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 and of streets. Or the scented air with notes of leather, olive oil and amber perfume.
Continue reading “Journey to Firenze, Toscana”
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.
Continue reading “Taste of Bologna”
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.
Continue reading “Enjoy Berlin”
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.
Continue reading “Potsdam – Palaces & Parks”
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.
Continue reading “Kreuzkölln in Berlin”
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, must be the third most visited Belgian city in the years I lived in this country, after Brussels and Bruges, and one I feel connected by many memories.
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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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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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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.
Continue reading “Amazing Timișoara in 24 hours”
While sitting in the train from Berlin to Potsdam, I started writing about my last trip to Düsseldorf. Even though “dorf” means village in German, and the word is in the name, Düsseldorf is such an interesting dinamic city today. I visited it in summer and autumn. And two time in winter, for the Christmas market, as we have to admit the holidays are the only best part during the cold months.
Continue reading “4 things to do in Düsseldorf”
Munich is a very good looking city, dynamic, voted several times as the most livable city in the world. Home of Oktoberfest and Bayern München team, the Bavarian capital is traditional, yet hip – a winning combination in my books.
Continue reading “Munich – Coffee meets Fashion”
Since I visited Prague twice, once in winter weather, and in summer, I feel I saw and photographed two different contrasting cities, both beautiful. I explored so far only districts Praha 1 and Praha 2. May sounds as Hunger games, but in fact Prague is more bohemian than entertaining, more Kafka than Hollywood, and this is awesome.
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Moin. The return to Hamburg felt as seeing an old friend. I might exaggerate or I really missed being a traveller. This time, I revisited the warehouse district Speicherstadt (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and made 4 new discoveries – neighborhoods Blankenese and Altona, the park Planten un Blomen and lastly, Stadthöfen / New Wall.
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Sticky post
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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A train away from Berlin is the Baltic Sea (Ostsee). Windy and beautiful Northern Germany. I woke up missing the sea, so I booked a direct IC train to Rostock with a first stop in Warnemünde.
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Slowing down is the mode currently around the globe. Interestingly enough, in Berlin I was not rushing here and there. Compared with other European capitals, what is the difference that makes the difference? I believe the city has a rare energy. Prenzlauer Berg’s architecture in particular is esthetically beautiful with many historical Wilhelmine buildings.
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This month I was attending the Berlinale film festival closing night. And now we accept the new situation and change habits, but one good news is that cities, museums, mountains and the beaches will still be there.
Continue reading “Berlin Mitte”
Starting a districts round, as Berlin is divided in 12 administrative districts, each of those with many neighborhoods. Tiergarten is a huge urban park that is now part of neighborhood Mitte (Middle). Used to belong to West Berlin before the Reunification. The former royal park is now open to the public and is a great connection from the West part to the center.
Continue reading “Berlin & Tiergarten”
