"budget accomodation for foreign visitors to the United Kingdom" it says on their website. And that is just what it is, you have to show an non-UK passport to be able to check in, you have to be over 18, you can't check in with groups bigger than four and there can't be more than 2 men in your group. I might have forgotten some of the restrictions. To be honest though looking at the prices for the B&B's in Bournemouth you have to have some rules to prevent the hostel from being swamped.
I was there during low season and most of the people that were staying there were working in Bournemouth and thus were staying in the hostel for a prolonged period. This together with the lay-out of the hostel made it very homely and cosy. The house is not very modern but you've got everything you need and it is very clean. Not a bad location either close by the bus and trainstaion. Just make sure you have a good look at their website before you book a bed.
Beautiful structure. You can't miss it walking through Lisbon. If you have the money to spare take a ride. Otherwise there are many different ways to get to the Bairro Alto that don't cost anything.
When going to Caltagirone the pottery town you have to see this 17th century staircase. The staircase has become such a symbol for the town that the people of Caltagirone take every opportunity to decorate the stairs. But even when it is not decorated with flowers, candles or other things it is still very pretty as every step seems to have different and colorful ceremic tiles.
Ok, I love archaeology so I think it is well worth the trip. But I do realise that many other people will only see a bunch of stones. Missed so explanation, this might make the place more attractive to tourists.
Busy, dirty and beautiful. When in Catania you're bound to pass this square. Really nice Duomo but to be honest I liked the fish market (mercato del pesce) right next to the square much better.
For everybody who is interested in archaeology this is a must. The history of the site is so interesting and dates back to paleolithic times. Due to volcanic activity there used to be a lot of carbon dioxide lakes nearby the cave. These lakes were magical to the first inhabitants of the area and it continued to be a religous centre in the next millenia. There is evidence of Sucili, Greek, Roman and Arab activity. It is a bit out of the way and you'll probably need your own wheels to get there but it is definitly worth it. The small museum holds some real gems. And if you're there when they are excavating the workmen are so proud of their site it might be impossible to shut them up...
Loud, dirty and wonderful. It is not just a market it is an experience. Don't miss it when you're in Catania. If you know Italian, even just a little bit, you can have to most random conversations with the vendors and the people passing by. Try to bargain if you think you're being ripped of for being a tourist.
Interesting ruins and cute little museum. Good view over the city as well, which isn't as spectacular as I hoped for. Very hot place in the middle of the day with very little shade so either come during the cooler hours of the day or bring plenty of water and a hat.
Very interesting place with an amazing history. You can only visit the house as part of a tour and they make you wear protective blue shoe covers so that you don't damage the wooden floor. Even if you're not interested in the history of the place the building itself is worth a visit and the gardens are also very nice. If you're in Yalta this is a must. Which also means that it is generally very crowded most of the time.
To be honest when I was there in 2004 there wasn't much to see. Although they have had some really interesting and important excavations here. Next time I'll bring a guide or really read up on the site then I might get more out of it.
The Bakhchysaray region has several cave towns and monasteries. It is considered as one of the more important ones. Since I only visited this one I can't go and compare. But the scenery is fantastic and the way the architecture is combined with the rocks is interesting. Since it is an active monastery you should wear appropiate clothing. Prepare for some hiking and uneven paths and in the summer bring plenty of water. At the entrance there are a few restaurants with some good Tartar food. There are many little stands everywhere trying to sell you local products. The most famous are the perfums, they sell them everywhere in the Crimea but here you get the best quality for the cheapest price. Getting here on your own might not be that easy, I went with a group of people and we hired a mini-bus.
Very interesting submarine base. It was just a pity that when I was there they only gave tours in Russian. Could not understand anything what was being said but it was still impressive none the less.
Well if you are in Sevastopol you have to visit the Port. It's what Sevastopol was/is all about. During the Soviet reign Sevastopol was a 'secret city' I think they called it. It harboured a big part of the Russian fleet. Only people who had to be there, ie military people, were allowed there. As a consequence many of the older houses have been preserved and Sevastopol does not have any of the worn down concrete buildings that is so typical for many other Russian cities. There is a lot of night life and decent restaurants along the harbour and so it is the place were most of the young people hang out in the evening.
I excavated here in July and August 2004, so my information might not be really up to date. It is a weird mix of touristy beach, archaeology and religion. The oldest church of the Ukraine, or at least the place of the first church in the Ukraine, is inside the Chersones reserve. It is the first thing you come upon when entering the site. It is definitly worth a visit and not just for the building itself. It is still actively used as a church and it has a very particular atmosphere. Make sure you have appropiate clothing. The archaeology is a bit spread out over the place and there is not much explanation to be found about it. I suggest you visit the two museums first and then if you have some money to spare buy a guidebook. When I was there there was only on book to be had in English all the others were in Russian or Ukrainian. The beach is a pebble beach and there are a few places were you can buy some food and drink but most people brought their own stuff. There was a little bar on top of the hill between the church and the main archaeological site were you could have a beer or an ice-cream and watch the sun set over the Black Sea. Well worth staying for. There was a small entry fee to enter the reserve, don't remember how much is was but it wasn't much.
Ok, a bit of a disappointement after Stonehenge but if you are into prehistory you can't miss this. Next too it there is another prehistoric monument existing of earth banks. The whole area in fact is littered with these type of sites. There are some boards with explanation on the history of the site. The disappointing thing I found was that the monument is semi-reconstructed with concrete pillars, well actually stumps.
Loved it. The interior is a bit bare because some renovation in the 18th century (I think). But the architecture comes to its right this way. We visited it at the end of the day, after Stonehenge, so we couldn't visit the Magna Carta or climb the spire. Definitly going back to do just that. The Green around the cathedral is the perfect place to just sit and relax or have a picknick.
This is the kind of exposition you wouldn't be able to set up from scratch today. This museum of pathology has it all, the skeleton of the tallest man next to the skeleton of the smallest man, different types of tumors and bodyparts. If you ever wondered what a certain disease does to your body I'm sure you'll find your answer here. I absolutely love this museum, but then again I might be considered a bit of a weirdo.
I visited this the same day as Stonehenge. It is a completly different vibe.The stone circle is impressive and even though there were quite a few people here as well it wasn't as touristy as Stonehenge. It was much more relaxed. Great to just walk around, have a picknick and laze around in the sun. There are some other prehistoric monuments around that are worth a visit like the West Kenneth Long Barrow.
Ok, it is touristy, very much so. And it wasn't as big as I thought it would be. But still it is Stonehenge and it was amazing. The audio-guide they give you is really good even if it means that all the people stop at the same place and cause something of a traffic jam. Just try to come in early before the big tour busses come in. If you are really interested in this kind of monuments and this period in British history then you can follow the arrows indicating walking tours around Stonehenge.The area is littered with burial mounds and other prehistoric monuments. The gift shop has some really kitschy stuff but they also have some really nice postcards of the monument.
Now this is what a ruin is supposed to look like. It is now open for public again and there is a well indicated tour around the castle with some good information on the different parts. I absolutly loved it. Next time I'm going over there I'm taking a picknick meal with me.
It does have an impressive history and it is nice. Worth visiting if you are in Wimborne but not worth a special detour. There is a library, the chained library (?), there that you can visit at certain times of the day. It is supposed to be interesting but I wasn't there in time so I couldn't tell you.
I knew it was small, but I never expected it to be this small. Still it is a great place to just hang around. Find some nice restaurant or have a sandwich on one of the many benches, enjoy the relaxed atmoshere.
If you're into modern art or if you just want to do something different this is the place to be. They only hold temporary exhibitions here. The one I went to was brilliant, interesting and sometimes just plain funny.
Just a very nice place to hang around, perfect for a early evening stroll. There are a lot of impressive defensive walls and towers here as well. Loved the little vegetable gardens next to the river.
It is just standing there, welcoming everybody who visits Ortigia. I missed some clear explanation. Still it is very impressive even if the whole things feels a bit weird and isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city around it.
If you're in Siracusa you have to visit il duomo. On the outside it might look like one of the many nice churches or cathedrals in Italy but it is actually built around a Greek temple dating back to the 5th century BC. This temple was dedicated to Athena. Of the original 36 columns, 24 of them are still in their original spot. An absolute must-see.
Everybody that is the least bit interested in history and archaeology should visit this place when in Siracusa. I loved the two theatres, especially the greek theatre which is rather well preserved. The Ear of Dionysus is an ancient quarry with some great accoustic. As a result it is always packed with big groups and their guides testing the accoustic by shouting. This is a bit of a pity.
You can buy a combi-ticket with the archaeological museum a few streets away, highly recommended.
Absolutly loved it, lovely mixture of ancient remains and baroque splendour. Just get lost in the many little streets and discover the little treasures that are spread all over the island. There are two lungomare, passeggio Adorno will give you a good view over the harbour, while Lungomare di Levante on the east side offers good views over the Ionian Sea. Do'nt forget to go inside the duomo to see the ancient temple of Athena.
There are lots of little caffees and restaurants, some of them are real tourist traps. But take you're time and you'll find the genuine deal.
Loved it!!! Be sure to have a guidebook with you or rent a audioguide (I hate audioguides, there just a way to make more money and an excuse not to place decent explanatory placques or whatever on the site for people who don't have the money to pay for an audioguide 3-4 times a day) because otherwise you are going to miss so much. I couldn't find any decent map inside so be warned. Anyway the palace itself is amazing. You could easily spend a whole morning here wandering around. Make sure you come early because it can get crowded soon. The gardens are at the end of the tour and are so big and beautifull it makes them just the perfect place for a picnic.
Be fast because this hostel books up fast. I arrived there and there was no bed available anymore. Luckily the owner was very helpfull and I got to sleep on a pull out couch in the kitchen. Decent kitchen, ok bathrooms and really friendly and helpfull staff. It is located nearby all the mayor attraction, but then again Trier is rather small.
Probably the cheapest option in town, with the exception of the camping grounds. It is one of these official youth hostels so you can expect a few rules and soulless rooms. But for this price it is all good. And it is just 1,5 minutes walk from the castle.
Loved it!!! This is one of the most powerfull exhibitions I have ever seen. It is an old exhibition, but it is so good most of the picture still look very relevant. In the castle there are two other museums; Musée de la Maquette and the Musée de la Guerre. Both are ok, they are more something for the addicts. The Muséé de la Maquette houses models of all the castles in Luxembourg. So if you're into castles and are planning on visiting some of them this is a good place to start. The Musée de la Guerre is a collection of everything they could find from the period '40-'45. Not really bmy cup of tea.
Absolutly gorgeous castle. If there is anything you should see while you're in Vianden it is this castle. It used to be just ruins up till about 30 years ago. The renovation they did here is really good. There is an indicated tour that takes you through almost all rooms. Every room highlights a different aspect of the buidling. I especially liked the archaeology room where with the help of some models they explain the evolution of the castle.
Huge Roman funerary statue, still standing on it's original spot. If you have a car, some time and a keen interest in Roman archaeology this is a nice little detour.
I took my time visiting this museum, the collection is just so impressive. The emphasis is on the Roman period of course but there are lots of artefacts from other periods as well. The highlights are the mosaics, the funerary statues and the big model of Roman Trier. Everything is displayed really well and normally they should give you a free audioguide to help you on your way. I didn't get one, don't know why.
When I visited it only the Dom (Cathedral) and part of the cloister were open. Must say that I liked the outside of the Dom better than the inside. I don't think the mixture of Romanesque and Baroque works very well.
Loved it! This is the place to be for the archaeology lovers. The museum is built after a long archaeological excavation on the Viehmarkt. Originally they planned an underground parking here but after finding a Roman bath, a monastry and so on they decided forget about the parking. Instead they built a modern building on top of the excavation. Now you can visit the restaured architectural remains.
This one of the only places in Trier where they give you decent information about what it is you're looking at. It is a bit an odd mixture of modern and ancient architecture, but I think it works. They hold art exhibitions here as well.
Walking in Trier, going from one site to the next interesting place you're bound to pass this square. It is surrounded by beautifully coloured medieval houses. The restaurants can be a bit overpriced here but I loved the atmosphere.
The ruins are very impressive. If you don't want to pay to see it, you can get a pretty good view from the outside. Of the part that is above ground anyway. The fun part is however underground. You can visit the underground maze that is formed by the former sewers and hot air channels. Don't feel squimish about walking through the sewers; these baths were never actually used.
I must say that the building disappointed me a little bit the first time I saw it. But then I stood next to it and realised how big it actually is. This building is what's left of a big Roman palace that was built for Constantin, who never used it. This "small" part of the palace was saved from ruin when they decided to turn it into a church.
You can tell this amphitheatre was used as a stone quarry, there is nothing left of the seating area. Still it is an impressive monument. You can visit the underground area, it is a bit wet but gives you a good idea of how it used to be.
If you want some extra information on site you have to put a 1 euro coin in a sloth and then you can chose between a German, French or English recorded message. I think this is a bit of a rip off, you already payed to get in, now you have to pay extra to know what you're staring at.
Most popular attraction in Trier and for a reason; it is just very impressive. I'm not used to seeing such a big Roman monument so far up north. The inside is not very interesting unless you have a guide. No explanations anywhere, you're left to figure it all out by yourself. The views you have of Trier are not too bad but hardly inspiring.
For the best sight come very early or about an hour after it closes. At those times there are hardly any other tourists around.
Great, little museum with architectural remains and some rather nice artifacts of the Visigoths. When I was there it was located in an old church which just adds to the charm. I heard they are planning to built a new museum.
A rather modern building holding an excellent exhibition. If you're at all interested in Roman history you should visit this place. It adds some colour to the ruins outside.
A place most of the bigger groups of tourists don't visit and it is not easy to find your way in this labyrint of walls. But I think that is what makes is even more interesting. Don't get me wrong there is a track through the excavation it is just not always easy to distunguish between the different phases of occupation. Some good signs with decent explanation, most of in in Spanish.
I guess this one is one for the history and archaeology buffs. After seeing the big monuments and the Casa del Mitreo with it's great mosaics it is a bit disappointing. None the less it is part of the combi-ticket and I thought it was worth the visit. Well kept and rather well explained.
