Capital of Diamond – Antwerp, Belgium

16 May 2012 1 Comment

by Globe Runner in Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , , , ,

ANTWERP, BELGIUM (Dutch: Antwerpen):I think, Antwerp is mostly known for being the capital of diamonds. This is the most important financial center of the world’s diamond industry. But the city has more to it than just trading diamonds. Antwerp is one of the major destinations in Belgium in the region of Flanders, situated by the river Schelde. It has a major European port. The city has a historic old town in one side and other side, you will see the trendy shopping stores, international cuisines, designer shops…a perfect mix of past and present life.

View of parked boat by the river Schelde from the boardwalk
 

TIME OF TRAVELLING: Antwerp is about 45 minutes of drive from Tervuren, Belgium. We went there on a Sunday morning in Mary 2012 and stayed there until late afternoon, covering almost all the places we wanted to see. It wasn’t cold, but a bit chilly.

Old buildings by the river Schelde
 

WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN ANTWERP: Of course, you can buy diamonds as souvenir while in Antwerp, if you have lots of euros to spare. Other than that, there are some Belgian lace stores, ceramic stores, and regular souvenir stores selling key rings, t-shirts, post cards, and mugs in Grote Markt. Most of the shops are closed on Sundays, but the stores in Grote Markt are usually open every day.

We had lunch in a restaurant in Groenplaats, if I can remember correctly, the name of the café was Cave (or something similar). I ordered chicken with mushroom, my friend ordered a Caesar’s salad with chicken, and my daughter ordered a trio plate containing cannelloni, lasagna, and ravioli. I must say all of them were out of this world, simply delicious.

My lunch in Antwerp, chicken with mushroom
 

PLACES WE VISITED: Antwerp has many things to offer to its visitors. We spent about little more than half a day to explore the city. May be another couple of hours would have been perfect to learn about other parts of the city. But fortunately, we can always go back.

Statue in front of Het Steen
 

1) HET STEEN (The Stone): This is a rather small medieval castle by the bank of the river Schelde. You can go to the inner courtyard but not inside the castle. The stairs after the courtyard will take you to the starting point of the scenic boardwalk. Enjoy the beautiful river in one side and the old, medieval buildings on the other side. This is very close to Grote Markt and Vleeshuis.

Medieval Castle, Het Steen, in Antwerp
 

2) VLEESHUIS: This is the old meet house from around 1250. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Antwerp. The building is made to resemble stacks of bacon, switching between white stones and red bricks. This was the guild hall for the butchers and functioned as a meat market where butchers could sell their merchandise. Only 2-3 minutes of walk from Grote Markt and can been seen from Het Steen. Vleeshuis is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We couldn’t go inside since it was already closed by then :(

Vleeshuis in Antwerp, Belgium
 

3) ST. PAULUSKERK (St. Paul’s Church): Although we couldn’t go inside the church because the church is open from 2-5 everyday (I think), we had to get as close as possible because of its bold gothic shrine that catches your eyes right from the boardwalk near Het Steen. This 16th century church has a very clam and quiet inner courtyard surrounded by very old church walls with a statue of Virgin Mary in one side. We enjoyed the charm of this church even if we couldn’t go in. The church is located right beside Sint-Paulusplaats, which is a nice little square with some shops and cafes. Everything was closed on Sunday except for the café/restaurants.

Statue of Virgin Mary in the courtyard of St. Paul’s Church
 

4) GROENPLAATS:  This is one of the major squares of Antwerp old town. Statue of the famous painter of Antwerp Petro Paulo Rubens dominates the square. Surrounding the statue are the cafes, shops, flower vendors, and hotels. It is a perfect place for lunch or to just sit down with a drink and watch people go by.

Groenplaats with Cathedral of Our Lady in the back
 

5) CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY (Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal): This is one of the most impressive and largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. You can see its 400 ft. tall tower from almost any part of the old town. The cathedral is standing there since 1351 and features some of Ruben’s most famous paintings. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a 5 euros fee to enter the cathedral, but we didn’t pay anything because there was a mass service starting in 10 minutes. We saw some of Ruben’s paintings from distance and they looked gorgeous. Also we couldn’t see the altar because it was going thru restoration.

Grand entrance to the Cathedral of Our Lady
 

6) CITY HALL & OLD MARKET (Stadhuis & Grote Markt): This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antwerp. This may not be as big as the “Grand Place” of Brussels, but definitely as beautiful. This is the heart of the old city and like any other Flemish historical town, it is also surrounded by the typical medieval guild houses. The tower of Our Lady Cathedral in the background completes the magnificent view of this market place. We took a double-decker horse-carriage ride from Grote Markt. It was 6 euros per person (including toddlers) for a wonderful 40 minutes ride through the old town. It runs beginning of every hour (last ride of the day starts at 6pm) and you can buy the tickets right there.

Our double-decker horse carriage in Grote Markt
 

In the middle of the square stands the Brabo fountain from 1887. Brabo was a mythical Roman soldier who killed a giant, called Druon Antigoon. Brabo removed its hand after killing and threw it in the river Schelde. The story goes saying that this would have created the name Brabant.

Antwerp old City Hall with the statue of Brabo in the front
 

The Gothic and early Renaissance style city hall was built in the 16th century. The façade is richly decorated with statues, ornaments, and coat of arms. Usually the main facade of the city hall is decorated with 87 flags adding multi-colors to the square by showing off flags from different countries and regions. The central flags on the bottom row represent Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, Europe and the United Nations. The other flags represent countries that are member of the European Union and nations that have a consulate in Antwerp.

