Geneva - Switzerland

Geneva – Switzerland

Post published:8 June 2014
Post category:Europe Switzerland Western Europe

Share it with the world

Medieval Pagus Major Genevensis

Not even a month since our last time in Switzerland when we used Zurich as our base airport for visiting Liechtenstein and Lake Constance, we came back but this time to spend the weekend in Geneva and Lausanne, cities that we did not visit before and that we were looking after a while awaiting for a good flight deal to come. Well, basically booking flights elsewhere, as it was always cheaper going to other countries and cities than coming to Geneva.

Knowing that Geneva is pretty small and that for sure we would visit everything on the first day, the plan for the next day was to reach Lausanne. Coincidence-wise, another weekend by one of the greatest lakes in Europe. First, Lake Constance a month ago, then Lake Garda merely 2 weeks ago and now Lake Geneva. All of them with something in common, the Alps. Same landscapes and same beautiful small villages all around.

Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and also one of the most important ranking among the top 5 for the highest level of life of any other city in the world. Having that in consideration, you can imagine how expensive everything is. We already had our experience in Zurich and Basel previously, but here in Geneva seemed to be even more expensive than the others. Bear this in mind as this won’t be a cheap weekend. The worst part comes the moment you need to find something to eat… Well, McDonald’s was thankfully there to our rescue. Lunch and dinner on Saturday, dinner on Sunday. A variation for Sunday lunch? Burger King. Well, obviously not everything in their menus is bad and unhealthy. It is either that or paying almost 25£ for a ridiculously small Margarita pizza in the cheapest place we saw! No thank you, for great pizza at normal prices I can go elsewhere in Europe and of course Italy for the best. (more…)

Share it with the world

Doha - Qatar

Doha – Qatar

Post published:26 May 2014
Post category:Middle East Qatar

Share it with the world

Al-Bidda, Ad-Dowha

It’s great and nice to return to a city and place I so much enjoyed in the past, even if this is only for just a day as a stop over on our way to Tokyo, Japan. It’s been over 3 years since the first ever trip here, back then with a friend, now with my family so an extra reason why to really enjoy again by showing them this fascinating modern and at points, futuristic place. Their first time in the Middle East. Yes, I know a day is very short, but actually enough to see the most important sites and not suffer that much the horrific heat at almost 45 degrees Centigrade. Scorching dry heat is really the major drawback of cities in countries in this part of the world during the summer months. It’s only towards the evening when walking along the Corniche or by the MIA Park is the most enjoyable part of the day in Doha.

Back in May 2014, Doha was our second stop over after Kuwait, and so I will retain the structure in this guide as it was written back then, only revamping and expanding it with further new information and points, dates and the extra hotel we stayed in this occasion.

Comparing it with the more laid back Kuwait City which has just started to kick off in development recently, and at just 50 minutes away by plane, Doha is quite the radical change. In here, the over-development and frenetic construction round the clock currently happening is even difficult to explain and understand. After also experiencing Dubai couple of times, Doha is definitely the next city from all the ones I’ve been where such crazy construction is taking place and so dramatically quick. Said that, expect a city where hundreds of construction projects are still in place. New skyscrapers on every possible plot, the new metro system, motorways and bridges on the bay and many more. It will be shocking to come back in few years’ time and see a completely new city, although as for now, it is already shocking enough with a great skyline so far.
(more…)

Share it with the world

Kuwait City - Kuwait

Kuwait City – Kuwait

Post published:24 May 2014
Post category:Kuwait Middle East

Share it with the world

Madinat al-Kuwayt

One of the craziest bank holiday trips we’ve ever done. In fact, why to even think, it was the craziest with no equal. Visiting 2 countries in just 3 days. Qatar and Kuwait. That would be something very normal anywhere in our European city breaks, but not for going that far to the Middle East in such a short time. And actually in this case, that was not one of these low air fare offers, but instead an on-purpose Qatar Airways flight merely to boost the tier level of our Executive Club membership. Quite worth it knowing how many times we fly using any of the One World Alliance partners which means for us lots of air miles and other benefits.

So you might wonder how is it possible to visit 2 capitals in different countries in just 3 days. Well, let me tell you it is possible. Yes, it is very short time and definitely I would love to have been longer and enjoy visiting other places nearby and of course, more time by the beaches on the Gulf. In any case that was yet another well worth it trip back to a little piece of the Arab World. It was a day and a night in Kuwait City before flying the following morning to Doha for the next 2 days, then back to London.

As there is not really too much to see or do in the city, a day was definitely enough for us, of course bearing in mind that our peace for sightseeing is quite fast as we are very used to travelling, all extremely organised to the detail and specially with not much time to spare. (more…)

Share it with the world

Verona - Italy

Verona – Italy

Post published:18 May 2014
Post category:Europe Italy Southern Europe

Share it with the world

Fictitious city of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Too many years have passed after my first and only time in beautiful Verona, but finally returned, and not only once, but couple more times through the years. Of course much more knowledgeable and appreciative to the architecture and arts than how it was my first time, a rushy few hours stop-over along the way travelling between Venice and Milan on what was the end of high school trip. Nowadays, much more prepared and organised, and adding more notes revamping this guide after the latest trip, although with other plans in mind included: visiting the neighbouring cities of Vicenza, Padua, Mantua and Sabbioneta.

