Month: August 2012

Categories
Croatia travel guide

10 Days in Croatia: Itinerary Ideas

Visiting Croatia in only 10 days can be a bit of a challenge. The country has a lot of interesting places to visit and cramming a lot in such an itinerary means you’ll leave out certain places. In this case, Plitvice Lakes (although you can spend only a day in Split and drive to the Lakes on the second day), Pula and Hvar (but again, you can plan a day trip from Split as the ferry only takes 2 h). Plus, you can “customize” this itinerary idea to suit your own needs; for example, spend only 1 day in Zagreb and 3 days in Split, allowing you add a day trip to your itinerary.

This itinerary is meant to hit some of the most popular places in Croatia: Rijeka, Krk Island, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. If you want to spend some time on the beaches, plan to visit the country during the summer. For a more budget friendly option, October is a good choice and the weather is still good and warm.

Itinerary assumptions:

  • The itinerary starts in Zagreb and ends in Dubrovnik. From Dubrovnik, you can take a ferry to Bari, Italy and explore more of Southern Europe’s beauty.
  • You will be using the public transportation to get between the cities. If you’d love to take a scenic drive, then do that on the Split to Dubrovnik part of the itinerary.
  • You will be staying in hostel or hotels with easy access to the main sights in the cities.

Day 1, 2 : Zagreb

Most often the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, is just a stop on the way to other popular destinations. Indeed, you can get here by plane or train easily from most of Europe, but you shouldn’t overlook the city, either.

The Upper Town is the medieval part of the city. The Old Town Gate is now a shrine to Virgin Mary. And you can take a day trip to Medvedgrad, which is a fortress located on Medvednica, a mountain overlooking the capital. The hiking and biking routes are excellent.

Day 3 Rijeka

Rijeka is Croatia’s main seaport and the country’s third largest city. While it’s served by an airport, it’s a better idea to travel to the city by train or bus. Most of the city is easy accessible on foot and to see its main sights, just follow the tourist path.

Don’t miss the Trsat Castle, overlooking the city, and City Tower, a symbol of Rijeka.

Day 4, 5 Krk Island

Especially if you plan to visit Croatia’s second largest island during summer, you’ll be facing large crowds of tourists. Krk Town is the capital and the busiest city , with a lot of places to see.

Many travelers come here for the beaches and swimming, so head to Baska and you’ll find a modern resort town. Needless to say, it’s packed in the summer.

>>read about the Top 7 Best Beaches in Croatia

Day 6 Zadar

Located in northern Dalmatia, the city is home to a lovely Old Town. Zadar is easily tackled on foot, so don’t forget your good walking shoes at home. Did you know that there are 34 churches on the peninsula where the Old Town is located?

Take your time to enjoy the excellent Croatian cuisine . And do some people watching as you are at it.

Day 7,8 Split

The city is located in Central Dalmatia and still offers plenty of well preserved Roman ruins to visit. Split was originally built around the Diocletian Palace, where the locals sought refuge centuries ago.

You can easily get to Split by bus from Zadar. Make sure to visit the Diocletian Palace , with the historical center built around it. St. Duje’s cathedral is the oldest cathedral in the old and was built as a mausoleum of Roman Emperor Diocletian. Rent a bike and enjoy Riva, the main city promenade.

If you visit Split during summer , you can head to Bačvice beach.

>>read about Getting from Zadar to Split

Day 9, 10 Dubrovnik

It is an old city on the Adriatic Sea Coast and probably the most well know travel destination in Croatia. Nicknamed the Pearl of the Adriatic, during the Middle Ages it has a trade industry so powerful that it rivaled Venice.

Make sure to get to Dubrovnik from Split by car, as the scenery along the coast is amazing, making it one of the most beautiful scenic drives in Europe. If you don’t fancy renting a car, then take the bus.

Visiting the Old Town of Dubrovnik is a must. Make sure to buy a map before attempting to do any walking. The maze of narrow streets can take some time to figure out. The Bell Tower, Sponza Palace, Pile Gate and the Old Port are only some of the places worth your time. And it’s impossible not to spend some time on the Stradum .

Don’t forget to visit the city walls, too, but make sure to plan this walk for early morning as the Mediterranean Sun can be really hot by mid-day. There are some interesting forts to check out within the city walls.

And while here, why not spend a bit of time on Lapad Beach, which is a sandy beach area with lovely views of the Old Town.

