Ilovetravels

MARRY CHRISTMAS

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 23:00:00 +0000

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Kravice Waterfalls

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 22:17:00 +0000

Hotel Regente

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:55:00 +0000

Hotel Regente

Room

It's neither the best nor the most luxurious hotel where I was, even my room seemed more modest than three stars, but the position is more than excellent. The truth is that everything is neat and clean. The staff is quite correct with the small exception of a lady who works on seating arrangements for the breakfast, she is very strict. Smiiiile, she's not so bad! Breakfast was just fine, but above all I said, the location is unbeatable.

bathroom

All major attractions of Madrid are in a short distance from the hotel. Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Museums, Park Retiro.......all that you can visit in the light walk, especially if you go to Madrid in the period when it's not summer. Unfortunately we ran into the Madrid heat, it was very hot we hardly hold out, and yet we managed to see a lot.

The Church

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 18 May 2016 07:50:00 +0000

Always get back.Why?

For the fourth time in Dublin and something new, I discovered Church, not an ordinary church but a restaurant / cafe / bar Church, yes exactly as you've just read. Practical reuse of spaces that once was used for the religious purposes and today serves as a place for relaxation, eating, hanging out with friends. Very interesting and unusual. At first I was surprised but later, I admit, I liked it, especially when I realized that they serve my favorite cake, cheese cake!

Yummy!

I definitely recommend!

Dublin Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Fri, 13 May 2016 08:12:00 +0000

For the fourth time in Dublin, but this time, in a way, forever. I fell in love in Dublin on my first visit. I felt a strong connection with this city and the whole Ireland , and 10 years after, forever Dublin.
I will not talk about the reasons, I'm not going to write or describe much, but I'll tell you just one thing, I left my heart there.

London October 2015.

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:19:00 +0000

Camden town

For the fourth time in this beautiful city, and every time something new, but I don't want to be boring by listing places and attractions, this time I'm just letting these pictures.
Enjoy!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 23:00:00 +0000

Airways Hotel Victoria London

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 23:00:00 +0000

room

bathroom

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:44:00 +0000

Merry Christmas from Dubrovnik!

Mala Bašta - Sarajevo

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 09:22:00 +0000

entrance

Mala Bašta is the name of a restaurant in Sarajevo. For that restaurant I have nothing other to say then good. We had dinner there on the first evening our stay in this beautiful city. I don't want to recount our orders of food and beverages, the pictures will show what's not said, but certainly I can say that we enjoyed every moment we spent there starting from the aperitive, appetizers, dishes, excellent wine Žilavka, to desserts.

To get such a good, positive impression of the restaurant the most important is the excellent staff that works there: one which prepares meals (for prepared meals I have only words of praise, delicious, tasty, just you want more), as well as one that served in the restaurant (whenever we thought we needed anything, the waiter was there).
Highly recommend!

appetizer

main course

Hotel Europe - Sarajevo

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:37:00 +0000

Hotel Europe

This has been a long hot summer. The only thing I was able to do was to lounge around and enjoy the sun, everything else was surviving the terrible heat. I haven't written anything for a long time, so I would like to start with reviews on restaurants and hotels I was on my last two trips.

I was offered to visit Sarajevo for three days in August and of course I couldn't miss it for anything.

room

I was situated in the Hotel Europe in the center of the city. I've got only nice words for this hotel, the spacius, clean, tidy rooms and bathrooms, reception staff and staff who look after the cleanliness of the rooms is very good. On the ground floor of the hotel, next to the reception, is a restaurant for breakfast and some other events, shoes shops and ......

bathroom

hotel terrace

Outside of the hotel there's a nice terrace. But the most of all I liked hotel's coffee shop. The real Viennese cafe where they serve true Bosnian coffee and pastries of all kinds, but I'd recommend Tufahija as the original Bosnian sweet specialty. I'll put pictures so you can see for yourself.

I recommend this hotel.

Tufahija

Tufahija and Bosnian coffe

Ulixes restaurant - one of the best

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 06:50:00 +0000

According to recommendation of our friends who were in this restaurant before, my husband and I, with our other friends :), visited it when we were recently in Porec. I have to say that we spent a wonderful evening in a nice domestic ambience with a very very kind staff and, of course, the food was excellent (mostly see food).

