 |
| Aus Budapest June 2011 |
 |
| Aus Budapest June 2011 |
 |
| Aus Budapest June 2011 |
 |
| Aus Budapest June 2011 |
 |
| Aus Vienna June 2011 |
 |
| Aus Vienna June 2011 |
 |
| Aus Vienna June 2011 |
Ostern 2021
vor 5 Jahren
Posts mit dem Label Europe werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Posts mit dem Label Europe werden angezeigt. Alle Posts anzeigen
Dienstag, 7. Juni 2011
Budapest and Vienna
Dienstag, 14. September 2010
Reaching Italy
For the ones who've been to Italy allready, this is a little remembrance how it feels to reach the Brenner Highway and the cities in Italy, for the others a try to awake the atmosphere :)
You know, that you’re in Italy when...
... there is a lot of talking on the radio and the channels switch quickly.
... the guard rails become rusty and accompanied by flowers.
... signaling is totally overrated.
... there's only one speedlimit on the roads (the overalllimit of 130).
... you can see cypresses and vineyards on the way.
... the houses become old and run down, but charming.
... you order coffee and get espresso.
... pasta is just the first dish and pizza not part of most of the menus.
... you can find a cathedral and a main square with a belltower in most of the cities.
... „Ciao“ is greeting and farewell at the same time.
Short trip to Italy
Reaching Auntie Beths last week here in Europe we decided to take her on a short trip to Italy. In three and a half days we covered over 1500 Kilometers and went as far to the South as Siena, the pearl of Tuscany.
Lago di Garda and Verona
Going south our first stop was at Bardolino at the Garda Lake. We got a hint for this small pitoresque town at the eastern side of the lake, as we haven’t been there as well. Maybe it’s the most tourist friendly city I know, as it seemed to have more parkinglots than inhabitants. Infortunately the joy of discovering the city was spoiled by a market along the shore where (what felt like) all tourists of the Garda Lake gathered for the highlight of the week, joining bargain and souvenir hunters. Therefore we couldn’t see the board promenade well and quickly decided to stroll through the neat city. It was a good stopover for the first impression of the Italien Style, painted houses, green windowshades, several street cafes and the worldchampions of pizza. So we decided to have pizza instead of pasta (the normal must eat in Italy) and were happy with our choice ;)
Going to Verona we found a city of riddles. Not as full as Bardolino, we ejoyed the walk to the Piazza delle Erbe and got a map of the sightseeing spots there. Looking for the balcony of Juliet (even if there was never a real Juliet only Shakespears heroin), we wer running in circles without success. Now we know, the map was totally wrong and we only left the Piazza delle Erbe on the wrong side... The same with the hostels we wanted to stay overnight, even if we found the right adress, there was no hostel... Until now, we don’t know to where they have disappeared... (Anyway we got a motel on the outskirt of the city, with a totally 1980ies charm).
Along the river Adige the ancient wall, bridges and especially the fort are worth a visit. For the evening we stopped by the huge amphitheater where the veronese opera festival is held every year. I think it’s quite impressive, but unnumbered seats (at a three to four hours show) or others up to 190 Euros are quite an obstacle...
 |
| Von Lago di Garda, Verona, Südtirol |
 |
| Von Lago di Garda, Verona, Südtirol |
 |
| Von Lago di Garda, Verona, Südtirol |
Tuscany
Giving an impression of the beautiful Tuscany we decided to skip Florence because of the awful parking situation and the hugeness and went for Siena, San Gimignano and Volterra. This was already quite a travel, but as we entered Siena two hours before we expected to, we decided for a stopover in San Gimignano before staying overnight in Volterra.
The bloom of tuscan cities was around the 12th-13th century and Siena is the most beautiful one keeping in mind her size today. All over Tuscany the houses were restored over the time without destroying their original aspect too much. The most impressing place in Siena is the main place Piazza del Campo, with it’s municipality, belltower and the square where every year the sienese people find their champion of the Palio, their famous horserace. We climbed up the belltower for the view over Tuscany, enjoyed the elaborated facade of the cathedral of Siena, took a rest with some of the famous Italien icecream and strolled through the rest of the charming city.
