Hungary got us hungry for more

 

The view from Jubileumi Park

While making a long drive through Europe, we decided to make a short stop at the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. We had no idea what to expect. After going to so many other countries and visiting their capitals, Budapest (despite being at the heart of the Old Continent) has always somehow eluded us. But not this time! So, we booked our BnB and our Walking Tour, did some research on what not to miss and drove off.

We parked the car, got a shower, put our shortest clothes on (yes, it was almost 40°C) and headed to the nearest park, as we had about an hour until our tour started. The Jubileumi Park is the home of the Hungarien "Liberty Statue" (also known as the "Citadella") and it also offers a lot of great high view points to the Danube river and the other part of the city. Yes, Budapest actually has two parts: Buda and Pest, coming from the old words for Water and Heat and which are also connected by 15 beautiful bridges.

St. Stephen's Basilica

As this was only a one-day trip, we had  our concerns on how much we could understand the cultur, the people and the history, but Budapest turned out to be so open and friendly that we forgot all the worries and enjoyed this lively city and its welcoming atmosphere.

So, here are our highlights with some small tips and tricks if you plan a short visit:

1. The Parliament: a total must-see. The architecture, the view from and to it is breathtaking.

2. St. Stephen's Basilica: aka The Founder of Hungary. Most beloved and celebrated historical figure of the Hungarian people.

The Fisherman's Bastion

3. Of course, the View to Buda: some say that the beat part about Pest is the view to Buda.

4. Fisherman's Bastion: it looks more like a fairy castle. Its architectural style comes from the year 1000, when the first Hunagrian king (Stephen I) started his rule.  It is a historicla monument for the millennial Hungary. Its 7 towers reprsent the 7 chieftains who had led their tribes to the present day Hunagry.

5. Buda Castle: a definite must-see castle complex! Built in the year 1265, destroyed during the First World War and built again years later, it stands proud in the southern hill of Buda, attracts thousands of locals and tourists and now serves as home to the National Gallery and the National Library.

Citadella, The Liberty Statue

6. Citadella (the Liberty Statue) - once built as a thank you to the Soviet Liberators, now is a monument celebrating Freedom.

                                      

Once upon a time busy policeman

 

Tips and trcks:

1. It is a very safe city, since...forever. There is even a small statue of a policeman, showing how 'busy they were with crime'.

2. Very cheap place. It depends of course where are you coming from, But based on our experience many other countries inside and outside of Europe, it is safe to say that you would not need much for a good vacation here.

3. Take precautions if you are visiting in summer. A hat, a susunscreen and a lot of water will be needed.

4. There are many public places where you can refill your water bottles. Absolutely safe and free.

5. The language is almost impossible to read or pronunciate. Almost everybody speaks English, but still be prepared with Google Translate or any other preferred translator.

The Parliament Building

A view to Buda Castle

Dublin, Ireland

The Christ Church Cathedral

One of the biggest surprises to me personally. I fell in love with this city so hard, that this was probably the first time ever I was really sad to leave and to have to go back home. And it wasn't just because of the usual reasons like beautiful architecture, rich history, amazing views. No, not at all. Those responsible for my sadness for leaving were the extremely nice and sweet people and the whole mood that the city of Dublin has.

Porto, Portugal

 

A view to the Doro River

Oh, how lucky we were, having our Bnb right next to the Crystal Palace Gardens of Porto. 

At first we thought

Crystal Palace Gardens

we could spend some 30-45min time here before going to dinner and a couple of hours later we were still wandering around the many gardens, enjoying smart and beautiful arrangings, unseen plants and stone strucures. This place also offers a perfect view to the river and big parts of Porto.

One of the biggest surprises at the Gardens were actually its feathery habitants. There were hens and cocks loosely walking around, accompanying us on our walk. But still they were not the highlight of this place. That would be the freely walking around peacocks. There were os many of them, not bothered  at all of all the human visitors. That made us feel almost, as if we were at theirr home and had to be careful not to bother them too much.

