Iceland - Iceland

Iceland

Post published:29 April 2012
Post category:Europe Iceland Northern Europe

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The Land of Fire and Ice

Iceland, for a very long time in the bucket list of destinations wishing to go and finally a reality. And what can I say about this amazing country, other than wishing to have stayed longer and see more. Yet we knew four days was not going to be enough, the fact is that a week is still short for that many places you can visit, and all in this medium-sized island. A miniature continent full of fascinating natural wonders, the power of mother earth at every corner you go, no matter the season, the beauty is guaranteed any month. From being able to admire the spectacular Northern Lights and that winter wonderland snowy landscapes, almost isolated glaciers or icebergs on the beach to eerie empty grasslands, lava soil and powerful rivers and waterfalls with every shade of green from the fields; each of the seasons is more unique than the other.

Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world is the arriving gateway to this world of wonders. Small yet thriving, its metropolitan area is home to around 230000 people, that’s over 60% of the country’s population. Very organised, clean and the safest capital in Europe, is full of beautiful colorful wooden houses and mansions, churches, museums and a quite impressive nightlife especially during the weekends. Shops, bars and restaurants everywhere serving great food, notoriously good for fish and seafood, and whale steaks. Yes whale; Iceland and Japan are the rare nations still fishing it.

While visiting the capital will not take you even a day, the rest of the country we know would last several, but for the average visitor, some 5 days is good enough to capture the best spots allowing yourself a good reason why to come back, perhaps during a different season of the year to have a complete different view. After all, you are never too far away from Reykjavik from the top natural sights as the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, the stunning rock formations in the sea by Reynisfjara Beach and the Vatnajökull National Park.

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Moscow - Russia

Moscow – Russia

Post published:9 April 2012
Post category:Eastern Europe Europe Russia

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The Forty Forties. The Third Rome.

The quite impressive and sprawling massive city of Moscow, home to over 12 million people was for a very long time one of the most desired destinations to go. Not the easiest either, first of all the airfares at the time we went there were still quite high, with no other option than having to take a flag airline carrier as no low-cost airlines were flying, something that has dramatically changed with the years after by the way; and secondly, most important to be honest, the not so easy way to get a visa and its costs.

On the bright side, happy to finally be here and admire such grandeur and at points, luxurious city where you will come to see the so called “New Russians”. These are the rich and new rich people, mostly young students whose parents run successful business and have enough money to have that extravagant style of living where money does not really matter. The list speak for itself, Moscow has the largest community of billionaires in the world. On the other hand, the country is quite the opposite. No doubt the cities along the west especially Moscow and Saint Petersburg act as a facade and a truly show-off to what the reality is in the rest of the country, notably the rural areas which in the largest country in the world, trust me, it is huge, inconceivable huge.

Moscow’s history is terribly rich, and while some chapters are not that bright than others, no one can argue of its strength and power through the centuries. Always a super power and always grand. No matter on the ruling power of the time, here building the bigger and the better is still the tendency on our days. Founded as a small trading post in 1147, developing with the centuries into lavish baroque palaces, elegant avenues and boulevards with incredible mansions, fountains, statues and great public spaces legacy from the Tsar Russia, the once so extravagant and envied monarch system. And continuing to evolve after the fall of the Tsar regime in the February Revolution of 1917 with the establishment of the Bolshevik in 1923 founding the Soviet Union at the end of the Russian Civil War.

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Pompeii - Italy

Pompeii – Italy

Post published:19 February 2012
Post category:Europe Italy Southern Europe

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Frozen in time and forever since 79 AD

Visiting Naples for the first time? Then chances you will be coming to Pompeii are high. This was our actual case, not only was the first time travelling to Naples (which nowadays we can count at least 5 more), but the entire trip had to be planned to include this stunning archaeological site. And to know that there are so many other Roman cities, islands such as Capri, the amazing Amalfi and Sorrentine Coasts or the impressive sites of ancient Magna Graecia at Paestum and countless more, then it is certain hard to even get tired of visiting what is to my taste, one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of Italy, Naples.

It is hard to even say something about Pompeii, where time simply stood still for 2000 years. After having visited some other ancient civilizations masterpieces such as Petra in Jordan, Athens Acropolis in Greece or Rome, the capital of the vast empire than once was; coming here was as exciting as for any of the others with the difference that this time we knew we would get to see how a Roman city really was, with all the infrastructure almost in perfect condition; palaces, temples, houses, baths, bars, shops, brothels; including original graffiti on the walls from that era; all there frozen in time after Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD.

Although Pompeii was not the only city to be buried. It was certainly the most affected in the sense that the amount of super heated pyroclastics felt too abruptly destroying the roofs and upper levels of almost every house in the fraction of few second; but this did not happen at nearby Ercolano and Stabiae, hence why you get to see almost complete houses and palaces with great paintings still decorating every wall at the others but very little of that here in Pompeii even though it was the largest city in the area. Everything completely disappeared after the eruption until its rediscovery and excavation, which it is still ongoing and will last for decades to come.

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Goa - India

Goa – India

Post published:5 January 2012
Post category:Asia India

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Former Portuguese colony in India

The region of Goa is more than just beaches and Trance music. It’s a region full of great Portuguese colonial architecture, amazing food and gorgeous landscapes. It’s also a very small region, in fact, India’s smallest state where the points of interest and sights are located most of them around the old capital city, Velha Goa. You are never far away, and you are always near a beach, though not all of them are what you really expect or want.

