Dubrovnik. Postcards from the past

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.

A I D ASeptember 1, 2020April 19, 2023Leave a comment

City Guide, Germany

Munich – Coffee meets Fashion

Munich is beautiful, voted several times as the most livable city in the world. Home of Oktoberfest and Bayern München, the Bavarian capital is both traditional and modern – a winning combination in my books.

A I D AAugust 31, 2020October 3, 20242 Comments

City Guide, Czech Republic, Journal

Photo journal from Prague

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.

A I D AAugust 29, 2020January 5, 20253 Comments

Belgium, Brussels, Events, Journal

Brussels Flower Carpet

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.

A I D AAugust 1, 2020March 24, 20242 Comments

City Guide, Germany, Postcard

Hamburg revisited

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 new discoveries – neighborhoods Blankenese and Altona, Stadthöfen / New Wall, plus the park Planten un Blomen.

A I D AJuly 31, 2020December 10, 20232 Comments

Bucharest, City Guide, Journal, Romania

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. Sibiu, Sighișoara and Braşov. It has much to offer, from nature, adventure, mountains, fortified cities, Saxon villages and yes, appropriately spooky castles.

A I D AJuly 23, 2020October 24, 20243 Comments

ART, Journal, Postcard, Switzerland

Art Basel

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.

A I D AJuly 3, 2020January 28, 2024Leave a comment

Germany

Rügen island & Baltic Coast

Only a train away from Berlin is the Baltic Sea. Windy beautiful Northern Germany. I woke up missing the sea, so I booked a direct IC train to Rostock with a first stop in Warnemünde. Next trip and good idea was the city of Binz in island of Rügen, german biggest island. In fact some 50 islands in the North Sea and Baltic Sea belong to Germany.

A I D AJune 27, 2020August 24, 20243 Comments

Belgium, Brussels, Journal, Photography

In Bruges / Brügge

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.

A I D AMay 24, 2020March 30, 20243 Comments

Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Events, Paris

International Museums Day

An event that started in Paris is now almost everywhere in the world. Every year, in spring, around the 18th of May is celebrated the International Museums day. Galleries and more other cultural places join every year the “Long Night of the Museums”.

A I D AMay 18, 2020July 6, 2024Leave a comment

France, Journal, Postcard

Côte d’Azur & Beaux Voyages

Most memorable day trips from Nice were Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat and Eze. In this order. Followed closely by Antibes, that I discovered with a new friend from Austria. And Cannes, a school trip, where we went by train and attended in the evening the annual fireworks festival, in front of famous Cannes Croisette.

A I D AMay 7, 2020February 1, 20243 Comments

France, Journal

Côte d’Azur. Nice & Belle chérie

We still cannot make plans for the summer, but we can dream and revisit past travel destinations. In the last days I reflected on favorite summer trips where I would like to return, from a Promenade in the South of France, fado rhythms of the Atlantic Ocean, Italian towns, to German castles and my hometown at the shore of the Black Sea.

A I D AMay 6, 2020April 13, 20231 Comment

Journal, Photography, Spain

Spain ~ Gaudí ~ Barcelona

No place like home, except the seaside. Si. Difficult to say what I liked more in Barcelona – sangria on our first night, the flavors of paella, Boqueria market, the Mediterranean, the concert at Palau Sant Jordi, strong coffee on Passeig de Gracia while admiring the Gaudí architecture and being called “señiorita”.

A I D AApril 19, 2020April 15, 20256 Comments

Guest post, Sweden

One with serene nature around Sundsvall

Guest post by Anna Balciune

In Part 1 we visited Gothenburg and Sundsvall. Let’s now visit my favorite getaways to nature around Sundsvall! Each of these are located in different directions from the city and are easy to access by car.

A I D AApril 9, 2020December 13, 20231 Comment

Guest post, Sweden

On a Coast of Somewhere Beautiful: Sweden

Guest post by Anna Balciune

Majority of people sigh picturing the views of Stockholm, the charming capital of Sweden. Some might also praise the cozy Gothenburg, kingdom’s second largest city. Perhaps even Malmö can come to a traveler’s mind – a city kissing Copenhagen in Denmark through a nearly 8 kilometers long bridge of Öresund. However, just as many Nordic countries, Sweden is way more than its admirable cities.

A I D AApril 5, 2020June 1, 20245 Comments

Berlin, City Guide, Germany

Berlin Mitte (updated)

The diversity of Berlin Mitte mirrors the diversity of the city. When I moved here, I discovered the city by neighborhoods. After Tiergarten, now I wrote down some moments spend in Mitte, considered today the city downtown, but for almost 30 years was divided between East and West.

A I D AMarch 25, 2020October 12, 20242 Comments

Berlin, City Guide, Germany

Berlin & Tiergarten

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 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.

A I D AFebruary 29, 2020April 8, 20244 Comments

Berlin, Events, Germany

Berlinale 2020

Alongside Cannes and Venice, Berlin is the platform of one of the biggest public international film festivals in the world. For a movie enthusiast, living in a city with many classic arthouse cinemas, was a joy to celebrate in February 2020 the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival.

A I D AFebruary 23, 2020June 1, 20233 Comments

Travel Journal

City wonders

June in Camogli Portofino

Best of Istanbul / Crossing continents

Beautiful Cinque Terre

Theater night in London

Walk Eat Rome