European Travel

Photo of the Day-Bavaria

2011-11-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Hands down, Italy is the best place for a meal!

2011-09-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a meal that made your mouth water just thinking about it? Or better yet, is there a particular food/dish that you get excited about? Well, my trip to Italy made EVERY meal that way!
The Italian culture, well, European culture for that matter, is much different than the American culture in many ways. First and foremost, meals are a bonding, savored, relaxing occasion. Families and friends are united over food. Meals take hours, and it’s ok!

Now, onto the food. Oh my gosh. The flavors, the aromas, textures…everything comes together to make a meal full of fabulousness. Every ingredient that is in a particular dish is fresh, possibly even from the owners garden. You can taste every ingredient with each bite. After you are finished with your meal, you are full, but it’s not that uncomfortable feeling where you just want to put your pajamas on and fall asleep. After a meal out there, you feel refreshed, full, and, at least in my eyes, are pondering where and when the next meal is going to take place!

When you’re from America, the mentality is the bigger the better. The more food you have on the plate, the better the meal. Ingredients are loaded with preservatives. When you have a meal, most of the time it’s you eat and run. Foods and flavors aren’t savored. In America, we eat with family and friends, but when the meal is over, you get up and go. It’s not a relaxing event, but it still brings people together.

I did my deed on enlightening you on some of the differences in Italian/American foods; however, I am very hungry and craving a good old dish of Italian pasta. I might be making my flight back to Italia sooner than I had planned!

-Written by Lauren Greco

Ideas For A Trip To Spain!

2011-08-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh, Spain!!! So beautiful and captivating in its own right. Like no other European country! You’ll want to visit many areas of this fabulous country, starting with Madrid, the Spanish capital. Madrid is famously known for its art and culture and seventy-three museums within this city prove it! A must to see is the Prado Museum, if you enjoy fine art and Western culture. This museum is Madrid’s colossal of the arts! May I suggest you hire a tour guide or purchase a guide book before touring the Prado; in other words, do the research before and have a plan! Works are on display by many famous artists including Diego Velaquez, Francisco Goya, and Hieronymus Bosch.

You won’t want to miss The Royal Palace of Madrid, the King’s official residence. Take an early morning tour to avoid the crowds and you’ll be delighted with the rooms, art, and other collections; check out the Royal Armory, Furniture, and Silverware collections.

While in Madrid, also take in a colorful and entertaining Flamenco dance and music performance. Sip on Sangria; eat the famous Spanish dish called, Paella, made of seafood and rice! Visit the “Bear and the Madrono Tree”, the symbol of Madrid. This sculpture is located at Puerta del Sol, Madrid. Don’t miss the charming cafes in Plaza Mayor.

Be sure to visit Toledo, Spain’s ancient capital, which is located directly southwest of Madrid. Toledo is of historic interest and it’s also known for its manufacture of swords and knives, which goes back to the days of the Romans.

South of Toledo is Cordoba. Visit the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos – Fabulous! This fortress served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Enjoy the beautiful fountains and gardens. You’ll need at least two hours to tour the fortress!

Southwest of Cordoba is Seville, no more than a 90 mile ride. In Seville, may I recommend the Alcazar, a beautiful Islamic palace with a fusion of Spanish Christian and Moorish architecture. The Alcazar is also known for its history and luscious gardens. Another historical site not to miss is the Seville Cathedral (Cathedral de Seville). This cathedral dates back to the 15^th century. Absolutely majestic in appearance! Christopher Columbus’s son, Diego, is buried here in a tomb, amongst other notables.

If you stop by Granada, located Southeast of Seville and Cordoba, be sure to visit one of Spain’s top attractions, the Alhambra Palace and Gardens. The Alhambra is one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture.

The French Riviera of Spain is called, Costa del Sol, located at the southern tip of Spain, along the Mediterranean Sea. What better place to kick back, enjoy beaches and resorts, and stroll along the Mediterranean! Millions of tourists are attracted to Costa del Sol every year and it’s easy to see why…beautiful beaches, sunshine, glistening, blue sea! Beachwear shopping and cafes are at an abundance here! Visit the many quaint villages that surround the area too, time permitting.

While traveling throughout Spain, be sure to check out Spain’s olive oil, and Spanish wines!

Rome Photo of the Day!

