history - Glampacker.com

Five things Not to Miss at the London Christmas markets

November 20, 2012 By glampacker 2 Comments

Guest blog post by Carmen Allan-Petale of Double-Barrelled Travel

I love Christmas. It’s different all over the world yet there’s one common theme – bringing your family together once a year to show your appreciation for one another. In Australia we’d normally celebrate it with a champagne breakfast down at the beach but in London it’s a different story altogether.

Somehow things seem a little more Christmassy when it’s cold; I suppose it’s all those movies with the giant snow-covered trees decorated in fairy lights and the songs about sleigh bells in the snow (which we listened to in forty degree heat down under!) And one of the best parts about London at this time of year is all the Christmas markets that magically spring up around the city.

The most well-known are in Hyde Park, Camden, Covent Garden and on Southbank.

Here’s five things not to miss at the London Christmas markets:

1. Bratwurst

Most of the Christmas markets have a German theme and therefore you need to embrace the tradition and that includes the food. The traditional way to cook Bratwurst is to pan fry them and at the Christmas markets they sizzle on giant saucepans suspended from the ceiling of the wooden huts. Bratwursts are delicious and served with a number of sauces including chilli and honey mustard.

2. Shopping

London Christmas markets are a good opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. There are a number of unique gifts to choose from including leather bound diaries, handmade soaps, paintings and wooden ties. There’s also many traditional toys and baby clothes. You can’t help get into the Christmas spirit with the carols being sung and many happy children around. And for me the Christmas spirit goes hand in hand with spending money, which I have lots of fun doing at the stalls!

3. Rides

The biggest London Christmas market is in Hyde Park and there are a number of rides to choose from, including a sideshow alley, ferris wheel and rollercoaster. There’s also an ice rink and traditional carousels. The Christmas market on Southbank is located adjacent to the London Eye so it’s a good opportunity, after you’ve feasted on Bratwurst, to take in the London skyline on a ride around.

4. Mulled wine

A Christmas market wouldn’t feel Christmassy without mulled wine and spiced hot chocolate to keep you warm. At the market in Hyde Park the organisers built beer halls made from wood where you can have a stein or two to keep your spirits high on a drab day. There’s also a champagne tent ice bar where you can sample some cocktails. But my favourite drink at the London Christmas market on a cold day (which, let’s face it, is every day) is hot chocolate with Bailey’s. Yum!

5. The sweets

For me, the best part about the London Christmas markets is the food. You can watch cinnamon rolls and chimney cakes being made and then eat them while they’re still warm. A chimney cake is made by taking dough, rolling it flat and then shaping it into a hollow tube shape around a metal pipe. The dough is rolled in sugar before being popped into the oven. It comes out deliciously warm and you can sprinkle cinnamon or chocolate over before tucking in. Delightful. This year at the London Christmas markets I also saw a couple of fountains as tall as myself bubbling with chocolate. In the same stall were freshly made gingerbread houses and even one built as the London Eye. I used to make gingerbread houses as a kid and seeing these brought the happy memories flooding back. And that’s what Christmas is all about, creating special memories like those. And the London Christmas markets are a great place to start.

This is a guest blog post from Double-Barrelled Travel. Double-Barrelled Travel is a travel blog written by Dave and Carmen Allan-Petale, a married couple exploring the world one trip at a time. The blog offers experiences of travelling as a couple and enjoying the culture and food a country has to offer. Follow Double-Barrelled Travel on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Filed Under: london, UK Tagged With: christmas, culture, history, Markets, shopping

Venice St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Tour

September 10, 2012 By glampacker Leave a Comment

On a warm summer morning in Venice, I went on a St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Tour with Walks of Italy. I’ve been to Venice once before on a rushed, organised tour where I felt I didn’t get under the skin of Venice. This time around I was keen to understand the true history of Venice.

We all know that Venice is a very glamorous, expensive Italian city. In the height of summer Venice is packed with tourists lining to get into St Mark’s Basilica.

