White Cliffs

Want to enjoy the power of nature? Let’s go on a fascinating journey to the White Cliffs of Dover in England.

The White Cliffs in Dover, England

The height of these rocks ranges from 100 to 120 meters. The White Cliff is located in the south-east coast of Britain around the town of Dover. And Dover is located at 129 kilometers from London. They are said to be a natural wonder and top attractions in England.

Its chalk cliffs are stretching for several hundred meters along the coast in the English county of Kent. White Cliffs of Dover are located at the narrowest point of the English Channel and it is only in 34 kilometers away from France. Locals say that during the good weather one can see solid white line of chalk hills of Dover.

My Next UK Destinations

Four years had passed since my last visit in the United Kingdom. I have been to some places there including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, York, Warwickshire, Windsor and Stratford Upon Avon. Thanks to the affordable Uk Flights I had that time, I truly enjoyed my trips to those places.

I compiled some places to visit in my next trip to the UK.  Here are the top ones;

Bristol - This city ranks fourth to the top visitors' destination in England. Bristol is UK's eighth and England's sixth most populous city. A city which is full of energy and passion, I believed it is truly a worth to visit one. Its culture adding its tradition and diverse range of attractions makes this city a famous tourist destination in England. Top sights to visit include At-Bristol, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton Suspenson Bridge, Cabot Circus, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and Brunel's ss Great Britain.

If you are starting your trip in this English city, you can find affordable Flights from Bristol to any UK destination.

The Parliament Building in London during my  England vacation four year's ago. © www.europetravelconnection.com.

Cardiff- The capital and largest city of Wales has always been in my travel wishlist. I find it very interesting visiting a place that has a reputation as a "City of Castles", having 5 different castles within its surroundings. Being one of the top ten shopping destinations in the United Kingdom, this city will surely be a fave one for those who love shopping. Flights from Cardiff that fits your time and budget are easy to find online.

Newcastle- I have some friends and former classmates and schoolmates who are currently living in this city. Some are inviting me to visit them. That would be exciting meeting old friends. The port city of Castle Upon Tyne is considered to have best nightlife in all of Britain. It is dominated by its famous symbol, the Tyne Bridge. The town is also home to the Geordie culture, with a rich heritage of folk music and dance and its own dialect.

I can't wait to visit all of the above cities in UK. For sure, interesting travel experiences are waiting for me.

Europe Travel to Zurich, Switzerland

I found a deal to Zurich, Switzerland last December 2010. It was really a very cheap trip considering that the transportation, overnight in Hilton Hotel Airport and breakfast were already included during that deal. I immediately booked it because I also want to witness the Christmas market in this Swiss city.

To give you some overview of this city, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is also the financial center of this country.

We had some hours walk around the Altstadt or old city of Zurich. I am happy with what I saw but I would be very satisfied if we have more time seeing more of its sights. At least, I was able to witness the biggest covered Christmas market in Europe and maybe in the whole world to.

Here are some of the images I took during our visit last December 2010.

Zurich by night. You can see the buildings along the Limmat River in this city.

winter in Zurich. You can see the towers of some of the churches in this city. One of it is the Fraumünster. I guess the one on the right side.

Day Trip to Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany

I consider Würzburg (written as Wuerzburg in English) as one of the most beautiful cities in Bavaria, Germany. I always feel like visiting Prague in Czech Republic everytime I visit there. This is because the Alte Mainbrücke or Würzburg's Old Main Bridge looks very similar to the Charles Bridge in Prague.

I can't exactly remember how many times I was there already. I guess five or six times. There are a lot of sights to see in this city. The travel snapshots I have below are only some of it.

the Main River that flows in Würzburg. You can see one of the statues on the Old Main Bridge of Würzburg. The building you see on top of the hill is the Marienberg, a castle in this city across the Old Main Bridge.

the Marienkapelle with its Gothic architecture. You can also see the obelisk on its square.

We took the Deutsche Bahn or German a train from Bamberg to Würzburg during our recent visit last month. We were lucky during our visit last month because there was no snow in Wuerzburg but it was still very cold.

I am joining again these wonderful memes: Special thanks to the Authors for hosting it;
Skywatch Friday, Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Sunday Snapshot
Tuesday Travels, Orange Tuesday, 366 Blog Photo Challenge, WEDNESDAY WHITES, Black and White Wednesday

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France

This is one of the famous landmarks in Paris, the capital city of France. It is called in French as Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris), also commonly called as Notre Dame Cathedral. It has a Gothic architecture and very famous for its flying buttress. Until Catholic masses are held every Sunday in this Catholic cathedral.

