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Ljubljana – a slightly psychedelic city of dragons

Gosia — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 15:36:05 +0000

Ljubljana is one of those cities that’s impossible not to like. Time seems to move slower here, and instead of the traffic jams and rush typical of other European capitals, the city charms with its intimate, relaxed atmosphere. The city’s most iconic landmark is the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most). It was built to replace an old wooden bridge that collapsed during an earthquake in 1895. Initially, the plan was to decorate it with winged lions, but in the end, four dragons took the stage. Local legend has it that if a virgin crosses the bridge, the dragons will wag their tails. In practice? Well, let’s be honest – traffic on the bridge is pretty heavy, and the dragons remain stubbornly still. Beyond the Dragon Bridge, three other bridges are worth checking out. One of the oldest is the Shoemakers’ Bridge. Like the Dragon Bridge, it used to be wooden. Back then, it was lined with butcher shops, but the stench proved unbearable, so the authorities ordered them to relocate. Shoemaking workshops moved in instead. Speaking of butchers, Ljubljana also has the Butchers’ Bridge (Mesarski most). Built in 2010, it’s the youngest of the city’s bridges. Today, instead of meat, it’s covered in love locks and quirky sculptures. The most charming of them all is the Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), located at Prešeren Square, the heart of the city. From here, you get a lovely view of the Ljubljanica River and the Franciscan Church. The Triple Bridge is right next to Cankarjevo Nabrežje, the famous riverside promenade full of cafés, eateries, and live music. In the medieval centre, there’s a street that literally stares at you from beneath your feet: Ključavničarska Street, the Locksmiths’ Street. Its cobbles are adorned with hundreds of strange bronze faces. The faces create a surreal scene that stretches all the way to Mestni trg, the city’s oldest square, home to the Town Hall and Robba Fountain. On the other side of the river lies the elegant Congress Square, surrounded by historic buildings including the Slovenian Philharmonic and the University of Ljubljana. The best view of the city spreads from Castle Hill. Ljubljana Castle, or Ljubljanski Grad, towers over the city from 375 metres above. You can walk up in about 10–15 minutes for a free cardio session, or take the funicular that starts near the Central Market. The ride itself is an attraction. Once up there, you can explore the castle courtyard and the Chapel of St. George for free. The watchtower offers a fantastic panoramic view over the city. For a different vibe, head to the Metelkova district. Built on the site of former Austro-Hungarian barracks from 1911, today it’s a riot of colourful murals and psychedelic sculptures, where the parties can go on until the early hours – you can imagine the vibe 😉. The Slovenian government has tried several times to shut Metelkova down, but each attempt was met with resistance from local activists. Today, tourists come armed with cameras, artists with spray paint, and locals keep protesting – Metelkova still walks a fine line between legality and rebellion. In the modern part of the city stands another bizarre monument: the Cyanometer. Created by an artist Martin Bricelj Baraga, it measures the blueness of the sky. Over three metres tall, this column compares the sky above to a full colour palette and uses that to assess air quality. The principle is simple: the more “photoshopped” the blue, the cleaner the air. Faded colours indicate moisture and airborne particles. A local measuring station supplies data, which the Cyanometer displays on its surface along with the temperature. You can even track it online – because if it’s not on the internet, did it even happen? The installation appeared in 2016, coinciding with Ljubljana being named the European Green Capital. To round off your visit, head to the city’s largest park, Tivoli, where a distinctive castle now houses the Centre of Graphic Arts. Ljubljana may be small, but it’s full of character. Dragons, quirky sculptures, historic bridges, and the alternative world of Metelkova ensure you’ll never be bored, yet there are plenty of spots to relax away from the hustle and bustle typical of capital cities.

Artykuł Ljubljana – a slightly psychedelic city of dragons pochodzi z serwisu .