2011-08-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Coliseum from Monument to Vittorio Emanuele

Hidden Behind The Iron Curtain-Sopron, Hungary

2011-08-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

While visiting Vienna, we realized that the Hungarian border was only about an hour away, so I figured why not check out something new? The only image I can picture of the former Eastern bloc was Prague, and that was an unchanged gem from the middle ages. Thanks to my suggestion, we decided to contact a driver to take us to Sopron, Hungary, which is one of the first major towns in Hungary. Our guide's initial reaction was, "Why on Earth would you want to go there?" This alarmed me, but as an explorer I wanted to see everything, regardless of a little concern from our driver.

Once arriving in Sopron there was a complete cultural and architectural difference from Austria. This area had the former U.S.S.R footprints all over it. When driving in, you go through the outskirts of town. Here, you see the familiar Soviet style housing buildings, which have now been painted, but still offer little to none in the comforts the Western world is used to. We also saw such severely poverty stricken areas that they wouldn't dare share in their tourism videos. It was almost hard to believe as my eyes took the sites in. Our driver politely dropped us off in the town square, which immediately brought a sense of dreary grayness to my emotions. We decided to take in a few shops and see the Firewatch Tower(get our quick fill in and get out).

As I was walking around and taking the area in, I realized that nobody was smiling. There was a sense of distrust when we tried to speak with individuals. My personal opinion is that the people were opressed for such a length of time, that shyness and a lack of open communication were common things. To think that in this day and age, there are such disparities, whether it be emotional, or economical, puts so much into perspective. Has anyone else come across this while traveling the former Eastern bloc?

Gloominess aside, there were some rather interesting things to see and experience. As you can see from my previous posts, I love writing about the Roman Empire....and behold Sopron had an old Roman fort in the middle of town!

For food we ended up eating at the Best Western which oddly enough was one of the finest restaurants in town. I would suggest going for the traditional Goulash. See picture below for the dining area.

When visiting the Eastern bloc, it is an emotional, yet awe-inspiring experience. I'd love to hear your take on the Eastern Bloc...was it a trip to remember or a vacation you'd love to forget?

Train or Plane Between European Destinations?

2011-08-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

My travel bug has returned. Actually it never left! We are currently trying to plan a trip and trying to decide how we are going to migrate from each of our destinations. This is my question that I proposed to myself...
I have had the luxury of both modes of travel between my European destinations. It's very important to look at the pros and cons of each method of travel.
Airplanes are all about speed, so if you have a limited amount of time this is the most efficient method. The Con to this is that it will be more expensive, and usually isn't worth it if your destination by rail is less than 4 hours away. Also, many people are more timid when it comes to flying...so fear can definitely sway a person's choice for travel.
The positive's of travel by train is that they are less expensive, can be extremely efficient, and you have an ability to view the countryside. High speed rail is obviously the way to go, with speeds up to 210 kph, I remember the train from Rome to Naples only taking an hour (huge selling point). One of my must gratifying train trips was in Switzerland, where without being on a train, I would've never seen the beauty of Lake Geneva.
The Cons- Longer train rides can be extremely tedious. I have done multiple overnight trains (Paris-Frankfurt, Paris-Madrid), and let me say...sleeping on them is not easy, typically being loud, hot, and uncomfortable depending on the train.
What do you think? Do you have any personal experience to share?

Westminster Abbey-London

2011-08-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

In April 2011, the world witnessed history. Prince William and Kate Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey in London, England. People from all over the world were watching this event, whether it be on the streets of England, or in front of their televisions in the United States. In December 2010, I was lucky enough to have walked through Westminster Abbey, and let me tell you, it was an experience I will never forget.

London in December is not what you would call warm. It was actually pretty damp and when the wind started, it was downright cold. It's very important to arrive at the Abbey before it opens,to avoid those dreadful lines. Our tour began at 9, so we figured we would get there at 850 and we would be one of the firsts in line. Were we ever wrong. People were lining up at 830! In the cold and damp weather, there was already a line that went over a block long.
Finally the doors opened up. As you walk in, the sights completely overtake you. There is an option to have a voice guided tour, which I recommend you take. They give you a hand held device that speaks in your ear, along with a map, which tells you about everything you come across at the Abbey.
My personal favorite was the choir and its choral area. The choir wasn’t present at the time of the tour, but as you are walking in this area, the choir is a songbird in your ear. The intricate woodworking of the choral area is stupendous.
All of the history that has been made at the Abbey, such as various royal weddings, funerals, and other services, stretches back hundreds of years. Not only is it used for religious ceremonies and services, but the Abbey is also a monument to numerous famous people. Some of the names you will recognize, like various literary names such as Chaucer, and Dickens, while others, you may not. It is simply amazing to see the plaques and monuments that are dedicated to these famous people.
Whether you are going to the Abbey for the Religious symbolism, the historic significance, or just to see where numerous royals have made their nuptials, it is a place you must visit and tour on your visit to London. Rain or shine, cold or warm…there is never a bad time to visit Westminster Abbey!