How to: Pilatus, Switzerland

The view to the panoramic terrace of Pilatus Klum

We wanted to visit this place for a very long time and we kept referring to it as Mount Pilatus. And one weekend we just decided that we have to hop on the car (as usual) and just drive there. Upon arriving we went straight to the Info Center, which is only a few meters away from the parking place, which cost us 5 euro for the whole day. An the reason for this was, that we did almost no research beforehand and knew pretty much nothing about this wonder of nature, hence the amazing photos we were seeing around social media. As it turns out, the whole mountain massif is called Pilatus and it consists of several peaks, the highest of which is named Tomilshorn (2129m). And as we always aim for the highest summit and the most picturesque views, we set off to the Horn of Tomil (loose, and probably not as funny as intended, translation). If you've already checked out something about this place, you probably know that there are many options how to do it. I will list them for you down below, but at my post I'll stick to our experience, mentioning some easier ways, because (as per usual) we chose to do it the hard way.

How to: Mount Triglav, Slovenia

Ocean of mountains... Did you notice the two shadows?

"Did you climb Mount Triglav?"

"Yes!"

"Then, you've become a real Slovenian!"

I was so happy and proud after the end of this marvelous hike, that I couldn't stop thinking and talking about it. There is something real special at this place and the feeling of accomplishment that it gives you when you conquer it.

A fresh beginning, breath-taking views, overcoming the exhaustion, the excitement from the unknown road ahead you and the proud of the achievement. Those are only a few of the things you will experience during this hike.

Preparation

Secured everywhere with metal ropes

Bad news is though, that the preparation could take some time. Make sure to plan and book everything as soon as possible. I would recommend at least 2-3 month in advance. Although, to be honest, we did it 2 weeks before departure and everything was perfectly fine. At every step of our booking process people were flexible and very helpful! Now let's begin, shall we?

Prague: A feast for the eyes and the soul

Prague Castle

Our first visit to Prague was for the great party of New Year. We hopped on the car again and arrived at our perfect little BnB just outside of Prague. This way we were able to both experience the city and its surroundings. And by surroundings, I mean some really nice hiking paths.

At the New Part of the Prague Castle

Triglav National Park and its wonders

Slovenia is the home of a small corner of the Alps Mountain Range, also called the Julian Alps, where they rise to 2,864m at Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia. A large part of them is included in the National Triglav park, which was our aim for this summer. There are two ways you could travel through this gorgeous piece of nature - either by backpacking from hut to hut, or, as in our case, making one of the lovely small villages your headquarters and exploring the region. We stayed at a sweet Airbnb in Srednja vas v Bohinju. This was a real relax for the soul. The view to the mountains is amazing, the village is really quite and a perfect starting point to whichever place you want to visit.

The first waterfall

On the first day we visited the Martuljek Waterfalls. There is a free parking almost at the beginning of the path. I specifically mention that it was free, because, as we found out later, it could be a real chance to find a cheap parking lot, let alone a free one. From there, take the bike alley for 2min and then at the first sign turn left. Follow the yellow signs with "1.2.Slap" (slap meaning waterfall). Getting to the first one was relatively easy. The harder part is getting to the second one, as the path becomes steeper and more slippery at some sections. The last about 100m are a bit rocky, with the path becoming more narrow, but there are enough metal ropes to help your way up and down.

But once you get there though, you will immediately forget all that was before.

Ljubljana: Europe's little treasure

We decided to book a room in a district a little bit further from the city center. This would be a good idea if you travel by car, because the street parking is only 0.40€/per hour till 17.00 on Friday, after that till Sunday it is free. It was also a good decision because we were able to have a nice walk to the town center through the Tivoli park, which is the largest and most beautiful park in Ljubljana. 

Ljubljana Castle with country and city flags

It has everything you could wish for in a park: playgrounds for the children, grand walks, relaxing places for picnic and sunbathing. There is even an outdoor gym. Here you can also find the International Center for Graphic Arts, which is actually an old mansion turned into the epicenter of the artistic world. Behind it is the Bistro Švicarija where, if you're lucky, you may share a drink with some of Slovenia's finest artists.

