Longing For Sun-Rays.

Springtime, longing for sun-rays and a long weekend at the beginning of May meant that we needed to fly somewhere South. Trapani in Sicily made the cut.

Unless you fly with a European budget airline, getting to Sicily from Vienna is impossible without a stop-over in Rome. But since Bratislava is less than an hour away from our capital city, we booked a Ryan Air flight from here directly to Trapani. Less than two hours after take off, we landed smoothly on the west coast of Sicily.

Ciao Regione Siciliana.

A short walk around the area after checking into the apartment and a glass of red wine at one of the open bars brought the real holiday feeling, which was exactly what we were after.

Trapani begins where the sea ends. The city is an important fishing port, being set on a low peninsula stretching in an arc. The fish market is one of the top spots in the city and the place where the people of Trapani meet every morning. You’ll find all sorts of fresh fish here, from tuna (the largest tuna fishery in Sicily is here), swordfish, shrimps, sardines, squids to other sea creatures. Since we had an apartment with a nice kitchen, it was clear that one of these fresh fish would land on our dinner plate. You really can’t visit Trapani without trying the local cuisine. It’s influenced by Trapani’s role as a marine town, therefore menus are dominated by fish, especially recipes including tuna, which is prepared in many different ways: fried, grilled, baked, boiled or used in the preparation for sauces.

Gateway to the Aegadian Islands.

Apart from the salt and fish production, Trapani is also the main gateway to the nearby Aegadian Islands. We took the Hydrofoil to Favignana, the largest of three islands. This fairly easy access hasn’t spoiled the island (yet), because it’s a pretty low-key destination. Visitors are mostly Italians.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with the lovely smell of flowers. The entire vegetation was blooming this time of the year and the scent of lavender, thyme and many other flowers will accompany you throughout your stay here.

Travellers who come here are happy to fit in with the leisurely island way of life. Simply rent a scooter and you’re good to go. Small bars and typical Italian restaurants are the perfect spot to stop by after a long day out in the sun. One of the charms of this island is that it has never been populated with villas, nor frequented by high society, so compared to the crowded tourist island of Capri for example, Favignana has a refreshing simple authenticity.

Locking the harbour where Peter III of Aragon landed in 1282, Trapani still gives the impression of simple Sicilian authenticity. .

When walking along the Admiral Stati in Trapani, you will notice the ancient castle “Castello della Colombaia”. Hannibal’s father, built the tower around 260 B.C. called “Peliade” at the same spot where the castle lies today.

The fish at Trapani’s fish market is as fresh as you can get it. We highly enjoyed watching the locals barter for their fish and visit with each other during this morning ritual.

The real action happens at around 5.00am in the morning when the fisherman come in with their catch, while most of the locals go and do their shopping after 8.00am.

The fish market in Trapani has all kinds of shellfish and other sea creatures besides just fish.

Trapani’s fish market is colourful and noisy and a great possibility to get to know a bit of Trapani’s daily life. You will get to see some really bizarre fish – and also human – examples.

Favignana is a great place to absorb the islands idyllic atmosphere.

Even though life on the island of Favignana, the younger generation knows how to have fun – here in a cute little Piaggio.

Cala Rossa beach on Favignana island lies a pretty bay with turquoise sea and is one of the most visited beaches of the island.

It’s quite a scramble to get down the rocks of Cala Rossa beach, but determined holiday-makers don’t this obstacle keep them from it.

… And Then Came “Xaver”.

Nothing seemed to stop us from exploring Berlin and its top sights … except wind storm “Xaver”; streets have been blocked, flights & trains cancelled and winds of up to 225km/h lashed across North-Germany. In Berlin, this meant snow-storm to the max! Looking out of our hotel room window in the morning was like a nightmare come true. But, the clock was ticking, so even the “Big Room” at the Soho House Berlin couldn’t keep us from staying in.

Wind storm “Xaver” made the first day in Berlin a bit … uncomfy. But, we kept up the spirit and simply drank lots of “Glühwein” to keep warm.

East Side Gallery – hip, but definitely too cold to get the full on experience.

A little cold, wind or snow never kept us from exploring, after all we’re Austrians! So we were off to explore hip Berlin. Starting point was the East Side Gallery along the Berlin Wall.

Street art along the Berlin Wall – East Side Gallery | “My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love”

Street art along the Berlin Wall – East Side Gallery.

Did I already mention that is was freezing!?! And I take everything back with “a little snow can’t get us down … it can!”

Berlin Mitte & Kreuzberg – Hipper.

