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Skopje, North Macedonia – the fantasy of a crazy architect
Skopje was on my list for a long time, mainly because I wanted to see the capital of the former empire stretching on three continents, created by one of the greatest strategies of all time – Alexander III the Great. However, what I saw on the spot completely surprised me. Skopje actually looks very bizzare. The strict center of the city resembles the realisation of the boldest fantasy of a crazy architect. This is a combination of monumentalism and kitsch. Neoclassicism mixes here with a lot of unnecessary details and disco illumination, while adjacent districts are totally ruined. Clearly, North Macedonia has some kind of complex. However, no wonder, looking…
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Turin and its surroundings – in the footsteps of Umberto Eco
I visited Turin with my friends during a weekend trip to Italy. I hadn’t actually planned to visit this city earlier, but when it turned out it was on the way we decided to look there. At first glance, you can see that this is one of the biggest cities in Italy. Between 1861 and 1864 it was even the capital for a while. However, architecture, driving habits, and people’s behavior are far from typical Italian culture. In my opinion, Turin is a more elegant and peaceful city. Turin is mainly associated with the football club – Juventus, Shroud of Turin and Fiat. However, that’s not all, this city is…
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Lucca, Tuscany – forests on the roofs, Girl on a Trail
Among the picturesque hills and vineyards of Tuscany there is a charming town – Lucca. At first glance, it looks the same as other Italian towns. However, there are some surprising places to explore. Lucca used to be a very rich city, inhabited by wealthy merchants. Its position was mainly due to the monopoly for silk production. Although silk clothes are still made here, Lucca is mostly famous for its excellent olive oil. Supposedly olive oil produced here is one of the best in Tuscany. Residents are proud of their city’s history and typical local dialect. Lucca maintained its independence as a city – state until 1837. Lucca’s unique attraction…
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Mostar surroundings – an idea for a day trip
Mostar is one of the most popular places in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially thanks to the pictures of the famous Old Bridge. However, it’s worth visiting nearby tourist attractions, which in my opinion can even compete with Mostar itself. The most interesting thing is that these places usually haven’t been discovered by mass tourism yet, and until recently they weren’t even described in well-known guidebooks. They are slowly gaining popularity, yet they still retain their wild character. Just seven kilometres from Mostar, there’s an interesting military area, forged in rock and hidden in the lush nearby forests. It’s a huge hangar where fighter aircrafts were stationed during Tito’s regime. Unfortunately,…
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Lisbon – from a different perspective, Girl off the trail!
Lisbon is mainly associated with yellow trams, breathtaking views and old district – Alfama. However, there’re many places in the capital of Portugal that are still overlooked by guidebooks. First of all, the streets of Lisbon are real street art gallery. Interesting murals can be seen in above mentioned Alfama and near Marim Moniz metro station. Painted in pink The colours of Lisbon aren’t limited to murals. Close to Cais do Sodré you can find a pink alley – Rua Nova do Carvalho. This place used to be the red lantern district, and now it’s the main party hub. Gallery on walls Furthermore, Portuguese street art is not an art…
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Lisbon, trams – a museum which turned out to be a workshop
While most European cities rely on modern transport facilities, Lisbon remained faithful to the old trams. What’s more, they have become a real tourist attraction there! Yellow trams are the symbol of Lisbon, just as yellow cabs in New York. The old trams are certainly one of the best tourist attractions in Lisbon, however the decision to use them had nothing to do with marketing. The reason was rather practical. Only these trams can deal with numerous bends and narrow streets in Lisbon. Trams which are called here remodelado (or remodeled) have been adjusted to modern technical requirements by modification of brakes or electrical system, however their appearance has remained…
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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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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.…