It used to be and still is an important peligrimige site. The church itself is nice and the history very interesting but the best part I tought were the excavations under the church you can visit. Here you can find remains of Roman houses, a 9th century cememtry, the 5th century basilica. Well worth visit if you got the time. Everywhere in Merida you can find the pelgrims with there typical attire.
One of the biggest monuments in this monumental town, it was built in the 9th century AD by the musulmans who controled the region at that time. It is said to be the first Alcazaba in Spain.
It is big, rather well preserved and really well kept. Still to some people it might just look like big open space surrounded by big and old walls with some scattered walls inside. But I believe that a stroll over the wall overlooking the Rio Guadiana and the puente Romano at the end of the day when the sun starts to set makes for a perfect ending of a day of archaeological visits and delights.
A bit outside the centre of the town and so not all the tourists come here, but don't worry you won't be alone here. Some say it was a place dedicated to the Mithras cult and others say it is just a big domus. It was constructed at the end of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century AD.
The house was built to impress it's visitors and it still does up to today. I loved the bits and piece that are left of the original decorations, especially the mosaics are really pretty.
Very impressive because of it's size and at the same time a bit disappointing because of the lack of decoration. It is very bare but with some immagination you can picture why it made such a big impression on the visitors of ancient Merida.
Lovely temple you can see from the street. It is the only surviving religious building from the Roman area and so you'll never be alone when visiting because every guided tour passes by here.
Really impressive because of it's size, nowadays only the big mass of stone is left. All the details have long gone. But check out the little museum attached to it to get a good idea of how it should have looked like. It is just a short walk from the theatre and the amfitheatre so go and take a look.
I put this one in the list to warn people. Reims has some really nice spots to go for a drink but this isn't one of them. Obnoxious bartender who likes to spray airfreshner while you're drinking your rather good cocktail and an absolutly discusting toilet.
My sister didn't like the decoration but I absolutly loved the whole are-decostyle. This place has been around since 1925 and tasting the food you know why. The parmaham was really good as was the fishterrine. The best part however was the dessert; the moulleux aux chocolate was to die for. They also have a very good wine and champagne-list.
We went there on a saturdayevening and were very lucky to get a table. It is popular with the locals and tourists alike. So I would recommend to make a reservation.
The "warm and modern setting" has faded a bit, but it is still a rather decent hotel. Very popular among business people. Breakfast is ok. I guess there are hotels and B&B's in Reims that offer a more atmospheric stay and are even closer to the town centre but if you can get a discount on this hotel through a travelagent it is not too bad.
Lovely park with the strangest trees you can find for miles around. There is a little tour around the park which takes about an hour to do and gives you a chance to see quiet a few of these rather lovely, deformed trees. They are very fragile so most of them are fenced of.
Near the parking are some picknick tables, great place to have your lunch.
Lovely museum with some really nice pieces. The six big tapestries hanging at the beginning of the tour tell the story of Saint Remi. They were very impressive and interesting. The rest of the museum tells the story of Reims and surrounding area by means of archaeological artifacts and little models.
If you like history and archaeology this is one of the more interesting place of the city. The ticket you buy the get in is valid for a month.
Maybe not as big and impressive as the cathedral but still a must. I must say I actually liked it better because of the sobre atmosphere and the lack of tourists. The long dark ship dominates the general feel of the place. Check out the grave of Saint-Remi which is decorated with big statues telling the story of the saint.
Probably not the most interesting of all the champagnehouses in the area but still rather interesting. If you want to know the modern way of making champagne this is the place to be. The tour starts with a introductory video after that follows the actual tour. The best bit was of course the tasting; 3 glasses of good to very good champagne for 7 euro!
Well worth a little detour to see the building. It was obviously built to impress the visitors. Take a look at this after you visited one of the champagne cellars, the mosaics clearly show every step in the process.
This arch is badly damaged and there is not much detail left but it is still impressive because of it's size. It is one of the few things that remain from the Roman period. The other main Roman attraction is the cryptoportique gallo-romain close at the Place du Forum. This is only open during the summer.
Sweet little church, not much compared to the cathedral but worth a quick visit. When we were there we got a whole explanation from the very friendly priest. Little leaflets in different languages about the history of the building.
Just very impresssive. The whole cathedral is built in the same style which makes it a truly amazing site. Take some time to admire the main entrance and the stained glass windows. We did not find the smiling angel though.
Lovely square close by the old center of Namur. The old Belfort (big tower) is just around the corner. There is also a very cute statue of Djoseph et Françwès, two characters created by Jean Legrand a local artist.
When you're in Namur you have to walk up there. Ok, you can drive up to the top to enjoy the view, but what is the fun in that? There are several routes you can take and they all start at the bottom of the Citadelle next to the Sambre. Explanation on the history of the site and its' buildings alongside the different routes.
Lovely hostel with a fantastic staff. They really try to make you feel at home. Tjey're decoratin all the rooms right now. Each room will have their own theme. The one I was in was still a rather boring room with four bunk beds. Cosy little kitchen which is perfect to make you're own little meal. Free pasta! Barbarossaplatz is a place where there are a lot of trams passing by so it is easy enough to get where you want to go. By foot you're about 20-30 minutes walk from the historical centre. No parking spacek, you'll have to parc in the adjoining streets. From Mondays till Saturday you'll have to pay to parc in these streets.
Good grub and the portions are more than royal. The place itself has real historical vibe. I was sitting next to the fire place which has decorated with wooden sculptures. Really friendly service. Must say I was the youngest person in the room by 20 years.
The building itself is really impressive. The old church has been excavated and now you can walk over the archaeological site. The excavated buildings date back to Roman times. Really impressive. The museum itself tries to "initiate a dialogue between art and religion". They do this by juxtaposing modern art and old religious artefacts. I think it comes over a bit forced from time to time but there are some really nice pieces.
The excavation is not in open air but the walls in this part of the museum have holes (modern architecture he) so if it's cold take your coat inside.
My absolute favorite church in Köln. The unusual shape gives it a lot of charm. I was particulary impressed by the oval. The rest of the church is nice as well but this part has something special. The vault of the dome is painted red with golden drop and this combined with the light coloured by the stained glass windows gives a great effect. Take a look in the crypt as well to see the floor mosaics.
Köln has many really nice Romanesque churches, this one is probably one of the biggest and the great location, in the middle of Altstadt makes it a favorite tourist spot. I liked it, it may not have been my favorite Romanesque church but it is still very impressive in its simplicity.
If you have 1 euro to spare I would recommend to visit the excavations under the church. Here they found the foundations of a Roman "palaestra" and a Roman warehouse. All the explanation here is in German.
Loved it, if I had more time I probably would have spend a whole day here. The store is giagantic and nicely divided into sections like cheese, wine, meat, fish, pasta,... They have a room where they let the Gran Padano ripe, next to it there is a room where the salami ripes. All the different pastas you can find. This is a way to make a culinairy trip through Italy without leaving Torino. All the different departements have a restaurant. There is one little restaurant that serves dishes with truffle, one where they serve beer, meat and cheese, a pizzaria and so on.
The prices are a bit high but the quality is excellent. This is not for people on a budget but all the foodies just pass by.
The museum has a marvelous and breathtaking collection. The Dionysus Mosaic that was discovered in it's present location, the big monument next to it, the largest collection of Roman glass you can find in Europe and the immense collection of Roman and Germanic jewellery are all well worth a visit. But dispite this I found it a bit disappointing. The tour is a bit confusing, sending you from the early prehistory immediatly to the Germanic invasion.
There is a lot of explanation about daily life in Roman times which is interesting but rather general. I really missed information on Roman Köln. This museum could have been a good starting point to discover the history of the city but it isn't.
Still if you are in Köln go and visit it even if it is just to see the Diarethglass. If you don't want to spend money on it you can see the mosaic and the Poblicius monument from outside the museum as well.
The museum has some really great pieces and an overall brilliant collection. There isn't a real clear route to follow, which means there are lots of spaces to discover.Maybe I was a bit museumsick at the time I passed there but I thought it was even a bit too much. Still a must if you're into modern art.
Everybody who's got an evening to spend in Köln should pass here. The streets are charming, the athmospere is good and the Kölsch is tasty. Visit also the Gross St Martin if you have the chance.
Probably the primary reason most people come to Köln, it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of Germany. I find that some of these mayor tourist attractions let you down but this one definitly doesn't. It looks like a mass of sculptures placed on top of each other. There are so many details on the outside, every time you pass you discover something new. The interior is also very interesting, especially the choir. beware that it is still a functioning cathedral so during mass you can't visit it. I thought the interior was a bit dark so I would recommend visiting the cathedral during day time.
The tower is breathtaking (in all possible ways) and well worth the few euros you have to pay. At the top they placed a metal cage so nobody could jump of the tower but it takes away a bit of the charm.
I had a brilliant diner here. The raw seafood platter was crispy fresh and the main course exactly what you expect from this kind of restaurant; delicious, slightly different and enough. The sweet apple pie just topped it of.
I was there just after 7:00 PM and so I got a table, but 15 minutes later they were refusing people that didn't have a reservation. And this was a thursday evening. So come in time or make a reservation.
Great ruins with a fantastic history. Citystates in ancient Greece used to show of their welth by erecting big temples and treasuries here. The result today is a mish-mash of ruins. The great setting against the hill just adds to the charm.
A must if you're in Greece even if it is a bit far away from the other big centres like Athens.
Korinthos, Western Greece, Ionian Islands & Peloponnese, Greece
Added Dec 29, 2009
Ancient Corinthe or Archaia Kórinthos is more inland than present day Korinthos. There isn't much left of it, some walls, some columns and the small museum holds some really nice sculptures.
For people who like Greek history this is an interesting place just because of the name, but if you're not that into Greek history and archaeology this is a place you can skip. There are many other sites in Greece that are more impressive.
Mikinai, Western Greece, Ionian Islands & Peloponnese, Greece
Added Dec 22, 2009
Nice ruin of a palace built on top of a hill with a great view over the surrounding areas. Most of it is gone and sometimes you need a bit of imagination but the Lion's gate and the graves are still there and very impressingly so.
Not easy to reach with public transport but if you have your own wheels it is definatly worth the visit.
Palaia Epidhavros, Western Greece, Ionian Islands & Peloponnese, Greece
Added Dec 20, 2009
Just a great place. There are several old building and ruins the most important one is probably the theatre which is built against a hill using, the accoustic is brilliant even today. They still have plays and concerts here. But even if you can catch one of these performances you can still have you're own.
An absolute must if you're in Athens. It is a touristy place with a lot of people and kitshy stands and restaurants just outside the site but the view and the buildings are just amazing. Loved it. I was there 10 years ago and I must say that the little museum was not that impressive but I've heard it has improved since then. If you want to know more about the history buy one of the little booklets or listen in on one of the guides strotting around with a busload of tourists following him/her. For the best picture opportunities go very early when is is still quiet.
The museum is really well done, not too big but it goes into details. The fact that it is very interactive makes it great to visit with kids. You have to start the visit with a little film which I thought was really boring but it sets a certain mood.
The one thing that bugged me is that they sell a whole lot of things in the museumshop but there wasn't a map with all the megalitic monuments I had to use my gps to visit them. Some are really well indicated others are hidden in the middle of a forest. If you can bring a bike because there are well indicated bike tours taking you past the more important hunebeds. Every hunebed or group of hunebeds has a bit of information.
Looking from the other side of the Ijssel to Deventer the tower of this church dominates the whole skyline. Not an absolute must unless you are into big Gothic churches. Most of the statues and decoration got destroyed during the Reformation.
Great place to wander about for an hour or so. Lots of little details to capture your attention. The streets on the other side of the Brink are also very interesting.
Beautiful church in the middle of the oldest quarter in Deventer. This church is no longer used for masses, the town of Deventer bought it and now it is used to hold parties, exhibitions and performances.
Somebody told me that the two canonballs that you can see lodged in the tower are actually built in so future conquerors would know there was no point in attacting this church because it could widstand the most vicious attacks.
Great location, walking distance from some sights and good connection with to public transport to other places like the Vondelpark and the museum area. The trainstation itself is not special and a bit confusing at times.
You're bound to pass here, close by everything this square is a good place to start. Also is a good place to do some people-watching. When I was there it was full of living statues and other streetproformers.
We were there out of season, so the museum was closed but we could still visited the tombs. Great fun walking around in this landscape, amazing it is so well preserved. Some very impressive tombs as well.
You can only get here if you got your own transport, if you do it is really worth the trip. Perfect half day or full day trip from Sligo.
The Virgin Mary is reported to have appeared here in front of the local people accompanied by Saint Joseph and Saint John the evangelist. You have to be a devote christian or a kitch lover to like this place. The church itself is rather modern but the whole commerce around it is just fun to watch. If you got the time take a look in the shop next to the church you'll be surprised what they sell there.
I visited the castle because a friend of mine was working, it was a nice surprise. It can only be visited as part of the tour which takes about an hour and is really good. In the town close by the castle there are some ruins of a church if I remember correctly, they are worth the little trip from the castle.
Everything you might expect of a Irish ruin. I lived in Port Laoise for a few months and it is so boring, this is on of the only places around. Not possible getting there by public transport so get your own wheels or hitchhike.
Great view. Lots of place to climb under or over. Don't forget your camera.
Bit of a strange large needle piercing the Dublin sky. The story goes that in this spot there used to stand a statue which was blown up by the IRA, they didn't exactly do a good job, most of the statue was still standing but the windows in the whole area were smashed to pieces. The army was called in to dispose of the remains of the statue, they did an even worse job, statue still standing, all recently replaced windows were destroyed again. I love this story and apperantly so did the Irish because a song about this all stayed in the charts for weeks.
The area in which the abbey stands is just gorgous, but the building itself is a let down. The garden and the little church both tucked away in the corners of the estate are rather nice but not worth the entry price. For some reason it is very popular with americans, my friends and I were about the only europeans there. My Irish friend was propably the only Irish person there, not counting the staff.
To be honest I visited it about 4 years ago and I barely remember what it was like, so it did not exactly leave a big impression, views from the castle walls are ok, remember a good exhibition on the castles' and Limericks' history. In a bit of a dodgy area.