Southern Albania – a ship in a field and a thousand windows

Gosia — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:35:38 +0000

I start my exploration of southern Albania in quite an unusual way – with a ship docked far from the sea, right in the middle of fields. This extraordinary sight resembles the Titanic in the Atlantic and is an evidence of the boundless Albanian imagination. Berat – “The City of Thousand Windows” In Berat, I stop for a moment to explore the castle ruins. Although little remains of the castle itself, its walls and the surrounding landscape create an incredible atmosphere. However, this is not the end of the attractions in this town. Berat is called “The City of a Thousand Windows,” and the name seems to fit it perfectly. The distinctive white houses with sloping roofs and large windows look incredibly photogenic. Osumi Canyon Continuing my journey along a picturesque mountain road, I reach Osumi Canyon. The canyon makes an incredible impression from the very beginning. Driving along the Osumi River is a true pleasure. Thanks to the river and the erosion it has caused, you can admire high rock walls reaching up to 100 meters. With 26 kilometers of length, there is no shortage of places to explore. The route is dotted with numerous viewpoints from which you can marvel at this amazing place. A popular attraction here is rafting, which is mainly organized in the spring when the water level is sufficient. Gjirokastёr: The City of a Thousand Stairs In Gjirokastёr, my main goal was to visit a Cold War bunker, as I mentioned earlier. However, the city has much more to offer. Gjirokastёr is known as “The City of a Thousand Stairs”. Additionally, Enver Hoxha, the leader of communist Albania from 1944 to 1985, was born here. While this fact may not be the best advertisement for the city, it holds a significant historical context. I’ve written more about Hoxha’s dictatorship and Albanian bunkers in another post. My first steps took me high up to the medieval fortress. Built in the 12th century and later expanded by the Ottomans, the fortress housed a prison for political prisoners during the Cold War era. From the fortress walls and the clock tower, there’s an incredible view of Gjirokastёr’s old town and the surrounding peaks. Inside the fortress, there’s also the wreckage of an American Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, which made an emergency landing in Albania in 1957. The story of this mission still sparks controversy – whether it was an accidental flight or a reconnaissance mission. According to the American version, the pilot was flying from the military base at Châteauroux in France to Naples, Italy. Along the way, he got lost in dense fog and deviated from his course. Due to fuel shortage, he made an emergency landing in Albania. However, according to Albanian reports, the pilot was on a reconnaissance flight and was intercepted by Albanian People’s Army pilots, forcing him to land. Which version is true? You decide – this is an objective blog, after all! 😄 Returning to Gjirokastёr, this city is worth visiting not only for its charming old town. While Berat is known as the “City of a Thousand Windows,” Gjirokastёr is dubbed the “City of a Thousand Steps.” The Old Town indeed resembles a labyrinth of narrow and steep streets. For me, Gjirokastёr is particularly memorable for its distinctive architecture featuring white houses with grey roofs. Blue Eye and the Southern Coast On hot days, it’s best to visit the Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye). This spring is named for its resemblance to an eye’s iris. Although swimming is allowed here, few people opt for it due to the water temperature being a chilly 10°C (50°F). Blue Eye is nestled in the mountains, accessible via a short concrete path. Along the way, you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and a dam. Warmer waters, on the other hand, are plentiful along the coast. The southern part of Albania is renowned for excellent conditions for sunbathing and water sports. Unfortunately, during the peak season, the beaches are packed to the brim. Among the most popular are Lori, Paradise, and Ksamil beaches. The southern coast of Albania also offers many historical sites and viewpoints. Below is a picture of Sarandë with the Lëkurësi Castle in the background. The scenic mountainous route through Llogara Pass provides an incredible experience. Route SH8 stretches along the coast at over 1000 meters above sea level, connecting the Dukat Valley with the town of Himarë in the south. Traveling this 45-kilometer stretch offers breathtaking views and an unforgettable journey. On one side of the route, you can admire the Ceraunian Mountains, while on the other, spectacular views of the Ionian Sea unfold. On clear days, you can even see the Greek island of Corfu from here. The road through Llogara Pass is renowned as one of the most beautiful in Europe. Along the way, there are numerous viewpoints and hiking trails. Zvërnec: A Tranquil End to the Journey The final stop of the trip is Zvërnec. It is famous for its picturesque bunkers and the Monastery of St. Mary, located near the Narta Lagoon. The monastery is actually situated on a small island accessible via a wooden bridge. Built in the 13th century, its full name is the Monastery of the Dormition of Theotokos Mary. It’s a peaceful place, perfect for concluding a journey full of experiences in southern Albania.

Artykuł Southern Albania – a ship in a field and a thousand windows pochodzi z serwisu .

