Top 5 European Beers ni Jose(My favourites so far)

Dahil Valentine’s at napapanahong maglasing, I am posting my top 5 favourite beers, from the countries I’ve visited in Europe. I love beer, particularly the mildly sweet brew. I am an avid beer drinker, but I am not an expert of beer science or anything. The list is basically on my personal preference with taste, crispness, and partially with the packaging. hihi

There are different types of beer based on how it is prepared and stored. Personally, I like Draft beer. These are stored and served from a barrel (or pressurized keg) rather than from a bottle or can. Regardless of the type of beer, the container, the handling and exposure to the elements may actually affect the taste. Kaya nga if you noticed, minsan di consistent ang lasa ng bottled. I find draft beers more preserved, better tasting, consistent and more flavourful. But this is just a thought of mine. Nothing super fancy.

And I don’t like putting ice on my beer. Zzz.

So, here goes my list… =)

#1 Tyskie Beer from Poland.   5.6% alcohol and up. Tyskie is actually a bit fruity-ish. And I love mildly sweet beer, that is why it stood on top of the list. Taste is light malty and honey sweet with pretty much no bitterness, which is just perfect for me.  And as per the bar tender, Tyskie is consistently good. DSC01861 copy#2 Soproni Beer of Budapest. 6% , 8%, 12% Alcohol. One of Hungary’s favourite.The taste is light, mildly sweet at the start, followed by a mild bitterness to the finish.DSC01102#3 Hansy Beer of Vienna, Austria. Concocted by a local Viennese restaurant Gasthaus Hansy that brews their own beer, this lager beer is surely served fresh and crisp. Tripadvisor has good rating for this restaurant, and the beer as well.DSC01421#4 Mythos Beer of Greece. 4.7% to 5% Alcohol. As per some reviews, some find it too mild. But I find it good actually. Perfect to pair with meaty street food around Athens.DSC04056#5 Staropramen Beer of Prague Czech Republic. This is among Prague’s Decent Bohemian Pilsen, that is balanced to the milder sideDSC01006

Other Runner Ups: Arany Beer of BudapestDSC01123G Menabrea Beer of ItalyMilan2015josemanuel24Kronenbourg of Franceparis20152Pilsner Urquell of Czech RepublicDSC01729This list is really just a fraction of Beer names around Europe. Will I be updating the list on my next visit? We’ll see. =)

 

12 Most Beautiful Churches In Europe

More than a symbol of man’s faith, churches(or any house of worship), are among the most relevant reflection of a civilization’s age, culture and story.

Of all the churches I have visited during my trip to Europe, here are 12 (At no particular order) with the most beautiful facade I’ve seen and an impressive setting that gave an ethereal feel of place. Though these churches may not necessarily be the grandest of grand, the selection is based on distinct exterior details and on how I was awed by standing on its presence.

The Budapest Cathedral (St. Stephen’s Basilicaof Hungary. DSC01069DSC01076Although this Roman Catholic Church is relatively new (completed 1905), the church impressively stands at the middle of the a crossing that its tallest towers can splendidly be seen from blocks away. It effortlessly became one of my favourites. The church also has one of the most impressive altars I have seen, to which I shall be featuring on a separate post. Architectural Style : Neo Classical

St. Stephen Cathedral (Stephansdom) of Vienna, Austria DSC01401Here is another cathedral named after St. Stephen, that is amazing it its own right. The original structure was completed 1160, and underwent a number of restorations due to fire and war. However, the structural and most of its facade and details remain original. The most amazing feature of the church is probably its tiled roof with geometric patterns, that is unlike any other.  Architectural Style : Gothic

St. Vitus Cathedral of Prague(The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert). DSC01636Original structure completed 1344, the church completely embodies the Goth-bohemian character of Prague with its impressive exterior embellishments. The facade still has burn marks on the walls from several fire accidents of the past, to which somewhat gave the church a story to tell. Architectural Style: GothicDSC01633

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The guys below the rose window were the architects of this church. Lol, It’s quite a nice idea on how to imprint a project.

St. Mary’s Basilica of Krakow, PolandDSC00921St Mary’s of Krakow is a unique Brick-Cladded church, originally built in the early 13th century. The very tall church proudly stands like two guardians. Krakow is among the most beautiful towns I have visited; And indeed, its church and square has one of the most beautiful setting. By tradition, a golden trumpet is blown every full hour from the window of the higher tower. This is still practiced until today. Architectural Style: Gothic

Barcelona Cathedral, SpainDSC05281Barcelona Cathedral(Original Structure constructed 1298 to 1420) is another Gothic church with a beautiful set up, worthy of praises. The Spanish steps elevated the church to a more impressive view and an ethereal feel. Although the Sagrada Familia is the more famous, it is yet to be completed and there are cranes and lifts around its towers. Based on perfect setting, this church is the most beautiful in Barcelona. Architectural Style: Gothic

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. Original structure completed 1345 (plus several recent restorations). Notre Dame is a historic Catholic monument of French royalty. The cathedral is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world.paris20158paris20156The Notre-Dame de Paris was among the first buildings to use the flying buttress, or the additional reversed L shaped support placed on the outer side walls for further stability, and later became part of the design pattern. The box type bell towers at the front also made the church distinct from others. And who doesn’t know Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame?  Architectural Style: Gothic

Le Madeleine Church, Paris (completed 1828) is somewhat a skillfully fully made revival of the Greek classical facade of the Parthenon. This church graciously stands right at the middle of a main crossroad in Paris.paris201529paris201528I must admit that the 90’s movie ‘Madeline’ did have an impact for me to like this church so much. =) Architectural Style: Neo clasical

The Pisa Cathedral, Tuscany, Italypisa2015josemanuel14The Pisa Cathedral is probably the oldest in the list (construction started 1064). The baluster-like posts at the facade are each made of solid white marble, and most of the original posts were picked by the Romans from the ruins of Greece. Behind this church is the famous leaning tower.  Architectural Style: Romanesque.

pisa2015josemanuel6Romanesque (pre-gothic time)was prevalent especially in the 11th and 12th centuries and characterized by massive walls, round arches, and relatively simple ornamentation and less window openings since structural design are yet to be further developed during that time.pisa2015josemanuel10

