Port of Monaco From The Palace

Not only famous for its casino, Monte Carlo Rally or Grand Prix but also very famous for tourists and a tax haven for businesses. This place has been one of my must-see destinations to visit and it did finally came true. Last spring 2011, together with some friends I finally stepped on the beautiful land of Monaco. This coastal principality of Monaco or the city-state Monaco is truly worth to see.

I am thinking of going back there but I guess I have other priority this time. I might be visiting another country in Europe. Here is a very beautiful view of the port of Monaco when I was on the palace hill.

Port of Monaco as seen from the Palace during our visit last April 2011.

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Crossing Dardanelles Strait from Eceabat to Canakkale in Turkey

It took me awhile to figure out which strait we crossed from Eceabat to Canakkale in Turkey. I tried to find the notes I had written during our 10-days vacation in Turkey last September 2011. Thanks goodness that I found it. It was quite a long trip from us from Istanbul to Eceabat. With the ups and downs of the bus on the hills and valleys where we passed during that trip, It took us around 5 hours to reach Eceabat. We also passed-by some long and winding roads but it was great to see huge plantation of olives in that area. There is no highway like in Germany where you can really drive fast. It took us almost 6 hours to reach Eceabat. It was quite a tiring trip but worth-it with all the sights we saw afterwards.

After crossing Dardanelles strait, we were already in the Asian part of Turkey. I felt like at home as I landed in Canakkale. I was finally in Asia...yoohoo!

We boarded again the bus which was together with us in the ferry as we reached Canakkale. From there, we headed to the famous Archaeological Site of Troy. Remember the epic poems of Iliad and Odyssey attributed to Homer ? Or maybe the Trojan War described in these Greek Epic Cycle? Troy or Troia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998.

I will share more images from Troy, Turkey very soon!

buildings along the coastal area of Dardanelles in Canakkale, Turkey.

The Dardanelles, formerly known as the Hellespont is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus.

Like the Bosphorus, it separates Europe (the Gallipoli peninsula) from the mainland of Asia. The strait is an international waterway, and together with the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

a photo of Eceabat before leaving its coastal area. You can see a minaret of their mosque soaring high. It was a wonderful trip we had in Turkey last September 2011.

Eceabat, formerly Maydos (Madytos), is a town and district of Çanakkale Province in the Marmara region of Turkey, located on the eastern shore of the Gelibolu Peninsula, on the Dardanelles Strait.

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Travel Snapshot.-Plaza de España, Seville, Spain

Until now, I really can’t get that place out of my head! Spain is really beautiful and stunning. One of the cities we visited during that 8-days trip to Spain was Seville, the capital of the region of Andalusia.

You can see the Plaza de España or the Spain Square in my image below. This architecture is amazing. This plaza is located in the Parque de María Luisa (Maria Luisa Park), in Seville. It was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.

We just had a short stop and sightseeing in this square. I did not even listen to our tour guide because what's important for me was to take pictures of it. An hour or two is not enough to see everything in this square. Probably a whole day would do. I am quite happy and contented after that day trip in Seville..such a beautiful place to visit! I am still planning to visit it again!

The Plaza de España is a landmark example of the Renaissance Revival style in Spanish architecture. Taken last December 7, 2011. I was there!

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Travel Snapshot- Cathedral in Salzburg, Austria

This image was taken during my third visit in Salzburg last July 2011. The Salzburger Dom or Salzburg Cathedral is a 17th century baroque cathedral in the city of Salzburg.

The round gold monument you see in "Kapitelplatz (Salzburg)" in my photo below is quite new to me. During my first and second visit there, this monument was still not present.

the "Kapitelplatz (Salzburg)" or Capital Square in Salzburg with view of the Cathedral. You can find here shops and kiosks selling souvenirs, foods, etcetera.

Snapshot from Marienbad, Czech Republic

I am thinking of going back to this Marienbad this Saturday. I am happy that I was there. Even I did not saw everything during our visit, I am still happy and contented that I was there. What can you do with only around two hours of visit.
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Mariánské Lázně, as it is called on Czech language or Mary's Bath in English, is a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is a mosaic of parks and noble houses. Most of its buildings come from the town's Golden Era in the second half of the 19th century, when many celebrities and top European rulers came to enjoy the curative carbon dioxide springs.

The main cast-iron colonnade, taken during our visit last October 9, 2011.

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Some hours more and the largest festival in the world will be over. I miss visiting Oktoberfest this year..hopefully next year again. I was there thrice but did not make it this time. I heard over the German television tonight that around 6.5 millions of liters of beer are consumed during this year's festival. Around 5.7 millions of visitors from Germany and around the world attended this great fair.

one of the biggest beer tents in Oktoberfest. taken during our third visit last 2010.

one of the carnival rides in Oktoberfest.