Albania – north direction

Gosia — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 07:00:14 +0000

Albania has recently become a popular destination. There’re many reasons: beautiful beaches, interesting monuments, good food and even better prices. During my 10-day stay, I managed to visit a large part of this country. I must admit that Albania has enormous potential, which the country seems to have not fully exploited. There is no investment in tourist infrastructure and no waste management. Rubbish seems to be an inherent element of the Albanian landscape. However, the main problem for me was the dramatic condition of the roads, which significantly limited the number of places I could see in such a short time. Despite everything, I believe that Albania is a country worth visiting. First of all, because of its diversity, which is especially visible in the northern part of the country. I started my tour of northern Albania from the castle in Kruja, also known as Skanderbeg’s Citadel. It is a medieval fortress located on a high hill. Kruja is a historical place on the map of Albania and a symbol of the heroic fight against the Ottomans. The city is known mainly because of the figure of Skandenberg – the national hero of Albania. Under his leadership, the fortress withstood the siege of Ottoman troops three times in the 15th century. Ultimately, the Ottomans managed to capture it after his death. The massive structure with a round tower is impressive, but the fortress in its present shape is arises a lot of controversy among Albanians. It was reconstructed according to the design of the daughter of the dictator Enver Hoxha, and apparently its current appearance differs significantly from the original. Inside the fortress there’s a museum dedicated to Skandenberg. Sari Salltik’s Shrine Near the castle in Kruje there’s an interesting religious building dedicated to the Turkish dervish -Sari Salltik, who is said to have brought Islam to the Balkans. This place is located only 7 km from Kruje. A picturesque mountain road unexpectedly ends at the top of the mountain. Right next to the parking lot there’s the entrance to the temple. The small temple is actually located inside a cave. Ther’re quite steep stairs leading to it. The temple consists of a small chapel carved in the rock and a vestibule where you can see the tombs. I didn’t see any tourists there. This place seems to be well – hidden from the mass tourism. This is surprising because the nearby Kruja Castle was literally besieged by tours during my visit. Rozafa Castle Near the town of Shkodër there is another castle known from a rather dramatic legend. Its name – Rozafa comes from the name of a woman who was bricked up alive within its walls. Apparently this was to prevent them from collapsing. The fortress is located on the top of a mountain, where you can see an amazing view of Shkodër. Lake Shkodër Lake Shkodër is the largest inland reservoir in the Balkans. It’s the border area of Montenegro and Albania, while the most part of it is located on the territory of Montenegro. The lake is very popular among tourists due to its picturesque mountain location and the habitat of many bird species. A popular destination for a one-day trip from Shkodër is Lake Koman. Lake Koman is a “side effect” of the construction of three hydroelectric plants on the Drin River. The hydroelectric plants in Koman, Fierza and Vau i Dejës are the largest in Albania and cover most of the electricity demand of the entire country. Even though Lake Koman was artificially created, it delights with its wild character. What’s more interesting, there are practically no tourists here. This is probably related to the lack of tourist facilities, not to mention the poor quality of roads. The asphalt on the route from Shkodra seems to be a distant memory. What is also disappointing is the large amount of garbage floating on the lake, which definitely spoils the overall impression of this place. I cannot understand the Albanians’ approach to these issues, especially in a place with such great tourist potential. Albania – paths One of the most picturesque places in northern Albania is the town of Teth and the Thethit National Park. Even though Teth is only 75 km from Shkodër, it takes 2 hours to get there. However, the long journey is compensated by the beautiful mountain landscapes. The town of Teth seems to be almost at the edge of the world, and it actually looks that way. This is an excellent starting point for hiking in the area. One of the most interesting routes is the trail leading to the Blue Eye – a crystal clear mountain lake. This place is especially visited by crowds in the summer, both by locals and tourists. In addition to bathing in cold water, an additional attraction is watching jumpers jumping into the water from a wooden footbridge. The path to the lake is moderately demanding and it’s itself an attraction of this trip. Another argument that it’s not the destination, but the journey that matters, is the trail to the Grunas waterfall. The 30-meter-high waterfall looks amazing, especially in the afternoon when the sun rays create a beautiful rainbow on it. However, in my opinion, the Grunasit Canyon is much more impressive. The canyon is 2 km long and 60 meters deep. There’s a small bridge suspended between the rocks, where you can cross the canyon. Apparently this is the narrowest part of the canyon, because its walls are almost at your fingertips. On the way back to Teth, in addition to the amazing views, you can also see the isolation tower – Kulla e Negujimit. Such towers were once a kind of refuge for people seeking shelter from bloody ancestral revenge. It’s just a small part of the amazing places I visited in Albania. Find out more here!

Artykuł Albania – north direction pochodzi z serwisu .

Slovakia, a spontaneous trip – Girl on an unexpected trail!