Read about :
>>Getting from Split to Dubrovnik
>>Things to do in Dubrovnik

Here is the itinerary map (if you rent a car for your stay and drive from city to city):

View Larger Map

Photo credits: Zagreb , Rijeka , Krk Island , Zadar , Split , Dubrovnik

Categories
Panama travel guide

What to Eat in Panama: Famous Panamanian Foods

Panamanian food varies from simple to exotic due to the many influences it had over the years. You’ll most likely know some of the dishes thanks to being similar to the cuisine eaten in other Central American countries. Vegetarians will have some problems finding options but if you like fish, you’ll be in heaven.

Traditional breakfast

Tortilla, chorizo and empanadas, along with other goodies, are part of the traditional Panamanian breakfast.

Empanadas

These are corn or flour pastries filled with meat, cheese or potatoes. Vegetarian options are also available.

Tamales

These are pockets of dough filled meat, wrapped in banana leaves and then boiled.

Gallo Pinto

This is a dish of rice and beans, usually served with pork meat.

Ceviche

It’s raw fish, conch and shrimp, chopped and mixed with tomatoes, cilantro, onions , then marinated in lime juice. The dish is served with tortilla chips.

Plantains

They come in three forms in Panama. Patacones are salty fried green plantains; maduros are mature fried plantains; tajadas are baked plantains sprinkled with cinnamon.

Tortillas

These are thick, fried corn cakes, usually served for breakfast.

Sancocho

It’s basically a soup made from meat – usually chicken- , vegetables and yucca (instead of noodles).

Carimanola

This is a fried yuca roll , stuffed with boiled eggs and meat.

Yuca frita

It’s fried yuca root, pretty much the tropical French fries.

Chicharrones

This is fried pork fat.

Arroz con pollo

It’s a common, simple dish made from chicken and rice.

Ropa Vieja

This is a stew and includes boiled meat (beef), onions , peppers and garlic; but the preparation and ingredients differ from place to place.

Pasel de Tres Leches

It’s a desert. The cake is soaked in three kinds of milk.


Photo credits:Breakfast , Empanadas , Tamales , Gallo Pinto , Ceviche , Patacones , Sancocho , Carimanola , Yuca frita , Chicharrones , Arroz con pollo , Ropa Vieja

Categories
England travel guide

What to Eat in England: Famous British Foods

British cuisine has never been regarded as a tasty or healthy cuisine. Looks like the early British people had more fun doing anything else than learning to cook. But things are improving and modern British cuisine is not that terrible. Actually, you might even like it.

Fish and chips

It’s the quintessential food of England, and you can find chippies all over the place. You can also get this dish in pretty much any pub. The cod is fried in better and in served with French fries (chips). Peas are also served (either normal or mashed) and you are often asked if you care for onion rings as well. The dish goes well with beer.

Full English Breakfast

It’s terribly unhealthy but an icon of the British food. What you get on the plate includes: baked beans, black pudding, bread, eggs, bacon, sausages and mushrooms.

Black pudding is made with pig blood , pig fat, flour, onion , hulled and crushed cereal grain and seasoning.

Jellied eels

It’s a dish which requires a bit of getting used to the texture. The chunks of eels are in a clear jelly and are served with mashed potatoes and , sometimes , gravy.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers are sausages and mash is mashed potatoes. And you also might be asked if you want a side of onion rings, too.

Pies

Shepherd’s Pie is one of the most popular in this category and is made with minced lamb and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden.

Cottage Pie is made the same way, but the meat used is beef.

Steak and kidney pie contains a mixture of beef, kidney and fried onion, served with brown gravy.

Pork pie is made with pork meat and lard. Variations do exist and they contain either turkey or chicken meat.

Most pies are served with mash.

Lancashire hotpot

It’s a stew made from meat and vegetables. It’s slowly cooked in the oven all day and draped with sliced potatoes.

The Sunday Roast

It’s a traditional meal served, you guessed it, on Sundays. It contains roast beef, served with steamed vegetables (carrots , cauliflower, etc) and roasted potatoes. Yorkshire pudding – made from a simple batter of flour , milk and eggs – is served with the meat and vegetables.

Ploughman’s Lunch

It’s not exactly lunch; it’s a piece of pungent cheese, served with crusty bread , a pickle and pickled onion.

Beer

My first encounter with a London pub also lead me to having no idea what beer to order. There are so many varieties that an advice from a local is a good idea. Any type of beer goes with pub food though. Oh and English beer is known as “lager”.

Mince pies

These are made for Christmas and now contain a filling of dried fruits, spices, fat and brandy (in the past, they contained minced meat).