The guild houses in Grote Markt of Antwerp
 
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Brussels revisited in Black & White

14 May 2012 2 Comments

by Globe Runner in An ex-pat in Belgium, Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , , , ,

Everytime I go to Brussels city center, it feels like I am going there for the first time. I look at those guild houses in Grand Place like I have never seen those before. Whenever we have guests from U.S.A or other places, I get so excited that I can go visit Brussels one more time. This time my dearest friend Farida and her husband from The States were with us. It was like the old days in Portland, Oregon to hang out all together, but this time it was in Europe…in Brussels.

The old Town Hall in Grand Place, Brussels

Inside St. Hubert Mall, one of the oldest mall in Europe

My friend Farida with her Belgian waffle

St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels

Easter Break Trip 2012 – 5th destination: Zagreb, Croatia

09 May 2012 Leave a Comment

by Globe Runner in Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , , , , ,

ZAGREB, CROATIA: Zagreb may not attract as many tourists as Dubrovnik in Croatia, but as the capital and the biggest city of Republic of Croatia, it has very well-preserved medieval old city architecture and cobbled streets, which are not only charming, but also gives you tastes of both old and new world. Zagreb is situated on many slopes. It is someway a walkable city, if you are ready to climb up and down the small hills. The surrounding villages and countryside of Zagreb are beautiful and historical as well, which we couldn’t explore this time. But we sure did enjoy the drive before entering the main city of Zagreb.

The streets of Zagreb near old town
 

Old Zagreb consisted of 2 cities: The Upper Town (Gornji grad) and the Lower Town (Donji grad). Most of the restaurants and tourists sites are located in these 2 towns.

TIME OF TRAVELLING: We took a long road trip during the Easter break of 2012, around first week of April. Zagreb was our 5TH stop amongst 6 other cities. It took us about 3 hours (~ 215 miles) by car to reach here from Budapest, Hungary. Weather was not in our favor here. We got rain the night we reached there. Next morning it started with little drizzle, which turned to heavy rain by the afternoon and it continued for rest of the day.

OUR HOTEL: We stayed in International Hotel in Zagreb. It is situated about 10-15 of walk to King Tomislav Square. Breakfast wasn’t free here but free Wi-Fi allowed us to update our status on Facebook every now and then :)

WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN ZAGREB: There are a few open markets in the old city center near Kaptol and Dolac. You sure will find unique goodies here to take back home. Many souvenir shops sell these same items but be careful of their high prices. It was kind of hard to find souvenir shops other parts of the town other than the old city center. Kaptol and Dolac are the best places for souvenir hunting.

Open market in Ban Jelacic Square
 

We didn’t try any Croatian dish this time. We had dinner in our hotel lounge, we asked the waitress about trying out some traditional Croatian food, and she couldn’t give us any specific dish. Next day, kids wanted to eat pizza and pasta for lunch… so that’s what we had. But the restaurant we sat in was a nice one on the middle of a street along with other restaurants right beside Dolac Market.

PLACES WE VISITED: Most of the tourist attractions of Zagreb are within walking distance and you can cover all of them in about few hours. We took a “City Center Sightseeing Route on Foot” from our hotel, which not only showed us what to see after what, but also gave us a brief history of each of the spot, which I thought was incredible.

1) KING TOMISLAV SQUARE:A monument dedicated to Tomislav, Croatia’s first king, dominates the square carrying his name.  He was crowned as king in the year 925. Despite dying mysteriously 3 years later, his status as founder of the Croatian state has never been in doubt. The statue of Tomislav on horseback was completed in 1938 but the outbreak of WWII prevented the statue from being installed in its current location until 1947. This big square is located right opposite of the main train station.

Statue of King Tomislav in King Tomislav Square
 

At the northern end of King Tomislav’s square The Art Pavilion is located (the big yellow building). The ceremonial opening took place in 1898 accompanied by a grand exhibition of contemporary artists. This is Zagreb’s first dedicated space for art shows, and has been an important venue for high-profile exhibitions ever since.

The Art Pavilion of Zagreb, Croatia at the northern end of King Tomislav Square
 

2) ZRINJEVAC: This is one of the green squares of the city and the best loved of them all. in the late 19th century this was a meadow where cattle market took place. Now it is an elegant promenade with imported trees, wrought iron handstand, fountains, and busts of notable figures. It was a bit quiet when we went there, but the large green space with nicely decorated flowers and statues make this square a well worth to visit it.

Zrinjevac Square
 

3) THE EX-MOSQUE: This circular building is the headquarter of the Croatian’s Artist’s Association, located in “Victims of Fascism Square” (Trg zrtava fasizma). It was originally used as an exhibition pavilion before being turned into a mosque during WWII – complete with the additional minarets. After the war the minarets were dismantled and the building returned to its original function, although it is still referred to fondly as “The Mosque” by the locals.

The ex-mosque in Victims of Fascism Square
 

4) COUNT JOSIP JELACIC SQUARE: Central focus of modern Zagreb is Ban Jelacic Square (Trg bana Jelacica). Situated just below the hillside settlements of Kaptol and Gradec, it has served as the city’s commercial heart ever since 1641. Most of the buildings around the square date from the 19th century. This was Zagreb’s main marketplace. Now it is the center of Zagreb’s social life and the most popular meeting points for the locals. There is a big open market at one side of the statue of Josip Jelacic where you can find hand-crafted local trinkets at a modest price.