It is indeed better to visit it in the summertime, more people around as well though, especially in the weekend. Lovely little museum with a short history of the area and the landscape, some explanation of the plants and animals that can be found. If you can spare a few euros you can buy little booklets with explanation of the trails. There are several, the shortest one is through the forest and takes only half an hour or an hour. There are others going to the top of one the mountains (or is it big hill?). Relaxing and beautiful.
One of the many sites on Inishmore, not as popular and crowded as some others sites. Had a great time just sitting there and watching the waves crash into the cliffs.
Impressive, driving into town and then all of a sudden this place appears, just breathtaking. Museum is indeed not that great. Fantastic place to hang around, good photo-opportunities. There are also some ruins in the surrounding area, don't miss it. Great to see this giagantic old walls standing in the middle of a field full of cows.
Really relaxed and lovely little town, I spent two days there and I just loved it even though one of those two days it was pissing rain so I couldn't do much. Place to go to to unwind, have an afternoon hike in the hills are following the shore and than have a lovely dinner. It's been a while but there was a great restaurant on the mainstreet that specialises in seafood. Best mussels I had in ages.
Busy at best, the buskers that are there during the summer are the best part, great varity as well, from you traditional singer-songwriter over Bible fantatics to a magician. The place in Galway where the odd an the curious meet each other. And at the end is Quay Street with some great pubs, best of all is Neachtains.
When I talked about it with my Irish colleague I got a whole rant on how Ireland is completly centralised around Dublin and how there are no good state museums on this side of the island. Anyway, this private collection turned into museum should make up for it. Rather odd collection of random things, some really interesting, some really beautiful and some just plain strange.
I like it as a part of the 'skyline' of Galway but up close and especially inside it lacks soul. But looking out from the bridge at the Spanish Arch with before you the Corrib and in the back the green dome of the cathedral it is rather nice.
Beach at walking distance from Galway town., rather busy on those rare days that the sun actually breaks through the clouds. Great place for a pint on the beach in the summer or a hot chocolat or hot toddy in the bar in the winter.
Since I was visiting the area without my own transport, hitchhiking actually (works perfectly well in Ireland, they still stop) I couldn't see the whole ring of Kerry and had to limit myself to the things within walking distance of Killarney and Kenmare. Still it is a very nice area, with tons of quiet spots and beautifull views.
The biggest island of the three and ok it is a bit touristy (not a big fan of the souvenir shops at the pier) but then almost all the nice places in Ireland have become touristy. When you get of the boat turn right and you'll find a shop where they rent bikes. Great way to see the island. Some of the nicer spots can be a bit tricky to get to, steap hills and rocky roads.
Beautifull spot, great day-trip even better place to stay for a mid-week and just relax.
Glendalough is one of those trips classic day trips but it is worth facing the big crowds for. I've been there three times and even when it was on a busy sunday afternoon it still amazes me. These are the perfect Irish ruins you invision when you think of Ireland. The ruins of the monastry are in a valley, but there are some sites in the hills and even a rather nice little waterfall. All these sites are pretty well indicated. The first time I was there a big group of us tried to walk a bit further, sun went down rather fast and whole of sudden you're there in the dusk with a few people who are not prepared shoe-wise to take a short-cut over a hill. Still, great fun.
If you can you should stay there for the night. I found it most enchanting in the late evening, walking around over the cemetery with the fog just coming in, very eerie experience.
Strange ancient church dating largely from the 15th century, instead of 1 main nave there are two. Interesting building to take a look at but it is not really worth a detour. The street next to it smelled really bad when I passed there.
Big church in front of the castle where you can just walk in. There was a teacher and his student practising the orgel when I was there, that gave the right background music.
Quiet respectfull place where are the soldiers who fell fighting for this town are buried, mainly British, some Polish and a few German. There is a memorial on the other side of the road reminding people that the Brittish came to liberate the fatherland of Willem the Conqueror.
Very serene spot in between the town graveyard and the British graveyard. It is interesting to see how some years where very safe while other years a few dozen journalists got killed.
The promenade next to the little river Aure is very pretty. Everyone that is not rushing through this town should take the time strolling past it. In ancient time the Aure played an important role you can still notice that walking past. There are at least two mills, several bridges and quiet a few big merchants houses.
Walking through the town I passed this huge wooden building standing there next to a small square. It is obviously used as a market because I could see some table and these iron wrought signs hanging over the tables indicated what you could buy there. When I was there it was empty, I wonder if they still hold markets there. It must be a lot more interesting seeing it then.
This place might be a bit tricky to find. Auberville is on the D513 between Villers-sur-mer and Houlgate. Once in Auberville take the Chemin de l'église. Somewhere on your left you can find a sign indicating both where to go to get to the vaches noires and that it is actually forbidden because it's too dangerous.
To be honest it is a bit tricky. The first few hunderd meters you're walking through a field but once you're in the forest the path start decending really fast. Some parts were a bit slippery even though it hadn't rained in days. Because I was on my own I was a bit afraid to get stuck there with a twisted ancle or something like that so I took my time getting down there. In the end it took me just under half an hour. When I arrived at the beach I saw these huge flock of birds flying away. It was very misty so I couldn't really see it all but I thought the mist added an extra dimension to it all. I was there on my own with just these huge blocks of stone, the sea and a few birds who had decided I wasn't a treat at all. Very peacefull and calming.
Some people come down there to look for fossils which apparently are found very frequently in these calcair grounds.
Trouville-sur-mer is a rather mondain town on the Normandic coast. The architectural in the town itself has been maintained and protected rather well, so this is the place to spot the grand villas and hotels of the 19th century. The promenade des Planches is the perfect place to do this.The grand casino at one end of the promenade is a bit overwelming. This is a great for a evening stroll with the beach on one side and the buildings on the other side.
I'm not a real beach person but this one has a lot of charmes. The whole town has something of a lost bravour thing about it which I really liked. For the people who wonder what the wooden divisions on the beach are for there are little explanatory plaques on the promenade.
When my parents where in Normandy they picked mussels here when the tide was out.
Nice exhibitions with some really nice stuff. But there is not enough explanation about life as it used to be, all the explanation you can find is about the specific artefacts that are on show.
The only reason why I visited it was that it formed part of the Pass Musées. It wasn't really something for me but I must admit they had some really nice models. The building itself is very nice, stripped from any religious object the church is very bare but just because of that really pretty. The roof is very similar to the one of Sainte Catherine.
Did not reall get the concept, there are little boards at each buste explaining the life of the person and what their connection was with Honfleur. Don't know what the flowers and the different plants had to do with it.
But it is a nice place to relax, big open spaces to ly down, beautiful plants and flowers and all this really well kept.
Several menus from 14 euros (only during the week) to about 35 euro. The service is good the decoration is modern with some old elements. The food is really nice, the three courses left me just full enough. The desert was to die for.
Maybe not cheap enough for every budget but it's hard to find something cheaper and yet good in the center of Honfleur.
Best museum I have visisted in a good while. This is more an experience than anything else. Flying pears, a strange marry go round you have to fuel by peddeling while Satie is watching you... This museum was made with a really good sense of detail so it took me a while to see and experience it all even though it is a rather small building. For a big part of the visit you get an audio-guide, to choose between French and English. Indispensable to the visit and really fun. No putting in numbers everything is done automatically.
I really liked the paintings, nice collection. The bigger than life wooden statues of animals that can be found here are really good and they have something arty and yet very old fashioned about it. Something my grandmother might buy if it wasn't so big.
The building is rather old, seventies?, and it shows.
Brilliant church, it looks like they turned over two ships and put some walls under it. It has a great atmosphere about it. The outside is equally quirky with its wooden roof and little innocent angels carved in the posts.
The tower has a really odd shape. Inside is a museum which is not worth the 2 euros you have to pay, but if you have a pass Musée or a ticket for the Musee Bodin you can enter for free. The museum is ok, but the real treat is the whole wooden construction they have built inside to support the bells.
The building isn't what you typically expects from an abbey. It is rather nicely restored. When I was there there was an exhibition on nudes that was not good at all. The history part is rather good. You can also take a tour in their little garden.
Lovely gothic church in beautiful surrounding. When I was there numerous local people came to pray which at one point made me feel guilty that I was hanging around there with my camera.
The museum is not that big but still I spend quite some time in the archaeological part of the museum. Good exposition with some really great pieces, loved the coins and the different grave gifts from different times. If you're in Caen you have to see this, it's free so go.
Great place to hang around in Honfleur. The quais are full of restaurants and little shops and there are always people around. It is funny to see how all the places on the west side of the docks offer breakfast and all the places on the east side offer dinner. Some of these places are a bit offerpriced but the atmosphere is always good.
Great place to wander about, take a look at the museum, enjoy the views of Caen,... There is an historical route starting at the castle leading you past all of Caen's lovely historical places.
Lovely building, containing a christ statue with a nice story. The christ on the cross they have in the church now is a copy after the original got destroyed during religious riots. The original statue got fished up by the fishermen of Dives sur mer but without the cross, all the carpenters tried to make a cross for it but failed. A while later the cross also got fished up out of the sea. Even if you're not religious you must admit it is a nice story. Somewhere to the side there is also a very nice modern artwork depicting a crossed christ figure with fishnets in his hair.
The building has a lot of nice little details and is definitly worth a visit when you're around.
Very impressing both from afar as up close, in broad daylight and all light up during the evening. I really like gothic churches and cathedrals and this one is just right, not too overly decorated, not too much has changed so it is still one whole building. Be sure to also visit the crypt under the altar it is the oldest part of the building and dates from the time of the Willem the conquerer. There are some nice paintings.
On Juno beach you can find a museum founded by the Canadian veterans and their family, it tries to tell you the story of Canada, how it was before the war, what happened during and after the war. It is a good try but I did not like the museum at all. Too much information cramped in one spot, too many interactive toys screaming for your attention. Just a bit too much of it all.
The beach is nice and you can still visit some of the bunkers.
The one thing you have to see when you're in Bayeux is this tapestry, which is actually an embroidery. The people from Bayeux are obliviously very proud of it and where ever you are in the old part of town you can find sigbposts indicating where to go. The tapestry itself is really interesting and the audioguide they give you before you enter the tapestryroom helps making the story come to life. It goes a bit fast and you can't rewind it but you can always pause it.
The museum has recently been remodelled and now you see the tapestry first and then the rest of the exhibition. In that other part you can learn more about the story and the tapestry and the life in medieval Normandy and England. Some really good models there.
Lovely village from where there are ferries to the Arann Islands. The village has no center, there are sheep walking in between the cottages. This place is also known as the center of trad music. If you pass by here you have to spend a evening in one of the pub.
Don't forget to book your hostel or B&B because it fills up quickly, especially on bank-holiday weekends.
This isn't just a park this is kind of nature reservate. Strange to have this big and very quiet park next to such a busy touristy littly town. Loved it , place to enjoy the nature and some of the ruins or half ruins that are scattered around the place. Take your time to visit this and don't forget your lunch.
For me the main attraction in town, great place to wander about for a bit. Don't forget your camera, this is one of the many beautiful ruins Ireland has to offer.
On warm days this is the place in Galway where all the students and other people who don't have a lot of money go for a drink. Lots of off licences around to get your own bottles and cans. Just sit down and enjoy the crowd, the buskers practising and the great view over the river and the ocean.
Traditional daytrip from Galway. Whichever island you choose, try the stay overnight, the evenings in the pub are just great. And the mornings before the first boats arrive are magical. On the big island you can rent a bike, great way to visit the island.
Walking down the promenade from the Spanish arch to Salthill is something you can do on a warm day or a drizzly winterday. Different experience every time.
If you ever went to live in Galway I would really recommend Claddagh, quiet and still 2 minutes away from all the nice things Galway has to offer.
I don't like shopping so this is not the place for me, most if not all of the shops you can find in any other Irish or even most european cities. But the streetmusicians and other artists give it all a funny atmosphere.
The center of Galway with everything in walking distance. The place to find a taxi to take you anywhere. In the summer there is always something to do or see here. On warm days, yes there are warm days in the west of Ireland, the gras fills up with mainly young people sunning, talking or reading. Great atmosphere.
Absolutly beautiful buildings with a great atmosphere. Don't go there when the academic year is over, you really want to visit it when the students are around.
The book of Kells is really nice but it is a bit expensive, for those of you who are on a strict budget spend your money on something else. For the others the book itself is really pretty and all that but the most interesting thing I thought was the old library.
Besides the big spike in the middle there isn't much too see. Lots of shops if you're into that. Don't go looking for it, anybody walking around in Dublin is bound to pass here.
Dublin is an interesting city to visit with a lot of fun places to discover but it is so big. Because it is built on a swamp there aren't many high buildings making this a very stretched out city. Traffic is bad and public transport isn't better because all the busses are stuck in the same traffic. So try to visit as much as you can by foot.
Compared to most other european capitals this is a very friendly city but I think the west of Ireland is even friendlier and more relaxed.
The one burial mound in Ireland where you can enter and get a decent explanation. A must for everyone who is interested in prehistoric times and for all who likes to be impressed by ancient achievement.
The visitors' center is well laid out and very clear. You can only visit the tomb with a guide which is a good thing because there are so many things to say about this monument.
One of the main tourist attractions in Ireland and with good reason. The sensation standing there is very powerfull.
When I visited it a few years ago you only had to pay for the parking. It was very busy taking something of magic away. There are fences keeping you out of harms way but a lot of the visitors climb over it to look over the edge, not something to do when you don't like heights. Fantastic to do when you don't suffer from vertigo.
Completly covered with soot on the outside but still impressive and beautiful. Lovely gothic architectures, standing free, so you can walk around the whole building.
I visited it more than 10 years ago during a school trip and it really impressed me. For everyone who wants to get a good idea what the Great War was like in the ditches. Interactive and impressive, a museum with heart and soul.
Not the most beautiful place in Ghent but there is a lot there, library, shopping center, theatre and there is a giant busstop there. For some reason there was a rainbow above Zuid everytime I passed there after it rained.
For people who want to know about plants all plants have name tags. For all the rest it is a good place for a peacefull stroll. It can get a bit busy on warm weekends but even then it is nice.
The whole square and surrounded area has been renovated in the past few years. It is seen as the cultural heart of Antwerp. On sunday there is the 'vogeltjesmarkt' and on saturday there is an exotic market both definitely worth a visit.
