Tag Archive: Travelling Corner

January 17, 2018

Travelling Corner: Weekend in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city located in Cataluña, Spain. It’s full of tourists, palms, parrots, bilingual signs (in Catalan & Spanish) and beautiful weather! It can be visited the whole year round, but I would recommend late Autumn, Winter or early Spring as the best time to embrace its beauty and colours. It’s a relatively expensive city, so be prepared for slightly higher prices, especially in cafes and shops. But, if you want to experience heaven on Earth and still not to spend all your savings, here are my tips for you!

Beach

Oh, the beach! It’s long and sandy. I visited the beach every day in the late afternoon, when the sun was setting and the colours in the sky were changing into pink and purple and the boats were sailing back to the port. People were reading, talking, walking, smiling, laughing, playing, exercising, jogging and of course, swimming. It was an experience in its own, beautiful and peaceful.

Parc de la Ciutadella

A beautiful green area in Barcelona. It’s located not far away from the triumphant Arc de Triomf and has many beautiful trees, palms and ponds, as well as a zoological garden. When the city gets quite busy, it’s a good idea to come here for a lunch break or to relax on the grass.

Catedral de Barcelona

The cathedral is a fine example of gothic style: monumental and impressive. Entrance is not free, but you can always join the religious service (especially when vising on Sunday) to see the beautiful gothic interiors (but photographs are not permitted then).

Barri Gòtic

The Gothic quarter is at the heart of the old town in Barcelona. Narrow streets and very high buildings (with flowers on the balconies), tiny squares with fountains, cafes & restaurants, galleries & museums, tiny shops & bakeries. It’s a very eclectic combination of the old and new which gives you a unique flavour of the old town. I had a very medieval feeling when I walked those tiny streets, especially after dark.

Caj Chai

As you know (if you read this blog), I rarely go out to eat when travelling. The only exception I make is (obviously) a tea break. When visiting Barcelona, I went to a tea room called Caj Chai. It’s located in the Gothic quarter and is a specialised tea room which serves various types of tea: white, green, back or herbal. For me, it was a wonderful experience, slow and aromatic.

What are your memories from Barcelona? Let me know in the comments below.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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December 13, 2017

Travelling Corner: My 5 Favourite Cafés in Prague

Cafés in Prague are spectacular. Keep reading to find out why.

Café Louvre

The whole experience from the moment you enter to this large, elegant space, the way you’re greeted, the surrounding beautiful interior design, the taste of coffee, the high standard of waitressing… Be aware that there is a smoking and a non-smoking area.

Kavárna Slavia

The best coffee. It’s beautifully served and tastes just wonderful. My favourite spot was by the window with the view of the National Theatre Národní divadlo and passing trams. One of the best known cafes in Prague, but still not too crowded. Be aware that there is a smoking and a non-smoking area.

Grand Café Orient

Two words: cubist interior. And the best sweets (my favourite is kubistický věneček). Sit down on the striped sofa and enjoy the moment!

Kavárna Obecní dům

The best service. And the moving trolley with scrumptious cakes is cute. The grand Art Nouveau interior is truly breath-taking.

Bakeshop Praha

Amazing food (and the choice of it!). If you miss speaking English and want to have a nice breakfast/lunch, that’s the place to go!

Have you been to Prague? What were your favourite cafes? Please share in the comments below.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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November 15, 2017

Travelling Corner: Polish Mountains in Autumn

I think I last visited Poland in autumn around 4 years ago and the Polish mountains even longer ago, so it was a real treat to go there in October this year. It was beautiful, colourful and foggy with pretty autumnal vibes.

Beskidy (Polish mountain range)

I went hiking in the Polish mountain range of Beskidy in the South of Poland, not far from Katowice and the border with the Czech Republic. I would say these mountains are medium in height, so the stamina level needed to walk there is quite average. I went to the small town of Wisła and chose two routes: one to admire views (Trzy Kopce Wiślańskie, 810 m n.p.m.) and another to reach a beautiful mountain chalet at Schronisko Soszów (Soszów Wielki, 886 m n.p.m.). The overall route to each destination took me around 5 hours there and back, but the whole experience was amazing: from white morning fog and autumnal colours to the beautiful interiors of the chalet.

