Markt // if I were to tell you the truth about how many times we stopped at this place, you’d tell me that we have a problem. See, the location is unbeatable - smack bang in the centre of the main square, you can sit out in the sun & people watch to your heart’s content, while also taking in the beautiful surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (no biggie). Definitely our favourite place to stop for a locally brewed pint of Becks or an Aperol Spritz in the evenings.

Weincontor St Petrus // we only discovered this little gem towards the end of our time in Bremen & that is the one regret we have, if only we’d known it was there! The place is tucked away under the arches of the Bottscherstrasse, where you can sit out & watch the world go by (along with the owner of the wine bar, who we spotted dragging his chair out to the strasse to have a little snooze in the sun). Added bonus: the wine bar is linked up with neighbour Standige Vertretung, so you can order a delicious flammkuchen to go with your wine.

Hofbrauhaus // Boyfriend & I hunted this place out simply because we have a deep seeded love of Hofbrau, a beer from Munich. The building is decorated in the style of a large beer hall, & all of the staff wear traditional Bavarian lederhosen. A particular highlight for me was seeing Boyfriend’s reaction to the litre-sized beer glasses.

Spitzen Gebel // I’m just adding this place into the list for the novelty factor: it’s a tiny little atmospheric pub just off the Bottscherstrasse where you can still smoke inside. At first we thought it was kind of cool, but do you really want to sit in a pub full of smoke?

#travel #germany #bremen

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passportandplates · 7 years

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Disclosure: I was a complimentary guest of the Investment and Development Agency during my time here. All opinions and recommendations are my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

Latvia was one of several Eastern European countries I unexpectedly visited this past May. Amongst them, Estonia fascinated me. Romania surprised me. And Sigulda, the small town city an hour outside of Riga, charmed me.

I had no idea what to expect of Riga, but my expectations were high nonetheless. I liked all the places I’d visited thus far, so why should Latvia’s capital be any different? Like it’s neighbors, Riga is best seen by wandering…and wander we did. This isn’t a top things to do in Riga post because we didn’t see the top things per say. Rather, Chantell from Adoration 4 Adventure and I wandered through Riga on bike and foot, marveling at whatever crossed our path.

With just two days in the city, it was virtually impossible to do everything without rushing. So instead, I’m sharing my top five cool things to do in Riga, knowing that one day I’ll be back to take the city by storm.

Things to Do in Riga

Go on a food tasting tour

1/5 Central Market buildings

#PickleLIfe

Flowers at Central Market

Desa & Co

Being me, I was pretty excited to do the food tasting tour with E.A.T. Riga on our first day. Confession: I’m obsessed with food markets (and supermarkets) in other countries and was stoked that the Riga Central Market was part of our tour. It’s actually the biggest food market in Europe, with FIVE different buildings, each dedicated to different products (meat, vegetables, pastries, clothing, and flowers). Our tour guide, Agnese, led us through the different areas, explaining the historical significance of each one. I asked her a ton of questions about various products and about Latvian food in general, and she happily answered all of them.

After exploring the Central Market, it was time to eat! We headed to Desa & Co for a sampling of traditional Latvian foods. Latvian food has a large Russian influence, focusing primarily on pork, fish, pickles, and bread. It wasn’t too challenging to find options without pork thankfully, although there were a couple of things on the tour sampling menu I couldn’t eat.

I tried:

Lightly salted pickles

Marinated cabbage with beetroot

Rye bread with carrots

Vecrīga- a sweet pastry with cottage cheese

Hemp butter

Jāņu siers- traditional cheese with caraway seeds

Ievas siers- cheese with pesto

Kvass- a non-alcoholic drink made of rye

Surprisingly, my two favorite things were the marinated pickled cabbage and the pastry (which reminded me of a cream puff). It did feel like a random mix of foods but enjoyed the meal nonetheless. It is worth noting that this was a light tasting lunch rather than a full-blown, eat-until-you’re-stuffed food tour. This was an excellent introduction to Latvian cuisine, and we got some stellar restaurant recommendations from Agnese as well. P.S. Check out the various food tours offered by E.A.T. Riga here.

Walk through the Kronvalda Park

I love finding public parks when I travel, especially those located in an urban city. Kronvalda was conveniently located near our accommodation, but it’s not too far from the Old Town either – just a 15-minute walk. This large park has a canal running through the middle and is an excellent place for running, biking, people-watching and picnicking. Plus, cool photo ops. Including the one pictured above with a giant monkey in a spacesuit. Shrug.

Stroll through the Art Nouveau District

Fun fact, Art Nouveau is another way to describe beautiful, ornate architecture with zero chill and all the details. And I love it. So does Riga, because there’s straight up an entire neighborhood filled with Art Nouveau buildings. Albert Street and Elizabeth Street are the best places to gawk at these buildings.

Go on a bike tour

Genuine distress

Across the bridge!

Houses of Kipsala

Views

I’m not sure how I got talked into doing a bike tour the following day but I’m glad I did! I have to admit that I was very, very nervous to do this tour. I hadn’t ridden a bike in five years and was incredibly nervous to ride alongside cars and other bikers. Thankfully, Riga is built for biking and we spent the majority of our time on bike paths and in less congested areas anyway. This was an amazing way to see the city. Not only were we able to explore a lot of the Old Town at the beginning, but we also crossed the bridge to ride around the island of Kipsala, located on the other side of the Daugava River. This area is incredibly calm and quiet but offers stunning views of central Riga – and plenty of interesting architecture. Kipsala has a variety of wooden fishermen’s houses in various stages of renovation. Even if you don’t opt for a bike tour, this is still an area well-worth visiting.

On our way back, we rode through the Art Nouveau neighborhood, where Chantell and I were staying. The architecture here is mind-blowingly detailed and impressive, and the contrasting buildings were fascinating. We also rode through Kronvalda park and through the Old Town, stopping along the way to soak up some historical knowledge about Latvia from Agnese. I know I always recommend walking tours as the best way to explore a new city, but in Riga, biking is the way to go!

Walk around the Old Town

Riga’s Old Town is nothing short of charming, with cobblestone-lined streets and historical buildings tucked amongst modern ones. We wandered through the town several times, soaking in the lively ambiance. But if you’re on a mission to make sure you see everything, be sure not to miss The Town Hall Square, Freedom Monument, and The Three Brothers, amongst others.

Where to Eat in Riga

Also known as the most important section of a city guide ;).

Apsara Tea House

Bibliotēka

Restorāns 3

Restorāns Bibliotēka: If you’re in Riga to #TreatYoself, then this is the place to go! Chantell and I realized that we were both celebrating travelversaries in Latvia – countries number 50 and 30, respectively. We were really eager to treat ourselves to the tasting menu at one of the best restaurants in town….but we arrived too late for them to serve it to us. Womp, womp. Instead, we treated ourselves to three delicious, drool-worthy courses. I was pretty bummed about missing the tasting menu but at least I got a good meal out of it!

Apsara Tea House: I couldn’t come up with a more perfect location for this tea house if I’d tried. That’s because it’s located in the middle of a park, with both indoor and outdoor seating and a view of the canal. They have a wide selection of delicious teas. It’s an excellent place to spend a couple of hours relaxing and people-watching.

Restorāns 3: It was a Sunday afternoon when I showed up at Restaurant 3, another gem recommended to me by our food tour guide. I was excited to try their lunch but found that the only thing available was their brunch buffet. I was disappointed at first but that feeling disappeared as soon as I took my first bite. Soup, salads, cold and warm food, and dessert – the staff certainly went all out. It was an excellent way to sample a variety of local eats and I left with a full and happy stomach. If you’re looking for a modern twist on traditional food, this is the place for you.

Folkklubs: If you eat ONE meal in Riga, make it a meal at Folkklubs. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, but that’s not the only reason to traipse across town. This lively tavern is one of the few places in central Riga that offers live Latvian music in addition to the traditional fare. With costumed dancers and a live band, it was seriously the perfect way to end our time in Riga.

Where to Stay in Riga

As much as I loved Old Town Riga, it was a tad lively for my liking, especially because I’m a grandma and like to sleep. Instead, Chantell and I stayed a 15-minute walk from the center, at a private room at Riga Park Hostel. This accommodation is really cool because it’s not your traditional hostel. Rather, it’s a collection of private rooms with several bathrooms and a large kitchen. It’s an excellent choice for those looking for a little privacy. I’d definitely stay here again!