Ban Jelacic Square
 

5) KAPTOL: Today’s Zagreb was created of 2 medieval villages (Kaptol and Gradec) which were developed during centuries in two adjacent hills/neighbors. At the present, they make Zagreb’s Upper Town and the City Center. Kaptol is the hill where the Zagreb Cathedral of Assumption stands.

Kaptol
 

Kaptol is only few steps away from Dolac Market and also very close to Count Josip Jelacic Square. There are a very few cafes and souvenir shops here. It was nicely decorated with Easter eggs featuring traditional Naïve art in front of the cathedral.

Easter decoration painted by local Croatian Naive artists
 

6) CATHEDRAL of THE ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED MARY or ZAGREB CATHEDRAL: This cathedral is one of Zagreb’s defining symbols that brings glamour and elegance to the city. It is the most famous building in Zagreb, and the tallest building in Croatia. Although it is largely Neo-Gothic structure, the cathedral was founded in 1093 A.D. This is a must-see in Zagreb. The present church organ is from 1987 and the Baroque pulpit is from 1698.

Inside Zagreb Cathedral of Assumption
 

7) DOLAC MARKET: This has to be Zagreb’s one of the most attractive features. It’s only a few steps from the cathedral. This bustling place is affectionately known as “the belly of Zagreb”, due to the mouth-watering array of irresistible food stuffs brought here from all part of Croatia. The market dates from the early 20th century, when the city authorities decided to tear down all the houses on Dolac to make room for a modern marketplace. It is the most visited and the best known farmer’s market in Zagreb. You will find traditional open market with stalls selling trinkets, fresh produce, and souvenirs at much lower price than any other places in the city. And if you are hungry, don’t go too far to look for food, you will find tons surrounding this area.

Colorful trinkets in Dolac Market
 

8) GRADEC – UPPER TOWN: Gradec is the hillside across Kaptol. The popular Zagreb blue funicular will take you straight there. A single funicular ride costs 6 kuna per person and 6 or below rides free. Although Upper Town may not be the center point of all hustling and bustling and may look like a ghost town when walking around some streets, it has some historical spots and some of the important governmental buildings of the city. Behind St. Catherine’s church there is a beautiful view from Gradec towards Kaptol, the cathedral, Dolac market, and the main square. It was wonderful walking down the hill back to the lower part of the city, instead of taking funicular again.

View of the Lower Town and Cathedra of Assumption from Gradec
 

9) THE STONE GATE: Built in the Middle Ages, it is the only old town gate that has remained intact. Under the arch of the gateway is a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It holds a painting of the Virgin that was miraculously saved from a devastating fire in the year 1731, and the chapel has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. Please be silent and respect the worshippers if you are just passing through the Gate.

The Stone Gate in the Upper Town/Gradec
 

10) ST. MARK’S SQUARE: It is the heart of Upper Town, having formerly served as the main market square of the settlement of Gradec. Dominating the square is the 13thcentury Church of St. Mark, a Romanesque church which still retains much of its original shape. The Croatian Sabor or Parliament is also located in this square, right of the church (if you are facing the entrance of the church). The Parliament has held its sessions at this location ever since 1737. It was here the members voted to severe political ties from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and from Yugoslavia in 1991.

St. Mark Church in St. Mark Square in Gradec
 

11) MUSEUM of BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS (MUZEJ PREKINUTIH VEZA): One thing that I really regret for not doing in Zagreb is going to this museum. This is located in the Upper Town Gradec. It’s permanent display is an opportunity to experience a unique emotional journey through dozens of love leftovers collected from all around the world. It won Kenneth Hudson Award 2011 for the most innovative museum in Europe.  It would have been interesting going through people’s personal items which reflect their emotions and feelings towards love and relationships.

12) NIKOLA TESLA: Statue is by the intersection of Masarykova and Teslina that was placed there on the 150th anniversary of the birth of this exceptional scientist and innovator. Nikola Tesla was born and raised in Croatia and after finishing his education in Europe Tesla sought his fortune in the USA, where he was instrumental in the development and introduction of alternating current, x-rays, remote control devices, and radio waves. Thanks to Tesla’s vision we can use the internet and mobile phones today.

My hubby with the Statue of Nikola Tesla
 
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Half a day in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, surrounded by the Alps

03 May 2012 Leave a Comment

by Globe Runner in Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , , ,

VADUZ, LIECHTENSTEIN: Liechtenstein, officially known as Principality of Liechtenstein, is the 3rd smallest country in Europe and 7th smallest in the world sharing its borders with Switzerland and Austria. It is the only country laying entirely in Alps. It’s capital Vaduz is a cozy, little town that gives magnificent views of the mountains and Rhine valley in almost every direction you look.

Magnificent view of the Alps, Rhine valley from top of the hill near Vaduz Castle

This is a very neat and clean city with many helpful friendly locals. Tourist can spend days in this tucked away city of Vaduz exploring the mountains and the nearby villages. It’s amazing how a country this small has so much to offer to its guests and locals.

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Driving on the mountain towards Vaduz Castle

TIME OF TRAVELLING: We took a long road trip during the Easter break of 2012, around first week of April. This was our last stop amongst 6 other cities. It took us about 6 hours (~ 370 miles) by car to reach here from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Since Vaduz is surrounded by the Alps, summer comes here late. It was still a bit chilly around that time. We had to wear jackets and hats during our visit.

