Oslo - Norway

Oslo – Norway

Post published:9 August 2015
Post category:Europe Northern Europe Norway

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Meadow at the Foot of a Hill

One of the major capital cities that was still missing to have here in my travel blog, Oslo, finally written. It is not the first time I visit the city though, but at over 6 years since the previous time, and for what was back then one of those “light-speed day trips” we so often used to do almost every Saturday, travelling at odd unsocial early hours and returning back at even later hours on the same day (well, already Sunday), then was not much point to write the backdated guide as it would have been pretty much incomplete. This time, however, after staying longer and not merely one time, but twice for a weekend at different seasons of the year, I have absolutely everything I need to have a wider view of what this pretty Scandinavian city has to offer.

That we flew here on this day, anyway, came out of sudden at a random. Only 2 weeks before we were about to give up in searching what could we do one of the weekends, pretty much to what happened to us with other trips that we ended up returning to Brussels and visiting Leuven for example. So instead of searching for flights alone, it was well worth looking at the Holiday Finder tool on the British Airways website and there it was this great flight+hotel deal with such unbeatable perfect flying times, great hotel, but what is best, the surprisingly great price! Honestly, if you did not know about this tool they have, you should really give it a try, without giving up if on some precise dates you might be looking at you don’t see any good deal, because there are, yes there are great deals; simply change the dates or look farther ahead in advance in the year.

As a good point in all this, a weekend is more than enough to fully enjoy the city without missing anything. And if you plan or have more than 2 days, then I would advice you to have a look at what else you could do nearby as otherwise you will end up without any further places to visit and wondering what else to do next. (more…)

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Southwest England - United Kingdom

Southwest England – United Kingdom

Post published:31 May 2015
Post category:Europe Northern Europe United Kingdom

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The English Riviera

After a short visit to Exeter continuing our journey towards Southwest England along the counties of Devon and Cornwall, we arrived in the matter of few minutes’ drive to Torbay in Devon, officially known by its well-deserved nickname, The English Riviera. This name comes back from the Georgian and Victorian eras when the rich and wealthy were coming along this area to spend their holidays in search of the beautiful sandy beaches and small and quiet idyllic villages. It is today that this region still caters for a large number of luxury and high demanding holidaymakers, but now you can find top 5* resorts, hotels and spas next to much more modest properties. A great place to anyone.

Although I was at some of those places many years ago, I barely could remember anything. Not even the larger cities Exeter and Plymouth, for what made it a great weekend to remember and enjoy what I consider the most beautiful region in Britain. So unfortunate that the weather (like everywhere in the UK) is not as good as is in Spain for example, as otherwise this could be the perfect beach holiday destination with nothing to envy to the Mediterranean; but that will never happen though.

While “commuting” from one place to another can be done in different ways, all of them are quite fast. Of course the fastest is having a rental car out of question, but buses and trains connect every of those cities and villages all along the south west mainline railway. Not every train calls at the smaller places but is a fast and efficient way that won’t take that much time. (more…)

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Exeter - United Kingdom

Exeter – United Kingdom

Post published:30 May 2015
Post category:Europe Northern Europe United Kingdom

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Old English Escanceaster

Too many years have passed since the first and last time I’ve visited Exeter. Distant memories yet I could remember quite well how beautiful this city is. It felt however as coming for the very first time, with a clear difference; now I was paying way much more attention to its architecture and sights and not how I was doing many years ago when it was just a simple visit with plenty friends on our day off when we were on a working and learning English program during the summer months while at University, working at Butlins Minehead, not far from Exeter.

Not every weekend trip is going to be abroad after all. This country has so much to offer but truth is that I’ve been to majority of the places and cities. Unfortunately for most of them a long time ago and therefore will not add a travel guide for them until I come back again so can have recent inputs, and not vague memories and ideas from 10 years back or so.

Exeter is one of the oldest cities in the UK, the most south western post in Britain from the Roman Empire and despite the small size, there is a lot to do and see with a thriving nightlife at the weekends and great large shopping areas. Being until WWII second to Bath for it’s beauty, the damages after the war left the city with half of its historic core and thus, not becoming a major tourist destination after all. (more…)

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Ring of Kerry - Ireland

Ring of Kerry – Ireland

Post published:26 April 2015
Post category:Europe Ireland Northern Europe

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Irish: Ciarraighe, Ciarrai

On our second day on this weekend trip we left Cork towards County Kerry, some 70 kilometers to the west. Initially we headed to Kerry Airport where we got a rental car to then drive all around this beautiful region in Ireland. You will find all over the internet there is a specific name for a route that passes all over the best places in the area, this is called the Ring of Kerry, and that’s right, this was our aim for today and the reason why we needed a rental car.

I cannot imagine anyone coming here without a car, but is this is the case, (not everyone drive nor want to drive in their holidays), you can take a tour from pretty much everywhere else in Ireland. Those offer this as a day tour, and are available even as far as from Dublin. Other than that, you can only go point to point using public transportation as Killarney, Tralee or Portmagee to name the “largest” cities. I emphasize in “largest” as quite ironic, the size of the cities are more to a villa, being Tralee the largest at around 25000 inhabitants.