Highly recommend!

If you want to find out more here is a link
http://ulixesporec.com/

Happy Birthday to Libertas Mixed Choir!

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:34:00 +0000

Last night the mixed choir Libertas from Dubrovnik held a concert in the the most beautiful Concert Hall in the world, the Rector's Palace in Dubrovnik and so celebrated its 35th anniversary.
It was solemnly and dignified.
Words cann't describe how much love was woven into all these 35 years of work by the members of the choir who are just amateurs. I am proud to be a part of it.

Congratulations to all!

The memories of Ireland 2006. - Powerscourt House and gardens

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 12 May 2015 22:00:00 +0000

One day we decoded to take another half day tour to Powerscout house and its famous gardens. House from the 18th century is beautiful, I'll put the link if someone wants to know more of it, my memories are quite faded (at that time I had no travel diary). Powerscourt House today is home to the best of Irish design in gifts, clothes and furniture. The Avoca Terrace Café offers the finest Irish artisan, freshly prepared food. Around Powerscout House there are the golf courses.

http://powerscourt.com/

I passed through the house, a little, and its shops, souvenir shops... but I preferred to enjoy the beauty of its gardens. It is always lack of time when you find yourself in the beauty, I was impressed by the Japanese garden where I spent the most of my time.
Sigh.......

The End!

The memories of Ireland 2006. - Avoca

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sun, 10 May 2015 22:00:00 +0000

On this trip to Glandalough we visited a small town Avoca.

Avoca is a small town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the River Avoca. The Avoca area has been associated with its famous copper mines for many years but Avoca is also famous for its hand weaving. Famous Avoca hand weavers are based in Avoca.

http://visitwicklow.ie/towns-villages/avoca/

Beautiful!

The memories of Ireland 2006. - Glendalough

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Fri, 08 May 2015 23:58:00 +0000

Glendalough is "the valley of the two lakes" known for its spectacular scenery, rich history, archaeology and abundant wildlife. Glendalough is a remarkable place that will still your mind, inspire your heart and fill your soul. Glendalough is home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland.
There is a link for official website if you want to find out more about this remarkable place.
http://www.glendalough.ie/

I didn't know anything about the Glandalough before this half day trip from Dublin. We had a tour guide on this journey but I preferred enjoy the scenes of this place than listened to the story. I remembered something but my memories are nine years old so I wouldn't dare say anything about it therefore I put official link if someone wants to find out more.
I only remember that I've enjoyed this place.

The memories of Ireland 2006. - Kilkenny

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Thu, 07 May 2015 10:31:00 +0000

Kilkenny is a city on river Nore in the South East Ireland, it has about 25.000 citizens and it's the smallest city in Ireland. Kilkenny is very close to Dublin so you can visit it by train, bus or take organizied tour in one of agencies. Kilkenny is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland as well as a weekend getaway for many Irish citizens. The city is also famous for its many mediaeval buildings. Despite its small population, it holds ancient city status due to having a cathedral and an old royal charter dating from 1609. The city centre is known by it's two primary tourist attractions. St Canice's Cathedral and Kilkenny Castle and of course 'its also known for its Kilkenny beer (smile).

The magnificent Kilkenny Castle overlooks the River Nore and has guarded this important river crossing for more than 900 years. The gardens, with extensive woodland paths, rose garden and ornamental lake, create the setting for a beautiful stroll.
Two wings of the castle have been restored to their 19th century splendour and include a library, drawing room and the noted Long Gallery.

St Canice’s Cathedral is one of the most prominent sights in Kilkenny. Many believe that the construction of the massive Gothic cathedral began in the 1250. and was completed in 1285, but the religious roots of the site extend back to the 6th century, when the Church of St Canice stood here. Over the years, the cathedral has maintained many of its 13th century features despite the collapse of the central tower in 1332 and the overtaking of the property by Oliver Cromwell’s troops in 1650.

The round tower, thought to have been built in the 9th Century, is the oldest standing structure in modern day Kilkenny City. It is a testament to the ecclesiastical significance of the location, as such towers were constructed to protect people and treasures at major religious sites. It is also one of only two round towers in all of Ireland that visitors are allowed to climb if weather permitting.

