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“Pic of the Week”, July 30, 3032: Strömparterren—Stockholm’s oldest Public Park
Located on a small island called Helgeandsholmen is Stockholm’s oldest park, Strömparterren (1832), which has been recently renovated. You descend to the park from stairs on the Norrbro bridge. It’s not a large park but is pretty and offers beautiful views of the city, so it’s worth the effort to reach. Strömparterren is surrounded on three sides by the Royal Palace, the Parliament Building and the Royal Opera House.
It’s a great place to sit and relax, people-watch, and enjoy the scenery. The park is a popular place from which to fish and it’s possible to catch salmon, trout and pike.
The park is best known for its statue The Sun Singer (Solsångaren) crafted by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles. This statue sits on …
Jul 29, 2021
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.All Trips / Denmark / Europe
Exploring Christiania, Copenhagen
I was told by a friend that I absolutely “had” to visit Christiania — also known as Freetown Christiania — while in Copenhagen. It’s an unusual and somewhat interesting place, but I’d definitely not put it on a ‘must see’ list for the city.
The existence of this community has been quite controversial. Christiania was began in 1971 when a group of people moved into an abandoned military barracks (covering 7.7 hectacres — 19 acres). The place grew into a squatter’s village and somewhat of a community. It especially became known as a place you could buy pot and hash on “Pusher Street” (which was illegal in the rest of Denmark). Hard drugs are said not to be tolerated, though I …
Tagged Christiania, Copenhagen, drugs, pot
.All Trips / Europe / Food / Poland
Jama Michalika cafe, Krakow
It was a cool damp fall day when my brother and I explored the King’s Road area of Krakow. We’d wandered around for a few hours and were looking for a cozy place serving something warm and good to eat.
We came across the Jama Michalika cafe, established in 1895. It was warm and pleasant, if a little dim inside, but the decor was unusual and interesting and the café definitely had historic appeal. The café had been a gathering place in the early 20th centuries for artists, actors and “modern thinkers”.
The food was terrific! My brother enjoyed a bowl of borscht and I had some tasty dumplings (perogie). After lunch we headed to Krakow’s fabulous Market Square.
(Click on thumbnails to …
Tagged Cafe, Jama Michalika, Krakow
.All Trips / Europe / Slovenia
Bled Island and Lake Bled, Slovenia
One of the most iconic and photographed islands in Europe is lovely Bled Island, located in Lake Bled.
Bled is a small town that has been a popular tourist destination for some time because it lies on the shore of Lake Bled, home of the only island in Slovenia. The lake is only of moderate size — 2,120 m (6,960 ft) long, 1,380 m (4,530 ft) wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m (97 ft) — but it is quite lovely. Bled Island and Lake are well known and photographs are commonly featured in magazines and on travel websites.
Bled Island is usually reached by paying for a seat on a boat known as a pletna — a type of gondola. These canopy-covered boats seat about 20 …
“Pic of the Week”, June 11, 2021: Sergels Torg — Obelisk and Fountain
Sergels Torg is Stockholm’s busiest public square. It was modernized and expanded in the 1950s to deal with the city’s growing population.
One of the city’s best-known fountains is located in Sergels Torg. It was completed in 1968, and since 2000 has been designated as a national cultural landmark. A contest was held for the design of the fountain’s central monument, which was won by sculptor Edvin Öhrström. ln 1974 the fountain’s main feature was installed, the Crystal Vertical Accent, or glass obelisk.
The glass obelisk is 37.5 m (123 feet) tall. When it’s dark the oblesik is illuminated from within, making it all the more impressive.
Sergel’s Torg is a popular place for public gatherings. It’s home of the Cultural museum and a major metro …
Jun 10, 2021
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.All Trips / Europe / Italy
There are two parts to the church. When you …
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, Milan
While the exterior of the church is bland and uninteresting, it’s when you step inside that you can see why San Maurizio is sometimes known as the “Sistine Chapel” of Milan. It’s filled with many beautiful, colorful, and well-preserved 16th century frescoes mostly depicting Biblical scenes and stories.
Churches have long stood at this site, and construction of the current San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore began in 1503. It was built incorporating several ancient walls that date back to Roman times, and was constructed as a Benedictine convent for nuns. Today a large part of the complex houses the Archaeological Museum of Milan (a completely separate attraction and not discussed in this blog).
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, Milan
There are two parts to the church. When you …
Tagged church, Hall of the Nuns, Milan, Monastero Maggiore, Renaissance, San Maurizio
“Pic of the Week”, May 28, 2021: Great Green Wall, Madrid
It’s not every day you see a garden growing VERTICALLY! My wife and I stopped and did a double-take when strolling by this lovely wall, across the street from the famous Prado Museum in Madrid.
A little research revealed that the wall was designed by Patrick Blanc, who specializes in creating vertical gardens. This wall, which is four stories tall, has more than 15,000 plants representing 250 different species. The plants are watered by a drip irrigation system.
The wall was once part of a power plant dating to 1899, but today the building within it has been converted to an arts and cultural center.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
May 27, 2021
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“Pic of the Week”, May 21, 2021: Predjama Castle, Slovenia
There are lots of castles in Europe, but Predjama Castle in Slovenia is different than most. It’s the largest cave castle in the world and is very close to the popular Postojna Cave complex, so you can comfortably visit both sites in one day, as we did.
Predjama Castle was originally built around the 13th century. The castle we see today was constructed in the 16th century by its then owner, an Austrian knight know as Hans Kobenzl. Today the castle is a museum which highlights life in the 16th century. There is a fee for entry to the museum, and to the caves behind it.
What most strikes you when you first see the castle is its picturesque setting against a …
May 20, 2021
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