London Photos Of The Day.

2011-08-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

Amazing, even in December.

Looking For The Perfect Sunset In Rome?

2011-07-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

Commonly, couples will always want to find that perfect romantic place to end their day. While in Rome if you want to catch a wonderful sunset, I would suggest climbing to the top of the Spanish Steps. It allows you to be high enough to catch a westward view of the city, just above the buildings. It's the perfect end to any day.

The Best Photo I've Ever Taken

2011-07-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

Swiss/French Alps on flight between Amsterdam and Venice.

Pompeii- A Truly Remarkable Place.

2011-07-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

In 79 A.D. Mount Vesuvius erupted, creating a cloud of ash that would bury the city of Pompeii in 25 meters of soil and debris. Once a thriving city of the Roman Empire, (population 20,000) it wasn't rediscovered until 1749.

The city of Pompeii makes a perfect day trip from Rome. Using high-speed rail, you're able to travel from Rome to Naples in around 70 minutes. From the Naples train station, it is an easy 25 minute ride on the Sorrento line to the Pompeii Scavi stop. Once you arrive you can purchase tickets at the main visitors entrance, where you immediate are captivated by the history and ruins that are present right in front of you!

The uniqueness of Pompeii is unlike anything you will ever come across. The city was covered for many, many years, but the majority of the city remains in much better condition than other cities of the time period(see pictures below). This brings me to my next point in that, when the city was hit by the eruption, Pompeiians were going about their normal daily routines when their bodies were hit by the volcanic surge which actually preserved them. When you look at the pictures below, you can tell that over a 2,000 year period human emotions stay the same with fear and sadness.

The Best View in Rome

2011-07-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Want the best view in Rome? Then you must go to the Monument Vittorio Emanuele, Located in the city center between The Coliseum and, The Pantheon. It offers a 360 view of the entire city with a mountain backdrop. When you walk into the monument, you will have to go up a series of stars to the left side where you will reach an elevator. To ride the elevator to the top it will cost you 7 Euros(Well worth it).

Vienna-What to See?

2011-07-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

Traveling to Vienna, Austria? In my opinion, the top 2 sites you would have to see are the Schönbrunn Palace and the Hofburg Palace. These two palaces were the imperial residencies of the Habsburg Monarchy until the end of World War I. The Hofburg Palace was Monarchy's primary residence during the winter months and is currently being used as a museum, concert hall, banquets,etc. A must see within the museum is the imperial silver collection. This collection has a variety of the royals diningware, tables, silverware, etc. My personal favorite is the Milan Table Centerpiece, which can extend to up to a length of 30 meters!

After walking through the Museum and taking everything in, I would check what time the next concert would be (typically at night). I must admit that my knowledge of classical music is limited, but Vienna being the home of Mozart, makes the experience very memorable.

The Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg Monarchy. It offers awe-inspiring gardens along with an extremely expansive residence. I would recommend going during the summer while the gardens are in full bloom; however, winter does offer some very scenic photography.
On your adventure to Vienna, Austria, I would definitely suggest taking the palace tour, highlighting the study of Emperor Franz Joseph, the family dining room, the Small Gallery and the Great Gallery (ceiling paintings by Gregorio Guglielmi). It sounds like a lot to take in, but it's all completely worth it.

Again, Make sure to purchase your tickets in advance to save time!

Transportation From The Airport, To Your Destination.

2011-07-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

I cannot stress this enough. When flying into a new destination within Europe, please schedule your transportation in advance, and negotiate a price to your destination. Many taxi companies that wait outside the airport will often charge you extra for a baggage fee (around 10-20 Euros). By negotiating a ride in advance you can also guarantee that they will take the most direct route to your destination. Has anyone else run into this in the past?

Going to the Guinness factory in Dublin?

2011-07-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

While traveling to Dublin, one of the things I wanted to see was the Guinness factory. Honestly I was let down with the tour as a whole, until the end! Once you make your way through the tour you have the ability to have a free beer with your price of admission. The Guinness "Gravity Bar" turned out to be one of the best spots in Dublin. It offers a 360 panoramic view of the city, while you relax and drink beer. This is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon taking in the sights and just kicking back. I brought this up because most travel through Europe is constantly on the move, due to time constraints. So I would suggest if you want a more laid back afternoon in Dublin definitely check out the Guinness "Gravity Bar".

