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”
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.”
Continue reading “Venice – La Biennale”
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”
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading “Brussels Flower Carpet”
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.
Continue reading “Hamburg revisited”
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.
Continue reading “Rügen island & Baltic Coast”
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”
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.
Continue reading “Côte d’Azur & Beaux Voyages”
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.
Continue reading “Côte d’Azur. Nice & Belle chérie”
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”.
Continue reading “Spain ~ Gaudí ~ Barcelona”
Wandering around in Colmar one summer among well preserved half-timbered houses, I was inspired to stop and write a sentence or two instead of photographing. Is amazing when this is happening.
Continue reading “Once Upon a Time … in Colmar”
Even though Verona is known for tragical Romeo & Juliet of Shakespeare, what I remember from that holiday are pumpkin ravioli, pecorino cheese, tiramisu, lake Garda, stunning architecture and opera. Yes, Italian opera! Is so easy to keep finding reasons to return to Italy, right?!
Continue reading “Memories – “AIDA” in Verona”
Hometown and first love. Behind the murmur or nostalgia of the sea, and the salty air that reminds me of my childhood, there is a strong connection to my roots.
Shades of Orange. A few memories from a couple of August days in Milan, capital of Lombardy. Italy and the relaxed lifestyle makes me always reflect and photograph its stunning architecture.
Continue reading “When in Milan”
There are so many ways to get to know a city or to have a good first overview. This time I took a long walk and then a boat. While I imagined how locals spend their Saturday and live their life in Hamburg.
Continue reading “Hamburg. A Day in the Life”
In just a few intense days, last August we hiked through a protected national park, swam among salty rocks and dived inside a cave, we had liquor and truffles tasting experiences. We ate and had Istrian wine again and again.
Continue reading “Wonderful Istria”
Travel Journal 