Trips&Tricks

04/10/2024

Happy International Animals Day!
Post a picture with your pet!


🎥 Trips&Tricks

20/08/2024

Our One-Night Stay in Marseille: A Memorable Transit

We recently had a brief one-night stay in Marseille, primarily to transit through the city. Here’s a recount of our whirlwind experience:

Accommodation

Hotel: We chose Hotel Beausejour due to its proximity to the harbor area, which we were eager to explore. Unfortunately, this turned out to be our worst accommodation experience:

Room: Very small with no balcony.

A/C: Did not work, making the room quite uncomfortable.

Noise: The room was noisy, disrupting our sleep.

Cost: At 95 euros, it felt overpriced for the quality received.

Late-Night Arrival and Exploration

Our flight was delayed, so we arrived in Marseille very late at night. With an early flight the next day, we decided to explore the harbor area at around 11 PM.

First Stop - Queen Victoria Bar: We were initially happy to find an open bar that appeared to serve food. However, the experience quickly soured:

Service: The waiter was extremely rude.

Food: They had stopped serving food.

Payment Issues: Their card machine was not working, which was quite inconvenient.

Night-Time Safety Concerns

After our drink at the bar, we attempted a short walk but immediately encountered a violent altercation between two men throwing chairs and shouting.

The police were present but seemed indifferent as they were busy buying sandwiches, which was alarming and made me feel unsafe as a woman. We promptly decided to return to our hotel.

Early Morning Adventure

Determined to make the most of our stay, we woke up at 5 AM to visit the Basilica of Notre-Dame-of-la-Garde.

Climb: The journey was quite a trek, involving a steep 2-3 km uphill walk.

View: The stunning panoramic view from the top was absolutely worth the effort.

After descending, we returned to the port and took the metro to Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles. From there, we caught a bus to the airport.

Cost: The bus fare was 20 euros for two people, while an Uber would have cost 45 euros.

13/07/2024

📸 Trips&Tricks

27/06/2024

Accommodation:
Hostal Astoria:
Location: City center
Duration: 3 nights
Cost: 463 Euro
Highlights: Good accommodation, conveniently located near major attractions
Exploring Madrid:
Day 1: Parque del Retiro

Activities:
Strolled through the park
Had coffee (Note: No Wi-Fi on the terrace, long wait times, and higher prices compared to city center)
Sights:
Lake with turtles, ducks, swans, and boating
Monumento a Alfonso XII
Palacio Velazquez (part of Reina Sofia museum)
Architectural and Historical Highlights

Landmarks:
Banco de España (featured in Casa de Papel)
Cibeles building
Metropolis building
Plaza Mayor
Plaza de San Miguel
Royal Palace
Templo de Debod
Cathedrals:
Iglesia de San José
Iglesia de San Nicolás
Iglesia del Sacramento
Catedral de San Isidro
Almudena Cathedral
Cultural Experience

Museo del Prado:
One of the largest art museums in Europe
Dining in Madrid

Restaurants:
Alsa Madrid Pza Elipctica
El Rincon de Vicente
O'Reilly's Pub (watched a football game here)
General Impressions

Cityscape: Madrid is rich in history with eclectic architectural styles.
Accessibility: The city is walkable, making it easy to explore many attractions on foot.
Photography: Excellent opportunities for capturing beautiful buildings and landmarks.
Exploring Toledo:
Highlights

Alcazar Museo del Ejercito: A historic fortress housing the Army Museum
Catedral Primada: The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, a stunning Gothic cathedral
Museo de El Greco: A museum dedicated to the works of the famous painter El Greco
Dining in Toledo

Restaurant:
Terraza Caracena: Enjoyed a delightful lunch here
Tips for Future Travelers:

Accommodation: Staying in the city center, such as at Hostal Astoria, provides easy access to major sights.
Parque del Retiro: A beautiful park but be prepared for potentially slow service and higher prices at the café.
Landmarks and Museums: Allocate enough time to fully appreciate landmarks like Museo del Prado and Alcazar Museo del Ejercito.
Photography: Madrid and Toledo offer fantastic photo opportunities with their historic and architectural beauty.
Dining: Explore local eateries and pubs for a mix of traditional and lively experiences.
Madrid
Historical Sites:

Royal Palace (Palacio Real):

The official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, used for state ceremonies.
Built in the 18th century on the site of the old Alcázar of Madrid.
Plaza Mayor:

A grand square in the heart of Madrid, completed in 1619 during the reign of Philip III.
Historically used for markets, bullfights, and public celebrations.
Puerta del Sol:

