Category: EUROPE

A Day on MURANO: It’s a Crystalline World

Posted onAuthorRenata27 Comments

Visiting Venice, you absolutely have to venture out on a day trip to discover the Crystalline World of Murano, located in the dreamy Venetian lagoon.

The Vetreria Ducale, adorned by a sign of Guerrieri pottery, and to the left the Ferro & Lazzarini glass factory. Murano Crystalline World
Some of the best places to shop for glass on Murano island: The Vetreria Ducale, adorned by a sign of Guerrieri pottery, and to the left the Ferro & Lazzarini glass factory.

Most visitors to Venice stay and explore only the Centro Storico, the historic center. However, there is a total of 120 islands in the lagoon of which only 11 are permanently inhabited. Of those islands, Murano is the third largest one – after the Centro Storico, obviously, as well as the Lido di Venezia. As a matter of fact, Murano consists of seven small islands divided by eight channels and connected by bridges.

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ISLAND HOPPING in GERMANY

Posted onAuthorRenata Green65 Comments

While international tourism to Germany is increasing, visitors rather stick to the clichés like beer and Lederhosen in Munich and a cruise on the Mosel River, or they hang out at the hip capital Berlin – instead of enjoying Island Hopping in Germany.

I guess that’s the reason why many people think Germany is landlocked. They don’t think about long coasts, two seas, and about 80 islands.

Hooded wicker chairs on the beach of Borkum West of East Frisia
The Strandkorb’s hood can be left in the upright position or reclined so that the sunbathers lie in the sun. The footrest can also be used as a storage space, and to the sides are small wooden fold-out tables large enough for your drink and a book or magazine. It definitely is the perfect beach furniture.

However, that’s exactly what Germany’s north has to offer – and many fascinating phenomena like the tideland that comes with it. As a matter of fact, Germany’s shoreline is longer than the Portuguese one.

So what are you waiting for? Join me on my island hopping…in Germany!

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One Day in ARLES – What Not to Miss in Vincent’s Picture-Perfect City

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Already Vincent van Gogh knew it: Arles is one of the most worth-seeing cities in the French Provence region. In 1888, the warm light attracted Vincent to the city where he then created some of his most famous paintings.
Other travellers are attracted to Arles by the numerous relics of Roman antiquity and evidence of the Middle Ages.
Personally, I always appreciate the mix: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Add some delicious food and a glass of good wine: Life in Arles is a feast for all the senses.
In this post, I have summarized for you what you definitely should not miss, even if you only come to Arles for one day.

Amphitheater of Arles
View of Arles’ Roman treasures.
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Best Things to Do in CRETE in One Week

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Picturesque villages, exceptional beaches, enchanting gorges below rugged mountains – in this guide, I’m sharing with you the best things to do and the nicest places to see in Crete in one week.

The Venetian Port of Chania in Crete.
The waters, the mountains, the rich history – Crete has it all in abundance.

So pack your swimsuit as well as your hiking boots and follow me to Greece’s largest and arguably most amazing island.

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BERLIN guide: get the most for less on bus 100

Posted onAuthorRenata Green35 Comments

Who needs an expensive hop-on hop-off bus? Follow my guide to Berlin and you’ll get to see most for less by taking the city bus 100.

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, seen from the Pariser Platz
Pariser Platz on the Eastern side of the Brandenburger Tor – where the gate used to divide East and West Germany. Today it’s the busiest tourist spot in all of Berlin.

In conclusion, all you need is a cheap WelcomeCard that allows you to explore Germany’s capital on your own. Oh, and of course this guide.

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Best Things to do in GRAN CANARIA in one week

Posted onAuthorRenata14 Comments

Spending your entire trip to one of the largest of the Canary Islands just on one of the – admittedly fantastic – beaches would be such a waste of time – hence, here are the best things to do in Gran Canaria even if you have only one week.

Beach of Alcavaneras in Las Palmas
Gran Canaria has idyllic beaches, yet, there is much more to see.

After a bumpy start on my first trip to the island, I came back a couple of months later and can now happily show you around, lead you away from the tourist ghettos on the southern shores to some fantastic gems in the mountainous hinterland as well as the very pleasant capital Las Palmas. By the way, she’s not only the largest city of all of the islands, but she’s also surrounded by some of Gran Canaria’s best beaches.

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Visit to the Sunday Market of TEROR and the charming town of ARUCAS

Posted onAuthorRenata15 Comments

There are a couple of colorful farmers’ markets in Gran Canaria, yet, none of them can beat the Sunday market in Teror which you can easily combine with a visit to the posh city of Arucas.

Best of Teror in one picture: The Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino, the iconic wooden balconies, and the traditional Sunday market.
Best of Teror in one picture: The Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino, the iconic wooden balconies, and the traditional Sunday market.

Then, to top things off, take a short bus ride to Los Charcones De Bañaderos where you can cool off in lava pools before enjoying an afternoon party at the bar and restaurant Los Charcones.

Some of the very best Gran Canaria has to offer in one single day!

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VIENNA – visited by streetcar

Posted onAuthorRenata Green82 Comments

Although Austria is one of the smallest countries in Europe, its central location and especially its influential past make it the heart of the continent.
Austria’s capital Vienna is looking back at an ever-changing and compelling history. Whether it is the Congress of Vienna where Europe’s faith was determined after the Napoleonic wars or the powerful Habsburg dynasty including Empress Sisi. Since the gilded years around the turn of the 20th century, Vienna has been the center of the artistic and intellectual avant-garde. Progressive painters like Egon Schiele, innovative designers like Koloman Moser, inventive architects like Otto Wagner, exciting musicians like Arnold Schönberg, and, obviously, the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud made a compelling case for the city’s glory.
Amazingly, you don’t need to join an expensive city tour to explore all of Vienna’s wonders since all the magnificent landmarks can be easily and inexpensively visited by a public streetcar!

View of the Kunsthistorisches Museum from the Leopold Museum in Vienna.
The Leopold Museum is not only worth the visit for the art, but it also opens to Vienna’s most beautiful views.

So hop on, let’s explore a city full of history, stories, and myths!

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