Leisure and culture, good museums, great exhibitions and in the summertime they sometimes offer free sportactivities for the bureaucrats during lunchbreak, check out broodje brussel (http://www.uitinbrussel.be/opbprojecten/broodje-brussel, only in dutch).
It is such a cute little square, best visited in the evening. Tons of restaurants around one for every taste, some really good. Not the place you go for a quiet night out because when the restaurants close the pubs and nightclubs open.
The tourist attraction you can't miss while you're in Antwerp. You don't even have to particulary like gothic to be impressed. The cathedral tower dominates the skyline of the city and it is just amazing to think it has been doing this already for hunderds of years. It can get crowded but I think it is worth it. Afterwards you can have a drink at one of the pubs nearby, some with outdoor seating and a great view of the cathedral. In the summertime there are always a lot of streetartists around.
Great place to bring the kids or to feel like a kid again yourself. Tons of things to do and to experience. One of the funnest museums I've been to in the past few years.
They have different activities through out the year for some of these they charge extra so inform yourself before you buy you're ticket.
Unless you really need a picture of yourself with the little guy in the background to prove at home that you've been in Belgium don't go there. It is an absolute tourist trap. The shops around it have some really tacky souvenirs for sale, can make for a funny but useless present.
Or how a statue with a funny story behind it turned into a overestimated icon.
It is sad to think this is one of the only places on the Belgian coast that isn't packed with hotels and other tourist buildings. The dunes or really nice but nothing compared to the neighbouring countries, still good place for a morning or evening stroll.
Probably my favorite trainstation, gorgous building, built in the times when stations were ment to impress the visitors. This one still impresses travelers today, it is just so bombastic and yet elegant.
Ahhh, the childhoodmemories, dislocated my elbow here on the electric bull but still good memories. Don't go here at the end of June when schools take their end of the year fieldtrip here.
All the 'begijnenhoven' in Belgium are part of the Unesco heritage list. The one here in Bruges is just textbook, really lovely nice and peacefull, that is if you forget all the other tourists. One of the places in Bruges that can't be missed.
Always busy, especially on a warm evening when everybody comes out here for a drink, rather touristy as well but the architecture makes it worth while.
Really big, a good place to bring the kids but I think it is a bit expensive and not all the animals look very happy. At the moment there is a lot to do about a little elephant born in this zoo, long queues.
Just like many othere places in Ghent cramped with history and a great atmosphere. Three churches in a row and the shopping street and some great bars nearby, can't get any better.
Absolutely lovely place, still very much alive with all the students living here. Beware of the busloads of Japanese and other tourists they drop here. Still if you can manage to avoid the big crowds it is a wonderfull place.
Really nice building that should not be missed if you're in Ghent. The entrance hall should be open the rest of the building might be a bit trickier to visit. Still the outside is interesting enough.
Every Belgian has been up here at least once in there life. Originally built for the world fair of 1958 and ment to be destroyed afterwards this strangely enlarged model of an iron atom is still standing. Strangely beautiful on the outside and a bit boring on the inside, the elavator ride is not to be missed. There are some good exhibitions from time to time.
Be carefull publishing pictures with atomium in it because the children of the architect are still milking their inherintance making everyone who prints or publishes the building pay.
Lovely place full of history and nice buildings. The statue in the middle of the place is that of Silvius Brabo. The legend goes that in ancient times there used to be a giant called Antigoon blocking the river Schelde. He hacked of the hand of everybody who didn't pay him. Along came a Roman soldier, Brabo, he defeated the giant, hacked of his hand and threw it in the river. 'Throwing a hand' in dutch is 'hand werpen', this is where the name Antwerpen comes from. Lovely legend, so at the end of the 19th century they made this statue for him problem is that Brabo is standing with his back to the river.
Always busy, big churches and nice pubs. Most of the trams and busses pass by here, so it is easy to reach, harder to get away with all that is going on. Some of the places here come and go but there are a few die-hards like the Damberd where generations have hooked up. If life here is a bit to expensive the Graslei is just around the corner.
Not a big fan of shopping and I find this streets too busy during opening hours and too quiet after closing time. But since nearly everybody passes here the benches are a good place to sit and watch the world pass you by. If you like it all a little less commercial and a bit more edgy go shopping in the Kammenstraat which is just a few steps away from the Meir.
When you're in Brussels you have to see it. This place is one of the Unesco protected sites and seeing it yourself you realise why.The city hall is one of the most impressive one you can find in Belgium. There are so many stories tied to these buildings. Try to find a good guide book or stand along side a guide explaining it all to his busloads of tourists.
The bars in the square are ok but overpriced as you might have suspected. In the streets around the square there are tons of take-aways which are catering only to tourists.
On warm days this is the place to be. You can go and sit at one of the little tables outside the bars or you can do as most students in Ghent do during or after the exams and that is bring your own booze and just claim your spot by the waterfront and enjoy. Great place also for people-watching as the oddest people around gather here in the early hours of the night.
All this against the beautiful backdrop of the Sint-Michielskerk with the big bridge and the water.
This place is sooo big, there are tons of places to discover. Some of the walls of big structures are complete. It was such a wonderful place to walk around in, it sometimes felt as if the incas had just left 50-60 years ago. Ok, granted the whole site is overgrown but still. There is also a lovely waterfall nearby and there are tons of places where you can sit down and have a nice picknick.
It was also very quiet place to visit. When we were there there was no one else. There is an entrance fee, don't remember how much but foreigners pay more than Bolivians. Again I missed some explanation but the site is so big and some of the buildings are so huge, you're going to be impressed whether you know what they are for or not.
Probably the most accessible Inca ruin to visit nearby Cochabamba. Amazing how much of it is left. The view is also pretty nice. I missed some type of explanation because it was not always clear what I was looking at.
Absolutly loved it. To be honest, I was there with a textile nut and he infected me with his enthousiasm.
The museum is very clear and open with lots of things to see and discover. Very clear explanations. For people who can't get enough of it you can visit the museum the next day with the same ticket. You can get information about excursion to the surrounding villages where textile traditions have been revived.
The profit of the shop goes towards the whole project and it is a bit of a trap, because after such a beautiful museum you just have to buy something there.
Really nice museum. Not to big but it gives you a good idea about the history and prehistory of this country. There is a section about the different groups of native inhabitants and their artifacts as they were documented in the 19th century. I liked that part the best.
Nearly all the tours that leave Uyuni to see the Salt Lake and so on pass by here on their way back. We passed by when it was to dark to take pictures. In the evening dusk it was a very eary place.
Ok thing to do when you're in Cochabamba. The best view you can get over this city. Did not particulairy like the statue itself. Normally you can get inside the statue as well but that was closed when I was there.
This church and monastry is partially open to visitors. The most attractive part I think is going up on the roof of the church where you have a brilliant view over red tiled roofs of Sucre.
For people who like archaeology this is great for all the other people it is a bit barren. The museum is really good and gives you a good idea about the history of this city and the culture with the same name. Most of the temples have been restored and can be visited. On site the explanation was a bit scarce and all in Spanish. A good half a day trip from La Paz.
Spanish occupation wasn't pretty but they left this amazing building that now houses a great museum. When I was there you had to take the tour. Our guide was pretty good, but because it is such a big building it took a long while, 2 hours, to see everything. And to be honest I wasn't always interested in everything. Not the cheapest thing to do but worth it.
Ok, getting into that dinosaur truck in the middle of Sucre might look a bit stupid, but you're in for a treat. There were three tours a day when I was there but you're bound to find some advertising when you're in Sucre. Tourist office can recommand taxidrivers who have trained as guides but that's much more expensive.
They take you to a cement factory where during work they found dinosaur tracks in the soil. Due to movement of the earth the tracks are now lying vertically on a kind of wall of soil. The guide will give an extensive explanation about the history of these tracks and you can even go up there, watch them closely and touch them. For everyone who liked Jurassic Parc and even for those who didn't. Something you won't find in any other place.
El marcado de las brujas is a must if you're in La Paz. I loved the bolivian way of doing things, after seeing the markets in other big cities around the world where they throw themselfs at you this is really a relieve. Good place to find some odd souvenirs and to watch the Aymara women in there traditional dresses while they're shopping.
This is a wonderfull experience but not for the fainthearted. There are several touristoffices in La Paz who offer this trip make sure you find one that has good bike. Ask to see them, because you want one with good working brakes. You start early in the morning with a breakfast in some hotel, then they take you up to the highest point where they give you all a bike and it is pretty much down hill from there, literaly speaking. The first few miles is one a big and broad road with good tarmac but then at one point it changes into a dirt road and then you'll see the whole environment change rapidly, you just plunge into the forest. The road itself is or was known as the most dangerous road on earth, looking down into the deep while I drove my bike over a dirth road letting the people who came from the other side pass next to the mountain while I tired to keep my balance it didn't really surprise me. To be honest there are reports about tourists who did this trip and died,
Once you're at the lowest point they take you up to Coroico where you can freshen up at a hotel and have a drink by the pool. Everything should be included in the price even lunch. Only the drinks at the end have to paid for separate.
I would recommend this trip to anyone who can ride a bike and is not affraid of heights.
Highest lake in the world one can navigate. Isla del sol is very beautiful if some what touristy compared to other places in Bolivia, but it isn't overcrowded and staying here for a night is a must. If you can visit Isla de la luna as well, much smaller and a lot less touristy.
One of the most impressive things there is in the world. If there is only one thing you see in Bolivia let it be this. Don't forget you're camera, most people spend there afternoon here taking strange pictures, something to do with the lack of sence of depth. If you can stay for the night when the crowds have left and you can enjoy the sunset.
You can rent a jeep but much more convinient I think is to take part in one of the tours, there are different touroperators in Uyuni and I heard very different reports from all of them. Most of these tours also visit cactus island, the coloured lakes in the southern most tip of Bolivia and a Train graveyard.
Viana do Castelo, Northern Portgual Region, Portugal
Added Sep 9, 2009
Interesting place to visit. Some of the medical equipment is still there. Good displays which gives you a good perspective on things. It must have been hell being a fisherman back then.
Viana do Castelo, Northern Portgual Region, Portugal
Added Sep 9, 2009
Interesting place, completly different atmosphere from the rest of the mount. You walk over walk way constructed over the ruins so you have a good overview. There is some good if what spares information there. To get the bigger picture buy the little pamflet for 1 euro.
Viana do Castelo, Northern Portgual Region, Portugal
Added Sep 9, 2009
People come here for the brilliant view and the monumental church. I didn't particulary liked the church but the view is really worth the trip. You can get up there with funicular which has recently been restored, by car or by foot. If you want to climb the stairs, remember that is 2 km of often very steep stairs, it's worth it though.
Love it!!! This building has always been controversial and you either love it or hate it. The guided tour is done by students of architecture and my guide really managed to infect me with his enthousiasm.There are guided tours at 11am and at 4 pm, both in English and Portuguese.
Very impressive cathedral on the top of a hill. There is fortress feeling about it. Really nice rose window. The cathedral is free but you have to pay to enter the cloister which is worth it.
The most famous part of Vila Nova de Gaia is the waterfront where all the wineries are. Good place for people who want to emerge themself in the culture of Porto wine. All the warehouses can be visited and most have tours combined with wine tasting. Really nice thing to do but not for the budget traveller.
Nice church built by a Italian architect in the 18th century but the real attraction is the 76 meter high tower.If you don't mind climbing 225 steps you'll be rewarded by one of the best views over Porto that there is.
Lively place with great hidden corners and good restaurants. The perfect evening in Porto go for an afternoon stroll in the Ribeira, stay for dinner and leave when the bars close. Bing your camera.
Historical place, good place for people who like a nice ruine. When I was there there were too many people to actually enjoy it. Right behind the Paco dos duques can be combined very well.
Beautiful place where you can breath in the history, in the centre of the historical town so you're bound to pass here. You and everybody else, best enjoyed when the large crowds have left.
Great experience, they've put a lot of thought into it. The only bad thing is that we visited it on a sunday and there were just to many people to fully enjoy it. I guess it would be wonderfull during the week. It is only 2 km but it takes between 1 hor 15 min and 1,5 hours to do it. Bring shorts or trousers that you can pull up.
Brilliant big museum with all the things you'd expect from it. This is the principal museum dedicated to this culture. Good display and clear explanations. if you want to see every thing then you'll easily spend half a day here.
Tourist trap. The whole history around it is very interesting but it seems as if all the touristbusses stop here and spill out their contents at the same time. In high season you'll have to wait long to take your own picture, seeing all these people taking the same picture with their hand in the mouth you wonder if it is worth the bother.
A bit out of the way but well worth the little detour. You can only visit the catacombs as part of a tour which is very interesting. A lot of the paintings have titles as the "oldest one", or the "first known one". The origins are unknown, the catacombs maybe Christian or pegan in origin and the first depiction of Virgin and Christ might just be the picture of a mother and child.
People who are really interested in Roman history should really see this place. It is inside a modern building that was purpose-built to hold this important monument. Here you also can find a small museum explaining the how, what and when of the Ara Pacis. The whole thing is rather cold and clean which works wonderfully well with the white marble monument with is idealised ingravings.
If you feel like a kosjer pizza this is the place to go. Jews have been living in this part of the city since Pope Paul IV forced them to live here in the 16th century. The history of the jews in Rome has not been pretty since then. And although most jews don't live here anymore it still is an area with completely different atmosphere.
Pick-nick place in a historical setting. Good place for a rest, not much left to actually see but the sheer size of the place should give you a good idea of how impressive it must have looked in Roman times.
Pyramid built for some exentric Roman citizen who died in 12 BC. The guy spend some time in Egypt and apparently freed all his slaves so they built this for him Very strange view; worth a small detour. It can be visited on the 2nd and the 4th saturday of the month.
Nice place, huge a bit overly decorated on some places. For people how want to see all the religious places this is an interesting spot, this is officially Rome's cathedral and has a long history.
Great old theater that still is used for some preformances. The most interesting thing is to see how the skeleton of the theatre is incorporated in palazzo. It looked like people where still living there.