Otherwise, find some great deals below!

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Getting Around

While Old Town Riga is fairly compact and easily walkable, the surrounding area is much more spread out. I recommend renting a bike for a day or two, especially if you want to cover the majority of the city. There are also public transport options including trams, trolleys, and buses. If you have some extra time or are sticking to the center, Riga can easily be explored on foot.

To be honest, there a lot of cool things to do in Riga, and Chantell and I barely scratched the surface. If you’re limited on time, you can probably cover the highlights in 3-4 full days, but if you have the time, come and stay awhile. You’ll be surprised by this underrated capital city!

Tell me: Have you ever been to Riga? What was your favorite part of the city? Share in the comments below!

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5 Cool Things to Do in Riga, Latvia Disclosure: I was a complimentary guest of the Investment and Development Agency during my time here.

#Destination Guides #Europe #Latvia #Riga

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topfygad · 5 years

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Things to do in Tunis in 3 days – Complete guide

Once a mass tourism destination that received thousands and thousands of tourists per year, including being a popular stopover for a shit load of Mediterranean cruise ships, after the 2015 terrorist attacks in Sousse, the city (and country) saw a massive decline still visible today.

Many shops were shut down, some tourist attractions were closed and the streets of one of the most charming cities in North Africa were suddenly empty.

After all these years, however, the country seems to be slowly recovering, as the entangled alleys of the Medina seem to finally have come back to life and, in the Roman sites of Carthage, tour groups abound.

Locals are happy to see tourists coming back and that’s why I think now is the best time to travel to Tunis.

This guide contains things to do in Tunis in a 3 day-itinerary (including off the beaten track things), as well as everything you need to know regarding transportation tips, best tours and more.

Here you will find:

Intro: Why visit Tunis Best time to visit Tunis Where to stay in Tunis Tours in & from Tunis How to travel to Tunis How to move around Tunis Things to do in Tunis in 3 days

Do you have travel insurance for traveling to Tunis? I recommend World Nomads, the most flexible insurance provider, and the only one that covers with an unlimited budget. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE!

Intro: Why visit Tunis

A third Mediterranean, a third European and a third North African, Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, is the Maghrebi city with perhaps, the largest cultural contrasts.

From the wine-lovers, secular people of Carthage to the traditional families from the Medina and their Italian-like local restaurants, the capital of Tunisia has always been kind of in the middle of the way, so that’s why today, it is a real mix of all its surrounding cultures, to the extent that you will have a hard time trying to define it.

I spent 5 days visiting Tunis and I just loved it.

I liked it because, on the one hand, you have a great Arab Medina, not very different from the ones in Morocco, but way more welcoming, as you don’t bump into the classical hustlers that you typically find in the touristic lanes of Morocco.

I liked it because as soon as you step out of the Medina, you are suddenly in a quarter with European-like facades, boulangeries, churches and gelato stalls, and the air is quite often filled with freshly made Italian pizza.

I liked it because the city is also home to great Roman ruins that overlook the fertile, green lands that surround Tunis and the Gulf.

But above all, I liked it because I was very surprised by the complexity of the Tunisian society living in Tunis: on the one hand, traditionally Maghrebi but, on the other, here you find one of the largest Westernized, secular societies I have ever seen in the Arab world, even comparable to Beirut.

Add to this, all the things to do in Tunis like visiting impressive sites, mosques, museums and savoring their cuisine, which is a real North African-Italian blend, and you have a first-class tourist destination which you don’t want to miss.

Is Tunis worth the weekend trip? Good question. Whenever you go to such exotic destinations, travelers like to spend several days, but they’ll never think of going all the way to Tunisia to just visit its capital. If you live in North America or somewhere in Asia, I agree, but seriously, if you are in Europe, you can easily reach Tunis in 2 or 3 hours, and I think it would be a great alternative to the classic European capitals people tend to visit on long weekends. And by the way, you can get a free visa on arrival.

Tunis main Cathedral

Best time to visit Tunis (the city)

Tunis is a Mediterranean city.

I visited it in April from Barcelona, and not surprisingly, the weather between both cities was the exact same, perhaps 1 or 2 additional ºC.

This means that, like most south European cities, Tunis is a year-round-destination with 4 different seasons:

Winter (mid-November to February) – It will be cold, but the temperature shouldn’t go below 0 except on very especific days. Good for day-sightseeing.

Spring and autumn (March to May and mid-September to mid-November) – Perfect timing. Pleasant weather during the day, but you may need a thin coat or jacket at night.

Summer (June to mid-September) – Extremely hot during the day, but evenings can be pleasant and the temperature is hot enough for swimming.

Read: A guide to visiting Muscat in Oman

Where to stay in Tunis

Backpacker Hostel – Medina Youth Hostel – Located in the heart of the Medina, this is the most backpacking-friendly hostel in Tunis. Very simple, but cheap, and where you are likely to meet the few backpackers visiting Tunis.

Mid-range hotel – Dar La Leila – Super nice, traditionally decorated lovely hotel, the top-rated hotel in Tunis, and super charming stuff.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK THE LATEST PRICES

Top-end hotel – Dar El Jeld Hotel and Spa – A 5-star but traditional hotel that offers all the luxuries.

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE LATEST PRICES

Airbnb – You can also find loads of different choices and, if you create a new account through my link, you will get up to 35€ of free credit in your next booking.

Best tours in Tunis and day tours from Tunis

I visited Tunis independently, but if you want to visit the mazes of the Medina with a local guide, or just want to do day trips to nearby places with an organized tour, there are many options.

I recommend you look for these tours via GetYourGuide, a website that offers a large variety of budget tours which can be booked in just 1 click.

Carthage and Sidi Bou Said – A guided tour through the Roman ruins of Carthage and the Santorini-like city of Sidi Boud Said. CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES

Bardo Museum & Medina – The classic Medina and the museum containing one of the largest collection in the world of Roman mosaics. CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES

Day trip to Kairouan & El Jem – The holiest city and, perhaps, the biggest standing Roman Amphitheatre in the world, after the Colosseum in Rome. CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES

CLICK HERE TO CHECK ALL AVAILABLE TOURS IN TUNIS

The alleys of the Medina of Tunis

How to travel to Tunis

How to visit Tunis by air

I am pretty sure that, before the 2015 attacks, the International Airport of Tunis had frequent flights from all over Europe but today, at least from Barcelona, there were just 2 or 3 direct flights a week, operated by Tunis Air – during the month of April at least.

On the bright side, it is less than a 3-hour flight from pretty much anywhere in Western Europe and in the worst-case scenario, you will just need to do a quick layover in Paris.

How to visit Tunis by land

Tunisia only shares a border with Libya and Algeria:

Libya: The border is actually open, but you are unlikely to cross from there, as only crazy people travel to Libya and even if you were willing to, the visa costs a shit load of money.

Algeria: Algeria is becoming popular these days and the border is open. Actually, my initial plan was traveling to Algeria and then overland to Tunisia but, since my passport was full of ambiguous stamps such as Iraq or Syria, they denied my visa, so I flew to Tunis instead.

Read: a guide to visit Tbilisi

How to move around Tunis

Going and coming from the airport

The airport of Tunis is very close to the city center and taxi would be your best bet, especially because it is very cheap, but you should be aware that Tunis airport is well-known for its taxi mafia.

They will try to charge you around 15-30 dinars, making whatever excuse about airport tax, parking, baggage fees, etc., but it is all bullshit, and illegal.

The local price for going to downtown is 4 dinars, and it can’t go higher because all taxis should switch on their taximeter.

Paying 4 dinars with the taxi mafia is nearly impossible so, instead, just go out of the airport (to the left), cross the street and catch the first taxi you see.

Note: There is a bus just outside of the airport but the taxi is so cheap that I doubt all the hassle is worth it.

Moving around the city

Taxi – They are so cheap, really and they all have taximeters, so they will never rip you off. Short rides cost around 1-3 dinars, which is barely 1€.

Tram – The center of Tunis is well-connected by a European-like tram and a single ticket costs a few cents. An easy, and nice way to move around.

Moving from downtown to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said

Train – Carthage and Sidi Bou Said belong to Tunis but they are located more than 15km away. They are, however, connected by a train that runs all day long until midnight. Check What to do on day 3 section.

