Trinkets from Prague

Poor Shoes

After two months here in the Czech Republic, I can honestly say that I have been walking a lot. I have bittersweet feelings about walking this much. It's good because I get more exercise. On the other hand, I don't feel so good because winter is fast approaching. How the hell am I gonna stand the long walk from the bus stop to my building almost everyday? I'll be a freezing popsicle by the time I'll arrive at work!

Here are proofs that I have been walking a lot:

SHOE # 1: I got this pair of flats from the States. I swear, it is very comfortable. Sadly the front part is now widely facing the camera.

SHOE # 2: This gray pair of flats is special because my mom bought this for me. One of the rare times she buys me shoes. Sadly the sole is now widely cracked.

Two broken pairs of shoes in less than two months! Unbelievable. The cobblestones and uneven pedestrians might be the cause of this catastrophe! A part of me is mourning, but another part of me is gleaming because this only means one thing...I now have an excuse to buy more pairs of shoes! Haha!

Autumn

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, 

which through the summer is not heard or seen, 

as if it could not be, as if it had not been!

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Do-Re-Mi

It has been more than a week since I visited Salzburg, but I still can't get over "The Sound of Music". I miss watching Maria and the Von Trapp kids run across the fields and sing those lovely songs. Today, I downloaded the film just for the fun of it. Here are some photos of Salzburg from the movie back in 1965 and from my trip in 2010:

1. Makartsteg Pedestrian Bridge

Then:

Now:

2. Salzburger Dom

Then:

Now:

3. Small Parterre at Mirabell Gardens 

Then:

Now:

4. Mirabell Garden

Then:

Now:

5. Fountain at Mirabell Gardens

Then:

Now:

6. Athletic Figures at Mirabell Gardens

Then:

Now:

Empire State of Mind

This is so funny and brilliant! 

My friend just told me about the Czech version of the American song Empire State of Mind. This is originally a song by American rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z, featuring vocals from R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys.

Ostrava: Gateway to Moravia

Ostrava, located close to the Polish border, is the third largest city in the Czech Republic. Since it is an industrial town, it is not as touristic as Prague, which made me quite sad at the beginning. Today, I have officially changed my perception of the city. The entire day was surprisingly sunny, way better than the drab weather the past few weeks. It felt like spring/summer because it was really warm. So after work, I took out my new camera and decided to take photos around the city.

My first stop this afternoon was the New Town Hall known for its lookout tower, which is the highest in the city.

I discovered a park behind the town hall and beside a small river. Sigh, the last few autumn leaves...

Are you familiar with the American reality TV show called The Real Housewives of New York City? Well, I think Ostrava has its own version too. The Real Housewives of Ostrava. Haha! I saw a group of women, who seemed like housewives, chilling out in a pub located in the park. The ladies were enjoying their afternoon beer with their babies in tow!

After strolling in the park, I walked towards the city center, about 10 minutes away. Along the way I passed by the Church of St. Catherine, which is just behind the main square. 

This is Ostrava's main city center called Masaryk Square. It was only this afternoon that I learned to appreciate the beauty of the cafes, shops and museum situated in the pastel-colored buildings in the center.

A few steps from the center is the Imperial Hotel, one of the classy hotels in the city. A month ago, my friend Tom, brought me to Café La Brasserie, one of the two restaurants in the hotel. The food was quite expensive. Good thing I did not have to pay for it.

Near the hotel are some office buildings. One of my favorite is this building for Volksbank.

New Yorker Oxfords

How many times have I told myself to stop shopping? I'm hopeless. Today, I bought a new pair of Oxfords from New Yorker. I have been eyeing this pair for months but they were quite expensive then. When I went to the shop again today, it was already 70% off, so I bought it immediately. I got inspired by Katie Holmes' carefree look wearing her Oxfords while running errands around New York. I hope I could pull off this look. 

Trinkets from Salzburg

Salzburg: Memories of the Sound of Music

During the early 90s, the DVD was not yet widely used in the Philippines. Back then, it was still the Betamax that was "IN". My favorite Betamax movie back then was Julie Andrews', "The Sound of Music". I think I have watched the film more than 10 times. So when I arrived in Europe some months ago, I swore to myself that I will visit the place where "The Sound of Music" was born...Salzburg, Austria!

