Walking alongside the banks of the Danube river in Bratislava, we approached the New Bridge with the UFO tower. This bridge has always fascinated me and no matter how many times I pass by, it draws me in. I find myself taking its pictures every time, and each time it’s from different vantage point.
This post is part of the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: A Face in the Crowd
A magical view of the castle of Bratislava enlighten on the hill. The lights of the city give a different look to the Danube river which is beautifully colored from the reflections of the lights.
This post is part of the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Bridge
The last time we visited Kakopetria – our favorite village as you know by now – we walked for the first time in the nature trail ‘Monopati tis Vateris’. It is located alongside the old town of Kakopetria and the river Klarios.
If you ever find yourself in this charming place, I highly recommend to walk the trail. It’s just a kilometer long with a breathtaking scenery. You can sit on the wooden benches that are placed in various locations, take in the wonderful surroundings and let your imagination run wild. Walking by the stream you can hear the sound of the running water, the tweeting of the birds and the loud song of the cicadas.
We really enjoyed our walk and the calming effect it had on us. Looking forward to going back soon.
As summer is approaching, it is the right time to start thinking about vacations and search for possible destinations. Few days ago, Jen from Gypsybus28, tagged me for the Travel Tag. Her timing was impeccable! I was very excited and immediately started thinking about this year’s vacations.
First of all, I would like to thank Jen for tagging me in the Travel Τag. I follow her blog for a while now and I find it very inspiring. She shares her love about cooking, travelling and beauty. You can check out her blog here.
And now let’s move on with the questions!
1. WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE YOU HAVE VISITED?
It is not easy to decide. There are a few places that are on my favourite list – each for a different reason. On the top of my list though, is Prague, Vienna, Greek Islands and Majorca.
2. IF YOU COULD VISIT ANYWHERE TOMORROW, WHERE WOULD YOU PICK?
Krakow (Poland). I wanted to visit Krakow since my studies, but somehow it never happened. Now we have friends living there, so a visit is long overdue!
3. WOULD YOU RATHER GO ON A CITY HOLIDAY OR A BEACH HOLIDAY?
It depends on which season I’m choosing to travel. For summer time I prefer going on a beach holiday. For autumn and spring I prefer a city holiday. I’m not counting winter period, because I can’t stand the cold weather. I would say yes if it would be a ‘hotel’ holiday only!
4. WHAT ARE 3 OF YOUR HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS?
Everything I take with me it considered to be essential!
5. ARE YOU AN OVER-PACKER OR AN UNDER-PACKER?
Definitely an over-packer! Every time I’m trying to convince myself to pack less but it’s impossible 🙂
6. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT GOING ON HOLIDAYS?
My favourite thing is that I get away from the daily routine. Besides that I enjoy seeing new places, meeting other cultures and certainly trying the local cuisine.
7. WHAT IS ONE PLACE YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO VISIT?
I can’t think of such a place, but I will surely avoid visit places that doesn’t make me feel safe.
8. WHO WOULD YOU RATHER GO ON A HOLIDAY WITH, FAMILY OR FRIENDS?
I don’t mind. I enjoy both, even though most of the times I go on vacation with family.
9. WHAT IS THE MOST ADVENTUROUS DISH YOU HAVE TRIED FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY?
Since I am not an adventurous person and I am a picky eater, I don’t try anything that looks odd or includes peculiar ingredients. I like to try the traditional food of the country I’m visiting, if fits my criteria that is – which most of the times it does.
10. WHO DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS TRAVEL TAG?
I really enjoyed doing this Travel Tag. It brought back wonderful memories from my trips 🙂
When our family friend from Slovakia came to Cyprus for my sister’s wedding, we gave her a tour around the villages of Pafos, along with the rest of our friends that came from abroad.
We had a full day of going through beautiful landscapes, tasting local wine and the flavorful cuisine and we were ready to head home. On our way back, my father spotted a great viewpoint on a high hill and we stopped to admire the view and take some photos.
We were all taking pictures, creating memories and talking, when I noticed that our friend stepped aside isolating herself from the others in search of solitude. She was standing, watching the view, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the lonely moment as if she was the only person there.
Watching her standing at the edge of the hill, I took the opportunity to take some photos of her without interrupting her musings. When she was done, she returned to the car with a delighted smile on her face.
This post is part of the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitude
One of the places that we love and visit often is Kakopetria, a picturesque village in the mountains of Cyprus. Every time we are there, I always find something interesting to shoot and this time the thing that got my attention was a telephone booth.
Public pay phones have been slowly disappearing due to technological evolution, mobile phones, internet, and free wifi available everywhere. This is making public pay phones obsolete. Seeing telephone booths here and there is nice; it is a reminder of simpler times!
Yes you read right! Everyone who visited or lives in Cyprus knows that we don’t have railways or we won’t have in the future. So the only thing left is the past!
And yes indeed, we did have railways in the past, a part of our history, that even most Cypriots don’t know, especially young people.
When we visited Kakopetria village, a place that we really like and visit often, we decided to explore the villages close to Kokopetria, in case they had something interesting to see. On our way to Evrychou village, a sign about Evrychou Railway Station, caught our attention.
So we followed the road signs and we arrived at the Cyprus Railways Museum.
What we learned in our visit:
The Cyprus Government Railway (C.G.R.), as it was officially known, ran from 1905 until 1951 when it closed down due to financial constraints.
The first section heading from Ammochostos to Lefkosia (Nicosia -the capital city of Cyprus) was 57km long, and officially opened for public transport on October 1905. By December 1907, a further 38km had been added, from Lefkosia to Morfou. And by June 1915 a third, 23km long extension from Morfou to Evrychou had been added. With this section the line of C.G.R. was completed.
The Cyprus Government Railway was used in a number of ways and served both the colonial authorities and the local population.
The railway was an important conveyor of mail to and from Ammochostos harbour and carried mail overseas. It was also used for the distribution of mail throughout the island.
During World War II and post war years, the Cyprus Railways played a significant role as a prime mover of troops, stores and ammunitions from Ammochostos harbour to the Royal Air Force airfield in Lefkosia.
With time, road transport developed at the expense of the railway. So the British Government announced the closure of the C.G.R. on December 1951.
An extension of the railway which was built to serve the Cyprus Mines Corporation operated until 1974.
It would be very nice if we still had railways in Cyprus!
Official link: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/DA/DA.nsf/All/E9A885735520686EC2257DE7002A8081?OpenDocument
A highlight from our trip to Kakopetria village in Cyprus.
Creative View 