Milan Cathedral, Italy Milan2015josemanuel19Milan2015josemanuel22Milan Cathedral, Italy (Construction started 1836). With the capacity of 40,000 pax, Milan Cathedral is the 2nd biggest, next to St. Peter’s in Vatican. And with 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures in all, Milan Cathedral has the most impressive number of decorative statues. Impressive in every angle, this church easily because one of my favourites. Architectural Style: Gothic

St Mark’s Cathedral, Venice, Italy venice2015josemanuel28venice2015josemanuel16St Mark’s Cathedral (Construction started 1084). Located in the East Isles of Italy, Venice shared a lot of its history with the Turks, as such, the Byzantine Architecture is very evident on the city’s most celebrated church. The Gold facade embellishments, pointy arches and mosaic art frescos and colored glass chandeliers are among the adopted characters from the Turks, and have clearly made this catholic church a ‘one of a kind’. Architectural Style: Byzantine

The Stripe Church of Monterosso, Cinque Terre in Liguria, Italycinqueterre2015josemanuel14The Stripe Church of Monterosso (Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista – Church of St John Baptist, Monterosso al Mare, 14th Century).  Standing at the Seaside town of Monterosso, Ligurian Region of Italy, the church is really a stand out on this list for its Stripe black and white walls and impressive rose window.  Though the relatively unknown of the group, the seaside church (and the whole Cinque terre, infact) is worth a visit.  Architectural styles: Renaissance architecture

Florence Cathedral, of Tuscanyflorence2015josemanuel10With such intricately detailed exterior, Florence Cathedral honestly got my spot for most beautiful facade on this list. The Photo does not give enough justice, as this church is truly ethereal and stunning in actual (nakaka-lula in tagalog). Living up to the principles of Renaissance art, the cathedral itself is an a masterpiece of when Italian art and knowledge was at its most glorious days.  Architectural styles: Renaissance architectureflorence2015josemanuel9

Source of dates : Wikipedia.com. All Photos owned by the Blog Owner. All rights reserved.

 

Day Trip to Vienna Austria

A visit to Vienna, Austria was part of the packaged tour arranged for us by Travel Expert, Inc., Poland (https://www.facebook.com/Travel.Expert.BP/?pnref=lhc) Vienna is merely 3 1/2 hours from Prague. Here are some snapshots from our day visit.

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The vicinity of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of Vienna’s Posh shopping districts.DSC01382DSC01524DSC01249DSC01365DSC01158DSC01157DSC01413

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Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence located in Vienna, Austria. The 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in the country.DSC01470DSC01328DSC01474DSC01501DSC01473

 

Authentic Chicken Schnitzel perfectly paired with Hansy BeerDSC01432DSC01421

Vienna Sausages =)DSC01461

Easy Walking Tour Around Prague (Plus Czech Foodies)

Apart from being declared as a city of love, Prague probably is one of the best destination for any medieval architecture junkie, with its well preserved Gothic and Romanesque monuments. Here are some of my best snap shots while walking around Prague’s old district. prague

A massive, fortified complex of churches and palaces, the UNESCO-listed Prague Castle is definitely on top of the list. Located on top of the hill across the Vlatava River, the complex offers the best panoramic views to see the lovely city.DSC01602DSC01604St. Vitus CathedralDSC01633The Rose window of this cathedralDSC01636The two guys below the rose window were the architects of this Palace complexDSC01635Drinking fountains can be found around Prague old district. This on the photo with two holes is an interesting one.DSC01596A commemorative medallion installed outside the house of a victim during Prague’s Nazi regime. This memoir can be found Though out east and central Europe.DSC01577Prague’s Old Town Square. See the impressive St Nicholas Church, Tyn Cathedral and Old Town Hall and pause to admire the world-famous Astronomical Clock, with its mechanical procession of 12 apostle figurines.DSC01564DSC01551Wenceslas Square is one of the business centre of old Prague. DSC01779The Dancing House building by Ar. Frank Gehry has a very non-traditional design, and was controversial at its time because the house stands out among the Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous.DSC01817

Street Food and dining around Prague.  The Trdelnik rolled – grilled pastry is a stable. DSC01536DSC01713

Roasted Pork Butt is a famous dish of Prague. (Seriously, it is!)DSC01560

 

Baguette is also a thing in Prague for its French influence. DSC01786DSC01782

The Prague Crew at dinner time =)DSC01744KOLENO is roast pork knee (or knuckle) in big portion, a dish that’s also common in Czech cuisine. DSC01742VEPŘO-KNEDLO-ZELO – roast pork (vepřová) with bread dumplings (knedlíky) and stewed cabbage, or sauerkraut (zelí), a classic Czech dishDSC01733Fish dish in vegetable-laden gravy, typically made with herbs and root veggies like carrots, celeriac, parsley root.DSC01741Other fun stuff in Prague =)DSC01752

Never miss Prague without having local beers, at least two brands =)DSC01729DSC01006

Budapest Hungary In A Day

A side trip to Budapest was part of the tour packaged arranged for us by Travel Expert, Inc. (https://www.facebook.com/Travel.Expert.BP/?ref=br_rs) Here are some of my best snap shots of this charming bohemian city by the Danube River.BUDAPEST

See Budapest from the top. Take in the beautiful panorama from the top of Gellert Hill.DSC01178DSC01187A Walking along the Danube River as well offers the best view of Hungarian Architecture.DSC01245The Chain Bridge is one of the rustic links between the west bank of Buda and and the east bank of Pest.DSC01205

The Hungarian Parliament Building is just across the Chain Bridge. Perfect for Photo Ops.DSC01229The Budapest Opera HouseDSC01048St. Stephen (Budapest Cathedral)DSC01076DSC01069DSC01074Walk around the artsy – bohemian neighborhoodDSC01037DSC01038A Bathhouse that has been standing even before WW2 and is still perfectly beautiful ’til today. DSC01108

Spicy and rich, Hungarian Dishes are worth trying in Budapest. Almost everything has paprika. Here are the majestic Hungarian Sausages WTF!DSC01720Goulash is a staple food for Hungarians. It is basically beef (or chicken) in paprika and other seasonings.DSC01100Pörkölt and Paprikás -The word pörkölt literally means ‘roasted’ and the dish is made of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, pork or liver (varieties depend on the region) cooked with onion, paprika and other spices, resulting in a juicy dish served with another Hungarian gastro-curiosity, the nokedli (egg noodle dumpling).  (Wiki)DSC01105Never leave a country without tasting a local bee. Here are Soproni and Arany of Budapest.DSC01102DSC01123

Krakow, Poland Day Tour.