We’re getting there; Kreuzberg was a bit disappointing to be honest. Maybe because we went there at the wrong time of the day – during the day. My friend Aurelia told me that this part of Berlin becomes famous after dark. For my kind of taste, Kreuzberg was rundown and dirty with weird looking peeps. I’m Viennese so maybe I’m just too conservative for this kind of hippness?! Possibly. Still, we found two lovely cafés is which we spent a fair amount of time (not only because of the lovely weather outside). Berlin-Mitte on the contrary was a super spot. Lovely shops, cute cafés, endless dwelling along the streets.

Kreuzberg is supposed to be one of the hippest areas in Berlin. Maybe I went there at the wrong time (?), because there was nothing that hip about it…

“Made in Berlin” is one of the hippest second hand shops in Berlin. I agree.

Urban Spree – The Hippest.

“Sunken at the forefront of the RAW maze-like compound, Urban Spree is a graffiti-laden brick and concrete self-proclaimed “(re)creative space”—but don’t let that put you off. Pretentious parentheses in the description aside, if you walk on by you’re missing out. Upstairs, an artist’s laboratory and workshop rings with buzz-words of Berlin’s urbanization: engage, interact, collaborate, fuck off Media Spree etc. With the multifaceted city itself as an inspirational source, the program of events is fittingly schizophrenic. Previous times have seen the space give a temporary home to a Flohmarkt, a short film festival, Berlin fashion week, even a Korean food night, plus all the usuals – so keep your eyes on their schedule as there’s no telling what’ll come next.”

We were lucky to come at the right time. The “Voodoo X-Mas Market” was the right place to find cool and extraordinary presents. I didn’t find any presents but treated myself to two super sweet ponchos. Urban Spree is a pretty hip place with exactly those hip kind of people I missed in other parts of Berlin.

And then we cam to “Urban Spree” in Berlin-Friedrichshain … pretty hip place.

We were lucky to be there at the right time of the year since there was an artsy “Voodoo X-Mas Market” happening.

Cool graffiti can be found outside and inside at Urban Spree.

Shoes, cloths, jewellery … cool and extraordinary presents to be found at the “Voodoo Market” (happening only once every 4 months).

And I bought some super sweet ponchos…

The “Voodoo Market” at Urban Spree was definitely a highlight during our Berlin trip.

So, is Berlin as hip as everyone thinks?

Well, in my opinion, Berlin has done a great job promoting itself as the hippest city in Europe. But is it really the hippest? I personally don’t think so (please don’t hate me my Berlin friends). I really enjoyed the days in the German capital and had great experiences with brilliant photo opportunities, but I missed the flair & charm that other European cities offer. Maybe I’m spoiled with Vienna on this, but I think if you want more than just partying (which I have to admit is pretty darn awesome!), Berlin is just as ordinary as any other city. And then again, I’ll be back in summer, when I’m not affected by minus degrees and layers of cloths, to give it another go.

What do you think?

Some of the spots are pretty obvious, others not so well-known. Of course you can also book yourselves into a roof-top apartment, but unless you won the lottery, one of these will do just fine:

1. View Paris From The Eiffel Tower.

It figures that I’d start with this one. After all, we’re talking about the city of love and what would it be without the world-famous Eiffel Tower? Honestly, I think that the Eiffel Tower is overrated, yet somehow you’re drawn to it when visiting Paris…

I heard that in general you need to calculate about 20-30 minutes of waiting in line. Then you can either walk (1655-1710 steps all the way to the top, depending on which side you try, so you better be sporty!) or take the elevator. I really wanted to walk up there, but since it was a warm & sunny Saturday afternoon, about a million other people had the same thought. This meant that the 20-30 minutes turned into more than an hour. So I skipped this part, yet I’m sure that the view must be absolutely stunning … but, as the saying goes “There’s plenty more fish in the sea.”

The famous Eiffel Tower in Paris is one of the most frequented spot to view the city from above.

2. View Paris From The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur.

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is a must-see destination for ever tourist who visits Paris. It’s just slightly over 80 meters high, which normally doesn’t make the best viewing spot, but because it’s located at the top of Montmartre hill, it’s actually Paris’ second highest point (approx. 210 metres). On a clear day, you’ll have an amazing 360° view over the entire city.

The way up to the top is pretty tight, so if you’re claustrophobic, better stay on the ground – from there you’ll still have a wonderful view (which you’ll share with what felt like a million other people though).

Come at the right time:

• With a bit of luck (which we had), you might just get to see the world-famous freestyle football player Iya Traoré do his magic… More on this in a separate article :)

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris is a highlight for every visitor.

The view of Paris from the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is really amazing.

Crowds of people at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris sit on its staircase to enjoy the sun.

Freestyle footballer Iya Traoré at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris.

