Travel Snapshots- The London Eye in London, England

The London Eye, also known as Millennium Wheel is no longer the tallest Ferris wheel in the world after it was surpassed by the Singapore Flyer in 2008 but so far this is the tallest one I ever experienced. Yes I was on top of this famous wheel in England when it fulfill its function to lift me up from the ground and took me round a giant loop in the sky of London. It was truly an amazing experience for me and I did it alone.

Here is London Eye on the cloudy skies of England.

the London Eye, in London, UK measured 135 metres (443 ft) tall, located along River Thames. I was there last November 2008.

A Day-Sightseeing in Amsterdam

Sometimes a day sightseeing in a city is not enough to see everything. If you are clever enough to plan ahead for your travel, you can maximize your trip and can even see a lot of sights in a certain place or city in just one day. This is what we did last summer 2010 during our one day sightseeing in Amsterdam, the capital city of Netherlands.

One good thing we did during our Europe tour last 2010 was planning our trip ahead of time. Five months before our trip, we already started looking for cheap flights to Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Brussels and Cologne including affordable hotels to stay.

Let's go back to Amsterdam. We started our sightseeing tour by taking a canal boat cruise. As far as I can remember, we started the cruise in front of the Heineken Brewery. You can get a general view of Amsterdam when doing this and it is also an excellent way of viewing its main sights. The cruise took around 90 minutes and we truly enjoyed the sights that we saw along the canals.

boats and houses along the canals of Amsterdam. This was taken during our trip last August 2010.

After the cruise, we took a walk on the historic part of the city. At the Dam Square in Amsterdam, we met a friend who currently lives near this city. Among the few sights you can see there are the Royal Palace, National Memorial statue, the famous wax museum of Madame Tussauds, the Nieuwe Kerk or the New Church and the hotel Krasnapolsky.

The famous Madame Tussaud wax museum in Amsterdam. We don't have the chance to go inside it.

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants to choose in Amsterdam and we preferred to eat in a Japanese restaurant. While waiting for our order, we chit-chatted with our friend whom we met there. It was so far a great time seeing her again after so many years.

After our lunch, we went a bit shopping for souvenirs. You can have a lot of choices when shopping in Amsterdam. The 1 km shopping street of Nieuwedijk-Kalverstraat is quite interesting. It is a pedestrian full of tourists, students, locals and other people just hanging around. Our walk to the Red Light district was also fine but not so interesting compared going there during the night. You know what I mean!

the cheese factory we visited near Amsterdam. They also explained and had a demo on how cheese is being processed.

We also had the chance to make some sidetrips in a cheese and wood-shoe factory nearby and a photo pause in one of the windmills there. It was only a day trip but so far we did saw and experienced a lot of things and sights. It was simply a great trip we had in Amsterdam!

The Roman Bridge and the Guadalquivir River in Cordoba, Spain

I am trying to go back again to this lovely place through the images I captured during our visit lately in Cordoba, Spain. The photo you see here is the Roman bridge of Cordoba in the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. It was built in the early 1st century BC across the Guadalquivir river. This is one of the sights in this beautiful city.

Cordoba was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO last December 1984 due to its extensive historical heritages.

The bridge was built by the Romans in the early 1st century BC, perhaps replacing a previous one in wood. It currently has 16 arcades, one less than original ones, and a total length of 247 meters. The width is around 9 meters.

Travel Snapshots from Cannes, France

This city which is famous for hosting the annual Cannes Film Festival which attracts myriads of visitors from all over the globe every year. I though I can only see this place through Mr. Beans movie or during the film festival that I see on television but I was there and I truly experienced this beautiful city in French Riviera.

The highlight of my visit in this city was meeting a dear friend and kababayan named Aimee. It's been a decade since I did not see her. After knowing that she is in Cannes, I sent her a message through facebook. I told her that I will be going to that city that time. We did finally met. Our trip to the most visited city in Cote d Azur or French Riviera was truly a memorable one.