During my visit to Poland, me and 8 others were hosted by friends Kacper and Alia, who are based in Warsaw. We flew to Poland all the way from the Philippines to attend their wedding day. We also took the chance to see nearby cities before the big day. Alia arranged a mini tour for us to see Krakow, Budapest, Vienna and Prague in a 5 day, with our own private van. The arranged tour cost us around 620 Euros, inclusive of breakfast, dinner and very nice hotel rooms. Though I must admit that arranged tours can be really stiff (laging kulang ng time), but seeing 4 countries with such comfort and privacy is already worth the cost. Poland is a relatively inexpensive country in  Europe. Considering that they have the vastest of farmlands, food in Poland is fairly cheap. Say, a kilo and a half of strawberries in a basket costs only around 1 Euro (50 Pesos). I could eat that all day, seriously.

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Anyways, here are some snips from the first stop of our tour, Krakow. Dating back to  the 7th century, Krakow City of Southern Poland in one of the oldest cities, and second most important city in Poland as center of history and academic. Today, the town center of Krakow still has this old world, charming and laid back feel, worthy of the Unesco World Heritage seal it holds. A nice leisurely walk from the square to the riverside Wawel castle is definitely a must do.

What to see in Krakow?

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The Wawel Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. What makes this basilica unique are its domes and chapels that undoubtedly look different from each other. These were built on different eras and of different royal bloods that aims to surpass its predecessors.
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The Wawel Castle complex imposingly sits on top of the hill with a great view.

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After hiking across the enormous Wawel Castle, it was nice that we spent the evening at the main square. The main square of the Old Town of Kraków, Lesser Poland, is the principal urban space located at the center of the city. It dates back to the 13th century, and at roughly 40,000 m² is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe.  (Wiki)

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The market place at the main square
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St Mary’s Cathedral at night

Feast on Polish carnivorous meals right at the main square. Dinner was included in the tour cost.

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Nice interiors of Wesele, which happens to be a Michelin Star restaurant
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Heavy meat platter, fit for a king. By far this is the best meat platter that has ever appeared in front of me.
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Bigos , a traditional Polish dish of fermented cabbage with pork and sausages.
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Pierogi – dumpling in bacon fat sauce.

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We stayed at Hotel Alexander, which is also part of the tour.

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Warsaw,Poland: A Photoblog

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Warsaw’s Old Town as you see it today was almost totally rebuilt after the war, mostly based on 18th century paintings. But the people of Warsaw did such a meticulous job rebuilding it from scratch that the Old Town was honoured with a place on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.  (wikipedia.com)

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DSC01896 copySome are pieces made of Gold have been passed on by generations and are kept inside the museum.
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Unique floras around the old town of Warsaw

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Bus 175 takes you from Warsaw International Airport to the Old Town Square, which is its last stop.

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Warsaw Street Scene

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White bread sold like rings.

Pierogi (Polish Dumpling) is a popular find, and are best served with buttery sauce from Bacon Fat

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This cheap pasta and salad platter was my first meal in Poland

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Tyskie Beer has been my fave beer in Europe from the first sip, with a whopping 10% alcohol content. Polish enjoy beer as much as the neighbouring countries. There are 97 Breweries around Poland as of 2013.

Here are some of my friends who enjoyed Polish beer and Pierogis as much as I did. =)

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Must See’s in Barcelona(And some Must Eat’s)

From an architecture junkie’s point of view, Barcelona is an urban sprawl of breathtaking architecture. With a peculiar modernist style known as  the”Catalan Art Noveau”, experiencing the streetscape of Barcelona can never be compared to all other European cities I’ve visited.

Art Noveau is an architectural style during the early 20th century characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing curves depicting nature’s form. Samples of this artsy architecture can be found around Europe. However, the most preserved samples stand tall and proud ’til today along the well paved streets of Barcelona.

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Every block of this city is Instagram worthy.

Here are some of the snap shots I took during my 2 days stay in Barcelona. Feel free to follow my easy must see’s and must do’s. =)

 — Enjoy a leisurely walk around Playa Catalunya, which is the center of Downtown Barcelona, where bus rides from the airport terminates. Passeig de Gracia (A Main Street originating from Playa Catalunya) holds a number of buildings designed by the famous Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi.

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One of Antoni Gaudi’s iconic creations, the Casa Batlo, can easily be spotted along Passeig de Gracia. This structure is a stand out with its “deep sea” feels and bone-like columns and balusters. The Facade is cladded with random mosaic of broken tiles.
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Another amazing creation of Gaudi, the Casa Mila Apartment, completed 1912, and is still a functioning building ’til today.
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A close up view of the intricately weaved iron railings as designed by Gaudi
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The main door of Casa Mila
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A Typical facade you’ll see around Barcelona
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The center of Barcelona is composed mainly of low rise blocks. I haven’t seen any high rise building anywhere near Playa Catalunya.
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A clever facade style to avoid the direct afternoon sun.
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An interesting modernist facade. The grilles cleverly hides the Air conditioning unit condensers.

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— Visit the Sagrada Familia late in the afternoon. Several blocks further (yet still walkable) from Passeig de Gracia is the famous Basilica de Sagrada Familia. Entrance fee to this Unesco protected site is 15 Euros, including the Museum (non-agency purchase). Lines for the ticket can be long, but as read from other blogs, I lined up at around high noon, about 12, when tourists are likely to have lunch. True enough I only waited for around 15 minutes. Entry to the basilica is regulated to every 15 minutes. I took the 4pm slot, as advised, to get the full experience as the sun sets on the west, pouring much light to stained glass windows. late afternoon visit is also ideal to be able to catch the daily mass at 6 pm at the crypt.

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The Facade and interior details of the Basilica ( Refer to my previous post on this) https://iamjosemanuel.com/2016/01/05/a-peek-inside-the-sagrada-familia/

— Walk around the Passeig La Rambla, and towards the pier. This area is the liveliest from day to night. Affordable buffet style restaurants can be found when walking towards the pier.