Beauty everywhere

OUR HOTEL: Vaduz is an expensive city. Hotels here can be very pricey too. We stayed in Dornbirn, Austria, about 22 miles away from Vaduz. Our hotel was Harry’s Home Dornbirn. It was literally walking distance from the city center of Dornbirn. Our room had a kitchen with stove, microwave, and a small refrigerator and it was nicely decorated with very modern and contemporary art works and furniture. I felt like I am living in an IKEA world. Breakfast and Wi-Fi weren’t included but we received great customer service from the front desk people.

WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN VADUZ: One of the best thing you can buy from Vaduz is cuckoo clock. They come in different types and price ranges. The cheapest one we saw was around 125 euros. You can get battery operated or the traditional winding clocks. These clocks are hand-made in Black Forest region of Germany. Other than that Swiss knives, watches are very popular here, since Switzerland is just around the corner. There is a big souvenir shop on Stadtle (the city center/pedestrian street).

Again, since Switzerland is right there, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity of eating lots and lots of silky Swiss chocolates. You will find them almost at every souvenir shops.

PLACES WE VISITED: Although Vaduz is a very tiny city in a tiny country of Liechtenstein, you can spend hours to enjoy the breathtaking views of Alps and its surrounding small villages. We spent only few hours there, but the scenic views of this small town are unforgettable.

Liechtenstein Parliament on Stadtle

1) CATHEDRAL of ST. FLORIN or VADUZ CATHEDRAL: This is a neo-Gothic church which was built in 1874. It is beautifully situated at the beginning of the city center Stadtle and right beside the Vaduz Music School. Although it is not as impressive inside as out, it is well worth a visit. There is a set of very beautiful bronze sculptures outside the church below the steps. One of the sculptures depicts Mary holding new-born baby Jesus and other one Mary holding the body of Jesus after his crucifixion.

Tower of Vaduz Cathedral or St. Florian Cathedral

2) STADTLE: This is the main city center and a very beautiful pedestrian street. It has Liechtenstein Parliament (the triangular building) at one end of the street, Government House (right beside the parliament) and Vaduz City Hall (with 2 horse statues in the front) at the other end. You will also see few museums on this street, like Stamp Museum and Land Museum (Kuntmuseum). Tourist information center is also located here. Enjoy the beautiful and interesting sculptures on this street. You can see Vaduz Castle up on the mountain from here. Cathedral of St. Florin is very close too, may be 5 minutes of walk. This is the center of town’s most shops, restaurants, and a popular gathering point.

A bronze statue on Stadtle

3) VADUZ CASTLE: The castle is over 700 years old and underwent major restorations between 1905 and 1920. Currently it is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. It is not open to the public and cannot be visited.

The magnificent Vaduz Castle

This is a must see in Liechtenstein. The castle is located on the hill high above the town of Vaduz surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It overlooks the adjacent villages at the bottom. You can take your car up there and park in the free parking area. Then go for a walk/hike and enjoy the fresh mountain air, green meadows, and white snowy mountains. You will get a breathtaking fantastic view of the Alps.

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Hiking trail by the castle

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Kasteel Keukenhof (Keukenhof Castle) in Holland

25 Apr 2012 8 Comments

by Globe Runner in Europe, Festivals, Trips Tags: , , , , , , ,

This is my 3rd and final post on our trip to the Tulip Festival in Keukenhof, the Netherlands last weekend…I promise.

Last day, which was a Sunday, in Keukenhof was very easy going. We have already seen the flower parade and tulip garden on Saturday. Sunday was the day we wanted to visit Keukenhof Castle or Kasteel Keukenhof, which was only 5 minutes of walk from the garden. The castle can only be accessed by a guided tour (1 pm and 3 pm everyday) and the tour was about hour and half long. The surrounding of the castle and the nearby gardens are very calm and beautiful too.

The history of this castle goes back to the mid-17th century. The most amazing part of this castle is that many of the furniture and belongings of this castle are from the original owners from couple centuries back. For example, the bookcase and books/encyclopedia in the library; sink, oven, and the stove in the kitchen, some decors, paintings, some China and original Delft serving wares, and chandeliers (just to name few of those) are still in display in the castle. The castle was donated to the state by its owner in 2003. Now it is being used as a venue for private parties as well as for concerts, fairs, and festivals.

We had wonderful time visiting Kasteel Keukenhof, hope you get some taste of it thru my pictures here.

Exterior of Keukenhof Castle

The front room of the castle

A tulip vase with fresh tulips

One of the rooms in the castle

An old, rusty teapot

An original Venetian chandelier, look at the detailed work

The sink with traditional Dutch design (may be by Delft) in the family dinning room

A beautiful hut outside the castle, which is now used as a restaurant

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Tulips, Tulips Everywhere in Keukenhof, The Netherlands

24 Apr 2012 15 Comments

by Globe Runner in Europe, Festivals, Trips Tags: , , , , , , ,

This is the continuation of my previous post on Tulip Festival in Keukenhof, The Netherlands.

We reached Keukenhof on a Friday night, attended the flower parade on Saturday morning, then in the afternoon we headed for the flower garden in Keukenhof. Although it was raining in the morning, afternoon turned out to be a quite nice one to enjoy this huge garden. We spent few hours in the garden, then took a boat tour in the canals around the tulip fields. General publics are not allowed to roam around in the flower fields (although we saw bunch of people walking, taking pictures there), so boat tour is the only option to try to get close to the fields.

