Travel, life, loves and laughs.
By far the best way to see a city is to walk it. Particularly the compact old towns of Europe. Today I’m walking the Zürichsee. Not everyone has the ability, stamina or perhaps enthusiasm for this endeavor, walking from dawn till dusk (and often into the night as well). … Read the rest
I board the boat for Rapperswil with an expectation of a lake Zürich cruise and the vague promise of a Schloss (castle) at the end. It’s not like me. Usually I have my days planned to the ‘n’th degree but, apart from today being an unexpected bonus, I think I’m mellowing a little in my holiday expectations.… Read the rest
On the other side of the Limmat River from the Grossmünster cathedral, directly across Münsterbrücke (church bridge) is Kirche Fraumünster. This church was founded as a convent in 853 and like Grossmünster the church was stripped of all decoration at the time of the Reformation. … Read the rest
Originally a monastery, Grossmünster (gross = large or great and münster = minster or cathedral) is arguably the heart of old town Zürich. Construction began on this site in 1100 but there are two legends woven into the founding of this historic cathedral.… Read the rest
Another Hanseatic gem. Wismar’s sky line is dominated by a trifecta of Gothic medieval architecture – St Maria’s, St Nikolai’s and St George’s. My heart beats faster at the thought of these divine churches although these are not the only splendid notable facades in Wismar.… Read the rest
If fairytales were to have a birthplace it must be Schwerin. Even from a distance, just laying eyes on their impossibly beautiful castle makes me feel like a princess, or at least, like the world is full of hope and beauty.… Read the rest
Today we get to experience St. Petersburg’s canals. Alexander the Great founded this city as his own and had a vision to turn it into the Venice of the North, criss-crossing the city with canals to provide a means of transport as well as beauty.… Read the rest
After a day of exploring Peterhof and the Catherine Palace at Pushkin, I’m ready to delve into St. Petersburg proper. After dropping the rest of the tour group back at the port, mum and I are taken to the metro at Primorskaya where we are handed over to another guide for the evening. … Read the rest
As the second wife of Peter the Great, Catherine I, Empress of Russia, came to the throne by chance. She was orphaned at an early aged and spent her youth as a maid. Nevertheless, they met soon after Peter moved the capital to St.… Read the rest
Our destination is Peterhof. After a drive through the city, however, the metro is our first introduction to St. Petersburg and even from the very beginning it is unlike any other metro station. Narvskaya metro is bustling with commuters and we push our tokens into the machine to pass through the gates and are funneled onto a long escalator, perhaps the longest I have ever seen.… Read the rest