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The Barcelona Cathedral is also worth a visit.

Range over Mercat de Santa Caterina. This public market is stone throws away from Barcelona Cathedral.

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Sampling variety of Tapas at the Market

CHEAP EATS AROUND PLAYA CATALUNYA

Dining on a budget is easy in Barcelona. Here are some of the cheap finds around Playa Catalunya and La Rambla.

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A proof that Barcelona isn’t over priced. These pastries here  are only half the cost as compared to Paris or Florence.
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Cheap family sized pizza at 1.99 Euros. They’re not gourmet though, but good enough for quick cheap snacks

— Indulge in Spanish cuisines, buffet style. Buffets are a common thing in Barcelona, and are fairly affordable at around 9 to 12 Euros, usually including unlimited beer.  I had buffet style lunch for two straight days. haha. Lunch buffet start late at around 1pm. Maybe it is of a cultural thing since Spanish people often enjoy afternoon siestas. Some stores even close around lunch time.

— Sample Some Tapas and beer for some Spanish Style pre-meal. Beer and Tapa set is usually a late afternoon thing in Barcelona. Not pricey really if you are keen on finding one. I had a plate of tapa and two bottles of beer for only 7 Euros at a Bar near Sagrada Familia.

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The usual morning thing, Tapa Sandwiches on the go. Its good and it is cheap.

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Cheap tapa sandwiches are usually available for breakfast on the go. 1 Euro Sandwiches are 8 – 10 inches long.

I only had two days stay in Barcelona and I must admit that I was  not able to fully explore the amazing city. Well, that then gives me a good reason to go back. =)

A Peek Inside The Sagrada Familia

Any architecture junkie would identify this massive church at one glance. Truly, the Basilica de Sagrada Familia of Barcelona is incomparable.

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Taken almost two blocks away to get a full shot, the Sagrada Familia’s imposing structure is more than 100 years in the making(and is yet to be completed). Currently at 70 meters high, Barcelona aims to complete the Basilica with towers 180 meters high, as designed by Antoni Gaudi, making it the tallest church in the world.
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The intricate art nouveau details of the Basilica up close. This entrance way depicts the birth of Christ.
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Cubist sculptures made of sandstone, depicting the life of Christ.
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Manually carved text on the solid door panel

Apart from its imposing structure of the basilica, what really amazed me is how the interior achieved a truly surreal play of light and color as produced by the stained glass windows from all corners. Bone-like columns twist their way to the ceiling, reaching upwards like branches of trees, creating the impression of being in an enormous forest.

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The main altar cross is designed to have a floating feel
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Every corner of the basilica has been installed with contrasting colors, as a result, an incomparable ambiance is achieved.

I entered the basilica late afternoon, to get the full experience of the place as the sun sets on the west, pouring much light to stained glass windows.

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The expressionist columns that represent trees and foliages, as envisioned by Ar. Antoni Gaudi.

 

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The stunning ceiling works made of stone
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A Photo of Antoni Gaudi
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The Architect’s tomb at the Basilica’s crypt, below the main altar

Entrance fee to this Unesco protected site is 15 Euros, including the Museum (non-agency purchase). Lines for the ticket can be long, but as read from other blogs, I lined up at around high noon, about 12, when tourists are likely to have lunch. True enough I only waited for around 15 minutes. Entry to the basilica is regulated to every 15 minutes. I took the 4pm slot, as advised, to get the full experience as the sun sets on the west, pouring much light to stained glass windows. late afternoon visit is also ideal to be able to catch the daily mass at 6 pm at the crypt.

 

Visiting the Port City of Essaouira: A Photoblog

An easy side trip from Marakesh, Essaouira is a port city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Its Medina has been enlisted as a UNESCO World heritage site since 2001. Directly facing the Atlantic Ocean, the city was windy and chilly the time I was there, which was a complete opposite of Marrakesh’s. It was summer when I visited.

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A functioning Port City for many centuries, Essaouira is merely three hours away by Supratours bus from Marrakesh, for 8 USD or400 pesos/way. Any hostel can assist you on booking this. Expect some desert views along the way.  Here are some snapshots on how my side trip to Essaouira went.

Essaouira as a walled Fortress on the Atlantic Coast.

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Essaouira as a functioning Port City

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Essaouira as a Seafood Market

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Essaouira as a laid back city to explore.

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Essaouira and its ice cold Coca Cola in Arabic writings.

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Essaouira as a nice backdrop for selfies.

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Essaouira and the surreal Atlantic sunset.

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Moroccan Foodang!!! (What to Eat There?)

With strong Arab influence, eating in Morocco is definitely a plate of heavy meat seasoned with a flavourful combination of coriander, parsley and cumin. Unlike Indian, locals said that their dishes (especially the Tagine) are usually subtle with just a dash of chilli. Here are some of the dishes I enjoyed during my 4 days stay in Morocco.  FYI I did not try eating exotic dishes like lamb brain or dried eyes or something, but they have.

Tangine of all sorts. A tagine is not actually the cuisine but the manner of cooking food on a clay pot with a conical lid. It is like their version of rice toppings. Dishes are cooked only on low fire.

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Unlce from one of the Stalls around Jemaa El Fna Square where I had my first Moroccan Dinner of Lamb Stew
Lamb Tagine (stewed lamb with a hint of curry) this one is around 80 pesos at a cheap stall in Jemaa El Fna.
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Vegetable Curry Tagine over cuscous starch. This one I had in Essaouira, for around 250 pesos at a sit down restaurant, with refillable bread, olives and coffee.
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Kefta Tagine. Beef mince with garlic, fresh spices, cinnamon and is rolled into balls and cooked in a tomato and onion sauce. Just before the dish is ready, eggs are cracked into depressions in the sauce.
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Beef Tagine. One of the best meal I had from a small eatery along along Essaouira public market. This one was around 150 pesos good for two.
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Deep Fried Fish, Moroccan Style. From the same eatery, I ordered this fried fish because the meat was very fat and perfectly cooked.
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The fish was  DIWIT (Cutlassfish), definitely the same fish we have here in the Philippines.
Kebabs and Salads.  This came a bit pricey at around 30 pesos per stick but it does come with bread, salad and preserved olives.
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Zaalouk – A bread filling that includes green peppers and tomatoes, sweet carrots or courgette purée, and a dish of local olives alongside. This was a street food I had along the public market.
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The bread prepared over an open oven, to pair with Zaalouk.