Bratislava and the Mountains

If you are tired of the overcrowded, over-touristed cities, travel to Slovakia. If you are looking for place where history and nature live in a perfect harmony, go to Slovakia. If you want to go to e new exciting place, visit Slovakia.

We had been dreaming visiting this country and nothing could stop us, even cancelled flights. So, we hopped in the car one evening and drove straight to...Vienna. Considering the fact that both capitals are some 60-70 km from each other, we had to make a stop first at the beating heart of Europe. We spent there 3 days, absorbed as much of the city of music, art, culture and fine food as we could and continued to our so long desired destination: Bratislava and the Slovakian Mountains.

Crete

Aaahh Crete!
A place that deserves all the love and attention you could give.
When you hear Greece or Greek Islands what do you imagine? Amazing blue waters, sweet little white buildings, extremely hospitable people and sand as soft as silk? Well, Greece and her lands is all that. But Crete...well, Crete is something more. The history, the pink-sand beaches, the breathtaking views, the possibilities for nature lovers are endless from pink-sand beaches through scary deep gorges to high peaks and  hidden gems all over the island.
Our amazing adventure began on a Saturday evening, travelling to the airport for several hours to catch the 6a.m. flight. By approaching our destination the view from the airplane was jaw-dropping. Never before have I seen such nuances of blue and green mixed in a perfect symbiosis.

Upon landing we hopped straight into a rent car and drove to the Palace of Knossos, also known as The Home of the Minotaur. The information signs at the site are really helpful and even if you have no clue who the Minotaur and Queen Ariadne were, you will be able to catch up really fast. Stop and enjoy many of the restored frescoes, notice the huge earthen jars and just sink into the atmosphere of prehistoric life.
After taking a night walk around Heraklion and getting a good night sleep, we were ready for the real vacation. We drove to the other side of the island, making a sweet B&B our Cretan HQ, as we had planed 2 hikes and 3 beaches for our 5-day stay.

Lisbon is a Gift we all deserve!

It was my sweet husband's birthday and the only thing he wanted as a gift  was a trip to Lisbon. Could I have said "no"? Of course. But I didn't. Because he loves to travel, he loves new adventures and experiencing new cultures. And so we did see Lisbon in a day!
We arrived late on a Friday and went straight to our B&B to leave the luggage we had with us (just the two backpacks, but still heavy). After a few minutes checking the place and consulting google maps, we were out. Our goal was the 360`Panorama view from a Mall nearby. Unfortunately we were too late, as in winter it closes around 18.00 o'clock. And what a luck we had. It turned that Lisbon has so many amazing view points, that are cheaper or free, that this would have been money on the wind.
As we were in the region of the Rato metro station, we've decided to get to know the neighborhood before dinner. Even though it was late on a Friday night. the streets were not busy with the usual suspects you may see at other big European capital such as lightly drunken young people, or heavy drunken not so young people, or big loud companies or the usual street beggars. The city (or at least this region, which is not so small) was full of young people, having much fun, people going home late after work and residents walking their dogs. The streets are so narrow and so steep, one may feel as if hiking but instead among nature, among the city jungle.
Everywhere we go, we take a free walking tour and almost every time is the same. Going through some very crowded touristic places and thus not seeing much, the guide would tell you more about history facts than about the people and the atmosphere of the place. So, this time I've decided to take another approach. I chose a walking tour that explicitly said the guide would not take us through the big monuments and touristic places, but through the districts of Lisbon, getting to know its rhythm, its life.

That's why I chose the "Chill out walking tour" (no advertising here, just a tour that offered what we were looking for, I'm sure the other walking tours are really good, too).

Amsterdam or A Dam in the Amstel

This city hits you right in the face and I mean it in any good way possible. Every building, every shop and street have their own look and style.

Starting off early on Saturday, we get to the city by train from a district just outside Amsterdam. The train station building is amazing. It's almost like you come out of a castle. Walking down the main street to the Dam Square, we were always tripping on every step of the way, because we were looking up all the time at the buildings' facades and the Christmas decoration, which was giving the city center even more atmosphere.

