Europe's impersonal Guide.

One day in Vienna

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It is an absolute pity to have just one day at the Austrian capital, but even so there is still a program that you can follow in order to see all the beauties in this city with rich history. It is advisable to get an apartment in Vienna central area, which will be a good base to go sightseeing and to relax a bit before going on a nice dinner out at one of the good restaurants or before hitting the dance floor at some of the busiest night clubs in the city. There are plenty of places that should be seen in the city of Vienna and may be it would be a good idea to go on a guided tour. If you want to be on your own, however, check this article enumerating all the important places of interest that are there to be seen.

Vienna Autria One day in Vienna

Vienna Austria

The first place to start with is a true symbol of Vienna and it used to be the summer residence of the Hapsburg’s dynasty. This is the Schonbrunn palace, which is quite spectacular in its appearance. It has baroque architecture, more than 1400 rooms, an opera theatre, a café and a museum. Outside, the palace is surrounded by marvelous gardens of three lined paths and hidden fountains, labyrinths and statues, etc. The Schonbrunn zoo is also to be mentioned, since this is the oldest zoo in Europe.

Pictures of Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn), Vienna
This photo of Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn)

Another place that deserves to be seen is the Naschmarkt, where one can find lovely dining places and even some exotic restaurants, various cheeses and cut colds being sold, as well as wine and chocolates. Nearby is the Volksgarten with its imperial garden of roses, as well as the City Hall, the Burgtheater, and of course the Museum’s Quarter. Great sites to be seen are also the Hofburg Palace, the Michaeler Platz and the Kohlmarkt where the designer shops are placed.

Pictures of Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn), Vienna
This photo of Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn)

There are other important sites in Vienna that should be seen and they include the Vienna Opera House and the House of Mozart, as well as the Belvedere castle and the Cathedral of Saint Stephen. Alos interesting are the Old Synagogue and the old church Karlskirche. Among the Vienna Museums that deserve the attention are the Treasury Museum and the Fine Arts Museum, and also the Natural History Museum and the Furniture Museum. Some entertainment is possible at the amusement park Prater Park with its Giant Ferries Wheel.

The city is a great place for shopping and is also a fantastic choice for dining out. In the city of Vienna are available many elegant restaurants that offer special wine lists and plenty of outdoor cafes that are serving coffee and sweets. A great way to end the day is to go for a walk along Kartnerstrasse, which is the main street of Vienna. Here are situated some of the nicest restaurants in the city. Not far from this place is located the National Opera House.

A post by J. Weber who writes about apartment in Berlin and Amsterdam apartments.

Miami on a shoestring

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Miami is among the most visited tourist destinations and has everything that one might want for a nice holiday. Once you have checked the available Miami apartments, the visitor should book one and then find out how not to spend a fortune while enjoying oneself. The first thing that one has to remember is to avoid the peak tourist seasons like the spring break or Christmas time, for example. At that period of the year the restaurants are crowded and so are the attractions. Another thing to keep in mind is to avoid the hurricane season, which is in the period August – October. The best periods for a visit are in the middle of the winter season and at late spring. Once here, you should keep in mind that there are many ways that you can have great time, without spending a fortune.

In case that you are on a budget, an important thing to arrange is where to eat. There are certain places that serve the so called specials for early birds that come with fixed prices. Other places to eat are the shopping centers that come will bagel shops, serving lunch at modest price. Also important to arrange is how you will get around the city of Miami. Of course, it all depends where your Miami apartment will be. In case that you plan to head to the beach and the local attractions, then you can use the public transport. There are however many attractions away from Miami center, for which you will need to rent a car. The rates for the car rental are reasonable here, so this should not be an issue.

Art Deco District Miami on a shoestring

Art Deco District

Now, the places that you can visit and which do not require to spend a fortune include the Art Deco district, the area Little Havana with its nice restaurants, the Everglades National Park, as well as the great variety of beaches. The Miami beaches are many and are all offering fantastic opportunities for relaxation and fun. A good advice here is to avoid the crowds and search for pleasant and peaceful beach zones, where to find real relaxation. In case that you decide to visit the National Park Everglades, then you will find yourself in an area of tropical jungles and prairies and will most probably see some endangered species as well. Other great ways to spend your time while in Miami, without spending a lot of money, include a visit at the zoo, where one could see a great variety of rare animals. Good to know is that the animals here are without cages and are placed in different groups.