But again, this is not a region you come as part of city sightseeing, but for nature and landscapes instead. It is without doubt regarded as the most picturesque region in Ireland and renowned for its scenery and landscapes. Combining the Ring of Kerry with a larger city to the likes of Cork as was our case this weekend; or Limerick and Galway which are at the same distance, is perfect and will work great on a weekend trip. (more…)

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Cork - Ireland

Cork – Ireland

Post published:25 April 2015
Post category:Europe Ireland Northern Europe

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The Rebel City

At quite a desperation for this weekend since we did have nothing booked until 5 days before travelling, we managed to get a super deal once again with Ryanair on a very last minute rush. It involved going to one airport to return from a different one since returning from the same airport would have set the costs to double and more. Furthermore, a route we had already planned last year but could not manage in time when we went to Limerick and Galway. So Cork would be on Saturday, and the Ring of Kerry on Sunday.

Cork is the 3rd largest city in Ireland, just a bit larger than Limerick. Located on the banks of the River Lee and at the mouth of one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Founded in the 6th century as a monastic settlement, was in the 915 when the Vikings created a trading port and the city developed from there. At one point it was entirely walled when it was an outpost of Old English culture among the predominant Gaelic countryside.

There is a rivalry between Cork and Dublin, similar to the rivalry between London and Manchester or Madrid and Barcelona. Both “competing” to each other in offering “better” than the other. This leads nonetheless in Cork having a great and huge choice of activities and entertainment as Dublin, much larger city and capital, has also too. (more…)

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Helsinki - Finland

Helsinki – Finland

Post published:29 March 2015
Post category:Europe Finland Northern Europe

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The Daughter of the Baltic

Many years have passed since the first and only visit to Helsinki. Very long time to remember, not to mention how young I was. That long ago I was only starting my first year at the university of architecture so I have to admit I was not even too impressed and demanding about the architecture in the city, or any city. Totally opposite as how I am now wherever I travel. But something that has never changed in all this time is my passion for art-deco and art-nouveau styles. And yes, that’s right, Helsinki has one of the largest collection of art-nouveau buildings in the world.

Returning back to this city was as exciting as for the first time. Gladly to find out it is still as cute and well cared, clean and elegant as I remembered. A big down side, the much higher costs for everything in overall. Back in 2002 they were only starting to use the Euro as currency merely 6 months before my arrival and I remember the people already telling how much the prices went up. But now, everything has changed, and although it is not as expensive as its neighbors (Sweden and specially Norway), there is a clear steep increase in prices.

So this time, I got to see how the city looks like in winter time. Fair enough it’s not very true as it was already spring and not the peak December/January; but still, was it was freezing cold. Quite the opposite as how this was the first time I came to the city at over 30 degrees in the middle of the summer. But don’t take this for granted, the weather over here even in August could be very bad and cold. I was perhaps very lucky, but it’s not the norm.

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Riga - Latvia

Riga – Latvia

Post published:12 October 2014
Post category:Europe Latvia Northern Europe

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The art-nouveau capital of Europe

The wonderful city of Riga. A very well deserved return to revisit after that many years in between the previous times. The fact that I kept postponing this city on behalf of others is still a fact I cannot quite explain. I cannot think of any possible reason nor excuse as it is still ranking one of my all time favourite European cities, not only for the beauty and cosines of the old town but because of its impressive collection of art-nouveau buildings, the largest of its kind on any city in the world. And yes, for those who don’t know me yet, art-nouveau together with art-deco are my favourite architectural styles.

Riga is the largest city not only in Latvia, also the largest of any city across the Baltic countries, followed by Tallinn and Vilnius; hosting one third of the country’s population. As such, plan at least 2 days for visiting it. Any shorter than this and you will struggle to enjoy the sights and relaxed time at any of the many restaurants and bars. Yet still, over 2 days and you might end up with not much more to do and see unless going to the outskirts neighbourhoods or nearby seaside resort of Jurmala.

The old town is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list due to its importance and rich past and prosperity over history as one of the major cities of the Hanseatic League and for hosting an almost intact medieval layout coupled with an incredible collection of 19th century wood classical buildings in the Russian style and an unrivaled 19th and 20th century art-nouveau city extension. (more…)

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Vilnius - Lithuania

Vilnius – Lithuania

Post published:5 October 2014
Post category:Europe Lithuania Northern Europe

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The Baroque City

Unsure what it has, but it’s always nice to be back to Lithuania, and return to its charming capital city, Vilnius. Perhaps the 4th or 5th time here, and always as good as if the first time. Also in such a lapse of time since 2003 through 2020 I’ve seen how the city has reshaped itself, improved, restored and embellished after the continuous gentrification. I can still remember the times the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was under reconstruction with merely some walls and now admiring in its full glory; and even used Litas, the currency before the Euro.

Lithuania and the Baltic Countries in general can be a great option to visit during the low season months. Winter is quite cheap to come, however there is something you must consider if planning a trip during this time, the weather. Expect below 0 Centigrade, sometimes really extreme, and snow. It can be very harsh to coop. I am for sure not prepared for that and do not have the appropriate clothing like they do. And all I can think is the horrible experience that was once Tallinn with minus 10, and that was already in spring.

Vilnius’ Old Town was listed an UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its impressive and large medieval core, nowadays predominantly Baroque. No wonder why the city is nicknamed the Baroque City. Almost every building has been preserved, or reconstructed and restored therefore an incredible sight for everyone’s eyes. Colorful in every sense, elegant yet imposing. And since many areas are now car free, you will further enjoy walking along the streets. But gentrification and becoming popular comes at a price. Back in the times of the Litas, prices were relatively low, basically how they were supposed to be. Unfortunatelly after they joined the Euro, the cost of living and for everything raised dramatically as I have experienced every time I come, and the trend will not stop from the look of it. The country is rapidly booming, although the basics as salaries do still not reflect the reality.
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