Some other usual food you’ll see along the street.

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Its a cultural thing that Moroccan Pastries are guarded by bees. Of course, you are not supposed to eat the bees.
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Cheap, big bread. like only 10 pesos per piece.
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Expect to see a lot of olives!
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Moroccan Coffee. Nothing much to say. but the sugar cubes are cute. its my first time to see such. haha
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Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice for 40 pesos. I would recommend though to be careful with anything uncooked and unprocessed for safety purposes.
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Mint Tea, the best meal closer. And usually it is complimentary. =)

Backpacking Marrakesh,Morocco: What to expect?

Any travel enthusiast would most likely agree that one of the best feelings in life is having a visa application approved.It was my first time to apply for Schengen Visa, which I consider a power visa (with personal interviews and all). Seriously, I can still recall today how it felt like having my passport in hand, with the lovely Schengen Visa sticker. Not only that, I was also granted a multiple entry visa. Though only valid for a few months, but still, I was overjoyed. And all thanks to Alia, a friend based in Warsaw who paved the way smooth and clean; as well as some travel veteran friends for the helpful tricks. (Segway lang, here’s my article on how I got my Schengen Visa  https://iamjosemanuel.com/2015/06/16/applying-schengen-visa-through-the-netherlands-embassy-in-the-philippines/

Knowing that Europe can never be as easy as merely going to HK (and with a limited budget), I seriously did a lot of research to prepare. My trip was scheduled June, but as early as February, I already had a plotted route on a spreadsheet (thanks to skyscanner and some experienced friends). But then, my route changed the moment I got my visa approved with multiple entry. I said to myself that it was already an opportunity to cross over North Africa and visit one country I have always been fascinated with, that is Morocco.

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Having only a month long stay in Europe, I squeezed in a quick 4 days to Morocco after Rome. My 2 hours flight from Rome to Marrakesh was around 2,200 pesos with Ryan Air (online Promo, no baggage). Though I could have had a cheaper ticket with a red eye flight, I opt to get a 7 am instead so I would arrive in broad daylight, for safety purposes.  Prior to the flight, I already had some dollars changed to dirham in Rome.

And yes, Filipinos are Visa Free in Morocco. I passed by their immigration swift as a bird.

Anyways, here was how my trip to Morocco went…

I’d definitely say that Marrakesh has the most intricately decorated airport I have ever visited. Though small in size (I would say like NAIA T3) the aluminum and glassworks were super, and clearly reflects their cultural character of love for foliage details and lattice works.

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view of Marrakesh from Above
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Stunning Latticeworks of the Airport Structure

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Backpacking in Morocco can be pretty cheap and easy with proper research. From the airport, I took a public bus to the Medina (Old Marakkesh district) for around 0.5 USD. I booked at Equity Hostel, which was around 500 pesos for a Dorm Bed with heavy breakfast. As any backpacker would recommend, book a hostel at the Medina for that old world Moroccan feel (But if you are maselan, 5 star hotels are at the CBD).

What to expect in Marrakesh?

A City of Exotic feels. This nation of Arabian descent, is a beautiful mix of Middle Eastern and South European influences. Though standing on the grounds of Mama Africa, the black African culture is mute. Even if you ask a local, they would say they’re Arab, and not African.

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With strong Arab influences, Morocco offers the finest brass an metal wares as well as leather. But if you have shopping in mind, remember to negotiate, negotiate and negotiate further as the prices are definitely x3.

Get lost on the Streets of the Medina, and find interesting things.

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Sad Donkey. and smelly, I swear.
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Items made of Ivory are still being openly sold in Marrakesh. Sad Truth.
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Its a cultural thing that Moroccan Pastries are guarded by bees. Of course, you are not supposed to eat the bees.

 

Enjoy the Panoramic View of the Jemaa El Fna square. Busy, and a bit chaotic, Jemaa square and market place in Marrakesh’s medina quarter (old city). Functioning since the 10th Century, this remains the main square of Marrakesh, used by locals and tourists. The square has been recognized as UNESCO site for Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage.

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Jemaa Al Fna at night.

Moroccan Foodang !!!!  Grilled beef, Stewed Lamb, spices… definitely Arabian.

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Meat and vegetable dishes cooked on a claypot. The call it Tagine

Traditional Mint Tea after every meal, and is usually complimentary.

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Side Trip to the coastal town of Essaouira, which is around three hours by Supratours bus for 8 USD or400 pesos/way. Any hostel can assist you on booking this. Expect some desert views along the way. It was my first time to see a desert to it was amazing. =) Essaouira is a port city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, and its Medina has been enlisted as a UNESCO World heritage site since 2001. Directly facing the Atlantic Ocean, the city was windy and chilly the time I was there, which was a complete opposite of Marrakesh’s. It was summer when I visited.

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Experience a Sandstorm. Last highlight of my trip was a first time encounter with Sandstorm, just hours before my flight. It was sundown that time and the sky turned red, windy and I found myself stranded a waiting shed. Good thing it was just a light and quick one, but seriously, I felt the dust dwell into my pits. I had a quick wash up upon arriving at the airport (good thing the toilet had a hose type bidet).

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Sandstorm feels. Zzzz

More articles coming up on Essaouira and Moroccan food  experience. Stay tuned. Char.

Travelogue 2015

As a new year tradition(and hopefully I can keep it up), I am sharing these simple travelogue postcards of beautiful cities I’ve visited the past year.  All shots were taken by me with my Sony. Feel free to share. =)

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A day Around Athens, Greece: A Photoblog

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A shot(by yours truly) of the ancient grounds of Acropolis seated on top of the hill at the centre of Athens. This unobstructed view can be seen from the Agora Market side of Plaka.
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A View of Athens City as seen when walking up the Acropolis from Plaka.

The cost of entrance to the Acropolis is about 12 euros and is good for the other sites in the area including the ancient agora, theatre of Dionysos,Kerameikos, Roman Agora, Tower of the Winds and the Temple of Olympian Zeus and is supposedly good for a week.

Walking around Plaka and the street scene at the foot of Acropolis.

