A few steps away from the hotel on a quiet little street behind some government buildings is Le Dauphine. A small bistro where we had dinner. Long story short, if you are in Metz looking for a single portion of steak tartar that is well spiced and large enough to feed a small village this […]
We have arrived – in fabulous Metz. Metz has a rich 3,000-year-history, having variously been a Celtic oppidum, an important Gallo-Roman city, the Merovingian capital of the Austrasia kingdom, the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty, a cradle of the Gregorian chant, and one of the oldest republics of the common era in Europe. The city has […]
We are going to call this an Italian adventure in Germany on the way to France. We set off to Metz about 2 hours later than we though but we got going at a really good pace, at least initially so we were not worried. We knew that there would be some traffic just outside Hockenheim because […]
We are setting off to Metz, France for the weekend. Metz is a very old and beautiful city with a lot of history. This time we are staying right in the centre of the old town – should be a lot of fun.
We have been on this adventure now for 421 days or 1 year, 1 month and 25 days. It has to be said that we love being here and if it was possible we would stay here for good. Europe is quite grand with its 1000 year old cathedrals and glorious piazzas amazing parks historical artifacts and […]
While in Rome, our busy schedule did not allow us to meet with Papa Francesco! However, not long after the visit to the Vatican we noticed that one of our blog posts was checked out and favoured by – Cardinal Giuseppe, the right hand man of Papa Francesco himself! Turns out Cardinal Giuseppe is quite […]
Updated travel map. We have added a few new wonderful places mainly in Italy and of course Berlin, but there is still a lot more to see – a lot more and we can’t wait to explore it. Google Maps
Today is a big game – Germany vs. Ghana. We have set up a soirée with Kasia and Volker to watch the game in German at their house. We started off with a nice dinner and some wine then more vine and some desserts. Everyone has World Cup fever and we are not different. It was […]
We are back in town from our trip across Italy. Today we are getting out to see Kasia and Volker. Kasia is so involved in the metro project in Warsaw that we almost never get to see her. We have a bit more luck with Volker who works only a short walk away from us. […]
It is hard to capture the beauty of this road from a moving car. The views are simply breathtaking and spectacular, and I think for this reason alone we prefer to drive to these destinations. Tuscany is gorgeous, with its golden hills and winding roads, cypresses and vineyards and villas and towns perched on the top of […]
We are actually not stopping here to extend our holiday. We simply stopped here on the way home because we wanted to get back to one of our favourite restaurants – Quertze. We were too late for lunch and too early for dinner so we had a lunch by the lake, a little stroll by […]
The only thing better than seeing these two beauties parked by the lake was seeing 3 of these, in classic Ferrari red racing down the Italian Autostrada and then there is the noise – lots and lots of glorious noise from three fire breathing Ferraris. WOW!
We are saying farewell to Agriturismo Villanova. We had great time here, we had great rest, amazing breakfasts and met some great people from Wurzburg of all places – what a small world! Everyone’s favourite pet here is Giro, in Italian Geeeero, you really got to stretch that ‘E’. After Chateau de Varenne, I think this is […]
We are back to Monterosso which is one stop from Levano. We decided to stop here for the good gelato, all gelato here is good but we just like this one the most, and a nice stroll down the beach. Since Monterosso has a huge beach that is easily accessible, about 50 m from the train […]
Like all the other villages this one too has its own little church. The church, which was built in 1338, has a Gothic facade with a nice rose window, and a Baroque-style interior. On the facade, there is a bas-relief representing the martyrdom of San Lorenzo. On the XIVth-century triptych, you can see San Lorenzo […]
Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name “Manarola” is probably dialectical evolution of the Latin, “magna rota”. In the Manarolese dialect […]
There is at least one church in each of the five villages, they are all very small as land is at premium. The church of San Giovanni Battista was built in 1340 but in 1820 the facade was rebuilt in a Neo-Gothic style. The Gothic doors, the wooden crucifix and the organ from 1851 are […]
We interrupt this Cinque Terre expedition for a brief moment to have a bit of fun. The kids did not even have gelato or cappuccino yet. Imagine that!
Riomaggiore is the first village in Cinque Terre when travelling north from La Spezia. The village, dating back to early thirteenth century, is known for its historic character and its wine, produced by the town’s vineyards. Riomaggiore is in the Riviera di Levante region and has shoreline on the Mediterranean’s Gulf of Genoa, with a small beach and […]
This morning we are setting off on a ferry from Levanto to Riomaggiore. which is the fifth village in Cinque Terre National Park from where we are staying. The sun is out, there is a gentle breeze and the 70 min cruise from Levanto to Riomaggiore should be great. The ferry stops in 4 of the […]
We had a busy day yesterday and today is not going to be any easier. After an early breakfast we are grabbing a nice and quiet cappuccino on our patio before we set out on a boat cruise to Riomaggiore which is the last village of the Cinque Terre National Park. We are going to […]
There are 47 restaurants in Levanto, we found this one – La Picea, on the outskirts of the old town – and it just happens to be THE number one rated restaurant in the city. This place is mostly for takeouts but there are some tables and chairs for people like us. It is all […]
Levanto is a small town on the fringes of Cinque Terre and it is where we are staying at Villanova Agriturismo. Levanto has a great beach and it is only about a 5 min train ride to Monterosso which is the first town in the Cinque Terre National Park going from North to South. Like […]
We are exploring the Cinque Terre park. Going from village to village on the train. This is the third village on the way and after climbing what seems like a 1000 stairs to get here we are taking a well deserved break.