On the Walks of Italy St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace tour, I was welcomed by our Venetian tour guide Moses. I was ecstatic that we would be skipping the very long line outside St Mark’s Basilica!

The great benefit about having a guide on a St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace tour was learning the real facts behind Venice’s monumental buildings. Most visitors come to Venice with a typical to do list – ride on a gondola, drink bellinis and eat lots of pasta. However there are times when going with a local guide on a tour makes all the difference. My Venetian experience became much more than just snapping photos.

Things I learnt on the St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Tour…about St Mark’s Basilica:

St Mark’s Basilica contains the relics of the evangelist St Mark – he is symbolised by the winged lion
The original horses outside St Mark’s Basilica are kept inside – the horses are over 2500 years old and were originally created in Greece
The beautiful gold mosaics inside St Mark’s Basilica took over four centuries to be finished by various artisans and depict stories from the bible
St Mark’s Basilica was originally a private chapel for the Doge

Things I learnt about Doge’s Palace:

Who was the Doge? He was the Head of State of Venice, a symbolic non-political figure
There were 125 Doges
Doge’s Palace is full of ornate, richly decorated rooms many with gold gilded ceilings and artworks which engulf the walls
All of the artworks are original paintings created on canvas held about 20 centimetres away from the real walls. This protects the artworks from humidity
Doge’s Palace was designed to intimidate visitors. When you entered Doge’s Palace you saw the extreme wealth and power of Venice from entering through the Stairs of Giants and in the ornately decorated assembly hall

Some of the secrets of Doge’s Palace – are they fact or fiction? You may need to find out by visiting Venice…

The Bridge of Sighs was the last time prisoners could see the light of day before they were thrown into the dark depths of Venetian cells, sharing with 20 other prisoners
Only one of the Doges rebelled and tried to politicise the seat of power and hand it to his son – he was eventually beheaded!
The last Doge fell due to the siege of Venice by Napolean Bonaparte

Stairs-of-Giants-St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Tour

The best thing about the St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace tour was the way it brought the history of Venice to life.

It’s the little things about Venice that I learnt such as taking a closer look at the astrological clock. The astrological clock is actually the world’s first ‘digital clock’. The minutes change every five minutes and on the hour. Every five minutes the bell on top of the clock tower strikes alternatively by the maid or man. Look closely when you’re standing in St Mark’s Square and you can see it with your own eyes!

Disclaimer: The Venice St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Tour was provided complimentary by Walks of Italy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: europe, italy Tagged With: architecture, culture, history, summer, tours, venice

5 Things I Learnt About Galician Culture in Galicia, Spain

June 10, 2012 By glampacker 3 Comments

Cathedral-Santiago-de-Compostela-Galicia-Spain

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia Spain

When I first moved to London after glampacking around Europe I lived in a London hostel run by Spanish nuns where I met a Spanish girl named Belen. Before I first met Belen I had no idea whereabouts Galicia was located in Spain, had never heard of her hometown of Vigo and had never tried Spanish omelette.

So when Belen invited me to visit Galicia I turned down the opportunity to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in London and instead thanked Her Majesty for a double bank holiday weekend! It was a great way to glampack my away around Galicia whilst being a guest of Belen’s family and seeing a new part of Spain, often overlooked by travellers.

When you’re a solo female traveller you often follow the travel guidebooks and feel like you’re ticking off the list of things to do. However staying with Belen’s family and being shown around by a local gave me a unique insight into real Galician Spanish life.

5 Things I Learnt About Galician Culture in Galicia, Spain

1. Galicia is a region in North Western Spain which borders Portugal. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean and has a mild temperate climate. So it’s unlikely that you’ll get lots of sunshine like in Valencia or the Balearic Islands of Menorca or Mallorca. It rains a lot in Galicia – so therefore it’s completely untrue that the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains. In fact the rain in Spain stays mainly in the north!

2. Galician Spanish is spoken in the area. To my untrained ear it pretty much sounded like normal Spanish however Belen was quick to explain the subtle differences – like the pronunciation of particular words and its similarity to Portuguese. For example; thank you is ‘grazas’ in Galician and ‘gracias’ in Spanish.

