Read more about the article Saint Malo – France
Saint Malo - France

Saint Malo – France

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Not French, not Breton; but Malouin

Our next stop-over for today coming from Rennes and after the Mount Saint-Michel was the city of Saint Malo. Because of it being quite near Saint-Michel and because there is enough time to visit both cities on the same day, we could not leave the occasion pass and complete this area by coming here too. That was in fact a great decision! But I cannot imagine having to do the same we did if you are not having your own transportation (rental car) and depending instead on public buses or trains. Still feasible but stressful and way much shorter time to enjoy the places.

I could not imagine myself having to spend a full day in Saint Malo anyway, I would not know where else to go, unless heading across the Bassin de la Rance to Dinard which in any case, apart from luxurious mansions there’s no more. That’s why when you plan to come here, try to include either Saint-Michel if you’ve not been before, or other cities nearby to make the most out of the day, otherwise coming only just here is not that worth it. Yes it is a pretty city, but not one of the really must-dos if I am to be honest.

Saint Malo was in origin an island-city, but for many years not anymore although it is still surrounded by water at all sides, with a very strong tide, on the same way as it happens with Mont Saint-Michel, you can have 2 different views of this city either at high or at low tide, whichever is the case, the beauty of the city still there, and the number of tourists speak for themselves. It’s the most visited place in Brittany. (more…)

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Read more about the article Mont Saint Michel – France
Mont Saint Michel - France

Mont Saint Michel – France

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Saint Michael in peril of the sea

Directly after landing in Rennes we finally made it to Mont Saint Michel; the true reason for this weekend’s trip. Long time in the wish list, but for many reasons it has never worked out either because of flight routes and times or by high air fares. Surprisingly this time, with FlyBe from Southend Airport was really a “bargain” (although let’s better say not so bargain when considering how expensive the train from central London was to the airport, and the time it all took having to change trains). Anyway, it was well worth it.

From Rennes, our base, we rented a car. Not that you would need it since there are frequent buses and trains between both Rennes and Mont Saint Michel, but our plan was a bit wider for today in not just visiting the Mount, but also nearby Saint Malo. Also possible to do everything on public transportation, but way much more time consuming. Both places are very small, so you do not need to stress about in not being possible to visit everything, because there is plenty of time, even during winter months that the days are shorter, as our case was.

The iconic island-village with its monastery at the top is one of the most renown tourist attractions in France, and also one of the most visited. Its beauty and perfection coupled with the idyllic location by the bay is not only a major tourist draw, but an UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are lucky enough to have the chance to see it at high tide, it is something truly memorable and impressive. We only saw it at very low tide, also quite unique image to see from the top of the Abbey with the emptiness of the tidal area. (more…)

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Read more about the article Vienna – Austria
Vienna - Austria

Vienna – Austria

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The City of Music

Vienna, how to even start creating a guide for one of the most stunning cities in the world. Not only its impressive elegance from the incredible architecture all over the place, but its rich history and culture on every corner. And if with the eyes was not enough, this is a delight to the ears as well. No other city in the world has such a vast history and legacy from the greatest classical music composers of all times. That’s the fact in the city’s nickname, the “City of Music”. Now glad to return few years after the first time and continue to explore this magnificent place.

Few years back, we did arrive in Vienna after little over 4 hours train ride from Prague, the enchanting city of Central Europe. And if 3 days were definitely not enough back in Prague, we experienced the same conclusion here in Vienna back in the days. That trip was for merely 2 days and an extra evening since we planned a very busy day tour to Salzburg, therefore cutting short the overall stay. Now, talking from extra fresh new experience after this trip, I can finally say my visit is complete and definitely looking forward to the next time and more.

The city has a great urban plan and follows what is pretty much a circular pattern. The Old Town, which is the historic area is called Innere Stadt and is completely encircled by the first ring road, the Ringstrasse, which was built with magnificent palaces, buildings, fountains and monuments all the way along. Both the Old Town coupled with this ring road are mandatory places for sightseeing, leaving for last the sights on the outer neighbourhoods from the Ringstrasse, being the major landmarks the Prater, Central Cemetery and Schönbrunn Palace.

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Read more about the article Potsdam – Germany
Potsdam - Germany

Potsdam – Germany

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Residence of the Prussian Kings and the German Kaiser

Our second day of this quick weekend we spared to visit the beautiful city of Potsdam, just 24 kilometres to the south west of Berlin. This was for us the main reason for this weekend trip, and since we’ve already been to Berlin some years back where we got to spend 4 days full days, more than enough time to visit everything, it is why we took on this occasion Saturday only to remember a bit and walking along the major tourist areas and attractions without any rush.

Sunday, in the other hand was a very different story. Even the day was planned to start early, which it did, was definitely not enough time to visit every place I will be listing below in the next section of what to see and do. There are way too many places to see in Potsdam, and distances in between too vast, but it’s not only about visiting those places from the outside alone (which in any case for this first time in this city we did), but once you start entering the palaces and acknowledge the real size of them, time will fly away. As few weeks ago we got enough from spending the entire day in Versailles in Paris, and in matter of 2 weeks we will be in Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, we decided to stick to the plan of see as much of the countless amount of palaces, pavillions, sculptures, fountains and parks just from the outside.