The fortified tower and Chapel of St Anne located on the hill. I took this photo while I was in a square near the Waterfront in Cannes last April 2011.

I super love these memes. Feel free to join it.
Shadow Shot Sunday, Mellow yellow, Blue Monday, Fave Photo Monday, Our World-Tuesday, Tuesday Travels, Orange Tuesday.

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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Watery, Wordful
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The Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, the capital and the largest city of Czech Republic is one of the beautiful cities to visit in Europe. There is a river named Vltava that runs in this city. In fact it is the longest river that runs in the Czech Republic. The river is crossed by 18 bridges and runs through Prague over 31 km.

I have a snapshot of this river which I took during my second visit in this this city last July 2011.

Lastly, since we are bidding goodbye to 2011, I want to greet everyone a happy and more blessed New Year 2012. God bless us all! God bless the world!

a bridge that crosses Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic.
Photo taken during my visit last July 2011. The tower of the Church in the castle compound can be seen at the background.

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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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The Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain

Madrid! How I wish to see you again. I miss some things during our visit in Spain's capital city. I forgot to send messages to friends who currently live in Madrid. I should have the chance to see them. Sorry ladies, hope to visit Madrid again and see you.

My visit to this city last December 10, 2011 was one of the highlights in my travel and trips for this year. It was one of the best cities I visited in Europe. Visiting a huge city like Madrid for a day is not enough. There are just a lot of things to see and experience there. Despite of that I am still very thankful that I had a glimpse to one of the world's greatest and liveliest metropolis.

One of the sights we visited in Madrid is the Plaza Mayor. It has a rectangular shape and known to be the central plaza in this city. There is a Christmas market going on in this plaza during our visit. We had the chance to go a bit shopping for souvenirs in this area.

I guess that is all for now. I am quite sleepy after waking-up a bit early this morning. Happy holidays everyone!

More snapshots from Spain soon!

a snapshot during our visit last Dec. 10, 2011.

The Plaza Mayor is rectangular in shape, measuring 129 by 94 metres, and is surrounded by three-story residential buildings having 237 breathtaking balconies facing the Plaza. It has a total of nine entranceways. The Casa de la Panadería, serving municipal and cultural functions, dominates the Plaza Mayor.

The Plaza Mayor has been the scene of multitudinous events: markets, bullfights, soccer games, public executions, and, during the Spanish Inquisition, "autos de fe" against supposed heretics and the executions of those condemned to death. The Plaza Mayor also has a ring of old and traditional shops and cafes under its porticoes. Celebrations for San Isidro, patron saint of Madrid, are also held here. The Plaza Mayor is now a major tourist attraction, visited by thousands of tourists a year.

Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy

I am very thankful for the creation of digital cameras and photography. Through it, I can take pictures all the time and can save it in my hard drive or external HD. You can also edit it but I don't usually edit my photos because I don't have a lot of time doing it.

The image you see below was taken in Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy. My beautiful friend from the United States who is also the daughter of my teacher back in high school had a Europe tour last 2010. I accompanied her to some cities and countries in Europe.

During our trip to Rome, one of the city squares we visited was Piazza Navona. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. During its history, the piazza has hosted theatrical events and other ephemeral activities.

It was raining hard when we were there. Despite of that, we still enjoyed our sightseeing. This was where we tasted the Italian gelato. Yes, during that chilly weather! I might not be able to join the memes next week. I will be out for some days trip in Spain. Take care folks!

Fountain of the four Rivers with Egyptian obelisk, in the middle of Piazza Navona. I was there!

Did you see all the reflections and shadows in my photo?

Skywatch Friday
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Travel Snapshot- Winter in Schwarzwald, Germany

If I have to translate the meaning of Schwarzwald in English, it is actually compose of two words "schwarz" which means black and "wald" which means forest. It is simply called Black Forest in English. Do you know why it was named like that? It is because the dense growth of conifers in the forest blocked out most of the light inside the forest.