We had a meeting with a Free Walking Tour guides at the War Memorial right across the street from the Royal Palace. It was raining cats and dogs. I was ready to run and hide in the "Madame Tussaud" Museum, but...! Sam (our tour guide) was so contagious with his energy , that we actually stayed to the very end. Thanks to him I learned a lot about the city, the country and the history, seeing some of the most beautiful places along the way.

Oh, my Italy!

Only three single steps to become a true Italian: dress well, eat well and enjoy life! You've probably read the book "Eat, Pray and Love" or maybe you've watched the movie or at least you've heard of it and the wonderful story of Elizabeth Gilbert. Honestly, what I really loved about her journey was Italy or the Get-to-know-the-Italians-part. I thought I already got an idea of what their lifestyle would be and I loved it. Until... my first visit to this beautiful warm country.

Walking down at the Promenade at Como Lake is where a person should start. Take your time, don't let the touristic drive overcome you. Just slow down life and let your soul feast on everything that this place could offer. Look at the sun playing on the lake's water. Inhale the perfume of all the flowers coloring the streets. Look up and around you and greet the passing by people. Make a stop at a gelato- shop, sit at a small Caffè.  Let your whole being live in the moment.

Next stop: Milan. You must get lost in this city. That would be the only way to experience it. With all the small streets full of well-dressed people, riding
cars that probably belonged to James Bond. Just sink into the atmosphere that of sunshine and warmth that surrounds Milano. It is inevitable, of course, to get to The Cathedral or also known as Duomo di Milano.

Morocco: What you should know

After our trip to India, I've learned my lesson and prepared myself in advance, or at least with some knowledge about the country. This is probably the best tip to have in mind when travelling for the first to a country that is much different from your own: always get to know the place you plan to visit in advance. The best way to do it by personal blogs or personal reviews in places such as Tripadvisor. People's thoughts, advice and impressions will always help you be aware of the atmosphere you're about to meet.
There is of course no way to fully understand a country before visiting it but it is always better to know what to expect( every culture is unique and surprising).
What I got to know before coming to Morocco:
- Don't worry much how to get dressed. As an Islamic country the dress code and way of showing you and your emotions is a little bit different than the way in Europe for example. Although I saw many tourist with really short shorts and sleeves I would recommend to the ladies to consider something not very provocative, knee-long dresses or pants would be fine. Not that it's a problem to show a little more skin, but you'll save yourself the looks and laugh behind your back, as the locals don't miss a person to look at.
- Warm clothes. If you don't visit Morocco in summer you must have warm clothes. Despite the high temperatures, the wind is really cold. In March the locals were wearing pullovers or even their winter jackets. It wasn't so bad, but still make sure you have long sleeves and jackets, the nights are especially cold!
- Learn French. Just kidding. You don't need to learn a new language for your 1-2 week trip. Most of the people in the tourist areas speak English well enough. But if you plan a trip outside the big, crowded, noisy places you must have an offline french dictionary!
- Overall the big cities are safe,both for driving and walking.
What a learned while in Morocco:
- The hotels are a bit overrated. Don't be impressed by the beautiful pictures, but read the reviews, they are usually pretty much clear and true. Anything under 5-star hotels probably will disappoint you, but if you are on a budget the 3/4-star hotels will be fine.
- There are like hundreds of merchants on every street, trying to sell you something. Just say No or simply shake your head and avoid them, that will discourage them quickly not to follow you.
- Always bargain. The merchants would tell you some unbelievable prices as a starter, but then agree to what you say. Don't be afraid (or shy) to say ridiculously low prices, most of the stuff don't cost much anyway.The fastest way to get your souvenir for the price you want is to just leave. They'll call after you, hold you even to stay until they sell the product.
- Always wear cash, especially small banknotes. People there always expect a tip. Even if you bool an organized trip and prepay it, be sure that along the way you'll meet relatives/friends of your guide and they all will be expecting something in exchange for their "help", small tour or guidance.
- If you plan to go hiking/trekking be prepared in advance. Some paths are difficult to find on your own, there are tens of people waiting to help you (and of course to receive a 5€ tip)and it's honestly not so well marked. Read a lot in advance about the valleys or mountains you want to hike and make sure you have a reliable GPS navigation.
- The best way to travel: a rental car.
- When at a gas station, you should wait for a guy to refuel your car, pay him and don't bother to wait for a receipt. But that's only in the cities. When you are on a motorway /highway you should be able to pay with a credit card and receive a receipt. Shoot for the big gas companies, such as Shell, Total.