An horreo in Galicia Spain

3. A typical feature of Galician houses in the countryside is a ‘horreo’ in the garden. These stone structures were designed to store corn and were raised on tall stone pillars with characteristic cylinder platforms to keep mice from entering the horreo. Funnily enough the souvenir shops in Vigo even sell miniature horreos!

Catch of the day: Pulpo in Galicia Spain

4. One of the most well known Galician dishes throughout Spain is octopus or ‘pulpo’ in Spanish. Galician octopus is braised until tender and served simply with olive oil, salt and paprika. It is chewable without being rubbery and is usually eaten with a piece of bread like a pulpo sandwich!

Standing in the plaza of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela Galicia Spain

5. The region of Galicia is perhaps best known for the city of Santiago. Santiago is a picturesque Spanish city full of winding cobblestoned streets. It’s most famous for the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela – a beautiful Gothic style cathedral which contains the relics of St James. Pilgrims end their trek of the Camino de Santiago many walking all the way from the French Pyrenees mountains, following the ‘way of St James’. This pilgrimage attracts people from all over the world, even for the non-believers its said to be a spiritual experience that leaves its mark on you.

One day I would love to walk the Camino de Santiago from the north – and my Spanish friends have pledged to do the same!

Filed Under: culture, europe, Spain Tagged With: Galicia, history, living like a local, summer

Discovering the truth about Troy, Turkey

June 7, 2012 By glampacker 2 Comments

Trojan Horse from Troy the movie, Canakkle

The legend of Troy and the gift of a wooden horse that ended an empire is a mythological story that inspires travellers to visit Turkey and the site of Troy. Whilst glampacking in Turkey I was excited to see the ruins of Troy – but would it really be like the Hollywood movie with Brad Pitt?

Trojan Horse replica in Troy

On my two day Gallipoli and Troy tour, which included an overnight stay in Canakkle, with Hassle Free Tours I was expecting to see the Troy that I knew from the Hollywood movie. A barren landscape with stone ruins from once great Greek and Roman empires.

According to legend the Greeks presented the Trojans with a gift of a wooden horse outside the city walls. Foolishly the Trojans brought the horse inside the city – and unwittingly allowed enemy Greek soldiers into Troy which brought about a war that caused their eventual downfall. Moral of the story – beware of Greeks bearing gifts!

The conflict originally started when Paris, fell in love with Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, who was married to the King of Sparta. This caused an expedition led by the King of Sparta including the infamous warrior, Achilles (played by the one and only Brad Pitt in the Hollywood version). My tour guide, Mehmet always asks his groups – would you fight a war for a beautiful woman as Helen of Troy? The romantics in my Troy tour group said yes, although there were more than a few cynics amongst us!

Upon entering the site of Troy a large 2 storey high wooden horse looms in front of you. My tour guide is quick to point out that this is not the actual Trojan horse, in fact no ones knows if the story is truth or fiction. You can if you like pose like a tourist and stick your head out of the Trojan horse.

There are many more surprising facts about Troy that I soon discovered on my tour when exploring the ruins. Our very passionate tour guide, Mehmet, who described himself as a born and bred ‘Trojan’ brings to life the stories of Troy. Mehmet has even written books about Troy and now leads twice daily tours of the ruins.

First of all the site of Troy is nothing like the Hollywood movie. The surrounding area of Troy is not a desert. Instead it’s a green area with many trees and shrubs with nearby fields and farms!

Troy Palace

Secondly, the site of Troy isn’t fully excavated. Archeologists have planned digs every few years however they have opted to preserve much of the site by keeping it safely buried under the earth. As a result, when you’re on a tour of Troy you see glimpses of the city during various periods of time. For example, you can see an impressive amphitheatre, parts of a palace, a large ramp for carriages and the barricading walls of the city.