Wonderfull place with a lot of history. The present building dates from the 12th century which is one of the so many nices churches to visit in Rome. The real treasure is downstairs, there you can find the old nave of the original church dating back to 392 AD with some rather nice frescoes. There you can go even further down to visit a old Roman house which includes a dark Mithraic temple. Only in Rome...
The only square without a church in the whole of Rome, or so they told me. The statue in the middel of the square is that of a scientist that got burned because of sacriligious talks. After visiting 10 churches a day this square comes as a breath of fresh air. During the week there is a fruit and vegetable market there in the weekend it is a more general market with people selling their own handmade things.
The place is very popular among students and therefor it is a good place to look for a cheap bit to eat or a quick coffee.
There is very little detail left, but the sheer mass of the building is so impressive. This is one of the monuments that like the colosseum really gives you a good idea about how monumental Rome was in the imperial time. Some nice greenery around it, good place for a picnic. The place itself is a bit isolated from the rest of touristy Rome but is worth the little extra effort.
This is where the rich people lived in Roman times. Now it is an open air archaeological site with a lot of greenery between the ruins. You need a good guide(book) to give you a proper idea what was what. Not as crowded as the Forum Romanum at the bottom of the hill. You can get a combined ticket with the colosseum, lines here are much shorter than at the Colosseum
Known for the statue of an elephant carying an obelisk on its back and for the blue ceiling dotted with stars. Well worth to drop in when you're passing by.
One of the bigger open spaces in Rome, always busy. The twin churches on one side are really adorable. Lots of little bars in the streets around where the Romans come for a snack or lunch.
Busy place with a megalomane building drawing all the attention to it. Walking distance from a lot of the big tourist attractions like the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum so you're bound to pass by here anyway.
Walking distance from the Pantheon, this square is best experienced in the evening zhen the square is filled with street artists, tourists and Romans. The whole square is bordered with restaurants, you'll need a reservation to get into most of them especially the really good ones. The three fountains are artworks.
Loved it, everything I thought it would be. It is true that you need a bit of imagination and a good guide(book). During the summertime there are free tours in English and other languages. You're supposed to tip the guide later. Don't know when they start or where you can get information on them. But there are always large groups of tourists with their own guide. So try to find a group that speaks your language and of you go.
I think the evening is the best time to see it. Especially in the summer when it can get really hot, there is barely any shade there.
Lovely castle with a very long history, it started out as a mausoleum, guarded Vatican city as a castle and is now one of the most important tourist attractions in Rome. From the top you have a good view over Vatican city and the river Tiber. The museum is pretty good and interesting.
Try to pass by here in the evening, the statue of the angel is illuminated beautifully at night and in combination with the gorgous bridge in front of it makes it all just picture perfect.
The steps itself are nice but not the most impressive thing there is in Rome, it is more famous for being a meeting point, especially in the evening. If you want to be picked up by a Italian charmer this is the place to be. Very nice place to do some people watching as well. There are tons of great icecream places around.
Not many pictures of this fountain do it justice. I had seen hundreds of pictures of it, had seen it in movies but the real thing is so much more impressive. Incredibly busy but still charming.
The tradition tells you that you should throw two coins over your shoulder into the fountain, one allows you to make a wish, the other one ensures you that one day you'll return to the eternal city.
You don't have to be architecture buff to enjoy this building. It has such a long history, originally built as a temple in Roman time for all the gods, later it was turned into a church and survived in this form. There are a lot of interesting things inside, some tombs of famous peoplelike Rafael.
The most impressive thing is the dome which still inspires architects today and you just have to enter to see why.
A must for any art lover. How the Church got hold of so many artworks, many of which pegan in essence, is something you don't really want to think about for to long. One of the best museums of antiquities in the whole of Italy.
Be warned there are always a lot of people and the queues are long, especially on the days the entrance is free.
It takes some effort to get into the chapel, first the queue to get into the museum and then hald a mile later another queue to get into chapel itself. And then being inside the chapel itself also takes some effort, this is not for anyone who is claustophobic, saw one girl faint. But it is so worth it. The paintings are still as lifelike and colourfull as they were on their first day. One of the most impressive things was the fact that the whole ceiling was one painting, all the seperate paintings work so well together.
You can not miss this piece of art when you're in Rome.
When I was there we first went up the stairs to enjoy the great view of Rome. Something you should try to do at dusk or dawn, very impressive. Half way on your way to the top you pass through the dome which was one of the things I liked best, just breathtaking.
The church itself is always full but always beautifull. Every detail has a story to tell from the big statues, la pieta especially is worth the wait to get a good look at to the marble floors.
Try to pass by the square on sunday when the pope gives the crowd his blessing. Seeing all the nuns, priest and all the other religious people getting extatic is a beautfull experince.
One of the touristy things to do is to go to postoffice of the vatican and send a postcard from there. The Vatican city is a seperate country so it has its own stamps. Believe me every catholic grandmother or old uncle will love a card from here. Be prepared to queu a bit.
An absolute must-see on any trip to Rome. This building gives a new meaning to the word colossal, the sheer mass of the building is amazing. That said the building was used a stone query during centuries so what is left is just the skeleton. For this reason most people like the outside better than the inside. Take a good guidebook with you or pay extra for the audioguides because otherwise it might be hard to imagine that this used to be a colourful and luxurious building. Because of the size it doesn't matter how many tourists there are it never feels to crowded.
They sometimes have expositions inside the colosseum, when I was there it was about the Olympic Games, it was really good.
A bit posh for my taste but very nice. Calm place with rustic rooms. The bathrooms are ok but not great the beds are. In the middle of the historical centre of Bolsward with free car park. Good breakfast. Nice couple holding this B&B.
One of the best Itlatian food I've eaten outside the mediterrean area. The soups are brilliant and most of the pasta diches are made with fresh pasta, the risto was cooked to perfection. Nice service. Next to the water but with a busy road between the terrace and the water. Not for budget travllers wut who can spare 25-30 euros for dinner should give it a try.
Lively and busy restaurant that is also a grand cafe, don't know what that means thou. It is not the young and happening crowd but the atmosphere is good. Great creamy musterdsoup if somewhat salty. All the main diches are served with a tower of vegetables which in itself is nearly a full dinner. Lunch menu is for around 14 euros for three courses. Dinner menu is for just under 20 euros. If you order a la carte you pay between 22 and 30 euros.
Strang big church with the highest sadlebacked tower in the whole of the Netherlands. This type of roof is typical for the local churches, it looks like a house suddenly got a growing spurt.
The inside is painted white and sparsely decorated with the exception of the orgel and the preachers chair. Drop by if your around otherwise it is not worth a detour.
A gem, normally ruins aren't really tolerated in the hard working north of the Netherlands but I'm really glad they decided to keep this church. the glass roof adds something special, not everybody thinks it is a good combination but I think it really works. Old church modern ruin.
Bed and Breakfast in Wommels, in the beautifull northern province of Friesland. This is one of the original Bed and Breakfasts, it is like staying at the house of your mate's grandmother. The landlady talks endlessly and in this case it is not a good thing. I know some people wouldn't mind sitting in the beautifull garden bordering a bid pond or tiny lake, listening to how well her life is but it is not my cup of tea.
Very impressive, modern museum with clear explanations and a good display. A must for people wanting to get to know something about Braga's earliest history. Also some artefacts from the region and temporary exhibitions.
There is an excavated bathhouse just around the corner from it.
This building is just giangentic, so many architectural styles are jumbled together here. Defintely worth a visit, you're bound to pass it a few times while you'r there and the timetable and the fact that is it is free makes that you can drop in whenever you want.
A must if you are in town, this free museum has some rather unusual statues. It's great walking around there wondering what everything is and where it came from. The fact that it is located in a ruined church bordering the rivers just gives it that little bit extra.
Quaint place, the church is rather nice. The chapel is just very weird, they actually used the bones to decorate the place. The inscription over the entrance says "we bones await you". Very strange feeling looking at these bones as a touristattraction.
Lovely place to have dinner, very neat and a bit chique but the prizes are reasonable. Good staff that comes and cleans the crumbs of your tablecloth between courses. Great food if you like the hearty Alentejian food.
Not a big fan of religious art but this museum is not showing of all the riches the church managed to get their hands on. It his just one big room with some rather nice old wooden statues and old vestments. A 14 century fresco is the main attraction. For this price I suggest you give it a try when you're in Monsaraz.
Perfect little castle with only the walls standing, perfect for cilmbing as high as you can and then enjoy the view. Although I must admit that it was very foggy when I was there so not a lot of view-enjoying that day.
Tapestry museum, not something I would normally visit, but there was not much else to do on a rainy day in Portalegre. And I must say it surprised me, I think I spend a good two hours in here without getting bored. The tapestry they have on display variate a lot in size and genre. Liked the ones from the sixties and seventies the best. There is one giant one depicting a scene in what looks like the Amazone Forest that hangs in the rest area that is just breathtaking.
The castle itself is not worth comming to Portalegre for but if you're there you have to see this place. The views are brilliant and climbing the towers is a bit of fun. Don't expect a romantic old castle, they througly restorated it and used a rather modern design inside. But is works.
Castelo de Vide, Central Portugal Region, Portugal
Added Aug 13, 2009
I have some lovely memories digging here, the site is really nice and definitly worth a detour, that is if you have you're own transport, don't bother trying to get here by means of public transport.
Good and clear little museum. The site itself is rather large with only a small bit excavated, the main attraction here is what used to be the main square in Roman times, some of the pillars are still (again) standing there.
Ammaia really has a lot of potential because at the end of the Roman era the site was abandoned and turned into agricultural land. But the site is run buy a non-profit organisation which has a really bad managment. And because of this the beautiful site whole probably always remain just a little spot only visited by archaeology fanatics.
Castelo de Vide, Central Portugal Region, Portugal
Added Aug 13, 2009
Perfect place to go and cool down after a day of strolling the streets of the town. Very good pool on the side of the hill, so from the water you have a good view over the landscape. Always a lot of teenagers and pre-teenagers there trying to impress each other.
Castelo de Vide, Central Portugal Region, Portugal
Added Aug 13, 2009
Beautiful old castle from which you have a great view over the town. No touristy plaques or showcases around. This just is a building you can enter as you please. Within the walls of the castle there are houses inhabited by elder men and women.
good place to stay if all the cheap places in Hiroshima are booked up. Perfect place to stay if you want to see Miyajima but it is a bit far from Hiroshima itself. Good facilities but very concrete appearence with little caracter. Incredibly helpfull staff, there was one guy with a afro wig who was a bit tiresome sometimes but they really try to make the best of your stay there. The showers work on coins (to save water) which I didn't think was a big problem but wasn't really a big hit with my fellow travelers.
The cheapest palce to stay in Tokyo and it is such good value for money. Right next to the Asakusa metrostation it is easily accessible. Very friendly staff and really cosy rooms. I'm going to stay here again when I go back to Tokyo.
Really nice hostel with good facilities, located in a nice neighbourhood with a lot of great restaurants nearby. Very cramped and impersonal rooms but hey, this is Tokyo.
For those of you who loved the Alcazar and want some more of the same this is the place to go. Much less crowded and at least as beautiful if quite a bit smaller and less grand in appearance. Lovely patios and great gardens. The story goes that Hadrian ashes where (accidently) disposed of in the larger garden. A lot of little corners, so take your time to explore this place. Thought the painting of the bearded woman breastfeeding her child quite shocking at first sight, and quite funny at second sight.
You pay 4 euros to enter and an extra 4 to see the first floor of the building. The first floor can only be seen with a guide and normally every half hour or hour (I forgot) there is a tour,
Not the greatest restaurant around, service is ok, food is compared to other places in this city very bleak. It´s not overprized but it isn´t the cheapest one around either. But the setting the reason why people come. It is just amazing. And come on, how many people can say they had dinner in a 12th century Moorish bathhouse?
The perfect place to go for a early evening stroll, good place to start the tapa-tour, lots of bars, restaurants and places to hang out. Each end has a cool kind of fountain that sprays a fine mist into the air. Walking through this is the way to cool down.
Decent place to stay, rather cheap, payed 25 euro for a single with breakfast. Staff ranging from very nice during the day to down right apathic in the evening.
Good location in between the Rossio and the old town.
Nice hostel with all the basics and a nice crew helping you on your way. Old house with really nice tiles, great roof terrace and airco in the rooms (even if they only start them at 10pm). Good location, walking distance from all the main attraction and bars and still really quiet neighbourhood so good sleep garanteed.
Lovely place, when I was there I was the only one giving me all the time to see it. Good explanation in every room, some rather nice murals. Only part of the complex got restaurated and is open for viewing. But definitly worth to stop by if you´re in town to see Italica
I didn´t have to pay but don´t know if it is always for free.
Strange place, the mix between the old and the new isn´t always succesfull but there are some really nice hidden corners in the monastery that make it worth the trip from down town. Don´t expect a beautiful historical site though, Not a lot of explanation either and there is no good map of the site. Tickets are at the entrance and they are valid for both the monastery and the modern art museum which holds temporary exhibitions. Check www.caac.es to see what is on.
Giant collection of archaeological artefacts. In the basement you can find the prehistoric section, lots of interesting stuff accompanied by old signs in Spanish explaining them. For those of you that don't speak Spanish, there is some general explanation in English but it's spare. Very beautifull golden treasure from Carambollo on display.
Upstairs the Roman part is impressive with a big collection of statues and some really nice mosaics. The Moorish part was closed when I was there.
Citizens of the E.U. get in for free, everybody else pays 1,50 euro.
First time I went to a spa and I took the cheapest option so I can't tell you anything about there treatments or massages. But I can tell you that there baths are worth the visit. Must say that the saltwaterbath could have been saltier and that the hammam took some time to get to the right temparture. But the reason why this place gets five stars is the atmosphere. The decoration is perfect, with just the right hint of incense and a lot of candlelight to make you feel like you entered the world of 1001 nights. Really liked the idea of going to a bathhouse that is built on top of an ancient bathhouse. Perfect for when your body is aching after a day of sightseeing.
Make sure you book in advance because the place is getting very popular and they only let a certain number of people in every 2 hours. Which is the reason why you never feel crowded and if you're lucky like me you might have a bath all to yourself.