Things to do in Tunis in 3 days

For just visiting the highlights, you must spend at least 3 days visiting Tunis, and this is the itinerary I recommend:

Map of the places to visit in Tunis – Itinerary

Places to visit in Tunis on day 1 – The Medina

A UNESCO World Heritage site founded in the 7th century by the Arabs, the Medina of Tunis is not surprisingly for North Africa, a maze of alleys, tunnels and traditional life.

The Medina had been the heart of Tunis for over 1,000 years but in the 19th century, when the French built the European-like Ville Nouvelle, the main soul of Tunis shifted to downtown along with many families who moved out of the Medina.

If you spend a fair amount of time exploring all the alleys, you will see that some parts are uncared for, and dirty, but the reason is that those houses belonged to families that decided to move to the new, trendy part of the city.

Still, there are quite a few sites to explore, and besides all the cafés, souks and mosques, these are the places I recommend you to check out.

Remember that the guys from GetYourGuide offer a great day tour around the Medina. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Things to do in the Medina of Tunis – Highlights

Visit Zaytouna Mosque – Dating back to the 8th century, the mosque was named ”olive tree” because it is said that the founder Hassan Ibn Nooman had lessons under an olive tree planted somewhere in the mosque.

The mosque looks simple, but it is gorgeous and my favorite part was that the courtyard columns are original Roman Corinthian columns recycled from Roman Carthage.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the prayer room, only the courtyard.

Zaytouna mosque

Check out Blacksmith’s souq – From an overwhelmingly number of souvenir souks selling all sort of crap to fabrics and everything in between, the only souq I actually liked (for being less touristic) was the blacksmith’s souq, located south of Zaytouna Mosque, at the lane located on its right side (coming from Place de la Victoire).

Basically, you will find plenty of blacksmiths handcrafting different metal objects.

A blacksmith in the Medina of Tunis

Enjoy the view from a rooftop café – Next to the main mosque, there are a couple of cafés with a rooftop that overlooks the Medina skyline.

Tourbet El Bey – A mausoleum containing tens of tombs from all the important people that lived during Ali Pasha’s reign, in the 18th century. The Ottoman-era green dome is the highlight of the place.

Because of the tourism decline, entering is a bit tricky, as it is not officially opened, but there is one local guy that has the key. I tried entering the first time with no success but, on my way back, an old man approached me, claiming that he could open it for me, plus he gave me a guided tour inside. He only charged me 7 dinars.

Dar Ben Abdallah Palace – This is supposed to be the best house palace in the Medina but, unfortunately, it was closed when I came, so I just checked it from outside. This palace is a clear example of how rich people used to live in the Medina in the 19th century.

Tourbet El Bey

What to do in Tunis on day 2 – Bardo Museum & Ville Nouvelle and around

On your second day, I recommend you pay a visit to the Bardo Museum and then spend the rest of your day in the European Quarter of Tunis.

How to visit the Bardo Museum in Tunis

This is the best museum to visit in Tunis.

Placed inside one of the best palaces in the country, Bardo Museum contains one of the largest collection in the world of Roman mosaics, which once adorned the presumptuous Roman villas you are likely to visit during your trip around the country.

The museum, however, is today a bit messy, as many rooms and areas are going under an eternal renovation process, like most touristic sites in the country.

It opens from 9am to 5pm, from Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance fee 11 dinars. It is 5km from downtown, but you can reach it by tram.

Remember that the guys from GetYourGuide offer a great day tour to Bardo Museum (combined with the Medina). CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Things to do in Ville Nouvelle – Highlights

Ville Nouvelle is the colonial French district.

Here you find some churches, fancy hotels, boulangeries, endless Italian restaurants, gelato stalls, bars, and pretty much anything you may find in France, but with a Maghrebi touch and way more chaotic.

The district is huge, composed of several streets from all sizes, and I recommend you begin your day walking around randomly to check all the Marseille-like facades, and end your day in Habib Bourguiba.

Habib Bourguiba – The main avenue in Ville Nouvelle doesn’t look like a North African avenue, like not at all. Composed of tree-lined streets filled with terraces where the locals meet over an espresso, this is the best place to end up your day and check out what modern Tunis is like.

Beer in Tunis, Jamaica Bar

Synagogue of Tunis – Amazing place. This is the only still functional synagogue I have ever seen in an Arab country. Well, apparently, there is one in Cairo as well, but I never saw it. The one in Tunis is surrounded by wire and a few armed soldiers.

You can only enter with a special permit and, if you come close to check it from outside, you will trigger the soldier’s attention but if they see you are a tourist, you will be fine. For me, this was one of the best places to visit in Tunis.

the Synagogue of Tunis

Abandoned Hotel (Hotel du Lac) – At the end of Habib Bourguiba to the left, there is a wing-shaped abandoned hotel. If you like this kind of stuff, then you can’t miss it. You can find the location on the map.

Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul – It’s funny that Tunis is the only Arab capital whose main square is dominated by a Cathedral and not a mosque.

Jamaica Bar – In Habib Bourguiba, Al Hana Hotel has a rooftop bar in its 10th floor, where you get the best panoramic views of the city.

Abandoned hotel du Lac

What to see in Tunis on day 3 – La Goulette, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, and La Marsa

Welcome to fancy Tunis.

This part of the city has 4 distinctive areas worth to check out, each one being so different from each other.

How to get here from downtown

There is a train that runs all day long until almost midnight. It leaves from the end of Habib Bourguiba.

One single ticket costs 0.7 dinars, and each area has its own train station, la Goulette being the first station, which is 16km from downtown.

Alternatively, you can go by taxi, which costs 10 dinars to La Goulette.

Things to do in La Goulette – Highlights

La Goulette is the first neighborhood you bump into when coming from downtown, an area which is definitely humbler than the rest, much more local, but here you also find the best and cheapest seafood restaurants in the city, all of them always packed with locals from all social levels who wish to enjoy fresh seafood on a budget.

I strongly recommend La Maison de la Grillade, where I had a stuffed calamari couscous, better than any other couscous I ever had before, as in Tunisia they make it juicier than its Maghrebi neighbors.

La Goulette also has a more local beach but it is not that nice.

Things to do in Carthage – Highlights

For many, Carthage is one of the best things to do in Tunis.

Originally founded by the Phoenicians – which came from today Lebanon – nearly 3,000 years ago, Carthage then became one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire, the 5th largest imperial city.

Today, the main site is in total ruins, like very ruined, so you will need to have some imagination, but the few columns that remain are located on the top of Byrsa Hill, from where you get epic views of the Gulf of Tunis.

There are several sites to visit spread all over Carthage. You can buy a multi-entry ticket for 12 dinars, and visiting all of them takes a few hours. These are the ones I visited:

The ruins of Carthage

Byrsa Hill – The heart of Carthage are the ruins located on top. To get here, you will have to walk from the train station through the fanciest mansions in Tunis.

Roman Amphitheater – Located 15 minutes from Byrsa Hill, this used to be one of the biggest in the Roman Empire. It could accommodate up to 36,000 people.

Punic Ports – Built by the Carthaginians but then re-shaped by the Romans in a circular shape, these two ports were very important for Carthage’s development.

Sanctuary of Tophet – The Carthaginians used this place for sacrificing their children, something that even the Romans found horrific, so they build a temple and other things on top of it.

Remember that the guys from GetYourGuide offer a great tour to all the Roman sites of Carthage. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Punic Ports

Things to do in Sidi Bou Said – Highlights

A Santorini-like village in its purest Mediterranean form, Sidi Bou Said is the cliff-top, postcard-like town that everybody likes, both tourists and locals.

When the Muslims in Spain were defeated in the 16th century, many of them sought refuge here, so that is why some of the houses have an Andalusian style, as well as Ottoman.

There are a few art galleries and several cafés, but the best you can do is just walking around all the Instagrammable spots.

GetYourGuide offers a great tour to Sidi Bou Said. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Views from Sidi Bou Said

Things to do in La Marsa – Highlights

La Marsa isn’t a really a place for sightseeing, but this is the most Westernized place in Tunis, the area where most expats live, as here you can find regular cafés where women won’t be stared at, bars and the best beach in the city.

I recommend you check the weekly Couchsurfing event because they tend to organize stuff here, but you should attend it anyways because it is a great way to meet open-minded locals.

This was my list of the best things to do in Tunis in a 3-day itinerary. Have any more suggestion? Please post it in the comments section.

