Journey Around The Globe

Revisiting Gent

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Globe Runner

GENT, BELGIUM: Gent is a true gem of Belgium, a postcard city, and as magical as forget-me-nots. It’s a glamorous city with dozens of picture-perfect sites. It was one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages. I know most of the people go to Brussels and Brugge when visiting Belgium. But if you visit Gent, you would say Brugge is just OK…seriously, Gent has hundreds of tourists but it’s not as commercialized as Brugge or Brussels.

: Historic district of Gent, Belgium

Gent is less than an hour drive from Brussels. You can make a quick day trip from the capial, but I would highly recommend to stay one night if you want to visit all the beautiful churches, do some shopping, admire medieval history, and etc. This is an old city with modern touch. If you have an extra day while you are in Europe (Brussels to be exact), don’t miss this opportunity to visit Gent. If I have to compare Gent with Brugge, I would say Gent has a lot more scenic places to offer than Brugge.

: Gent, Belgium – a city full of canals

TIME of TRAVEL: First time we drove to Gent from Tervuren was on a nice Sunday afternoon on August 21, 2011. The weather was amazingly nice. But couldn’t really accomplish much except for taking a boat tour. But the second time we were there was with a family visiting us from Portland in September of 2013. We reached there early and had whole day to enjoy the best city of Belgium…yes, after my second visit to Gent…I declare this to be the best city of Belgium (of course in my opinion, Brugge comes after Gent).

: Medieval and historical buildings of Graslei in Gent, Belgium

PLACES WE’VE VISITED: Boat ride thru the canal or taking a walk in the old city…both are fantastic way to enjoy Gent and we did both. Boat ride costs 6.50 euros per person and they have English tour as well as Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. You will get a lot more interesting history of the city from the commentary of captain. All the main attractions are within walking distance and enjoyable. Inhale all the beauty Gent has to offer and relax; but keep your eyes open…don’t want to miss any beauty here.

: Boat tour thru the canals of Gent

1) THE GRASLEI: This once used to be known as the most beautiful street in Europe which was a wheat trading center. Every house on the Graslei, on both sides of the canal, has its own history. The Roman style Guild houses there dates from 1200. There are some nice outdoor restaurants and boutique shops to spend some quality time with your friends and family. Together they form the story of the incredible blossoming of Gent’s economy during the Middle Ages. Today the activity is completely different: cheerful voices, talking, and laughing.

: The most charming district of Gent

2) BELFRY: You can see these belfries in many Flanders cities, like Brugge. This belfry is one of the “three towers of Gent” in the city’s skyline. (two others are spire of St. Bavo‘s Cathedral and spire of St. Nicholas Church). It was built in 1313 and designated it as the city’s proudest symbol of independence. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like all the other ones in Belgium. We didn’t do it, but tourists can take elevator to go to the upper gallery to see the bells and an amazing 360 degree view. Adjacent to Belfry is the Brabant Gothic style building known as The Cloth Halls from 1425 AD and corner of it is an old jailer’s home and a prison.

3) ST. BAVO’S CATHEDRAL: Beside the belfry isThis is one of the most beautiful and historic landmark of Gent. This one and all other medieval architectures of churches here are remarkably well-preserved and restored. Make sure to inside those churches to appreciate their beauty inside and out.

: Inside St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Gent

4) ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH or SINT-NIKLAASKERK: This 15th century church was built in typical Flemish architectural style. Inside the church may not be as grand as the cathedral above, but both have similar black and white theme. It’s alter is very beautiful and so is the organ. Those strong stone columns and old statues will take you back to medieval ages in no time. The church is open every from 10 – 5 pm and closed on Mondays. Entry is free for everyone.

5) ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH or SINT-MICHIELSKERK: This is also a very nice and historic church of Gent. It’s very close to the old post office and Graslei and has bold exterior architecture that you can’t miss. There is no fee, so why not check it out? It’s open everyday from 2 – 5 pm from April 1st to September 30. I guess, other time of the year, it’s closed for visitors.

6) THE RABOT: With its two round towers, this was a sluice gate back in the medieval age. This was our last attraction of the boat ride.

: The Rabot

7) COUNTS CASTLE or GRAVENSTEEN: This was the counts’ castle which was built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace. The keep, turrets, and different gates were built imposingly for defensive purposes. Later it evolved from count’s residence to a cotton-spinning mill, to the Seat of the Council of Flanders, and now to a tourist attraction.