4849680 South Beach at dusk Miami Miami on a shoestring

South_Beach_at_dusk_Miami

Little Havana Miami on a shoestring

Little Havana

If you are into the quiet hobbies, then you can always go fishing, as Miami is a real paradise for the fishermen. It has great freshwater and saltwater spots and is free for the children. There are also free fishing weekends, when fishing is free for everyone. Pleasant walking is possible along the South Beach area. Other cheap adventures are available at the two theme parks Fairchild Tropic Botanical Garden and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

A post by J. Williams who also writes about New York apartments and London apartment.

Barcelona food tours

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Barcelona, the capital city of Cataluña region in Spain, is a great place to visit. It offers many historical landmarks and cultural sites that deserve the attention, various places of fun and entertainment and of course many nice places where one could eat and stay in Barcelona apartments. Getting lost at this impressive choice of restaurants, fast-food eateries, tapas bars is quite easy and thus going on one of Barcelona food tours is highly recommended. The first advise to start with is to stay out of the Ramblas area when you are looking for something nice to eat and explore the small streets off the beaten path to taste some really tasteful meals and great wines.

Photos of Las Ramblas, Barcelona
This photo of Las Ramblas

By booking for a Barcelona food tour, the traveler will get the chance not only to discover some hidden food places, but will also learn about the diverse culinary culture of the city. The food tours in Barcelona last for approximately two or three hours and they are held in the neighborhoods like Barceloneta, Poble Sec, the Gothic Quarter and El Raval, thus getting the chance to explore the authentic taste of Barcelona, away from the tourist crowds. These are walking tours, during which are usually covered four small food establishments, that vary from shops that sell high-quality specialties to tapas restaurants with home-like atmosphere. The dishes are served with no rush, in a lively and non-tourist places which are known for the great quality of the food served there. The food tours are led by knowledgeable and entertaining guide, usually English speaking, who is mainly focusing on the food, but will also share stories about the history, the life and the spirit of Barcelona.

Pictures of Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), Barcelona
This photo of Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic)

The groups tend to be small, so that everybody can enjoy this rather personal and relaxed experience. The food tours start in the evening, in all days except the weekends and Mondays. Usually tours are available throughout the year, but in August most companies do not offer food tours. Another positive aspect of the food tours in Barcelona, is the fact that you will be given recommendations for some great restaurants, shops and cafes, as well as a map with instructions how to return to the nice restaurants and shops that you have visited during the tour. The food tours do not depend on the weather, since Barcelona enjoys a wonderful climate almost every day, however there should be at least two participants.

Barcelona Pictures
This photo of Barcelona

Tourists should know that by booking on a Barcelona food tour, they will also do some wine tasting. The city of Barcelona is surrounded by nice wine regions and the locally produced wine is just superb. The tours that include wine tasting cover a great selection of wines such as rose and white wine, cavas and red wines. Going on such a food tour in Barcelona is exciting and is in a way an interactive way to experience the city. It is also a fun, unique and memorable experience, which is worth to be tried.

If you are a fan of the food tours you should check the ones available in Madrid and Rome, but you would need accommodation in Madrid apartments or apartments in Rome.

Polish Ghettos (Historical Sites)

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The ghetto in Warsaw was the biggest of all the Jewish Ghettos in Europe during the Second World War. The ghetto was established in the period October – November 1940 by the governor general of Germany Hans Frank on the territory of Poland, which was occupied by Germany. There, on an area of less than 3.5 km were placed more than 400 000 Jews from Warsaw and the surrounding areas or almost 30 per cent of the entire population of Warsaw. From that ghetto, almost 255 000 people were sent to the extermination camp Treblinka in the summer of 1942.

Photos of Jewish Ghetto, Rome
This photo of Jewish Ghetto

The ghetto in Warsaw was divided into two areas, a small ghetto where the rich Jews were living and the large ghetto where the conditions were worse. The small and the big ghetto were linked by one foot bridge. The ghetto was closed to the rest of the world in the mid November 1940, when the Nazis built a tall wall with a barbed wire on the top and placed armed guards around it. The ghetto in Warsaw, like the ghettos in the other cities in Poland, was administrated by a Judenrat and its aim was a policy of collaboration and not revolt. The Jewish authorities were supported by a Jewish Ghetto Police.