From the top of the 30 metres tower, people can take in wonderful views of Kilkenny and the surrounding countryside. I did it.

Since it was a half-day trip, I didn't have much time to explore the city but I visited the castle and cathedral, I walked the streets of the city even though it was raining and I enyojed every moment. This little town charmed me.

Even then I told myself I had to go back to Kilkenny.

Goodbye Budapest

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 07:51:00 +0000

After visiting St. Stephen's church a walk leads to the Budapest's Champs-Elysees, Andrasy avenue.
Spacious, big, beautiful street, where you can see many famous buildings of Budapest including the Opera House, but also infamous House of Terror of which I do not want to think, just to mention it and that is enough.

On the very end of the avenue there's magnificent Heroes' Square.

Heroes' Square

Budapest's Heroes' Square stands in honor and memory of the great leaders in Hungary's history. Heroes' Square is one of the most-visited attractions in Budapest. Opened in 1896 Heroes' Square is one of the world's oldest monuments and has been declared a World Heritage Site. Heroes' Square is in a way entrance to the beautiful, spacious city park. The square received its current name in 1932, three years after the completion of the Millennium Monument. Since its creation Heroes' Square has been the site of numerous special events. At the center of Heroes' Square stands the Millennium Monument, designed in 1894 by Albert Schickedanz and completed thirtyfive years later. The column is topped with a statue of the archangel Gabriel. Behind the column is a semicircular colonnade with statues of famous men who made their mark on Hungarian history. Around the base of the monument are a number of equestrian statues honoring the seven chieftains of the Hungarian tribes who, led by Arpad, conquered the area now known as Hungary. There're two museums on the square, Museum of fine art wit collection of Europian art and Palace of art mainly used to host temporary exhsibitions.

Budapest's eye

And at the end I have to mantion one interesting fact or novelty, all those who were in Budapest before July 2014, didn't experience driving on the wheel of Budapest or as I call it Budapest eye. It's not as monumental as London eye but it's nice an interesting and you should try.

Vaci street

I almost forgot to mantion Vaci street one of the main pedestian and the most famous street of Budapest. It contains many restaurants and shops, it is Budapest's shopping zone.

Goodbye Budapest!

City park

Budapest II

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 09:22:00 +0000

Here I am again, I have to finish my story of Budapest, well, I was a little sick, a little lazy, and I see it's been over a month since my last post ..... hm .....
Here you go, what I most like in Budapest are Chain Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, St. Stephen's Church and spacious great avenue Andrasy which leads to the magnificent Heroes' Square.

Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge is one of Budapest's most famous landmarks. The magnificent suspension bridge was built in the nineteenth century across the river Danube to connect Pest with Buda.
Construction of the Chain Bridge started in 1842 under the supervision of the Scottish engineer Adam Clark. This Bridge is 375 meter long and 16 meter wide and was opened on November 20th 1849. At the time the suspension bridge was the longest in Europe and a with just two towers supporting the spans with giant iron chains. The chains gave the bridge its name. The beautiful bridge towers are decorated with the Hungarian coat of arms. Imposing stone lions, the work of sculptor Janos Marschalko, guard the bridge on either side. According to legend, the sculptor threw himself in the river when, during the bridge's opening ceremony, a spectator proclaimed that the lions had no tongues. In reality the lions do have tongues and the sculptor lived on for several more decades.

The bridge is also a symbol of independence and was the site of demonstrations during the turbulent time of the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, when people demonstrated on the bridge.
The Chain Bridge survived an attempt by the Austrians to destroy it in 1848, during the War of Independence. In 1945 however, near the end of World War II, the bridge was blown up by the Germans in an attempt to halt the progress of the Red Army. The bridge was one of the first structures to be rebuilt after the war, and it reopened in 1949. The current bridge is an exact copy of the original.

