travel updates

Berlin on its own

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:18:21 PST

Berlin....when passing by strangers you have no predictable feeling whatsoever! Berlin is yellow, is grungy, is filled with dirt and green spots, is so organised and disorganised at the same time. Berlin is a heart of future thought and it has so much of tradition in one.

When you come here, make sure you will try carrywurst, spiced up sussage with piece of bread, jump on U-bahn and change directions to pass by many street markets with antiques.

When you visit Berlin, don't miss out on night life. This city starts being truly alive after 11pm.

Then, search out hidden corners with great graphitti and talk to locals about their life.

It's so filled with Nazi and Stazi regime past, it's showing its respect to victims of WWII, it's all educating and sensitive about giving true facts about painful history...

Just come and enjoy breathing rythm of fashion, grungy looks and awesome atmosphere.

road to Budapest and far deeper in Balkans

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:45:37 PDT

april 2010
After intense training, it was time to do some solo trips all over the Europe, specifically eastern and central part- my favorite. Walking streets of Buda and Pest, as well as forgotten Obuda, I have chance, once more, of coming back to my grand, grandmother's land, where everything seems to be so far from European style and so within.
Magyororszag has me by heart, with its charming spots where I can explore its past and invision its future. There is so much to see, so much to discover....
Walking Andrassy utca, I can suddenly dissapear in one of the side streets and visit numerous mueseums among which, Museum of Torture seems to be the catch, after that, to pick better mood, just frog jump from, there is Hero Square with all the proud statues watching over Magyar people. All the kings and great of this land stand in frozen by history posses as they were saying: "You see, there is much more to all of it, than you think..."
Although extensive tourism feeling is everywhere, I manage to spot few hidden corners, the most visible and obvious ones, together with these, not known to outsiders.
Passing Basilica or Parliament buildings I always wonder, when am I gonna be able to speak fluent Hungarian and how familiar this place will become?
So after this adventure my steps direct me to Vienna, where once more I'm passing familiar places and showing others glory of imperium echos. Vienna, although amazingly rich in culture doesn't catch my attention even in half as Budapest does. But Vienna has its own story which directly links to Hungarian past. So Danube accompanies my memories as I go along the banks of the river and finally leave it when exploring Pragues treasures. Now I can pick art glass for special occassions and try best beers for pennies.

From Czech capitol, I find escape in my beloved mountains, wandering among strange rock formations or being filmed by polish director for documentary movie.
I always manage to catch breath in refreshing strenght of Krakow. The city of my endless longing. Medieaval character tends to spin my childhood memories in my head, as I seat in one of the cafes, watching bypassers chasing with life. I find glimps of my country's extremely painful history in places like Auschwitz or exibitions portraiting time of struggle.
After all, these memories will stick like glue in my head, create mosaic of pictures and give me opportunity of throwing the coin behind my back for the sign of future travel.

Next awaiting my footsteps are the Balkans...

monastery and montenegro....

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:45:19 PDT

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Montenegro and its beauty is non-comparible to anything else, but the same time it's filled with amazing secrets stories and myths or legends. One of the places worth visiting is definitely Ostrog Monastery.

Only those who experienced amazing events can talk about it for hours and hours on.....

Going back in times we can find XIX century heroic defense from Turkish army, earlier there was many other episodes happening and I'm sure everyone who wants to dig this fascinating story will find amazing descriptions. The turbulent history of 4 centuries made history filled with fire, destruction, thieves.

"There is exceptional worth and beauty in the icons given to the monastery from all over where the Serbian people live: from Crete, Russia and the Holy Land. The most precious is the icon of Saint Nicola dating back to the middle of the XVII century. There is a collection of four fingers of myrthers in a richly decorated silver box. The monastery used to poses a large collection of old scripts and books that have also been reduced with time. Just before the Second World War, a rarely found copy of Oktoiha from 1494 was preserved. From its handwritten collection only one book remains today written in the XVI century. Unbelievably beautiful and very well written this book also caries the scars of the flames of the past"

Once German prince passing through this place wrote that "“Ostrog is not only a holy place for orthodoxy, but the answer for all world religions”.

Many VIPs and famous people visited Monastery, but undoubtedly Saint Basil was the figure of place.