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A quick countryside visit to the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, taking 2 hours bus ride, situated on top of a cliff facing the Aegean Sea. Imagine the battles of ancient times that happened on this water.

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The temple overlooking Aegean sea

Acropolis Museum is also a must visit ideally before climbing up the Acropolis grounds. The museum keeps and preserves all the original statues and carvings of the Acropolis site, including the famous Caryatids as shown below.  Entrance fee to the museum only costs 5 Euros.

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The Acropolis Museum at night.
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X95 Bus to and from the Airport, costing 11 Euros per way.
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Athens International Airport

Five Must Eats in Athens,Greece

Greek Street food was something I really looked forward during my trip to Europe. Apart from the interesting fusion of Italian cheese and spices with Middle Eastern influences, Greek street food is always served heavy, filling and cheap! Bumawi ako ng lamon sa Greece kasi mahal yung pagkain sa iba.The pizza and gelato in Italy were also great, but are just too mainstream, Lol.

Anyways, here’s my list of the street finds around Athens that should never be missed.

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The Souvlaki is probably the most common Greek food you can basically find anywhere. This fast food is mainly grilled meat (could be pork, lamb, chicken or fish) wrapped in pita with all the greek spices in tzatsiki (yogurt)sauce. It is somewhat their version of shawarma, except that the greek bread is thicker and more chewy. Souvlaki is a heavy street food (big enough like around 8″ long, and priced at only around 3 Euro with Coke.

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Here is a personal favourite, the Moussaka. This one is somewhat the Greek’s version of Lasagna. Layers of sautéed aubergine(mini eggplant), minced meat, fried pureed tomato, onion, garlic and spices like cinnamon, potato, cheese topping and béchamel sauce

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Anything with Greek Feta Cheese is amazing. Here is literally a Slab of Feta Cheese topping a salad dish, like around 10 cm thick. Generous!

Lachmatzoun is an ancient greek style rolled pizza. also a popular street food. The brown part shown is spicedLminced lamb meat.

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lightly salted and grilled Lamb ribs, perfectly paired with cuscus. This was around 9 Euros, good for two.

Other Street food around the city…

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Greek Yogurt with Walnut and Honey. Must not miss!
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Anything with cheese is good in Greece
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pastries and brittles and other stuff related to Baklava
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The Mythos Beer for the win! Mild and crisp, this is my 2nd fave beer in Europe (next to 10% Tyskie of Poland)
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Although not originally from Athens, Leonidas coffee is also a great bev, and cheap as well. only 1.50 Euro for this iced frappe. You’ll never find coffee as cheap as that in France or Italy.
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A great view of Athens Agora Market, which has long been the center of trade for the Greeks, since Time B.C.

Vatican City : A Photoblog

Here’s a brief Photoblog on how is spent my visit to the Vatican. As advised, I joined a 3 hour small group tour to the Vatican Museum and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The tour ended inside St. Peter’s Basilica, and I was able to stay inside the church for the 5 PM mass.romejosemanuel-23

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The Vatican Guards in full outfit
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Moments after the mass
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No Photoshop has been done with this shot. The ray of light shown is real, bringing an ethereal feel as it enters the dome openings.
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Centuries-old water fountains are found everywhere inside the Vatican that are safe for drinking. 
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With our Tour Guide from Maximus Inc.
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At the Vatican Museum lobby with my group, waiting for our queue to start. Outside the lobby were people in line under the heat of the sun, waiting for their turn to get in. Sobrang hassle if you buy tickets on your own.

Avoiding the long lines, I opt to book my ticket to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel via Maximus Tours online for 45 Euro. They were the cheapest I’ve found online with good reviews. a 25 Euro is required for DP (with proper documentations sent to your email) and the remaining 20 Euro was personally paid to the tour group head positioned just outside the Museum entrance before the start of tour.

Indeed the queue to enter the museum was overwhelming the time I got there, which was a Friday afternoon, around 1pm. As such, It was an advantage that I joined a group to enter.  The Ticket to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel alone may only cost you 20 Euro; But still, joining a group tour is a better choice, as the tour guide has lots of fun trivia and intrigues to share, apart from the church’s history down the line. The Tour ends inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

Entering St. Peter’s Basilica is free, because it is a functioning church for the Catholic believers.

One Day Street Scene : Rome, Italy

Rome was the last of the 6 stops I’ve visited in Italy. I spent 2 nights there, on a relaxed schedule. Again, I never really wanted to take a shot at everything mentioned on google. What I only had in mind was to see the Vatican, hear the Papal speech, see the Colosseum, the Pantheon, people watch and have good Pizza. For this post, I am featuring the one day DIY walking tour I did around the city centre.

Rome has an efficient Metro Train but the best way still is to experience the city centre on foot. It was also a plus that I stayed along Via Cavour near the Roma Termini (Main Railway) as the Colosseum is considerably walkable by 20 minutes from there. From the Colosseum, other architectural spots are not too far, that a day of walking around would be enough to cover Roma city centre. Aside from that, walking is free =)

Anyways here is how I spent a day of leisurely walk with stops for pizza and some Italian sweets =)

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A partial aerial view of Rome
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A shot taken along Cavour Street where I stayed.

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Fun Fact: Modern Rome has 280 fountains and more than 900 churches (aroundrometours.com). At every street end, you will most likely find a church. Here is one I took, giving a peek of Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, just two blocks away from were I stayed. This church was also the landmark for me to find my Hotel.

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The Colosseum. As expected, the ticket line to get in was already long even that early. Still, getting inside the this declared “Wonders of the World” is worth the effort. As recommended by some blogs, I bought my entrance ticket at Forum Romanum entrance with lesser people in line. Packaged entrances to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hills are at 12 Euros, valid for 2 days.

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My first sight of the Colosseum at around 7:30 AM.

The Colosseum as long been recognised the symbol of Roman empire. This architectural landmark, back in its glorious days, used to be covered with white marble claddings, and embellished with marble sculptures. Upon the fall of paganism and the conversion of Rome to Christianity, the Colosseum has lost its significance. It was said that all of its valuables have been stripped off, and then used to beautify the Vatican Palace.romejosemanuel-29

Ruins Roman Forum and the Palatine Hills which is just beside the Colosseum

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From the Forum Romanum, I did a leisurely walk to Via Novembre IV, and straight to Fontana de Trevi. This took me around 40 minutes as I did some eating along the way. There are cheap souvenirs and shirt shops along the way. I bought my ref magnets here for 1 Euro. Pizza is also cheap in this area.