I am so happy to visit one of the notable historical monuments in Paris. In fact, I already visited it twice. During my first visit, I was able to go inside the Cathedral. It is truly an amazing work of human architecture.

The beautiful and historical Notre Dame Cathedral is located on a small island called the Ile de la Cite in the middle of river Seine.

the interior of the Cathedral taken during my first visit last March 2009.

This is my first entry for these wonderful memes: Special thanks to the Authors for hosting it.

Tuesday Travels

366 Blog Photo Challenge
WEDNESDAY WHITES
Black and White Wednesday

a bust of Our Lady inside the Louvre Museum in Paris

My second entry for
Orange Tuesday

I Miss Nice, France

The name itself already says the beauty of this French city. Nice is truly nice and I love it there! It is almost a year now since we visited this city. It is called Nice la Belle or Nissa La Bella in Niçard, which also means Nice the Beautiful. It is also the title of the unofficial anthem of Nice, written by Menica Rondelly in 1912.

The seafront of the city is a must to go walking or spending sometime relaxing on its beach is a nice experience too. I remember going inside a souvenir shop in Nice and telling the cashier that his place is very beautiful. I was pronouncing Nice as nice in English but I was mistaken and he was not able to understand me. Nice is actually pronounced like the English word "niece". Be careful when talking to someone from Nice. They might not understand you.

It was only a short visit we had in Nice but it was worth seeing the place. If you are visiting French Riviera in the future, don't miss to include Nice in your list.

the seafront in Nice, France during our spring trip last April 2011.

The city’s main seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais (‘the Walkway of the English’) owes its name to the earliest visitors to the resort.

Skywatch Friday
Weekend Reflection
Scenic Sunday
Shadow Shot Sunday
Sunday Snapshot

Cruising in Cinque Terre, Italy

Happy New Year 2012! I hope you are having a wonderful start of the year. I can't complain until now but still hoping for a very great 2012 with more travels. I am happy to share my first entry for 2012. Let me share to you about one of the most beautiful trip I had last year. This was in Cinque Terre, the five coastal villages in the Italian region of Liguria. These five villages include Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso which belong to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After our short sightseeing in Monterosso (I love the beautiful white beaches here), we boarded a boat for a short cruise going to Riomaggiore. We also a short sightseeing in this lovely village. On the main street of Riomaggiore, you can find an assortment of cafes, bars, restaurants, and of course, gelaterie. There are also alimentari shops selling the typical yummy Italian fare: fresh fruit (strawberries, cherries, and nespole), an assortment of salumi (salami, mortadella and the like), cheeses, olives, etc.

We proceeded to Vernazza after Riomaggiore boarding a train. This is where we spent the rest of the day. It was so far a lovely trip seeing some of the beautiful coastal areas in Liguria, Italy. I hope I can have more travels for this year.

the boat where we had a short cruise from Monterosso to Riomaggiore last spring 2011.

the beautiful beach in Monterosso, one of the Cinque Terre in Luguria, Italy.

some buildings in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy.

Our World-Tuesday
Orange Tuesday

NF Waters
Watery, Wordful
Outdoor Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

Beautiful Toledo, Spain

It is always nice to remember this beautiful city of Toledo in Spain. I visited it twice during our trip to Spain recently. The name of this city has a two thousand years of history dating back to the Roman times. It is around 70 km south of Madrid.

During our first visit last December 9, 2011, we had a tour guide that brought us to the different historical sights of Toledo. It is always interesting knowing the history, culture and people of a certain place like Toledo.

Since this is the last Thursday of 2011, I would like to take the chance to greet all the readers, viewers and visitors of this blog a happy and more bountiful New Year 2012 with peace, love and happiness to everyone!

I am wishing and hoping for more travels next year. God's willing!

taken during our visit last December 9, 2011.

Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures, as well as the place where harsh religious persecutions were held against the Jews.

The Alcantara bridge and the bastion on the background in Toledo during the night.

Skywatch Friday
Weekend Reflection
Scenic Sunday
Shadow Shot Sunday
Sunday Snapshot

Linderhof Palace in Bavaria, Germany

This is one of the favorite palaces I visited in Germany. Linderhof Palace was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It is so far the smallest of the three palaces he built. What I love most is the location of Linderhof. The scenery around is breath-taking, with hills and mountains, forest, gardens and a little lake nearby.

We had the chance to go inside the palace. Sad to say, no pictures are allowed to take inside. I admired everything I saw inside especially the never ending avenue reflected by the Hall of Mirrors. The Audience Chamber, the dining room and the bedchamber are also amazing.

The water parterre in front of the castle is dominated by a large basin with the gilt fountain group "Flora and puttos". The fountain itself is nearly 25 meters high.

