Prague: Old Town Square

Prague


Old Town Square (Staromìstské námìstí)

Being Prague's heart since the 10th century and its main market place until the beginning of the 20th century, the spacious 1.7 hectare Old Town Square has been the scene of great events, both glorious and tragic. There are beautiful pastel-coloured buildings of Romanesque or Gothic origin with fascinating house signs. Some of the most prominent examples include the Kinský Palace, the House of the Stone Bell and the Štorch House. Today, the Old Town Square offers visitors a tourist information office, number of restaurants, cafés, shops and galleries.

Been here twice but on the second time, it was freezing cold and windy that I left my camera in the bus. I just accompanied our colleagues who have not yet seen the place. Wanted to stay longer to watch the clock tower with 'soldiers' coming out to signal the next hour.

Prague: Charles Bridge and Powder Gate

Prague


Czechs are West Slavs, as are Poles and Slovaks. The capital Prague is often called The Heart of Europe. There are about 10 million people in the Czech Republic and about 1.3 million people in Prague. Western part of the Czech Republic is called Bohemia, eastern Moravia.

Charles Bridge

The most famous bridge in Prague was completed in about 1400. It is really nice walk across the bridge. You could admire Baroque statuary, grand views up and down the river. There is an army of tourists squeezing on the bridge in summer the whole day. To have the bridge to yourself you should get there by about 8 am. In summer you can climb up into the two towers at the ends of the bridge.

Powder Gate (Prašná brána),

This was constructed in 1475 on the place of a former early Gothic tower. In the 15th century, it had no more its defence function and became rather a representative tower of the most important town of the Czech Kingdom - the Old Town of Prague.

Most likely, it was the reason why a century older Charles Bridge tower was used as its model.

The tower was built in the neighbourhood of a Royal Court, which used to be situated on the place of today`s adjacent Municipal House. With some interruptions, the kings dwelled in that former palace from 1383 up 1783. at that time, King Vladislav of Jagiello moved back to the Prague Castle and the palace remained abandoned. It was a cause of the interruption of works on the Powder Tower and was only provisionally roofed.

In the 17th century, it served as a store for gunpowder and since then, it has a present name. The radical reconstruction of the tower was performed in the 80s of the 19th century.

Poseidon's Temple :Greece

Poseidon's Temple

Poseidon's Temple is found at Cape Sounion, just outside Athens.

It is located almost at the center of the island and myth has it that Poseidon exchanged his Temple at Delphi with the one that Apollon had at Kalavria in Poros. The Temple of Poseidon is of the Dorian order and it has six columns on its short side and 12 columns on its long side.

If my memory serves me right, there are three important temples, Poseidon, Acropolis and one more which forms an iscosceles triangle.

Montserrat, Spain

Located in the province of Barcelona, the mountain called Montserrat is the setting for the pilgrimage shrine (the basilica housing the image of St. Mary), a monastery, and service area for visitors

The Montserrat Virgin was found in a cave on top of the mountain in the 800's. It was a site of pilgrimage and a monastery was founded there several hundred years later. If you make it up the mountain by 10 AM, there is a service in the cathedral featuring the best boys choir in all of europe. The monastery is so high up that you can see planes flying far below. The beauty of the cathedral, the mountains, and the music is overwhelming. The first sound is the choir. The second is the church bells calling to service. The third is the choir and the fourth sound is the choir and congregation

scene of "I'm sixteen" song

The Sound of Music Pavillon: can be found at Hellbrunn Palace today, in the movie it was still located at Leopoldskron Palace. One of the most famous and romantic scenes was filmed here: 'I am 16 going on 17'.

I saw some young people posing inside the pavillion singing the famous song :) I actually have some other photos standing on the bench inside just like the Liezel in the movie :)

Do, Re, Mi.....

scene of "Do Re Mi"

Mirabell Gardens : Location scene where Maria and the children sing 'Do-Re-Mi'

Von Trapp Palace

Leopoldstron, Salzburg

Above photo shows the Leopoldskron Palace: the façade facing the lake represented the von Trapp residence from the famous Sound of Music movie shot in Salzburg.

It is the movie which made this lovely city famous all over the world.

Mozart grave, Salzburg 

Mt. Titlis

Mt. Titlis

Mt. Titlis is the highest peak in Central Switzerland.

It is famous for being reached by the world's first revolving cable car, which was completed in 1992 and is still one of the few on the planet. The Titlis station (3028m) has restaurants tourist attractions and amazing views. On a good day you want to head straigth oudside. To the 3239 m summit, it's about a 45-minute hike. It doesn't look far but at this altitude you need to take it slowly.