There is prayer, which I think may give many travelers time to reflect on their own journey:

Saint Basil, o great follower of God, help all as well as me. Defender of orthodoxy, defend us too, that follow your faith and stand besides you. Great follower of God, pray to him for all your people, as well as for unworthy me. Strong knight and leader of Ostrog, save us from the seen and unseen. Raised by Serbian soil do be the light in front of God, be our light and light up our road and make darkness disappear. With prayer and tears you have warmed the cold cliffs of Ostrog, please warm our hearths with Gods spirit, so we can be saved. From all corners of the world to your grave come the weak and the ill, and you helped them, got rid of their demons as well as the devil, and healed their souls and bodies. Please continue to help, the baptized and the non baptized, everybody and me as well. You brought peace to fighting brothers, please continue to bring peace, help the devided, make the sad happy, calm the stubborn, heal the sick. Saint Basil, o miracle worker, father of our spirit, listen and hear your children’s spirits in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Within most treasured in cultural heritage are definitely frescos of the cave part of the church placed unusually in rock formation.

There is upper and lower part of Monastery and many passing this unique place remember incredible stories of healing claimed by others....

short story about Magyarorszag....

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Sat, 15 May 2010 05:36:30 PDT

What is the story behind Budapest? Possibly as long as Danube river running majestically through the center of this intriguing place. Although with little knowledge of place itself, rather more idea about its history, I've decided to make a remark of once, very proud and glorious history of Hungarian past...
Buda and Pest are like sisters, but different. One-hilly with "old town" character holding few castle remains, other- flat and full of street life with many cafes, shops etc. Both, undeniably hold melancholic and born long ago identity of the city, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. Budapest has contrasts, but they are more about eras, where communism is tingling Austro-Hungarian empire style but we can see, as well, other accents of so complex inheritance. This marriage of dual monarchy gave unique meaning being seen now, but also it is a painful reminder of what used to be: a paradise. To Hungarians this word is almost synonymous to name Hungary (Magyarorszag).
No wonder people of this land have become nostalgic and melancholic. No wonder you can find this feeling in public transport, streets, while having conversation with magyar people....The same ones who want to forget communism past and its visible signs and remember only times of union and full prosperity of land which was protected by Carpathians mountain chain.
This is why we can not find exact roots of pre-Hungarian beginnings and this why, when walking through streets, there is longings for something mystical, unusual, like love for creating non-existing creatures, statues of heros long forgotten or imaginary personas. Walking through Budapest we will see forms of turul- fictional bird, voice of Hungarian mythology, seen as ancestor of Atilla, but also a symbol of the Huns. Turul holds probably the complete answer to powerful existence of Magyar land founders. This is also why it is so familiar view- literally everywhere of St. Stephen figure in Budapest. And finally this is why Magyar language is so unique, nothing like any other in Europe and rather direct descend of Finnish and/or Estonian influence.
End of all Hungary so much reminds me of my own country's story. And there was time when even quote has existed that Polish and Magyar are like brothers. It would be great to continue traditions of both lands and always cherish fact, that somewhen in history of both, the paths crossed...

basilica heroes square parliament house buda castle chain bridge

about Cracov in pill

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:07:56 PDT

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:25:27 PST

Hitchhikers...

This adventure has began in 1992 and still lasts, even so, it has changed form. Some successors definitely continue its glorious tradition. Tradition of endless destinations, reached by those who love moving. Hitchhikers. Mind freedom, limitless space, surprising surroundings, life lesson and great risk are only a few benefits of, not trendy any more, way to recognize the world. And these are the same benefits, what grants someone who, regardless of traveling fashion stands for unknown sightseeing, I used to call: “kitchen tourism”. Most of us want to go around the globe ‘up front’, other words: with all preparation, plan and flail’s climax.

Yet, hitchhiking scenario won’t provide little comfort zones. Instead it will throw the ringleader of all idea into unexpected courses of episodes, happening to form pure knowledge of life. Either, bad or good, so undeniable, it will never be forgotten. Eventually, after years of displacing yourself it becomes one of the most powerful experiences. Additionally, charming side of this unique and rare travel design seems to have a lot to do with initial innocence. Art of being hitchhiker never constitutes luck nor failure, cause essential part of it blends determinism with uncanny urge to explore...

Technically it doesn’t sound easier neither. Simply because it requires enough energy to stand on both legs when they'd go into everyday’ discontinued uncoordinated dance, sometimes accompanied by blurred mind vision turning into metamorphic ecstasy, quite often brought up within sleepless night hours. Another times this puts psychological pressure through careless statements such as: 'where and how to get rest'. But with all these inconveniences who would mind discomfort if there are so many virgin discoveries ahead? Not the real deal, born in adventurer’s pamper persona, waiting only for the right moment to arrive. Blooming as a beginner takes a bit courage which with passing days and years turns into routinized self-support system. System so strong, it is almost impossible to root out adventure-researcher instinct. No wonder, part: ‘hitch’ indicates powerful meanings from: pulling (up), drawing, attach, tighten up to stop.