Trifle

It’s a classic desert made from custard, sponge cake , fruit , fruit juice and whipped cream. The ingredients are arranged in layers.

>>also read about What to Eat in London: Famous British Foods

Photo credits : Trifle , Mince pies , Beer , Ploughman’s Lunch , The Sunday Roast , Lancashire hotpot , Shepherd’s Pie , Bangers and Mash , Jellied eels , Full English Breakfast , Fish and chips

Categories
Germany Planning a Trip

Getting from Munich to Venice

Venice is a one-of-a-kind city but it’s also a very controversial one: you can either love it from the first minute or hate it just as fast. There are plenty of things to do in Venice and none has to be very touristy or part you with a lot of money.

Munich is a major travel hub in Germany and is particularly a good idea if you plan to take the train to explore more of Europe.

Quick summary

With no buses linking Munich to Venice and the connecting flights starting close to €150 one way , the cheapest alternative remains the train. Book in advance and you’ll pay about €60 one way and if you travel by day also get rewarded with stunning views along the way.

Flights from Munich to Venice

There are two airports to use when flying into Venice, but the one handling flights to/from Munich is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). It is located 8 km from the city and is hub for Air One, Alitalia CityLiner and Volotea. The airport mostly receives seasonal flights.

Direct flights to Munich are operated by Lufthansa and the airport used is Munich International Airport (MUC), the second busiest airport in Germany. It is hub for: Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air Independence, BinAir, Condor, Hamburg International and TUIfly.

Even during the shoulder season in mid-September 2012, expect to pay from € 450 for a direct flight, one way and from €147 one way for a connecting flight via Dusseldorf on Air Berlin. Unfortunately , the fares don’t go down during the low season, either. In fact, you can pretty much consider flying into Venice an expensive affair, no matter when you plan to travel.

Read more about
>>Airfare to Venice
>>Cheap flights to Munich

Trains from Munich to Venice

A very scenic way to get between Munich and Venice is by train. Bahn.de lists all the connections between the two cities.

The direct trains leave Munich daily at 11:31 a.m. (Venice Santa Lucia), 6:57 pm (Venice Mestre) and 11:40 p.m. (Venice Mestre). The travel time is between 6h40 min and 9 h. Single savings fares start at €59 (morning train) and €53 (the night train). Standard single fares start at €82.80 (morning train) and €114.80 (the night train).

On the way back , catch the direct trains at 1:14 a.m. (Venice Mestre), 1:34 pm (Venice Santa Lucia) and 9:05 p.m. (Venice Santa Lucia). The same fares apply.

Please note that the fares depend on how far in advance you purchase the ticket and which train you choose. Rail passes can be used on these trains.

Driving from Munich to Venice

Both Germany and Italy are part of EU and the Schenghen area, which means you won’t be paying surcharges for taking the rental car across the border. However, do make sure you ask the rental company if you may cross borders in the car.

The shortest route – 476 km – between Munich and Venice is on SS51 and the drive takes about 5 h. The route passes through Austria. You might want to drive on A22 although it’s a slightly longer route (543 km) but the driving time is about the same and it also passes through Austria.

View Larger Map

Photo by cuellar

Categories
Croatia travel guide

Top 7 beaches in Croatia

With 2000 miles of coastline and a lot of islands, Croatia doesn’t lack places to get a tan or make a splash. Some of the beaches are world-famous and many travelers head here every summer.

Searching for the best beaches in Croatia certainly starts with the traveler’s definition of “best beach”. Some travelers look for sandy beaches, with shallow waters, while others don’t mind pebbly beaches but want a superb landscape, too. Here is a list of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Croatia.

Paradise Beach, Rab Island

It is considered one of the best beaches in the world to skinny dip and is located on the island of Rab. It is also a beach popular among families (of course, for the part on which a swim suit is required). The 2 km long beach is one of the most famous in the Adriatic.

The closest airport serves the city of Rijeka and from there you can catch a catamaran to the island (runs year round). But don’t underestimate the city , either, as it has a superb castle and is home to the biggest carnival in the country.

Bijeca in Medulin

Bijeca is a sandy beach located in Medulin, about 8 km from Pula. It is recommended for families with children, singles and older people. The beach spreads for 1 km along the coast. The archipelago of Medulin has some uninhabited islands which become quite crowded during summer.

The closest airport serves Pula and handles flights from a variety of European destinations.

