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Sunday, June 26, 2022

25 Most Beautiful Medieval Towns of Europe

Video 1.  25 Most Beautiful Medieval Towns of Europe (YouTube link)


Medieval Towns of Europe


Based on a popular vide viewed by 3 million people, it lists the below 25 medieval towns in Europe as the most beautiful ones:

  1. Siena, Italy
  2. Toledo, Spain
  3. Kotor, Montenegro
  4. Mont Saint-Michel, France
  5. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
  6. Bruges, Belgium
  7. San Gimignano, Italy
  8. Hallstatt, Austria
  9. Dubrovnik, Croatia
  10. Óbidos, Portugal
  11. Colmar, France
  12. Ronda, Spain
  13. Carcassonne, France
  14. York, England
  15. Rovinj, Croatia
  16. Český Krumlov, Czechia
  17. Heidelberg, Germany
  18. Tallinn, Estonia
  19. Èze, France
  20. Bern, Switzerland
  21. Assisi, Italy
  22. Brașov, Romania
  23. Delft, Netherlands
  24. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  25. Girona, Spain

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Sunday, June 19, 2022

Tavira, Portugal: The Venice of the Algarve

Tavira is one of the most charming towns in the Algarve, and is a wonderful destination for your holiday. It is sometimes also called the Venice of the Algarve.[1]
This charming coastal town is located on the Algarve’s quieter eastern coastline. Tavira Island, a few hundred metres off the coast, boasts an 11km (6.8mi) long sandy beach. With winter temperatures ranging from 13C (55F) to 8C (46F), it might be a bit too chilly for sunbathing but it’s the ideal weather for a stroll along the water’s edge. There’s plenty more natural wonders to explore too. 
The Gilão River runs runs from here to the Ria Formosa Natural Park with its salt pans and spectacular birdlife which includes flamingos and spoonbills.  It was elected as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal recently.
For a more personal look at Tavira, please see the companion articles:
Video 1.  15 Awesome Things to do in Tavira Portugal (YouTube link)


15 Things to Do in Tavira


In video 1, it lists 15 things that you can do in Tavira:
  1. Beaches
  2. Religious heritage
  3. Gastronomy
  4. Archeological finds
  5. Ria Formosa Natural Park[7]
    • Best to access via a boat trip
    • The Ria Formosa plays an important role in the lives of the inhabitants of Faro, Olhão, and Tavira.
    • Over 170 square kilometers has been designated as a natural park and ensures a nice influx of tourists. Outside the protected areas you will find other activities such as seafood farms.
  6. Praca da Republica (Republic Square)
  7. Municipal Market (Portuguese: Mercado Municipal de Tavira)
  8. Bike ride
  9. Galeria Palace
  10. Tavira's Castle (Portuguese: Castelo de Tavira)
  11. Tavira's Public Garden (Portuguese: Jardim Público de Tavira)
  12. Salterns (or Salt Pans)
  13. Traditional products
  14. Horse riding
  15. Roman Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte romana de Tavira)
When everything else fails, you could simply get lost in Tavira old town and the fishermen’s quarter:[4]
The tiled walls of the houses in the fisherman’s quarter are among the Tavira attractions you cannot miss. A stroll through the streets there will give a good idea of what Tavira looked like when it was a busy tuna fishing port.

Tucked away in Tavira old town where you’ll see most of the noteworthy churches like Igreja da Misericórdia and Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

Video 2.  TAVIRA | Most Charming Town of Algarve? (YouTube link)

Praca da Republica (Republic Square)

References

  1. The Best Destinations for a Winter Break in Portugal
    • Tavira, Lagos, Lisbon, Madeira, Alentejo, Albufeira, Serra da Estrela, Porto, Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura, Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos
  2. Ria Formosa
  3. Average Weather in Tavira Portugal Year Round
  4. 16 Enchanting things to do in Tavira, Algarve
  5. 10 Free things to do in Algarve Portugal
  6. Salty Water Petisqueira (Seafood Restaurant; Portuguese: Água Salgada)
  7. How to visit the Ria Formosa, Algarve? ( the complete guide for 2022)

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Portugal Travel: Discover the Algarve's Stunning Beaches and Charming Villages

Algarve coast

The mesmerizing Algarve coast in southern Portugal attracts travelers from all across the globe for its captivating cliffs, sand-swept beaches, amazing surf, and enchanting fisherman’s towns.[2,3]
Although Lisbon surpasses the Algarve in terms of tourism revenue, the Algarve is still, overall, considered to be the biggest and most important Portuguese tourist region, having received an estimated total of 7.1 million tourists in 2017.[4] 
Algarve - Portugal's southernmost region (YouTube link)

Algarve


Considered as one the 50 most beautiful places in the world by cntraveller.com,[1] Algarve's red-cliff coastline and pristine whitewashed Moorish villages that dot the south-western region of Portugal have started shifting crowds away from the region’s busier hotspots. It has its own sunny microclimate and affordable places to stay such as Casa Mãe in Lagos make it a great winter-sun option too.