San Gimignano that day was just to full, it’s fascinating history about their 72 towers (there are still just 15), the decline during the Black Death and repression by Florence resemble the impression of the city with its very old, but grand towers littered by some green grasses. The square around the world’s best icecream parlour was just to full – anyway as we had anticipated it, we had our ice allready.
Going to San Gimignao I enjoyed driving thorugh the Tuscan passes and serpentines allready, it just got better on the way to Volterra, as this is one of the elevated cities (fort he defendence they were all founded on hills, so you have to go down and up again, if you go to another city). And based on the faint memory of Bernd the city surprised us in a very positive way. We wanted to find a very Tuscan city, but less crowded than the other ones and we found it there. Full of little alleyways telling from their birth hundreds of years ago, with a small but typical main square and belltower and just a few visitors we enjoyed the time there (and no twighlight-freaks, anyway the movie was shot in Montepulciano).
In Volterra you can still find the remains of a roman theater with the stage and two floors of pillars. That the ancient fort is now a prison is fits perfectly as well. For the night, the woman in the tourist information got us a room in a monastery – cheap and charming :)
 |
| Von Toskana |
 |
| Von Toskana |
 |
| Von Toskana |
Pisa and Liguria
The only not so charming city in Tuscany I know is Pisa – but you have to stop by fort he leaning tower. So we did that and found again the most touristy spot in Italy (not even Rom is that worse, as there are uncountable spots to go for). The cathedral, baptistery and tower are flanked by a row of souvenir shops so the crowed is concentrated on this walk to the tower. Even the precious cathedral was empty considering the people outside. Maybe we do the city wrong, but visiting it maybe a must for the funny tower, that was built, sinked and built on top twice so the tower is not only leading but askew in its upper floors as well, but not worth a second time.
We quickly moved on after a rest in the gras and appreciating the cathedral. And driving was fun this holiday. Going to Cinque Terre, serveral bays along the western mediterranean shore, I was going serpentine after serpentine. Unfortunately we couldn’t remember the name of the cute city we arrived after our hike during our class vacation seven years ago. That lead us to the city we started our hike back then. In Monterosso al Mare (the first of the five cities) the cars were parked on top of the moutain allready, we found a lot maybe 100 meters above the city. That’s when we should have known, that the city will be packed. The beach was almost invisible, but we didn’t want to swim anyway.
Leaving the main area, walking up the old walls we finally could enjoy the view over the mediterranean sea. If you’re not starting the Cinque Terre hike through the cities (and that’s what you must do to enjoy the landscape and region if you have time), I would recommend Vernazza for a stay. Even if it gets full, it’s never as packed as Monterosso...
To shorten our way back to Germany we decided to drive to the Garda Lake and found us a hotel around the westcoast, which had its heydays some 30 years ago.
Delicious bruschette and seafood antipasti in Cinque Terre.
Province of Bolzano/Bozen also known as Alto Adige or Südtirol
Driving past the Garda Lake on the western side we were passing rich holiday areas witch yacht-selling like Salò, small and pitoresque cities like Gargnano, more enjoyable serpentines and impressive stone-tunnels. Almost in the north of the lake windsurfers, kitesurfers and climbers gathered on every standable, small spot. At the same time bikers became more as we were reaching Riva de Garda. We just enjoyed the view, not seeing the end of the lake, the sunbeams breaking through the clouds hanging in the moutaintops and the beginning of the wineyards.
Reaching the Province of Bolzano or Alto Adige, we passed Tramin and Kaltern along the wineroad. At a nice little family wineyard we bought the obligatory wine, some red grapes and apples. And auntie Beth could experience being inside a wineyard ;)
In contrast to the last weekend of vacations in Austria and Germany, the way back home was pleasant and without heavy traffic.
 |
| Von Lago di Garda, Verona, Südtirol |
Dienstag, 31. August 2010
Rheinfall, Bodensee die Zweite
Rheinfall not a Reinfall (=flopp) :D
First it was a little bit difficult to figure out, that with the new handrails they also closed down the path to the waterfalls so you have to get some tickets near the parking space (was my duty to hurry up back the steps) and that adventure trail just means the normal way to the Rheinfall-waterfalls. But in the end we enjoyed an impressive view. As it was raining, the Rhein had swollen up to a massive body of water and a deafening roar :D So you could say it's really not a bad thing if you have "bad" weather while visiting Europes biggest waterfalls and the fall of the waters from lake Constance to the Rhine's journey around 100 kilometers until he merges with the ocean in the Netherlands.