NF Waters
Watery, Wordful
Outdoor Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

Charles Bridge and the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic is considered to be one of the most charming and beautiful cities to visit in Europe. I had the chance to visit this city twice, last 2008 and July of 2011. Prague is a historical city. It was founded in the later 9th century, and soon became the seat of Bohemian kings, some of whom ruled as emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.

The image you see is the famous bridge in Prague. It is called the Charles Bridge which connects Old Town with Lesser Town. Its construction started in the 14th century and it is one of Prague's most beautiful structures. During the day, it is a bustling place of trade and entertainment, as musicians busk and artists sell their paintings and jewelry. Charles bridge crosses the Vltava River.

The historic center of Prague is included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Charles Bridge that crosses Vltava River in Prague. I took this image during our second visit last July 2011.

The Matthias Church in Budapest, Hungary

It's over two months now since we visited Budapest. This is the capital of Hungary which is considered to be one of Europe's enjoyable and delightful cities. It was indeed an enjoyable travel we had. One of the highlights during that trip was our sightseeing of the different landmarks in this city.

If you happened to visit the Buda's Castle District, you will for sure see the Matthias Church. This was was said to have a Romanesque architecture in 1015 but later and the was constructed into late Gothic style in the second half of the 14th century.

a very interesting architecture in Budapest. I had the chance to visit it last August 2011.

The Matthias Church was the second largest church of medieval Buda and the seventh largest church of medieval Hungarian Kingdom. It is officially known as the Church of Our Lady.

Another Visit to Salzburg, Austria

The first time I visited Salzburg was in June 2007. I was there again last November 2008. My third visit was in July this year. A day's visit in this Austrian city is not always enough to see all of its main sights. If I have the chance to visit it again, for sure I will surely do.

Salzburg is an Austrian city located near the border of Bavaria, Germany. This city is not only famous because it is the birthplace of Mozart but also due to its notable sights. The Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom), the famous shopping street called Getreidegasse, the Residenz Palace, Siegmundstor (or Neutor), the Hohensalzburg Castle, St Peter's Abbey with the Petersfriedhof are only some of its famous sights.

view of the Old Town of Salzburg while we were riding the cable car going up to Hohensalzburg, a castle in this city. The Old Town with its world famous baroque architecture is now included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. You can also see the towers of the Salzburg cathedral in this image.

Brussels Town Hall in Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

I miss this place and wish to visit it sometime in the future. I have some good friends and kababayans' in there. That visit and stay in Brussels was a very memorable one for me. I truly had a lot of fun and good memories. Thanks to Ching and the whole family for everything.

Below is an image of Brussels Town Hall. It is located in Grand Place in the city center of Brussels in Belgium.

photo taken during our visit last August 2010.

The Brussels Town Hall stands 96 metres (315 ft) tall and is capped by a 3 metre (12 ft) statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon

The Würzburg Residence in Bavaria, Germany

I had been in Würzburg (written in English as Wuerzburg) for a lot of times already. I had seen the Würzburg Residence but did not had the chance to go inside of it. Hopefully in my next visit, I can already go inside this beautiful and historical palace.

Front of the Residenz and Cour d'honneur. taken during our visit last August 2011.

The Würzburg Residence with its Court Gardens and Residence Square was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. According to the Advisory Body Evaluation, the inclusion in the List was a "measure... so clearly desirable that the proposal of the Federal Republic of Germany does not require lengthy justification... The Residence is at once the most homogeneous and the most extraordinary of the Baroque palaces... It represents a unique artistic realization by virtue of its ambitious program, the originality of creative spirit and the international character of its workshop." more about this palace

Visit to the Warwick Castle in England

I was lead to this question of what country in Europe has the most castles. So far when I visited Prague, Czech Republic or Paris, England, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg or Netherlands, I did not see a lot of castles in these countries. I am not really so sure which country in Europe has the most castles then but I found a lot in Germany especially in the state of Bayern or Bavaria. I need to find this out later.

Warwick castle is one of the castle I visited in England. It is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick.

Our visit to this castle was a very memorable one because it was Halloween as we went there.

I took this image during my visit last 2008.

Warwick Castle is situated in the town of Warwick, on a sandstone bluff at a bend of the River Avon. The river, which runs below the castle on the east side, has eroded the rock the castle stands on, forming a cliff.

Cruising the Canals in Venice, Italy

It was another dream came true! I finally had the chance to have a gondola ride in Venice, Italy. I had been to this city twice before and in my third visit, I finally rode a gondola. It was a nice experience seeing the narrow canals of Venice. The ride costs 80.00 Euros for 30 minutes and we were 6 people riding. If you want the ride longer, you need to pay more between 120 to 150 Euros up to 6 persons only.

