Europe
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Berlin in ruins part II, Teufelsberg – Devil’s Hill
In the competition for the weirdest place in Berlin, Teufelsberg, which in translation means – Devil’s Hill is definitely on the podium. The attractiveness of Teufelsberg was initially noticed by the Nazis. Under the direction of Albert Speer – Hitler’s architect, the construction of the military academy began on this site. The investment wasn’t completed due to the war, which took most of the expenses. After the war, the Allies attempts to blow up a solid German construction, ended with covering it with the debris, transported form bombarded Berlin. As a result, a pretty large 80-meters hill – the highest point in Berlin, was created. Initially, it was considered to…
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Berlin in ruins – an invitation to after party
Finally, it’s time for a post about Berlin, but I won’t focus on charming, elegant places. On the contrary, it’s time to write about Berlin in ruins! Practical to the bone, the Germans have mastered the art of bringing back old buildings to life. A similar direction is currently seen in Warsaw, however, on a smaller scale and in a completely different way. How do Germans do it? Very simple. The resuscitation of these places has nothing to do with the German perfection. They assume, that there’s no point of changing something that is iconic itself, due to its history and unique character. Tempelhof Airport Tempelhof airport, closed since 2008…
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Kotor, Montenegro – an alternative to Dubrovnik?
Kotor was my next destination after overcrowded Dubrovnik. Kotor is the main tourist attraction in Montenegro, however I must admit that I hoped that it wouldn’t be besieged similarly to its Croatian counterpart. When I saw huge luxury ferries in the distance, I realized that I was on my way, straight to another “tourist hell”. Fortunately, to my surprise I found out that my concerns had been unfounded. Certainly no one was treading on my heels or attacking me with a selfie – stick, apparently the advantage of this place is that neither Game of Thrones nor Star Wars were filmed there. Kotor, probably due to the impressive defensive walls…
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Tavira, Algarve – simply Portugal!
Tavira is the most beautiful town in Algarve region – such opinions can be read on most websites, blogs or forums dedicated to Portugal. Personally, I won’t be original regarding this matter, as I fully agree with this. Tavira is halfway from Faro to Spanish border. It’s only 30 kilometres away from Faro and Spain. Despite a good location, Tavira is visited by far less tourists in comparison to the famous resorts located in western Algarve. This enables the town to preserve its authentic local character. The city has been under the reign of Moors for several centuries, which is reflected in an interesting architecture. The central point is the…
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Kehlsteinhaus, Germany – a visit to the Eagle’s Nest
Kehlsteinhaus or the teahouse on Kehlstein – it’s a legend itself. Beautiful Alpine views clashes with the difficult history of the World War II. The teahouse is widely known by another name, which speaks more to the imagination. It’s famous Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. The teahouse was built on the initiative of Martin Bormann as a gift from NSDAP for Hitler’s 50th birthday. The best architects and engineers in the Third Reich were involved in the construction of the Kehlsteinhaus. This project cost over 30 million Reichmarks, which is currently worth around 150 million €! According to the Bormann’s intention, in addition to the diplomatic function, Kehlsteinhaus was supposed to be…
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Tiraspol, Transnistria – alternative reality
Transnistria, self-appointed country with the capital in Tiraspol was my next direction after a visit to the Nogorno Karabakh. The perspective of seeing another so-called self-appointed country has been fascinating me for a long time. On the Internet you can find a lot of information about this place and, above all, warnings due to the unclear status of this area and possible threats to the tourist. The reason of my visit there wasn’t the desire to raise the adrenaline, but to see with my own eyes how it’s there. Transnistria, actually, the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic hasn’t been recognised on the international arena, even by Russia, which officially supports it financially…
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Montenegro – small is beautiful!
I’ve been thinking about trip to Montenegro for a long time. Actually, the first guide I bought was just about this country. It was during my studies, when I dreamed of travelling, but my finances limited me to the see the world only from the perspective of tourist guides. After studies, directions of my trips depended mostly on promotional air fares. Finally when the opportunity arouse, 35€ for return ticket, it didn’t take me long to buy it. The main attraction of Montenegro is the stunning Gulf of Kotor, also known as Kotor Boka, famous for amazing landscapes and the medieval towns. Herceg Novi I started my journey from little…
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Portugal, Lisbon – miraduro with a view of…
Lisbon is a unique city where nobody would complain about shortage of tourist attractions. However, the most beautiful ones are available completely free of charge or for a small fee. These’re viewpoints, called miraduro. The perfect location on the hills allows to see the capital of Portugal from many different perspectives. Moreover, miaraduros are also an interesting places to observe people or rest with a glass of wine, after intensive sightseeing. Miradouro das Portas do Sol – at the gates of the sun Riding the famous tram no 28 or visiting Alfama, it’s impossible to miss this most popular viewpoint in Lisbon. The name of this place arouses the imagination.…
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Alfama, Lisbon – how to describe something undescribable?
Alfama has been on my mind for a long time, however it has been very difficult for me to write a post about this Lisbon’s neighbourhood. It would have been easier to say that it was a matter of lack of time, but there was another reason. In fact, you can’t just write about Alfama. I could endlessly use many adjectives to describe my feelings or auditory, taste and visual impressions during visiting this part of the city. But the best description won’t convey my emotions and what’s left in my memories. Skipping Alfama while being in Lisbon is like not visiting this city at all. You can explore every…