Pictures of Jewish Ghetto, Rome
This photo of Jewish Ghetto

In the year that followed the closing of the ghetto and turning it into a camp, thousands new people including Polish Jews and Romani people, were brought to the ghetto and diseases started spreading. Starvation was another problem, since the food rations for the Jews in Warsaw were 186 calories. At the same time, the average food rations for Germans were 2 614 calories. Another major problem in the ghetto was the unemployment and thus many people were trying to make manufacture goods in illegal workshops to be sold outside and raw goods to be smuggled in, usually by children. Many Jewish children at the age of four or five were going to the other side several times a day and were smuggling food inside. Actually smuggling was the only source for survival of the Jews in the ghetto.

Pictures of Jewish Ghetto, Rome
This photo of Jewish Ghetto

The life in the Warsaw ghetto was very hard, but even so it was rich with cultural activities and education. There were hospitals and orphanages, refugee centers and public soup kitchens, even a school system. There were some secret libraries and even an orchestra.

The facts reveal that more than 100 000 people from the ghetto died from starvation or disease even before the massive deportations to the extermination camps started. By the end of year 1942, it became clear that these are not just deportations, but rather massive killings and the remaining Jews decided to fight. In the beginning of next year, with no clear reason, the Nazis shot more than 600 Jews and caught other 5000 Jews. This time, the Germans met resistance and the Jews even had some serious success. This did not last for long and in the spring many Jews from the ghetto were either killed or deported to German concentration camps and death camps.


historical sites you should consider renting a Warsaw apartment or apartments in Krakow.

Hiking in Southern Poland

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Since hiking is a kind of a national sport in Poland and the locals are very passionate about it, no matter the age. Thus, the country offers plenty of hiking paths and tours, especially in the southern part of Poland. The landscapes are idyllic, the guesthouses are very welcoming, and it is easy to go on such a tour if you are local. Foreigners experienced many problems until recently, when they wanted to do some hiking in Southern Poland, but things changed now. There are various paths that could cover Pieniny Mountains, then Trzy Korony and then Kroscienko region. A very beautiful hiking tour can be done in the area around Zakopane. Another good hiking tour is along the Tatry National Park. Actually, all hiking roads in the Tatras mountains are great. Some good offers are available here http://www.tpn.pl/en/zwiedzaj/turystyka/news/89/Hiking A good tip to mention is that if you want to enjoy the mountain paths on your own even for a little, then start your trip early in the morning to avoid the tourist crowds.

4174945 Czorsztyn Castle viewed from Niedzica Pieniny Hiking in Southern Poland

Pieniny Mountains

Now… the High Tatras mountain is referred to as the smallest high mountain in the world. It is actually a granite island surrounded by valleys to the north and to the south. This mountain is very impressive and is actually the center of the alpine activity. Here is also placed the small spa resort Zakopane, which is very famous. The town offers a mixture of local folk traditions, some Viennese art and nice architecture… and of course, spa centers. The Tatras mountains have a wide variety of rock formations including limestone, granite, gneiss and dolomite, which on their side offer a huge variety of fauna and flora that is nice to be seen. Here live marmots and chamois, and also brown bears. The hillsides of the mountain are steep, while the valleys are attractive and picturesque.

If you want to see all of it, it is a good idea to try this program we have and enjoy the nature. May be it would be nice first to try your hiking skills at the Beskid Mountain and then, after you are acclimatized to go on the higher Tatra tour. Now, the Tatra Tour lasts for four days and on the first day tourists arrive at the town of Zakopane, where they check into a comfortable hotel, close to the main shopping street and promenade in the spa resort. Close to the hotel, there is a hiking trail to Dolina Bialego, which is among the most beautiful forest valleys in the region. One can make this short walk and enjoy the dolomite ricks, the old spruce and the small rapids, as well as the beech and fir trees. The second day will bring you to the West Tatra region and the walking will last from four to seven hours. The mountains here are lower and the terrain is easier to cover. The hiking starts at Dolina Koscieliska valley and covers the Red Peaks or Czerwone Wierchy, as well as a climb to the Malolacyniak peak and then down to the Strazyska valley. The next day will cover the High Tatras with walking time of eight hours, including Pieciu Stawow Polskich valley, the largest waterfall of the High Tatras Wielka Siklawa, the Swistowka valley basin and the Sypiglasowa pass, as well as the legendary and the largest of the High Tatra lakes lake, Morskie Oko.