Unteruhldingen-Bodensee
We already had in mind to do a stopover at the Bodensee or in English Lake Constance, the lake between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. As I went to Konstanz last week Mom remembered the pile dwelling that is situated at the Lake Constance. In the little town of Unteruhldingen, they reconstructed the Stone Age and Bronce Age way of living at the lakes around the alps (they found pillars, tools and sceletons in Austria, Switzerland and Italy as well). Hadn't it been so freezing cold it would've been a far more enjoyable stopover. Inside of the reconstructed houses the museumstaff explains the ancient, daily life around making axes, building houses, farming and making fire. You can find a house with waxfigures that show a barn or even a death watch. Some houses were used as experimental field as well. Four years ago two families lived there like in the Stone Age. For two months they had to make their own clothes and tools or hunt fish. This was broadcasted in a documentary. For kids they have a lot of events where they still can experience such during their holidays or in workshops.
Due to the weather we skipped the trip to the flowerisland Mainau and just went to eat and buy some of the fish of the lake :)
First it was a little bit difficult to figure out, that with the new handrails they also closed down the path to the waterfalls so you have to get some tickets near the parking space (was my duty to hurry up back the steps) and that adventure trail just means the normal way to the Rheinfall-waterfalls. But in the end we enjoyed an impressive view. As it was raining, the Rhein had swollen up to a massive body of water and a deafening roar :D So you could say it's really not a bad thing if you have "bad" weather while visiting Europes biggest waterfalls and the fall of the waters from lake Constance to the Rhine's journey around 100 kilometers until he merges with the ocean in the Netherlands.
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
Unteruhldingen-Bodensee
We already had in mind to do a stopover at the Bodensee or in English Lake Constance, the lake between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. As I went to Konstanz last week Mom remembered the pile dwelling that is situated at the Lake Constance. In the little town of Unteruhldingen, they reconstructed the Stone Age and Bronce Age way of living at the lakes around the alps (they found pillars, tools and sceletons in Austria, Switzerland and Italy as well). Hadn't it been so freezing cold it would've been a far more enjoyable stopover. Inside of the reconstructed houses the museumstaff explains the ancient, daily life around making axes, building houses, farming and making fire. You can find a house with waxfigures that show a barn or even a death watch. Some houses were used as experimental field as well. Four years ago two families lived there like in the Stone Age. For two months they had to make their own clothes and tools or hunt fish. This was broadcasted in a documentary. For kids they have a lot of events where they still can experience such during their holidays or in workshops.
Due to the weather we skipped the trip to the flowerisland Mainau and just went to eat and buy some of the fish of the lake :)
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
Zürich
While discovering Central Europe my mom and I acompanied my auntie to her former colleague Allen in Zürich. We met him the first time seven years ago, when I was still in school and he was doing trainings in Holland. Today he's a successfull engineer living with his wife and three adorable kids near Zürich and is the best example that you don't have to end up as a domestic helper for your career outside the Philippines :)
While experiencing the tunnels of Austria and Switzerland (especially the Pfändertunnel with almost seven Kilometers of darkness) we arrived on a saturday afternoon, just in time for some windowshopping - as there are no shops open on Sundays exept in the train station. Zürich's got a relaxed atmosphere, normal people mix up with the rich ones on the streets, there is some fashion but not very apparent and distinctive. Anyway prices are high - I forgot how high and remembered why we (as students) didn't went for dinner, when we visited Sonja there two years ago :P Still there was nothing to stop me from buying cheese and chocolate - what else would bring home as presents along a swiss knife.
