Travel Notes – Travel Blog – Page 8 – ► Blogging About Travel

June 20, 2012June 20, 2012

Focus on Warsaw

After the group stage of Poland-Ukraine 2012, the eight remaining teams have a day’s rest before the knockout phase begins; in Poland’s National Stadium, Warsaw.

The capital of Poland is in the middle of the country and at the centre of the Polish road and rail system.

Warsaw expanded around the castle of the dukes of Masovia in the early 14th century, and became the capital of the Polish Kingdom in 1595; after the burning of Krakow.

I’ve been to Poland a few times but have only visited Warsaw the once.

We had been driving around Poland over Christmas and arrived in Warsaw on New Year’s Day.

I didn’t really know where I was heading – we certainly didn’t have any reservations – but the car thought it did and we arrived right opposite what looked like the tallest building in Poland; something that could have easily been transplanted into the wide open space from 1930s Chicago.

I was later informed that this was the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki), or PKiN (Pekin); and a ‘gift from the Soviet people’.

If this was a statement of Soviet architecture then it’s a shame the Soviet construction industry didn’t keep with the Stalinist style and stay clear of the prefabricated concrete of Khrushchev’s cost-cutting campaign.

I didn’t like the look of the towering Novotel, on the other side of the street, so we tried the nearby Polonia Palace Hotel.

It was early evening and some people, with dinner jackets and ball gowns over their arms, were still checking out; after the long night before.

I looked up at the glittering decorations being removed from the high lobby then wondered what the room rates for such a luxurious establishment would be, and if they would offer us a special offer on this first day of a new year.

I had the plea all worked out but couldn’t believe my ears when the receptionist offered us a double room for fifty Euros. The cold, grey images I seemed to have of Warsaw melted away in an instant.

After an excellent buffet breakfast the following morning, I was pleasantly surprised at how the old town had been rebuilt, after the destruction of World War II, and lovingly restored to its former glory. There are before and after pictures to compare and a plaque in the street proudly proclaiming that Warsaw is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Culture.

UNESCO World Heritage in Warsaw — Warsaw – UNESCO

The Royal Castle leads down to the Old Town Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta) where the Renaissance and Baroque style houses have been meticulously restored.

The Barbican, a relic of the medieval fortifications, is to the south of the square, and further south is Lazienki Park.

Lazienki Park has a monument to the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, and the 18th century summer palace of Stanislas II Augustus.

There are many historic churches in Warsaw, and numerous museums and galleries. Two notable monuments are dedicated to the heroes of the Warsaw ghetto and the Polish underground during World War II.

Had Poland or Russia won Group A, they would have been playing their quarter-final match in Warsaw; instead the Polish hosts will be welcoming the fans from Czech Republic and Portugal.

Visit Warsaw:
The official website of the capital of Poland.

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June 19, 2012February 24, 2013

Focus on Sweden

Continuing in the Euro 2012 travel series, today’s games are Sweden vs France and England vs Ukraine.

As I’ve already covered England and France (Ukraine is one of the host countries), that just leaves another trip to Scandinavia (we visited Denmark already, remember).

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Today’s spotlight is on Sweden.

Am I one of the few people who has been to Sweden and not visited the capital, Stockholm?

We had sailed across on the ferry from Grenaa (Denmark) to Varberg on our hitch-hiking tour from Scandinavia to the South of France.

Not only was the lift from Varberg to Gothenburg a little cramped in the tiny MG car, but it soon became psychologically uncomfortable too.

The driver seemed a little too casual driving with his trouser fly openly revealing, and one arm slung over the back of Andrew’s chair; to Danny, he kept glancing in the rear-view mirror.

As the boys had nowhere to stay in Gothenburg, the use of the driver’s flat was offered. Of course he said that he would hardly be there himself.

The man could well have been genuine, but the boys used the excuse of the long daylight hours and said they wanted to head up the coast.

This stuttered attempt at a diplomatic refusal turned out the light in the Swede.

Conversation ceased, he sulked in silence, and stopped the car shortly after; relinquishing any further responsibility to the youngsters.

Once out of Gothenburg, the lifts were short; the passing traffic local; and rides were peppered with plenty of exercise. It was supposed to be the main Gothenburg to Oslo thoroughfare, but the road was empty.

