A city called : Prague

Winter Twilight in Prague

" Prague’s oldest bridge was built to replace the Judith Bridge that had been badly damaged by floods in 1342. The Stone, or Prague, Bridge, called Charles Bridge since 1870, was begun in 1357 by Charles IV and was completed in 1402. The bridge is built of sandstone blocks, flanked at each end by fortified towers (Lesser Town Bridge Towers, Old Town Bridge Tower). From 1683 to 1928, 30 statues of saints were carved to decorate the bridge, the most famous of which is the statue of St John of Nepomuk. credit: Prague City Tourism

[ Karlův most ]
Charles Bridge
Praha 1 - Staré Město / Malá Strana

The weekend in Black and White

" HOTEL REVIEW : DOMUS BALTHASAR Design Hotel in PRAGUE "

Our stay in Prague was one of the most memorable to date.
We chose an accommodation that is location wise and near to every must-see sights that we needed to see.

Hotel Domus Balthasar is right at the heart of Charles Bridge *Karluv Most*.
Having been to this city almost a decade ago,
walking the bridge, overlooking the the Vltava River was riveting and something I'd never forget.
It's like the Pont des Arts of Paris.
Actually, the only good thing I remember about this city then.
So, choosing our stay wasn't as difficult as I wish it would be.
We booked our reservations, 2 months in advance.
Before the details though, Let me walk you through what happened the day we arrived in Prague.

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That early morning from Nürnberg,
we took the IC shuttle Bus all the way to Prague's main railway station, called Hvlani Nadrazi.
The ticket costs 19 euros.
** If you booked earlier, you can get it cheaper. **



this is the { Bus Stop } Nürnberg train station, the assigned bus comes on time and is best if you arrive 30 minutes earlier.

We were concerned with our luggage and commuting the Metro was a bit of a hassle.
So we hired a local taxi service instead, * provided by the hotel * for a fee of 15 euros.
The driver was helpful and courteous, best of all, he did arrive on time.
He held out a card with our name on it, and i think it was quite obvious that it was us, as we were the only Asians on that bus. ^-^


Here's our very helpful driver who lugged two of our heavy luggage all the way up to our room.


the cobbled street right outside the hotel


The hotel is at the corner, the one with the Salmon-Peach trimmings, there's a money exchange station beside it and Antique souvenir store.

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The main door has an automated key card but also comes with a set of keys, provided by the hotel.
The reception is not 24 hours, it is only until 12 midnight, but they leave you these emergency numbers just in case...



We were greeted by a cheery and hospitable receptionist,
who instantly welcomed us with a smile and a chirpy, upbeat voice.
She gave us a handful of details * maps, restos nearby, holiday what nots* and a quick history of the building,
a tour of the place up to the attic room.


Prepare... to climb...
less than a hundred steps before you reach the top floor.





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The stairs are clearly not for the faint-hearted , especially those suffering from vertigo.
But once we were inside the room, it was all worth it.


The attic room was Immaculate.
In a word, it was just "picture-perfect."
We couldn't ask for anything more. ^-^


I love the attention to detail...
two mini chocos for us. ~how sweet! ~ ^0^





There are *I think* 10 rooms for you to choose.
I initially wanted the mid-range room, large windows, bigger space and directly overlooking the Karluv Most *Charles Bridge* view.
But sister Pepperoni thought we should try the attic room instead, just for the fun of it.
I was adamant at first, but since the the price was less expensive compared to the other rooms, I caved in.



It was actually quite spacious inside, we chose our side of niche and immediately fell on the bed. ^-^






I like the handy A/C but I'm not a fan of heating ventilation.
Coming from a hot and humid country, I always felt suffocated when the heater is turned on.

While most of the hotels and B&B's don't offer air conditioning during winter, this one does and it was just what we need.

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Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same thing about the bathroom.
The photo speaks for itself.
For 4 days, we endured this bathroom fixture, It was badly placed.





but with a nicely decorated tree, you forgot you had that bathtub dilemma.


On Christmas eve, we received a pack of cookies with a matching note. It was such a nice gesture.


A few remarks -*

1 - The room has a good ambiance, but during summer, because of the heat and humidity,
I think it might be a bit claustrophobic, thankfully though, they have a portable air conditioning.