Italica used to be the third biggest city in the Roman empire, after Rome and Byzantium, but don't expect to see something like Pompei. Only part of the city got excavated, the rest is under the present village of Santiponce or under the fields surrounding the site. This was one of the sites where they used ground radar, so as to investigate the site without actually having to excavate anything. As an archaeologist I applaud that but as a tourist I must say that it is a bit dissappointing.
But still what they did excevate happened to be the richest part of town, a neighbourhood erected by Hadrian. So prepare yourself for some really nice mosaics. The amphitheater is very impressing even though it has been used as a source of stone in the past. If you want to see the artefacts they found here you have to go to the Archaeological Museum in Sevilla where they have a really nice collection.
If you want a detailed explanation and you don't understand Spanish get one of the guide books at the shop, on your right entering the site
The theater and a smaller bathhouse can be found outside the actual site in the villagee. They are both rather well indicated but you can always swing by the tourist office to get a map.
Don't get me wrong I loved barrio Santa Cruz but this barrio has much more soul. Not crowded by throngs of tourists and still a lot of history, several really nice churches and part of the city's defensive wall. I walked around here on a saterday afternoon and it seemed like half of Sevilla was getting maried. Loved to walk the streets with flamboyant Spanish women in these brilliant evening dresses anybody else would look stupid in. And still a few street away you'll find the local crack addicts.
There are supposed to be a lot of good restaurants here but I couldn't find any. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places.
If you're in dire need for some greenery this is the spot to be. Giant park full of funny and endearing little corners. Perfect for a late afternoon stroll. You can still find some buildings used during the World Fair, some of them are used as museums now. Check out the archaeological museum if you plan to visit Italica.
Lovely neighbourhood that can get a bit touristy kitsch approching the cathedral but even then it is beautifull. Perfect place for a stroll and a restaurant hunt after you've seen the cathedral and the Alcazar. During the siesta hours the only one you'll see are fellow tourists but in the evening it can get quite busy. For a lovely serene stroll pass by on sunday morning.
Very interesting and impressive place, big buildings and still sense of detail. But it is a tourist place, everybody even the spanish, that comes here are tourists or people trying to sell to tourists. Somehow I felt it was missing some soul. So dispite the fact that it is very beautifull it wasn't a place I could hang out for to long. The portici are perfect when it gets hot. It is just a pity that the canal isn't holding any water anymore.
Forget religion this cathedral was built to impress and it does just that still after all those centuries. I read somewhere that one of the mecenasses or architects of the cathedral said that he wanted to built something so amazing that future generations thought they were crazy. Well he succeeded. The big mass of walls and pilares wil captivate you. Must say I loved the outside beter than the inside. The decoration inside is not excessive but still the gothic architecture shows itself the best from the outside.
The Giralda is definitly worth the climb, there is a window every other ramp (no staircase here but used 34 ramps leading you up) and there are about 4 or 5 little rooms with some small exhibition on the tower and the cathedral. The top of the tower is added later in renaissance-style. I don't think it mixes very well with Moorish part but that probably is just me.
The orange garden is on your way out and when it is not to hot it is a really nice place to just sit and rest for a little while before you go out in the crazy maze that is Sevilla again.
Great contrast between the old worn down tower and the stark white palace/pousada. Brilliant views from the top of the tower. But be careful climbing it because some parts are a bit dangerous and dark.
If you're in Estremoz you're bound to pass this square, it is in the centre of everything. The buildings surrounding it where all built to impress the people coming into town and after so many years they still do. Two in particular are interesting; on the south side the convento dos Congregados is now the police station/town council and the church houses a museum of arte sacra. On the east side of the square there is a convent that is now used as some kind of youth centre, free and very slow internet access for people with patience. Some rather nice little restaurants and bars here as well.
Hidden pearls next to the castle. If there is one place where you can see this town has too much marble it is here. Really nice façade but the true beauty is inside. Inside the church there is a stand where you can get a leaflet with some history and explanation. The really nice part is, weird as it may sound, the graveyard next to it. This is just a great combination of white marble and colourfull plastic flowers surrounded by a old castle wall.
Somehow I liked the damp stoney castle on the hill better than the palace in the town. This also can only be visited as part of a tour, so if you don't speak Portuguese bring your translator. Loved the archaeology part, some really nice piece among others some mosaics found in a vila close by. Some of the pieces where collected by one of the Braganças (I forgot which one) with a big interest in history. So besides local and national finds you'll also encounter Egyptian, pre-Columbian and even Danish pieces.
The Hunting museum is huge, the guide called it the biggest one in Europe, I wouldn't be surprised.
Really nice views from the top.
The problem with the guided tour is that you can't skip the things that interest you or that you can't hang around that one really nice piece either. All this makes the tour a bit on the long side.
Really nice building holding some rather nice pieces of furniture and decoration as well as drawings and paintings from the different members of the Bragança family. Apparently they were all very artistic, it even seemed a requirement to marry a Bragança. You can only visit the palace as part of the tour which can be very interesting if you can speak Portugese. My guide was not that brilliant, he seemed more interested in numbers and facts than the stories behind it. Which according to me is not the reason why there is a guide. Still it is an impressive building, the giant square (16.000m²) in front of it is even more so.
When you first see it it is a bit dissapointing because it looks like it is made out of concrete. But when you see it is not and it changes into a toy castle. The castle has three floors, the first holds a kind of exhibition on the history of military architecture in Portugal and a history of the castle. The other two are bare except for four very nice colums in each one of them. The main attraction is the terrace from which you have a brilliant view over the village and the area. You can see as far as Evora and even Estremoz.
I never thought a temple could preserve so well in the middle of a town. But now it stand there in the middle of the other historical building surrounding the square. A must see if you are any where near Evora. Use it as an excuse to stroll through the streets of this great town.
Impressive and at the same time very lovely. Driving to Evora the Sé is one of the first things you notice as it stand at the top of the hill Evora is built on. The two huge towers and the massive walls makes you realise that Portugal must have really been at war with the Moors to built such a fortress and call it a cathedral.
Loved the cloister, it is just picture perfect. When I was there two years ago the museum of sacred art was in one of the towers. Giving you an excuse to climb them and enjoy the view. Now it seems that the museum moved to a building next door. But I'm not really sure.
The best Italian sweets and pastery can be had in the middle of Brussels. You have tot try the canelloni. Mainly italian clientes. Relaxed atmosphere. Perfect place to have you're sunday splurge. Reasonbly priced.
Very big castle grounds and impressive walls, the view from the new Royal Palace is just impressive. Loved the gothic ruins of the church. Nice place to walk around, not too many tourist about.
There is suppossed to be a museum in the donjon but that was closed when I was there.
As an archaeologist I must say this place is a dream. The largest Roman settlement in Portugal is definititly worth a visit. I would recommend to visit the museum first, it gives a really clear picture of urban life in roman times. They also have some really nice artefacts there that they excavated there.
The ruins are really impressive. But you can't walk just everywhere, they protect the weaker spots like the many beautiful mosiacs. Still you can see everything. There is a leaflet in different languages you can get at the entrance take it with you because even though the leaflet doesn't really have any extra information in it, it has a good map of the ruins. This way you'll always know what you're staring at. The big defensive wall destroyed a few houses and cuts right through the site but with some of the houses it is still very easy to recognize the different parts. The forum is a bit bare though. Excavations are still ongoing and you might see some students from the nearby university of Coimbra or international students trowel away on your visit.
Nice gallery with some great temporary exhibitions. When I was there I didn't have to pay, don't know why. I especially like the facade of the building.
Loved it, this is one of the most beautiful churches I've seen in Portugal and I've seen a lot of them. You have to like the stern Romanesque look though. But even if you don't the cheer magnitude of the place will impresse you. If you like the Sé be sure to visit the cloisters, same still but a bit airier.
Very nice location, quiete neighbourhood and still very close to the hustle and bustle of Coimbra's student life. About 15 minute walk from the centre. friendly reception. Common room and kitchen are in the basement and not really all that great but will do.
It can only be visited with a tour and when I was there it was closed for renovation. But you can see a lot from the outside and it is a really nice picture,very gothic and very bright with the light coloured stones. Passing by is free and from here you also have a good few over Coimbra itself.
3 euros might seem enough money just to enter a garden but this is a garden with history. Quinta das Lagrimas is called after the Fonte das Lagrimas, this source is said to be the tears of Ines de Castro. One of the Ladies in Waiting of wife of Dom Pedro. After the wife of Dom Pedro died the king, Dom Pedro's father, wouldn't allow the two to marry so they married in secret. Not knowing this the king gave his permission to some nobles to kill her. After the king died and Dom Pedro succeeded him he had his revenge on the nobles. He then exhumed and crowned her body and order his court to pay homage to his dead wife by kissing her hand. The fountain of tears is said to be the place where Ines got killed.
There is a forrest-like part of the garden which is nice and cool and where you can find some overgrown ruins. Besides this there is also a small medieval garden and a romantic garden from the 19th century. Somewhere you can find two sequias planted by the Duke of Wellington which are 190 years old now.
It all looks a bit too decorated to be a functional library, but it is very impressive. You can only enter with a guide who will be keen to tell you every little detail about the place, tours only take 15-20 minutes. My guide was telling something strange about bats. Ask your guide when you're there. Although it was all very nice I wouldn't call this a must-see. If on the other hand you've got time and another 1,5 euro to spare you can get a combined ticket with the Sala dos Capelos.
The old university is definitly worth a visit even if you don't want to pay to enter the old Library and the Sala dos Capelos you should go. To view from the main square is really nice and the buildings itself have a certain charme. I especially liked the clock tower.
Not a very special museum but when it is getting too warm and you like to do something inside this is a good choice. You'll learn a lot about the life of princess Joana that later known as saint Joana.
Someone I worked with said Aveiro is called the Venice of Portugal. He said it as a joke. And it is a joke, but it still is a very nice place to spend a day or half a day maybe walking around. very nice, quiete feel about the place and some really nice Art Nouveau house on the side of the main canal.
Wind-swept, bare plain next to the atlantic, not very common in the Algarve.
There is an English tour starting at the Windrose at 3.00pm. When I was there I was the only one there giving the guide all the chances to explain the history of the site. But you don't go here for the history, besides the wall at the entrance and a small but very nice church there is barely anything to see that is of any historical importance. It's the amazing views that captures most visitors.
This is just such a funny collection of things, looks like they throwed everything together that they could find that has something to do with history. The museum is worth a look but the real thing to see is the Igreja De Santo Antonio which you can enter through the museum. Don't remember if you had to pay entrance for the museum or only for the church.
The church was build in the 18th and 19th century and is very extravagant in its decoration. It has some really nice paintings on the wall depicting the "Miracles of Saint Anthony". When I was there I overheard a guide explaining to this Irish couple that there was an English guy high up in the military if I remember correctly that turned his back on the Church of England and became a Catholic so he could be buried in the church. I don't know if he made it up to charm the Irish but it is an impressive church non the less.
Small almost cute little building. The Portuguese are really proud of their Age of Discoveries and this little museum is an homage to that. Well done, nice thing to do if you want to do something else in Lagos besides tanning.
A must if you want to understand the history of this city a bit more. Lots of funny, interesting and sometimes sad stories. Makes you wanted to be there when the wall finally came down.
Set aside the fact that these monuments where taken from other countries and that now you can see them completly out of context this is a great museum. I'm more for seeing things in there original environment but somehow the white marble statues and the blue tiled gate just look marvelous. Loved walking around here, take your time.
One of the best museums of modern art I ever visited. Great exhibitions, always changing, check out the website: http://www.serralves.pt/. In Portugese and English.
Also the park around the museum is worth a visit, very quiet, relaxing and beautiful.
Perfect budget solution, close by the busstation and not to far from the town centre. But very much a military barrack feeling about the place. This hostel is geared towards big groups. There is a big convention hall nearby and when there is a meeting the hostel is usually completly booked up. So call ahead just to be on the safe side. On other days you might have to share the kitchen with 2 or 3 other persons.
Impressive, if you like megalithic monuments you'll love this!!! Take your times they let you roam almost everywhere giving you the chance to see the monuments up close and personal. Buy the leaflet at the reception, it comes in different languages and is really good, All the artefacts found in the excavation are now in different museums in Portugal but the centre has a good exhibition with all types of explanations of the site and megalithic monuments in Portugal and elsewhere. Good library as well.
Lovely little place, it has a fort that is still used today and not open for public, but gives the place even more charmes. Just a few streets and 1 place to eat. Perfect place to get away from the resort feel of the surrounding towns.
When I was working there they held a little festival all in Moorish atmosphere with belly dancers, middle eastern food with great sweets, and a little theme market. This was in august if I remember correctly.
Lovely beach because you have to pay the ferry to get there it isn't to crowded. Camping, some restaurants and really nasty toilets, bring your own toilet paper
But white sand, blue sea, blue sky and peace and quiet.
Instead of taking the bus to Quatro Aguas to go to Ilha de Tavira walk, it is about 2km. You'll pass by the salt pans, very quiet road, strange views and sometimes you can see flamingos
In the middel of the historical centre of Tavira. Funny combination of a flower garden and a defence walls. On top of the tower you have a great view of Tavira.
Lovely place to wander around and have a picnic. I went to visit Milreu and afterwards walking to the busstop of Estoi to return to Faro I passed by this place. Nice and relaxing some really surreal places to be found.
Absolutly loved it, came here because a friend excavated here. Must say I'm really jealous of her. The mosaics are just gourgeous. I wandered around for nearly two hours there are so many little things to see. The leaflet they sell at the entrance for 1 euro is worth buying gives you a lot of extra info. Otherwise it is hard sometimes to know what you're looking at.
Very basic but cheap. Tiny little kitchen but then again the hostel isn't so big either. Walking distance from the centre. Right next to the Instituto Portugues da Juventude where you can use the internet
Loved it, very touristy at some times of the day but there is always a charming little street to hide. Far away from the resort tourism of the rest of the Algarve.
Alentejan cuisine is famously filling and this little restaurant is no exception. Very much a meat restaurant so eather you like meat or you like bacelhau, cod, or you find somewhere else to eat. Ridiculusly cheap.
Funny little museum, some explanation about the artist but above all a lot of sometimes very funny sculptures. It's free so I would say go take a look. Good place to hide from the heat.