So we went down the Bahnhofstraße, the luxurious shopping street with Chanel next to H&M, walked around the harbour and the park. There were even some children splashing in the Zürichlake - brrr, even if we were lucky with the weather it was too cold for us. Eventually we went to the Lindenhof, an old freemaison lodge, for the view down to the river Limmat. For dinner we went to eat Züricher Kalbsgeschnetzeltes (chopped veal in cream sauce) and Cordon Bleu (veal filled with cheese and ham) with Rösti.
This is where Marcos and Imelda hid their money XD
Uetliberg
The next day we went on the tourist path, walking the Planetway on the Uetlimoutain south of Zürich. To spare some engergy we took the cable car in Sihlau, just walked on the ridge and went down with the cable car again to the main station of Zürich. On the way auntie Beth could experience the friendlyness of the people living around the moutains, they'll great you most of the time, and the cows from a close look.
The view from the Zürichpart of the Uetliberg is gorgeous, there is even a metal tower you can go up to have a 360 degree panoramic view :)
Back at Allens house his wife prepared us philippine lunch and we took a rest while watching a philippine movie on the Filipino Internet TV Channel (you could tell mom and auntie where exhausted by the walk, as they were sleeping most parts of the movie^^).
In the evening we went to Zürich with the whole family, enjoying the small, old streets, (more or less :) the smell of the raclett and some music from a street festival. As we ended up in the Italian restaurant we wanted to eat two of the girls where sleeping allready :)
While leaving the Zürich area the next morning, we realized the dimesion of road works in Switzerland. There was almost no street with no working site...
While experiencing the tunnels of Austria and Switzerland (especially the Pfändertunnel with almost seven Kilometers of darkness) we arrived on a saturday afternoon, just in time for some windowshopping - as there are no shops open on Sundays exept in the train station. Zürich's got a relaxed atmosphere, normal people mix up with the rich ones on the streets, there is some fashion but not very apparent and distinctive. Anyway prices are high - I forgot how high and remembered why we (as students) didn't went for dinner, when we visited Sonja there two years ago :P Still there was nothing to stop me from buying cheese and chocolate - what else would bring home as presents along a swiss knife.
So we went down the Bahnhofstraße, the luxurious shopping street with Chanel next to H&M, walked around the harbour and the park. There were even some children splashing in the Zürichlake - brrr, even if we were lucky with the weather it was too cold for us. Eventually we went to the Lindenhof, an old freemaison lodge, for the view down to the river Limmat. For dinner we went to eat Züricher Kalbsgeschnetzeltes (chopped veal in cream sauce) and Cordon Bleu (veal filled with cheese and ham) with Rösti.
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
Uetliberg
The next day we went on the tourist path, walking the Planetway on the Uetlimoutain south of Zürich. To spare some engergy we took the cable car in Sihlau, just walked on the ridge and went down with the cable car again to the main station of Zürich. On the way auntie Beth could experience the friendlyness of the people living around the moutains, they'll great you most of the time, and the cows from a close look.
The view from the Zürichpart of the Uetliberg is gorgeous, there is even a metal tower you can go up to have a 360 degree panoramic view :)
Back at Allens house his wife prepared us philippine lunch and we took a rest while watching a philippine movie on the Filipino Internet TV Channel (you could tell mom and auntie where exhausted by the walk, as they were sleeping most parts of the movie^^).
In the evening we went to Zürich with the whole family, enjoying the small, old streets, (more or less :) the smell of the raclett and some music from a street festival. As we ended up in the Italian restaurant we wanted to eat two of the girls where sleeping allready :)
While leaving the Zürich area the next morning, we realized the dimesion of road works in Switzerland. There was almost no street with no working site...
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
 |
| Von Visiting Allen and Family in Zürich |
Dienstag, 16. Februar 2010
Shorttrip to Amsterdam
With a little, huge delay...
I went to Amsterdam to meet up with Reece and visit the Netherlands for the first time. As I'm growing older, distances seem to be shorter, fortunately. So Mom and me went there with the car, driving on the speedracing, less crowdy autobahn and among crazy Dutch people, not used to velocities over 100 km/h :P
The Netherlands started with stereotypes, thatched roofs and bright orange sings along the streets, narrow houses and canals inside of the city. Even if some of the Dutch know German, they prefer speaking in English - understandably the don't want to subordinate to their bigger neighbour.