2- The height of the room might be a problem for some.
The bathroom where the bathtub is located was the most disappointing of all.
But one can't complain because this is an old house that has been recently refurbished for modern use.

3- The attic rooms are not for everyone, esp. when you're afraid of heights,
the flight of stairs are going to murder your otherwise tired feet from all the walking and sightseeing,
and the last thing you need to do is to climb a hundred to get into your room.

4- Prepare your things in order before you leave the room.

e.g I have a bad habit of not checking my things before I leave. *I know, I know* , I tend to be forgetful sometimes.
So, Just as we were about to leave the front door, I forgot to bring the camera with me, the next thing I know, it was the coat.
Yup, I climbed all the way back up, panting and regretting badly why I chose a room in the attic.

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* BALCONY *

With a view overlooking the shingled roofs, the small domes and spires, the bridge and the tower.
It was beautiful and it's not an ordinary view I wake up to.


me, peering through the window.




somebody else's roof


sunrise


partial view from the bathroom




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* FOOD *

Breakfast was included, so, every morning, we would go to the reception desk and gave us these laminated voucher cards.



The breakfast area is just next door to the Hotel called Bagels.



Breakfast treats were abundant, Hot and Cold were available.
Aside from this, you have a daily choice between : Pancakes and Jam OR Eggs and Bacon.



Of course, I chose the latter, I have a soft spot for Bacons. ^-^



Yes, a hearty meal goes a long way.



And a cup of Cappuccino makes all the stress go away. ^-^



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Overall, our 4 days-3 nights was a remarkable stay.
The service, safety, location and valur for money was great.
I would love to stay again in a heartbeat.


FOR MORE INFO:

DOMUS BALTHASAR Official site

Mostecká 282/5, 118 00 Praha 1 -
Malá Strana, Czech Republic.

Car service: From Hvlani Nadrazi train station - To Hotel = 15 EUROS.
Car service: From Hotel- To the airport = 20 EUROS.


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" Winter break : Travel Highlights: Germany ; Czech Republic and Italy "

I can't believe January ended without a single post.
I'm literally months be-hind!
I mean, where was I during that period ?
Apparently, this is how I look these days... tired, weary and anxious.
2015 is just starting but I think I've matured 10 years already.


courtesy of : telegraph.co.uk

WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING LATELY:

1- I'm still sorting out photos from our last trip. Can't seem to get it done with.
I miss tinkering my camera.
I miss travelling more than ever.

2- Still in Vacay-mode. * ^0^ * yes, i know, i know, it's been 2 months already...
Apparently, 2 weeks isn't enough for a real-reel break. * sorry, I'm babbling... *
Most of the time, I lack 8 hours of sleep and felt sleepier than ever.
Like presently here but mentally somewhere ...

3- and on a personal note:

My Dad's leg is not in its best shape.
It has been for years actually, but just weeks ago,
His left leg has gotten worse and weaker.
Before, he could climb the stairs with his cane,
But lately, his legs felt so frail he could no longer do it...
These are just some of the many things that I think about and could not help but worry.
How I wish Life were simpler than ABC.

Anyways,
Here are the highlights on what we did last Winter.

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NUREMBERG
This historical city called Nürnberg was our first port of entry.
I have come to love the Bavarian side of Germany, thanks to our Munich visit last year,
so, it was only natural that it was next on our list.

I like meandering the alleyways and just gape at its architectures.
When in Germany, I feel safe.
Things are mostly in order and with discipline.
German people though are not the friendliest in town,
but they are nice and could understand English better.

I've always like to visit cities that feels so different from the place I'm in.
Quick comparison: Philippines = always Hot and Humid vs Germany = well, you have 4 seasons, so that's a plus!
~*When you live in Manila, You'll know what I mean... ^-^


fachwerkhaus : details from Kaiserburg Castle

Despite the cold breeze , the weather was neither clear nor sunny.
It rained intermittently, damped with fog and was mostly cloudy all throughout.
The good thing though,
We stayed right at the heart of Hauptmarkt, the old town, where the famous Christkindlmarkt and the Pegnitz river is located.





St. Lorenz Kirche

Everything in Nürnberg is just picturesque and lovely.


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BAMBERG

We took a day trip to Bamberg the following day.
Finally, the sun was up and shining...
well, at least for a few hours...

Bamberg for me?!
the first two adjective words I could think of: Beautiful and Charming...