: Counts Castle from the 12th century in Gent, Belgium

Travel back in the time to the Middle ages and explore more than 1000 years of history in this very well-preserved and well-maintained castle. Make sure to visit all 15 stations inside the castle wall. Go up the stairs to enjoy the magical 360 degree view of the city from very top of the keep. Those torture instruments that witnessed gruesome and horrible medieval jurisdiction are some of the rarest in all of Flanders. Banquet Hall and Dungeon were remarkable too.

: Panoramic view from top of the keep of Counts Castle in Gent

From April 1 – October 31, the castle is open from 10 – 6 pm and from November 1 – March 31, they are open from 9 – 5pm. They are open everyday except for 24th and 25th of December and 1st of January. You can pay 8 euros for a self-guided tour inside the castle and it takes about little more than an hour to cover the whole place. Related articles

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Hello Helsinki

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Globe Runner

10 Comments

HELSINKI, FINLAND: Helsinki is a vibrant and diverse city, where you can taste traditional eastern exotic with contemporary Scandinavian style. It’s the capital of Finland and the second-most northern capital city in the world. This youthful and relaxed city gave us a cosmopolitan experience which exists in perfect harmony with nature. With more than 300 islands and 100 km of coastline you can’t go wrong when spending time outside the city also.

: From our cabin balcony, by Helsinki coast

The city was founded in 1550 by a Swedish king. Later, Helsinki was under Russian tsars for many years, therefore, you will see lots of influences of Russia here from architecture, to food, and souvenirs.

We toured the city with Hop On Hop Off (not the red one, green buses) open top tour bus service of Helsinki. We found their representatives right after we got off our ship. It was raining badly, I mean…seriously, it wasn’t a fun rain. We quickly decided to get on their bus to escape from the rain and it was the best way to explore Helsinki in that weather. They charged us 25 Euros per adult and free for kids below 16 years which includes audio guide and is valid for 24 hours. Also, you get to be picked up from your cruise terminal, if you arrive to the city via sea.

TIME of TRAVEL: We stopped in Helsinki, Finland when we took Baltic cruise with Carnival Legend in August of 2013. It was a 12-day cruise that started from Dover, England. After visiting Warnemunde, Germany our next destination was Helsinki and then to St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, the day we arrived in Helsinki, we were surprised with lots and lots of heavy rain. We almost got soaked at one point. But overall, it was ok, eventually the rain stopped in the later part of the day…but it was almost time for us to leave then L

EATING and SHOPPING: Helsinki’s cozy outdoor cafes and terraces offer a pleasant way to rest your feet and refresh yourself. For gastronomical explorer Helsinki has plenty to discover. We saw plenty of nice restaurants in the main center, near Senate Square. But, we grabbed some Subway sandwiches from a shopping mall and went on with our journey as soon as possible.

For souvenirs, Market Square was our best option. They were very reasonably priced and had tons of options to buy something local. We bought a pair of coasters made from juniper trees, it was 10 euros each. The wood has a distinct smell and the man told us if you put hot dish on the coaster, you can really get the smell of juniper.

: Coasters and boxes made from Juniper trees – some typical Finnish souvenirs in Helsinki

PLACES WE’VE VISITED: There are plenty museums here if they interest you…but with our short time off of the ship, that’s all we could do and visit here. Also, the rain didn’t help at all. We opt out on Olympic Stadium that is a well-known tourist spot where Olympic Games were held in 1952. We managed to visit the following in about few hours. Most of the sights and attractions are within walking distance in the city center, and getting around town is very easy. But Hop On Hop Off was a life saver for us that day.

: Lovelocks on Bridge of Love while walking towards Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki

1) SENATE SQUARE and HELSINKI CATEHDRAL: This is the main central square in Helsinki and a reminder for Finnish people when they became independent in 1917, immediately after the Russian Revolution. This neo-classical historical center is where we were dropped off at first from the port. In the center of Senate Square stands a statue of Tsar Alexander II from 1894. This Russian tsar was very popular here and his bold statue in the square represents Law, Peace, Light and Labor. Many merchant houses from the 18^th century are lined on the south side of the square. Senate Square also houses few museums, university library, main university building, and official residence of the Mayor of Helsinki. It was raining cats and dogs; we had to change our bus here and get on another Hop-On Hop-Off to start the tour.