Algarve coast

Top 10 Free Things to Do 


In [2], Claire has listed 10 free things you can do in Algarve:
  1. Hike Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
  2. Ponta da Piedade
  3. Walk to Tavira Island and the Anchor Cemetery
  4. Walk Along the Top of the Sagres Cliffs
  5. Enjoy Portugal's Most Beautiful Beach
  6. Beach-Hopping in Lagos
  7. Walk around Tavira and its Fisherman's Quarter
  8. Check out the natural pool at Algar Seco
  9. Stroll Along Carvoeiro Boardwalk
  10. See Wild Flamingos
Read [2] for more details.

Video 2.  5 Things to Do in Lagos (YouTube link)

5 Things to Do in Lagos 


As shown in video 2, here are the 5 things to do in Lagos:
Video 3.  10 Best Things to Do in Faro (YouTube link)

Best things to Do in Faro


As shown in video 3, here are the 10 best things do do in Faro: 
  1. Arco da Vila
  2. Old City (Cidade Velha)
  3. Faro Cathedral
  4. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo and its Bone Chapel
  5. Faro Municipal Museum
  6. Castelo Bar 
  7. Estói Palace 
  8. Ria Formosa 
  9. Ilha Deserta 
  10. Nightlife

References

  1. The 50 most beautiful places in the world
  2. 10 Free things to do in Algarve Portugal
  3. Algarve (region)
  4. "Algarve com 4,2 milhões de turistas e 20 milhões de dormidas oficiais em 2017 – AHETA". No. Economy. Diário de notícias. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  5. "Algarve ganha 5.545 "novos cidadãos" num ano". Jornal do Algarve. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  6. The 46 best winter-sun destinations
    • The Maldives /  Cyprus /  Seychelles /  Mauritius /  Canary Islands /  Bermuda /  Cuba /  Bahamas /  Dubai /  Taghazout, Morocco /  Bora Bora, Tahiti & French Polynesia /  Tel Aviv, Israel /  Jordan /  Oman /  South Africa /  Kerala, India /  Rajasthan, India /  Western Australia /  Thai islands /  Belize /  Lamu, Kenya /  Zihuatanejo, Mexico /  Panama /  São Tomé and Príncipe /  Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico /  Bali /  Mozambique /  The Philippines /  California /  Bahia, Brazil /  Senegal /  Guatemala /  Hawaii /  Burma /  Siwa Oasis, Egypt /  Laos /  Namibia /  Cambodia /  Sri Lanka /  Ecuador /  The Andaman Islands /  Karnataka, India /  Vietnam /  Beirut, Lebanon /  Ghana /  Tangier, Marrakech
  7. THE SECRET SPANISH COAST: TOP THINGS TO DO IN HUELVA SPAIN
  8. The Best Destinations for a Winter Break in Portugal
    • Tavira, Lagos, Lisbon, Madeira, Alentejo, Albufeira, Serra da Estrela, Porto, Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura, Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos
  9. Average Weather in Tavira Portugal Year Round
  10. Portuguese Dictionary
  11. Trains in the Algarve - a summary of operations
  12. Kayaking & Canoeing in Benagil
  13. Algarve Itinerary: the best itinerary for 3-10 days
  14. Travel Guide To Algarve
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Sunday, June 12, 2022

Prague Travel—Visiting Lobkowicz Palace

A magnificent panoramic view of Prague from Lobkowicz Palace's balcony

Built in the mid-16th century, the Lobkowicz Palace ⭐is one of the most significant cultural sites in the Czech Republic and the only privately owned palace in the Prague Castle complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was opened to the public for the first time on 2 April 2007 as the Lobkowicz Palace Museum. Set in 22 galleries, the museum displays a selection of pieces from the Lobkowicz Collections, including works by artists such as Antonio Canaletto, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Diego Velázquez, as well as decorative art, military and hunting paraphernalia, musical instruments, and original manuscripts and early prints of composers including Beethoven and Mozart.


Photo Gallery


At the site, it offers a museum including an outdoor balcony featuring a magnificent panoramic view of Prague, a café & restaurant, 1-hour classical music concerts starting at 13:00 on selected days.  I really enjoyed its family narrated audio guide which explores Bohemian and European history through the unique perspective of the Lobkowicz family.  It's really a gem in Prague Castle, which should not be missed out.