Walking route signs

If you’re planning to visit any Polish mountains, it might be worth knowing about the walking route signs which come in 5 different colours. The route signs in Poland do not necessarily equal the level of difficulty and are usually marked in the form of a rectangle with three lines: white, another colour (black, red, blue, green or yellow) and white again. The colours describe the length, whether there are scenic views, if the route links with another route or if it has a specific destination.

Do you enjoy hiking? Have you visited any Polish mountains? Please let me know in the comments below.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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October 18, 2017

Travelling Corner: Breathtaking Views in a Croatian National Park (photo blog)

I visited The Krka National Park during my travels to Croatia this autumn. I was planning to go to Pltvice National Park too, but on the day I had planned to go there were a series of storms, so I’ve postponed it until next time I’m in Croatia. The Krka National Park was created by the most beautiful waterfalls (you can even swim in one of them!). You can walk or take a boat to the main waterfall and then walk to the upper areas of the park. You can then take another boat or walk even higher. It’s worth having a day or even two days to explore the park and embrace its natural beauty. Below you’ll find my photos from the Krka National Park (I have to admit the nature is much prettier in reality!). Enjoy!

Have you visited the Krka National Park? What were you impressions? Please share your experience in the comments below.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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October 11, 2017

Travelling Corner: Croatia through my Eyes: 7 Curiosities you won’t find in a Travel Guide!

What makes Croatia special? I gathered my memories, impressions, fascinations and surprises throughout my stay there last autumn. Below are my 7 favourite curiosities about Croatia (all very subjective!):

1 No iPhones everywhere

Yes, Croatians actually talk to each other! Even when they commute, travel or queue. People (all of them!) sit in a café and enjoy their time talking and drinking coffee. What a beautiful sight.

2 Figs

I couldn’t not write about figs. OMG, they’re delicious and cheap and fresh and green. My favourite!

3 Driving

Driving can be wild in Croatia, let’s face it. Speed limits often change, but this doesn’t mean anything to Croatians who still drive very fast. There are tolls on the motorways, but on the other hand, you can find free-of-charge parking in some city centres such as in Zadar.

4 Kindness

Croatians don’t look the kindest, but they truly are. They’ll give you goods for free, praise your child or apologise. Imagine: we’re on a beach in Split, we’ve just arrived in this beautiful city and we’re relaxing on the sand when all of the sudden somebody starts screaming and shouting at us that we’re blocking a pedestrian’s path (he’s actually gesticulating and saying this in Croatian). We’re completely shocked. We then realise that we are indeed sitting on this path, so we move our towels further away. After half an hour, this man is back and he starts APOLOGISING in beautiful English that he’s sorry; he was nervous and overreacted, as he shouldn’t have behaved like that. WOW! Can you imagine that? Strange, but beautiful at the same time.

5 International & local

Croatia is a very touristy place. People travel there from many different countries: Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France Belgium, the Netherlands and many more. If you want to practise European languages, it’s definitely the place to go and improve your linguistic skills. Even though there are so many travellers, Croatia still remains local and friendly. This simultaneous feeling of global and local might be the Balkan/Central European influence as well.

6 Non-commercial country

Croatia seems to be “resisting the new” (as Cody Brown wrote in his book on Croatia).* The country is westernised and there is a clear influence of Italian culture, yet it has its own kind, generous and real identity (in various forms: from human to nature).

7 Nature

Oh wow, the nature is amazing! From beautiful islands and coast to breath-taking natural parks and animals (rabbits, wild ducks, flamingoes, herons, tortoises, pheasants, beetles and many more). It looks, smells and feels just wonderful.