Without any doubt, Keukenhof is the capital of tulip (although these tulip bulbs originally came from Turkey few centuries ago). We saw miles after miles of tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth fields outside the main garden. It is the place to see spring blossom. The theme of this year was “Poland: The Heart of Europe“. More than seven million flowers make up this garden. Every corner has surprises waiting for you and to inspire you. The garden does not ONLY display tulips. It is decorated with different colors of daffodils and hyacinths, along with other kinds of flowers. There are some special indoor houses that display real works of art with flowers like orchids and other exotic flowers. The shades of colors and the shapes of the petals of these flowers are endless. I tried my best to capture these beauties within my capabilities, but you really have to see them in real life to appreciate the hard works that gardeners/designers put into making this garden the ultimate place to enjoy spring.

A true beauty

The Keukenhof Garden

Spring has sprung

A statue with shell dress

The face of Orchid

Nature's creation

White tulips

This year's theme was Poland

Windmill of Keunkenhof Garden

View of the garden from top of the windmill

My 2 princesses in a Dutch Wooden Shoe

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    • Flower Parade in Keukenhof, the Netherlands

    23 Apr 2012 3 Comments

    by Globe Runner in Europe, Festivals, Trips Tags: , , , , , , , ,

    Tis the season for tulips everywhere and what better place is there to celebrate this time of the year other than Keukenhof, Nederlands (the Netherlands)? This past weekend we made a trip to Keukenhof to visit the biggest tulip garden and the flower parade in the whole wide world. This is one of the three posts that I will share on our trip to Keukenhof.

    It was drizzling, raining, pouring…everything, but nothing stopped the most famous parade in the Netherlands. Hundreds and thousands of spectators gathered around the route to see this 40 km long parade with their umbrellas and raincoats. This annual event starts in the morning at 9:30 and ends at 9 at night (taking 2 breaks in the middle). The parade is called the “face of Spring”, which usually consists of about 20 floats and more than 30 motorcars all covered and decorated lavishly with flowers. This unique parade can only take place in spring when the hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are in bloom. The theme of this year was “Communication”. You can see the colorful flowers, hear the bands playing their festive music, and smell the sweet hyacinths in the air.

    I tried my best to take out my camera in the rain and take pictures of the moving vehicles while holding onto my flying umbrella. Hope you like them…

    Birds

    An astronaut

    How can the driver even see where he/she is going behind all those flowers?

    The Sphinx, too bad Queen Cleopetra had to wear a raincoat to stay dry

    A yellow Daffodil (Narcis in Dutch) made with thousands of Daffodils

    A pink house with a window and a basket of Tulips

    Band playing some partyyy music

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    Easter Break Trip 2012 – 6th destination: Ljubljana, Slovenia

    20 Apr 2012 6 Comments

    by Globe Runner in Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , , , ,

    LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA: Truly speaking, I had  little expectation from Ljubljana, especially after reading this information from wikitravel on the city, “Ljubljana has no world-famous attractions, which is great: there’s no need to hop from one place to another, taking photos and crossing the items on your checklist. You have all the time to stroll around and enjoy the city itself”. I saw some Google pictures of Ljubljana and those looked nice but nothing extraordinary to me. Still, I wasn’t sure why my husband wants to put that city in our itinerary. But thanks to my husband that it was in our Easter break trip list. I am not exaggerating, but I truly, truly wished we stayed there longer than just one night.

    A panoramic view of Ljubljana from the viewing tower of Ljubljana Castle
     

    Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia. It is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe. It may not have any world-famous attractions, but the city itself is so beautiful and picturesque that it doesn’t need any famous tourist spots. Ljubljana is a walkable city, all the main attractions of the city are very close to each other and can easily be reached within just a few minutes. It took us few hours to visit all the places that we wanted to visit. River Ljubljanica flowing through the center of town, Ljubljana may have a touch of Amsterdam-like look. But the better part is that,  it is not a hustling-bustling city like Amsterdam…not at all. It is a peaceful and friendly city with stunning old architectures, beautiful small old city center, cozy squares, little bridges on Ljubljanica river, and a castle on the hill. I would love to go back there again and again just to enjoy its serene atmosphere.

    River Ljubljanica flows through the center of town. A picturesque beauty
     

    TIME OF TRAVELING: We took a long road trip during the Easter break 2012, which was in the 1st week of April. Ljubljana was our 6th destination among seven in total. It took us about hour and half (150 km) by car to reach Ljubljana from Zagreb, Croatia. It was drizzling the day we arrived there, also was a bit cold. We reached there in the afternoon, checked-in at our hotel, ate something, and then started walking according to our to-do list.

    One of the statues on Butcher’s Bridge
     

    OUR HOTEL: The hotel we stayed in, Best Western Premier Hotel Slon, was literally 1 minute walk from Ljubljana’s main square, Preseren Square.  The castle was about 10 minutes of walk and other places were also within few minutes of stroll.

    The legend of this hotel goes something like this: “The elephant is an extraordinary animal, hardly ever seen in Europe until public zoos were created (in Vienna in 1779). Possessing such an exotic animal as an elephant, tiger, lion or leopard… was considered a token of wealth and power and was the sole privilege of the highest aristocracy.

    In 1552, Maximillian II was the Archduke of Austria and about to become the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He was 25 years old and had recently married Mary of Spain. On his way from Spain, he was bringing one of his wedding presents: an elephant called Soliman. At that time, the Sultan Soliman the Magnificent was Austria’s most terrible enemy. Therefore, domesticating such a powerful animal under that name was a significant symbol.