From the very first time I could perfectly still remember parts of the city like the Arena and Juliet’s House, but not much more, and what a surprise that was! The city is so pretty, with so much to see and do that definitely it won’t be long until I book another weekend city break here. There’s always so much more to discover along its large UNESCO World Heritage Site listed old town.

But even with so much history and sights, the city is actually more known for something that it is not even real. Juliet’s House. It has no connection whatsoever with Shakespeare’s fictional characters, furthermore to mention that the balcony was added in 1936 to further emphasise it as a tourist destination. Nevertheless this place will be of course a mandatory stop over along your sightseeing route and believe me, it will pretty much disappoint you. (more…)

Share it with the world

Mainau and Konstanz - Germany

Mainau and Konstanz – Germany

Post published:11 May 2014
Post category:Europe Germany Western Europe

Share it with the world

Roman Constantia

Heading to our last city for this trip, just a short ferry crossing from Meersburg are those 2 beautiful places right where Lake Constance splits into 2 and the river Rhine flows into the lake right through the city. The first of them, Mainau, is an island referred to as island garden because all that is there are impressive landscaped gardens and palaces, all of which listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the second, the beautiful city of Konstanz, some 5 kilometres away from Mainau.

The Medieval city of Konstanz will impress any visitor. Larger than all the other cities we visited you will definitely need more time to enjoy and properly visit, something that unfortunately we could not count with any more as we would have loved to. But in any case was “just” enough to enjoy all the beauties of the city and finalise such a wonderful trip all together.

After all, there is not really much to see and do other than walk around the nice streets admiring the architecture and nature around you, hence straightforward and easy to navigate. Then if you do a similar tour as the one we did this weekend, driving back from here to Zurich airport is very quick at not even 80 kilometres distance. For us it was just arrive, drop the rental car and board minutes after, as simple as that. We take planes that often as people who gets on the metro.

(more…)

Share it with the world

Meersburg - Germany

Meersburg – Germany

Post published:11 May 2014
Post category:Europe Germany Western Europe

Share it with the world

Burg on the Sea

Driving from Friedrichshafen towards Konstanz we found along the way what I would consider to be the most beautiful village in this trip. Not only that the little over 25 kilometres drive that separate both places is one of the best, crossing through many vineyards and apple plantations, with their respective mansions and cellar houses overlooking the lake down below, but the village of Meersburg came out of sudden unaware to us this place was existing.

It is maybe for this reason that we ended our trip in Konstanz a bit rushing as we spent quite a good time in Meersburg also having lunch in there. So great food for such great prices! Incredible. Really don’t go for a pizza, as you might be thinking after you see how good they look and how little they cost, but instead go for something more traditional and local; take your chance while you are here.

The village is also one of the main ports in the north of the lake. The ferry crossing to Konstanz saves a long way driving around the northernmost area of the lake to just come back down. Don’t take me wrong, if you have the time you should definitely drive all the way, otherwise in just 10 minutes you will be at the other side. (more…)

Share it with the world

Friedrichshafen - Germany

Friedrichshafen – Germany

Post published:11 May 2014
Post category:Europe Germany Western Europe

Share it with the world

The Home of Ferdinand von Zeppelin

So here we are at the following morning ready for our second part of this busy weekend. Friedrichshafen, located at middle distance from Bregenz than Konstanz, it’s only 28 kilometres far from our previous destination, Lindau. And although being what is perhaps the city with the less sights to see and less charm if compared to the neighbouring cities, it is worldwide famous for being the hometown of Ferdinand von Zeppelin, and his arch-known invention, the Zeppelin.

And what is the highlight thrill you could do? Getting on a Zeppelin flight! As you hear. They do frequent flights through the day, weather permitting, and will take you around the lake and mountains. Obviously such an unique experience comes at a price. Unfortunately I did not take a flight this time. You need to book well in advance and of course count with much more time than the little we had.

Visiting the museum will be a great attraction on itself. They have a huge exhibition which is a true reconstruction of part of the Hindenburg, full with some of the rooms, lounges and smoking room, and the structure so you will get a great idea, knowledge, and history. (more…)

Share it with the world

Lindau - Germany

Lindau – Germany

Post published:10 May 2014
Post category:Europe Germany Western Europe

Share it with the world

Bavaria’s only Lighthouse

Moving on to the next city after Bregenz crossing the border between Austria and Germany to Lindau, well, an almost imaginative border since the only clue that we are in the next country is a welcoming sign. It’s only 10 kilometres what separate both cities, and as I will explain in the following guides as well, distances between the cities along the lake are really small. It’s just matter of minutes until you are in the next and so on, hence the easiness for doing a tour similar to what we did. It works perfectly and you will enjoy lots.

The full of the historical city is an island connected to mainland by a road and rail bridge. Lindau is the main port on the southern side of the lake, being one of the major landmarks itself with the beautiful sculpture and the only lighthouse in Bavaria. But it’s not only by the port where you will enjoy the sights and instead all scattered around the island, with many imposing buildings such as the City Hall with the famous decoration of painting the façades Bavaria region is famous for.

Walking the entire city won’t take too long for what you could easily visit almost every street. We spent no more than 2 hours and visited everything. I agree we rushed a little bit but it was just in order to catch the last of the sun light. (more…)

Share it with the world