One of the busiest and most famous squares in Madrid.
Historically significant as the site of the old city gate, and the starting point for Spain's radial road network.
El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro):

A large and historic park originally created as a royal retreat for the monarchy in the 17th century.
Contains several monuments, gardens, and the Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal), an iron and glass structure from 1887.
Museums:

Museo del Prado:

One of the largest and most important art museums in Europe, housing works from the Spanish royal collection.
Features masterpieces by artists like Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía:

Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, famous for housing Picasso's "Guernica."
Located in a former hospital building, with modern extensions.
Museo Arqueológico Nacional:

This museum showcases artifacts from Spain's rich prehistoric, ancient, and medieval past.
Highlights include Iberian sculptures, Roman mosaics, and Visigothic artifacts.
Archaeological Sites:

Temple of Debod:

An ancient Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century BC.
Gifted to Spain by Egypt in 1968 and rebuilt in Madrid's Parque del Oeste.
Cerro de la Gavia:

An archaeological site located in the outskirts of Madrid.
Features remains from the Bronze Age and evidence of early human settlement.

One day visit from Madrid to Toledo by bus( was only 18 euro for 2 persons both ways)
Historical Sites:

Alcázar of Toledo:

A stone fortification located in the highest part of Toledo.
Served as a Roman palace, then a fortress in the medieval period, and currently houses the Army Museum.
Toledo Cathedral (Catedral Primada):

One of the most important Gothic structures in Spain, started in 1226 and completed in 1493.
Known for its richly decorated interior, including the altarpiece and choir.
Puente de Alcántara:

A Roman bridge spanning the Tagus River, originally built in 104 AD.
Rebuilt in the medieval period, it remains a key historical monument.
Puerta de Bisagra:

A monumental city gate of Moorish origin, later reconstructed during the reign of Charles V.
Symbolizes the entrance to the historic city of Toledo.
Museums:

Museo de El Greco:

Dedicated to the works of the famous Renaissance painter El Greco.
Located in a house traditionally identified as El Greco’s residence.
Sephardic Museum (Museo Sefardí):

Located in the former Synagogue of El Tránsito, it preserves the Jewish heritage of Spain.
Exhibits include artifacts, documents, and ceremonial objects.
Hospital de Tavera:

Also known as the Hospital de San Juan Bautista, a Renaissance-style building.
Functions as a museum and houses the Foundation of the House of Medinaceli's archives and a significant art collection.
Archaeological Sites:

Roman Circus of Toledo:

Remains of a Roman circus used for chariot races, dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
Partially excavated, offering a glimpse into the Roman past of the city.
Cave of Hercules:

An ancient underground structure thought to be part of a Roman water distribution system.
Associated with various myths and legends in Toledo’s history.
Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca:

Built in the 12th century as a synagogue, later converted into a church.
An example of Mudéjar architecture with a rich history reflecting Toledo’s diverse cultural heritage.

These historical and archaeological highlights showcase the rich and diverse past of Madrid and Toledo, offering visitors a deep dive into Spain’s heritage.

What did you enjoy most in Madrid?

We loved the people, food , the cleaned streets, the trees and the green places.



📸 Trips&Tricks

26/05/2024

Sunset Fireworks


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06/05/2024

Happy Easter!


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14/04/2024

The Kyrenia shipwreck was first discovered in 1965 by town councilman Andreas Cariolou.  Cariolou, while diving for sponges, came upon a mound of 80 amphoras less than a mile from Kyrenia on the north coast of Cyprus.  In 1967, Cariolou contacted Michael and Susan Katzev and guided them to the wreck which sat 90 feet below the surface.

The University Museum’s excavation of the wreck spanned two summers from 1968 to 1969 and recovered cargo, dining wares, tools, ship’s rigging, and even four bone eyelets from a sailor’s sandals.  The vessel itself was a Greek merchant ship and had a cargo of as many as 500 amphoras which belonged to ten different shape types.  Most of the amphoras were Rhodian in origin and date to the final third of the 4th century B.C.


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31/12/2023

For 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ I wish you many vacations! Happy New Year!

21/12/2023

09/12/2023

Amsterdam



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09/12/2023

Library in Netherlands



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05/12/2023

What's your Christmas list?

01/11/2023

Waterfalls are amazing



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23/10/2023

Stories sunsets



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12/10/2023

Houkokuji Bamboo Forest



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28/09/2023

Hello friend! 🐿️🐿️



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04/09/2023

What people are searching for on Google, in each country.

31/08/2023

Following the waves

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