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tripstations · 5 years

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Guide to visiting the Royal Alcazar of Seville

One of the things to do in Seville that tops most visitors lists is a visit to the Royal Alcazar of Seville, and thanks to its new fame as a prominent filming location for HBO’s realization of George RR Martin’s smash hit Game of Thrones, it is now more popular than ever.

Declared a World Heritage site in 1987, the Alcazar of Sevilla site is a complex of palaces that have been built by various monarchs. With more than 1000 years of history, the Alcazar contains Spain’s oldest palaces and some of the best examples of Mudejar architecture in Spain.

Mudéjar – of or relating to a style of Spanish architecture from the 13th to 16th centuries, a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic with Arabic.

Dictionary.com

There is no doubt that the interior of the palaces is stunning, especially the Palacio del Rey Don Pedro; however, the courtyards and the gardens are what that many people come to see. The beautiful, multi-layered patios create a maze of pathways that leads you down into the larger, orange tree-lined gardens below. It’s no wonder that a wander through the Alcázar Gardens is the most enduring memories for many visitors to Seville.

Coming up

Getting there Tickets for your visit What kind of tour you need A brief history of the Alcazar of Seville Game of Thrones in the Alcazar Other Alcazar highlights Nights in the Garden of the of Alcazar FAQs

Affiliate disclosure: The links to tours or accommodation in this post are affiliate links. This means if you purchase after following one of these links, I make a small commission at no cost to yourself. Think of it like a win-win.

Getting to the Alcazar

As you’d expect, the Alcazar is located right in the heart of the city, next to the Seville Cathedral and on the edge of the Jewish Quarter, also known as Barrio Santa Cruz.

One of the many great things about Seville is how compact it is, so you should be able to walk there quite easily from most of the hotels in Seville.

If you are a little further out, there is a Metro, Tram and of course taxi’s that operate in the center of the city.

Getting in

It is possible just to turn up and buy your tickets for the Seville Alcazar, but if you do this, expect to be waiting in big queues. So, what I tell you now is crucial.

Book your Seville Alcazar tickets before you go and if possible book for the earliest time slot with queue jump included.

If you do this, it means you can be some of the first of the day to enter and enjoy it while there are fewer people and also it will be cooler than if you visit in the afternoon. If you are in Seville for a couple of days, be sure to check out my recommend 2-day Seville itinerary for suggestions about fitting everything in.

You can purchase tickets on the official Alcazar ticket site, and select the time you would like to enter. The Alcazar tickets can either be printed or scanned directly from your mobile phone.

Once you enter the site, there is a small gift shop on the left where you can pick up a map and hire a pre-recorded audio guide for an additional €2.

Self Guided vs. Audio Tour vs. Guided Tour

When it comes to exploring the palace, I definitely recommend getting a guide. The audio guide is a little dry at times (as these things usually are) but quite simple to follow and certainly better than having nothing at all.

The issue with a self-guided tour is that there is very little information anywhere. You will have a map, but there are very few explanations of what you are looking at and why it’s significant.

Alternatively, you can book a guided tour and not worry about a thing. There are many options for Alcazar tours that can be pre-booked via Get Your Guide. There are also packages available that include an entrance to the Seville Cathedral or tours of the Jewish Quarter, again, a recommended visit.

Click image for full size map – CC BY-SA 3.0

1-Puerta del León 2-Sala de la Justicia y patio del Yeso (cyan) 3-Patio de la Montería (pink) 4-Cuarto del Almirante y Casa de Contratación (cream) 5-Palacio mudéjar o de Pedro I (red) 6-Palacio gótico (blue) 7-Estanque de Mercurio 8-Jardines (green) 9-Apeadero 10-Patio de Banderas

While I would recommend ruling out the self-guided option, between the other two, I would say it depends on time. If you have plenty, then grab an audio guide and explore. If you are tight on time and want to see, learn, and enjoy as many stories as possible, a guided tour is undoubtedly the way to go.

Most guided tours last for around one and a half hours. If you are using the audio guide, I would allow two to three hours to cover everything, that also gives you time for a refreshment break in the lovely cafe they have overlooking some of the extravagant gardens.

A brief history of Seville’s Real Alcazar

There has been a prominent build on this site for more than 2000 years, but it was after the Moorish conquered the Iberian peninsula the Seville Alcazar really started to take shape. It started as a fortress which evolved over time and by the 11th century was being used as the Muslim king’s residence and state administration offices.

In 1248, Ferdinand III of Castille won back power in Seville, and the Alcazar became the Royal Palace. However, after the conquest of the city, Ferdinand III didn’t live for much longer, and power passed to his son, Alfonso X.

As you’d expect, this marked a significant change in the design of the Alcazar. The new Christian rulers favored more spacious rooms with high ceilings in stark contrast to the small, intimate rooms of the traditional Moorish style. Architects that had previously worked on Gothic masterpieces such as the Burgos Cathedral were brought into design Alfonso X’s new palace within the Alcazar.

After Alfonso’s modernizations, it was the wonderfully named Peter the Cruel who was next to build something special as he created the Palacio del Rey Don Pedro which is one of the highlights of a visit to the Alcazar.

From early in Pedro’s reign, it became clear to friend and foe alike that the monarch had a suspicious and vindictive personality. He employed deceit and cruelty wherever he encountered opposition, real or imagined. His unforgiving nature, combined with a very long memory, made it very hazardous for an opponent to attempt reconciliation with the king.

History Naked

Although technically it war with many of the Arab enclaves that remained on the peninsula, Mr the Cruel had a fascination and love for the Moorish ways and architecture and as such, summoned artists of Arab origin and ordered his palace to be built. The result is a beautiful Mudéjar palace straight from your dreams.

Things settled down for a while with no major works going on, just continual improvements and touches from the various Monarchs that adopted the Alcazar.

It was the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 that introduced the next major change as the façade of the Palacio Gótico was destroyed and rebuilt in the Baroque style to throw another style into the wonder architectural melangerie that is the Real Alcazar of Seville.

Game of Thrones in the Alcazar of Seville

While there are fleeting shots throughout the series, the Royal Alcazar became central to the Game of Thrones plot in Season 5 when Jamie Lannister rocks up to get his Daughter (also technically his niece) back. But the chances are if you are reading this, you already knew that. And if you didn’t know that, you probably aren’t reading this as you’ve gone “Uggh, Game of Thrones, eye-roll and skip. But for those of you that are still with me, let’s continue.

Dorne is the southernmost of the Seven Kingdoms, and The Royal Alcazar is the home of the Martell family, the rulers of the kingdom. While it briefly appears in earlier seasons, it is season 5 that really shows off the beauty of the Alcazar.

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The locations used for filming in season 5

Episode 2

Doran watches his son, Trystane, playing with Myrcella from King Pedro’s palace overlooking Mercury’s Pool and the Grutesco Gallery.

Episode 6

Ellaria plots the downfall of Jamie Lannister with her daughters Maria de Padilla’s baths before the episode later breaks out into a big fight throughout the gardens but focussed around the Pavilion of Carlos V

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Episode 9

A meeting is held between Doran and Jamie in the stunning Ambassadors’ Hall, you can really get a feel of what the Alcazar may have been.

Other Seville Alcazar highlights to look out for

Aside from the Game of Thrones filming spots, which as you’d imagine, are some of the nices corners of the site, there are still plenty of pretty spots to look out for.

Some of my favorites from my visit were the labyrinth, a great place to leave the kids if they have wound you up. Also, don’t miss the small staircases built into the courtyard wall, which enables you to get up high for some lovely pictures. But be warned, it’s a tight squeeze so there is a certain amount of waiting for others to go up or down before you can, or just stick those elbows out and plow on through!

Staying in the city? Check out some of my recommended hotels in Seville

Nights in the Garden of the of Alcazar

If you are a music fan and visiting Seville between June and September, be sure to keep an eye out for Nights in the Garden of the of Alcazar. Enjoy outdoors concerts every night with a program comprised of artists of different musical styles including flamenco jazz, and swing.

The concerts take place in the Alcazar’s stunning gardens between King Carlos V’s Pavilion and the Grotesque Gallery, and would certainly provide a special memory of your visit to Seville.

FAQs

How much is the entrance to the Seville Alcazar?