The beautiful and historically significant Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelic Lutheran church. This striking white cathedral with green dome is the unofficial symbol of Helsinki and has been dominating Senate Square since 1850. Russian Tsar, Nicholas I, contributed to the exterior appearance of this cathedral by commissioning the zinc statues of 12 apostles on the roof looking down at the world. Helsinki Cathedral hosts major state and university events. Inside is very simple but elegant. The altar is non-decorative too, but the choir is grand and beautiful. Exhibitions and concerts are held in the vaulted crypt. Be ready to climb 50+ steps to get there. Entry is free to the cathedral.

: Helsinki Cathedral with statue of Russian Tsar Alexander II in Senate Square of Helsinki

2) TEMPPELIADIO CHURCH or ROCK CHURCH: This Lutheran church was literally dug out of solid rock and is the most visited site in Helsinki. It was quarried out of the natural bedrock where the interior walls are created naturally by the rock. The roof is made of 22 km of copper strips. Completed only in 1969, inside the church is very contemporary with simple altar and nave. Due to its excellent acoustics the church is a popular venue for concerts. There is no fee to enter the church.

: Rock Church, the most visited site in Helsinki

3) SIBELIUS MONUMENT: Dedicated to the world-famous composer Jean Sibelius, this monument is one of the “musts” when visiting Helsinki. Located in Sibelius Park, this unique sculpture resembles organ pipes, made with welded steel with the bust of the composer on one side. It has over 600 pipes and weighs 24 tons. This is a very nice park with touch of lovely greens in the city. There is no charge to enter the park or to see the monument.

: Sibelius Monument in Helsinki

4) NATIONAL MUSEUM, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, and HELSINKI MUSIC CENTER: Although we didn’t go inside because of short time, National Museum of Finland is a place full of treasures. It illustrates Finnish history from prehistoric times to the present and the building is very bold too.

Only a few steps from the museum is Finland’s impressive parliament building. The façade is made of red granite with 14 Corinthian columns. Opposite of the parliament if the Helsinki Music Center.

5) MARKET SQUARE: This was my favorite place in this city…I do get excited when choosing or buying souvenirs. Market Square is located in front of the city hall and by waterfront, only couple minutes of walk from Senate Square and Uspenski Cathedral. It was a great place to do some souvenir hunting. You can find some unique Finnish items here like juniper wood coasters and boxes, minks, fox furs, sweaters, and winter accessories and best part is that they are all made in Finland.

: Market Square of Helsinki, Finland

6) USPENSKI CATHEDRAL: Completed in 1868, the Uspenski Cathedral is the largest Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe. With its golden copulas and red-brick façade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history. This is one of the two official national churches in Finland. The ornate vaults are supported by four giant granite columns. And the fabulous painting behind the altar was done by a Russian artist. Interior is kind of small but more gorgeous and decorative than Helsinki Cathedral. We had to climb a small hill with few stairs. It’s free to go inside. With classic onion-domed Russian church is prominently located near Market Square and only 5 minutes of walk from Senate Square.

: Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki

Paris Fashion Week – Pre Helsinki (jalwinter.wordpress.com)
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8 reasons why I got addicted to cruises

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Globe Runner

4 Comments

I have mentioned in few of my last posts that we took Baltic Sea cruise last month in August of 2013. It was one of the most unique travel experiences my family and I had this summer. The fun was unlimited for all of us and so was the excitement. Carnival Legend made sure all of its passengers had time of their lives. There were always something exciting going on at every hour for everyone.

There is one confession I need to make though, I am not a big water person. In fact, I am very scared of water…that can be going to beaches or swimming pools or simply standing under shower for too long with eyes closed. I don’t know how to swim, therefore, I do panic everytime I am on a boat or taking any other water rides…to the point where I almost forget to enjoy the surroundings. First night of cruising, I kept waking up every hour just to check that our vessel wasn’t sinking or stuck or that there wasn’t any emergency sirens. I kept thinking about the movie Titanic (I know it sounds corny) and some recent cruise incidents (like the one in Italy where 40 people died). I was going through some checklist in my mind on what to do in those situations with my kids…although I know I can’t swim and therefore I can’t really do much. After the first night, I thought I would be ok…it was just getting used to sleeping in moving cabin. But no, that fear and insomnia stayed with me for the whole 12 days on the sea. It’s not that I didn’t sleep at all throughout this journey, but towards the end I used to wake up once or twice in the middle of the night.