Always drive with the permitted speed. If the police stop you, always ask for proof that you broke the speed limit! 

Being completely honest, I was a little afraid and prejudiced toward this trip and the country, but I learned that if you are nice to people, aware of your surroundings and belongings, everything will be just fine. Just relax, enjoy the new adventure, absorb the atmosphere and collect great memories!

India: First experience

The most spontaneous trip we have ever did. Me and my husband were invited to a wedding in India and it took us about 2 months to think about it. Two weeks before the event we decided that we are doing it. We were actually going to India! It sounded so exotic and so far away, even a little bit scary, but we were all in.

First of all, you need to make sure you get a visa. Then you can start looking around for airplane tickets, although in our case we were pressed to change the order of events, because for such a destination you can't book last minute (price and probably no luck with available seats). It was pretty easy actually, because you can apply on-line and then get your visa within 2-3 work days. 

Vaccination: our doctor said that the obligatory ones are Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and of course the basics like DT. There are also the Cholera, Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis, but if you are careful enough, and staying at 4 or 5-star hotels, you should be fine only with the first three. 

Packing? That's easy! It is always hot and all you need is some light linen clothes (preferably long-sleeved) and your flip-flops. Be careful though, the sun could be really strong, so don't forget your sun cream! Now the fun part of packing: make sure to have enough anti-bacterial soaps, wet wipes and whatever else that comes to mind when considering disinfection before eating. Unfortunately the hygiene there is poor and we were strongly advised avoiding drinking tap water as well as not to brush our teeth with anything else than bottled water.

Getting from A to B: Uber is your answer. If you by any chance have an Indian sim-card then you can also use the alternative called "Ola". 

Funny story: We went to see this (castle/temple) by the shore and had a good time, took some nice pictures but then... the Uber App crashed, so did our hopes to get home, too. There were no taxis, we could not get the Indian alternative "Ola" and we were just staying there looking like confused tourist which in India is equal to easy money. We were approached several times by a Rikshaw driver. [We of course, kindly rejected his offer to get us back to our hotel. The idea of travelling at approximately 30km/h on a highway with this traffic....And of course, was double the price.] After 30-40min and no luck with the app we had to get the deal. Best experience ever! Just imagine: highway, cars are flying around us with over 100km/h, we are moving at about 20-25km/h. Then, the Rikshaw suddenly stops in the left lane (oh yes, they drive England-like), middle of nowhere and we have not the tiniest clue what is happening. We are looking each other in horror for the next 30 seconds, while the driver gets out of the Rikshaw, opens his seat and gets out a... 2,5l Coca-Cola bottle full with something yellow-ish. Then he gets another, smaller bottle full with something 

green-ish. He mixes the two substances and... refuels. That was the moment we could breathe again and just enjoy the rest of the ride.

The traffic: There are no rules. At least none known to us in Europe. There are traffic lights, there are signs, there are zebras, but nobody cares very much about them. There are three lanes, well-marked with white stripes, but you actually can see 5-car lanes with small motorcycle lanes between them. You just drive and wait for the others to signal you if you are in their way. The cool part is that as funny and dangerous as it may sound to us, it somehow works, people don't get nervous and they are actually moving. Rarely would you stay long at jams.

Temples: better read or ask ow to proceed when entering a temple. Barefoot is a must for some and it is usually worth it.



India could be polluted, unorganized country but if you look at it more as a crazy, colorful place, you will be able to experience the real beauty of the country and its people.



P.S. I almost forgot...Do try coconut water from a street merchant... The best way to freshen up your hot day!