The ultimate destiny awaiting ahead promises immortal memories to anybody. Priceless reward, bringing fresh look at ordinary things.

Regardless of how many unusual places, unusual encounters, unusual adventures happened out there to enrich my life, there is one unusual fact about our existence: what is left at the end, it is 'sailing through life'-our memories, so keep on going free spirits....!!

castles

noreply@blogger.com (temberowa) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:14:41 PST

The World's Most Beautiful Castles

By Stephen Whitlock

Bamburgh Castle, England

Nick McCann

They may no longer be used for repelling enemy hordes or otherwise defending the kingdom, but these castles still have their rugged good looks.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh, England

Fortifications have stood on this rocky outcrop near the North Sea since the 5th century. In the 12th century, King Henry II acquired the structure, and later it was snapped up by William Armstrong, a wealthy Victorian industrialist. Still owned by Armstrong's descendents, the castle has served as the location for several movies, including Roman Polanski's 1971 version of Macbeth. After you tour the castle, which is open to the public from March to October, hop over to nearby Holy Island for a visit to Lindisfarne Castle. This stunner also overlooks the sea and is accessible only at low tide (the causeway connecting it to the mainland floods at high tide)

Château de Castelnaud, France

Robert Harding/Getty

Château de Castelnaud

Castelnaud — la-Chapelle, France

This impressive fortress, located on the limestone rocks above the Dordogne River, overlooks a former enemy, the Château de Beynac. During the Hundred Years' War, the English held Castelnaud and the French controlled Beynac, with both nations hoping to control this sensitive border region. These days Castelnaud is known for its Museum of Medieval Warfare, which includes reconstructions of giant crossbows and trebuchets, the huge slings used to hurl rocks at castle walls.

Leeds Castle, England

Leeds Castle Foundation

Leeds Castle

Maidstone, England

More than 900 years old, this moated castle regularly hosted that much-married Tudor, Henry VIII. Its current success as one of England's most popular tourist attractions is due to the work of the blue-blooded Olive Wilson Filmer, who outbid William Randolph Hearst to buy the castle for $873,000 in 1926 (that's over $10 million in today's dollars). Filmer used the rest of her fortune to restore and beautify the structure and its surroundings. On the grounds are several mazes, a display on falconry, and a dog-collar museum.

Château de Chillon, Switzerland

Jon Arnold/JAI/Corbis

Château de Chillon

Lake Geneva, Switzerland

As with most real estate, it's often location, location, location that makes all the difference with castles. On an island near the edge of Lake Geneva, Château de Chillon is no exception. Excavations here have turned up evidence of a Bronze Age settlement, but the castle as it now stands was created between the 12th and 18th centuries. Its popularity got a huge boost in 1816. That year, following a visit, Lord Byron published his long poem "The Prisoner of Chillon"; the work refers to the "seven pillars of Gothic mold" that stand in "Chillon's dungeons deep and old."

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung

Neuschwanstein Castle

Hohenschwangau, Bavaria

Ludwig II of Bavaria — a.k.a. Mad King Ludwig — commissioned a set designer to create Neuschwanstein. Engineers broke ground in 1869, but King Ludwig didn't get much chance to enjoy his over-the-top palace. In 1886, as the castle was nearing completion, he died under suspicious circumstances; his body was found floating in a lake, with the body of his physician nearby. Despite this unhappy ending, Neuschwanstein remains the quintessential fairy-tale castle: It was a major inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland.

Kronborg Castle, Denmark

Kronborg Castle

Helsingør, Denmark

Dating back to the 1420s, Kronborg is one of the best-preserved Renaissance castles, despite the various alterations it's undergone since then. Positioned next to a strait separating the Danish island of Sjælland from Sweden, it had great strategic power over the sea traffic—not enough, however, to prevent the persistent Swedes from conquering it in 1658. Kronborg gained more lasting fame as the castle in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Eilean Donan, Scotland

Radius Images/Corbis

Eilean Donan

Dornie, Scotland

Planted on an island in the middle of a loch, Scotland's most famous castle looks as if it's been there forever. It does date back to 1220, but the original structure was destroyed in 1719 and lay in ruins for two centuries. In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought it and began restoration. He was helped by the stonemason Farquar Macrae, who claimed to have seen in a dream how the original castle looked in earlier times. The castle was rebuilt according to Macrae's specifications; later, plans found at Edinburgh Castle proved his vision correct. The "new" castle was finished in 1932.

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