To get to Mt. Titlis, coming from Lucerne with the Lucerne-Stans-Engelberg-Train within one hour to Engelberg. At Engelberg you take the cable car that brings you to the top of Mt Titlis.

The very first step into the technical exploitation of Mount Titlis took place with the opening of the funicular railway from Engelberg to Gerschnialp in 1913. By 1927, Trübsee station had been made accessible and winter sports had become very important for Engelberg. Finally, in 1967, the opening of the aerial cable car Stand - Titlis Glacier Station took place. Its exploitation made Engelberg a tourist resort with great snow certainty.

Today, Engelberg is one of Switzerland's ten leading tourist resorts. Thanks to the world innovation Rotair, the revolving aerial cable cars up to Titlis Glacier Station, its unique hiking and skiing domain, its beautiful new golf course, its excellent infrastructure for sports in general and its great accessibility, Engelberg has become a byword for European holiday destinations.

Our Lady of Macarena, Sevilla

The Church in Sevilla, Spain, is home to the most adored religious image in all of Andalucía, the 17th-century Virgen de la Esperanza (Hope) sculpture. Commonly known simply as La Macarena, she is the patron saint of bullfighters and the city's supreme representation of the grieving, yet hoping, mother of Christ. The church's museum displays the holy lady's rich vestments and other lavish Semana Santa accoutrements.

The face of the Virgin with a tear is one of the most beautiful scuplture I have seen of the Blessed Mother.

Yes its where the famous song "Macarena" emanated from. Well the song referred to the city not the church in the city:)

Via Crucis, Jerusalem 

Aegena, Greece

Aegina is one of the islands in the Saronic Gulf, just outside Athens. Many Athenians have summerhouses on this pretty island, and it is a perfect destination for whose who want a nice holiday by the sea and also do a bit of sightseeing.

The people of this island have always been involved with the sea: either as fishermen, sailors or shipbuilders. Some are also farmers, and they grow olives, pistachio nuts and fruit.
According to mythology, Aegina was a beautiful princess with whom Zeus fell in love with. In order to be alone with her, he took her to this unin-habited island, and they had a son, Aeacus, who became the first king.

The villages and surroundings on Aegina are lovely, so it is well worth it to explore the island.Because of its important position in antiquity there are still many ancient sites to see, the most famous being the temple of Athena Aphaia from the 6th century BC.

Sacher hotel, Vienna


The world famous Sacher Torte originated in this hotel in Vienna named Hotel Sacher.

It is situated opposite the Viennese State Opera in the heart of the century old cultural and historical city. A few minutes walk from museums, The Hofburg, The Spanish Riding School and across the famous Ringstrasse.

The Hotel Sacher is a favorite meeting place for the city's high society, artists, and politicians. The hotel Sacher in Vienna - opened in 1876 by Eduard Sacher, son of the creator of the Original Sacher-Torte - is an Austrian institution. Histories and anecdotes about the legendary personalities of the Hotel Sacher abound.

The Sacher Torte is a scrumptious dessert made of two chocolate cake layers separated by apricot jam with a chocolate glaze over the top and sides of the cake. You can find it in many european restos in metro manila esp Schwarzwalder.

We tried it the first time we visited Vienna a few years before this trip but I think it was too sweet for me so this time, we preferred to just have a photo :)

The famous Leaning Tower

PISA

The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the august of 1173 and continued (with two long interruptions) for about two hundred years, in full fidelity to the original project, whose architect is still uncertain.

In the past it was widely believed that the inclination of the Tower was part of the project ever since its beginning, but now we know that it is not so. The Tower was designed to be "vertical" and started to incline during its construction.

A year prior to this visit, the tower was under construction since they were trying to lessen the incline lest it falls all over the place.

The main piazza where the leaning tower can be found is a pedestrian place. All vehicles are asked to park outside. Actually this is only the main attraction of the city.

By the way, no one knows who architect of the tower is up to now.

La Cité: The Walled City of Carcassone

carcassone

The Walled City of Carcassonne is known first and foremost as a fortified medieval town; but this rocky outcrop has been occupied by man since the 6th century B.C., first as a gaul settlement, then as a Roman town fitted with ramparts as early as the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D.On the western face of this primitive fortification rests the castle, built in the 12th century.

There is a town centre in Carcasson which is a modern city. If one wants to visit the walled city, one has to watch out for the sign "La Cite". We had been here a couple of times and in the past some of our bus drivers get lost missing the turn. During the time that dad didnt accompany me, I made sure I watched out for the important sign lest the driver leads us to the centre town.

salzburg soundofmusic 

Hammerfest: The Northermost Town in the World

Hammerfest

Dad and I made sure we got our certificate of Membership at the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society which can only be found in the northermost town in the world, Hammerfest.