There are quite a lot of different entrance options starting from €5.50 for the basic entrance. There is an additional fee if you wanted to include access to the High Royal Room and also a dramatized night tour available

It’s worth knowing that admission is free on Mondays. You can still book a queue jump on their website below if you are willing to pay the €1 admin fee. I would say that is certainly worth doing.

Where can I buy tickets?

You can get tickets for entrance and queue jump with no guide on the official Alcazar of Seville ticket page.

When is the Seville Alcazar open?

October to March: From Monday to Sunday, from 09:30 to 17:00.

April to September: From Monday to Sunday, from 09:30 to 19:00.

Closed on the 1st and 6th of January, Good Friday and the 25th of December.

When is the best time to visit?

I would recommend getting the first entry of the day. This means you get a good headstart from the crowds and the sun will not be too hot as you will be avoiding the hottest hours of the day.

How long do I need in Seville Alcazar?

Most guided tours take around one and a half hours. However, if you are using the audio guide on your own, I would recommend giving yourself at least two and a half hours to enjoy the full guide and explore properly.

What is Alcazar in English?

It’s a palace-fortress built by the Arabs during the time of the Moorish invasion. The word is a synonym of castle (castillo), and it comes from the Arabic word al qasr.

Should I visit the Seville Cathedral or the Royal Alcazar?

Well, if you only have time to visit one, personally I would favor the Alcazar over the Cathedral. It is Spain’s oldest palace and home to amazing gardens and architecture. The Cathedral is a lovely cathedral, but there are plenty of very nice cathedrals in the world, only one Alcazar of Seville.

If you have any further questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments, and I can see if I can help and then add them to the post.

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Weekend in Prague: The Best Things To Do in Prague in 3 Days

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Weekend in Prague: The Best Things To Do in Prague in 3 Days

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We commonly don’t like cities much. They’re generally mobbed by overtourism, congested with traffic, and homogenized by the rise of globalization.

To get the feel of the soul of a destination, you really need to get outside the major cities, assure the area’s natural beauty, and connect with local communities.

Still, we couldn’t travel to the Czech Republic and not visit Prague, the culture heart of Bohemian central Europe. After all, the capital city’s history includes the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, and the entire Historic Centre of Prague is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So when we found out that ThinkPrague offers fully customized Prague tours with your own private local guide, we jumped at the opportunity to explore the best things to do in Prague.

Unfortunately, after spending five days at the TBEX meeting in Ostrava and another four traveling around the South Bohemia region, we only had one day left to see the city’s highlights.

If we were to do it again, we’d definitely expend a whole weekend in Prague, allowing us more time to explore some of our favorite attractions( such as the Prague Castle exhibitions and St. Vitus Cathedral) in-depth.

But our guidebook, Ales Pitin, seemed to relish the challenges facing dedicating us a condensed look at where to go and what to do in Prague. Based on our interest in ecotourism, history, and culture, he put together an amazing Prague walking tour that encompassed dozens of impressive attractions.

What follows is a detailed itinerary for ensure the best of Prague in 3 days. It takes in most of the city’s most important attractions, yet allows plenty of hour for touring the individual gardens, churches, and other historic sites you’ll assure along the way.

READ MORE: The 50 Best Travel Shoes for Walking Tours

Prague Tourist Map Petrin Hill Hradcany District Mala Strana& Old Town Prague

PRAGUE TOURIST MAP

iframe> DAY 1: PETRIN HILL

Located at altitudes of 1,073 feet smack dab in the center of the city, Petrin Hill is a great place to begin your weekend in Prague. Easily the city’s largest green space, Petrin is covered in parks, and offers exceptional the opinion of the Mala Strana, Prague Castle, and the Vltava River.

The historic hill, which was named after its abundance of marlstone rocks( petrus is Latin for boulders ), has been important to locals since the mid-1 300 s.

That’s when a Medieval defense wall- known as the Hunger Wall because it chores for the poor during a famine- was ordered to be built on Petrin Hill by King Charles IV.

Petrin featured prominently in writer Franz Kafka’s early short story,” Description of a Struggle ,” and was mentioned in the Milan Kundera novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

Now spending a day on Petrin Hill easily ranks among the best things to do in Prague. It’s a beloved recreation area for locals, as well as a popular Prague tourist attraction. Here’s an overview of the many things there are to see and do on Petrin Hill during your Prague vacation.

READ MORE: The Tallest Mountain in the World( World Travel Bucket List )

Memorial to the Victims of Communism

If you merely spend a few days in Prague before heading off to another country, you might not realize that the Czech Republic was under a fairly brutal communist regulation from 1948 to 1989.

Located at the base of Petrin Hill in Old Town Prague, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism pays tribute to the political prisoner who became victims of the oppressive regime. Created by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek and designers Jan Kerel and Zdenek Holzel, the public art piece was unveiled in 2002.

The installation is striking, to say the least, featuring seven bronze statues descending a flight of stairs. The further away the figures are, the more decaying their bodies appear, with missing legs and bodies broken open to represent the impact communism had on Czech people.

You’ll pass the memorial en route to the Petrin Funicular, but it’s worth stopping to ensure. Don’t miss the harrowing stats on the bronze strip that runs down the center.

It says that there were 205,486 people apprehended, 170,938 forced into exile, 4,500 who died in prison, 327 shooting trying to escape, and 248 executed during the era of” totalitarian despotism .”

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Petrin Funicular Railway

If your sightseeing in Prague includes a visit to Petrin Hill, as it should, taking the Petrin Funicular Railway( a.k.a. the Prague Funicular) to the top is an absolute must. It’s fast, affordable, easier than climbing all the way up a 30 o incline, and also offers a stellar scenic position of Old Town Prague.

The funicular opened in 1891, and was originally shorter and powered by water balance propulsion. It shut at the start of WWI in 1914, then reopened after redevelopments in 1932.

Service was suspended again in 1965 after a landslide on Petrin Hill, opening with new vehicles, an electric motor, and a new track in 1985.

Today the railway has three stops, but most people get on at the Ujezd station at the bottom of the hill, which is in the Mala Strana district. It operates from 9AM to around 11:30 PM, with departures leaving every 15 minutes or so. Tickets cost the same as the Prague tram- 26 CZK( about $1.14 ).

Be aware that there may be long lines on the weekend when the weather is warm, as Prague locals love spending the day on Petrin Hill with friends and family. If you do the same, consider packing your lunch, as it’s an excellent place for a picnic!

READ MORE: The 40 Best Backpacks for Travelers

Petrin Park( a.k.a. Petrin Gardens)

Much of Petrin Hill has been divided up into beautifully landscaped gardens, many of which have been cultivated for nearly 200 years. The largest( Kinsky Garden) is outside the Hunger Wall, while the oldest( Lobkowicz Garden) is part of the German embassy and not open to visitors.

Of the Petrin gardens you are able to explore, the 8-hectare Nebozizek Garden is the biggest, spreading from the foot of Petrin Hill to the upper funicular station. Originally an orchard, it was modified into a garden and opened for public use in 1842. In addition to being able to a gorgeous array of flowers, the garden is home to sculptured monuments to famous Czechs such as composer Vitezslav Novak.

Built in 1836, the park around the Petrin Tower encompasses about 2.5 hectares on the plateau of Petrin Hill. It was modified from 1933 to 1937 and connected with the Seminary Garden, which was formerly the garden of the White Friars from the Church of Our Lady of Victory. You can see a bronze monument to renowned Czech writer Jan Neruda there.

The newest garden in Petrin Park is the Rose Garden, which incorporates about 5.6 hectares on top of Petrin Hill. It replaced what used to be military land in 1934, and includes three segments as well as sculptures by Czech artist Ladislav Saloun. There’s also a beautiful garden filled with thousands of perennials and bulb flowers.

Collectively, this oasis of fabulous flora was definitely among our favorite Prague highlights.

READ MORE: What is Permaculture Gardening?( Intro to Design& Principles )

Petrin Tower

The Petrin Tower is a historical Prague landmark that can be seen from virtually any part of the city. Especially at night, when its resemblance to the illuminated Eiffel Tower really makes it stand out.

Also commonly known as the Petrin Observation Tower or the Petrin Lookout Tower, the 208 -foot-tall steel frame attraction was built in 1891 for the General Land Centennial Exhibition. Its design was directly inspired by Eiffel’s, which members of a local Czech travel club had find at the 1889 World Expo in Paris.