    Maximilian stopped at the best inn in Ljubljana with his escort and the wonderful animal, which impressed the population tremendously. The hotel Slon was later built on the site of this inn. The memory of Soliman the elephant was still very strong in the city, so the guesthouse, and later the hotel, were named Slon (the Slovenian word for elephant).” http://www.hotelslon.com/index_en.php?id=2

    WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN LJUBLJANA: A very traditional Slovene design that you will see in many souvenir items is red and blue flowers. Lots of wooden trinkets, like small paintings, kitchen wares, serving wares, can be found in the open market near the Triple Bridge. Also, make sure to buy honey from here as it is a big business in Ljubljana and protected under EU laws. You will find vendors selling honey in that market too.

    Wooden trinkets in a market near Triple Bridge with traditional Slovene design
     

    We really didn’t try any local food in Slovenia. There was a kebap restaurant in between our hotel and Preseren square, that’s where we had our lunch. And for dinner, kids wanted to eat in the nearby McDonald’s, so that’s what we did. But there were few nice restaurants all around the old town and in Preseren square. But I am not sure if they have traditional Slovene dishes in their menu.

    We saw many locals carrying these baskets with grocery/bakery inside covered with cute, lacey fabric…very unique I thought
     

    PLACES WE VISITED: We actually managed to see everything that we wanted to see in Ljubljana in about few hours. The city is very kid and stroller friendly. Also, most of the people speak very fluent English. Here are all the places we visited and enjoyed in Ljubljana.

    Ummm…scary?
     

    1) PRESEREN SQUARE: This is the main square of the city where locals come together to meet and mingle. The square took it’s name from the statue that it houses of Dr. France Preseren, who was a famous Slovene romantic poet around 1800 A.D.  This is a great spot for the tourists as well, where you will find cafes, view of Ljubljanica river, Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle on the hill-top, and if you are lucky, may be some live local music. The unique orange/pinkish building that can be seen from many part of the city is the Church of Annunciation, which also stands here.

    Preseren Square as viewed from Church of Annunciation
     

    2) TRIPLE BRIDGE or TROMOSTOVJE: This is definitely a uniquely designed bridge and one of the ways to enter Preseren Square. It was designed by Jose Pleznik, who was a famous architecture from the mid-19th century and influenced the look of Ljubljana by his amazing architecture around the city.

    Triple Bridge
     

    3) OLD TOWN: The charming, little old town contains the city hall in Mestni trg or City Square and Cathedral of St. Nicolas along with few local designer shops and cafes. There is an obelisk near the town hall. It is not as crowded or popular as Preseren square, but sure can keep you busy for some time with all the lovely boutique shops.

    Sculpture on one of the entrance to St. Nicholas Cathedral or Ljubljana Cathedral
     

    4) DRAGON BRIDGE or ZMAJSKI MOST: The bridge was built in 1901. The area is situated rather on a busy road just outside the pedestrian zone, 2 minutes of walk from Preseren Square. There are four dragons at four corners of the bridge. Dragon is the city’s coat-of-arms; therefore, you may find some dragon motifs throughout the city. The river and the colorful houses add extra beauty to the surrounding of this bridge. You can see Butcher’s bridge in one side within very short distance.

    A dragon in one of the corners of Dragon Bridge
     

    5) BUTCHER’S BRIDGE or MESARSKI MOST: The bridge opened not too long ago, in the summer of 2010. It is located in between Dragon Bridge and Triple Bridge. This is a pedestrian bridge, partially made with glass. There are some big and small unique looking statues on this bridge that can’t be missed. You will see lovelocks hanging on the both sides of this bridge. Newly-weds or young lovers put their names on locks and hang them there to symbolize their everlasting love.

    Lovelocks on Butcher’s Bridge
     

    6) LJUBLJANA CASTLE: The history of this castle goes back to the early 12th century. It is located on Castle Hill overlooking the old town. The recent renovation of this castle took place in 1960. This long and extensive renovation took more than 35 years. Now it is used as a place for weddings and cultural events. This is the main attraction of the city and a must see.

    Overview of Ljubljana Castle Courtyard from the viewing tower
     

    There is a funicular that takes up right to the castle. The access to funicular is near Vodnikov Trg or Vodnikov Square (a market place selling fresh produce and hand-made items). We paid 8 euros per person which covered 2-way funicular rides, the viewing tower, castle exhibition/museum, and a movie on Ljubljana Castle and free for kids 7 or below. There is another way which you can use to go up on the hill without using a funicular. It is free to enter Castle Courtyard and the Chapel of St. George. There is a café and a gift shop up there too. The castle is open from 9 am to late at night until 11 pm from April to September, which I though was very convenient for us tourists. From October to March, the castle is open from 9am-9pm.

    Beautiful view of Ljubljanica river and the red roof city from the castle viewing tower
     

    I would highly recommend buying the ticket to go on top of the viewing tower. You have to climb 95 narrow steps to go all the way up. But it is very well worth. You will love the splendid 360 degree view of the whole city. Once you are done, come down and watch a 10 minutes long movie on the history of Ljubljana from a pre-historic settlement to Roman Empire to modern times. Audio of the movie is available in English too. The Chapel of St. George is under the tower, in the basement. It a very old and small chapel from 1489 A.D.