Big Beach / Vela Plaža, Baska Beaches, Krk Island

Baska is known for the Vela Plaža, a natural pebbled beach stretching for almost 2km. It is a romantic spot on Croatia’s largest island. The beaches in this area are clothing optional.

Rijeka airport is closest to the island of Krk. Baska is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so you can rent car at the airport and travel here. Or you can catch a local bus.

Plat beaches, Dubrovnik

Located between Cavtat and Mlini, Plat is a tiny oasis of tranquility and remains one of the hidden areas in Croatia. The beaches are made both of sand and pebbles. The water is shallow so anyone can enjoy the beaches without having to know how to swim.

Dubrovnik airport is the choice when traveling to Plat. From there rent a car and drive the remaining 14 km.

Sunj beach, Dubrovnik

The wide, sandy beach is located on Lopund island. It’s incredibly busy during summer but once the high season ends, you can pretty much have the beach for yourself.

Sunj beach can only be reached by boat or foot from Dubrovnik.

Lokrum island beach, Dubrovnik

The island is a natural resort, protected by law. It’s a popular day trip excursion from Dubrovnik and offers a lot of sand, sea and sun. And when you’ve caught enough tan or plan a break, Fort Royal offers amazing views of Dubvronik. All the beaches here are rocky.

You can catch a taxi boat from Dubrovnik Old City Port (10 min travel time) .

Milna & Dubovica beaches, Hvar Island


Hvar is one of the most popular and beautiful Croatian islands and has been popular among travelers since the Roman times. Milna and Dubrovica are the most popular and most crowded beaches. All beaches are pebbly.

Two beaches are located in Milna village itself and two really close to the village. The largest beach is Dubovica and is made of white pebbles.

The beaches can be reached by road from Hvar town or by taxi boat from the port.

>>read about Getting from Dubrovnik to Hvar


Photo credits:Milna beach , Lokrum island , Sunj beach , Medulin , Paradise Beach , Krk island

Categories
Sweden Things to Do

What to Eat in Sweden: Famous Swedish Foods

Due to Sweden’s location and north-south expanse, the cuisine has regional differences. In the north, game meats such as reindeer are eaten, while the south uses fresh vegetables. The foreign influences can also be seen pretty clearly in the country: French cuisine, sushi culture, and even pizza and kebab are common and loved here.

Swedish food is quite plain as they don’t cook with many spices. Kale, cabbage and potatoes are the most popular and most used vegetables. Pork , beef and seafood are very popular, too.

Smörgåsbord

This is the most renowned Swedish culinary tradition. It’s a meal served buffet-style which comprises various foods. Among the dishes served, you can find pickled herring and lox (gravlax), herring salad, homemade sausages, sliced cheese, Swedish meatballs (köttbullar), small fried hot dog sausages (prinskorv) and matchstick potatoes layered with cream.

A special Swedish type of smörgåsbord is the julbord, the standard Christmas dinner in Sweden and consists of three courses (the warm dishes are the 3rd course).

Blodkorv (blood sausage)

It’s one of the popular traditional Swedish foods and is made with pig blood, pork meat, raisins and spices.

Räkor (Swedish shrimp)

If you love sea food you’ll be hooked on these special shrimps. The variety is pandalus borealis and they are cooked directly on the boat.

Kroppkaka

It’s a potato dumpling and one of the traditional Swedish foods. The dumplings are filled with minced pork meat and onions. They are served with butter, cream and lingonberry jam.

Kanebullar (cinnamon buns)

You can find them pretty much anywhere in Sweden but for the best cinnamon buns head to a bakery and wait for a freshly baked batch.

Varmrökt lax (smoked salmon)

This is slow-smoked salmon. Eat it cold with boiled potatoes and sour cream sauce or warm in a pasta dish with spinach.

Raggmunk

These are grated, fried potatoes cakes, served with fried bacon and lingonberries.

Lingonberry Jam

It’s definitely a staple in the local cuisine and usually accompanies the potatoes cake and the black pudding (a sausage made with pig blood, among other ingredients).

Ostkaka

It’s the Swedish cheese cake made with milk, eggs, cream, almond and served with cloudberry or Lingonberry jam.

Surströmming (Fermented herring)

Welcome to the land of bizarre foods in Sweden. The herring is yes, literally, fermented and you’ll be able to smell that. And your neighbors , too, if you dare open it in the hotel or hostel.