Zawiesista Turnia
Przysłup Miętusi, Czerwone Wierchy

A post written by Jula Nowak who writes about Warsaw apartments and apartments in Krakow.

Make your holidays memorable by travelling to Greece

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If you have a passion for travelling and want to discover new places and civilization through your travel expeditions then Europe is one of the best places to visit. This continent is dotted with the remnants old civilizations which you can observe by travelling on modern day transports and enjoying luxuries stays. Greece is an old country with erstwhile ancient civilization. The stagnant remains of the much propagated Greek civilization can be breathtakingly beautiful. The various cities of Greece, which had once upon a time fought with each other in the battle of supremacy now lies quite dormant. Here are mentioned some of the most famous tourist spots that you should visit at all costs when you go out for a trip to Greece.

1. Athens The capital city of Greece is a beauty worth beholding. The largest city in Greece gives you a breathtaking view of the surrounding area from the flat topped hills located at the Acropolis. There is the Parthenon which is 2400 years old, at the Acropolis. This monument is considered one of the classic monuments in the world.

2. Piraeus The main port near Athens, Piraeus is located at the heart of the Saronic Gulf. You can take an enjoyable ferry ride from this port to the main land of Greece.
Piraeus Pictures
This photo of Piraeus

3. Cape Sounio This is located in the eastern part of the country. The most famous attraction of Cape Sounio is the stark ruins of the Poseidon Temple which was build in the 4th century B.C. There is a wonderful view of panorama visible here, which includes the island and the sea.Pictures of Grecotel Cape Sounio, Sounio
This photo of Grecotel Cape Sounio

4. Island of Hydra This is a sophisticated and small island near the mainland of Greece where you can have plenty of fun shopping. However, nude beaches are not allowed here. This tourist spot in Greece will give you wonderful harbors, fascinating shops, very good architecture mainly consisting of churches and taverns which are of good quality but low cost. There is also a monastery within the island which you can take a tour of.Hydra Pictures
This photo of Hydra

5. Delphi This world famous tourist spot was the Oracle of ancient Greece. Many ancient Greek emperors use to come to this city quite often to seek moral and political guidance. You can find the ancient temple of Apollo here. You can also visit the museum at Delphi which has a lot of interesting artifacts worth exploring. You should also not miss a visit to the hilly region of Arahova which is the famous town of making cheese.

The above mentioned places are the main attractions that you should not miss. Apart from these there are as other smaller places which you can visit to know about the tradition and culture of the place.

Berlin Travel information and guidance

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You can imagine how depressed I was when I had to depart. It was so much fun there, I was non-stop in different places, I’ve met a lot of nice people, I danced all night on the best party I have ever been in my life and at this point I can confess that Berlin became one of my beloved destinations for a holiday, particularly considering the entertainment. Furthermore, I visited the most attractive landmarks, like the preserved part of the wall, the Checkpoint Charlie, some of the museums and galleries. The parties and having fun were not the only things I was doing there I even made a dinner one evening for my friends in my apartment in Berlin. The fact that there was a kitchen really helped me, because I wanted to make something particular for the people who were so good to take me around Berlin and reveal me areas that I couldn’t see if I was alone. In this sense I have to tell that am surely pleased of my pick of apartment hotel in Berlin, because it was absolutely delightful for me for moving around, it was in several minutes from the center and the flat was very pleasant, clean and perfect for me.

Altes Museum Berlin Berlin Travel information and guidance

Altes Museum, Berlin

Oriental Institute Museum Berlin Berlin Travel information and guidance

Oriental Institute Museum, Berlin

Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin Berlin Travel information and guidance

Deutches Historisches Museum, Berlin



a nice site I found that has nice information on the Berln museums – http://www.mauermuseum.de/

Berln travel trips

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This is my next posting about my Berlin trip. As I said in my previous article I I had a whole week on my disposal in Berlin, so I planned to explore the town in portions. What I had in mind was to take a look at the popular points of interest, of course, but I didn’t want to feel the city like I was just a tourist, but to touch the real environment, to meet a lot of the locals and learn how they live, what they normally enjoy to do and have fun, you know, I wanted to get more useful tips, not the same stuff and boring facts about the history, the wall and the history that we all know.

Brandenburg Gate Berlin Berln travel trips

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Check point Charley Berln travel trips

Check point Charley

Potzdamer Platz Sony Center Berln travel trips

Potzdamer Platz, Sony Center Berlin

And Berlin surely presented me the opportunity for one energetic and, in the mean time, really unique trip, it wasn’t excatly a real holiday, because I didn’t come back more rested and relaxed..The German capital is multicultural, here you can get together with people from anywhere, there are so many young people who learn or work or just have fun and this is the reason why this city is so tempting and preferred destination. There is always something extremely interesting going on, whether it would be a concert, an exhibition, a great restaurant or bar, opera etc. Thank god I rented a really suitable vacation accommodation in Berlin, because otherwise it would have been so upsetting to spend a lot of money for an Berlin apartment that I rarely used.

Berlin Informational Guide.

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In this post i would like to share how fascinated I am of Berlin and about the relaxing stay I spent In Germany’s capital a week ago. I have planned to travel to this intriguing cental European country for a long time, so I took the first option of a spare time I got and chose to view Berlin. I have a few near friends there and after some organizational stuff and not so nice travelling, I arrived in my apartment Rental Berlin for the next week. I wasn’t pretty acquainted where i was, I just remember that I badly desired a bathroom and a bed, that’s all; and even had some doubts about starting this vacation.
In spite of this, in the morning everything looked better and I was definitely willing to have a look around this town. The weather was fantastic for the intense tour I have planned and in truth I was quite surprised to discover that there was a metro station very in close proximity to my accommodation in Berlin and I arrived at the the center of the city within 10 minutes. Because it was Monday, my friends were working all day and I had to roam alone. That day I planned to visit the Tower, of course, the famous square Alexanderplatz and the Brandenburg Gate. I was very amazed of what I saw, of the contrast between the medieval and the modern buildings, which I have ever thought would be bland, but it was indeed really refined and not irritating. I decided to leave the other interesting spots for the rest of my holiday when several of my friends will present and tell me more about the real spirit of the town. I only have heard wonderful things about the nightlife and the fun side of Berlin and couldn’t wait to try it.

Brandenburg Gate Berlin1 Berlin Informational Guide.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Holocaust Memorial2 Berlin Informational Guide.

Holocaust Memorial2

Unter den Linden2 Berlin Informational Guide.

Unter den Linden Berlin


Why stay in Brussels – what not to miss there.

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For those who are organizing a journey to Brussels, I can confirm that, like the most of the European countries, Belgium is really wonderful and has a lot to present to its visitors. There are lots of museums and galleries, historical buildings, parks, the chocolate in fact is as yummy and mouth-watering as we supposed, the beer is really high-quality and experts will confirm it. Generally speaking, everything was ideal, we had a fantastic holiday, the vacation apartments in Brussels was exactly what we needed and now we can dream about our next adventure to Belgium.

Brussels Place Royale Why stay in Brussels   what not to miss there.

Brussels Place Royale

The Chapelle Church Brussels Why stay in Brussels   what not to miss there.

The Chapelle Church Brussels

Brussels The Brussels Park Why stay in Brussels   what not to miss there.

Brussels The Brussels Park

This is my last blog post about this wonderful and truely stunning town. After our little trip has come to an end I can actually tell that I’m absolutely impressed and I want to come back, because the time was not enough to enjoy everything. Next time I will make an effort to spend a minimum of a week, especially as I ended up saving a lot of money, renting this wonderful and really cost-effective apartments in Brussels. We didn’t face any troubles with the transport or something else, we were very close to the points of interest and there was also one very nice and comfortable café not too distant from our building where we drink coffee in the mornings.
More info can be found on wikipedia here