Mythbusting: The truth about Troy

The Trojan horse may or may not have been real. I like to think that it was real!
The Aegean Sea was actually right next to the city of Troy, now it lies about 5 miles away from the site of the ruins
It took many years before Troy was ‘discovered’ by Heinrich Schliemann who led many excavations in the 1860s
There are six layers to the city of Troy including Roman and Greek Empires – distinctive features of the Roman period include interlocking brickwork designed to outlast the tests of time and as a barrier against enemies
According to the legend Paris shot an arrow that pierced Achillee’s heel before the wooden horse was brought into Troy, in the movie this occurs after the horse was led inside Troy
Brad Pitt sadly never visited the actual site of Troy before filming the Hollywood movie in Morocco
Troy is definitely worth a visit to understand the real facts about Troy and its many layers of history and having a great tour guide like Mehmet from Hassle Free Tour Agency brings the stories to life!

Hassle Free Tour Agency provided a discount on my Gallipoli and Troy tour however all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: europe, Turkey Tagged With: culture, history, myths, ruins

My Australian Pilgrimage to Gallipoli

May 29, 2012 By glampacker 3 Comments

As a twentysomething Australian traveller, visiting Gallipoli in Turkey has always been on my ‘travel bucketlist’. Thousands of Australians visit Gallipoli for ANZAC day on the 25 April every year to pay their respects and commemorate the battle in World War I where over 8,000 young Australian and New Zealand soldiers lost their lives.

Visiting Gallipoli is a pilgrimage for young Australians because we grew up with the ANZAC story. In school we listened to stories about the bravery of the ANZACs and attended memorial services on Remembrance Day. In the media, ANZAC day dawn services at Gallipoli always make headline news showing many teary Australians draped in our flags.

Although many Australians visit Gallipoli on ANZAC day, personally I wanted to avoid the crowds and have a more quiet, peaceful experience.

During my glampacking trip to Turkey I was keen to visit Gallipoli on a tour with an expert guide and to walk the path of the ANZACs.

I joined Hassle Free Tour Agency on a two day Gallipoli and Troy tour which included an overnight stay in Cannakle. After seeing dolphins swim in the Bosphorus bright and early in the morning we departed Istanbul on a five hour drive to the Gallipoli peninsula.

The Gallipoli tour has an experienced Turkish guide who was very passionate about the history and stories of the ANZAC and Turkish soldiers.

In a nutshell, thousands of ANZACs landed on the beach now known as ANZAC cove on 25^th April 1915 to fight against the Turkish army to claim the passage of the Dardanelles. What was meant to be an ‘easy battle’ turned out to be an eight month long war. ANZACs battled against the Turks, difficult conditions and the unhealthy atmosphere of dysentery and other diseases in the trenches.

The Gallipoli tour flows on a leisurely pace from the original landing point of the ANZACs taking you to key battle areas and even letting you walk through the Australian trenches.

The Battle of Gallipoli was known as the last ‘gentleman’s war’. In between the fighting, the Anzacs and Turks even swapped cigarettes and chocolate by throwing them over the trenches – a mere eight metres apart!

Even long after the stories of Gallipoli it was incredibly touching to hear the story of Simpson and his donkey – the young soldier who walked through ‘death valley’ in between the artillery fire to rescue fallen soldiers with his loyal donkey.

It’s incredibly difficult not to get emotional and feel like the ANZACs could be someone you knew – they were all young men searching for adventure and instead many never returned back home to Australia. My Gallipoli tour group was a mix of retired Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians including an Aussie who had two family members who fought in the Battle of Gallipoli.

What surprised me the most when I visited the Gallipoli Peninsula on tour was the beauty of the lush green forrest covering the area – which is now a national park. I had always thought that Gallipoli was a dry, desert area with no natural vegetation. However it was a serene place with lots of pine trees and sweeping views over the Aegean Sea.

The other surprising thing was to see so many Turkish tours to Gallipoli full of tour buses of young and old Turks visiting the area. It was very touching to see many locals paying their respects at the Turkish cemetery.

Since we were with a local guide who had a ‘magic key’ to Lone Pine Memorial – the key Australian memorial – we were allowed to sign the condolence book. Inside the memorial is full of photographs and letters of the ANZACs.