3. View Paris From The Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe is nowhere near the tallest building in Paris (it’s only about 50 metres high); it’s the location that makes it a favourite viewpoint. It’s located right at the end of the Champs-Élysées captivated by a gigantic roundabout, which forms part of an axis that leads from the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel to la Grande Arche de la Défense.

Until I found the tunnel opening at the near end of the Champs-Élysées, I always wondered how you can actually access it, because there’s no cross-walk and I’ve never seen any suicidal person running across is. But, luckily I found it :) In the tunnel-way you can buy the entrance ticket to go up the stairs.

The view is amazing – especially at night – with the swarming traffic below that reaches the roundabout from all points of the compass.

The famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars.

The view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the centre.

4. View Paris From The Centre Pompidou.

The Pompidou is the city’s leading modern art museum located in the 4th Arrondissement, Marais. It’s famous known for show-casing artists like Jackson Pollock or Andy Warhol, but it has another asset … the stunning view.

Simply take the escalator to the fifth floor and start shooting, without having to save your place for hours in advance.

The View from Centre Pompidou in Paris is one of those spots rather unknown since the museum is more well known for its art work..

5. View Paris From Galeries Lafayette.

The world-famous Galeries Lafayette department store is well known among Parisians and visitors for the wide variety of products they offer, and for their glamorous window displays. However, fewer people know that there is a wonderful roof-top terraces, which accessible for the public – for free! You get a wonderful 360 degree view over the surrounding Paris skyline.

Galeries Lafayette offers a wonderful roof-top terraces for a brilliant view of Paris.

6. View Paris From Butte Bergeyre.

There are many spectacular views in Paris that tourists have claimed. Most of them mentioned above. But there’s one spot that is actually still a hidden secret, even for Parisians.

Butte Bergeyre, a quiet hilltop village hidden in the 19th arrondissement, is accessible only by three staircases or a single winding road. Once you reach the top of the stairs, a rewarding view awaits, including one of the few vineyards left in Paris.

It’s not just Montmartre and Parc de Belleville that have the last remaining vineyards in Paris. At Butte Bergeyre you’ll not only come across a stunning view, but also a cute litte vineyard.

At the top of Butte Bergeyre you have a stunning view of Sacré Coeur.

7. View Paris From Tour Montparnasse.

I saved the best view for last. Tour Montparnasse definitely offers the most remarkable panoramic view of Paris (it covers a radius of 40 km). The Eiffel Tower might give you the same, yet the difference is that you won’t have to stand in line for hours, because many tourists don’t know that this rather ugly looking tower can actually be visited. Some people tend to say that the view from the top is the most beautiful in Paris, because it is the only place from which the tower itself cannot be seen… no further explanation needed, right?

Tour Montparnasse is a 210 metre high structure which is located in an area, where most buildings don’t rise above 30 metres. Naturally you’ll think to yourself “Why by all means has this building been built right here?“. Well, you’re not the only one thinking that. The tower’s simple architecture and large proportions have often been criticised, because it simply looks out of place in Paris’s urban landscape. Only two years after its completion (1972), the construction of skyscrapers in the city centre was banned… Still, the tower deserves its place simply because of the stunning 360° view it provides. A super-fast lift will take you to the top in 38 seconds (the fastest elevator in Europe btw), where you’ll be able to shoot that one-million-dollar photo from the open air roof terrace.

The view of the Eiffel Tower from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

The view of Gare Montparnasse from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

The view of Montparnasse Cemetery from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

The view from Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

Drum-roll please … Tour Montparnasse in Paris is definitely not the nicest building..

Castle lovers, prepare yourself!

It took us a little longer than expected to get to Leobendorf but due to our anticipation, we didn’t mind. We came from the West and therefore already saw the castle in the distance. Seemingly lifted from the pages of a Germanic fairy tale, Burg Kreuzenstein, bristling with storybook turrets and towers, might have even made Gustav Klimt drop his sketch book. It so looked like a castle out of a Disney movie.

After arriving at the parking lot, I was so exited to see the castle closer since it already made such an impression from far away. And I wasn’t disappointed: This gigantic medieval castle looked absolutely stunning! I’ve never seen anything like it before (in real life).

From far away, Burg Kreuzenstein looks a bit like Disneyland.

Burg Kreuzenstein from the outside – also a bit like from a Disney movie.