First of all we entered the city the "wrong" way, but as walking throught the city to get to our hotel, we decided it was just the right way to get a glimpse of the city center :) After a stop over at the hotel we went straight to the flower market, because my mom always wanted to see the tulips of Amsterdam and the shoes as well . Bad, it was wintertime, but they still had some tiny ones - and a lot of other souvenirs, which we bought another day. But the stroll through the flower market calmed us down, that we won't have a problem to get some souvenirs^^
As the last tourists we entered the city palace of the Dutch Royal Family - we still had 45 minutes, but the Dutch seem to take care of their closing time very well (they would not tell, but always looking after the last ones to walk through the rooms), which was kind of uncomfortable and made me a little defiant...
Good thing, the Anne-Frank-House was open a little bit longer, so we could meet Reece there. While hiding from the starting rain inside of the building, I was shooe at again, when I was forbiddingly taking a picture of my mom inside, but facing outside... The museum was great and had some breathtaking moments, when you can hardly imagine the time during World War II. At other times, Reece and I enjoyed remembering Manila while ending up as the only guests at a nearby Italian restaurant.
Despite the rain we went for another walk through the city, but the we could enjoy the canals, romantic bridges with bicycles and narrow houses better the next day (not worrying about getting a cold :)
The next day was our town canals/Grachten and museum day. First we enjoyed the old masters of the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt and Co. - as we discovered afterwards, that it was only the best of selection, because they closed down the major part due to restauration, we weren't sad at all, the compressed collection was way better to digest. After some nice museum shops, the obligatory picture in front of the I Am sterdam and a gaze to the melting ice skating rink, we wandered through the Van Gogh Museum. That was more my time of arts (even if I have to admit, I was striken with awe standing and tempted to touch the as-if-alive fabrics infront of the Nightwatch of Rembrandt before). Mom and Reece were surprised of the small size of the paintings and I immersed myself in the brushstrokes and colors :)
Afterwards the Hard Rock Cafe (to tiny) and the Red Light District (to early, not enoug show) couldn't compete anymore. But the cake along the road was good and very heavy!
It's nice to see, that Amsterdam is a totally multicultural city, as we met a schoolclass, there was no majority of any ethnicity. Another nice thing about multicultural cities: the food! We went from italian to indonese, from pancakes to pastry and the funny mixture of chips with kebap :D
Our last full day started with some banana pancakes for which we had to walk hours - literally, because quarter past nine was obviously to early for breakfast in this city... It's weird, you can only have pancakes after 10 a.m. and around 6 p.m. the shops are closing down already (sure the restaurants stay open a little longer, but don't expect to much). Maybe it's because it was winter time, but anyway, when are we expected to have breakfast???
After a visit to the old church with modern arts and the condom store (just outside ;) we met Reece at the Heineken Experience. It's truly marketing, but hey, it was really good. First you can find the subsidiaries on a huge map (so we gathered near the Philippines ;) then you get an introduction to the history of the family business, with video bits in just the right length, picture taking walls, a litte walk through exhibition and finally the beer making tour. First an woman tells you ab out the ingredients, which you can semell and touch, then you can walk through the brewing system, crash some barley and stir the young beer. Then a little cinema puts you in the situation of the beer to experience being brewed before you can get your fresh beer. Some more interactive rooms, historic commercials and exhibitions of Heineken cooperations end the tour.
After two days of walking we then decided to take the boat trip, that was a good idea! We could relax as the sun was setting and saw some of the parts we didn't walk past (like the haven).
At a nice cafe in the train station we chatted some time, until the woman wanted to close it down (at 9 p.m. on a Friday in the Central Station....). Then we had to say goodbye until the next meeting on another continent :D
Amsterdam-Pics: http://bit.ly/8XdgYO
I went to Amsterdam to meet up with Reece and visit the Netherlands for the first time. As I'm growing older, distances seem to be shorter, fortunately. So Mom and me went there with the car, driving on the speedracing, less crowdy autobahn and among crazy Dutch people, not used to velocities over 100 km/h :P
The Netherlands started with stereotypes, thatched roofs and bright orange sings along the streets, narrow houses and canals inside of the city. Even if some of the Dutch know German, they prefer speaking in English - understandably the don't want to subordinate to their bigger neighbour.