The only thing to do was to walk and admire the changing scenery; to turn a corner and find another hill; and climb the hill to be rewarded with another view.

Midsummer Eve

On our hitch-hiking adventure in the northern lands, we spent Midsummer Eve at a log cabin on a lake; somewhere near Kongsvinger, in Norway.

To be honest, I can’t remember too much about the evening apart from thinking I was seeing the sun rise before it had even set and that there was copious amounts of alcohol involved; before and after a boat trip on the lake.

The barn dance, deep in a forest, was joined by a group of competitive, vodka-drinking Finns and I’m pretty sure the whole event was livened up with a spot of rain; ideal for a little mud-dancing.

This Swedish Midsummer for Dummies video seems about right.

Next time I visit Sweden, my first port of call will be Stockholm, before venturing across the border to Finland and up to the lakes.

Visit Sweden – Visit Stockholm:
Official tourist information for a visit to Sweden and (cough) the ‘Capital of Scandinavia’.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/SEfocus

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June 18, 2012June 18, 2012

Focus on Croatia

If you’ve been following the Poland-Ukraine 2012 series, you’ll know that I’ve been focusing on a different country playing in the tournament every day during the month of June; concentrating not so much on the national football team but more about travel to and visiting the country itself.

Looking at today’s fixtures Croatia vs Spain and Italy vs Republic of Ireland I had to decide whether to cover Croatia or Italy; having already done Spain and Ireland.

The reason for my dilemma is that on Saturday I thought Russia would qualify from Group A and I could feature the country in the quarter-finals so I ran with Czech Republic. Russia lost to Greece and now they’re out.

Will Italy let me down if I focus on Croatia first?

I hope the Italian fans will forgive me if I’ve just jinxed their team and Croatia draw (2:2) with Spain; to knock the Italians out, even if they beat Ireland.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia — Plitvice Lakes – UNESCO Heritage

Spotlight on Croatia.

On June 25th, 1991, Croatia (Hrvatska) declared its independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

My first visit to Croatia was quite an adventure – hitch-hiking from London to Split, in 1984; when Croatia was still a part of Yugoslavia.

I remember long rides along the coast in hot, noisy, Russian-made lorries.

I didn’t fancy a return on that road – still largely under construction – so took a ferry across the Adriatic Sea to Pescara, Italy.

The coastal road in Croatia is much better today – with great views – and there’s even a newish motorway from Zagreb, if you’re pushed for time.

If you’re passing through Sibenik be sure to take a detour up the river to Krka National Park.

The motorway is being extended south of Split and might one day run all the way to Dubrovnik, if approval is given in Bosnia – from both the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Republika Srpska.

The motorway to Istria ends just north of Opatia. If you want to enjoy the islands and scenic route, leave this motorway at Rijeka.

To visit the wonderful Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO World Heritage List), leave the motorway at Karlovac and drive down through Slunj. The road then continues on south; to join the motorway, near Pag.

There are also excellent motorway connections from Zagreb through Maribor (Slovenia) and Graz (Austria) to Vienna and Munich; through Nagykaniza (Hungary) to Budapest; and through Ljubljana (Slovenia) to Trieste, Venice and Milan. This makes it very easy to include Croatia in any driving tour of Europe.

The next stop for Croatia is joining the European Union (expected by 1st July, 2013).

Croatia National Tourist Board.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/HRfocus

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June 17, 2012June 17, 2012

Focus on Portugal

To keep in the Poland-Ukraine 2012 spirit, I’ll focus on a different country playing in the tournament each day during the month of June; looking not so much at the national football team but more about travel to and visiting the country itself.

Today’s spotlight is on Portugal.

I was lucky enough to live on Portugal’s Algarve coast for a while, as a child, and then visit Lisbon as a teenager travelling around Europe with an Inter Rail card.

Walk through the old city of Lisbon and you might be tempted to think about the seamen and merchants who strolled the narrow, winding streets during the city’s illustrious history.

The Portuguese

My desire to travel across the oceans may have been influenced by geography lessons where we learnt about the great Portuguese navigators.

In the 15th century, Henry the Navigator – prince of Portugal – encouraged exploration of the African coast for an eastward route to the Indies to bypass Arab taxation and hostilities the traders might face in the Middle East.