Apart from that, the good news was that none of us got sea sick or anything. Thanks to my husband who did his homework before buying the tickets and booking our cabin. Double thanks to him for booking a cabin with an extended balcony. Yep, we were on 8^th deck with a nice little private balcony with 2 chairs. I managed to wake up very early in the morning few times and enjoy the sunrise right from there in my PJs. TIPS: try to get room in the mid-ship where you can feel motion the least. Front or back of any ship moves a lot and can really give you wobbly feelings if you are not used to it.

Above and all, those 12 days gave us some unforgettable memories. We were already talking about our next cruising destinations. So here are top 8 reasons why I want to go cruising again and again and again:

8) Towel folding animals: Our stewards used to visit our room twice a day. Once in the morning for regular servicing and once at night to get ready for bedtime. Every time we were back from our dinner we saw few chocolates, schedule for next day, and a cuddly towel folding animal on our bed. It made the kids giggly and we used to guess each evening what animal he would make for us that night.

7) Free concerts and musical performances everyday: There were more than just 1 or 2 of these concerts going on everyday. We attended Motown Concert on or 2^nd day on the sea. Also managed to see piano performance, duet vocal singing, and DJ party by the pool. There were also, few dance classes in each afternoon that covered salsa, tango, Bollywood, disco, and many more.

Motown Concert on board in Carnival Legend

6) Creative activities: Kids loved some close-up magic times as well as dancing by the pool. “Hairy Chest Competition” was really funny where 4 men competed and entertained a big group. Another really cool one I loved was the ice sculpture curving right in front of our eyes.

5) Friendly staffs: Our ship, Carnival Legend, had some wonderful…let me repeat, wonderful staffs and workers to serve us. From our room stewards, to all the attendants, cooks, servers, cleaners, receptionists, waiters/waitresses, officials, securities…all had smiley faces and friendly attitude. I can’t imagine to be in a place where I hated the staff. This experience alone added an extra star to our experiences.

4) Shore Excursions: Taking a cruise like this one gives you an easy chance of landing on new places. Particularly with Baltic Cruise, the major highlight was St. Petersburg for almost everyone. Other than that we had the opportunity to see Warnemunde and Rostock in Germany, Helsinki in Finland, and Tallinn in Estonia. These were some wonderful places where we’ve been longing to go for a while.

3) Unlimited food: Hehehe…yeh, unlimited food and desserts are in my top list for going back to any cruise. Starting from breakfast to dinner we were stuffed with all sorts of delicious dishes and yummy treats. Other than the 4 or 5 different sections for breakfast, in Carnival Legend, we used to have different theme for lunch in buffet service, like American, Mediterranean, Chinese, Italian, Caribbean, and some more. We didn’t go to any “Elegant Night” dinners in formal dining area, but other nights we had dinner in Truffles – a semi-formal sophisticatedly decorated sit down restaurant with lots of menu options. Other than these, there were 24-room service and pizza and ice cream bars where we could just go and munch.

2) Stunning beauty: May be it’s not so stunning when we were just sailing in the middle of blue ocean where we couldn’t see any lands nearby…it may get a bit dull after looking at the sea hours after hours. But my favorite part was during docking in a city and sailing off to a new destination. Amsterdam was probably the best because our ship had to get inside their small canals to anchor. And when we were leaving the city, it took couple hours of scenic canal ride before we were back on the ocean again…which was fantastic. But with most of the cities, as soon as the ship used to come closer to the city and later to the port…I loved to stand on our balcony to see look at other cruise liners, port life, and the whole city from a distance.

Amsterdam Port, as our ship was leaving the city

1) Sunrises and sunsets: This used to excite me the most before boarding the ship. I even bought a lens to capture the sunrises and sunsets on the horizon from our ship. I managed to wake up few times before sunrise and run to the upper deck to enjoy and capture some shots. Same with sunsets, some of them I just enjoyed it from our balcony, some from our restaurants during dinner, while for some sunsets I had time to go to sundeck to get a panoramic view. Capturing or looking at sunrises and sunsets still thrills me when I think about our future cruises. The way water glimmers as the sun rises or sets is a unique experience which I wish could see every day.

The most beautiful sunrise I saw, near Helsinki, Finland

Overall, it was an unforgettable journey for us and we did maximize our fun on the ship and on the shore by engaging ourselves in different things. Everybody’s festive and holiday mood cheered us too. We met an elderly family there who said this was their 15^th cruise…wow. I know they are addicted to cruise. I didn’t forget to ask them what their favorite one was; the answer was Alaskan cruise…hmmmmm. That must be an adventurous one, going thru snow-capped mountains and glaciers and solid rock icebergs on the water. Wherever we take our one should be fun…can’t wait til the next cruise.

