Tag: City Break

Two Days in MEKNES – the underrated Versailles of Morocco

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As many visitors to Morocco pay Meknes, supposedly the country’s Versailles, just a short visit on a day trip – or even skip it altogether – the charming city is much more serene and authentic than her big sisters Fez, Marrakech, and Rabat.

Man on a bike in Meknes, the Versailles of Morocco
Mesmerizing Meknes can be explored by various means of transportation, obviously.

Conveniently located between Rabat and Fez, Meknes is a perfect retreat for those who need a break from the hustle’n’bustle and still want a truly Moroccan experience. Ideally, you should spend not only a day, but at least one night in Meknes to truly enjoy its laid-back oriental vibe.

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TOKYO – Guide to 10 Extraordinary Neighborhoods

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Tokyo – my first encounter with Japanese everyday life and culture – left a good impression and prepared me for more to come – hence, let me guide you to ten of its most extraordinary neighborhoods.

School kids in Tokyo, Japan
A warm and fun welcome to Tokyo by these sweet ambassadors.

Tokyo – the first cut is the deepest. However, this one didn’t hurt at all.

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Best Street Art in HAMBURG

Posted onAuthorRenata7 Comments

Hamburg has always been unique – on many levels. Hence, it’s only logical that much of the best street art in Hamburg is quite different from the murals you get to see in other cities.

Best Street Art in Hamburg
Portrait of Hamburg’s most celebrated son Hans Albers.

So, put on your most comfortable shoes, polish your camera’s lens, and let’s explore all those grand murals that are embellishing the walls of Germany’s self-proclaimed Gateway to the World.

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Five Highlights of KUALA LUMPUR – literally

Posted onAuthorRenata Green11 Comments

Being Malaysia’s capital and one of Asia’s mega-cities, there are many sights and landmarks to experience in Kuala Lumpur – literally. So let me guide you to the five most important highlights of Kuala Lumpur and beyond.

View from the Batu Caves over the Lord Murugan Statue all the way to Kuala Lumpur
View of Kuala Lumpur from the most imposing landmark – the Lord Murugan Statue in front of the Batu Caves in the district of Selangor, 12 kilometers north of Malaysia’s capital.

In all honesty, all in all, it’s not such a great city. However, practically everyone is visiting. Because, basically, everyone has to: Kuala Lumpur has not only two major airports. There is also a reliable system of trains and long-distance buses.

Its location practically halfway between the northern border to Thailand and Singapore in the south makes Malaysia’s capital a great hub.

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Guide to PUERTO DE LA CRUZ – a Town Full of Contrasts

Posted onAuthorRenata19 Comments

Way back in Tenerife’s early years of tourism, the former fishing village Puerto de la Cruz was apparently destined to become this major mass tourism resort. Sadly, in some spots, merciless planners succeeded so that the town has to endure some of those horrific soulless high-rising prefab buildings. But as mass tourism finally moved mostly to the south coast, Puerto de la Cruz got somehow stuck between its old charm and the ugly remains from the second half of the 20th century. It remained in a peculiar limbo between idyllic beaches and striking urban art. There is the old and the new, the borrowed and the blue – all in all, Puerto de la Cruz is a place of many contrasts which makes it the perfect base on Tenerife’s northern coast.

View of Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique, Puerto de la Cruz
When the waters are too rough, you can always go for a swim at the Parque Maritimo, created by Canarian superstar Cesar Manrique.
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10 Most Beautiful Palaces in the Marais Neighborhood of Paris

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The Marais is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Paris. Cool bars and crowded restaurants, hip stores, and expensive, stylish apartments – these are just a few things you can find in the Marais neighborhood today.
In the 17th century, the Marais became the preferred residential area for the nobility, who had numerous villas and city palaces built there. In the course of the French Revolution, however, the nobility was expelled from the Marais. They probably took their belongings with them, however, they had to leave their posh cribs behind.
In this post, I’m inviting you on a stroll that will take us to 10 of the most beautiful palaces in the Marais Neighborhood of Paris.

Hôtel de Sully, one of the 10 Most Beautiful Palaces in the Marais Neighborhood of Paris
The manicured courtyard of the Hôtel de Sully.
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PALMA de MALLORCA – what to see in two days

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Since I’m afraid that the capital Palma de Mallorca might be the most underrated place on the entire island, I urge you to spend at least two days in this vibrant’n’wonderful city – and don’t worry: From Palma, you’ll quickly get to all the other magnificent places the island has to offer – even by public bus!

Beach at Palma de Mallorca with a view of the city.
The mountains, the palm trees, the architecture, the fun in the sun: Palma sure has it all.

From the beginning, I wanted to do things differently. I didn’t want to roast on beaches, getting wasted on Sangria made from cheap wine, surrounded by party people from Germany, France, and Great Britain.

Mallorca is a Spanish island. I was keen on experiencing Spain with all my five senses. I wasn’t searching for the extraordinary, I wanted to dive into the common.

What better place to do so than a standard Spanish city full of local day-to-day routines.

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Best STREET ART in PALMA de MALLORCA

Posted onAuthorRenata43 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I’ve introduced Palma de Mallorca as a beautiful and vibrant city, however, I skipped an essential aspect, namely, the ingenious street art that looks back at a long tradition.

Bronze sculpture Usagi Kannon by Swiss-Japanese artist Leiko Ikemura at the Parc de la Mar in Palma de Mallorca
The bronze sculpture Usagi Kannon by Swiss-Japanese artist Leiko Ikemura decorates the Parc de la Mar until August 2021.

Actually, no beautiful and energetic city is complete without some ingenious and vigorous street art, right?

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24 hours in BERLIN

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Berlin is huge – actually, with almost 3.7 million inhabitants it’s not only Germany’s capital but also its largest city. So, how can you possibly explore Berlin in only 24 hours?

Reichstag visited during 24 hours in Berlin
The iconic Reichstag building in Berlin.

Truth is, you can’t. But since Germany’s third-largest airport – after Frankfurt and Munich – is in Berlin, chances are that you’ll have the opportunity to spend a layover there. Of course, you can always come back for more. I already have you covered by two comprehensive guides to Berlin’s West and East. Also, you’ll find an extended guide to the city’s best street art.

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