Snapshot Sunday: Brugge, Belgium

Climbing Stephansdom's South Tower

Másszuk meg a Stephansdom déli tornyát!

Somehow I am tired at the moment and it would be a bit difficult to write lots of information about Vienna's landmark the Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), so I would just let the pictures speak:
Valahogy fáradt vagyok most, így kissé nehéz lenne mindenfélét írni Bécs jellegzetességéről, a Szent István székesegyházról, így aztán csak hagyom, hogy a képek beszéljenek.





That's where the 22-ton church bell the Pummerin used to hang:
Innen lógott a 22 tonnás harang, a Pummerin:







Was ist das? We couldn't figure it out...
Nem bírtunk rájönni... 



This is where the watchman lived and guarded the city from the Turks and from fire:
Itt lakott az őrszem, aki a várost a törököktől és a tűztől vigyázta:







On the roof, the initials of Franz Joseph in the Austrian imperial coat of arms and the date 1831:
A tetőn Ferenc József kezdőbetűi az Osztrák Császárság címerében, és az 1831-es dátum:



In the next post, you get some great views above Vienna!
A következő bejegyzésben szuper kilátásban lesz részetek Bécs fölött!

*****

Beside being a singer and going wherever my performances take me, these are the top resources which make it possible for me to live one of my dreams and travel - they can help you as well to live as you would like to, have a look here

www.AndreaGerak.com
Contact / Kapcsolat
Skype: andrea.gerak

Wien von oben

Vienna from above
Bécs felülről

Spring is arriving to Vienna, we have some beautiful sunny days here!
Jön a tavasz Bécsbe, gyönyörű napsütésben van részünk mostanában!

A few shots from the tower of Stephansdom, Vienna's signature church in the very middle of town.
Néhány felvétel a Stephansdom tornyából, a Bécs ismertetőjegyeként híres templomból a belváros kellős közepén.

You can climb up to the chamber that used to be a watch point for fire, the entrance is at the back of the right side of the church and costs 4EUR for an adult.
Fel lehet mászni a korábban tűzfigyelő állásnak szolgáló kis kamrába; a bejárat a templom jobb hátsó sarkánál van, 4EUR a felnőttjegy. 

After a bit less than 200 stairs, this is the view you can enjoy:
Alig 200 lépcső után ilyen látványt élvezhetünk:

(For some reason, sometimes Flickr won't display the pictures here on my blog, but if you click on them, you can see them on Flickr, even in larger sizes too.
Valami miatt néha pár kép itt, a blogomban nem jelenik meg, de ha rákattintasz, a Flickr-en szépen látszik, nagyobb méretekben is)

*****

Beside being a singer and going wherever my performances take me, these are the top resources which make it possible for me to live one of my dreams and travel - they can help you as well to live as you would like to, have a look here

www.AndreaGerak.com
Contact / Kapcsolat
Skype: andrea.gerak

Not Your Grandma’s (But Maybe Your Mom’s) Vegas

Best For: Luxury, Nightlife, Culinary Scene, Shopping

Best Time to Visit: Year-Round

Retro Vegas Welcome Sign

A few years back, my company sent me to Salt Lake City for training. I had always wanted to see Las Vegas, and its proximity to Utah made it the obvious trip add-on. I invited my mom, who would never say no to a free hotel stay and some mother-daughter bonding time. We were expecting to be fish out of water in the flashy city and were treating the trip as sort of an anthropological study; “Let’s go observe all the wild, garish people thrive in their natural habitat” we thought. Upon exploring, we realized that the city has evolved into so much more than just a playground for debauchery. We enjoyed first-rate meals, a comedy show, and great shopping. Neither of us put so much as a nickel into a slot machine, though we did partake in more than a few adult beverages. There was so much we wanted to cram into our weekend that we called the airline to inquire about pushing back our flight date. Steep change fees cut our fun short, but we’ve vowed to go back and experience more of this vacation crowd-pleaser.

Luxury:  Those who live in the lap of luxury (or who want to pretend like they do for a few days), will be very comfortable in Las Vegas. Each hotel tries to outclass the next with its over-the-top suites and high-end amenities. The city’s five-star restaurants, trendy nightclubs, chic shopping, high-stakes gambling tables, and relaxing spas provide A-list elites with a wealth of opportunities for blowing excess cash.  