First of all we entered the city the "wrong" way, but as walking throught the city to get to our hotel, we decided it was just the right way to get a glimpse of the city center :) After a stop over at the hotel we went straight to the flower market, because my mom always wanted to see the tulips of Amsterdam and the shoes as well . Bad, it was wintertime, but they still had some tiny ones - and a lot of other souvenirs, which we bought another day. But the stroll through the flower market calmed us down, that we won't have a problem to get some souvenirs^^
As the last tourists we entered the city palace of the Dutch Royal Family - we still had 45 minutes, but the Dutch seem to take care of their closing time very well (they would not tell, but always looking after the last ones to walk through the rooms), which was kind of uncomfortable and made me a little defiant...
Good thing, the Anne-Frank-House was open a little bit longer, so we could meet Reece there. While hiding from the starting rain inside of the building, I was shooe at again, when I was forbiddingly taking a picture of my mom inside, but facing outside... The museum was great and had some breathtaking moments, when you can hardly imagine the time during World War II. At other times, Reece and I enjoyed remembering Manila while ending up as the only guests at a nearby Italian restaurant.
Despite the rain we went for another walk through the city, but the we could enjoy the canals, romantic bridges with bicycles and narrow houses better the next day (not worrying about getting a cold :)
The next day was our town canals/Grachten and museum day. First we enjoyed the old masters of the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt and Co. - as we discovered afterwards, that it was only the best of selection, because they closed down the major part due to restauration, we weren't sad at all, the compressed collection was way better to digest. After some nice museum shops, the obligatory picture in front of the I Am sterdam and a gaze to the melting ice skating rink, we wandered through the Van Gogh Museum. That was more my time of arts (even if I have to admit, I was striken with awe standing and tempted to touch the as-if-alive fabrics infront of the Nightwatch of Rembrandt before). Mom and Reece were surprised of the small size of the paintings and I immersed myself in the brushstrokes and colors :)
Afterwards the Hard Rock Cafe (to tiny) and the Red Light District (to early, not enoug show) couldn't compete anymore. But the cake along the road was good and very heavy!
It's nice to see, that Amsterdam is a totally multicultural city, as we met a schoolclass, there was no majority of any ethnicity. Another nice thing about multicultural cities: the food! We went from italian to indonese, from pancakes to pastry and the funny mixture of chips with kebap :D
Our last full day started with some banana pancakes for which we had to walk hours - literally, because quarter past nine was obviously to early for breakfast in this city... It's weird, you can only have pancakes after 10 a.m. and around 6 p.m. the shops are closing down already (sure the restaurants stay open a little longer, but don't expect to much). Maybe it's because it was winter time, but anyway, when are we expected to have breakfast???
After a visit to the old church with modern arts and the condom store (just outside ;) we met Reece at the Heineken Experience. It's truly marketing, but hey, it was really good. First you can find the subsidiaries on a huge map (so we gathered near the Philippines ;) then you get an introduction to the history of the family business, with video bits in just the right length, picture taking walls, a litte walk through exhibition and finally the beer making tour. First an woman tells you ab out the ingredients, which you can semell and touch, then you can walk through the brewing system, crash some barley and stir the young beer. Then a little cinema puts you in the situation of the beer to experience being brewed before you can get your fresh beer. Some more interactive rooms, historic commercials and exhibitions of Heineken cooperations end the tour.
After two days of walking we then decided to take the boat trip, that was a good idea! We could relax as the sun was setting and saw some of the parts we didn't walk past (like the haven).
At a nice cafe in the train station we chatted some time, until the woman wanted to close it down (at 9 p.m. on a Friday in the Central Station....). Then we had to say goodbye until the next meeting on another continent :D
Amsterdam-Pics: http://bit.ly/8XdgYO
Abonnieren
Posts (Atom)