These are my curiosities from Croatia. It’s a very beautiful place which I intend to explore even more. Have you been to Croatia? What surprised or amazed you there? Please share your observations in the comments below.

*Cody McClain Brown, Chasing a Croatian Girl. A Survivor’s Tale, Milton Keyenes, 2015.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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August 30, 2017

Travelling Corner: Greetings from Costa Rica! (photo-post)

Greetings from Costa Rica! Costa Rica is a beautiful place on our planet Earth. Our school’s German tutor and manager, Victoria has visited this breathtaking land on many occasions and now she’s sharing her photos from her most recent trip on our blog. Enjoy the photos!

Photos courtesy of Victoria Holderied-Milis

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August 23, 2017

Travelling Corner: Paradise Island in Portugal

I’ve visited the island Ilha de Tavira in the south of Portugal many times and its beauty is breath-taking. It’s a tiny island; there are a few houses, a large campsite, no cars (except a couple of tractors) and a long beautiful beach.

Beach

The beach is amazing! You can go for long walks (there is a nudist section further away… I’m just saying… ;), go swimming in the wild ocean waves or have a bit of a rest under the (rentable) beach umbrellas. On the other side, there is a calmer shore which might be more suitable for the little ones.

Campsite

As you know, camping is my favourite, so I was very happy to camp on Ilha de Tavira. The campsite is big and very clean, with many toilet facilities (cold water is free), a shop and a bar, free Internet (near the reception area) and a small playground. And you can listen to the waves & cicadas and see the starts at night 🙂

Boats

There are regular boat services from the mainland and it takes around 20 minutes to get to the island from Tavira. You could also plan a little trip to the other islands, the Ria Formosa Natural Park or to go diving.

Which is your favourite Portuguese island? Share your recommendations in the comments below.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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August 16, 2017

Travelling Corner: 5 Ideas for Long-Distance Walks in Bristol (Part 2)

David Bathrust writes ‘[d]espite the increasingly sophisticated range of leisure pursuits and interests available to us, walking still enjoys huge popularity as a form of recreation’ and I myself cannot think of a better free time activity. Fortunately, Bristol has many beautiful parks and woods to explore and below are my favourite big green areas.

Durdham Down

Walk, jog, have a picnic, read a book, fly a kite, play football… and yet it is rarely crowded. Amazing views of Clifton Suspension Bridge. Top of Whiteladies Road, Bristol.

Ashton Court Estate & Leigh Woods

Ashton Court: Deer and plenty of open space. Across the Suspension Bridge, follow Bridge Road.

Leigh Woods: Beautiful tree sanctuary. Across the Suspension Bridge, off North Road.

Blaise Castle Estate

Many simple and more advanced pathways, perfect for a picnic, too. Coombe Dingle, off The Dingle Road.

The Docks

City Walk with beautiful river views. Steep walk down from Clifton Village (Granby Hill), walking available on both sides of the river.

Lamplighter’s Walk

A green pathway by the river with picturesque views of the village of Pill. It starts near the pub The Lamplighter’s Pub, behind the train station in Shirehampton.

Do you have any favourite parks/woods in Bristol? Please share your favourites in the comments below.

Written by Kinga Macalla

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August 9, 2017

Travelling Corner: Why not Sochi?

Where else in the world could you ski up in the mountains in the morning and swim in the beautiful Black Sea in the afternoon, all on the same day!

It all happens here in the most southern corner of unbounded Russia: Sochi, or the southern capital as they call it; the place which contradicts many stereotypes formed about Russia. One of them is that Russian winters are freezing. Really? It is February and it is +18°c. Sochi is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains on the one side and the Black Sea on the other so it has a subtropical climate. It is humid and warm all year round but if you feel like cooling down, a 40 minute drive into the mountains will take you up to Krasnaya Polyana ( Красная Поляна) – a world class Ski & Mountain Resort which consists of 3 main resorts: Rosa Khutor, Gasprom and Gorky Gorod. All three are very well developed and will satisfy skiers of any level. For instance, one week might not be enough for you to ski through all the slopes in Rosa Khutor as all together it has 77km of pistes. The resort hosted the Alpine and Nordic events of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, having previously hosted Alpine World Cup events from February 2012, two years earlier.