The below photos were taken on 04/22/2022—a cloudy day (52H 37L).












Narrated audio guide which explores Bohemian and European history
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Saturday, June 11, 2022

Prague's Quirkiest Street: Must-See Golden Lane in the Castle

Nestled within Prague Castle, Czech Republic, lies Golden Lane⭐ (Czech: Zlatá ulička). Originally built in the 16th century to house Rudolf II's castle guards, the street acquired its name from the 17th-century goldsmiths who called it home. Initially known as "Goldsmith Lane," it eventually transformed into the captivating "Golden Lane" we know today.

Photo Gallery


Wander through Golden Lane, and let your imagination transport you to another era. Hear the echoes of defenders' boots on the cobblestones, the clatter of the Castle marksman's musket, and the gentle clink of goldsmith's tools in House No. 15. On this crisp April day, with clouds casting long shadows, the past feels closer than ever. Step back in time and discover the stories that whisper from the walls of Golden Lane.

Outside View of Golden Lane




Museum of Medieval Armory









Miscellaneous







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England Travel: Exploring the Historic City of Bath

DAY OUT IN BATH - Top Things to Do in Bath! Including Prior Park Landscape Garden (YouTube link)

Bath, UK⭐⭐⭐


This quietly charming Somerset town shot to fame in Roman times for its mineral-rich thermal waters, later becoming a stomping ground for well-to-do Georgians who flaunted their wealth by building the elegant streets and curvaceous crescents from buttery Bath stone.[1]
Today, it’s a picturesque bubble of cozy tearooms, artisan markets and independent boutiques, anchored around the magnificent seventh-century Abbey and gorgeous Pulteney Bridge, Bath’s answer to Venice's Rialto or Florence's Ponte Vecchio. If you’re seeking fresh country air, Royal Victoria Park is an oasis of botanical gardens, wild meadows and gurgling streams, while the pretty Cotswolds gently but gloriously unfurl along the fringes of the city.
Please also read this companion article:
Top 15 Things To Do in Bath UK | 48 Hours in The Historical English Town (YouTube link)


Things to Do and See


If you plan to visit Bath in any season, here is a list of things to do and see for your consideration.  Please read [2] for details.
The Most Beautiful ENGLISH villages in the COTSWOLDS - Part 1 (YouTube link)

References

  1. The prettiest cities in Europe
  2. The Top Things to Do and See in Bath
  3. Worcester Cathedral a historical building to visit in Worcestershire, England
  4. The 19 Prettiest And Best Places To Visit In England
  5. 7 pretty towns on the UK’s south coast
    • Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Deal, Folkestone, Hastings, Eastbourne
  6. THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN THE UK AND IRELAND
  7. THE BEST ROAD TRIPS IN IRELAND
  8. The most amazing castles in Wales
  9. The 39 Greatest Constructions of Gothic Architecture in the World
    • The Cathedral of Canterbury
    • Lincoln Cathedral
    • Wells Cathedral
    • Westminster Abbey
    • Bath Abbey
    • Palace of Westminster
  10. Magical Fairytale Castles in Europe You Can Actually Visit
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Sunday, June 5, 2022

From Guidebooks to Goosebumps: My Unforgettable Day at the Hungarian Parliament

Hungarian Parliament Building viewed from Fisherman's Bastion

The Hungarian Parliament Building ⭐⭐⭐is a popular tourist destination in Budapest.  It was designed by Hungarian architect Imre Steindl in neo-Gothic style and opened in 1902. 
It has been the largest building in Hungary since its completion. The architectural style of the Hungarian parliament building was influenced by the gothic Vienna City Hall, the renaissance elements like the cupola was influenced by the Maria vom Siege church in Vienna.

As Kimberly Bradley said it the best:

The splendor of this neo-Gothic parliament building—the third-largest parliament building in the world—is obvious from the outside, but consider these facts: This place has 691 interior rooms, 10 courtyards, 88 statues of Hungarian rulers on its facade, and 12.5 miles of staircases. The outside is stunning but the inside doesn't disappoint, either: King Steven's crown jewels are on display within, as are rooms filled with art and crafts made throughout the ages. Take a guided tour to get more context of it all, and don't miss passing by the building at night, when it's lit up like a Disney palace.

Photo Gallery


The below photos were taken on 04/26/2022—a sunny day (68H 45L).






Need to join guided tour to visit (tour guide in the front)



King Steven's crown jewels displayed inside (but no photo allowed)

Lounge of the Chamber of Peers





National Assembly Meeting Room




Library of the Hungarian Parliament


View from the Danube River side


Statue of Andassy Gyula

Tram 2 arriving Kossuth Lajos tér near the Hungarian Parliament Building

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