Henry didn’t live to see the results but I keenly traced the sea-routes on historical maps of Vasco da Gama (who reached India by sailing around Africa in 1498) and Ferdinand Magellan (who led a Spanish expedition westwards around the world in 1519).

Magellan wouldn’t complete the voyage but the passage between the tip of South America and Tierra del Fuego would be named in his honour – the Strait of Magellan.

Monument to the Discoveries

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), a large monument (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), cast in the form of a ship used in early Portuguese exploration, was stationed on the northern shore of the Tagus River.

The limestone sculptures on the caravel prow depict Prince Henry and the ‘Portuguese that discovered the Roads of the Sea’.

This may not be everyone’s highlight of a visit to Lisbon but true explorers will want to travel out along the Av. da India to Belem and pay tribute to these masters of the sea.

Portuguese Language

Portuguese is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé e Príncipe. Portuguese is also spoken in Macau, East Timor and Goa (India).

Although I’ve spent more time in former Portuguese colonies recently than I have in Portugal itself, hopefully I can change that and return for a few weeks of travel around the country in 2013.

Visit Portugal – Visit Lisbon:
Official tourism websites for Portugal and Lisbon.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/PTfocus

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June 16, 2012June 17, 2012

Focus on Czech Republic

Charles Bridge - Prague — Painting a Picture of Prague on Charles Bridge

Today’s spotlight is on Czech Republic.

My first visit to Prague was when it was still the capital of Czechoslovakia.

I remember the cheap beer and the artists on Charles Bridge trying to add a splash of colour to an otherwise drab-looking, semi-Soviet, Communist country.

If you visit Prague today, you’ll see the statues and castle as the artist I photographed back then saw them in his mind’s eye; cleanly sandblasted and free of the industrial-era soot that troubled me.

The Trials and Tribulations of Independence

The independent country of Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918; after the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy, at the end of World War I.

Poster for the KSČ 8th Party Congress in 1946 (Photo: Wikipedia)

The Czechs lived mostly in Bohemia and the Slovaks in the largely Hungarian controlled part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Initially conceived as a parliamentary democracy of the ‘Czechoslovak nation’, Czechoslovakia’s large German population in the Bohemian and Moravian border regions (the Sudetenland, in German) would pose further problems by the time of Adolf Hitler’s rise in Nazi Germany (1938).

The predominantly German districts were united with Germany and the Czech population kicked out.

In 1944 Czechoslovakia experienced some liberation by Soviet troops from the east and another short-lived period of democracy soon followed.

The Communists took power in 1948, and Czechoslovakia became a satellite state of the Soviet Union in 1949.

It would be almost forty years before the first anti-Communist demonstration took place in Bratislava; signalling the start of the Communist Party’s fall and the election of Václav Havel as president.

On 1st January 1993, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic (Slovakia) were founded simultaneously. The Czech Republic joined NATO on 12th March 1999 and the European Union on 1st May 2004.

Hluboká nad Vltavou – Near České Budějovice

Czech Republic border controls have disappeared although Slovakia beat them to having the Euro as their currency.

With a quick word on the football, the Czechoslovakia national team won the European Championship in 1976 while the newly formed Czech Republic team lost to Germany in the final of England 1996.

Visiting Czech Republic

When visiting the Czech Republic, stay in Prague a few days by all means but please travel around the country to view some of the superb castles and chateaux in the Czech Republic; you won’t regret it.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/CZfocus

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June 15, 2012June 17, 2012

Focus on England

Trooping The Colour – Michel, TravelNotes.org

Today’s spotlight is on England.

In the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics (Jul 27 to Aug 12), England is expecting a bumper year for tourism.

People often say that they’re going to the UK or visiting Britain when what they really mean is that they’ll be in London for a few days; the capital of England.

Trooping The Colour

Anyone in London this weekend will be able to witness more pomp and ceremony.

Although The Queen was born on 21st April, it is traditional to celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday publicly with the ceremony of Trooping the Colour, on a Saturday in June.

The Queen’s Birthday Parade is held on Horse Guards Parade and this year the Colour will be trooped by the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

Applications for tickets need to be made in January or February, for seated stands tickets around Horse Guards Parade, and are then allocated by ballot in March.

Those without tickets can see the processions along the Mall from about 10am and watch the fly-past at 1pm.