Warnemunde and Rostock – charming fishing villages by the Baltic (journeyaroundtheglobe.com)

Warnemunde and Rostock – charming fishing villages by the Baltic

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Globe Runner

6 Comments

WARNEMUNDE and ROSTOCK, GERMANY: Warnemunde is an old sleepy fishing village to enjoy the sun, the beach, and the unique maritime world of experience. It was part of East Germany before and was developed to a major harbor town. Many seaside resorts raised up here by the scenic Warnow River.

: Warnemunde – a scenic fishing village in Germany

Rostock is a beautiful Hanseatic City with its own seaside resort…probably one of the oldest seaside resorts in Germany. There are plenty to see and do here. Visitors can witness German Gothic brick architecture, a city wall, gates, gabled houses in its old town.

We did this short day trip with a guided tour in a small group. We book through a company called “SPB Tours” for this tour along with our St. Petersburg (Russia) and Tallinn (Estonia) tour. I can’t tell the exact amount they charged us for specifically this tour. But the whole package of visiting 3 cities costs us around 1100 USD. Our guide, Jans, was a very friendly and knowledgeable person who is always ready to answer your questions and explain you everything in very details. The package included all the transportations and lunch. We didn’t have to pay any tickets/entry fees to any of the sites in Warnemunde/Rostock visit.

TIME of TRAVEL: We took a cruise from Dover, England on Baltic Sea in August, 2013 for 12 days. Our first stop was Copenhagen, Denmark. But since we’ve been to Copenhagen before we stayed back in the ship to enjoy the amenities that our ship, Carnival Legend, had to offer. Kids were happy that the swimming pool and hot tub were empty and they didn’t have to share it with others ;). And I was happy that I didn’t have to stand in the big line to get my Chinese from lunch buffet. Our ship left Copenhagen around 5pm. We were standing on the 10^th floor (Sundeck) of the ship and saw our big vessel moving over the blue water and leaving Copenhagen port behind us. Next morning we reached Warnemunde, Germany kind of early in the morning. I did get up very early, around 6am, to see the villages/cities before reaching the port. Thanks to my husband for booking a room with extended balcony…I could enjoy the early morning light in my PJs with messy hair without worrying people looking at me. We reached Warnemünde around 6:30am and we had to meet up with our tour guide at 8:45am. So, woke the kids up, got ready, had quick breakfast, and got out of the ship by 8:15…perfect planning. It was a bit cloudy in the morning but later it turned out to be a gorgeous one…loved the energetic weather in both of the villages.

: Our ship, Carnival Legend, docked in Warnemunde Port

EATING and SHOPPING: Both Warnemunde and Rostock are flooded with loads of bars, cafes, restaurants in the city center, near the promenade and harbor. We had lunch in Rostock near where all the ferries dock from various places. There was a Polish festival going on near the promenade and we had some pizzas and drinks.

We didn’t see too many souvenir shops that were open in these two towns, may be because it was a Sunday. One or two that we saw open were mainly selling maritime items along with generic t-shirts, key-rings, and postcards. The best and biggest souvenir shop we saw was near the port where our Carnival Legend was docked (think the name was Pier 7). We ended up going there on our way back to ship in the later afternoon and bought a big ceramic lighthouse for only 8 euros…very reasonable price. They had plenty of local food items, lots of home décors, and many collective items for very cheap prices…the store was heavily crowded by the time we were ready to head back to the ship.

PLACE WE’VE VISITED: We spend most of our time in Rostock and may be an hour in Warnemunde. We were done and back to the port at 2:30pm. Around 4pm our big ship started sailing again…towards Helsinki, Finland.

1) WARNEMUNDE WALKING TOUR: This is a scenic harbor town before Rostock’s harbor entry. The city is by the fresh water of River Warnow that meets the salty mass of the Baltic near Rostock district. Beach Promenade of Warnemunde was built about 100 years ago parallel to the beach. Time has stood still here. Sleek yachts, screeching seagulls, men in wooly hats catching out of the nets, Viking style sail-boats anchored on the water are just some daily pictures here. Long line of sailors’ and fishermen’s narrow gabled houses stand along the old tree-lined waterway. The pulsating promenade is packed with pubs, ice-cream parlors, café, and shops. We saw the 19^th century lighthouse from distance but that beach area is where most of the overnight tourists stay and enjoy Warnemunde.