You have to know, I’m usually not one of these people, who goes on guided tours but this time was different. The outside looked so amazing that I just had to see the inside. So Ines and I bought a ticket for a guided tour – and that was a very wise decision! The castles inside is just as impressive as the outer parts. The entire building is so well restored and therefore it was easy to imagine how living there must have been. BUT, the interesting part about Burg Kreuzenstein is that it’s actually just a “show castle”. It was never built the way it looks today…

It almost felt like Ned Stark could ride by any minute…

Occupying the site of a previously destroyed fort, the enormous structure was built by Count Wilczek in the 19th century. Burg Kreuzenstein was constructed out of sections of medieval structures purchased by the family Wilczek from all over Europe to form an authentic-looking castle. Count Wilczek wanted a place to house his collection of late-Gothic art objects and armour … and Burg Kreuznstein was just the place for this.

Burg Kreuzenstein is one of the best renovated castles in Europe.

Inside the castle, the medieval thrills continue with rooms full of armaments, a festival and banquet hall, a library, a stained-glass chapel, vassal kitchens with a 3.000 year old wooden table and a room devoted to hunting trophies including a “Narwalzahn” (if you’ve ever wanted to see a “unicorn horn,” here’s your chance). By the way, Count Wilczek was not only obsessed with building Burg Kreuzenstein … Count Wilczek was the main sponsor of the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition from 1872 to 1874. Wilczek Land and Wilczek Island, two islands in Franz Josef Land, were named after this Austrian Count. He has accomplished to much that it almost seems like he lived the life of three men…

The inside of Burg Kreuzenstein is just as beautiful as the outside.

Lots of fine details make Burg Kreuzenstein so special.

The chapel is the most magnificent building of Kreuzenstein castle and also a gem of sacral medieval craftsmanship, exemplifying the great collector’s passion and the art-historical expertise of the castle’s rebuilder.

Even though knights never lived here, it’s interesting simply imagining it…

Trees are also grow inside of Burg Kreuzenstein.

So what else can I say? Other than that the trip to Burg Kreuzenstein left quite an impression, not that much. What I really enjoyed was the fact that I actually learned quite a lot on the tour. Like for example heaps of typical German expressions and their origin. Interesting stuff, I tell you!
Oh and I almost forgot one important fact: The castle is sometimes used as a location for films, most notably “Season of the Witch” with Nicolas Cage in 2011.

Contact Information

• Address: Leobendorf bei Korneuburg, A-2100 Leobendorf
• Entry Cost: 10 €
• Opening Hours: April – October / daily from 10am – 4pm
• Website: www.kreuzenstein.com

History & Culture Of Prague.

Many visitors who come to Prague run from one attraction to the next, without really knowing the diverse history of this capital. In other cities like Rome, London or Paris, one feels historically at home right away, since the history of each city plays a great role in Western society. Prague is different. I mean honestly, do you know anything about Prague and its historical value for Europe?

I didn’t know that much either. But since my father is a history-freak, I found out that Prague was the capital site of the Habsburger Empire under Rudolf II. Quite something for this “unknown” city if you ask me … Anyway, the city once was so tightly bound to what we call Western Europe today, that in the 17^th century it was enough to through two catholic town councils and a secretary out of Prague’s castle to start a war; a war that would last 30 years and seized almost all of Europe.

Brilliant directors and writers like Antonin Dvorak and Franz Kafka have emerged here and until today it almost seems like, history has been captured behind the castles walls.

Why I Love Prague.

During the four days I’ve spent in Czech Republic’s capital, I have not only refreshed my history skills but I started appreciating all of the wonderful parts and impressions. I’ll be honest: Prague has made the top of my all-time favourite European cities! It has so many places of interest. It’s clean, it’s beautiful, it’s the perfect sport for any travel photographer and it’s full of history yet for some reason it’s still so underestimated … and that’s what makes it even more charming!

To give you a brief impression on why I’m rambling on how beautiful this city is, I’d like to share some photos with you. I’ll give you a more detailed review of each sight in the next couple of days. For now, enjoy some of the impressions from my weekend in Prague:

Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. The construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century.

Church of Our Lady in front of Týn, is a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague, and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church’s towers are 80 m high and topped by four small spires.

Petrin lookout tower is a 65 m high steel framework tower in Prague, which strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower. Although it is much shorter than the Eiffel Tower, it stands atop a sizeable hill, Petřín, so the top is at a higher altitude than that of the Eiffel Tower.

The numbers of grave stones and numbers of people buried at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague are uncertain because there are layers of tombs. However, it has been estimated that there are approximately 12,000 tombstones presently visible, and there may be as many as 100.000 burials in all.

Like in many other cities around the world, lover’s locks can be found near the John Lennon wall in Prague.

Facade of Hotel Josef (our hotel in Prague).

The view of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral from Petrin Lookout Tower.

The Astronomical Clock in Prague is a medieval astronomical clock. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.

The tower at Charles Bridge in Prague look a bit like a bull.