So what’s all this buzz about this place then that everyone talks about and ranks among the top 5 attractions in the whole of Germany? It is nothing else than the history that represents. The city became the full permanent residence of the Prussian royal family, who started to create such palaces, castles, pavillions and parks. The highlight came during the reign of Frederick the Great with the creation of Sanssouci Park and Palace in 1744 with its impressive Rococo architectural style instead of classic that was the norm elsewhere in Europe. The legacy after the centuries is what you can see today, all in its former glory after the vast long program or reconstruction and restoration that took place after the loss and destruction that happened here during the WWII and the Cold War afterwards. (more…)

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Read more about the article Berlin – Germany
Berlin - Germany

Berlin – Germany

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Polabian Berl: Swamp

Once again, almost without any free time to prepare our future trips since these are one after another and without any rest in between; it came the time for Berlin. City we’ve already been many years ago! Possibly 8 or 9, hence the reason why there was not a travel guide for the capital of Germany in my blog until now, where I will make the best to combine some good information from both of the times I’ve visited and a quite extensive section on what to see and do in the city itself.

On this occasion I must admit the time planned for the city was very limited. Extremely limited would describe this better, but this was in the other hand not the usual weekend trip where we go to a new destination and we do non-stop walking everywhere through the city to see everything and all of the sights. No it wasn’t. Was instead a much more relaxed weekend spent abroad for the sake of enjoying going elsewhere and to a place so long we’ve never returned but very well worth it to revisit. I’m sure it won’t be that long anymore until we return to Berlin to keep enjoying it and for visiting the many nearby wonderful cities and places.

So before you wonder how long you would need to enjoy the city, plan no less than 3 days. While a weekend is great to give you an idea and see a lot, it is still short as you cannot physically see everything in just 2 days. There is really a lot in the many districts, plus when talking about museums then well… that will take a long time. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Museumsinsel (Museum Island) can easily take you an entire day for itself alone; yet here, of course, from all of the museums, there is one you cannot miss: the Pergamon; where you can find the original world renown altar brought stone by stone from the Turkish city of Pergamon among other treasures, noteworthy the galleries about Persepolis and the Middle East cross-roads of civilizations. (more…)

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Read more about the article Leuven – Belgium
Leuven - Belgium

Leuven – Belgium

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The Brewery City

Here we are returning back to Brussels once more this year merely after 3 months since the last time, but in order to reach the beautiful city of Leuven; and after a very, very last minute booking found yet again under the flight+hotel deals offered by British Airways that you can find and use their great holiday finder tool in their website. Sometimes I am really wondering how this is possible at such incredible good low prices! This same weekend, if booked separately would have set us up in triple the fare we paid. And what is best, flying with British Airways. Getting Avios miles, more tire points, and able to use the Business Lounge for free since we are Silver Members on their frequent flyer program, BA Executive Club.

This time we did also not booked this merely to be again in Brussels that we know as our second home, but to have a rather relaxing weekend and enjoying to the maximum the hotel facilities as their large pool but still sparing some time to visit a city we have never been before in Belgium that lies only 25 kilometers to the east, Leuven.

It is really few places left in Brussels that we’ve not been. It is actually one of the countries we have heavily visited the most and repeated countless times in going to Brussels, Ghent and Brugge. Unfortunately it is up to this date that I have not created the travel guides for both Brugge and Ghent, and only because it is quite a long time since the last time we were in them over 5 years ago. Back then we used to go at least 5 times a year if no more. I will wait with those for when I return and have a fresher memory and more up to date info. (more…)

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Read more about the article Stralsund – Germany
Stralsund - Germany

Stralsund – Germany

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Stralow: Polabian for Arrow

And yet again back in Germany at only 6 days after the last time. On this occasion, our final destination was Szczecin, city we flew on Friday night but that we left for visiting on Sunday. Instead for today Saturday, we decided to enjoy a day trip towards the Baltic Coast of Poland, and crossing over to Germany which lies few kilometres from the border towards the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed city of Stralsund. One of the most beautiful and iconic Hanseatic cities, which together with its brother city of Wismar, shares the same UNESCO status listing.

Unfortunately due to the lack of time and because of the already far distance we had to drive to come here, it was physically impossible to fit this second city of Wismar, way much farther to the west. The easiest and fastest way for this one will be in the future, flying to Hamburg or Lübeck as those are the nearest airports and a short train or bus ride from there.

The way from Szczecin to the north is a fast and beautiful drive, in between lakes and nature, soon arriving to the Baltic Sea passing Swinoujscie. From here it is meters away from the German border which is a pretty straightforward crossing and without queues. There is a fee to cross over but that’s all. Probably they don’t even require you to hand over your ID/Passport either, since they are in the European Union and they run only spot checks at random.

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Read more about the article Celle – Germany
Celle - Germany

Celle – Germany

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Kiellu: Fischbucht

As last on this hectic busy weekend, and already “more or less” en-route towards Bremen’s Airport, meaning just few hours before our departure flight back to London; we managed to include a short visit to the historic city of Celle. Famous for its hundreds of timber-framed houses beautifully preserved and cared to the tiniest detail, feels more like an open air museum in its entire old town core. In this case as opposed to what happened in Bremen and Lüneburg (cities that we visited before on this trip), thankfully the loss and destruction during the Second World War was minimal at just 10 buildings damaged, therefore what is here today is the same as when built with the majority of the buildings dating to the 16th century. This is one of the main reasons why Celle is included on the timber-framed historic route that crosses Germany from north to south including the best examples of such architecture. No need to mention that Lüneburg, which we visited before coming to Celle, is also a member city of this route.

The good news is that this city is quite small, with a very compact and easy to navigate and see old town core. Therefore, judge and plan your time accordingly. If you are having a spare day as we did for visiting as much as you can, then both Lüneburg and Celle are your best bet and will definitely give you a memorable day.

I cannot imagine, in the other hand, staying much longer here because there is not much more you can do. And even if you are visiting Celle as a day trip from Hanover for example, which is just 30 minutes away by train, the whole day will be still way too much. The options are easy, either if you have a rental car or if you depend on public transport. We did this day tour from Bremen which was our base; but doing the same from Hanover or Hamburg will take you absolutely the same time.

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