The city doesn't have a Metro, either you take the Bus or a local Taxi.
We did neither, instead we walked 15-20 minutes thereabout till we reached the main plaza = called MaxPlatz.
Bamberg is definitely smaller than Nürnberg, but still, quite as interesting.
It's a quaint little town, laid back and things are cheaper as well.


Postcards for sale in some random souvenir shop outside the train station


one of the many works of Igor Mitoraj called : Centurione-I


read as: VHS IM ALTEN E-WERK DER STADT BAMBERG = Community College here in Bamberg

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PRAGUE

The day after,
we took the IC BUS From Nuremberg To Prague.

♫♫ "{Ah! the magical and dreamy Prague,
Let me count the ways }... "♫♫♫

I fell in love with this city some 10 years ago,
too bad, it was all but vague,
the only substantial thing I could think of were the Vltava River and the Charles Bridge.
So the first thing I did was to check out accommodations that were near the area.
To sum up this city in a word or a sentence... it's just not enough.

Winter is magical in this city, but be prepare to be bombarded by fellow tourists.
they're puh-len-ty! ^0^
Souvenir and Money Exchange shops are battling ear to ear, so that part, you don't have to worry though.


the narrow and crooked, cul-de-sac alleyways.


Sunset with a breathtaking view, overlooking the Vltava River


We couldn't ask for anything more when we saw this view!!
attic room from our Hotel.
Well, it's kind of tilting towards the right, because of the rooftop shingles.
I chose one that's literally a stone's throw away from the Charles Bridge and near Kampa Island.

A room with a view



random sketches and paintings for sale.


Inside the courtyards of Prague Castle


A random bookshop in Prague that caught my eye. what a reflection!

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MILAN

After wandering around Prague for 5 days, (without any day trip included, that's how we love this city.)
we headed to Milan on board the Easyjet.

Now Milan is totally different from the earlier cities we've been.
The moment we step out of the train platform, the whole atmosphere changed.
It was nothing but busy, busy, busy.
Everyone was either dressed in sombre black or dark blue bubble jacket outfits, still touristy and very disorganized.
Most of the trains esp. the ones passing to and from the main Centrale station was very dirty,
a bit smelly and lots of cigarette butts.
The sad thing was, no one seemed to care.
We've only been a few days, but the vagrants we saw were like our travelling buddies. ^0^

Despite all the negatives I've said though,
I loved this city. Period.
It's vibrant and noisy, chaotic and polluted in a way, which reminds me of errr... Manila.
If i'm not listening to a couple of Italian talking, it's either in Chinese or in Indian dialect,
or my very native language - in Filipino. ^0^
The weird thing is, sometimes, it doesn't feel like I'm a thousand miles away, because everything sounds familiar. ^0^
Get into any Fast food outlet and you'll sure to bump into one.



no need for an introduction : The majestic Duomo


outside Porta Garibaldi station : Bike sharing



very ornate stained glass details outside The Duomo - Milan



Porta Romana station was our frequent Metro stop, it's literally 5 minutes away from our hotel.


We visited the Sforzesco Castle or Sforza for short.
We had a nice and sunny walk away from the crowds.

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TURIN

The last bit we did was a day trip to from Milan to Turin via Frecciarossa.
I know, I know, why not choose Venice or Lake Como instead.
Well, I wanted to see Venice for more than a day and maybe I've been keeping the best for last. ^0^
I've been meaning to tick this city off my list but still can't. Oh well...
and Lake Como in December is a hit and miss, some of the shops are closed, not to mention the cold weather.

Turin is an old city but not dated, it is in the Piedmont region.
On a clear day, you can almost see the dreamy Alps.
If you're a film buff, you have to see the Mole Antonelliana.
If you're religious, you might want to see the Shroud of Turin.
If you like Art, then it's Palazzo Madama.
But because it was a Monday,
where, for the love of me, I forgot to check when we booked our train tickets, almost all of the vital must-see's are closed.
So, yes, we missed all that !
well, we just decided to walked around the area.
It was a nice, relaxing walk and wished I could spend more than a day or two.


the colonnaded arches


The Porta Palazzo Market - my favorite shopping haven.!



random street shot

* so there you have it, just a quick re-cap of what we did last year.
I promise to blog more in the days to come. *

Linking it to: TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY