Travel - Hola Spain & Portugal

Spain and Portugal are totally different from those countries in Central Europe.

The unique of Spain:

Most of the people in Spain only speak Spanish. 

Tapas can be found in many bars and cafes, is part of their culture.

Gypsy Flamenco Dance  

 

The unique of Portugal 

Portuguese tarts

Port Wine

Best Olive oil

Cork producer

Hanging Houses at Cuenca 

 

Alhambra Palace 

April 25th Bridge, Portugal

We flew via Emirates with transit in Dubai to Barcelona and flew home from Lisbon. 

For our 12 days 10 nights trip, we covered quite a numbers of cities ant its attractions:-

 

Barcelona 

(Park Guell, Olympic Park, Montserrat, Ramblas, Sagrada Familia, Catalunya Square)

 

Valencia 

(Old Town, City of Art and Science Complex, Central Market) 

 

Cuenca

(hanging house) 

Toledo

(Church of Santo Tome) 

Madrid

(Real Madrid Santiago Bernabue Stadium, Royal Palace) 

Cordoba

(Roman Bridge, Great Mosque) 

Granada

(Alhambra Palace) 

Ronda

(Bullrings, Mountain of Malaga Province) 

Seville

(Cathedral, Plaza de Espana), Metropol Parasol) 

Lisbon 

(Statue of Cristo Rei, Cabo Da Roca, Cabo Da Roca) 

Shopping stops mostly at El Corte Ingles department store in Spain. 

Sagrada Familia 

Train Station at Toledo

Toledo 

Hotels that we stayed overall is good. 

Barcelona - Roger De Lluria

Valencia - Eurostar Rey Don

Madrid - Eurostar Mad Tower

Granada - Abades Nevada Palace 

Ronda - Maestranza

Seville - Eurostar Torre

Lisbon - Iberostar Lisboa

 

Whichever country I travel to, home is still the best place. Till next trip.

Europe Highlights in Autumn

Itinerary was chosen by sister in law and we follow suit. Her dream destinations, Paris and Italy.  And there we went with GTT itinerary 14 days 12 nights via Emirates Airline that covered Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Netherlands.

Our first stop was Rome followed by Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Venice and Milan before we travel across to Lugano, Switzerland.  From Lugano we took high speed train cross the world's longest tunnel to Lucerne. Then to Bern and put a night in Beaune, France. From Beaune, we traveled to Paris. After Paris, we traveled to Belgium and last stop in Amsterdam where we flew back to home country. Yup just in 12 nights we covered all these countries and attractions.

The attractions that we covered:

Rome - Colosseum (new 7 wonder of the world), Renaissance Building, Baroque churches, Trevi Fountain
Vatican City - Peter's Basilica
Florence - home of Michelangelo, city view from Piazalle Michelangelo, Santa Maria Cathedral, Giotto's Bell tower, the gates of paradise, open air and gallery of Signoria Square
Pisa - Leaning tower of Pisa, Cathedral in Square of Miracles
Venice - Gondola rides, St Mark Square, Casanova's Bridge of Sigh, Doges Palace and St Mark Cathedral, See the world's best artisan in glass blowing factory
Milan - Duomo, Gothic Cathedral, La Scala Opera House, Galleria Victtoria Emanuele, Castello Sforzesco
Lucerne - Mt Titlis in Engelberg, Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, shopping for Swiss Chocolate
Bern - Bear Pits, Old Town, 
Paris - Drive along Champs Elysees, Arch de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Drive pass Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre, visit 2nd level Eiffel Tower, shopping at Galeries Lafayette, La Vallee Vilage (Bicester Village Shopping), Fragonard Perfume Museum, Cruise on River Seine
Brussel - photo stop at Atomium, Chinese Pavilion passing by Grand Palace and visit cheeky Manneken Pis
Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans Cheese and Clog Factory, Volendam area of old fishing boats and traditional clothing worn by residents, glass doomed waterbus  cruise, diamond factory, Madurodam, The Hague (optional)

Italy meals that we went mainly pasta and pizza. It was unexpectedly snowing in Mt Titlis. Lucerne is beautiful with mountains and lakes. Paris is romantic. Brussel is famous for mussels. Amsterdam is interesting with lots of bicycles, beautiful and clean city. Glad that I have managed to cover all these beautiful countries.    

The Hague

Holland

Venice

Pisa

Classic Of Eastern Europe in Autumn

The last trip with mom with lots of photos taken of her will always be in my memory.  I was glad that I had took her along most of my travel abroad though I could not be 100% be with her all the times back home.  May she rejoice in the merits of the Dhamma Dana we have done in memory of her and she attain Bliss of Nibbana.

Why Eastern Europe? All because my husband suggested it! We took Emirates with transit in Dubai.
It was 6 October 2018 our group of  24 pax (out of which my side 7 and my ex-colleague 3 pax) on 11 days 8 nights which covered Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Germany.  The places that I mesmerized the most was Hallstatt, Austria's oldest Alpine village tucked between mountains and waters. Another amazing one was Zugspitze Mountain, at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We took a cable car up to 2962 meters to the summit of Germany's tallest peak.  This mountain marks the international border between Germany and Austria. Such a breathtaking view of the Alps.

Highlights of the tour were as follows:

1. 4 Star Hotel with American breakfast.
2. Special meals : Prague dinner with dar bkeer, Hungarin Goulash Dinner & Folk Show, Vienna Schnitzel, Germany Pork Knuckle.
3. Prague - Hradcany Castle, Historical Tram Ride, Crystal Showroom, Prague Cruise
4. Budapest - Fishermans Bastion, Matthias Church & TemptonMus
5. Vienna - Magnificient Schonbrunn Palace
6. Salzburg - Mirabell Garden, Mozart's Birthplace & Hallstatt Salt Mines Tour
7. Munich - Neuschwanstein Castle (Horse Carriage), Excursion of Top of Germany - Zugspitze Mountain

Do take note that Ingolstadt Village for factory outlet shopping in Germany is closed on Sunday and Public Holidays.

When we on our way to Hallstatt, a terrible major accident happened that involved school children and we were stuck in a very bad traffic for hours as road was closed and there was a diversion. Luckily our tour leader, Alex was quick to contact his office and suggested that we swapped with Salzburg which was suppose to be next day itinerary.

Recalled mom was having problem catching up with the rest of the group and I waited to walk slower with her.  Her energy weakened since 2018 and she could not walk as fast as she used to be. She also complained of having breads daily but soon she got used to it and started to love the bread.

Overall, we had a great trip.