Gosia — Sun, 08 May 2022 16:44:47 +0000

My trip to Slovakia was quite spontaneous. When it turned out that I had completed the entire itinerary to Pieniny, I decided to see nearby attractions in Slovakia. In fact, when I was going to Slovakia, I planned a short trip to Red Monastery and Lubownia Castle. It was the last day of my stay in Pieniny, I didn’t have time to organize a trip. I decided to take a risk and went there without the required car equipment. I actually didn’t have a warning triangle, spare fuses and bulbs set, tow rope. Having on mind the rules in Slovakia, the trip could have cost me a lot of money. Meanwhile, I didn’t have any cash on me, just a credit card. In order to calm down my doubts and reduce possible additional costs, I bought a hi-vis vest at the nearby gas station 😀 Fortunately, I’d also downloaded an offline map before leaving, which later turned out to be an invaluable help in choosing a route, which turned out to be much longer than I had expected. Thanks to the map I managed to avoid driving on a toll road without having the vignette. After seeing all the nearby attractions, I still had almost all day to see something more, so I decided to continue my trip to the southern part of Slovakia. As a result, I drove almost 250 km there. I started the route with a must-see place – Red Monastery (Červený kláštor). The monastery is located on the other side of the Dunajec river. Its name comes from a characteristic red brick from which it was built. You can get here from Szczawnica, a picturesque path leads along the Dunajec or by car from Niedzica town. The monastery gives an amazing view of the Three Crowns (Trzy Korony) peak, located on the Polish side. Admission costs 3 € (data from 2020). Less than 30 km from the Red Monastery is Stara Lubowla Stará Ľubovňa. The main attraction of this city is the Lubowla Castle (Hrad Ľubovňa), picturesquely located on the hill. It was built in the beginning of 15th century, and it actually belonged to Polish kings for a long time. The castle, due to its location, belonged to the six most important fortresses Poland. During the Swedish invasion in 18th century, Polish coronation insignia was stored here – the crown, emblem, apple and the coronation coat. The end of the Polish reign in the castle coincided with the first annexation of Poland. It was only in the 19th century that it was bought by the Zamoyski family. Finally in 1945 it was nationalised by a decree of the Czechoslovakian government. The castle in Lubowla is one of the best preserved castles in Slovakia. From the perspective of the stone walls you can admire amazing views of the neighborhood. On the other hand, inside you can see old, interestingly decorated chambers. Right under the castle, there’s an interesting Museum, where you can see traditional architecture and the way the inhabitants of these areas used to live. In addition to numerous residential buildings, there is also a church, water mill and a forge. An amazing place that I decided I to see was the Treetop Walk in Bachledka. Located on the border of Pieniny and Tatras monuntains, on the top of Spiska Magura. This is a unique place. Walking at a height of over 20 meters, you can almost touch tree crowns. On the other hand, from a panoramic lookout platform with you can see even the Three Crowns on Polish side. There is also no shortage of additional attractions. At the top of the lookout platform there’s a net where you can check your ability to keep balance while also having a scary view down below. Additionally, the time of departure from the platform can be significantly reduced by sliding down a special slide (for 2 € -data from 2020 ). In 2020 return gondola ride and admission ticket to the path cost me 20 € (ticket for children / seniors-16 €). The ticket for sightseeing only the path cost 10€ (7,5 € for children / seniors). You can also use the option: single ticket for the gondola with entry to the path, more info on the website. Less than 40 km from Bachledka, there’s a special place – Tatranska Lomnica. This is one of the main tourist and ski centres on the Slovak side of the Tatras. Tatranska Lomnica is one of the highest towns in Tatry, which offers a number of interesting trails and the longest ski track in Slovakia (6 km, the level difference is 1300 m). Lomnica dominates the city – it’s the second largest summit in the Tatra Mountains. From the lookout platform on top, you can admire the amazing panorama. Actually, you can get there only by a cable car, because there is no trail for individual tourists. Climbing to the top is only possible with a guide. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of places and the popularity of the cable car, tickets need to be booked in advance. If someone doesn’t make it (as I did), nothing is lost. You can always visit Skalnaté pleso. There’s a huge free parking lot, located right next to the lowest queue station. Find further information about cable cars here. Another 40 km farther, driving on the toll route E50, you can get to the charming town – Levoča. Due to the fact that I was only in Slovakia for one day, I didn’t want to buy vignette (the cheapest 10-day one costs almost 16 € website), which is why I made a detour to Lewocza by a free road. From Tarzanska Lomnica I headed to the town of Wierzbow, where I took the road no. 536 and then near Janovce I switched to the road no. 18, which led me directly to Levoča. Levoča is a small town, which at the turn of the 15h and 16th century was an important merchant centre of the region. Old Town is surrounded by defensive walls and has retained a typical medieval character. On the Old Town Square there’s a lot of greenery and interestingly decorated, colorful houses, once belonging to rich merchants. Nevertheless, the ′′back′′ of the Old Town Square is no less charming ,there you can see many colorful terraced houses. It is worthwhile to continue the trip on road 18, towards the east, which leads to the famous Spišský Castle. Although the castle has already fallen into ruins, it still looks amazing in the surroundings of nearby meadows and fields. This is actually one of largest castle complexes in Europe. This view was the perfect end of my trip around Slovakia.