Last weekend, I did not only go to Vienna, but I likewise had the chance to see Salzburg. Since Margaret had to join their group tour during the day, I decided to take the train to Salzburg, about 3 hours away from Vienna. I left Vienna as early as 6:00am. Lucky me, there were very few people on the train so I had an entire compartment all by myself.  The train ride was utterly expensive! 47.50 euro for a one way ticket! 

From the station, I went to the Tourist Information Center to get a map of the city. I didn't take any public transportation because I wanted to just walk and absorb the beauty of the surroundings.  

My first destination was Mirabell Palace and Gardens. I loved the meticulously landscaped gardens and statues of Roman gods.

Another highlight during my visit was seeing a newly married couple with their entourage.

Next, I went to Mozart's Residence just a stone's throw away from the Mirabell Gardens. 

In order to get to the other side of town, I had to cross the Makartsteg Pedestrian Bridge over the Salzach River. Ohhhh bike lanes, I wish we have these in the Philippines!

After crossing the bridge, I walked further towards the Old Town and saw Mozart's Birthplace. Of course I didn't miss Salzburg′s busiest alley, the Getreidegasse, which is said to be the most fashionable shopping mile in the city and also the most expensive. I loved the scenic medieval alley which was bustling with people at the time of my visit. Apart from the luxurious shops, there were also lots of shops selling Mozart Chocolates wrapped in gold foil with his face on it. So cute!

I passed by rows of cafes and souveneir shops at Alter Markt. I also took a seat at Mozart Square in the middle of the afternoon.

This is the Residentzplatz Square. There were very few people in the area, making it look even more vast than it already is. Horse-drawn carriages, chic cafes, souveneir shops and a life-sized chess board added life to the square. 

I could not miss this mighty fortress dominating the skyline, the Salzburg Castle or Festung Hohensalzburg. Too bad it was closed that day.

Just nearby is the Domplatz or the Cathedral Square. The main attraction in the area is of course the Baroque church Salzburger Dom Cathedral, which is the first Cathedral in Salzburg.

I was never a fan of cemeteries, but I did not miss visiting St. Peter's Cemetery in Salzburg. This area reminded me once again of "The Sound of Music". This was where the Von Trapp Family hid from the Nazis. There was no eerie feeling at all.

Before I bade goodbye to Salzburg, I took one last look at the stunning city and swore to myself that I will come back someday.

Sneak Peek: Salzburg

Mirabell Garden.

Vienna: A Special Weekend

Last November 5, I went back to Vienna to meet up with my best friend, Margaret, who is in Europe for a two-week Eastern European tour. She and her dad were billeted at Hotel Ananas, located near Pilgramgasse Station. After a quick shower at my hostel, I went to pick her up around 8:00pm. Our first stop was Stephansplatz. We marveled at the Stephansdom or St. Stephen's Cathedral. Christmas was obviously in the air because lots of lights and decors were already up, which made the entire place look even more beautiful that particular autumn night.

From there, we walked towards the famous Spanish Riding School. Margaret and I loved the dramatic circular ground plan as well as the numerous statues on the pillars of the buildings.

After entering the gate between the two huge statues in the picture above, we were led to the former imperial palace of Vienna, the Hofburg Palace. Despite the darkness of the surroundings, it was still a sight to behold!

Just across the gate of the palace were two huge museums--the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. And a little further, was the Museums Quartier, known as one of the largest cultural complex in the world.

Behind this vast art complex was Mariahilferstrasse, the longest shopping street in Vienna. Since it was already 9:00pm, we started hunting for a restaurant where we could eat. That night, we settled for Italian! We ate at this unique self-service restaurant called Vapiano. This is also where I ate the last time I was in Vienna. It reminded me so much of Marche, a restaurant in Singapore with the same concept.

After our sumptuous late dinner, we decided to do more walking around the Kartner Ring or Kartnerstrasse. We took photos at the majestic Parliament Building (below), the Burgtheater and the Rathaus. We decided to call it a night around 12 midnight because her dad was already waiting for us. I dropped her off at her hotel in Pilgramgasse district and I went back to my hostel near Mariahilferstrasse.

The following night, we once again met up for some sightseeing. But this time, less pictures were taken and more catching up was done. It was a night of pure chikka! As I relish my fun weekend with Gret in Vienna, I realized that true friends can grow separately through the years like what happened to us, but it does not necessarily mean we have grown apart! The strong bond is still there--unbreakable!