    Exhibition and museum of Ljubljana Castle
     

    7) REPUBLIC SQUARE or TRG REPUBLIKE: This is the place where crowds gathered as Slovenia announced their independence from the Yugoslav Federation in 1991. This has been an important place for the locals for important public gathering and demonstrations in the past. There are few monuments and statues in this square. Across the road is the Slovene Parliament, with a façade decorated with nude statues of Slovenes at work and leisure.

    One of the sculptures in Repubic Square
     

    This is very close to Congress Square. Unlike other squares, there are no shops or cafes in Republic Square, and nothing much to do other than taking some pictures.

    Door of Slovene Parliament across the road from Republic Square
     

    8) CONGRESS SQUARE or KONGRESNI TRG: This is rather a lovely square to hang out and spend some time. It is surrounded by some historical and important buildings. At one side, Church of Holy Trinity is situated, facing that on the other side is the Slovenian Philharmonic building (the yellow building), and if you are facing Philharmonic building, you will see University of Ljubljana (with fountain in the front) to your right side. You will find some souvenir shops and cafes in this square. Also, don’t forget to look up to the hill to check out one side of Ljubljana Castle.

    Academia Philharmonic (middle building) in Congress Square and Ljubljana Castle on the hill-top
     
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    Easter Break Trip 2012 – 3rd destination: Bratislava, Slovakia

    18 Apr 2012 5 Comments

    by Globe Runner in Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , , ,

    BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA: Bratislava is the capital and largest city in Slovakia. The city center or the old town of this city is very cozy and small with pleasant medieval look. You will find lots of old buildings and statues around there. You can easily walk from one side to another in just few minutes. It is definitely quieter at night near the city center but we saw some other tourists, open restaurants and cafes, but no souvenir stores were open.

    City of Bratislava with New Bridge in the back
     

    TIME OF TRAVELING: We took a long road trip during the Easter break 2012, which was in the 1st week of April. Bratislava was our 3rd destination among seven in total. It took us about an hour (95km) by car to reach Bratislava from Vienna, Austria. The weather was a bit on the colder side, had to wear jackets and hats. We spent a night there and had the next whole day to explore the city before another 2 hours drive to Budapest, Hungary

    “Man at Work” statue in old town
     

    OUR HOTEL: Or should I say BOTEL :) We actually found a boat hotel on River Danube to spend a night there. It is called Botel Gracia, the price was very reasonable, less than hundred euros per night. But spending a night on the water was simply fabulous. Not to mention you get a great view of the river and New Bridge (Novy Most). It even looks splendid after dark. The location was very convenient too, only 5 minute walk to the city center and about 15 minute walk to Bratislava Castle. Plus it offered free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free parking. What else can you ask for when searching for a hotel, especially in Europe?

    Our boat-hotel or Botel Gracia in Bratislava
     

    WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN BRATISLAVA: There are plenty of souvenir stores in the old town, selling colorful decors and many gift items. But the best one I saw was on top of the hill near the castle. It had some paintings, traditional art works, dolls, ceramics, pots, and many other unique items. There is a market near the old town hall, where you can find some local goods, lace items, hand-made trinkets, and lots more unique items.

    Market in Hlavne Namestie near Old Town Hall
     

    For food, we had lunch in a restaurant near Michael’s Gate (the restaurant says “Traditional Slovak Restaurant”. This place had some traditional Slovak dishes. My husband tried old Slovak-style chicken soup with carrots, chicken, hand-made noodles and French fries. I never had French fries in my soup before…delishhh. Another dish I tried was old Slovak-style roasted beef with fried onion. Very unique in taste and the fried onion added burst of flavor in my mouth with a piece of roasted beef…yummm.

    Old Slovak-style chicken soup
     

    PLACES WE VISITED: We had an evening and the next whole day to explore the city. Bratislava is a walkable city. We went to the city center at night for dinner and just to walk around with the kids. Then next morning we started off with the castle on the hill, then came down, went to old town/city center, had lunch, and did some more walking…then we were done. We were actually done around late afternoon.

    Paparazzi statue near Paparazzi Italian restuarant in old town
     

    1) NOVY MOST or NEW BRIDGE: New Bridge is over River Danube and can be easily identified with its flying saucer-like structure housing an observation deck and a restaurant, called UFO. It looks gorgeous at night with all the lights.

    Novy Most or New Bridge at night
     

    2) BRATISLAVA CASTLE: The castle on the hill-top is visible from almost any part of the city. This is a must-see in Bratislava. You can spend an hour or two enjoying the open space, statues, and panoramic view of River Danube, New Bridge, and the city itself. The castle courtyard is very simple and plain, may just disappoint you.

    Bratislava Castle on the hill-top

    It is free to enter the castle. There is a Treasure Room that can be visited for 6:50 euros per family (2 adults and 3 kids). We weren’t allowed to take any pictures inside the museum. It took us less than half an hour to tour the museum. If you are walking, shortcut way to get there is taking the stairs. There is another way to get there, which avoids the stairs but takes longer time.

    The main entrance and one corner of Bratislava Castle
     

    3) ST. MARTIN’S CATHEDRAL:  The church located below the hill of Bratislava Castle. There is a stairs which will take you up to the church entrance. It is free to enter but visitors are not allowed to take picture s inside. There is a statue of Rafael Donner in the cathedral.

    St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava, Slovakia
     

    4) MICHAEL’S GATE: It is located in the old town with a tall tower, called Michael’s Tower.