House of Parliament

Hungary's Parliament Building is situated at Pest's riverbank. Built at a time when Hungary was still under Austrian influence, the magnificent structure is a symbol of Hungary's independence. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise in 1867, in which a dual monarchy was created, Hungary received more independence and the country wrote its own constitution. It also initiated the construction of a parliament building. A competition for this project was officially launched by Emperor Franz Joseph and prime minister Kalman Tisza. The first thing you'll notice is the amazing similarity to British Parliament, and than you find out a fact that its desinger, Imre Steindl, was inspired by the Houses of Parliament in London.

The Building construction of the Parliament House started in 1885. and it was completed seventeen years later 1902. At that time it was the largest parliamentary building in the world with a length of 268 meters and a width of 118 meters. The impressive dome, visible from afar, reaches a height of 96 meters. The building's facade is magnificent, decorated with eighty-eight statues of Hungarian rulers, pointed arch arcades and numerous gargoyles, spires and Gothic ornaments.

St Stephen's Basilica

Basilica of St Stephen is Budapest's largest church. It is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary. His right hand, the country's most important relic, is enshrined in one of the church's chapels. Construction of the basilica began in 1851. The first architect who worked on the design was Jozsef Hild, when he passed away, architect Miklos Ybl took over, adding his own touch to the basilica. After Miklis Ybl's death, in 1891. the layout of the interior of the basilica and the completion of the building was ultimately overseen by a third architect Jozsef Krausz.

The church was finally consecrated in 1905 and on December 8th.

Its center is crowned with a majestic dome, which reaches a height of 96 meters, exactly the height of the Parliament Building. The height refers to 896, the year of the settlement of the Magyar tribes in the Carpathian Basin, which led to the foundation of today's Hungary.
You can travel by elevator or walk up 302 steps to the terrace around the dome from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Budapest. The wiev is fantastic, try!

There's a little bit more wait next post.......

HAPPY EASTER!

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 22:00:00 +0000

HAPPY EASTER !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME!

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 13:43:00 +0000

Budapest I

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 10:06:00 +0000

Buda Castle

entrance to Buda Castle

Budapest is a very beautiful city but on second thought I can say that I prefer Buda the upper part of the city. This whole part of the city is beautiful, and the view of Pest from Buda is perfect.
Buda is kinda intimate. Everything is available, no traffic crowds, there're old buildings, castle, beautiful Matthias church, Fisherman's Bastion, everything is so good adapted to this area, I really have no need to go anywhere else while I am in Budapest. I could recommend several places that I enjoyed in and which I consider to be the most valuable; St. Matthias Church, Fishermans bastion and, you won't believe, in my opinion very valuable funicular which connects upper and lower parts of the city.

Buda castle

There is the imposing Buda Castle as well overlooks the city from its elevated position atop Castle Hill, rising forty eight meters above the Danube. The castle has had a tumultuous history that reflects the ups and downs of Hungary's fortunes.
But almost all castles are the same in a way, I need a break from them :).

The Matthias Church

The Matthias Church

The Matthias Church is one of Budapest's most important churches. Many of Hungary's kings were crowned here and the church there're important tombs and ecclesiastical treasures. Officially known as The Church of Our Lady Budapest's Matthias Church, like many of the city's ecclesiastical structures, has a long and complicated history.
Church was built in 1255 century along Trinity Square, in the heart of the Castle District, and was Buda's first parish church. However, the original church structure changed many times as it was constantly being renovated and refashioned in the popular architectural style of each era. The church takes its more common name from King Matthias, who ruled from 1458-90, well-known as a patron of the arts and enlightenment and revered for reconstructing the Hungarian state after years upon years of feudal anarchy.

In 1541, when the Turks captured Buda, The Church of Our Lady became a mosque.
The church was ravaged during the liberation of Budapest from the Turks in 1686. The story goes that during the bombardment of Budapest by a European alliance, a wall of the church collapsed, revealing a sculpture of the Madonna to the praying Turks. The new occupants, the Jesuits, made attempts to restore the church in the popular Baroque style of the era. Most consider the attempts a failure. Architect Schulek is credited with largely restoring St. Matthias Church to its original splendor in the late nineteenth century. Schulek, who also built the nearby Fisherman's Bastion, adhered to the original thirteenth-century plans for the church and also uncovered a number of original Gothic elements lost for centuries. He added magnificent diamond patterned roof tiles and gargoyles, which visitors can still admire today.
The reconstruction was completed in 1896.