I highly recommend visiting Gallipoli on a tour – you get to experience the stories of the ANZACs whilst giving you enough time to pause and reflect at the cemeteries and memorial sites.

Lest we forget.

Hassle Free Tour Agency provided a discount on my Gallipoli and Troy tour however all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: europe, Turkey Tagged With: Gallipoli, history, Pilgrimage

7 Unmissable Sights in Istanbul

May 22, 2012 By glampacker 4 Comments

There are so many fun things to do in Istanbul, even when you’re travelling on a budget. Istanbul is a modern city which I developed a bit of a love-hate relationship with – ultimately I loved the history and endless contradictions of Istanbul.

Mosques are free to enter and there are a lot of local markets offering many traditional foods and artisan souvenirs – though what you buy and how much you haggle at the bazaar is completely up to you!

When glampacking through Istanbul it’s actually possible to see lots of the city’s historic sights in a short space of time.

My unmissable sights in Istanbul in no particular order are:

1. The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque isn’t exactly blue on the inside but it is an amazing complex, just be sure to abide by ‘mosque-etiquette‘ when visiting.

2. The Aya Sofya or Haghia Sophia

It used to be a church and then it became a mosque! The Aya Sofya of Haghia Sophia is Istanbul’s most famous religious site and features a strange clash of religions. Originally built by the Byzantine Empire in 537AD and then converted to a mosque by Mehmet the Conquerer in 1453 it now features many distinctive Islamic symbols.

There are Christian mosaics throughout the Aya Sofya, most on the upper gallery – my favourite mosaic of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus being presented with the city of Constantinople and the Aya Sofya can be seen on the southwest entrance.

3. The Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is an unmissable sight in Istanbul mainly due to its sheer size. It’s the biggest covered market in the world and traders sell everything from clothing to carpets to tacky souvenirs. Be prepared to haggle. Hard. Do your research and haggle down to at least 1/5 of the starting price!

4. The Spice Market
At first I thought the Spice Market was a little bit like the Grand Bazaar just with more Turkish delight and baklava. Then I realised the locals shop on the streets just outside the Spice Market in Istanbul. There are homeware stores, fruit and vegetable stalls, shops selling coffee, spices, tea and strange stringy Turkish cheese. Go outside the Spice Market for an unmissable experience in Istanbul to shop with the locals!

5. Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace is a massive complex where Ottoman emperors lived their daily lives with multiple rooms (including a Harem and a Circumcision Room) and museums featuring jewellery and religious relics. Many rooms are decorated in typical Ottoman style with stunning intricate patterned tiles. Personally I was more spellbound by the architecture of the southern part of the palace grounds where there was an empty pool and private quarters with spectacular views of the Bosphorus.

6. Basilica Cistern
This isn’t just any underground cavern – Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern is eerie, wet, is home to lots of koi fish and features two Medusa Heads. The Medusa heads are believed to be there to ward off evil. There are 336 columns in the Basilica Cistern and it used to contain 80,000 cubic metres of water that was transported via aqueduct from the Black Sea. It’s the largest intact cisern from the Byzantine Empire and is an unusual yet unmissable sight in Istanbul.

7. Bosphorus River
Bosphorus ferry cruises are extremely popular amongst tourists in Istanbul. However I think the best way to experience the Bosphorus is by crossing the Galata Bridge and watching the fishermen at work. I’d like to think that even centuries ago there were local fisherman getting their catch of the day from the Bosphorus.

Filed Under: europe, Turkey, Turkey Tagged With: culture, Food, history, Markets, shopping, things to do

My Love Hate Relationship with Istanbul

May 20, 2012 By glampacker 2 Comments

Before you visit a city for the first time your head is filled up with preconceptions from the media, photos and stories from your friends. Prior to my glampacking Turkey trip and visit to Istanbul I pictured a historic city of mosques with doner kebab stands on every street corner. Did Istanbul live up to its hype?