Out for dinner in Europe?

2011-07-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

Just a short post today, but something of note. At most restaurants throughout Europe the gratuity is already included in the bill, so remember to check when you receive the check, or if you don't see it, make sure to ask! Also, water isn't free at most restaurants. When you walk in you will most likely be given a choice of normal water or sparkling water and will be charged for each refill. So, just keep this in mind ahead of time.

Venice- A Completely Different World

2011-07-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to not have to look both ways before crossing a street? Well, in Venice, there are no cars period! It offers a unique perspective of the world before the invention of the automobile. When traveling to Venice I would recommend these three places to see.
Piazza San Marco- is the main square within Venice. It's open area gives you a 360 view of the most desirable tourist spots within Venice. The two main highlights are the San Marco Basilica and Campanile di San Marco bell tower. One suggestion would be to go during off hours when the square is less crowded, and it gives you a real opportunity to view the sights lit up and listen to the tower. (Sorry about the fog in the pictures, went really early in the morning)

Murano Island- is also a wonderful place to see when Venice. It is home to the world famous Murano Glass. It is a short water taxi ride away from the interior of Venice (20 Minutes). Murano Glass is all hand blown and shows all the best qualities it's known for. I would recommend watching their work, along with walking through their store. It offers glassware in all price ranges, and designs.

Burano Island- Is another stop which is around a 40 water taxi ride away. It offers a unique color scheme for houses, and it typically a nice place to enjoy lunch and take in the scenery.

Amalfi Coast- A Must See

2011-07-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

         I have always heard great things about the Amalfi Coast and it's beauty. This past December, I finally had the opportunity to visit and, let me tell you, all the reviews were dead on. Being from America, I would have to travel to multiple locations throughout the country to enjoy the benefits and beauty of the Amalfi coast. All in the same view you have mountains, vineyards, waterfront, and amazing colors in the background. What's unique about this is all the villages are located on the mountainside so instead of building outwards they are built upwards on each cliff side.
        One thing that I would recommend is hiring a guide to drive you around. The roads in Amalfi can be very treacherous and extremely curvy. I personally hit the jackpot when I hired Simply Amalfi to be our driver and tour guide! Our personal guide, Salvatore, was hands down the best guide you could ask for. We started out our day in Pompeii seeing the ancient ruins (which will be blogged about soon!) Salvatore said he would come pick us up after our tour of the ruins. Right on schedule, we walked out of the ruins and there he was. As soon as we got into the van, our experience began. Everyone knew our driver and genuinely liked him!   We made the 30 minute drive to the coast, stopping at your typical scenic tourist photo spots. After our photo shoots, we really moved away from the tourist attractions and drove up the mountainside. This is where Simply Amalfi stood out!!! We first stopped at the local Mozzarella factory and slowly made our way over to his house, which is located on a vineyard overlooking the cliffs and Mediterranean (Absolutely perfect). I must say that I was hesitant going into a stranger's home, but European culture is vastly different from that in America.
       My family and I went onto his balcony and were treated to all of the local delicacies that you could think of. The wine was flowing; our stomachs were made full of green olives, fresh mozzarella and provolone, tomatoes, and prosciutto. As we all sat and congregated admiring the scenery, Salvatore stepped away for a bit. We didn't even blink and there he was with a platter of food. What kind of food you ask? Salvatore went downstairs and picked off leaves from his lemon trees, put a slice of provolone on it and put it in the microwave for a short burst of heat. The flavor that exuded from the cheese heated with the lemon leaf was indescribable. As I write this, I am imagining everything so vividly! While he was down gathering the lemon leaves, he decided to pick some olives off his olive trees and bring them up to us as well. Oh and one more thing I forgot to mention, the wine he served us was made by him personally.
              Our time was growing short, and he wanted us to get the whole Amalfi experience (as if we hadn't had a fabulous taste yet!). We walked from Salvatore's house along the cliff to watch the sunset. At the sunset, we all shared a toast of Prosecco to the wonderful day we had. My family and I still look back at the pictures and cannot wait to go back. It was an experience that I will never forget, and I look forward to planning my next trip to Amalfi!!!

