Voilà. I went last time to Strasbourg in a warm weekend in February that made me think Spring is on its way. I remember walking on a street called Rue de Printemps (Spring) near the European Parliament. There is something romantic walking in any French city street, but especially one with the name of a season.
Continue reading “Bonsoir Printemps, Strasbourg”
Most photogenic city in Europe must be Amsterdam. This Dutch city is pretty at every corner with the picture perfect charming houses, over 1000 bridges bridges for 165 canals and world-class museums. I was lucky that I visited the cozy city 4 times during the years I lived in Brussels, so I wrote down from my journal 4 memories.
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There is something about European 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.
Continue reading “Antwerpen Central Station”
City of Mozart, Marzipan combined with pistachio, covered in dark chocolate, or Sound of Music and Christmas markets? Besides Vienna, Austria has more beautiful cities, and Salzburg is one hidden treasure. Dream now, visit later.
Continue reading “A day in Salzburg”
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”
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.
Continue reading “Helsinki ~ White Night”
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, Düsseldorf is such an interesting dinamic city today. I visited it in for a reunion in summer and by myself in 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”
In a rainy October weekend, I attended the Lithuanian Film festival in Berlin, while mixing it with memories from a trip in the heart of Vilnius years ago. I started thinking of special friendships and remembered the Constitution of the “Republic” of Užupis, that claims “everyone has the right to make mistakes”.
Continue reading “Vilnius goes Berlin”
In Warsaw I traveled only for work many times. And the memories are a puzzle, while the seasons are changing. Summer after work on the main street Novi Świat or an autumn night, accidentally attending a Chopin piano concert in a bookstore. A winter morning, in a taxi seeing the city covered with snow or in spring at food market Hala Koszyki. Warszawa reminded me of Bucharest, that made me a bit melancholic. Polish language is also very different, but some sounds are familiar. I felt as I traveled in time.
Continue reading “Chopin’s Warsaw”
In an early Friday morning I am at the Brussels Midi train station, about to board the Eurostar and go to London for an extended weekend. My first time traveling with the Eurostar train. And I am looking around, listening to people speak French or English with a superb accent, thinking how lucky I am and how cool is Europe!
Continue reading “Destination: London”
From different cities there are moments, people and places that stay with us. When I think of Oslo, I remember first the Opera House. I never saw till this day a more impressive modern Opera. I haven’t been to Sydney yet, and the Copenhagen Opera is also contemporary. But I dare to say this one in Oslo is one of a kind.
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September. Movies. Bella Italia. From today until the 12th of September, the 77th edition of the Biennale Cinema di Venezia will be held. The Venice Film Festival is promoting international cinema in all forms “as art, entertainment and as an industry.”
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Remembering summer days in the Dalmatian coast. Sunset on a isolated Saint Jakub beach, Croatian wines between the walls of Dubrovnik on Stradun, piano concert during the Summer festival, sightseeing, red-brick roofs and turquoise water, swimming in the Adriatic Sea, trips to Srd mountain and to a natural reserve that is the Island of Lokrum.
Continue reading “Dubrovnik. Postcards from the past”
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.
Continue reading “Photo journal from Prague”
Le Tapis de Fleurs de Bruxelles or Brussels Flower Carpet, build in Grand Place, takes place every 2 years in August. This was one of my favorite events ever and a precious memory. What an extraordinary feeling to be in that UNESCO heritage site – a beautiful square filled with flowers, and to notice a smell of begonias mixed with waffles and chocolate. The scent I associate with Brussels ever since.
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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. Sibiu, Sighișoara and Braşov. It has much to offer, from nature, adventure, mountains, fortified cities, Saxon villages and yes, appropriately spooky castles.
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I feel that I already mix up in my head cities seen in recent months, Strasbourg, Colmar, Baden Baden, Luzern, Zürich, and now Basel and Freiburg, so I must stop a minute to reflect and write some thoughts about each.
Continue reading “Art Basel”
Revisiting past memories is an opportunity for closure and to look at things from a different light. With clichés and all. In my Belgian years I tried to travel often inside the country and understand Belgium as much as possible. What I remember about Bruges is the vintage atmosphere and smell of gingerbread mixed with melancholy, where I felt like Gretel.
Continue reading “In Bruges / Brügge”
Travel Journal 