When I first landed in Istanbul and took a cab ride to my hotel I was surprised to see so many families out at 10pm. Families were barbecuing at the parks along the Bosphorus with open fires and children were running amok in playgrounds. Stray dogs ran along the roadside. I was even more surprised when I entered my hotel room and heard loud, non-stop music. Outside my hotel room window a huge street party was taking place. Drums were beating, Istanbulites were dancing in the street and everyone looked like they were having a grand old time. Was Istanbul really a conservative city?

Istanbul is a city where old and new clashes together to form a myriad of contradictions. During the day the call to prayer sounds over the entire city, echoing over the rooftops. But it doesn’t stop the endless traffic and car congestion.

Women dress modestly and tourists wearing shorts and tank tops stand out. When visiting the Blue Mosque you’ll have to cover your shoulders and knees. Yet billboards advertise swimsuit models and the latest sexy popstars are splashed all over Turkish television channels.

I was even more surprised by the fact that women don’t appear to go out without men. During my glampacking Turkey adventure – my friend and I were often the only two women sitting in a cafe or restaurant. Even in the daytime it was not often that we saw local women going out together and we were usually served by male waiters and shop attendants.

Since Istanbul is such an old city built up by the Ottoman and Byzantine empires – there doesn’t appear to be a straight forward grid system to the way the streets are laid out. They weave around the mosques and up and around the hilly, steep streets on the north side of the Bosphorus. It’s common to see buildings that are abandoned yet there are also pristine shopfronts, hotels and museums. Istanbul was a European Capital of Culture in 2010 but it is still a developing place with a pending application into the European Union.

After a few days in the city, I developed a bit of a love hate relationship with Istanbul. Yet I’m glad to experienced Istanbul during my glampacking Turkey trip. It’s a fantastic city with a huge clash of Western and Eastern cultures with its non-stop action, great food and awe-inspiring history.

What did I love about Istanbul?

The historic buildings like the Aya Sofya
Drinking endless cups of Turkish tea
Eating baklava
The nightlife
The very busy Istiklal Cad – still busy with pedestrians shopping at 10pm on a weekday!
The unexpected kindness of strangers on the tram

What I didn’t like about Istanbul?

The traffic and noise
Shopping and haggling goes hand in hand
Overly salty food
The public transport – the metro isn’t as convenient as catching the tramway

Filed Under: europe, Turkey, Turkey Tagged With: city views, culture, Food, history

Wanderlust Photo – Princess Diana Wallpaper in Kensington Palace, London

May 2, 2012 By glampacker Leave a Comment

Princess Diana Wallpaper in Kensington Palace, London

The beautiful images of an amazing royal life captured by the Princess Diana wallpaper in Kensington Palace, London. These sketches were drawn by fashion illustrator Julie Verhoeven before being turned into wallpaper. The Princess Diana wallpaper lines the hallway leading up to an exhibition of her famous gowns in the recently refurbished Kensington Palace, London.

Filed Under: london, Travel Photography Tagged With: art, culture, history

Fun Things to Do in Cologne, Germany

April 22, 2012 By glampacker 1 Comment

The fourth largest city of Germany, Cologne is a city that offers glampackers a great taste of German culture and history. There are many fun things to do in Cologne on a budget including eating and drinking your way around the city. Having not been to Germany since 2007 I was incredibly excited to eat German foods like bratwurst and drink lots of beer!

Cologne is a compact city and very safe for solo travellers. One thing I love about Germany? Everything is clean and efficient! However, whist glampacking in Cologne and Bonn during Easter weekend I was very glad I packed my warm weather gear! The temperature was around 10 degrees and was often quite cold and windy in the afternoon. Regardless of the weather there are a lot of fun things to do in Cologne, even if you’re only there for 48 hours.

What are the fun things to do in Cologne, Germany? Explore the city – by foot, bus or tram!