Regions of England in the Greater British Isles — Regions of England Map Within the Greater British Isles

2012 Olympic Venues around England

While they might be branded as the London 2012 Olympics there are venues being used around the country and even into Scotland and Wales; with football matches at Hampden Park (Glasgow) and Millennium Stadium (Cardiff).

It should be noted that the Olympic football will kick off a couple of days before the opening ceremony.

As well as the two stadiums already mentioned, football matches will also be played in Coventry, Manchester (Old Trafford), Newcastle and of course London’s Wembley Stadium.

Four other Olympic venues will be outside Greater London: Dorney Lake (canoeing sprint and rowing); Hadleigh Farm (mountain biking); Lee Valley White Water Centre (canoeing slalom); and Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (sailing).

Visit England – Visit London:
The official tourist information websites for visitors to London and England.

Oh alright, here’s the link to Visit Britain as well.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/ENfocus

London Olympics 2012 opening ceremony with an English meadow (3news.co.nz)
London 2012 Olympics: humble London tennis pavilion is a monument to a bygone age of sporting endeavour (telegraph.co.uk)
London 2012 Olympics: with 100 days to go the capital is ready for the role of a lifetime hosting Games (telegraph.co.uk)

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June 14, 2012November 17, 2014

Focus on Ireland

Trim Castle, Co Meath, Ireland — Trim Castle, Co. Meath, Ireland (Photo: Wikipedia)

Today’s spotlight is on The Republic of Ireland.

Ireland is often called the Emerald Isle because of the powerful greenness of its countryside.

Sadly, many of us – myself included – are guilty of spending too much time in Dublin.

The Island of Ireland

Ireland is a part of the British Isles geographically. Politically, the island is divided into Northern Ireland, a constituent part of the United Kingdom; and the idependent state of Ireland (Éire, in Irish)..

Map of Ireland - Irish Counties — Map of Ireland – Irish Counties

The Republic of Ireland

The term ‘Republic of Ireland’ is a description of the State of Ireland (Éire – Ireland), as outlined in the Republic of Ireland Act 1948; often used to distinguish the state from the island of Ireland as a whole.

The Irish state makes up 26 of the 32 traditional counties of the island of Ireland; including part of the province of Ulster.

Northern Ireland is the remaining six counties of Ulster, in the north-eastern part of the island.

Ruled by England for more than 400 years, the Republic gained independence in 1922, after a long and violent struggle.

Ireland Tourism

Ireland is a land of mountains, lakes, and rolling farmland, with an ancient history and world-famous literary tradition.

Scenic attractions include the romantic Lakes of Killarney; the lush Wicklow Mountains; and the Cliffs of Moher, that rise from the sea in a five-mile wall.

Many Americans – presidents included – like to visit Ireland to ‘trace their Irish roots’.

U.S. Presidents with Irish Roots:
Over half the presidents in U.S. history claim Irish ancestry of some kind.

Visit Ireland – Visit Dublin.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/IEfocus

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June 13, 2012June 17, 2012

Focus on Denmark

Today’s spotlight is on Denmark.

‘The large white vessel waited patiently, as they dipped into their money-belts to produce passports and rights of passage’.

Foreigners all around them spoke in Scandinavian languages that the Comprehensive system had not fore thought to teach them.

To retreat from the strangeness, a log was recorded daily, but the day and date does not read too well; even though Dervla Murphy used it successfully in her Andean Adventure and others.

Everything was new to the boys, so dated entries were hastily written in snatched moments, while waiting for rides.

Later in life, the day and date would not seem as relevant as the continuity of the journey. The object was to hitch-hike from Scandinavia to the South of France.

That was how I first presented our hitch-hiking adventure to connected computers on the world wide web – through the free web space that was Geocities – back in 1996; although the boat departed from Harwich (England) to Esbjerg (Denmark) much earlier than that.

Whenever I think about Denmark today, my mind still goes back to when we first set foot on Danish soil.

We didn’t have a travel guide to Scandinavia; didn’t have mailing lists and travel forums to ask for travel tips; but we did have a map.

Once on the outskirts of Esbjerg, I remember thinking how – compared to England – this land seemed so open, flat, green, and remarkably clean.