The Louvre

2011-07-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July everyone! Did you know that the French played a major role in America gaining her independence? In honor of that I would like to add a small fact about the most popular museum in Paris. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays! I made this mistake on my first trip to Paris, so please take this into account when making your travel plans. Please find below a link to the Louvre to discover their current exhibits.

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en

London Bridge

2011-06-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

A huge misconception in London is knowing the difference between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Many tourists actually believe that Tower bridge is London Bridge. Below are the accurate bridges.

London Bridge Tower Bridge

Germany's Romantic Road

2011-06-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

       Germany's Romantic road runs from Wurzburg(near Frankfurt) to Fussen in the South. It is a lesser known travel destination in Germany, which is the reason I chose to write about it. Typically, I would never recommend driving in Europe, but Germany's road system is quite similar to that of the U.S. (As long as you know how to drive manual transmission). Wurzburg is the center of Germany's white wine growing region. It is highlighted by open air restaurants, a gothic feel and phenomenal German Sausages. I would spend only a few hours here if you want to drive the entire Romantic Road in only 1 day. Along your trip South on the Autobahn, you will be able to take in the picturesque scenery. This route is filled with mountains, lakes, and vineyards. A truly pleasant drive, which has similar views to that of Northern California.
          The next stop on "the Road" I would suggest is the town of Rothenburg, which is straight out of the Middle Ages. It is a walled town that brings you back to an age before the time of the hustle and bustle of the modern world. It is filled with individually owned stores, avoiding the corporate chains we currently have. My personal favorite anecdote is when we stopped in the town for lunch. We had an older couple make us an authentic German meal from scratch! The hospitality was unlike anything I have ever experienced. The extra time waiting was worth it! So if you are looking for a place that hasn't seen much change over the past 500 years and want to soak up history, this would be it.
           The final stop on the Romantic Road must be Fussen. It is the location of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle also known as King Ludwig's Castle. The castle itself offers, in my opinion, some of the most spectacular views in Germany. It gives you the opportunity to walk along the open air areas, instead of viewing through glass like many of our modern skyscrapers. The castle itself actually inspired the building of Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. One note to remember is that there is a steep incline to get up to the castle, but they to offer carriage rides to the top...how very castle of them!
After your journey down the Romantic Road, it is very easy to continue your trip, as it is closely located to Munich, Austria, And Switzerland.

A Great Photograph But......

2011-06-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, any tourist spot you visit in Italy, you will find locals dressed up in full Roman Empire Gear. They will likely come up to you if you are standing in front of a well-known tourist attraction. You say to yourself....How awesome would it be to get a photo with these guys!!! However, there is always a catch. The locals will take a few pictures with you and afterwards charge you an astronomical sum, around 10-20 Euros a photograph! It's a really cool photo, but not worth that much. I would suggest that if you want this done, barter with them before you hand over your camera.

Stay tuned for a post tomorrow on the Romantic Road in Germany.

Prague for the Holidays

2011-06-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Before my first trip to Prague, I was very skeptical visiting a former Eastern Bloc country. If you were to see this on television, you'll see many of the same dreary buildings, with no culture or vibrance. I couldn't have been more wrong in my assessment! When visiting Prague, it takes you back to the middle ages. It's almost like a time warp! It's a city that wasn't damaged during World War 2. Surprisingly, it was left in pristine condition. I would suggest going during the holidays because it simply has the best Christmas market, which is located in the Old Town Square. My personal favorites were drinking hot wine, and sampling the many varietys of local cuisine, all located within the same area. The photo I have as my icon for my blog is actually taken from the Christmas market back in 2008 when I was out there!!!

The Recipe for hot wine is-
Mulled wine from Eastern Europe is usually made with combinations of some of the following ingredients:

Red wine (more typical) or white wine
Spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and vanilla
Citrus fruit (lemon or orange) or apples
Honey or sugar

Chianti Classico-Tuscany

2011-06-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Love Chianti Classico? Going to Florence? If so then you have to make the short trip out to Tuscany, for the best quality. My personal favorite is the Castello Vicchiomaggio vineyard. The best part about it is you have the ability to stay in a renissance castle for a reasonable ammount of Euros. Interested in the History aspect? Leonardo Da Vinci stayed there while painting the Mona Lisa.

http://www.vicchiomaggio.it/eng/index.html

Want to visit the Vatican Museum?

2011-06-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in Rome, one of the main attractions is the Vatican Museum. Note of advice: Buy tickets ahead of time!!! Typically is is a 2-3 hour wait to get in the door. If you buy tickets ahead of time, you can walk right in.

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/index.html