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This is the best pizza I had in Rome, from an old style cafe on my way to Fontana de Trevi. Bawas na tong nasa picture. haha. This cost me 3.5 Euro.

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From Fontana de Trevi, the Pantheon is a mere 20 minutes walk. Getting inside the Pantheon is free, as it is a functioning Catholic church. The tomb of Renaissance artist Rafael stands inside the Pantheon.romejosemanuel-48

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Fun Fact: Concrete was a Roman invention used on many structures such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, which are still standing today thanks to the development of Roman cement and concrete. The Romans first began building with concrete over 2,100 years ago and used it throughout the Mediterranean basin in everything from aqueducts and buildings to bridges and monuments (aroundrometours.com)

Another 15 minutes walk from the Pantheon is Piazza Navona, known as the artist’s district of Rome. It is ideal to visit the Piazza in the late afternoon. This was my last stop for the day, where I stayed until 7 pm, and just people watch. =)

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Accommodation:  Stayed at Sandy Hotel(Sandy Place) along Via Cavour (Cavour Street) for around 30 Euro (P1500) per night + 2 Euro (P100) city stay tax per night. Its the cheapest dorm type I found through Hostelworld.com with a very good location and the staffs are nice and very helpful. Other hostels are too far from the city centre.

To get there from Central Train Station (Roma Termini), get the exit 22 and walk down Via Cavour for 7 blocks. The hostel is on the left side (Find Building #136, Sandy Hotel is on the 5th floor). This will take around 7 to 10 minutes walk.

Food and water: 20 Euro budget per day would be enough for meals and water. Meals are cheap in Rome as compared to other Italian cities I’ve visited, specifically the restaurants and pizza places around Roma Termini. A decent meal of 1/2 Chicken and 2 sides costs 5-6 Euros. A Big slice of Pizza or Calzone at 2-3 Euros. Water is also cheap as there are a lot of mini groceries on every streets. In addition, Rome has drinking fountains on most corners and even inside the Colosseum. The whole 3 days I was in Rome, I only bought mineral water twice. I just kept refilling and I was fine.

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Transportation : Metro Trains are at around 1.5 to 2 Euro per way.  Buses at 3 Euro ( Ideal for going straight to Vatican from Metro Termini)

Staying in Rome, I’d say 70-80 Euros per day would suffice.

Easy Day Visit to Florence Italy

Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is the cradle to Renaissance art and architecture. Although this capital is much known for being the gateway to a rather more iconic Italian city of Pisa (which is 45 minutes away by train), Florence is also a charming destination on its own. A day of walking around Florence is still worth experiencing, for its iconic churches, as well as seeing the Original Statue of David by artist Michaelangelo.

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Florence, as the capital of the Tuscan region, is easily accessible by train from all other key cities of Italy. Upon reaching Florence, touring around on your own is easy, as the city is relatively small, and all the iconic spots are within city centre. In case of limited time, I would recommend seeing Florence in the morning, and Pisa in the afternoon. A half day in Pisa is good enough.

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First glance of the Warm Tuscan Sun, from the window of where I was staying.

I am a self confessed lazy traveler and I really don’t push myself to see everything on google. Usually, I only pick a few landmarks to visit, mostly the architecturally recognised, and find a comfortable corner there and just people watch. haha. Anyways, here was how I spent a half day walking around Florence.

Visiting the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) which is among the recognised examples of Renaissance Architecture in Italy. Renaissance facade tends to be more artistic and expressive, and embellished with classical styles, as opposed to the preceding dark Gothic period. Florence Cathedral is by far the most beautiful church facade I’ve seen in Europe. The picture didn’t do any justice.

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Another church worth visiting is the Basilica of Santa Croce, where the tomb of Michaelangelo stands. Unfortunately, the church was still close when I got there. Churches around Italy usually open at 9 AM.

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Walking around Florence downtown,which is fairly clean and polished.

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neatly organised garbage collection. I admired this.
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super cute battery operated vehicle
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Tapa Sandwiches i had along the street. Super Good.

Visit the sculptural displays at Piazza della Signoria is also worth doing. These centuries old sculptures date back the time of the Medici governance, when Florence was at its most glorious renaissance days.

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The Mercato (Market) of Florence is also worth visiting. The second floor has a well maintained food court with loads to offer.

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How the second floor of the Mercato looks like
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Real Italian Truffles !
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Aperitivos

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I stayed in Florence for two nights at Hostel Paola, an affordable dorm type, around 50 meters from the train station. A night costs around 1400 pesos, the usual price of cheap dorms around Europe. The hostel also offers shared tours, at rates lower than what is offered online. The hostel is clean and worthy of a recommendation.

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A Charming Day Trip to the Italian Coast: Cinque Terre, Italy

One of the highlights during my visit to Italy was an unplanned day trip to Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre (the five lands in Italian) is the collective name for the five charming fishing villages seated between the narrow coastal strip and the mountain chains of Western Italy. These five old style villages along the Mediterranean coast are also declared as one of Italy’s Unesco Heritage Sites.

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A picturesque view of Maranola, one of the five villages I’ve visited, clearly represents the Cinque Terre coastal settlement feels.

I had a day to spare that time in Florence, so I opted to join a shared tour to see this popular cluster of villages in the Liguria province, which was 2.5 hours away by bus. The shared tour cost me 75 Euros. DIY options to see Cinque Terre have been mentioned by some blogs, but doing so was impossible for me since I had limited time and getting there from Florence was a bit complicated. A bit pricey (actually the priciest ‘one day spend’ I had), but still, spending on such experience was a worthy choice, as the drive from Florence, crossing the Tuscan countryside, and towards the Italian Riviera (coastline) was indeed picturesque in every way.

I booked the shared tour though Hotel Paola, where I stayed in Florence. Tour lasted 7 am to 6 pm.

Here are some of the shots I took around the villages of Cinque Terre =)

Maranola

Manarola is the calmest of the five villages, and is a bit more rustic and less polished than its northern neighbors. This was our first stop for the day trip. If desired, packaged trekking tours often starts here, with Via della Amore (The Lovers Path), which is a very scenic and easy path that leads the next village Riomaggiore.

