FredTraveler's Travel Blog

One of the most charming cities in Europe - Prague, Czech Republic

 This place was Amazing visited Sep 1994

The Czech capital is indeed one of the most charming cities of Europe. It breathes music, it is architecturally preserved and it is a growing cosmopolitan capital. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. It was settled in the 9th century and founded as city in the 13th century. Its golden era was in the 14th century when King Charles IV was elected the Holy Roman Emperor and again in the 16th century when it became the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Prague is the enchanted city of bridges, churches, golden towers but also a modern vibrant city that shines for centuries on the waters of River Vltava. Prague has 14 bridges. The most ancient and valuable was built in 1357 and was named after King Charles IV. This charming bridge is part of the so called Royal Path, the most known tourist route that brings people from the old town to the Castle Hill. We can start the tour of Prague by the most glorious part, the Hradcany hill where stands the Castle of Prague. The Castle was built in the 9th century but its look today comes from the last reconstruction in the 18th century. It hosted the official residence of the country's rulers until today. The castle walls cover 7 hectares including Saint George Basilica, a romaine church from the 17th century and Zlatá ulièka (golden lane), a popular street because of its small coloured houses, one of them was inhabited by Franz Kafka. Saint Vitus Cathedral was founded by King Charles IV in the 14th century but several styles were added to the gothic base since then. It has remarkable stained glasses and a magnificent view over the city, from the tower. Karlùv most is the most famous bridge in Prague, named after King Charles IV. It was built in 1400 and links Hradcany to the old town. From this side of the bridge there is a charming gothic tower. In the old town, the highlight is the Old Town Square with its brilliant baroque buildings and the old Town Hall from 1338 with its astronomic clock from 1410. This square is very beautiful which makes a great meeting point to many people. With its lower facade hidden from the square, Tyn Cathedral is however imposing its dimension on the Old Town Square landscape. The streets around the Old Town Square are picturesque and a great walking spot to explore the jewels of architecture, like the several medieval towers. Completing the walk around the town centre we can end the tour in the majestic Vaclav Square overlooked from the National Museum. Getting There: Prague is located in Central Bohemia. There are good roads and motorways towards Western Europe, including Vienna, Bratislava and Germany. Eastwards the roads are poorer. In future the country will benefit from massive investment in infrastructure subsidised by the European Union. Prague is 300 kms away from Vienna, 330 kms from Bratislava, 525 kms from Budapest, 340 kms from Berlin, 380 kms from Munich and 630 kms from Warsaw. Being a European capital, Prague as a major international airport offering a wide variety of flights to the rest of Europe.

posted Jan 5, 2005 | Comments (0)

The sights of Rome... - Rome, Italy

 This place was Amazing visited Jan 2001

In Rome, we stayed in a hotel near the Termini (Central Station) from where we started our walks through Via Cavour and Santa Maria Maggiore Church going down to the Coliseum which obviously deserved a long detour along with the Roman Forum. Getting back to Termini, we passed by Piazza della Republica and walked down Via Nazionale carrying on to Piazza Barberini. From here we reached the famous Piazza di Spagna majestic stairways. Other areas visited were the Via del Corso from the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and visiting the Roman Pantheon, the fabulous Fontana di Trevi and in the end, the Piazza del Popolo. From Barberini we walked up Via Veneto and reached the Rome Zoo which honestly isn't a relevant zoo. On the other bank of River Tevere we visited widely the Vatican district, starting by the majestic St.Peter's Cathedral (including a climb to the top for a panoramic view of Rome), St.Peter Square, the Vatican Museum where beyond much valuable art we could admire the overwhelming Sistine Chapel by Micheangelo. "Going to Rome and not seeing the Pope..." well, we did see the Pope John Paul II preaching from his high window in the Vatican Palace. Coming back to the center, we passed by Sant'angelo Castle and crossed the pedestrian bridge nearby. A little further we reached charming Piazza Navona that we also visited at night.

posted Jan 5, 2005 | Comments (0)