Lovely, really nice artefacts, most are decorated stones used in buildings. Really good explanations about the history and the archaeology of the early medieval times in Beja, Alentejo and Portugal, all in Portugues though.
Really nice building, strange to see a convent in the middle of town. Great architectural querks. The regional museum is a bit disapointing, a bit on the small site. Ticket for this convent includes entrance to the Visigothic museum a few minutes walking away
My favourite! This is not my favourite period in history but the museum is so impressive. Lots of artefacts with really good explanation. Don't get me wrong this museum isn't big, but you have to take your time to see it.
One of the bigger museums, very nice collection combined with videos from present day muslims making bread or celebrating religieus holidays. Very beautiful stuff.
There is not that much left of the castle or of the archaeological excavation you pass getting in the castle, but the view is just amasing. Inside there are some small exhibions on the history of the town and the area.
Nice hostel, quiet neigbourhood, good location. I missed a kitchen though, but then there are a lot of nice restaurants and cafeteria to be found in Sintra. Nice bar down stairs where the reception is.
Gorgeous place. You can walk up there from the the town, passing Parque da Libertad you enter the castle through enchanting woodlands. Putting you in the mood for the magic of this castle. You have to go to the road first to buy your ticket at the boot. Just don't forget your wallet like I did because going up twice in 1 day is too much.
Really nice palace. So many different rooms with different styles, you're bound to find something you like. They have some really nice azulejos. Good explanations as well in every room. I thought the kitchen, at the end of the tour, was very impressive, you could cook for the whole town here.
Park full of historical sites, museums and off course deer. You can buy deer cookies for 150 yen. Be careful which deer you give it to, some of them can be very annoying and nearly all of them are pushy. But it is great fun to watch the deer chase the tourists. Not recommended to hold a picknick in this park, our four legged friends will ruin it for sure.
Lanterns, lanterns and more lanterns. It is 500 yen to enter but most of the temple can be seen from outside with as a result that it is rather quiet inside. Some really beautifull lanterns and a beautifull old tree. The tickets were sold by young girls in traditional clothes.
The Todai-ji si more than just the Daibutsu den. You enter the temple complex through the big entrance gate. The two statues guarding the entrance gate are very impressive, but the Daibutsu-den is even more breathtaking. For some reason I espected a lying Buddha. If you look at the figures you can't help being impressed, one of the biggest Buddhas in the world, 437 tonnes of bronze and 130 kg of gold. In the back of the building there is a wooden pole with a hole in it, said to be as big as the nostril of the bronze Buddha. Everybody who can fit through this hole is ensured of enlightment. I wouldn't try it, it really is very small.
Beside the Daibutsu there are two more buildings and a big bell.
Nigatsu-do is small compared to the former building but has a really nice view over Nara. Close by is the Sangatsu-do, a small building filled with absolutly beautiful statues. You have to pay an extra 500 yen to enter but is sooo worth it. It is just one small room about 16 statues and a bench for the tourist so you can sit down and enjoy it at your own pace. An absolute must.
If you want to start your visit of Kyoto with on or tow big temples not very popular with the tourist but no less impressive, this is the one. Nice but not exactly one of the best.
Beautiful place. Everything is uphill and at the very top you've got a great view over Kyoto. There are a lot of cute little statues around. It is such a peacefull pleace compared to other temples in Kyoto, perfect place for a rest and a picknick
I know this seems like a tacky thing to do, but is so much fun. They give you some small pink bathrobe to wear under the kimono and then do the make up followed by the kimono. The photosession wasn't really all that. I didn't go out because it was raining to much.
My advice bring a friend, some coins for the lockers and good cleanser to wash your face afterwards. There were more of this places but this was the only one I could find with english explanation. The girls working there have just enough English to get by. Guys can dress up as samurai or even geisha but crossdressers can't go outside. Something to do with the image of the company.
I really liked this place. The temple has some nice paintings but the main attraction is the garden. You can sit inside the temple on the veranda and look in the garden, very peacefull. And not nearly as busy as the nearby Chion in. Nice place to go to after visiting Chion in.
This is bigger than any of the other temples I saw in Japan. Part of the grounds were closed when I was there. But even then it was more than enough. It is also very crowded, way too crowded with worshippers and tourist alike.
Everybody who likes art should visit this museum. The artefacts and paintings are just superb, it doesn't matter what you're in to, you'll find something you like. The collection is just to big not to.
The only thing that bothers me a bit is that the pieces aren't always set in their historical context. But they are exposed in a most beautiful way giving you the chance to fully enjoy them.
The entrance is free on sunday, which means a lot of people but don't let that discourage you.
A nice little yard welcomes you when you enter the property. You pay and then the path leads you through the cloister passing a lot of azulos. On the first floor of the cloister you can also find a collection of panels depicting La Fontaines fables accompanied by the actual tales. There is also a small collection of artifacts that were found during excavation there. There are also a lot of tombs of important crusaders and of the Braganças to be found. Nice and rather quiet spot. Really nice view from the rooftop. For people with some extra time on their hands.
Looking just at the remains of the teatre it is a bit disappointing. But the museum is so well constructed it doesn't matter. Really good exhibition on the roman history of Lisboa. Very interactive and above all free so definitly worth a short visit.
Huge, incredibly huge, makes you feel small. I always enter when I passed it and it never ceased to impress me. You have to pay to get into the cloister, 2,50 euros if I remember correctly. The main attraction here is the courtyard that got excavated a few years ago. The excavation is still open. I think it lacks some explanation, there is some but not a lot. But it still gives you a good impression on how history got built up in Lisboa with it's christian and islamic constructions all cramped into a small space.
I thought the ruins were very pittoresque. Lots of photomoments. The museum on the other hand was a bit disappointing. They had some really nice pieces but there isn't a real line throughout the museum to be found, it feels more like a giant private collection.
This square was built to impress the people entering Lisboa from the river and it still does even if most people nowadays enter the square from the other side. Beautiful old buildings and an impressive arco da victoria. During the weekend they hold a lot of happenings here.
One of the lesser known miradouros. Small chapel in the back and view benches to enjoy the view. Not a lot of people come here and that is part of the charm. We had to walk up a pretty steep hill though to get there. Don't know if there is public transport to get you there.
An absolute must if you're in Lisboa for more than a day. This big monastry with it's mixture of architectural styles is famous and loved by a lot of the Portuguese so expect a lot of people. The gothic an Manueline decorations combined with the light coloured stones makes the whole experience quite unique. You can get in the church for free and if you want more you can pay to get into the monastry. This monastry is so big that even when they dump bus loads full of tourists here it still remains rather serene.
Loved it. You come here for the castle and you stay for the view. The only thing that is left of the castle are the battlements and you have to really use your imagination. You can walk around on these walls and picture the Moors and the Christian fighting over this piece of land. It is not hard to imagine why this spot was so important. The castle stands proud on the top of a hill overlooking nearly all of present Lisboa and the Tejo.
There is also a camera obscura in one of the towers. They hold a demonstration every half hour and you have to put your name down on a waiting list to get in. It is really fun to see, as it really gives a fascinating 360 degree view over the city. If I remember correct it is free.
A bit closer by the entrance there is a small exhibition on the history of the castle and the city. Interesting to watch but not an absolute must.
Small defence post where the Tejo flows into the ocean. Most people go to Belem for the monastry but I think this tower in itself is worth a visit. I just love the mix of the different architecural styles, it makes this military building look like a big sugary cake. It has a few floors and a few exhibitions, there is enough explanation to be found. I liked the story about the sculpture of a little elephant, this sculpture was made after the first elephant arrived in Lisboa.
My favourite spot in Lisboa, it may not be the hippest place but is is definitly the most charming one. There is a lot of climbing and descending involved strolling through this neibourhood but it is worth it. This is still a community where people know each other and this shows in so many ways making an afternoon stroll here very charming. Don't go walking here with a map in your hand but just get lost and find your own local restaurant with a worn down interior and great food.
If you can you should go and visit this place the first weeks of June during the Festas dos Santos Populares, with as the summit the Festa de Sao Antonio (around the 14th of June) when you can sit down in one of the many impromptu restaurants and gorge yourself in sardines and sangria. There are also a lot of other local delicatessen to found in one of the many stands, I liked the cherry liquor a lot. And after the eating and drinking you can dance the night away one of the squares where they play live music.
The place to start a visit to Lisboa. Tourist office on the Praça dos Restauradores a ten minute walk away and lot of the nice sites also in walking distance. Remember that almost everything is uphill from here.
A bit the elegant part of Lisboa, really nice buildings and good if sometimes a bit touristy restaurants.
Lovely place you should go and visit both during the evening for the fun hole in the wall bars where they hand you your drinks in plastic cups (bar hopping has never been so much fun) and during the day to visit all the different shops. Best place to buy some original presents for the people back home. Who doesn't want soap made out of lettuce?
People come here to see the Zen garden and I must say it is really gorgous. Even though there are to many people to call it peaceful it is still a relaxing visit.
You can enter through the garden en then you only pay for the garden or you can enter through the building and then you can see both the building and the garden. There is a slight difference in entrance fee and to be honest I don't think the building in itself is that big a deal.
It is like everybody flocks to Kyoto during cherry blossom season but dispite this Kyoto is beautiful when all the trees are in full bloom. I would recommend the cherry tree in the Kodai-ji, which is probably the most famous one in the city. But a walk past the canal is also a must, this is known as the Tetsugaku-no-michi or the philosophers' walk.
This neigbourhood has some real nice spots, but then other areas are just flooded with tourists. It is a mix of fabricated and genuine charme. Still a nice spot to walk are around. Remember that most Geisha you see during the day are dressed up tourists, you can recognise them by the fact thtat they are waring wigs. Must say that dressing up like a Geisha is great fun.
Lovely gardens to walk around in. During cherry blossoms season they are open in the evening as well. The cherry willow in the garden is the most famous one in Kyoto. In the evening it is part of a big light show. This wasn't as corny as I thought it would be. Very busy during this time of year though.
It is a must see, definitly. The view is really nice and there are so many things to see so it really pays going up that hill. But it is so busy, when I was there it was like being part of a river of people. Western en Asian alike all taking pictures of the same things. This takes away a lot of the charme, I assume visiting this temple might be lot more fun very early in the morning.
I really liked the Jishu-jina, this is a shinto shrine and is not really related to the rest of the temple. It is visited by couples and people looking for love. It is believed that if you manage to step from one love stone to the other without opening your eyes you'll find the love of your life. It is funny to watch the young Japanese women getting all excited when they manage this heavy task ( the two stones are 18 meters apart). You can also see thank you offerings from all over the world.
When I was there in april this year they were relocating the permanent collection. There was a temporary exhibition on a zen-cloister. It was nice but not really my thing.
Impressive building and impressive collection of statues. It is just a pity that you can't take any pictures inside. There is a lot of explanation to be found inside. Every guardian deity is explained in full detail. After statue number four you start feeling a bit numb but it is still all very interesting. After visiting the hall you pass by the back of the hall where there is a small exposition on the history of the temple. I liked the story about the arrow shooting contest, the Toshi-ya Matsuri, a lot. The record is 9 arrows per minute for 24 hours. That is just mindboggeling.
If you got 100 yen to spare you can visit this hall. There are some nice and sometimes funny paintings hanging up there and the view from the hall is also nice. But you can also not pay and just look in from the outside, the pagoda is also free of charge.
This is a cute museum with some very nice pieces, especially the wooden artefacts are beautifull. Best parts I think were the paintings depicting some important battle fought on the island and the merchant's house you can visit at the end of the tour. Gives you a good idea about life 100 years ago. They also have nice sign at the end which says 'please sit and rest'.
One of the best things I did in Japan was 'climb' Mt Misen. After nearly two weeks of trekking around overcrowded Japan this trek was so relaxing. Most people take the ropeway, which is understandable because the walk is not for sissies, I had sore legs for another two days. To do the walk just follow the arrows indicating the way to the ropeway, at one point you see arrows indicating the way to Mt Misen. The path itself is well indicated and well taken care of but very steep, not for people with health problems or for little children. It took me a little over 1,5 hours to get up there. I only encountered about 4 people. That feeling of peace and quiet changes when you pass the ropeway station.
On the way up you pass by a temple holding a pot that was used by a saint on that same spot in the 9th century, it has been kept simmering ever since. Which makes the hall very smokey.
On the top there is a big, ugly construction of metal and concrete which allows you to have a good look over the inland sea and Miyajima.
The way down took me about an hour and leads past the remains of the Niomon gate and at the very bottom of the mountain you pass the Daisho-in temple.
Fun and entertaining thing to visit when you're fed up with the traditional sights of Barcelona, not only for the chocolate addicts. They do have really nice chocolate sculptures. Some really good information on the history and making of chocolate.
This temple is big, there are so many halls to discover. One of my favourites he Hakkaku Manpuku Hall, this octogonal hall standing in the middle of a pool is a shrine to th Seven Deities of Good Fortune. Other nice spot is the Hen jyokutsu Cave under the main Daisi-do Hall. this cave is lit up by hundreds of lanterns and holds the principal Buddist icons of the eighty eight temples of the pilgrimage route on Shikoku. The lanterns give this place a mysterious look.
All over the temple grounds there are statues, some of them of very cute little Buddhas. Most of them have some coins on them as sort of offering. If you'd leave 10 yen by every statue you would loose a fortune there are that many.
The shrine and the torii are just breathtaking. Arriving by ferry the torii is visible almost immediatly and then you can see everybody going to the front of the boat to take pictures.
For the shrine itself you have to pay entrance, it is mostly corridors painted in bright red and orange. It looks very cheerful and seeing the torii from the pier with the main land in the back just adds to the experience. The best view is when the tide is in. At the ferry terminal there is a tourist office where they have a list with the tides. When the tide is out the torii is standing in the mud. When that happens you can go and walk under the torii, only then you can see how big the torii is.
I thought this castle was a disappointment, especially after seeing Himeji-jo. Once you'r inside all you can see is concrete. It contains a reasonably good museum telling the whole history of the castle, showing what the houses of the Samurai and the traders would have looked like, children and big children can dress up as Samurai. The view from the top floor is not impressive since the castle stands in the plain surrounded by skyscrapers. At the south entrance you can visit the turrets. They have a collection of origami samurai helmets, I thought that was hilarious.