Fisherman's Bastion

Fisherman's Bastion

Fisherman's Bastion was built in 1905, mainly for decorative purposes. The bastion is located right behind the Matthias Church in the Castle District. It is one of the city's biggest tourist draws and functions as some sort of ornate viewing platform. The Fisherman's Bastion was built at the site of an old rampart that, during the Middle Ages, was defended by the guild of fishermen, who lived nearby in Vízívaros, at the foot of the hill. An old fish market also sat at this location during medieval times. The Bastion was designed by architect Frigyes Schulek and built between 1899 and 1905. The bastion is made up of seven towers - each one symbolizing one of the seven Magyar tribes that in 896 settled in the area now known as Hungary.
View from Fisherman's Bastion is one of the best in the city, a splendid view of the Danube river and over.

Castle Hill Funicular

entrance to funicular from Pest

funicular

Siklo is a funicular with wooden carriages with a history that goes back to the nineteenth century.
Construction started in 1868 and officially opened in early March, 1870. At that time it was the second funicular in Europe. Steam engines powered the wooden carriages more than fifty meters up the hill. In World War II, a bombardment destroyed the stations and carriages. For a long time it looked like that was the end of Budapest's funicular. Fortunately the Sikló was restored in the 1980. and reopened in June 1986.

view from funicular

The original carriages have been replaced by beautiful replicas and modern glass stations were built at the foot and top of the funicular, now powered by an electric winch. There are two different tracks leading up the hill and back.
Wonderful!

entrance to funicular from Buda

To be continued.....

Budapest

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 13:33:00 +0000

I'm kind of confused about feelings to Budapest, I've almost forgot that I was there before I was in London and Prague, and it's only four months ago. Budapest certainly doesn't deserve that.
The fourth time in Budapest and I still don't have right attitude to this city. It's beautiful, that's not questionable, I am thrilled with it's bridges, squares, particularly with the older part of the city Buda, but still there's a kind of a mess in my head. OMG I'm stuck with Budapest. Well, let's start with the facts, maybe that will open my mind.

Budapest is the capital and the largest city of Hungary, as one of the largest cities in the European Union. It is the Hungarian political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center. Budapest has 1.74 million inhabitants.
Budapest became a single city with its unification of Buda or Obuda on the west bank of the river Danube with Pest on the east bank of Danube on 17 November 1873. The history of Budapest began with Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement that became the Roman capital of Pannonia Inferior. Hungarians arrived in the territory in the 9th century.
Their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241–42. The re-established town became one of the centers of Renaissance humanist culture by the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohacs and nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule, the region entered a new age of prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Budapest became a global city after its unification in 1873. It also became the second capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a great power that dissolved in 1918, following World War I.

This was in short about the history of Budapest, and I think that's enough. I took it all from Wikipedia. Long live Wikipedia!

To be continued.....

Prague - Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:21:00 +0000

This was the sixth visit to Prague and since I've already written a lot about this beautiful city in my previous posts, I have nothing particular to add. I will keep coming back here because I love it and I consider it one of the most beautiful European cities. This time it was the first visit for the New Year and for the first time I saw how it looks like dressed in winter. Wonderful! As we did in London, we passed trough the known paths of Prague. I don't have anything new to say except that I enjoyed every moment I shared with Prague and my friends.
Enjoy the pictures!

Chritmas in London

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 09:18:00 +0000

I fell in love with London a long time ago. But the first opportunity to visit this city I got far back in 2003.
Since I didn't have much time to explore the city then, and when you're in London there's always a lack of time, ten years later in 2013 I came back but this time it in the summer. O God, how I enjoyed in long walks through the city, through the beautiful parks of London and of course in Camden Town, to me, the most charming part of London. That summer the city completely won over me and I decided, just a year later, to go there again. I did it, but this time, at the most beautiful time of all Christmas time.

I don't have much to add, as I told previously we followed the "old paths" and enjoyed London on a completely different way. Beautiful new experience of the city we already knew. I love London even more now and I'm sure I'll be back!