Unlike its French equivalent, the Petrinska rozhledna( as it is known in the Czech language) has an octagonal cross-section.

Under its legs is the entrance hall, where guests can pay 50 CZK ($ 2.20) to climb the 299 steps up to two observation platforms. There’s also an elevator to the top that costs around 50 C/ more, but it was broken when we visited.

The views of the city from the top are spectacular, but be aware that this is one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions. Lines can get long, but there’s a small exhibition area you are able to check out while you wait, as well as a a small gift shop and cafeteria on the main level.

READ MORE: Weird Foods the French Consider Delicacies

Cathedral of St Lawrence

Located right next to the Petrin Lookout Tower and the Hunger Wall, the Cathedral of St Lawrence served as the Czech Republic’s primary church of the Old Catholic faith for centuries.

Local legend holds that the church( which is known as Kostel sv. Vavrince in the Czech language) was built sometime in the 10 th century on a hilltop site once held sacred by pagan Slavs. The earliest written information of the church dates back to 1135 and is attributed to Duke Sobeslav I.

The St Lawrence church was originally built on a Romanesque style, and the walls of that single-nave build remain intact today. Prominent designer Killian Ignaz Dientzenhofer( who also worked on St. Loreto Church in Hradcany and St. Nicholas Church on Prague’s Old Town Square) rebuilt and expanded the church in the Baroque style in the early 1700 s.

Noteworthy features on the exterior of the cathedral include statues of the Holy Trinity, St Adalbert, St John of Nepomuk, and St Mary Magdalene.

On the inside of the cathedral you’ll find a paint of St. Lawrence’s martyrdom by Jean Claude Monnot. And next to the church is a Calvary chapel built in the 1730 s, which has a gorgeous sgraffito etching of Christ’s resurrection.

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Mirror Maze

With its Disney-style castle exterior and wacky dorm of mirrors on the inside, this is arguably one of the most fun things to do in Prague with kids. The entrance fee is 90 CZK ($ 4) per person, or 250 CZK( around $11) for the whole family.

Known locally as the Zrcadlove bludiste Petrin, the Mirror Maze was built around the same hour as the Petrin Tower for the Czech Tourists Club pavilion at the Prague Jubilee exhibition of 1891. It was originally installed at a different location, then moved to Petrin Hill two years later.

Designed by Czech architect Antonin Wiehl( a leading figure in the country’s neo-Renaissance in the late 19 th century ), the building was inspired by a similar tourist attraction in Vienna. In addition to the main labyrinth, the Prague Mirror Maze includes 14 different convex and concave mirrors, which were added later. We had a fun day insuring ourselves stretched and squatted by the illusion.

For history lovers, the highlighting of the attraction is a huge diorama at the end. It features an 80 -square-meter painting that illustrates that combat between Prague locals and invading Swedes on the famous Charles Bridge in 1648.

Painted by friends Adolf and Karel Liebscher in simply 50 days, the diorama offers an epic glimpse of how the left bank of the Vltava River seemed in the 17 th century.

READ MORE: 20 Longest Rivers in the World( World Travel Bucket List )

DAY 2: HRADCANY DISTRICT

The Hradcany district( a.k.a. the Castle District ), is the area that surrounds Prague Castle.

Because of this proximity, different districts is dominated by spectacular scenery and noble palaces of historical importance. Many of these are now part of Prague’s National Gallery collection of art exhibition halls.

Our guide included numerous Hradcany attractions in our Prague walking tour, as we attained our route down the Strahovska from Petrin Hill and stimulated our way towards the castle.

If you have a full 3-day weekend in Prague, you might have time to explore different districts at the end of your day on Petrin Hill. But in view of the diversity of Petrin attractions, we recommend touring the Hradcany district in the early morning, then spending the rest of the day visiting the castle complex.

The Church of Our Lady of Loreto

This stunning church, which was designed by Italian architect Giovanni Orsi and financed by local noblewoman Katerina Benigna, dates back to 1626.

The original church was surrounded by cloisters in the late 1600 s, with K.I. Dientzenhofer adding an upper level and a baroque facade in the early 18 th century.

The church has since become a popular pilgrimage destination for Christians from from all over the world. It’s easy to see why only from looking at the cathedral’s exterior, which boasts gleaming green and gold steeples, dozens of statues, and the famous clocktower.

It’s the latter feature for which the church is arguably most famous. The clock was constructed in 1694 by watchmaker Peter Neumann, with thirty bells of differing sizings. Its melodious chime can be heard throughout the Hradcany district every hour.

Touring the Loreto Church is amazingly pricy- admission is 150 CZK( virtually$ 7) for adults, or 310 CZK( virtually $14) for families. But it does home an impressive collect of liturgical tools, and you can often see intriguing exhibitions on the first floor of the cloister.

READ MORE: How I Fell For Travel (& Got Blessed By Pope John Paul II )

Schwarzenberg Palace

Although currently closed to the public for renovations, Schwarzenberg Palace is one of the most beautiful early Renaissance-style palaces in Prague.

Located around the corner from Prague Castle in Hradcanske Square, the striking t-shaped mansion was developed for wealthy Bohemian nobleman Jan Popel of Lobkowicz. Construction of the main build lasted from 1545 to 1567, while the west wing was finished several years later.

The most distinctive characteristics of Schwarzenberg Palace is the black-on-white sgraffito( a method of etching that exposes color underneath) designs that adorn its walls. Built by Agostino Galli, with clear northern Italian and Venetian influences, it appears more like a castle than a true palace.

Inside, the palace’s ceilings are decorated with classic paintings( including The Conquer of Troy, The Judgment of Paris, and The Kidnap of Helen ), all of which date back to 1580.

When the attraction reopens on September 13, 2019, it will include a new permanent exhibit, Old master. The exhibit will feature art by icons such as El Greco, Francisco Jose Goya, Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, and many others from the 16 th to 18 th century.

Owned by the National Gallery Prague, the palace offers free admission to children and students under 26 years old. For everyone else, a CZK 500 ($ 22.30 US) ticket gets you entry to all of the National Gallery’s permanent exhibitions( details below) for 10 days after purchase.

READ MORE: Exploring Doune Castle, Scotland

National Gallery Prague

It wasn’t until we reached the National Gallery, which is directly across the street from the Prague Castle entryway, that I realise how brilliant our Think Prague tour itinerary was.

By starting our walking tour at Petrin Hill and not arriving to the castle until late afternoon, Ales ensured we avoided the masses. There was a small crowd on the National Gallery steps next to a statue of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk( who is considered the father of the Czech Republic ), but it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as the elbow-to-elbow overtourism we were expecting.

Known locally as Narodni Galerie Praha, Prague’s National Gallery has roots dating back to 1796. That’s when a mixture of Czech noblemen and middle-class intellectuals from the Enlightenment motion came together in an effort to” elevate the deteriorated savour of the local public .”

These culture connoisseurs established Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts and the Picture Gallery of the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts. In 1902 Franz Joseph I( leader of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) generated the Modern Gallery of the Kingdom of Bohemia, a private foundation devoted to collecting 20 th century art.

By 1919 the Picture Gallery has begun to create a central art collect for the freshly independent country of Czechoslovakia. And in 1942, after the Modern Gallery was abolished, the Nationally Gallery( then officially known as the Czech-Moravian Land Gallery) was established.

Now, in addition to the main gallery, the National Gallery also has exhibitions at the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia, Schwarzenberg Palace, Sternberg Palace, and the Trade Fair Palace at one low price.

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PRAGUE CASTLE TOUR

Prague Castle is arguably the most important of all Czech Republic attractions.

In addition to being the President’s official office/ residence, it has been a seat of power for Kings of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperors since the 9th century. It’s also where the Bohemian Crown jewel are maintained hidden.

Taking a Prague Castle tour ranks high on most people’s listings of the best things to do in Prague. While ThinkPrague offers a 3-hour walking tour, we would personally recommend spending at least half a day there. It is, after all, the largest castle complex in the world!

Doing so would allow you to spend a little more hour at each attraction, or perhaps take a more leisurely( and detailed) audio tour of the Prague Castle complex.

We left actually wishing we had hour for a tour of the inside of St. Vitus Cathedral, which is arguably the world’s greatest example of Gothic architecture. Its famous stained glass windows are genuinely masterful works of art that they are able to stare at for hours.