Serene place. Despite the heavy history it is a good place to relax and have lunch or enjoy the cherry blossom. Also a good place to recover from a visit to the A-Bomb Museum. Loved the Children's Peace Monument, the story of the little girl trying to fold 1000 paper cranes breaks my heart every time I hear it.
When you come from the station, by tram or by foot this is the first thing you see to remind you of the bomb. It is an eary feeling standing there with your camera, feeling very much the tourist while all the japanese passing you by on their way to work and then this big dome just standing there, dwarfed by the skyscrappers around it.
A place everybody should visit. The museum is very impressive and you can really tell that a lot of people put a lot of work in it. All so that the world should not forget, the sad thing is we are forgetting. Every year there are less and less cranes arriving at the Children Peace Monument. But once you've visited Hiroshima and the Peace Museum you'll not be able to forget.
The museum is really confronting and both puts the whole event in the perspective of WOII as provides you with a lot of personal stories of people who were there when the bomb went of.
Take your time visiting this place but don't bother with the audio guide it does not provide any extra information.
This is one of the liveliest main squares I have ever seen. If you're in Marrakech for more than 1 day try to pass by here on different times of the day, different times, different things to see. Always very athmosperically
There are cheaper places around with food that isn't bad either but you come here for the view and the good couscous. Great yoghurt as well. If you have the time have lunch and dinner here. The view from the terras is completly different during the day than during the night.
Everything you heard about Morocco is true and everything you can buy you can find here. Always bargain. But even if you don't have any spare money to spend it is a great place to wander about.
Nearly every tour on the way to the west bank stops here to let you take some pictures. It is a bit a surreal sight these two giants standing in the middle of nothing.
I was told the statues stopped singing after they restaurated them to stop them from falling apart even more.
The first thing I visited in Egypt and it set the mood for the rest of the journey. Everything I had just seen in books and on televison suddenly was there in front of me. Loved the way the early chrisitians built there church on top of the temple. You can really see that this place has a history and that it has always been important for the Egyptians.
The Nile is the heart of Egypt and everything is happening on the water or just next to it. So if your not on a cruiseship already rent a boat and spent an evening watching the world going by on the water.
If you have trouble imagining what a complete temple would have looked like in ancient times you have to go and see this one. Even if it is just for the huge entrance gate, that just swept me away.
Huge, wonderfull and full of places to discover. Tons of guides walking around the temples explaining it all to their group. If you know a few languages you can listen in on them get to know everything there is to know. But this is actually inspiring enough to enjoy without knowing everything. Just walk, look and don't forget to bring water.
Try to get as much information as you can before you visit each tomb, guide, books, internet,... Every tomb has his own story to tell but if you don't know what you're looking at they all look the same.
It's one of those places nearly everybody visiting Egypt goes to see but rightly so.
This is one of the must sees in Egypt. Because it is an isolated place now it is really calm place. Not a lot of people trying to sell kitch to you. But because it is so well known there are tons of tourists. Beautiful place, try to get there as early as possible, the statues are just gorgous all aglow in the morning light.
The one down side was that they took us out through the artificial mountain they rebuilt the temple against. Seeing all that steal took away a part of the experience.
Great castle with a lot of small rooms to discover, I missed a bit of explanation. All the information we had we got from our guide books. Still well worth a trip.
Fun thing to do, you just walk into the sea and as soon as your gravity center, or whatever it is called, is under water it's impossible to stand up and you'll start floating automatically. You can go to one of the 'spas' or you can go to a local beach, just make sure you rinse with clean water afterwards. And ladies; it kind of burns in not so fun places but that passes after a while.
One of the few places I'm definitly going to visit again. Walking between the high rocks on the path leading to the treasury I wondered after a while were I was. Just then I turned a corner and saw the treasury standing aglow in the morning light. One of the best sights in my life. I spend 2,5 days here wandering around the places. There is this big open place full of temples and other buildings, excavations still ongoing. You can also go up in the mountains to discover other pearls. The roads are really well indicated and on a normal day you can just follow the stream of people. Go early in the morning so you can see most of the big sites before the tourbusses arrive. My advice take a map with you not to plan your tour but to put everything in perspective. The place is so huge.
I also had a great time with the bedouins. My friend and I got talking to a couple of them and they invited us over for tea at their home and in the evening took me out for a night time BBQ under the stars, with a view over Petra. Amazing dinner. These were really open minded friendly people who are proud of their history and they have so many interesting stories and details to tell.
Absolutly loved this place. The place is huge so take one of the free bikes at the entrance and follow the arrows. The museum itself is really bright and well installed. Some really nice paintings , some well know paintings as well.
There is also a Jachthuis (hunting lodge) build for the Kroller Muller family which you can visit, there is an extra entrance fee and you have to book your place, it is a nice house but if you don't have the time it is not the best thing in the park.
On a good day it pays to take a picnick with you and ride around the park.
A bit touristy all the tourist boats outside the central station taking you for a ride through the grachten. There are many operators all with there own price lists, it pays to compare the prices. You sit in the typical boats while the captin plays a taperecorder. But it is a realy nice way to see Amsterdam. It does all look different from the water.
This big museum on one of Holland's best know artists is a great museum for people who like Van Gogh. It is really well organised with clear explanations in both Dutch an English, for other languages you can rent an audio guide. It realy gave me a clear picture of his life. It also showed that his artistic period was very short and that in those few years he tried many different styles. At one point I wished he had made up his mind. The fact that there is such a long queue and so many people all trying to take a good look at the pictures makes the visit a bit tiresome.
They had some great temporary exhibitions when I was there.
Gigantic museum, the biggest one outside Cairo. The first rooms are done in the modern museum style, clear and with lots of information. Than you've got a few rooms with artefacts from Italian excavations in Egypt and upstairs there are this big rooms cramped full with scarabees, mummies, more than life-size statues and the likes...
Even for the peole who have no specific interest in Egyptian archaeology this is a must see.
Really big piazza surrounded by some beautifull buildings, some of which have big historical importance. There are little plaques everywhere. On one side there is also a metal bull (toro) inbedded in the pavement. Rubbing your feet over his balls is supposed to bring you luck. On the piazza are often art exhibitions.
The nearby via Roma that connexts this piazza with the piazza Castello has some really good gellaterias.
Probably the best film museum you will find this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Clear explanations on all the different aspects of film making and and genres. The immensive dome is very impressive, you can lay down in one of the chairs with boxes in the headrest and watch the little compilations of different films that are projected on the dome.
In the middle of this dome there is lift shaft going to the top of the building. Going up in this glass lift while all around you there are film fragments playing on the white dome is a great experience.
The view is supposed to be great, but the two times I went up there the wheater was too bad to see much.
You can use to visit the museum, just take the lift or both.
Piazza full of life, Great place to sit and watch Torino go by. Also some good views; on the one side you can look down via Po all the way down to the Gran Madre (where the holy Grail is supposed to be buried) on the other side you have a great view on to the snowy tops of the alps.
Some really nice historical buildings on and near the square.
This museum is packed with great and unique pieces from the world's history. I liked the Elgin marbles and the pieces from the ancient oriental cultures a lot. But it is kind of painful to know that most of these pieces ended up here because of the imperialistic excesses of the British Empire. That said it is a must see for everybody, even if you only got an hour to spare you can come and marvle in the splendour. They've got some exquisite temporary exhibitions as well.
You can easily spend a whole day here. They've got everything you can imagine. Alternitive heaven!!! Some shops have the 1 pound shop vibe but there are so many different interesting and individual shops around to make up for it. Watch your wallet you'll spend more than you intented.
On dry days there is a great open air food court as well.
Brilliant modern museum with some great temporary exhibitions. And on the conterary to other museums of it's kind it is really layed back. Also a great place to do some people watching. Because it is free and in a great location everybody walks in. It's funny to watch people's reaction to some of the more absurd pieces.
Italians were always telling me the best place to visit ancient Greece is Sicily and not Greece. I always thought they were exaggerating as usual, that was until I visited the valle dei templi in Agrigento. That site is just superb. Museum right next door for some in depth information, beautfully displayed and lots of explanation.
Most people come for the theatre and stay for the view. They are both impressive and a good reason to visit. Loved the place. There are always a lot of people around but it is never disturbing.
Lots of cats also at the foot of the theatre trying to get your attention and your food.
This museum is a bit disappointing, Old School displays with a lot of artifacts but very little explanation and some very old pictures. There are a few nice pieces but if you're not really interested no need to come here. The whole museum can be done in half an hour
The collection of paintings was impressive, a lot of stern looking Japanese nudes and colourfully dressed european women. Clear european influence, it's interesting to see how this Japanese artist incorperated this.
The collection of ancient artifacts were clearly chosen for there artistic value and not for their historical. It is a beautifull collection but I miss some explanation.
The entrance is 500 yen but if you show your ticket from the Ohara Museum of Art you only have to pay 300 yen.
It's tiny and so funny. The happiest place in the whole of Kurashiki. The shop itself is worth a visit. And the woman holding the shop is very friendly, she wouldn't even let me pay the entrance. Don't know why but I got in there for free.
This place is such a wonderfully happy place. First room is full of toys from the different regions of Japan. Did not always see that many differences. The second room is full of Daruma, the third is the wooden toy room and the last room is full with dolls, masks and kites.
As most museums in Kurashiki this one also lacks clear explanations but somehow it isn't really disturbing here. It so much fun walking around in there. Afterwards you have to go out through the toy store which is very stratigical because the urge to start collecting spinning tops and kites is undeniable.
The entrance ticket is actually an origami paper, still haven't found out how to fold mine though.
Small Folk Art museum, this is one for the folk art lovers, no extra explanation, small leaflet with little English info. Beautifully displayed. You're in and out in half an hour. Very quiet museum as well, had it all to myself.
This complex is so big you can take guided tours around the thing. But the most amazing thing is the Tokyo City View. There is also a Sky Deck that is open if weather permits it. The City View is 1500 yen, plus Sky Deck it's 100 yen more, students pay 500 yen less. It might be more expensive than most other attractions but it's worth it. The Mori Art Museum is up there as well and is included in the price.
I went there when it was already dark, when you're up there with Tokyo al dressed up in neon lights around you, you realise how mindboggling big this city is. The only dark spot is the sea.
It also has a restaurant floor, I think it’s the 5th floor, a cinema and a lot of shops.
Watching the freaks, some great shops with weird clothes, but unfortunately all Japanese sized. Everybody walks around eating the stuffed crepes but I found them rather bland.
Great place to wander about. I could spent hours watching the Japanese sawing up frozen pieces of tuna, the endless rows of fish some of them I'd never seen before.
Beware of the guys driving around in motorised carts, they own the road.
Between the actual fish market and the metro stations there are a few sushi restaurants. My advice; just go to the places with the long cues. The freshest sushi breakfast you'll ever get in your life.
Magnificent big red temple in the middle of a nice easy going part of Tokyo. Loved the place. Great for an evening stroll, it is such a different atmosphere when the shops are closed and the lanterns are lightened up. Tons of rather inexpensive restaurants around the neighbourhood. If you like sushi try Maguro Bite
When I was there (April 2009) the big temple was being restaurated which takes away a lot of the charms. There are also a lot of different statues and tiny little shrines around the temple complex.
It looks like a really interesting place to visit it was just such a pity I didn't understand anything, no explanation in English to be found anywhere. But despite that it might be a good place to take the kids, it is really interactive with a lot of videos and buttons to push. And at 11 am, 2 pm and 3.30pm you can dress up as a samurai or in a kimono. The incredibly friendly staff even went to find me to make sure I wouldn't miss it.
This place has a few wonderful spots plus the Himeji castle in the background makes for some gorgeous views. I thought the tea garden was a bit disappointing but then again maybe it looks a lot better if you're inside the tea ceremony house where you can enjoy your green tea and Japanese sweet for 500 yen. There are some benches where you can sit and relax but beware that these are also the only places you are allowed to smoke, so great view, terrible stench. There were a lot of people when I was there but compared to the castle it was quiet.
The best preserved and biggest castle in Japan definitely deserves a visit. It has everything you want from a medieval castle including a haunted well. Big grounds with a lot to see beside the Don Jon. Clear English explanations about the certain details found on plaques around the place. Good leaflet in different languages to be found at the entrance.
It is a very popular spot, the big crowd takes away a bit of the charms. Going up the Don Jon I felt a bit like cattle.
Well if the Japanese line up for it.... Great sushi, nice cooks and busy waiters, conveyor belt and an english menu to order as you like. Hard to miss, has big neon lighting.Got good miso soup as well, but still haven't figured out how to eat crab soup with big pieces of crab with shell just with chop sticks.
The biggest and oldest museum in town. Perfect for whomever wants a break from all the Japanese art, it holds some great paintings from western artists. Beautifully displayed and with an English audio guide for a mere 500 yen more. The ticket also gives access to the annex, a smaller museum with art work from Japanese artists inspired by western art, and to the Craft Art Gallery and Asiatic Art Gallery. These last two have some gorgous pieces, among other things really nice Buddha statues from China but they lack explanation in English. The ticket is valid a whole day so you can revisit whenever you want.
Great hotel for people who don't need any unneccary luxury. Small rooms that will easily fit one person and a backpack but very little else. Only 1 shower for all the women in the hotel, don't know about the men. The staff makes up for their bad english by being incredibly friendly. Very easy as it is right next to the subway, just take exit 3 or 4 at the dobutsuen-mae stop on the sakaisuji line or the midosuji line. This last line also passes through the Shin Osaka and the Osaka train station.
Amazing spot to wander around. There is a restaurant on the corner that has a roof terrace with some great couscous, perfect place to rest, eat and watch the crowd. Especially beautiful when the sun has gone down and all the lights go on.
It is not a place for Sissies. A few people I travelled with had severe altitude sickness. The lodgings are basic to very basic but once you see the flamingoes fly over a red lake with beautiful white shores you'll be glad you came. It's an amazing place, so of this world and well worth paying a litlle extra in Uyuni to take the long tour. Don't forget to bring your swimming gear so you can take a bath at 7 o'clock in the morning after your guide woke you up at 4 o'clock to go and see a geyser. Breakfast floating around in warm water at 4000 meter altitude...