I am happy and contented again after visiting the Venice, the so-called "City of Bridges" or "The Floating City".

a narrow canal in Venice during our gondola ride last July 3, 2011.

Capodimonte, Porcelain and Ceramic Shopping in Italy with Venice Sightseeing

Hello Everyone!

A group of friends is organizing a shopping trip in Italy with Venice sightseeing. As you know Italy is famous for its porcelain and ceramic collections which are hand made. It is especially famous for its capodimonte. Shopping there can be a very interesting experience. The highlight of the trip is the sightseeing in Venice after shopping.

SUMMARY OF THE TRIP:

Trip Date: Sept. 2-4, 2011
Transportation: Comfort Bus with Toilet
Fare: 85.00 Euros per person (already include the water taxi/water bus to Venice)
Departure Time: 8:30 PM on Friday Sept. 2, 2011
Departure Area: Hohenfels Bus Stop at Parsberger Strasse (near the yellow chapel, there is a small parking lot near the area, this is near gate 2)
Payment Due: On or before August 7, 2011

THIS ITINERARY IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO MINOR CHANGES*

Trip Date: September 2-4, 2011

Transportation: Comfort Bus with Toilet
Fare: 85.00 Euros per person (already include the water taxi/water bus ride to Venice)

We will be leaving from Hohenfels Bus Stop in Parsberger Strasse (located near a yellow chapel. there is also a little parking lot in the area.) at 8:30 PM on Friday Sept. 2, 2011. You may leave your car parked in the parkplatz for free.

Arrive approximately 4:30 am (Saturday Sept. 3) at the highway restaurant to freshen up, get coffee or souvenirs.

Back on the rode at 5:30 am

Arrive Vicenza, Italy at RG PORCELAIN @6:30 AM (1 HR. SHOPPING)
Arrive Union Porcelain @7:45 am flowers, roses, pictures, etc. (1 HR. SHOPPING)
Arrive VBC factory @9:00 AM (1 HR Shopping)

Arrive Nove, Italy @ 10:00AM (Devis, Larry's, Stella, Ancora and other stores in this area)

OFF TO VENICE, ITALY!!!
*Price for Gondola/Boat Ride around 10.00- 15.00 Euros per person (not included in the fare)

"Though it's often quoted in print at differing official rates, expect to pay 80¬ ($104) for a 40-minute tour (100¬/$130 between 7pm and 8am), with up to six passengers, and 40¬ ($52) for every additional 20 minutes (50¬/$65 at night)."

We will spend the whole afternoon in Venice.
Return to the bus between 7:00-7:30 PM

Arrive Parsberg after Midnight or at dawn on Sunday (Sept. 4, 2011)

ITEMS YOU SHOULD BRING
1. Euros and Dollars (most stores will accept credit cards)
2. items to freshen up
3. Pillow, Blanket
4. Umbrella in case of rain
5. Snacks, drinks, water, etc.. or any personal needs
6. Jacket- sometimes Venice can be very cold esp. in the evening.

Please bring military ID Cards, passports are not needed for Italy but I would suggest to bring them just in case any needs arise.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
ONCE PAID, PAYMENTS ARE NON- REFUNDABLE BUT IT IS TRANSFERABLE. When the trip will not push through and you had already paid for it, your payment will be refunded. When the trip will push through, you can sell your seat(s) or you can transfer it to anybody.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
TRIP CONFIRMATION AND PAYMENTS NEEDED ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 7, 2011..THANKS!

I WISH EVERYONE IN ADVANCE A HAPPY AND SAFE TRIP!!

DON'T FORGET TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS OR NEIGHBORS TO MAKE THIS TRIP MORE POSSIBLE!! FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!

Gondola ride in Venice during my visit last April 2006.

Venice, Italy.

SAMPLES OF PORCELAIN, CERAMICS AND CAPODIMONTE.

St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy.

Norway Holiday- Interesting Cities To Visit

Norway is one of the three Scandinavian countries. It is not a member of the European Union countries but it is a member of the Schengen Agreement. This country is best known for its complex and deep fjords along its west coast. A holiday in Norway can be a promising experience not only for its amazing and varied scenery but each cities has its own stories to tell and share to its visitors.

Oslo, Norway

Oslo

Everytime I visit a certain country especially in Europe, my first target is always its capital city. That is why the first city I wish to visit in Norway is Oslo. It is the largest city of Norway and the third largest city of Scandinavia. This city rank among the most expensive city in the world but I am quite sure that you can always find here budget accommodation during your stay.