Travel Snapshots from Zurich, Switzerland

It's been almost a year now since we visited Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. The highlight of our visit last December 2010 was the witnessing of the biggest indoor Christmas market in Europe. It was held inside the Hauptbahnhof or main train station.

Zurich is a leading financial center and global city. The city is home to a large number of financial institutions and banking giants. Also, most of the research and development centres are concentrated in Zurich and the low rate of tax attracts overseas companies to set up their headquarters there. According to several surveys from 2006 to 2008, Zurich was named the city with the best quality of life in the world as well as the wealthiest city in Europe.

Christmas market in Zurich during our visit last December 2010.

The Limmat river in Zurich. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich.

Travel Snapshot- The Gondola in Venice, Italy

My wish to ride a gondola in Venice, Italy was finally fulfilled. It was my third visit to the capital city of the Veneto region in Italy. Venice is known as a romantic city, the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks are simply amazing which made this city one of the major tourist destination not only in Italy but in whole of Europe as well.

Back to gondola; it is is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat. It is very well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. It has been the main means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice.

The gondola ride can cost a bit fortune especially if there are only two of you. You better ride in group. A forty five minute ride cost 80.00 Euros last July 2011. If you want it longer, you have to pay more ranging until 150.00 Euros. If you bargain with the gondoliers, your cruise in Venice canals might be shortened. Beware of it.

the gondola in Venice, Italy. taken during our trip last July 2011. I am happy for that trip after finally riding a gondola.

Jura Volksfest Parade, Neumarkt, Germany

Jura Volksfest is an annual festival held every month of August in Neumarkt i.d. Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate) in Bavaria, Germany. The highlight of the festival is the so-called Volksfestzug or the festival parade held in the Altstadt or Old City of Neumarkt.

This year's celebration runs from August 12- 22, 2011.

lovely ladies with their maroon costumes.

horses with carriages decorated with colourful ornaments. You can see the Town Hall with its huge watch in the background. The parade took place last August 15, 2011. I was there!

Travel Snapshot- St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

It's been a year now since I visited Rome, the capital city of Italy. The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica was one of the sights we visited. It is Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. It has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world.

St. Peter's Square with St. Peter's Basilica in the background with the Obelisk which has a crucifix on top. This was taken during our visit last August 2010.

the dome of St. Peter's Basilica...such an amazing work of architecture...simply beautiful!

Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Germany

Visiting this castle is truly a wonderful and interesting experience! I was there four times already and always loved it! Neuschawanstein Castle is a 19th-century Gothic Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as a homage to Richard Wagner.

taken during my fourth visit last July 2011.

Travel Snapshot- London Eye

This is not really a good shot but at least I was able to taken an image of the famous wheel in England. London Eye also called as the Millennium Bridge is a giant 135-metre (443 ft) tall Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England. It was before the tallest Ferris wheel in the world but it is now exceeded by Singapore Flyer which is 165 meters high.

I believed I am very lucky to ride in one of the 32 ovoidal air-conditioned passenger capsules of London Eye. Each capsule can carry 25 people.

I took this image after I rode this giant Ferris wheel. It was raining that time also.

Travel Snapshot from Loboc River, Bohol, Philippines

It seems that it was only last month since I and my brother made a cruise in Loboc River in Bohol, Philippines. The cruise that we had started near Loay Bridge in Poblacion Loboc. As far as I remember, we paid between 250-300 Philippine pesos (around 5.00 Euros or $7.00) for the cruise including a buffet lunch. It was a wonderful experience dining in a floating restaurant in Bohol. A live band was also playing at the same time. The highlight of our cruise was the visit to a small island where native Filipino people live.

the floating restaurant where we had a buffet while cruising Loboc River in Bohol.

Travel Snapshot from Landshut, Germany

This city is famous for its festival called the Landshuter Hochzeit, called in English as Lanshut Wedding. Landshut is situated on the Isar River. It is a city in the state of Bavaria and is located in the south-east of Germany.

taken during our visit to the Landshuter Hochzeit last July 2009.

Travel Snapshot- Sunset in Manila Bay, Philippines

The Manila Bay Sunset taken during my vacation in the Philippines last 2010.

The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world. The bay was the setting for the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 and the siege of Corregidor Island by invading Japanese forces in 1942.

Travel Snapshot from Neumarkt Volksfest, Germany

the Ferris wheel and other carnival rides in Neumarkt Volksfest, also called Jura Volksfest in Bavaria, Germany. It is an annual festival held every month of August.

The Road Sign to Neumarkt Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany

taken last August 2009 during our road trip to Neumarkt Upper Palatinate in Bavaria, Germany.