We just happened to pass this place as we drove from Zurich, Switzerland to Strasbourg, France last winter 2010. This amazing view of nature truly fascinates me. I thought I can only see it in postcards but I did saw it from my naked eyes.

Black Forest is the wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It was such a very fascinating view! I love it! I wish to visit and to see it again next time.

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.

Travel Snapshots- Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England

Windsor castle is a royal residence of the British Royal family. It is located in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. Windsor Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror in the decade after the Norman conquest of 1066.

I had a great time visiting this castle with a friend. It was nice seeing wonderful architecture like this.

Architecture

Windsor Castle occupies a large site of more than thirteen acres (five hectares), and combines the features of a fortification, a palace, and a small town. The present-day castle was created during a sequence of phased building projects, culminating in the reconstruction work after a fire in 1992. It is in essence a Georgian and Victorian design based on a medieval structure, with Gothic features reinvented in a modern style. Since the 14th century, architecture at the castle has attempted to produce a contemporary reinterpretation of older fashions and traditions, repeatedly imitating outmoded or even antiquated styles. As a result, architect Sir William Whitfield has pointed to Windsor Castle's architecture as having "a certain fictive quality", the Picturesque and Gothic design generating "a sense that a theatrical performance is being put on here", despite late 20th century efforts to expose more of the older structures to increase the sense of authenticity. Although there has been some criticism, the castle's architecture and history lends it a "place amongst the greatest European palaces". windsor

The Round Tower on top of the motte in the Middle Ward..taken during my visit with a friend last November 2008.

taken from outside of the castle compound. We had a walk inside the castle buildings during our visit. Sad to day, it is forbidden to take photos inside the castle rooms.

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.

Travel Snapshot - The Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic

The Charles Bridge, also known as Karlův most is a historical and famous bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. It crosses the Vltava river that runs in this city. It was formerly called the Stone Bridge or Kamenný most but since 1870, it has been called the "Charles Bridge". You can see religious statues and statuaries on the sides of this gothic bridge.

How lucky I am to stepped on this historical bridge twice already.

This was taken during my second visit last July 2011 in Prague. Thanks to good friends around for inviting me to tour with them.

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.

Europe Sightseeing- Famous Festivals To Experience

This is one thing I love in Europe, the many festivals all year round. Whether you are in England, Germany, Brussels, Sweden, Belgium , Austria or in any European countries, there are a lot of fairs and festivals that are taking place from time to time.


Unlike American festivals that are usually one-day affairs with a parade and may feature cotton candy, European festivals are completely different. These festivals often last from four days to a month featuring unique attractions and activities. Our friends from Taylor Herring who are event and festival pr experts come up with a list of the many festivals to see and experience in Europe:

Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival

This festival takes place in Scotland every year to ring in the new year. The word 'Hogmanay' means holiday and that is definitely what guests and natives enjoy for four days. There are special film screenings along with Torchlight parades through and around beautiful Gothic castles. Not unlike festivals around the world, one of the major highlights is a gigantic fireworks display.

Couleur Cafe Festival

This 3 day festival in Brussels features live musical performances on several stages. Among the guests slated to appear in 2011 is Snoop Dogg.

St Patrick's Festival

This event began in 1995 in Dublin to bring some of the long neglected traditions of St. Patrick's Day to the homeland. In 2011 the festival is expected to attract 650,000 live spectators with countless more being given access via TV and online streaming. There will be music of all genre as well as crafts,art displays and fireworks. One outstanding attraction of this festival is a 150' tall Ferris Wheel.

Fasching or Carnival in Germany. These participants were acting like vampires.

Dusseldorf Carnival

This carnival is held in Germany each year from November to March. There are parades such as the Rosenmantag Parade featuring everything from clowns parading down the street on stilts to beautifully decorated floats. On the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday, women converge on the town hall to seize the right to govern for a day. During the 'Drag Queens Race' men race through the streets wearing high heels and sporting dresses of all lengths to include accessories.