About Budapest - Budapest, Hungary

 This place was Amazing visited Sep 1994

This visit to Budapest was part of a long trip that included also Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In Hungary, after a stop in Lake Balaton we focused on discovering the capital. Budapest was the result of a merge of two towns, Buda and Pest, separated by the River Danube. This trip started and ended in Lisbon completing a 8,500 kms drive. Budapest is the capital and largest city in Hungary with 2 million inhabitants. The city is divided in two separate parts by Danube River: Buda with its quiet hills carrying plenty of history and Pest holding all the rush in a plain area. They were two distinct towns until 1873. Budapest played for periods very important roles in European history and thus it's is rich in monuments and architecture. Starting by Buda, the Castle Hill is a great spot to walk around the medieval streets and admire the view to the whole side of Pest, the river and Gellért Hill. On the top of the hill stands the majestic Royal Palace, built in the 14th century and rebuilt in baroque style 400 years later. It was the official residence of Hungarian kings for 700 years. Currently it holds the best museums in the country and the National Library. Nearby is Matthias Church, from the 14th century, where kings used to be crowned. A major tourist attraction is the Fishermen Bastion, a monumental viewpoint that has the best view of Pest and the river, including a magnificent vision of the neo-gothic parliament and the Széchenyi Bridge (Chain Bridge). Gellért Hill is a natural reserve in the city. The Citadel and 3 of the famous spa hotels of Budapest are here. The famous Széchenyi Bridge connects Buda and Pest and it is one of the major town symbols. On the Pest side, the first area to visit is the pedestrian street Váci utca with its elegant shops, cafés and restaurants. St. István Basilica (St. Stephen) is the largest church in Budapest, built in a neo-renaissance style. The National Museum is the best monument of classical Hungarian architecture. The old Jewish district Erzsébet deserves a walk. Here rises the largest Synagogue in Europe with room for 3000 people. The Hungarian Parliament is maybe the most famous building of Budapest, in its sumptuous neo-gothic style. Walking along Andrássy Boulevard one finds fine mansions from the 19th and 20th century and also the Opera House. The monumental Heroes Square is in the City Park. Getting There: Budapest is in central Hungary, on the banks of the Danube. There are good motorway and railway connections to Western Europe by Vienna, Bratislava and Prague. Eastwards the connections are poor. In the coming future, the country will benefit from massive investments in infrastructures by joining the European Union. Budapest stays 240 kms away from Vienna, 194 kms from Bratislava, 525 kms from Prague, 700 kms from Warsaw, 760 kms from Bucharest and 365 kms from Belgrade. As a European capital, Budapest has an international airport with several connections to the rest of Europe.

posted Jan 5, 2005 | Comments (0)

Perito Moreno Glacier - Caserio de Calafates, Argentina

 This place was Amazing visited Nov 1997

Perito Moreno Glacier is inside Los Glaciares National Park and, as Grey Glacier in Chile, it is part of the vast 300 km of Campo de Hielos Sur (the largest extension of permanent ice in the world out of Antarctica). This Glacier is a rare case in the world for still increasing its size every year. It is 60 m high over Lago Argentino and it's located 80 km west of El Calafate. Get there? By bus or minibus from El Calafate or Puerto Natales in Chile. There are flights from Buenos Aires or Rio Gallegos to El Calafate.

posted Jan 4, 2005 | Comments (0)

southern most city in the world - Ushuaia, Argentina

 This place was Amazing visited Nov 1997

"Tierra del Fuego" was named by the first Europeans because they saw many fires the Indians would set on this island. It is equally divided between Chile and Argentina having the latter kept the eastern half. The most important towns on the Chilean half are Porvenir, on the edge of Magellan Strait just facing Punta Arenas, and Puerto Williams, on the Beagle Channel in Navarino Island. The most important towns in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego are Ushuaia (considered the southernmost city in the world), on the edge of Beagle Channel, and Rio Grande on the east coast of the island, facing the Atlantic. The island is deserted and remote. Usually between two towns in Tierra del Fuego there are 200 to 400 km of nowhere land, of flat green endless plains, with the exception of the south part of the island which is extremely mountainous. Here, mountain walls near Ushuaia rise dramatically from sea level to 1500 m high. Near Ushuaia it is located Tierra del Fuego National Park featuring green landscape and snowcapped peaks. On this park there are many protected animal species. Get there? In Chile, the best way to reach Tierra del Fuego is flying to Punta Arenas and from there either take the ferryboat across the Strait to Porvenir or take a small plane to Puerto Williams. Also by bus one can get to Ushuaia from Punta Arenas. In Argentina, there are direct flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia or Rio Gallegos.

posted Jan 4, 2005 | Comments (0)