Artykuł Slovakia, a spontaneous trip – Girl on an unexpected trail! pochodzi z serwisu .

Germany, Bavaria – Neuschwanstein Castle

Gosia — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:08:27 +0000

Neuschwanstein Castle is probably the most famous building in the world, especially in the age group from 2 to 5 years old. Presented in the intro to Disney fairy tales, it ignites everyone’s imagination. The Castle was an inspiration for Walt Disney to create Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Not very subtle name – Neuschwatein, does not reflect its fairytale look, hence it is often called Disney Castle – then everyone knows what we are talking about 😉 The Castle is located on a high hill surrounded by the Bavarian Alps and resembles the old fortress. However, appearances can be deceiving, because its construction began in 1869, at the time when erecting strongholds was actually obsolete. However, who will forbid the rich? However, not as rich as crazy. Neuschwanstein is the unfulfilled vision of King Louis II, more commonly known as Mad Louis or Fairytale King. According to the original plan, the castle was to be built within 3 years, and the project was supposed to cost 3,2 million marks. However, the king’s constant whims raised twice the cost of construction and in the result the castle hadn’t been completed until his death in 1886, to be more specific it hasn’t been finished yet. Neuschwanstein wasn’t the only Louis’ project, what’s more his obsession with castles brought him fame. Other less known residences are also impressive: Herrenchiemsee Palace – built on the pattern of Versailles, or Linderhof Castle – the smallest and the only one that had been completed before his death. Unfortunately, financial capabilities didn’t catch up with the king’s fantasy. Such huge construction projects engrossed Louis so much that he began to neglect his state duties, while at the same time he ran up a huge debt. As a result he was incapacitated and forced to resign in 1886. Shortly after that, he was killed in mysterious circumstances and his body was found in the lake. What’s more interesting Louis didn’t even have time to enjoy his work. He spent in Neuschwanstein, just a few days, in total. Most of his life was associated with the Hohenschwangau Castle, located near Neuschwanstein, where he grew up. The perfect view of the castle is from a spot located on the way to Neuschwanstein. Just After Louis’s death, the castle was made available to visitors, in order to settle King’s debts. Some work was also done to complete the construction. However, the castle requires permanent restoration. Its walls are constantly being destroyed by harsh alpine conditions, while the hill must be protected against landslides. There are long queues to explore the interiors of the castle every day, so it is worth thinking about buying tickets online. Admission costs € 13 and for those under the age of 18 it is free of charge. More info you can find here. The Neuschwanstein Castle is located about 100 km from Munich, close to the border with Austria. From the parking lot you can take a special bus or go on foot to the top of the castle hill. Be prepared to a rather steep path which takes about 30-40 minutes. It’s recommended to walk additional 10-15 min to the nearby viewpoint, located on the Queen Mary’s Bridge. Metal and wooden construction of the bridge, hanging over the steep precipice, makes an amazing impression and also guarantees a wonderful view of the castle and the valley of Hohenschwangau.

Artykuł Germany, Bavaria – Neuschwanstein Castle pochodzi z serwisu .