It is well known that the cars drive on the right, but not every new pedestrian to the country is prepared for the cycle lanes that seem like pavements. The danger is that mopeds used them too.

The cyclists in Denmark may be safe from motorists, but us poor, foreign pedestrians had to be wary of the bike.

Satellite view over Denmark: The Great Belt is... — Satellite view over Denmark: The Great Belt is the passage in the center. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Cycle lanes are a lot more common now but back then I really wasn’t prepared.

Our route took us across Jutland to Kolding and up through Aarhus to Grenaa for another ferry across to Varberg, in Sweden.

We wouldn’t get to visit the Danish capital, Copenhagen, until we’d hitch-hiked up to the Fjords of Norway then sailed down Kattegat Bay from Oslo.

Visit Denmark – Visit Copenhagen:
Official Danish tourism websites.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/DKfocus

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June 12, 2012June 17, 2012

Focus on Greece

Today’s spotlight is on Greece.

I don’t understand why whether a country is in financial crisis or not would affect its credit rating with tourists? But according to news reports, it does.

Greece’s Central Bank recently announced a 15% drop in tourism receipts compared with the same period last year.

Some Greeks feel that if the government doesn’t have the money to promote Greece tourism effectively then it’s in the people’s interest to get together and do it themselves.

That’s quite an ambition but with the help of social media and viral videos, anything is possible.

Managed by Greeks around the world on a voluntary basis, Up Greek Tourism is a private initiative aiming to promote Greece as a touristic destination.

Another project that might interest visitors to Greece is dopios – which means ‘local’ in Greek.

Billed as ‘a community marketplace that connects travellers and locals in order to create more authentic travel experiences’, the site has just launched with locals in Athens offering their services to visitors.

Maybe the tourists aren’t booking their hotel with swimming pool holidays in Greece at the moment but budget travellers are always interested in Greek Island hopping.

Hellas Ferris — Greek Island Hopping – Budget Travellers Waiting For a Ferry in Piraeus, Greece

When visiting Greece, you only really need a few days in Athens then head down to the port of Piraeus and just sail to where the fancy takes you; perhaps buy a ticket for the next sailing on a boat you like the look of.

The Greek ferries in port have big signs with their destination and sailing time clearly visible.

There are so many islands to explore in the Aegean Sea, with plenty of ferries sailing between them, that you’re only really restricted by the time you have available.

Clearly those on tight schedules have to plan more rigidly but the beauty of travel (to me) is not really knowing where we’re going or when we’ll arrive, until we get there.

While there are regular car ferries, I prefer to travel as a foot passenger and hire a motorbike to get around the larger islands; or a bicycle, for the smaller ones.

If you need a travel guide to Greece, I would recommend the DK Eyewitness Greece Travel Guide for historical background to the sightseeing sites in Athens and around the mainland of Greece.

For sailing around the Greek Islands it really has to be ‘Greek Island Hopping’ by Frewin Poffley; although the Lonely Planet Greek Islands Guide also has its fans.

Visit Greece:
The Official website of the Greek Tourism Organisation.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/GRfocus

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June 11, 2012June 17, 2012

Focus on France

Today’s spotlight is on France.

When talking about France it can sometimes be hard to know where to start.

France has 100 départements, grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions.

I don’t know if there’s anyone on the planet who wouldn’t want to visit Paris.

The capital of France is located in the Île-de-France region.

Map of Departments and Regions of France

The numbers on the map are the official code for the department and can be found on car registration plates and postcodes in France.

Groups of departments have only been known as regions since 1982. Before that they were provinces.

Some regions reused the names of the traditional provinces, but their geographical borders may differ from those of the provinces.

Once you’ve visited Paris you really do need to get out and discover the regions of France.

Acquiring a taste for the regional specialities and the wines and cheeses that accompany them is the first step to a life-long love affair with French food and wine.

On Travel Notes, we’re working on deeper guides to the regions of France and in turn hope to cover each department in much more detail.

The great thing about travelling around France is that it’s always a voyage of discovery; especially if you get off the beaten path, avoid the tourist hot-spots and really sit down with the French and ‘casser la croûte’.

To truly discover France is to set sail on a voyage of the senses; where the degustation is an adventure made for the gourmet in all of us.

France Guide:
Official website of the French Government Tourist Office.

Short URL: http://tnot.es/FRfocus