Today this place has grown into a “Ski City” with an amazing infrastructure, including many world class hotels, restaurants with traditional Russian, Western European and Caucasian Cuisine, modern indoor and outdoor waterparks, ice rinks where you can try both ice skating and ice hockey, children’s interactive clubs, bowling, cinema, conference halls, shopping centres and night clubs.

Summer holidays here are as great as winter ones though in July and August it might get a bit too hot, around +38C’ in Sochi itself, which is why some holiday makers go for day trips or book hotels in the mountains where the temperatures are lower. Lots of ski lifts are open in the summer too so you can fully enjoy picturesque views of summer mountains. If you love hot sun, stay in Sochi and spend the day swimming in the clear, warm, blue (not black at all) sea on one of Sochi’s Beaches, watching fishing boats and playful dolphins that come really close to the seashore. Also right on the promenade you can sign up for excursions such as visiting local water falls, Stalin’s summer residence, visiting Abkhazia and many others.

In the evening when it cools down you can visit the Olympic Park which was constructed for the 2014 Olympic Games.

Public transport here is very cheap and lots of buses take you to the Olympic Park. Taxis are not expensive either, so moving around in Sochi isn’t a problem at all. The Olympic Park is absolutely huge and striking with its architecture and design. In the evenings right in the centre of the Olympic Park you can enjoy the fantastic Singing Water Fountains Show, which  looks  like a scene from a beautiful fairy-tale.

Now you’re probably wondering: how can I get to this “fairy-tale” land? It’s not too difficult at all but you need to organise your visa in advance. You will have to go to London to apply for your visa. There are lots of agencies which will help you with all the paper work. You’ll need to fill in the visa form and provide your finger prints. The agency will send your application to the Russian Embassy on your behalf and it usually takes a week to get your passport and visa back by post. The cost of a tourist visa is around £170 and airfares start at £200 with Aeroflot. Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct flight from London to Sochi. The Aeroflot flights have stopovers in Moscow. All flights arrive at Adler airport in Sochi.

So, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to experience winter skiing and a summer beach holiday in one go, Sochi is the place to go!

From Russia with Love,

 Natalia Adkins

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July 19, 2017

Travelling Corner: Why CAMPING is cool!

I’ve tried hotels, hostels & BnBs and I must admit camping is definitely my favourite. I find camping the best option for accommodation when travelling in summer (or to warmer countries). While recently camping, I thought about why I prefer camping over other types of accommodation. Below are my thoughts on why I find camping so great:

Close to nature—yes, you can spend practically the whole day outside breathing fresh air, surrounded by trees (and sometimes mosquitoes);

Flexibility & freedom—you have your home (tent) on your back, you can stay wherever you like and very often no advance booking is needed (especially outside the UK): you simply arrive & stay;

Beautiful & calm surrounding—campsites are very often situated outside towns & cities, near the sea, a lake, a river or in the mountains: the perfect location;

Simple conditions—I have to say that camping is not a 5-star hotel: there is normally no Internet (or there might be Internet in designated areas only), there is often no hot water, toilets are shared, you have to get used to survival sleeping conditions (it’s not the softest or most comfortable bed), you have limited luggage (if you’re taking your tent, sleeping bags, mats and cooking accessories then there is not much space left for your clothes, shoes or cosmetics);

Simple life—you completely change your daily routine: you go to bed with the cicadas and wake up with the birds, you cook your meals in one pot, read books under a tree and follow your own desires;

Easy to socialise & experience a multicultural atmosphere—it’s easy to make friends and meet people from around the world (I often make friends with people I don’t share a common language with, through the power of gesture & smile! 🙂

It’s NOT expensive!!!

Do you go camping? Why do you find it so cool?

Written by Kinga Macalla

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