Portugal – fabulous Sintra

Gosia — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 14:21:14 +0000

Less than 30 kilometres from Lisbon, far behind the seven mountains, and seven woods, there’s a fairytale realm – Sintra. Colorful palaces, mysterious gardens, underground mazes and high fortifications, are just a part of the reasons why Sintra deserves to be called Disneyland for adults! Sintra is one of the oldest cities in Portugal that magically takes visitors back to past times. The Moors’ Castle The first point of my trip was the Moors’ Castle, located high on the one of the Sintra hills. It was a cool April morning when I got off from the bus line 434, just in front of the entrance to the complex. To my surprise, there were no tourists on the spot, so I didn’t have any problem to buy a ticket and go straight to explore this place. Curved and quite steep path led me to the top of the fortress. Partially dense forest limited the access of sunlight and the thick morning fog, rising over the ground, made an amazing mysterious atmosphere of this place. I won’t hide that I didn’t feel quite comfortable traversing this path alone, while on the other hand I must admit that it was also an interesting experience 😉 When I reached the highest point of the fortress called The King’s Tower, I saw the old, fortified walls, located on hills, which reminded me the Great Wall of China. In the distance, I could see the Atlantic Coast, while on the other side the most beautiful view of the Pena Palace – the main attraction in Sintra. Pena Palace After the peaceful Moors’ Castle, it was time to face hordes of tourists sieging (above mentioned) Pena Palace. The palace is located on a hill with panoramic views of Sintra. The road to the castle leads through the beautiful park – Parque das Merendas, abundant with numerous unique plant species. The palace itself looks like straight from the fairytale. Its architecture is an interesting combination of European and Islamic themes and above all, various colours. Every part of the palace has a different colour: red, yellow, purple, tu name but a few. Inside you can see rich decorated chambers and old monastery with the red clock tower, while from the tarrace you can admire amazing views of Sintra. The entrance to the park and the palace costs 11.50 €. The best option is to buy tickets via the Internet, otherwise you must be prepared to wait in a very long queue. Quinta da Regaleira Quinta da Regaleira was the place that immediately intrigued me during the browsing attractions in Sintra. The moment I saw pictures of the garden surrounding the mansion, looking exactly like from the Alice in Wonderland , I knew that was the place I had to visit. The main attraction of the garden is the Ininitiation Well. What’s interesting, it wasn’t built as a source of water for a nearby residence. According to the legend it was the place where Masonic rituals were organized. During these rituals the participants were going down the spiral staircase to the bottom of the well. Even nowadays characteristic star can be seen on its floor. The architecture of the Initiation Well is inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. A few floors of winding stairs, covered in moss lead through the interior of the well. They symbolise the particular levels of heaven, purgatory and hell. What was happening inside we can only guess. But it’s not over! The garden is a maze of the underground corridors, interspersed by small creeks. Inconspicuous entrances between rocks, or secret corridors behind the waterfall look like the place was purposedly designed to hide some mystery. The system of underground crossing and stairs probably symbolises the journey between light and darkness, or life and death. To get to Quinta da Regaleira, it’s best to get off at the stop:National Palace and from there take a short walk. In Sintra, there are many other interesting buildings like the National Palace, or the Convento dos Capuchos. What to eat? While a visit to Lisbon district – Belém cannot be “ticked off” without trying iconic cupcakes – pasteis de Belem, yes in this case, you cannot leave Sintra without trying queijadas and travesseiros! Queijadas is a kind of round, cheese cupcakes that taste more like marzipan than cheese. Supposedly a local variety of these cupcakes called: queijadas da sapa is baked according to the recipe, passed from generation to generation, known only by one family in Sintra. Travesseiros is an oblong cake stuffed with almond and egg cream. The best are warm with a cup of coffee. The most famous place where you can try them is the Piriquita cafe, located near the National Palace. How to get there: Sintra is an excellent option for a day trip from Lisbon. It is only 30 km from the capital of Portugal. Trains towards Sintra leave from the Estação do Rossio station, every 10-20 minutes. One way ticket costs 3,8 €. The Pena Palace and the Moors’ castle are pretty far from the train station. Unless you have time for a long march uphill, the best option is to use the bus line 434. Route of this bus includes following stops – National Palace, Moors’ Castle and Pena Palace. One way ticket costs € 5 while, day ticket – € 12 and also includes a ride to Estoril (bus no 418) or Cascais (bus 403). Tickets can be bought from the driver. The stop is right next to the train station. More information you can find on the page of carrier Scotturb.

Artykuł Portugal – fabulous Sintra pochodzi z serwisu .

Belarus – 10 reasons why you should visit this country!