Kiruna Snow Festival

This festival takes place in Sweden from January 29th to 31st each year. There are snow sculpting contests which not only attract children but serious artists both on the professional and amateur level.

As with many festivals, the Kiruna Snow Festival would not be complete without a fashion show featuring clothing for all reasons and all seasons. The Mr. Snowman contest is quite different from what the name implies since this is a contest where men vie for a strongman title. Among the special foods offered at the Kiruna Snow Festival are reindeer burgers and bear steaks.

Whether you're looking for snow, good food, live music, carnival atmosphere a European Festival has everything your heart could desire.

Sightseeing in Scotland- Top Places To Visit

Scotland is a wonderfully diverse country in the north western part of Europe. This country has rich and strong culture and has a great tradition of festival, arts and literature. Scotland has a lot to offer virtually to all its tourists and visitors. Don't miss to include this country when you will be touring Europe in the future.

Glasgow Science Centre

300 hands-on exhibits, interactive workshops, live science shows and an IMAX Theatre can be enjoyed this tourist attraction. But the highlights are the 105m tall Glasgow Tower which is the only tower in the world to rotate 360 degrees from the ground up and the Science Mall that houses the Scottish Power Planetarium and a climate change theatre, along with three floors of interactive exhibits.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

This free gallery/museum has recently become the number one tourist attraction after completing a 3 year remodeling effort in 2006. Found in Kelvingrove which is located opposite of Glasgow University, this museum hosts a broad collection of paintings and artefacts. The building itself is constructed using the finest Victorian (red sandstone) architecture and shows off Scotland's rich history through an extensive collection that has been accumulated over more than two centuries.

Additionally, there are sections focused on education such as the Study Centre, the History and Discovery Centre and the Multimedia Object Cinema. Exhibition halls featuring major fields of study like Archaeology and Zoology (with relative exhibits) are also available.

Kelvingrove Art Museum.

Edinburgh Castle and its Royal Mile

Edinburgh Castle is built on the remnants of an extinct volcano and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. From the royal mile below, the Scottish castle is a grandiose spectacle especially at night whilst illuminated. A thousand years worth of history sits atop this rock as evidenced by the statues guarding the gates of the castle. These statues represent two of Scotland's most famous historical characters, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.

August is the best time to visit the castle and mile because that is when the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is held. During the festival, the Military Tattoo is staged at the castle for 3 weeks. The over 50 year performance is a parade of the pipes and drums of the Scottish regiments.

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile leads up to the castle and boasts the world's first skyscrapers, the Scottish Parliament building and Giles Cathedral.

The Royal Yacht Britannia

Visits to the yacht start at the Visitor Centre. Located on the 2nd floor of the ocean terminal, tourists can learn of the yachts incredible history before boarding. The tour can last up to 2 hours and provides insight into the life of the royal family and those that worked aboard the ship.

Guests are first welcomed through the Royal Brow and taken on a personal tour, they are then herded into the State Apartments for cocktails and whatnot. Afterward, special events are held including a speech given by one of Britain's past admirals and a viewing of the Royal Collection. A tour of the ship from the bridge to the engine room is also provided

The Falkirk Wheel

Completed in 2002 in the town of Falkirk, the waterway structure connects Edinburgh and Glasgow via canal; making it easily accessible from both cities. An extraordinary feat of engineering, it is the only rotating boat lift in the world. Carrying eight or more boats at a time, the wheel scoops them out of the water and places them either up or downstream on the waterway between the two cities.

The Visitor Centre provides a great view of the wheel in action and is free of charge. Along with the standard food court and gift shop, the centre also possesses an interactive exhibition and a "fun factory" for children. For those tourists looking for an up close look, the centre provides a hour long boat tour.

For your travel infos, Scottish currency is the Pound Sterling (£). You can apply for a prepaid currency card before travelling this country. Accommodation in Scotland is also not a problem because there are hostels, bed and breakfast, hotels and cottages to stay in.