Admission to the castle complex is free, but be aware that there is a wait to get through the security line during peak times. Here’s a look at the ticket prices if you want to explore inside its major attractions. More detailed information about the individual attractions follow.

Prague Castle Entrance Fees

CIRCUIT A: St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace,” The Story of Prague Castle” exhibition, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane( with Daliborka Tower ), Rosenberg Palace

Entrance fee: Adults CZK 350, Students/ Seniors CZK 175, Families CZK 700

CIRCUIT B: St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane( with Daliborka Tower)

Entrance fee: Adults CZK 250, Students/ Seniors CZK 125, Families CZK 500

CIRCUIT C:” The Treasure of St. Vitus Cathedral” Exhibition, Prague Castle Picture Gallery

Entrance fee: Adults CZK 350, Students/ Seniors CZK 175, Families CZK 700

Prague Castle Hours

General Area: Open daily( except December 24) 6 AM to 10 PM

Historical Monuments: Open daily April 1 to October 31, 9 AM to 5 PM; November 1 to March 31, 9 AM to 4 PM

Garden of the Bastion: Freely accessible during Prague Castle hours

Other Garden: Open daily 10 AM to 6 PM.

Gate of Giants/ Matthias Gate

The main entryway into the Prague Castle complex is called the Gate of Giants( Brana gigantu ). It’s named after the ginormous statues of battling giants that frame both sides of the Rococo grille gate.

The Gate of Giant devised by designer Niccolo Pacassi in the latter 18 th century during the reconstruction of the Royal residence, with original statues sculpted by Ignac Frantisek Platzer.

The gate separates the 1st Courtyard of the castle( the Court d’honneur) from Hradcany Square, with grey-and-white guard boxes at the base of each statue. There’s a ceremonial changing of the guards daily at midday, but from all accounts it’s not anything worth day your Prague Castle tour to.

Just past the Gate of Giants is the huge stone Matthias Gate, which separates the first and second courtyards of Prague Castle. It’s named after Matthias, who was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia from 1611 to 1617.

Matthias’ Gate is noteworthy because it was the first Baroque structure installed at Prague Castle. The gate’s gable includes a list of the Emperor’s titles( he was also King of Hungary and Croatia ), coats of arms of the lands that he ruled, gryphons, and more intriguing details.

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Kohl’s Fountain

Once you pass through the gates and enter the second Prague Castle Courtyard, you’ll notice a large, lavishly decorated fountain right near the center.

It’s often called the Lion’s Fountain( because of the lion statues on the centre for human rights) or Leopold’s Fountain because it was built in 1686, during the reign of Emperor Leopold I ).

But it’s actually named after sculptor Jeronym Kohl, who built the beautiful Baroque fountain with an Italian stonemason named F. della Torre. Kohl’s work includes several statues on Prague’s famous Charles Bridge as well as various other fountains and sculptures.

Fed by an ancient tube, the fountain historically brought water to the palace from nearby creeks and ponds. Behind it are some of the largest rooms in the castle, where the President of the Czech Republic often satisfies with foreign dignitaries.

To the left you’ll find the Prague Castle Picture Gallery and a passageway leading to the Imperial Stables and the Royal Garden. Surrounding the garden you’ll find the Riding School, Ball Game Hall, Orangery( greenhouse ), and Royal Summer Palace , not to mention a great view of St Vitus Cathedral.

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Chapel of the Holy Cross

Also located in the castle’s second courtyard, you’ll find the white Chapel of the Holy Cross. It was originally built in the Baroque style between 1758 and 1763, then rebuilt in the Classicist style in the 19 th century for Emperor Ferdinand I.

Noteworthy features found inside the chapel include a high altar from the Baroque era, a life-sized painting of Christ’s crucifixion created by Frantisek A. Palko in 1762, statues by I. F. Platzer, and impressive paints featuring famous scenes from both the Old and New Testaments.

The church became known as the Treasury in the early 1960 s, after it was turned into an exhibit space for the “Treasure of St Vitus Cathedral” exhibition.

This permanent exhibit includes the most valuable items collected by the Cathedral of St Vitus, St Wenceslas, and St Adalbert over the last 1000 years or so. These include an array of jewels, liturgical items, embroidered vestments, shrines, and other priceless objects made from silver and gold.

The exhibit is included as one of the purposes of Prague Castle’s Circuit C ticket package( which also includes the Prague Castle Picture Gallery ), which is CZK 350( around $15.50) for adults, CZK 175( around $7.75) for students and seniors, or CZK 700( around $30) for families.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Words cannot adequately conveyed the intricate detail of this gorgeous Gothic landmark, which is more formally known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert. You don’t have to be Catholic, or even religious, to recognize it as one of the world’s most stunning architectural marvels.

It’s the largest church in the Czech Republic: The Cathedral measures 407 ft x 197 ft, with a 337 -ft main tower, 269 -foot front towers, and a 109 -ft tall archway. It’s also by far the most important, as the historic seat of the Archbishop of Prague and home to tombs of numerous Bohemian monarches and Holy Roman Emperors.

The current building is the third on this ancient site, all of which have been dedicated to Saint Vitus. The Italian saint, a martyr who died during the Roman persecution of Christians circa 303 AD, was the sole name on the current church before its 1997 rededication. The triple dedication marked a return to that of the previous Romanesque basilica in 1038.

Construction of the current Cathedral began in 1344, with King John of Bohemia laying the foundation stone. St. Vitus was designed to be a coronation church, household crypt, a pilgrimage site for patron St. Wenceslaus( whose relics remain in the chapel named after him ), and a treasury for the priceless relics of Bohemia.

Work on the Cathedral continued off and on for centuries, in all regions of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. In the mid-1 9th century, a” Union for Completion of the Cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague” was formed for that purpose. The Cathedral wasn’t ultimately finished until just before the St. Wenceslas jubilee in 1929, virtually 600 years after it started.

You could spend hours merely admiring at this ancient architectural marvel from the outside. But considering stunning photos of the interior stained glass windows, Cathedral nave and sanctuary, and St. Wenceslas Chapel left us profoundly regretting not taking the full tour. If you visit Prague Castle, I urge you not to construct the same mistake we did!

READ MORE: The 16 Best Ancient Mayan Sites to Explore

St. George’s Basilica

Known locally as Bazilika Sv. Jiri, this is the oldest surviving church building in Prague Castle. St. George’s Basilica was founded in 920 by Prince Vratislaus I, the parent of St. Wenceslas( the patron saint of Bohemia, constructed famous by the Christmas carol” Good King Wenceslas “).

The church was substantially enlarged when the Benedictine St. George’s Abbey was added in 973. It was later rebuilt in the Romanesque style, with an apse and two steeples, after a major flame devastated the Basilica in 1142.

The current Baroque facade was added in the late 17 th century( around the same period the convent was reconstructed ), and designer F.M. Kanka added the Baroque Chapel of St. John Nepomuk in the early 18 h century.

On the inside, you’ll find St. George’s mausoleum in a Gothic-style chapel, as well as shrines to Prince Vratislav and Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia. The house also houses the National Gallery’s 19 th century Bohemian Art Collection, and occasionally serves as a concert hall.

Tours inside the Basilica are included in Circuit A and Circuit B Prague Castle tickets.

READ MORE: 75 Christmas Traditions Around the World

Golden Lane

The Golden Lane was the first place in Prague where we felt the impact mass tourism was having on the city. Our ThinkPrague tour guide told us the crowds was pretty light that day, but the historic street was packed with people rushing to exit the castle complex.

Known locally as Zlata ulicka, the Golden Lane was built during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II( who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1575 to 1611 ). It was originally constructed as a home for the king’s guards, but it’s named for the goldsmiths who lived along the street in the 17 th century.

The street’s houses have also served as home to some of the Czech Republic’s most famous writers. Franz Kafka‘s sister owned #22, and the iconic author ran there for nearly two years( much of 1916 and 1917 ). Nobel Prize-winning poet Jaroslav Seifert lied on Golden Lane in 1929.

These homes were all painted in bright colourings in the 1950 s. Most of them have now been turned into keepsake stores, but the jostling mob were too intense for us to be in the shopping mood.

There’s also a museum of medieval armory and Daliborka Tower( which was a prison from 1496 to 1781) accessible from Golden Lane. You’ll find stunning views of Old Town Prague from the Vyhlidka u Cerne veze( Observation Deck) right as you exit the castle.