Cologne is very easy to explore on foot. The old town or ‘aldstadt’ has many squares framed by restaurants and cafes. Cologne still has many Roman relics including a large part of the old city walls and Roman gates. Although much of the city was destroyed in World War II, Cologne was meticulously restored. Hopping on a city bus tour gives you a better feel for the size of the city which was much larger than I originally thought! Keep an eye out for the giant ice-cream cone on top of the shopping mall Neumarkt Galerie designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Brugge.

Climb the Dom – Cologne Cathedral

The Dom towers over the city of Cologne. Building of the French Gothic style cathedral started in the 1300s but wasn’t actually completed until 1880. The majestic structure has tall spires reaching 157 metres and features beautiful stained glass windows – including a modern rubix cube like stained glass window on one of the restored windows.

You can climb to the top of the Dom for three Euros. You just need to conquer the 509 steps up a very narrow staircase which leads up to the spire. Once you reach the top you’re rewarded by the sweeping views of Cologne.

Interesting fact about the Dom – in the old town of Cologne it’s illegal for any building to be taller than the Dom!

Visit Museum Ludwig

There are plenty of museums in Cologne such as the Roman-Germanic museum and even a chocolate museum right on the Rhine river.

However for a different arty experience I highly recommend visiting Museum Ludwig in Cologne. The modern art museum houses artworks by Kirchner, Kardinsky and Max Ernst and ceramic artworks by Picasso. There are various installation artworks that will blow your mind – imagine seeing patchwork quilted octopuses and soft toy clams! Cosima von Bonin’s interpretation of Cologne is definitely a sight to see with your own eyes!

An interesting way of interpreting the artworks is asking yourself – would you want to have the piece of art in your own house? I’m not sure where I would put the octopus to be honest.

Party in Barissoplatz

You can’t say you’ve done all the fun things to do in Cologne without sampling the nightlife! The Cologne locals go partying at the many bars and clubs near Barissoplatz station. Most clubs may have a small entry free to enter. Luckily the trams run all night long to get you back to your hotel/hostel!

Eat and drink your way around the city of Cologne

Start off a day of sight-seeing by enjoying a hearty German breakfast of eggs and ham or smoked salmon on rye bread. Cologne has many breweries, restaurants and cafes where you can sample traditional German cuisine at it’s finest and enjoy a koelsch beer or two.

Filed Under: europe, Germany Tagged With: Cologne, culture, drinking, eating, history, museum, things to do, tours

The Unmissable Sights of Florence

November 21, 2011 By glampacker Leave a Comment

In Florence, art is everywhere. It’s visible on the streets, the galleries and museums, in the patisseries and cafes and even in the fashion boutiques. Florence is all about style. This is a city where designer brands like Salvatore Ferragamo have museums alongside their flagship stores. It’s a city where patisserie shop windows are piled high with spectacular sweet creations.

The best way to experience the city is by doing your own walking tour to experience the unmissable sights of Florence. The historic centre of the city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Duomo, Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile

Standing tall in the middle of Piazza Del Duomo is the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore or simply, the Duomo. Finished in 1436 it’s the only dome in the world constructed solely of bricks and mortar. The Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile or bell tower was all designed by Giotto di Bondone.

Uffizi Gallery

The long lines at Uffizi are notorious but don’t let put you off. It’s best to visit in the morning when the line is more manageable, and if you have a few Euro spare you may even wish to skip the line! Uffizi Gallery is comprised of the collection of the Medici Family and impressive Renaissance and classical sculptures. Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus is infamous but pieces I admired were Caravaggio’s Medusa for it’s startling head of snakes and Titan’s Venus of Urbino which for me depicts how real women look!

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is held up by stilts however it’s still a very stable bridge even if it’s centuries old. There are many jewellers and art merchants on the bridge, although butchers originally inhabited all the stalls in the 14th Century!

Palazzo Vecchio

The town hall or ‘old palace’ of Florence still functions as the city’s town hall and continues to host civic weddings. It once housed the Parliament and Foreign Ministry when Florence was briefly the capital of Italy in 1861-75. If you visit Uffizi Gallery you can get a closer view of the tower from the second floor.

Filed Under: europe, italy Tagged With: architecture, autumn, churches, culture, history