Tourists can also go swimming here in a little cove on the coast, as shown in the picture.

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Cinque Terre is part of the Italian coastal province of Liguria, and Pesto is one of the famous contributions. As such, tourists can find pesto topped on almost all local dishes. This pesto pizza slice was a bomb!

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Vernazza

Vernazza is probably the most charming of the Cinque Terre villages, as it’s right on the water and there’s a lovely church tower built in 1318, on a rock right in front of the sea. The ruins of a castle are on one of the hills overlooking Vernazza. This is the village that tends to be most visited by people carrying Rick Steves’ guidebooks.(Lonely Planet.com)

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Monterosso

Monterosso is the largest,most modern and resort like of the five, and the most visited, especially by the young crowd. It’s the only village of the cluster with a nice long span of beach.

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In the 16th century, Monterosso defended itself from vikings by erecting 13 towers, of which only three remain today.(Lonely Planet.com) One of these remaining buildings, the Aurora Tower, is definitely a must see. The tower offers a great view of the Ligurian Coast and the Mediterranean sea.

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There are also quite a few unique churches to explore like the Abbey and Church of San Francesco, which was once transformed into a hospital, and then into a warehouse in the 1800s. But  in 1894 it was restored, and now houses important art like The Crucifiction (attributed to the painter Van Dyck).  (Lonely Planet.com)

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Monterosso is also famous for producing the highest quality Limoncino citrus wine. Local shops are generous to share free tastes of wine, as well as home made pesto.

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Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore, slightly different from its neighbours, is relatively large and spreads inland towards higher grounds. Local vineyards, and tomato gardens line up the paths of this village.

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Here you will find cool bars and pubs sitting on top of the cliff. A beer here would cost you 7 Euro per bottle.

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Among the five villages of Cinque Terre, the tour only included four, since we got short of time to see Corniglia.

Getting to Cinque Terre can be quite tough when plotting a day trip on your own by train, as the trains to La Spezia, which is the gateway to Cinque Terre, has limited daily schedule. From La Spezia, another train transfer is required to take you to Maranola, which is another hour and a half away. When planning a DIY trip, I would recommend staying a night or two in any village of Cinque Terre, with train tickets booked ahead of time. If I only had longer time to spare in Italy, I would have had it that way. A Day trip to these charming UNESCO protected villages definitely isn’t enough.

Revisiting is definitely on my thoughts. And perhaps that time, I’ll have along with me someone special, to share a bottle of Limoncino, while waiting for sunset. That would be sweet. =)

An Easy Day Trip to Pisa: A D.I.Y. Tour

Touristy as it is, having an epic-blockbuster shot with the Leaning tower of Pisa is still a ‘must do’ when visiting Italy. Built during the late 12th Century, the tower has become one of the recognisable (if the most recognisable) symbols of Italy today, for its unique, but rather unintentional tilt.

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The usual tourist shot. Boring (-___-) ‘ ‘
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Here’s my Epic Tower shot. Laban ?

Just a short trivia, the tower started to sink (causing the tilt) as early as when the second floor was being constructed, due to unstable soil and bad foundation ( 3 meters lang daw during the ancient times sabi nung presentation dun. imagine?). If based on plans, the completed 8 storey tower is actually curving, so as to compensate the tilt of the lower floors. The tower  took around 200 years to complete all in all, including the decades of fall of the Pisan empire when all developments came to a stop. During the 90s, modern day restorations for the foundation have already been secured, so this means the tower will last (hopefully) ’til the next generation of eager tourists and visiting backpackers. =)

For tourists short of time, it is really not super necessary to stay overnight in Pisa. As per my personal itinerary, I stayed at a hostel in Florence (which is the biggest Italian City nearest to Pisa). Florence is only 30-40 minutes by train to Pisa Centrale Station, for only 16 Euro (800 Pesos) round trip, scheduled almost every 30 minutes ’til as late as 10pm. Both Florence and Pisa are part of the province of Tuscany. As such, travelling between these cities pass through scenic farmlands, typical with Italian outskirts you see in movies.

Visiting Pisa was the easiest day trip I had. Upon arriving by train at Pisa Centrale from Florence, there are public buses in front of the station to take you to the leaning tower complex for around 1.2 Euro per way. Otherwise, you can just have a leisurely  30 minute walk. Pisa is just a relatively small city and the complex is around 1.3 Km away.

Entering the tower complex(also known as Piazza dei Miracoli) is free of charge. Going inside the Cathedral is also free of charge, you just have to secure a ticket from the main museum lobby. Climbing the tower however will cost you 15 Euro (750 Pesos) + the long cue. Di na ako umakyat actually. Ok na ako sa ground shots. Museums also have separate tickets.

As per the local staff, the complex usually goes jam packed at 9 am to 3 pm. So for DIY tourists, a late afternoon visit would be Ok, since the are still trains to take you back to Florence until 10pm. Securing RT ticket however is advisable. Given the limited time, I just spent around 2 hours in the complex, did a leisurely walk back to the station, and headed back to Florence around 7 PM.

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Assistance desks are always present on all Italian train stations, with an English speaking officer. Heres one at the Pisa Centrale
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Never forget in Italy ! When buying train tickets at the station, always have it stamped verified before getting in the train. Otherwise, you will be charged 40 Euro for unverified tickets. Tickets purchased online and through agencies however does not require this, but still, case to case din. As such, ask the assistance desk if in doubt.
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The Train Cabin feels
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The directions to find the bus to the tower complex

Trivia : Italy has an estimated total of 100,000 monuments of all varieties (museums, palaces, buildings, statues, churches, art galleries, villas, fountains, historic houses and archaeological remains) – behindthetower.com

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Piazza dei Miracoli Complex. Architectural Style : Romanesque 12th Century 
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The complex Cathedral. Some materials used to beautify this were harvested from ancient pagan temples around Italy and from Greece.
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The Church interior and its famous gilded ceiling, donated by the wealthy Medici Clan of Tuscany, to the church of Pisa.
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The ventilation ducts inside the church are sadly disturbing.
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An interesting statue of Bathing Jesus is inside the Cathedral
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A View of Pisa City.