: Warnow River of Warnemunde

Only few minutes of walk from Warnow, narrow streets that our guide took us through were haven of tranquility. Back alleys are very attractive too with their crooked little streets and bumpy cobblestones. 200 years old houses dwell here in small picture perfect neighborhoods. Another canal (may be a part of Warnow) runs in the old town making a home of lots of private yachts and fishing boats. They make popular subjects for photos in Warnemunde.

After we were done with the walking tour, we took a 45 minutes boat ride to Rostock, Meckelberg. This is not the only way to get to Rostock. There is a train that connects these two cities also, which we took on our way back to Warnemunde at the end of the day. All the fees for transportation were covered with our tour package including lunch in Rostock.

2) ROSTOCK: Rostock is another tranquil fishing village by the Baltic Sea, little bigger than Warnemunde. It was heavily bombed during WWII destroying 40% of the city. Later the city became a major port for East Germany. Currently, it has some picturesque seaside resorts, superb beaches, and several shipyards. The town is pumped with lots of tourist business amenities, especially in summer, for its cultural diversity, historical treasures, fresh fish, bustling promenade, and elegant shopping streets. You can encounter the glorious history of this once so prosperous city in every corner.

Thanks to Rostock’s prestigious university and its intellectual climate, from early on scientists and students were already researching every sect of science and technology field. The first jet aero-planes took off in Rostock. The most modern ships of every era have been launched here. Today, the largest diesel engines and best wind generators in Europe are built in the city.

a) CITY HARBOR: This kilometer-long promenade is a popular destination by the Baltic Sea with large warehouses, dozens of bars and restaurants, several shops. This is where we docked with our ferry from Warnemunde. It’s an ideal place to relax or party…depending on the mood. There was a big Polish event going on during our visit.

: Rostock Harbor

One of the biggest festivals of the town that we experience here was the Hanse Sail. The traditional ship rendezvous is amongst the largest in the world. It takes place in August of ever year for four days. The procession is joined by around 250 of fully rigged sailing ships from the four corners of the earth making it the biggest of its kind and offers thousands of onlookers an enchanting spectacle. Old saloon steamers, icebreakers, and Zeesen boats take their places in this magnificent parade.

: Boats on procession in Hanse Sail, on our way to Rostock from Warnemunde

b) ST. MARY’S CHURCH: This is one of the largest parish churches in North Germany and the most significant church of Rostock. Tall spire of it dominates the city and view of its harbor. You can’t miss its colossal size and bold structure with 5-6 million bricks near the Neuer Markt. An early Gothic church from 1230 AD was replaced in 15^th by the present basilica with nave and two aisles, ambulatory, radiating chapels and transept. The beautiful interior includes a massive and intriguing choir that is as big as a 3-story building, bronze font of 1290 AD – unique in Baltic region, stained glass windows, and an astronomical clock from 1472. This old clock still ticks perfectly correctly – the only one in the world from that epoch to do so. Everyday exactly at noon many visitors gather around this historic clock to see the Jesus greeting his apostles with procession and carillon.

: Astronomical Clock inside St. Mary’s Church from 1472 in Rostock

It was free to enter the church. Try to visit it around noon to see the astronomical show. It’s located only 10 minutes of walk from the harbor and next to the Town Hall square.

c) NEUER MARKT and TOWN HALL: This is a big gathering point of the city. Salmon colored Baroque style town hall with seven spires stands opposite of few old buildings with stepped gables by the row in a large square. The original building behind the present town hall façade is 800 years old from the 13^th century. Some of the richly decorated buildings in this square include registry office and city library. Even some simple warehouses and general buildings got extravagant brick façades.

d) UNIVERSITY SQUARE: University Square is the main square and one of the liveliest places of the city. Rostock boasts for housing Northern Europe’s oldest university from 1419. Rostock University’s main building from 1867 can be seen from the square here. Enjoy the line of old vibrant buildings, many shopping and eating places, and “Fountain of Joy” in front of the university’s main building.

: “Fountain of Joy” in University Square of Rostock, Germany

e) LANGE STRASSE: From the 1950s, this whole street came into being with departmental stores, high-rise buildings. This was created in the style of the brick age and gradually became the fashion district of Rostock.