Ahhh, beautiful, beautiful Dubrovnik. Undoubtedly the jewel of the Adriatic, an almost perfectly intact medieval city, the azure waters of the sea lap at the walls of the old town, beneath bars that sit precariously on the rocky coastline. Once an independent territory (it holds the honour of being the first city-state in the...
Tag Archives: history
Highlights of Croatia – my must see’s and do’s
Croatia. A country of stunning landscapes and seascapes. A country where you can enjoy small towns with locals or party with the jetsetters on one of the many islands. A country not long ago ravaged by war but now enjoying such a resurgence in tourism that it is the 18th most visited country in...
Why you shouldn’t do a day trip to Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov is a popular destination for day trippers from Prague. But there’s a very good reason why you shouldn’t limit yourself to such a short visit. Because you’ll miss seeing the town like this: And this: And this: Of course, if one day is all you have then the journey is well worth...
Highlights of Bavaria
Bavaria. The name conjures images of castles, beer halls, alpine meadows and inhabitants dressed in lederhosen and dirndl. While these may be clichéd images, the region certainly lives up to its reputation. King Ludwig’s castles are iconic in the region. Beer halls abound, and not just at Oktoberfest. Maypoles were raised in each town,...
Top 10 Things to do in Berlin
On our first afternoon in Berlin we decided to go for a wander through Tiergarten, Berlin’s largest park. My mum had joined me for this part of my adventure through Europe and I had a tip from a friend on where to visit part of the Berlin Zoo for free. As we wandered past...
Why do we visit sad places?
As we walked into the room Mum grabbed my hand and my eyes welled up with tears. I didn’t look at her. I knew if I did that the tears would overflow and I’d be a blubbering mess. We’d just walked into the ‘room of hair’ in Auzchwitz. A display case ran the length...
Krakow – the jewel of Poland
It had been raining on our last night in Krakow and as we walked through the main market square we were pleased to have it mostly to ourselves, in the middle of summer. Most people seem to be scared of the rain! As we wandered we came across a smaller square behind St Mary’s...
My accidental pilgrimage at Jasna Gora
Visiting Jasna Gora, the holy pilgrimage site of the Black Madonna and Child in Czestochowa, was a visit of historical significance to me, rather than religious, as with all other churches, cathedrals, basilica’s etcetera that I visit (and there have been soooo many!) Just before 1pm we entered the Jasna Gora Monastery. As with...
Visiting the Palace of Versailles
It was a cold, blustery day when I headed out of Paris to visit the Chateau de Versailles. Spending eight hours wandering the rooms, halls, gardens and smaller residences, I still didn’t see it all. Am I the slowest tourist/traveller ever? What can be said about the Chateau de Versailles in words that can’t...