The church of Saint Peter rises in the upper part of Corniglia. It was built in 1334 on a pre-existing XI century building. It has a Baroque style, with some Gothic and Ligurian elements. The XIV century façade is adorned by a 1351 Carrara white marble rose window which has the old dear symbol of […]
Unlike the other localities of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia is not directly adjacent to the sea. Instead, it is on the top of a peninsula about 100 metres high, surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces and the fourth side descends steeply to the sea. To reach Corniglia, it is necessary to climb the Lardarina, a long brick flight of […]
After a nice stroll through the village we decided to go under the mountain to the other side of town and hang out on the beach. This is a rocky beach and since we did not bring the sand toys with us, we did what comes naturally to all Canadians – building our versions of Inukshuks. It […]
Our second stop is Vernazza which is a short train ride. First records recognizing Vernazza as a fortified town date back to the year 1080. This village is completely different. It has a different vibe, it is layer out differently with limited access to the water but it is perched more on the mountain […]
The Cinque Terre – “The Five Lands” comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are setting off on a train which goes between these 5 villages […]
We are sitting in Levanto on the train platform waiting for the train to arrive – when suddenly a phone rings and a guy on the bench next to us says “Can you hear me now?” I am talking to you on a phone the size of a door mat!!!
As planned we arrived at Agriturismo Villanova right at 5:00 pm. This place is, once again, in the middle of nowhere, on the top of a hill just about 5 min drive from Levano town centre. We loved this place the moment we pulled up. Basically you turn off the road by the fire […]
After a great Brunch we set off for a 4 hour drive to Cinque Terre National Park on the Mediterranean. None of us have been there so we are looking forward to it. It is Sunday so there is almost no traffic as the big trucks are not allowed on the highways unless they carry parishables […]
This is our local about 3 min walk from where we are staying in Rome. We came here for breakfast all three days which varied between €7.00 to €24.00 – we also had dinner snacks here too which came to be about the same. We absolutely love this place and love the food and […]
It seems that no matter where you go in Rome, there are old Roman ruins or something that predates the Rome itself. No visit to Rome would be complete without spotting Hare Krishna people making a spectacle of themselves and being happy in their own way. The final stop on our list of things to see was what […]
Glitter glitter on the floor, ceiling and wall who is the richest god of them all? No matter where you go, where you turn you can not walk more than 100 m in Rome without walking past a church – each nicer than the last.
Right next to the Colosseum are the impressive ruins of the Roman Forum. The Forum Romanum was the center of life in Imperial Rome, evidenced by the many remains of triumphal arches, temples and basilicas. Until 509 BC, when Rome became a republic, the city was reigned by an Etruscan dynasty of Tarquin Kings. They […]
The Colosseum is probably the most impressive building of the Roman Empire. Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, it was the largest building of the era. While the Colosseum is largely in ruins it is still an amazing site to see. The elliptical building is immense, measuring 188m by 156m and reaching a height of […]
Anyone visiting Rome will sooner or later end up at Piazza Venezia. This square is located in the heart of Rome, at the end of the Via del Corso. From here it’s only a short walk to some of Rome’s most famous sights like the Capitoline Hill, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Many historic […]
After the morning visit to the market we are heading in the general direction of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Spanish Steps. First thing we see on the way there is Altar of the Nation. Officially known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, the enormous white marble monument, 80 m hight by […]
First thing on our agenda today, after breakfast of course, is the weekend market. This small market is where locals come to get their fruits and vegetables, pastas, oils, spices and just about anything else you might need or want to eat – all fresh. We got some giant sweet peas and cherries the size of plums. […]
Our day out was about 12 hours long. I am not sure how much walking we did but at the end of the day it was nice to sit down and enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of Prosecco. Great day out, and we are certainly happy that we have accomplished so much. Rome […]
Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome. It designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. Standing 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. Each day some €3000,00 are […]
We continue our journey across Rome through the narrow streets and piazzas. The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD. It is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, […]
The one Basilica to rule them all would be quite an understatement. There is really nothing in this world that can prepare you for the sheer magnificence of this place, or its gigantic proportions or it’s over the top splendour. We have seen our share of wonderful churches and cathedrals but nothing and I mean nothing comes […]
St. Peter’s Square is a massive plaza located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, the papal enclave surrounded by Rome. At the centre of the square is an Egyptian obelisk, erected at the current site in 1586. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the square almost 100 years later, including the massive […]
The Sistine Chapel is a large and renowned chapel of the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1477 and 1480. Since that time, the chapel has served as a place […]
Papal Apartments – is where you start seeing the real splendour of the Vatican Museum. If you were a Pope in the olden days you could commission Raphael to paint your apartment. At the age of 25 Raphael was asked to do just that – scrap all the previous work done by some of the […]
If a dizzying array of splendour that adorns the walls with famous paintings or tapestries or the floors done in priceless mosaics or just ordinary marble cut to perfection were not enough then perhaps the rooms and hallways and gardens lined with sculptures by every famous master from the beginning of time will impress and astonish. […]
It appears that whatever is not at the Louvre or at the National Gallery in London is here. There are a lot of priceless sculptures here and a great many of them share the same story. No one knows how some of these 2 or 3 or 5 thousand year old sculptures found their […]
The first thing at the Vatican Museum that you see are the paintings. Each more important and more famous than the last. It appears that over the years the Popes were quite fond of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and other famous masters. There are some modern works of art here too which the Vatican […]
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