READ MORE: Author Salman Rushdie on Midnight’s Children

DAY 3: MALA STRANA& OLD TOWN PRAGUE

As you descend the Prague Castle mound and induce your style east towards the Vltava River, you enter the district known as the Mala Strana, which is Czech for Little Side( of the River ).

Also known as Mensi Mesto Prazske( Lesser Town of Prague ), this district was established by Bohemian King Ottokar II in 1257. It was historically home to ethnic German people, with more palaces for lords than the Bohemian Old Town, which is located on the east side of the river.

After it was devastated by a fire in 1541, the Lesser Town was rebuilt in the Baroque style. We didn’t have time to visit most of the popular Mala Strana attractions, such as Wallenstein Palace, Waldstein Palace( home to the Czech Senate ), or the Franz Kafka Museum. But we did check out the St. Nicolas Church and the John Lennon Wall, which we’ll discuss below.

After intersecting the crowded Charles Bridge- which was teeming with tourists even at sunset- we attained our route into the more Bohemian Old Town Prague. This part of the city( known locally as Stare Mesto Prazske) dates back to the 9th century, with merchant trade contributing to great wealth over the centuries.

Today, this part of Prague flourishes with a vibrant energy. Its cobblestone streets are bustling with students from the University of Prague, which was founded by Bohemian King Charles IV in 1348. Old Town’s main attractions include the 600 -year-old Prague Astronomical Clock, Old Town Bridge Tower, Old Town Square, and much more…

St. Nicholas Church

Just as the gothic spires of St. Vitus Cathedral stand out above the Prague Castle scenery, so does the green and gold dome of St. Nicholas Church in the Mala Strana district.

The church is named after the Greek Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas, who was born sometime around 280 A.D. in what we now know as Turkey. He was famous for his generous gift-gifting, and ultimately became the inspiration for the legends of Santa Claus and Father Christmas.

The church was constructed over the course of 100 years on the site of a Gothic church that had been built in 1283. It was designed by Krystof Dientzenhofer, Kilian Ignac Dientzenhofer and Anselmo Lurago( parent, son, and son-in-law ), whose architecture evokes Late Gothic and Baroque influences.

Built by a Jesuit named Thomas Schwarz from 1745 to 1747, the church’s immense main organ is comprised of more than 4,000 pipes, which range in lengths up to 20 feet. It was once played by iconic composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart during his stay in Prague.

Music remains a key aspect of the church’s programming. It will host more than 200 concerts between March 2019 and January 2020.

READ MORE: 50 Fascinating Facts About the History of Santa Claus

John Lennon Wall

Located at the Grand Priory Square in the Mala Strana, the John Lennon Wall has become an increasingly popular Prague attraction for tourists over the past 40 years.

The tradition started in 1980, when a local artist painted an image of the assassinated Beatles icon along with some of his lyrics in tribute to Lennon’s untimely demise. Eventually the wall was filled with messages of love, peace, and, eventually, politics.

The Lennon Wall became a bone of contention for Gustav Husak’s communist regime in the late’ 80 s, as young Czech revolutionaries began airing their grievances there. This ultimately led to a showdown between hundreds of students and police on the nearby Charles Bridge.

The wall( which is owned by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta) is constantly changing. In 2014, on the 25 th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s Velvet Revolution against communist rule, it was painted entirely white by local students. Only the words “WALL IS OVER”( a clever twist on Lennon’s” War is Over” Christmas classic) remained.

Although the original portrait of John Lennon may be long gone and local authorities sometimes repaint it, the vocalist/ songwriter’s image and terms always have a place on the wall. And for those who believe in his doctrine of non-violent revolution, it’s a perfect Prague pilgrimage.

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Charles Bridge

Next to Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge is arguably the most popular Prague attraction.

It’s easy to see why: Connecting the Mala Strana with Old Town Prague and packed with artists, musicians, and ancient statues, it’s an incredible place to hang out, connect with locals, and gaze out over the Vltava River. Unfortunately, it’s also incredibly mobbed as a result.

Originally known as Prague Bridge, this landmark was constructed during the reign of King Charles IV. Interestingly, the first stone was laid by Charles( a.k.a Wenceslaus) himself at precisely 5:31 AM on July 9 in 1357. The Holy Roman Emperor believed in numerology, and supposed this palindrome( 1357 9, 7 5:31) would imbue the bridge with added strength.

The Prague Bridge was ultimately finished in the early 15 th century, and has played a major role in the city’s history ever since.

After leaders of a rebellion were executed in 1621, their severed heads were hung from the Old Town Bridge Tower to deter future resistance. Swedes combated the Czechs on the bridge near the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648, attempting to advance into Old Town Prague. The Baroque statues that line the bridge today were added in the late 17 th century and early 18 th century.

The bridge remained the only means of intersecting the river until 1841, and the name has been amended to honor King Charles in 1870. Despite the crowds, it remains one of the world’s most impressive medieval bridges, measuring 2,037 feet long and 33 feet broad, with 16 arches.

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St. Francis of Assisi Church

As you pass through Old Town Bridge Tower and induce your way towards Old Town Square, you’ll ensure the striking exterior of the St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Located next to the Charles Bridge Museum, the church was initiated in 1688 and designed by French designer Jean Baptiste Mathey. Owned by the Order of the Red Cross, the church’s Romanesque exterior and green domed roof stands out on the Old Town Prague skyline.

The interior is even more impressive, especially the Baroque-style fresco of the Last Judgement by famous Prague painter Wenzel Lorenz Reiner. The church’s floor plan is in the shape of a large cross, with statues of Bohemian patrons in the alcoves. There are also numerous other vivid paints by Reiner, as well as Johann Christoph Lischka.

The church is perhaps best known for having the second oldest pipe organ in Prague, which has been played by classical music icons like Mozart and Antonin Dvorak.

St. Francis often hosts concerts by members of prominent opu and orchestra ensembles, as well as educators from the Academy of Music and Prague Conservatory.

Old Town Square

If you want to see what Prague might have was like 500+ decades ago, head to the Old Town Square, which is the oldest and more important square in the city.

Known locally as Staromestske namesti, the square’s history dates back to the 10 th century, where reference is served as a bustling marketplace at the center of numerous European trade routes. Medieval-style markets are still held here numerous periods each year, and the Christmas Market was ranked amongst the Top 10 in the World by CNN.

The square has been the site of numerous significant historical events. Numerous Royal coronation processions traveled through Old Town Square on their way to Prague Castle. Hussite captain Jan Rohac z Dube a ze Sionu was executed there in 1437, as were 27 leaders of the Czech revolt against the Habsburgs in 1621.

At the center of the square is a statue of Jan Hus, a Czech theologian and philosopher whose teachings were influential on Martin Luther and other European Protestant reformers. His execution led to the Hussite Wars( a.k.a. Bohemian Wars ), which lasted from 1419 to 1434.

The cobblestone streets of Old Town Square are surrounded by historical landmarks, including the Baroque Church of St Nicholas, the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, the Old Town Hall( home to the oldest Astronomical Clock in the world ), the Rococo Kinsky Palace, and more.

Though the square can get a bit mobbed, especially on weekends, it’s a great place to wind down at the end of your 3 days in Prague.

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Powder Tower( a.k.a. Powder Gate)

As we left the square, we constructed our route towards the Powder Tower, one of the 13 original city gates that separate the Old Town from the New Town( which, founded in 1348, is still really old ).

Constructed starting in 1475, the tower was intended to be an attractive landmark signifying your entryway to Prague rather than a defensive gate. It’s named for its primary purpose in the 17 th century, which was storing gunpowder.

The Late Gothic-era Tower was badly damaged during the 1757 Battle of Prague, and the exterior sculptures had to be replaced in 1876.

As we passed underneath it and bid our ThinkPrague guide farewell, we were overwhelmed by all of the incredible sights we’d seen during our Prague walking tour. Although major cities still aren’t our thing, we would rank Prague right alongside Athens and Rome in terms of their historical importance, art, and architecture.

So if you visit the Czech Republic, you are able to by all means take a walking tour to see as many of these attractions as you can. But do learn from our mistake and spend at least a weekend in Prague if you don’t want to leave feeling as if you’ve scarcely scratched the surface. -by Bret Love; all photos by Bret Love& Mary Gabbett

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