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Visit Transylvania
Three recommendations with love, from the heart of Transylvania and one cliché, as usual. The historic region is synonym with mystery, but travelers must look past Dracula to discover it properly. It has much to offer, from nature, adventure, mountains, fortified cities, Saxon villages and yes, appropriately spooky castles.
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Tapas for lunch, flamenco for dinner
Madrid days started with traditional churros with hot chocolate and strong coffee (cortado) at Chocolaterías San Ginés, like a Madrileño, had sunshine & tapas for lunch, and ended with ‘tinto de verano’ drink, reminding me of the summer I thought was over, with flamenco guitar in the background.
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‘De Madrid al cielo’ mix
Madrid is a city I wanted to visit before the pandemic. Was a journey that took me by surprise – with a mix of Brussels friendship, Flamenco, Passeo de Prado Art Walk, tapas in Mercados, sunsets, Spanish history and busy streets, as a preview of the days to come.
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Brussels – Art Nouveau Marathon
Fall flashbacks, as one October in Brussels was unforgettable because was all about Art Nouveau. Inoubliable. Made many notes and photos so I don’t forget. Art Nouveau and Art Deco Biennale was a celebration of Architecture and design variety of buildings in Brussels.
Where to begin?
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Moments in Vienna
Revisited a dear place. August. The Old meets the New in Vienna. Always a pleasure to return to this wonderful city, with something new to discover.
Vienna Museum Quarter has a new rooftop bar and platform, Libelle MQ, at the top of the Leopold Museum.
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Journey to Firenze, Toscana
Tuscany is so beautiful, it has to be seen to be believed. The city of Florence is famous for its overwhelming art galleries and Michelangelo Renaissance sculptures in marble, but still, I was struck by the colors of vineyards, or sounds of the cypresses. Or the scented air with notes of leather, olive oil and amber.
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Taste of Bologna
Best things to do in Italy all involve food. Bologna is at the center of Emilia-Romagna region, famous for Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mortadella and Prosciutto di Palma, but also aceto balsamico di Modena and much more. And to think I associated in the past the city only with pasta sauce and the Bologna university system, home of Europe oldest university.
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Enjoy Berlin
Berlin is not short of ways to enjoy the warmer months, in both Spring and Summer. Oldest beer garden and open air cinema. Museum and galleries, lakes and rooftops, bookshops and icecream.
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Bonsoir Printemps, Strasbourg
Voilà. I went last time to vibrant Strasbourg in a very warm weekend in February that made me think Spring is on its way. I remember I walked on a street called Rue de Printemp (Spring street) near the European Parliament. There is something romantic walking in any French city, but especially one with the name of a season.
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Potsdam – Palaces & Parks
Potsdam is a one day trip from Berlin, and is a city that invited exploration as it has 17 palaces spread across 3 parks from a Prussian royal heritage. The parks and palaces complex are today an UNESCO World site and a mix of styles with gardens inspired from many parts of the world – Greece, Italy, France or ancient Asia.
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A day in Salzburg
City of Mozart, Marzipan combined with pistachio, covered in dark chocolate, or Sound of Music? Besides Vienna, Austria has more beautiful cities, and Salzburg is one hidden treasure. Dream now, visit later.
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Kreuzkölln in Berlin
Kreuzberg and Neukölln neighborhoods were like a puzzle. Unconventional, different, yet still Berlin. Contrasting parts of the city, most tolerant, and in the same time, surprisingly traditional, both part of former West Berlin.
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Antwerpen Central Station
There is something about train stations and time. The most beautiful train station I ever saw with magnificent details was in Antwerp. The classic central station was first used in 1905 (yes, really). The city, known as Anvers by French speakers, is one I feel connected by many memories, and must be the third most visited Belgian city in the years I lived in this country, after Brussels and Bruges.
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Brâncuși Week & The Endless Column
Art inspired from Romanian mythology and traditions and carved in wood, stone and later bronze. From Târgu-Jiu and Bucharest to Paris, via Munich until New York. Every year, on the 19th of February, a tribute is paid to honor the memory of genius artist Constantin Brâncuși, pioneer of modern sculpture. But the Brâncuși Week starts today.
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Berlin Friedrichshain
Going East to start the party. Friedrichshain is an eclectic mix of alternative places, vibrant street art, pieces of Berlin history and lively squares. Is the place of the iconic East Side Gallery, the destination for techno club culture, but also the home to many Berliners and filming location for the Queen’s Gambit.
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West Berlin & Charlottenburg
Exploring the old Berlin with Charlottenburg, from Sophia Charlotte of Hanover. In this part of former West Berlin located near Tiergarden park, you can combine (soon) Palace or museum visits with shopping and alternative places.
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A year in the life
We measure something so abstract as time in days, months and years as is easier for us to shape it. 2020 was no ordinary “year”, not in perception or in facts. So I was reflecting and looked back. Winter had lights and music in Berlin. After that, Spring was marked by uncertainty. Summer was sunnier and bohemian in Hamburg, Prague and Munich, and Fall was emotional.
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Amazing Timișoara in 24 hours
Heading West today to Timișoara, the 3rd largest city of Romania. Still left to explore in this part of the country. Near the borders with Serbia and Hungary, Timisoara is beautiful and full of surprises. For generations, Romanians have lives here alongside Serbs, Germans, Croats or Hungarians. The city was chosen as the 2023 European Capital of culture and is truly a touristic destination.
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Helsinki White Night Moment
Once upon a time, I acknowledged the beauty of the European continent. When in Estonia for a summer school, we took the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki with “Viking line”, because is “only two hours away”. Yes! I learned a Finish untranslatable word – “sisu”, that might be the definition of happiness. And the Scandinavian habit “friluftsliv”, useful now, in pandemic times.
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Travel Journal 