There are a lot of things to see and experience in Oslo. You might want to go for a walk in one of its park. A visit to its Royal Palace, the Oslo Cathedral, the University of Oslo and other interesting buildings and architecture here are recommended. This is a good news to all museum-lovers, visiting the museums in Oslo is free. Besides Oslo has a lot of interesting museums to visit. For sure, you will have a great time in this city.

Kristiansand

This city is called "the jolly capital of the South". Its nickname simply catch my attention. This city is sometimes called as Kristiansand S to distinguish Kristiansund in western Norway. S stands for South. I would love to experience the largest festival in Norway which is held in this city. It is called the Quart Festival, a multi-day music festival.

Bergen

Another wonderful city to visit is Bergen. It is very famous for its beautiful nature and lovely surroundings. A walk or a hike around the area will give its visitor an unforgettable adventure trip. There are a lot of attractions in this city. Pick the ones that you like most especially if you are only visiting it for a day or two.

Trondheim

Known as the oldest in all of Norway's major cities. It is both a cultural and heritage city. A visit to the marvelous Nidaros Cathedral is a must thing to do. It is considered to be the famous landmark of Trondheim and is the largest church of Northern Europe.

Visit to Monterosso al Mare in Italy

This is a small but beautiful town in the province of La Spezia in the Ligurian region in Italy. Monterosso al Mare is one of the five villages in Cinque Terre which also belongs to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is famous for its white sand beach, the reason why a lot of tourists visit this town especially during summer season.

I took this image while the boat was leaving this town. We had a cruise to the Cinque Terre that time and visited other villages like Vernazza and Riomaggiore. I love this place. I am very happy to be there last April 2011.

Europe Tours 2011

Europe, Europa, this is one of the seven continents that I always wanted to explore. I believed most of you know that Europe is the second smallest continent in terms of surface area. That is also the reason why it is very easy to travel around its neighboring countries. I guess, I am very lucky to live somewhere in the middle part of Europe. That is also the reason why I can easily make some Europe tours when I can.

My Europe Tours for 2011 is still not over. Here are some of the places I visited and will be visiting this year. I love Europe!

Turkey

It is a Eurasian country. It simply means that part of it is located in Asia and in Europe. Turkey has a diverse culture which I find very interesting. It is also rich in historical architecture. It offers varieties and myriads of destinations to travelers from Roman ruins to beautiful coastlines and beaches, cold and snowy mountains are only some of it.

I just booked this trip last week. Istanbul, Pergamon, Ephesus, Trojan, Izmir, Bursa are only some of the places that we will be visiting. Three months more to go!

Monaco

It was another dream come true. I finally visited the second smallest country in the world. Monaco is such a lovely place. Monte Carlo, Monaco Ville and Fontvieille, I would say, are truly worthy to see. I can't forget that trip to Monaco last month.

Menton, Nice and Cannes in France

The highlight of that trip in Cannes was the meeting with my friend whom I did not see for more than a decade. I finally met her and I was very glad about that meeting. Nice and Cannes are both wonderful places. I wish I have more time to spend a day or two in its beautiful white sand beaches.

Menton is called as the "Pearl of France" while Cannes is famous for its annual international film festival. Nice on the other hand is simply nice and beautiful. I love the walk we had at Promenade des Anglais, its famous waterfront.

Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. such a lovely beachfront! taken during our visit last April 16, 2011.

Berlin, Germany

I finally had the chance to visit the capital city of Germany. It is very ironic for me visiting other European capital cities first before Berlin. All I can say, Berlin has everything to offer to its tourists and visitors. I was there last February 2011. Seeing Berlin for three days is not enough. I wish I could stay there for a month or two.

at Gendarmenmarkt with the German cathedral. taken during my 3-day visit last Feb. 2011.

Boleslawiec, Poland

Called in German as Bunzlau, this place is famous for its handmade pottery. I really did not intend to buy ceramics during our visit there but I found their ceramics beautiful. I ended up buying it. I guess 5 boxes are enough. Boleslawiec is named as "Ceramics City" or Miasto Ceramiki due to its famous and traditional pottery making.

Budapest, Hungary

It is the capital of Hungary and also one of the interesting cities to visit in Europe. I would be happy to see there the Buda castle, Heroes' Square with the Millenary Monument, Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Parliament building of Hungary and so many more. I will be booking this trip very soon. The planned trip will be in August.

Cinque Terre, San Remo and Pietra Ligure in Italy

I also visited these places during my spring vacation last month. These places in Italy are simply amazing!

There are still other places and countries that I wish to visit this year, depending on my budget. This coming Saturday, we will have a trip to Dresden, a city in East Germany.