The Strip
Photo courtesy of PDPhoto.org

Nightlife/Entertainment:  Between the windowless casinos and alcohol-induced hazes, it can be difficult to distinguish between night and day on a trip to Vegas. During whichever hour you prefer to play, there are entertainment options galore. Daytime activities range from thrill rides to zoos and botanical gardens. The city’s after dark scene is unparalleled – each establishment pulls out all the stops to lure you through their doors, creating spectacles around every corner. Partygoers will have their choice of bars, nightclubs, lounges, and strip clubs. Those looking for tamer options can have a classic night at the casino or check out one of the many spectacular shows. For a more offbeat experience, try downtown in all its vintage, old school Vegas glory. If you feel overwhelmed by all the entertainment options, leave the planning to the experts at the Vegas travel site; their travel tips section gives suggestions tailored to your personality and trip needs.

The Bellagio Lobby Ceiling

Culinary Scene:  All of the big shot chefs have restaurants in Las Vegas, which means you don’t have to city hop to try out gourmet dishes from Guy Savoy, Thomas Keller, Joel Robuchon, and Mario Batali. For those who want to get more grub for their buck, try one of the ubiquitous all you can eat buffets (the Aria, Bellagio, and Wynn have the best spreads), or one of the many burger joints popping up throughout the city. Or, venture off the strip and discover one of the hidden culinary gems found in the surrounding shopping plazas.

Shopping:  Vegas has risen to be one of the premier shopping cities in the world. High-end designers, such as Versace and Louis Vuitton, have set up shop throughout the big casinos. The most luxe galleries are the Forum Shops (Ceasars), Miracle Mile (Planet Hollywood), and the Grand Canal Shops (the Venetian). Budget conscious shopaholics will also find standard mall stores scattered throughout the casinos, but aggressive bargain hunters can head off the strip to one of the city’s three outlet malls.

If you're feeling over-stimulated after your stint in Vegas and are looking for some relief from the madness, visit one of the many nearby National Parks.  Popular ones include Zion and, of course, the Grand Canyon.   



Wiener Eistraum 2013 - Vienna Ice Dream

Bécsi jeges álom 

Pretty ice skating ring in front of the Rathaus (City Hall, Vienna)
Helyes kis jégpálya a bécsi Rathaus (Városháza) előtt



I just tell this story quietly: when I made this picture, there was a young couple in front of me, Hungarians, and the boy was explaining with his great knowledge: ""See? Icetraw-mh, it means ice current."

(Eis=ice, Traum=dream, and what he meant was Strohm=current... :-)
Halkan jegyzem meg: amikor ezt a képet készítettem, ott sétált előttem egy fiatal magyar pár, szépen nézelődve, és a fiú nagy komoly tudósan magyarázott: "Látod? Ájsztróm, azt jelenti, hogy jégáram."

(Eis=jég, Traum=álom, amire pedig ő gondolt: Strohm=áram... :-)

Anyway, it was really nice, maybe I will try it tomorrow or on Friday, this seems to be one thing to do in Vienna right now:
Sebaj, mindenesetre nagyon kellemes; lehet, hogy holnap vagy pénteken kipróbálom, úgy tűnik, ez az egyik dolog, amit most itt Bécsben érdemes csinálni:

By the way, André Rieu's concert DVD was shot partly here, that you can see at the end of this post
Mellesleg André Rieu koncert DVD-jének néhány részét itt vették fel; ennek a bejegyzésnek a végén van

*****

Beside being a singer and going wherever my performances take me, these are the top resources which make it possible for me to live one of my dreams and travel - they can help you as well to live as you would like to, have a look here

www.AndreaGerak.com
Contact / Kapcsolat
Skype: andrea.gerak

Five Offbeat Family-Friendly Destinations in Europe

The major metropolises of Western Europe are family-friendly, but they’re also everyone-friendly. Chances are, if you’re well traveled, you (and maybe your children) have already seen Paris, London, and Rome. So, if you’re looking for something different, or if you’re not interested in chasing your kids through urban hustle and bustle, consider taking your next family vacation to one of these more offbeat European destinations.

Devil's Bridge, Kassel, Germany
Photo by Matthias Stump

Fairy Tale Road, Germany:  Northeast of Frankfurt, between the towns of Hanau and Bremen, is a land of castles, cobblestone, wizards, and witches. Crossing through the home of the Brothers Grimm, Germany’s Fairy-Tale Road is thick with images that arouse whimsical imagination in the most unbelieving of mortals. Wind your way through the towns of half-timbered houses and the imposing forests that inspired the settings for your children’s favorite fables, including Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood. Towns along the road embrace their storied history with puppet-shows, open-air plays, and medieval feasts. 