You need to remember that since Goa is a key resort in India, locals have around 5 months to make money from tourism. The remaining months is when the monsoon hits the area, with very few people keen to visit the region and as such meaning no business for locals. Therefore, expect to pay higher prices on everything. less quantities or even less quality; although if you know how to move around and where to go, you will do wonders and have one of the greatest experience and fantastic holidays.

To bear in mind before coming here, heat. Yes, it can get very hot and super humid. And considering from our experience when merely days ago we had just 10 degrees centigrade in Delhi and Varanasi, this was a shock to have +35. Not a complaint but the contrary. I love the heat, but prepare to bath in your own sweat non stop, especially when visiting the old capital. Somehow it was even more humid over there.

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Aachen - Germany

Aachen – Germany

Post published:26 November 2011
Post category:Europe Germany Western Europe

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Capital of Charlemagne Empire

Welcome to Aachen, one of the oldest and most historic cities in Germany, and also one of the prettiest in terms of great sights there to see. Small yet charming, and even considering the raids during the WWII that destroyed many medieval masterpieces, it is today one of the most visited in the country coupled with Cologne and Dusseldorf, and plenty other smaller sites in the region.

Founded as a Roman Spa resort by Hadrian in 124 AD due to the hot mineral springs, the site was already inhabited during the Neolithic are for the same reasons. Gained importance and population during the Middle Ages as it became a principal residence of King Charlemagne, who spent his first Christmas there in year 768, thereafter the city becoming the focus of his court and the political centre of his empire.

The Palatine Chapel and main palace was built during his time, and so the church he was buried after his death, nowadays the Cathedral we see there today, a marvellous piece of Carolingian architecture and a blend of many other styles after it was expanded through the centuries. An impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site listed monument.

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Petra - Jordan

Petra – Jordan

Post published:11 June 2011
Post category:Jordan Middle East

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Precious cultural property of man’s heritage

So here we are at the peak of our trip to Jordan. Petra was the reason number one to come and plan the entire trip at first instance, and while we knew it would be a very difficult and exhausting day trip from Amman, we also know it is place we will not return in the near to medium future, if at all we even ever return. One of the most grandiose and stunning places from antiquity, from one of the most incredible civilisations the earth has ever known, the Nabataean Kingdom, and Petra, its most glorious capital and so today one of the most precious UNESCO World Heritage Site. Incredibly so well preserved, fact due to the site being forgotten and only “re discovered” in 1812, and still being excavated to this date.

The ancient city is a very big site right in middle in the desert, only accessible through a narrow pathway through the rocks 1.2 kilometres long, known as the Siq. This is one of the major facts that helped the site to be forgotten, and hidden.

With so much information I want to share, I rather split it into different sections for easy clarification. Please do remember this is a very vast site, where the scorching heat and lack of fresh air can make things hard, hence in order to enjoy the visit, take everything in consideration and prepared in advanced. For information on the history of Petra, check Wikipedia and Wikitravel sites. Jordan’s currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD). Please note that any price reference is true as from when this guide was created, therefore check prices in advance as with the time they change.

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Delft and Kinderdijk - Netherlands

Delft and Kinderdijk – Netherlands

Post published:29 May 2011
Post category:Europe Netherlands Western Europe

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The Windmills of Holland

Moving on to our next step of this trip after visiting Rotterdam the day before, it’s the time for a much more relaxing walk around the streets of the little village of Delft and around the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site listed windmills of Kinderdijk. Definitely very much worthy stops on this trip as we head towards The Hague, our final destination. A perfect weekend you and anyone can plan on the same way as we did and you will be greatly satisfied; but perhaps the main highlight after all to my memory, the windmills. Now gladly to repeat as of the most recent trip in 2019 as part of a weekend in Eindhoven and Antwerp.

These are what we have in our minds when talking about Holland. Canals and windmills, and plains of grass and fields of tulips. Here you have that picture, but this time for real. Built in 1740 as part of the canal system for agriculture, there are lots of them, as many as 19, perfectly restored along a beautiful path and the canals surrounding it all. Overall, one of the key tourist destinations in the country.

As of Delft, it also hosts many canals and a very rich and historic old town. Located only half way between Rotterdam and The Hague, it is therefore very good and easily accessible to each of them by public transport in just a short time. Certainly it is the case you do not need to rent a car for instance. (more…)

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Cologne – Germany

Post published:9 April 2011
Post category:Europe Germany Western Europe

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Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium

Again, another of these destinations I have been so many times like neighbouring Dusseldorf but never created the guide for it. Although honestly, since the first couple of times or so I came to the city, took all the pictures around and did almost every tourist sight, all the later occasions I returned is mainly to go to some favourite restaurants, meeting friends there and going out. The choice here for going out, say discos, pubs and general entertainment, is definitely greater than in Dusseldorf.

Cologne is without any hesitation one of the most historical and oldest cities in Germany. Back in the Roman days, it was the largest city in what was known the province of Germania. Currently ranks the 4th largest in the country in terms of population and of course importance, and because it did not suffer as badly as Dusseldorf the raids during WWII, it managed to retain a cute historic medieval old town. Not everything is “real” let’s be honest here, but the reconstruction and restoration thereafter was quite a success. It is therefore here you will find many more places of interest and sights than bigger brother Dusseldorf.

Still, the scars from the war are visible even right in the middle of a major landmark, the Cathedral Square. Notice the horrible brutalist and socialist hideous buildings scattered around. However with the latest projects trying to restore absolutely everything, gentrification to the maximum through the old town and construction of great cultural centres, museums and entire new districts with spectacular striking architecture have translated in even more tourism coming year after year.

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