    Michael’s Gate in Old Town Bratislava
     

    5) OLD TOWN: It is one of the smallest historical centers around but definitely charming in its own way. It is mostly pedestrian areas, but be careful of the cyclists and occasional cars that come by rather quickly. There are some red trains that will take you around the old town and the castle for an hour for 10 euros per person. Some statues that you may want to look for are “Man at Work” and statue of a paparazzi with his camera behind a wall, located near a restaurant, called Paparazzi. National Art Gallery, Slovak National Theater, Slovak National Museum are very close to the old town, may be few minutes of walk will take you there.

    Hlavne Namestie, the main square of old town Bratislava
     

    6) PRIMATE’S PALACE: This is located in the historic city center near the Old Town Hall in Primacialne namestie. It is currently the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava. Opposite of this the Magistrate Office is located.

    Primate’s Palace, Bratislava Mayor’s office in old town
     

    7) OLD TOWN HALL: Old Town Hall of Bratislava is in the main square of the city in Hlavne namestie. There are some interesting statues there: a man with hat leaning on a chair, statue of a guard.

    Old Town Hall courtyard in the main square Hlavne Namestie of Bratislava
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    Easter Break Trip 2012 – 1st destination: Nuremberg, Germany

    18 Apr 2012 5 Comments

    by Globe Runner in Europe, Trips Tags: , , , , ,

    NUREMBERG, GERMANY: First two things that came to my mind when I thought of Nuremberg were Hitler and his Nazi Party. It was, in fact, considered the ceremonial birthplace of Nazi Party. Reich Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg hosted annual rallies with German soldiers, which is now known as Documentation Center by the locals. In addition to that, Nuremberg Trials also took place in this Bavarian city of Germany. Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals to prosecute the members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Party, which took place right after WWII ended.

    Statue of Albrecht Durer (a famous son of Nuremberg) in Albrecht Durer Platz near St. Sebuld Church
     

    Other than these usual impressions of Nuremberg, the city has a lot to offer for its guests. The old town with gothic churches, old/typical German-styled houses, old castle, and small squares give a lively atmosphere in the city. You will find medieval look, recent history, and modern touch co-existing in the same place.

    TIME OF TRAVELING: We took a long road trip during the Easter break 2012, which was in the 1st week of April. Nuremberg was our 1st destination among seven in total. It took us about 6 hours by car to reach Nuremberg from Tervuren, Belgium. The weather was a bit on the colder side, had to wear jackets and hats. We spent a night there and had the next half a day to explore the city before another 6 hour drive to Vienna, Austria.

    House of Albrecht Durer (red & white building) in told town near the entrance to Kaiserburg Imperial Castle
     

    OUR HOTEL: We didn’t get a hotel in the old town this time. Our hotel was “Fuerther Hotel Mercure Nuremberg West”, which was about 15 minutes of drive from the castle in old town. They didn’t have free breakfast but had free Wi-Fi and parking space (not free though)

    WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN NUREMBERG: There are some nice small cafes near St. Sebuld church and other part of the old town. I’ve heard that gingerbread in Nuremberg is quiet famous, although we didn’t have the chance to try one. Unlike other old towns in Europe, I didn’t see souvenir shops at every corner here, but there were some which were selling key rings, postcards, and t-shirts along with other gift items.

    PLACES WE VISITED: We literally spent half a day…just few hours in Nuremberg. We had the chance to visit only two places in the old town leaving out the Documentation Center (Nazi Rally Grounds).

    1) OLD TOWN: Any old town in Germany is beautiful, especially with the ones with red colored, typical old German style houses. Nuremberg is also like that. Its cobbled street and old buildings give a nice medieval look. It is beautiful and cozy. There are some shops and boutique stores, but not too many. You will see some cafes and restaurants every corner of the town. St. Sebuld Church and Nuremberg Castle are also located in the old town. A big advantage of this particular old town is that, you don’t have to look for street parking here. There is a nice big garage right beside St. Sebuld.

    Nuremberg Old Town
     

    2) ST. SEBULD CHURCH (SEBALDUSKIRCHE): The church is standing there since the 13th century. It is one of the oldest and most important church of the city. There are some posters inside the church that show how it was heavily destroyed during WWII and later reconstructed to its present look. It is located in Albrecht-Durer-Platz in front of the old city hall in old town, about 600 m away from the castle.

    St. Sebuld Church in Nuremberg, Germany Old Town
     

    3) KAISERBURG IMPERIAL CASTLE: This huge castle and its towers dominates Nuremberg’s old town. It is believed that the castle was built here somewhere around the 11th century. You can enjoy an impressive view of the old town and its surroundings from the castle. Inner courtyard of the castle has some typical old-style German buildings (I have only seen these in Germany, nowhere else), the long tower, and the deep well (Tiefer Brunnen), which is now closed for the public.

    Courtyard of Kaiserburg Imperial Castle in Nuremberg. The five-cornered tower and the deep well (inside the red building in the front)
     

    The castle is huge in size, but unlike many other castles you won’t be able to see it from a far distance, except its towers may be. There is a convenient parking garage in old town right beside St. Sebuld Church. It is free to enter the castle and roam around in its terrace and courtyard, but you have to take guided tour to go inside the buildings. The tour is ONLY in German, takes about 1 ½ hours, and costs around 7 euros. If you don’t understand German, at least you get to view the interior of the castle.

    View of the old town and St.Sebuld Church from Kaiserburg Imperial Castle, Nuremberg, Germany
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