Gosia — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 20:06:32 +0000

I’d been planning to visit Belarus for a very long time. Even though this country is located very close to Warsaw, it always seemed to me very distant. Before visiting it I heard many warnings about corruption, negative attitude to Poles or problems with crossing the border. How did it really look like? Check out 10 reasons why it’s worth visiting Belarus! 1. The Stalin Line Just 35 km from Minsk, there’s s a place where time has stopped. Bunkers, underground tunnels, trenches, weapons warehouses, command stations and large exhibition of military equipment, literally takes one back to the WWII times. This is the largest military museum in Belarus. It’s the part of fortifications, built in the 20’s in the 20th century. The line was built to defend against the attack from the west, however, during the WWII, it played exclusively an auxiliary role. As a consequence of the signing of the Ribbentrop – Molotov Pact, a new Molotov line was built along the “new” Western border of the USSR. Most of the equipment form the Stalin Line was moved there. It turned out to be a grave mistake because when the Germans attacked the USSR, the Molotov line was not yet completed, and Stalin’s line was not able to perform defense. In the vast area of the museum, you can go along the long trenches or exploring bunkers and underground tunnels and see helicopters, combat planes, tanks and radar systems. An interesting place is also a graveyard of old cars and a replica of the house destroyed during the war. However, the true attraction in the winter is the visit Father Frost. His cottage is located right next to… a range 😉 2. Inverted house – the world has stood on its head! About 40 km from Minsk in Dukora town, you can visit an interesting place where you can challenge your sense of balance. In the area of the open-air museum you can find the Inverted House. The architect recreated in detail every element of overturned building, well except curtains… 😉 There’s a real test waiting for you inside. Like the outside, also and inside everything is reversed, and in addition, the building is a little tilted which makes it difficult to walk. 3. Belarusian Village – let’s make the world colorful! Belarusian villages are one of a kind and when travelling by car, it’s worth to turn a little from the main route to see at least one. Villages in Belarus are poor, it seems that the further from big cities, this financial situation of people is worse. In a typical village, usually there’s no store and you can’t see cars, the water is taken from the wells, and the houses are mainly wooden. However, what surprised me the most was the amount of colours. Every house had a different shade, every gate had another painted pattern. The gardens were very well groomed and in the windows you could see various decorations. 4. Castles, smaller castles… There’re a lot of interesting castles in Belarus. According to the legend in the tunnels of the famous castle Mir, were hidden the treasures of the Radziwill family. In the Lida Castle you can see how life looked like in the times of the raids of Teutonic Order. There’s also a beautifully located castle in Kosava. 5. Where is the bison? While travelling in Belarus I felt like the national symbol of this country were bisons and storks. Despite winter, storks in Belarus were present everywhere, on my way or on the market stalls 😉 However, you don’t need to go Bialowieski National Park to see bisons, as you can see one close to the highway from Minsk to Brest! 6. Like home! I couldn’t believe that I found a lot examples of Polish relationships with Belarus. Before leaving, I didn’t actually know what to expect. I was wondering how the Poles were perceived by Belarusians. I had a number of stereotypes in my head. I must admit that I treated this trip as a verification of the universal impressions of this country. Once again I checked that reality differs a lot from the way as its presented or we think about it. I am surprised by the culture and openness of Belarusians, the state of roads and safety. During the stay I wasn’t felt bad because of my nationality, on the contrary a lot of people were very helpful I didn’t see any militia, on the roads (I covered around 1200 km in Belarus), I didn’t encounter bribery and was impressed by the way the Belarusians drive. 7. Urban exploration – urbex There are also some interesting abandoned buildings in Belarus. One of the most interesting places is certainly the Belarusian exclusion zone – Belarusian part of the contaminated zone, after the Chernobyl power plant explosion. Unfortunately, due to a small amount of time, I wasn’t able to visit this place. As a consolation, I chose to visit an abandoned palace in Ruzhana. What is true this complex has years of greatness behind it, while its skeleton and location on the high hill is still impressive. 8. Brest Fortress The Fortress in Brest was the last place in my journey to Belarus, and at the same time the icing on the cake. But first, a little bit of history, the fortress was built in the first half of the 19th century and to the outbreak of World War II was within Poland borders. Then, it was included into the USSR. The Fortress In Brest is also called the fortress of heroes and it’s a symbol of the heroic fight of its defenders. 9. Potatoes and cream! The staple in Belarus are potatoes and cream. The choice is wide, for example from many potato dishes you can taste: Draniki (potato pies), potato casserole and mashed potato in a shape of sausage. Belarusian cuisine also consists of aromatic soups like: borscht, soljanka or mushroom soup. Very popular are also dishes like: dumplings, pies, pancakes, pelmeni or kolduny. Belarusians don’t use a lot of spices while thick cream is mandatory to every dish. More about Belarusian cuisine soon 😉 10. Journey to the past… Surprising that after just a few hours of driving you can land in a completely different reality. A reality remembered perfectly by our parents or grandparents. The monuments of Lenin or Stalin, and the symbols of hammer and sickle are the most visible element of political system. However, the real fun starts when you need to do some formalities. Bureaucracy, countless quantity of documents and signatures, constant backlogs in procedures make the journey to the past, even more authentic! 😉 More details soon 😉

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Girl on a Trail: Luxembourg – Vianden