Photo credits: Ostkaka , Lingonberry Jam , Raggmunk , smoked salmon , Räkor , Blodkorv , Smörgåsbord , Kroppkaka , cinnamon buns , Fermented herring

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Best Greek & Roman Ruins in Turkey

The region of Antalya , also known as the Turkish Riviera, has some of the best preserved Greek and Roman ruins in the world. Unfortunately, they tend to be overlooked by most visitors, but those who take the time to plan a visit are impressed with the well preserved ruins. Also, some of the sites are quite off the beaten path so you can explore them without bumping into fellow travelers at every step. Turkey is also the place where you’ll find the famous sites of Ephesus, Pergamon and Troy.

Aspendos

It was an ancient Greco-Roman city located in Asia Minor, 7 km from today’s Serik. It is known for having the best preserved amphitheater from antiquity with a diameter of 96 m, which provided seating for 7,000 people. It was built by a Greek architect during the rule of Marcus Aurelius.

The theatre is still in use today, holding the annual Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival.

>>read more about 10 Best Roman Ruins Outside of Rome

Didyma

It is an ancient Greek site, containing the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo and is located near modern day city of Didim (and the resorts of Bodrum and Kusadasi). It was one of the most important oracles in the ancient Hellenic world , second only to Delphi. The original temple was destroyed by the Persians but Alexander the Great rebuilt it in around 334BC.

Today, a range of ruins can be visited, including columns and remains of ancient tunnels.

Ephesus

It was a vibrant Greek ancient city, located near today’s Selcuk (and the resort of Kusadasi). It contains some of the best preserved Greek and Roman ruins in the Mediterranean.

Built in the 10th century BC, the city grew until 650 BC when it was attacked by the Cimmerians. The settlement was rebuilt and thrived again but later was conquered by the Persians.

Today, the well preserved site offers an amazing opportunity to walk among ancient Roman and Greek houses, buildings and stadiums. The famous Temple of Artemis is only represented by a column. The Library of Celsus is one of the most impressive buildings on site.

Hierapolis

It is an Ancient Roman city and spa, located near today’s Pamukkale . The site is famous for the hot springs , which were thought to have miraculous healing properties. Most of the ruins on site date from the Roman period ,but the Hellenistic layout can also be clearly seen. And it’s still possible to take a dip in the hot springs.

Miletus

It is an Ancient Greek city, located near today’s Balat. It still has an impressive theatre but the other ruins are few.

Pergamon

It was a famous ancient Greek city located in today’s Mysia region of Turkey, close to the city of Bergama. It was cited in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches of Asia. The upper Acropolis included the Great Altar of Pergamon (which can be seen in a museum in Berlin), The Hellenistic Theater, the Sanctuary of Athena , The Royal Palaces , the Temple of Trajan, the Upper Agora, the Roman baths and other structures. The Lower Acropolis included, among other buildings, the Temple of Demeter , the Sanctuary of Hera and the Lower Agora.

Perge

It is a site containing mostly Roman ruins and is located near today’s Aksu (and Antalya resort). It has a history dating back to the Ancient Greek times as it was founded circa 1000 BC. The large theatre, the Roman agora , the bath and the necropolis can still be visited today.

Priene

It is an Ancient Greek city located near today’s Gullubahce (and the resorts of Kusadasi and Bodrum). It is one of the most important sites in the area , close to both Miletus and Ephesus. But it is located quite off the beaten path, providing a much relaxing experience (without the huge tourist crowds).

The Temple of Athena, the ancient theatre and the wall are still well preserved. You can also see the Roman baths and gymnasium, as well as the ruins of an Ancient Synagogue.

Sagalassos

The site contains mostly Hellenistic and Ancient Roman buildings and is located near today’s Aglasun. The Fountain of Antoninler is one of the best preserved ruins on site , but the theatre is not doing that bad either. You can also see the remains of the library, tombs , baths and temples.

Troy

Famous in antiquity, Troy stands in Turkey near today’s city Canakkale. It is one of the most famous and historically significant sites in the world, known to be the location of the Trojan War. The most popular fictional story is written by Homer in The Iliad and goes like this: the Greeks besieged Troy after Helen, the wife of Sparta’s king, was taken by Paris of Troy. However, historians believe that the reason of the Trojan War was a commercial rivalry between people of Troy and Mycenaeans.

The vast ruins can still be visited today. Each part of the site is numbered and is correlated to a specific period of time. And yes, the famous walls can still be seen. The site has a mix of Greek and Roman buildings, many built by Alexander the Great and Augustus.

Photo credits: Aspendos , Didyma , Ephesus , Hierapolis , Miletus , Pergamon , Perge , Priene , Sagalassos , Troy