The city lies 70° 39' 48" north and achieved its town status on the 7th of July 1789, making it the oldest town in northern Norway. The town was founded because of its natural harbour, something which is equally important today for Hammerfests economic foundation. Despite its geographical position, Hammerfest has maintained its international connections. As early as 1852, the first international measurement of the earths circumference was completed in Hammerfest, and in 1891 Hammerfest was the first town in northern Europe with electric street lighting.


Today Hammerfest is a modern town with an open and unique town atmosphere, where the town square and harbour are its natural meeting places. Hammerfest is an important communication centre in the county of Finnmark, and this makes it an ideal starting point for coastal and other scenic excursions in the county

My favorite city in Germany's Romantic Route

Rothenburg ob de Tauber, Germany

One of our most memorable trips in Germany was the romantic road tour. I think we started in Wurzburg and ended in Munich. The most picturesque among the places along the route was Rothernburg ob de Tauber thats why we chose to stay here overnight.

In English, the city's name is translated as Red castle on the Tauber and its renowned as the finest example of an authentic medieval town in all of Germany.

The old Town Square is adorned with fountains and flowers, and watchtowers built to keep a lookout for marauding enemies punctuate formidable walls. Half-timbered houses lean against one another along narrow cobbled lanes.

Even the old McDonalds eatery was built with medieval decors. The photo shows me with a german actor who was right outside the play house.

One day I would like to spend christmas in this city they also call 'christmas town'.

Iloilo City

Century Bell, Iloilo

Iloilo, a province rich in historical and cultural attractions, home of the famous Dinagyang festival (every4th weekend of January), stately mansions, majestic century-old churches, unspoiled countrysides and exotic delicacies.

Changing of the guards, East Berlin 

Cafe Gambrinus, Naples

Gambrinus, Naples

Naples is a city that prides itself on coffee—believes itself to be the sole arbiter of what sets a magnificent brew apart from the swill they serve in the rest of the world.

The Caffè Gambrinus is on the ground floor of the large building that houses the Naples Prefecture at Piazza Plebiscito. One entrance is on that large square, itself; the main entrance is on Piazza Trieste e Trento (still known to many as Piazza San Ferdinando, named for the church on that square).

Gambrinus is a few yards away from the Royal Palace, the San Carlo opera house, and the Galleria Umberto. It is at the beginning of two of the most famous streets in Naples: via Toledo (also known as via Roma) and via Chiaia, the main street that joined the downtown area of 1900 to the western part of the city. Gambrinus, thus, was the crossroads where music, art, and politics came together in the late 1800s to sit together and have a coffee and maybe a brandy or two. In other words, a watering-hole for intellectuals.


Gambrinus was born as, simply, il Gran Caffè on its current premises in the 1860s. By the 1890s, with the great rebuilding of Naples, it turned into the Caffè Gambrinus, using the name of the "patron saint of beer," that name deriving from Jan Primus (John I), a 13th–century Burgundy prince. Thus, Gambrinus, like other establishments of its kind was and remains a place where you do more than just drink coffee.

Monet's Garden, Giverny

Monet's Garden

Part of Claude Monet's famous garden in Giverny, France.

Monet's Garden is actually composed of two parts - one is the orchard and the other the Water Garden.

The land is divided into flowerbeds where flower clumps of different heights create volume. Fruit trees or ornamental trees dominate the climbing roses, the long -stemmed hollyhocks and the coloured banks of annuals. Monet mixed the simplest flowers (daisies and poppies) with the most rare varieties.

The water garden is full of asymmetries and curves. It is inspired by the Japanese gardens that Monet knew from the prints he collected avidly.

Floriade 1992

Floriade


Floriade, the grand horticulture show is held only every ten years. We were able to witness the beautiful grand parade held each September in Amsterdam prior to visiting the Floriade and we also marvelled at the awesome flowers displayed at Keukenhof gardens that was why we were determined to see the grandest display of all which showed hundreds of hectares of all varieties of flowers and plants.

I sacrificed bringing my two heavy SLR cameras just to capture the beauty of all the flowers.

The 1992 Floriade held in 1992 in Zoetermeer, Netherlands.

Fontainebleau Castle

Fontainbleau Castle, France

Fontainbleau is a small village just south of Paris surrounded by forests. Its main attraction is the 16th century castle which is actually the first renaissance building outside Italy.

The castle was built from 16th until the 18th century. In the 16th century, Francois I transformed the castle into a Renaissance palace decorated by Florentine artists. The castle was made into a national museum since 1870.

Hidden nook at Sonia's Garden