Gosia — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 20:08:16 +0000

[huge_it_maps id=”1″] Luxembourg is the only grand duchy in the world. Grand duchy is a state which head is a monarch who bears the title of a great prince, who rules independently. Despite a rather small area, of just over 2500 sq. meters, there are numerous beautiful castles. Undoubtedly the most popular and the most beautiful is Vianden castle. It’s located in the north-eastern part of Luxembourg, close to the border with Germany. To get there you can take a train to the village Ettelbruck and then switch to bus 570 towards Vianden/ Breck. Vianden is located just 55 km away from the capital of Luxembourg and it takes less than an hour to travel here. Trains run every half hour (driving schedule you can find here). Luxembourg is definitely not a cheap country, food and accommodation costs are much higher than in other western European countries. However, I have to admit, that the low cost of travel tickets was a big surprise for me. Daily ticket for all public means of transport in Luxembourg costs ONLY 4 €. The second option is to buy Luxembourg Card, which guarantees free access to more than 60 tourist attractions and rides in Luxembourg. The card can be purchased for 1, 2 OR 3 days and it costs accordingly 13, 20 and 28 € (more info you can find here). The stop in Vianden cannot be overlooked, as the castle is clearly distinguished in the landscape of this small town. Located on a high hill and surrounded by fortifications and towers, it looks like from the Disney’s intro. To get to there, you can use chairlift, but I do not recommend this option for those with fear of heights. One-way ride costs 3,9 € while return ticket 5,3 € (details here). The station is located above the castle, so you can imagine that the view of the castle from the observation terrace is literally breathtaking. The second option is to climb the hill via lovely alley – Grand Rue, running along the city walls. To my mind, the best solution is to get to the top by the chairlift and walk back. However, the castle is not the only one attraction in Vianden. The town has specific atmosphere. Cobbled streets, perfect maintained gardens, small cafes and colorful houses move to old times. Vianden is an ideal place for a one-day trip from the capital of Luxembourg, especially given the low cost of journey. What’s more there’s another bonus of this trip – the amazing landscape of Ardennes and small, cosy towns along the way. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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The sky is not that far… Switzerland – Interlaken and the surroundings

Gosia — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 19:26:17 +0000

Violet cows with bells, pastoral landscape of the mountain meadows with thoroughly mown grass and white peaks of the Alps in the background, that’s the picture of the commercial… no of Switzerland – Interlaken, maybe except the colorful cows. Exactly on the 3rd of January 2 years ago, I was bored waiting for delayed, by drifting snow, flight back from Riga to Warsaw. I was looking over the offers of airlines when suddenly I saw discount tickets to Basel. A better beginning of the year I couldn’t have imagined. Switzerland can be divided into the northern part which consists of beautiful and charming cities like: Basel, Stein am Rhein, Zurich or Lucerne and the south dominated by stunning, alpine landscapes. Going back from beautiful Lucerne, we knew that we’re heading in the right direction. The landscape was becoming more diverse and the road more winding. Our goal was the beautiful village of Interlaken, less than 70 kilometers away. The name Interlaken means “a place located between the lakes” and indeed this place is located between lake Thun and Brienz. Interlaken is an excellent point for excursions to the Alps area. By a cruise ship opearting on lake Thun, you can reach the city of the same name. You can visit the atmospheric old town and see the medieval defence castle with beautiful views of the city and the nearby mountains. While being in this area is also worth visiting the phenomenal Beatus caves, located on the top of the mountain, with stunning panorama of the lake Thun. More information about this place here. However, number one in the area is an absolutely spectacular valley – Lauterbrunnen. I won’t hide that this is one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever seen. The Lauterbrunnen is beautifully located in the valley, surrounded by three tall, Alpine peaks: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The name Lauterbrunnen in German means a “loud source” and is not accidental. There are 72 waterfalls in this small valley! Some of them are so high that before they reach the earth, they almost turn into a mist. The most spectacular waterfall is the Staubbach waterfall, 300 meters high, descending from a high limestone cliff, almost to the nearby houses. Across the valley runs the river Weisse Lütschine, it begins in the mountain glaciers. It’s surrounded by green, Alpine meadows with thoroughly mown grass. No wonder that this fabulous scenery inspired the J.R.R. Tolkien to create Rivendell. The Interlaken region is also a paradise for extreme sports enthusiasts like: paragliding, bungee, rafting, climbing and skydiving. Imagine a jump from a height of 4 thousand meters and 50 seconds of free fall in this setting!!! However, for down-to-earth people, about 100 km further, driving the road which includes the transport of the car by train (what I wrote here) is the sunny town – Sion, well known from the wine growing. The most popular white wine of this region is Fendant. Sion is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland and its story dates back more than 7 thousand years ago. The main tourist attraction in addition to the routes between vineyards, are two castles Tourbillon and Valère, located in the hills. So, when you come to Switzerland, Interlaken is a must! 😉 ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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