A Favorite Photo from Sligo, Ireland
I saw this beautiful cat sitting next to a globe in a cottage window in Sligo, Ireland and imagined that he was dreaming of traveling the world. This photo was taken near the grave of one of Ireland’s most revered poets, William Butler Yeats, near Ben Bulben, a striking rock formation that dominates the landscape around County Sligo.
Where in the World…Test Your Travel Savvy
All right you world travelers…let’s see how much you know about the major cities in Continental Europe. To take the quiz, try to identify the city where each of the following seven photos were taken. Enter your answers as a comment or in an email to John@BlueOrbTravel.com. All contestants with five or more correct answers will be noted on Blue Orb Travel with a link to their website.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Where in the World…Take the Quiz Read More »
A Student Group Fills My Carriage
One of the many reasons trains are just about my favorite way to travel is the interesting traveling companions you meet onboard during the journey. Several years ago I was boarding an overnight train from Budapest, Hungary to Brasov, Romania where I was looking forward to visiting Dracula’s castle at the nearby town of Bran the next day. As the sole occupant of my carriage, I settled into my seat for what I thought would be a restful night. Looking out the window I could see a large group of animated middle school students with several teachers standing on the platform several cars away from mine. I had already had a busy day exploring Budapest and it didn’t take long for my eyelids to start feeling heavy. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the door at the far end of the carriage opened and about forty students burst into the aisle and filled the seats all around me.
Boys on a Train
I could see that the boys were looking at me, wondering who this lone traveler was, where he was from and what language he spoke. Before long one of the teachers came along and whispered something in Hungarian to the boy sitting on the aisle. He then promptly held out his bag and offered me some of his candy. When I said ‘thank you’, all three perked up and began speaking to me in very basic English. From then on they never stopped talking, each one trying to outdo the other with a question for me, such as ‘Do you like this sports figure?’ or ‘Do you like that movie star?’
A Wonderful Experience
This went on until 2 AM when we finally arrived at a sleepy little town in the middle of Hungary where anxious parents were waiting on the platform to welcome their children home from their field trip. The three young fellows along with the entire car full of students bid me farewell as they piled out of the train. I settled back into my seat, suddenly wishing it wasn’t so quiet. I now look back on this as one of those wonderful experiences where you get a glimpse into the lives of people from another country and a different culture and realize just how much we all have in common. I’m so grateful for the warm welcome these middle school students gave to a visitor from another country.
Train Traveling Companions Read More »
Konigssee: Germany’s Hidden Gem
One of my favorite places in Central Europe is the Konigssee. Billed as Germany’s deepest and cleanest lake, Konigsee is an alpine lake tucked away in the southeastern corner of Bavaria where it pokes into Austria. The name, Konigssee, appropriately means King’s Lake and this little slice of Bavaria is certainly fit for a king. Because of the steep, sheer mountain walls surrounding this long, narrow lake, it is not possible to hike around it. But you can take a boat ride on the lake, which stops at the picturesque, much-photographed Baroque church known as St. Bartholoma.
Close to Salzburg and Berchtesgaden
Konigssee is just a stone’s throw away from two additional must-see destinations in Central Europe. Just a few miles away is the infamous, but beautiful World War Two mountaintop hangout of Adolph Hitler and Eva Braun known as Berchtesgaden. After a harrowing bus ride up the steep, winding road clinging to the mountainside you can tour the historic Eagle’s Nest. From there you’ll enjoy a spectacular 360 degree view of the Bavarian Alps and can actually see both the Konigsse and the fabulous city of Salzburg, Austria off in the distance.
A Central Europe Itinerary
Excellent train and bus service to this region make it easy to travel independently to many of the interesting tourist destinations in Central Europe. You should plan on ten days to two weeks to explore this area and I recommend using Frankfurt, Germany as the perfect gateway city for your round trip flight. From there you can make a circuit that includes some of the highlights of three countries, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Depending on how much time you have, stops along the way might include Rothenburg, Nurnberg, Munich, Konigssee, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg and Prague. This is just one suggested itinerary for your next visit to the heart of Europe. Be sure to check out our recent articles on each of these destinations by using the search box above.
Konigssee…Germany’s Hidden Gem Read More »
Finland’s Red and Yellow Color Theme
Astute visitors to Finland can’t help but notice the recurring theme of red and yellow colors throughout this beautiful country. Rather more of a ‘katchup and mustard’ combination, these striking hues are featured on everything from houses and buildings to trains and boats and even to flower beds and the clothing fashions worn by the Finns themselves.
The origin of this tradition is difficult to trace, but could be related to the colors of the unofficial flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns or the temporary state flag used from 1917-1918. The red and yellow color scheme is so pervasive that it even extends to an area near Las Vegas, Nevada called Little Finland, which is known for its red and yellow rock formations.
Enjoy this gallery featuring shades of red and yellow captured with my camera around Helsinki, Porvoo and Suomenlinna Sveaborg.
Red and Yellow Colors of Finland Read More »
Whether you plan on heading north to explore Scandinavia, south to visit the Baltic States or southeast to visit Russia, Helsinki is a great starting point for your trip. The Helsinki Airport makes it a major transportation hub for the region and with convenient bus service from the airport to the Helsinki city center just 9 miles away (30 minutes, 4.5 Euros), visitors should definitely set aside a few days to explore this beautiful city. From the modern bus terminal at the Kamppi Center in the city, you can choose from an array of side trips outside Helsinki, such as the day trip I took to the medieval town of Porvoo 30 miles east. If you’re heading on to St. Petersburg, Russia I recommend the comfortable, albeit expensive Allegro Train for the three and a half hour ride. Customs and other border formalities, such as passport and visa checks are conveniently carried out on board the Allegro Train by friendly, efficient customs officers. Helsinki is also a major stop for cruise ships plying the waters of the Baltic Sea, many of which can be seen moored in the harbor.
Much more than just a gateway city, Helsinki, Finland is a popular destination in itself. Despite being the capital and largest city in Finland, Helsinki is very walkable for reasonably fit travelers, especially if you divide your forays into different regions, explored over several days. Some of the main sights include the Finnish National Opera, the Sibelius Monument, the Parliament House, and the Olympic Stadium, site of the 1952 Summer Olympics. You will not want to miss the unique and spectacular Temppeliaukio Church or Church of the Rock in the same region. The city has many other churches worth visiting, including St. John’s Church, Mikael Agricola Church, Helsinki Cathedral and Uspenski Cathedral. During your walking tour of Helsinki be sure to stop and enjoy the many architecturally interesting homes and buildings along the way. One of my favorites is the glass Palm House arboretum built in 1889 in the University of Helsinki Botanical Gardens. Finally, be sure to set aside several hours to take the ferry (5 Euros round trip) to Suomenlinna Sveaborg, a park-like fortress covering six islands off the coast, which is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Rivoli Jardin Hotel, A Great Place to Stay
Located just a short walk from the Central Railway Station where the airport bus lets you off, the Rivoli Jardin Hotel was the ideal place to stay for my three day sojourn in Helsinki. The full buffet breakfast was one of the finest spreads I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying in my travels. Since Helsinki is known as one of the most expensive cities in the world, I was not surprised that my hotel costs came in over my usual budget. My average nightly charge was $137.00. For that I got a clean, comfortable, safe room, a great location and a friendly, helpful front desk staff. The Rivoli Jardin is located just a few blocks from the Helsinki Esplanade and the center of town and has a convenient market almost right across the street. The Rivoli Jardin Hotel met all my criteria for an Awesome Accommodation and I can highly recommend it for your next visit to Helsiki, Finland.