Lapland, Finland:  Your children will happily brave the elements for the opportunity to meet the “real” Santa Claus. Rovaniemi is home to Kris Kringle, and the city has embraced the honor with a kitschy homage that kids will love and adults will tolerate. You can visit the Santa Claus Village year round, but it’s most festive during the holiday season when there’s that unmistakable Christmas cheer in the air. Highlights include the North Pole’s post office, an exhibition on Christmas celebrations from around the world, and Santa Park, an underground theme park chock-full of holiday spirit. A bonus for parents: Lapland has stunning unspoiled landscapes and good vantage points for viewing the spectacular northern lights.   

Transylvania, Romania
Photo by Eugen

Transylvania, Romania:  Transylvania is not the unearthly land portrayed by Bram Stoker, though it can evoke a slight feeling of eeriness that visitors may find hard to shake. The region holds fast to its Dracula connection; there’s Castle Bran, which is said to be the home of the Count, a number of other Saxon fortresses, and vampire-themed hotels and cafes. Really, Transylvania is more of a pastoral region with charming, old architecture. Still, you won’t have much trouble convincing your children of its place in mythical history. And parents will love the price--Transylvania is relatively inexpensive compared to similar destinations in neighboring Western Europe.

Loire Valley, France:  This ostentatious French region is home to some of the world’s most opulent chateaux. Adults and kids alike will enjoy promenades through perfectly manicured gardens and waltzes through the grand hallways of the country’s Renaissance. Don’t miss  Chambord, the second largest palace in France (next to Versailles), or Chenonceau, with its enchanting bridge arching over the River Cher. The castles’ delightful neighboring towns will give your children the urge to sing in the streets, Beauty-and-the-Beast style.



Chenonceau Castle, Loire Valley, France

 Odense, Denmark:  Birthplace of Hans Christian Anderson, author of famous fairytales such as The Little Mermaid and Thumbelina, Odense celebrates the storywriter with statues, parades, and a museum. Perhaps influenced by its most famous citizen, the town has evolved into a child’s wonderland. There’s a railway museum, one of Europe’s best-preserved water castles, and an impressive zoo. Nearby Billund is home to Legoland, another family-friendly Danish destination.  The kids will be especially happy if you stay at Lalandia, a resort complex with an indoor waterpark.

Mohnkuchen in Vienna

Mákossüti Bécsben

I so love this part of the world!

Annyira szeretem a világnak ezt a részét! 

In Central Europe and in Germany, poppy seed is broadly used for various cakes and in Hungary, we even have a couple of main dishes with it that everyone likes, so I grew up with this yummy stuff, un-imaginable for many in other countries. 

Közép-Európában és Németországban a mákot széles körben használják süteményekhez, Magyarországon pedig főétel-féléink is vannak vele, amiket mindenki szeret, így hát ezzel a finomsággal nőttem fel, ami más országokban elképzelhetetlen.

Oh, did I have a problem in all those years in Sweden where they only use it occasionally, to spread it on top of bake rolls, you can't just really buy it in the shops. Had serious cravings after Mákostészta & Co., but now I am back here, close to home and here in Vienna they have some variation of Mohnkuchen everywhere.  

Jaj, micsoda bajban voltam a svédországi éveim alatt, ahol csak alkalomszerűen használják a mákot, és csak arra, hogy a zsemle tetejét megszórják vele, és nemigen lehet kapni. Súlyosan sóvárogtam mákostésztára és társaira, de most, közel az otthonhoz, és itt, Bécsben  mindenhol lehet kapni valamiféle mákos süteményt.

The other small piece with the small cup of coffee was for an old lady who sat down to my table and we had a nice chat.
A másik kis darab a kis kávéscsészével egy idős hölgyé, aki odaült hozzám, és kellemesen elbeszélgettünk egy kicsit. 

Enjoying speaking Deutsch: I have lived in German-speaking areas for a bit more than 3 years and that was already 10 years ago - I speak it still much better than Svenska where I lived for almost 7 years, recently. Hm.
Élvezem, hogy németül beszélek: valamivel több mint 3 évig éltem német nyelvterületen, de az már jó tíz éve volt - mégis sokkal jobban beszélem, mint a svédet, ahol eddig majdnem 7 évet éltem. Hm.

*****

Beside being a singer and going wherever my performances take me, these are the top resources which make it possible for me to live one of my dreams and travel - they can help you as well to live as you would like to, have a look here

www.AndreaGerak.com