Varna - the Sea Capital of Bulgaria

The Bulgarian city of Varna has a millennial history. It has a good location and good visibility (almost 270 degrees). In the small cape where presently is located the naval station terminal, there was an ancient tribe of fishermen. In 1878 Varna was finally liberated by the Ottoman rule and became the largest port in Bulgaria. At the end of the 19th century Varna was linked to the capital Sofia by railway. Many factories have been built, industrial fishing has grown. Varna is rapidly becoming a naval station undergoing any European influence in architecture and naval transport and at the same time, a privileged place for the Bulgarian intellectual elite. Nowadays Varna is the center of the northern Black Sea coast and a landmark of the construction of resorts around it. The city is an industrial center and recently it became the second largest city in Bulgaria after the capital Sofia.

Places of interest in Varna

The Roman SPA is located in the heart of the city center. They are built in second century during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius and are abandoned during the barbarian invasions in the fifth century. Restored and preserved, they deserve the visits of tourists. In the 14th century there was a pottery and later was built a small district. The Roman Bath is dated from the third century and is built in layers of stones and bricks related to a special mixture, consisting of mortar and tiles and bricks crumbled. The walls are covered with a waterproof plaster, the floor is tiled in marble and the walls in some rooms, too, are covered with marble. In the 5th century the building was substantially enlarged and rebuilt in connection with the expansion of this area of the city. Today, it is an archaeological site to visit.

The Cathedral of the Holy Virgin is considered emblematic for the Bulgaria's sea capital. It rises in the center aisle in front of the theater. A bus that goes to all of the main directions in the suburbs, including the airport, departs from the square in front of the church. The cathedral was built in 1886 by master masons of the time of awakening after a national plan of St. Petersburg. Construction and painting have taken quite long and it was officially opened in 1910. The carved wooden altar and the throne of the bishop are developed by masters from Macedonia Debar. The main compositions of wall paintings were made in 1950.

The Sea Garden is the another landmark of the city of Varna. It dates from the late 19th century. Today in the Garden is located an amphitheater, astronomy complex which is the first in Bulgaria, an observatory, a planetarium and a tower, land attractions and a small channel for sports rowing children, a pool for water cycles and a zoo. The outdoor theater is a center of many events. The central sea baths and the beach are located beneath the Sea Garden: there is a polyclinic, a set of homes for the treatment of curative mud and water spa, two docks, a few restaurants and nightclubs.

The church "Saint Nicolas" is located near the Sea Garden and dates of 1886: it has interesting wall paintings from old masters of icons representing different schools of painting in Bulgaria.

The Russian Monument is located in the park near the sea. It was built in honor of fallen Russian soldiers died for freedom of Varna.

The Asparuh Bridge connects downtown neighborhoods Asparouhovo and Galata. It is the longest bridge in Bulgaria and its construction work continues. The local club of extreme sports including bungee jumping organizes sport events here. To the east of the bridge is seen the bay of Varna and the Cape Galata, in the West - Lake of Varna.

The Archaeological Museum is located in the old building of a school in the era of National Awakening. Visitors have the opportunity to observe models of pile dwellings from the Paleolithic age, the Hall of archaic art and crafts, the room of the old art which presents the most important and impressive collection of objects and relics from the Bulgaria's early Christian church.

The Varna's Art Gallery was opened in 1950. It presents the paintings of the most prominent Bulgarian artists, as well as works by many foreign artists, donated by individuals.

The second biggest Bulgarian sea resort, Golden Sands, lies thirty kilometres north of Varna.

More Varna resources: Varna Guide, Wikipedia, Hotels in Varna, Bulgarian Sea Resorts - Varna, Europe Directory - Varna.

Vienna, Austria - the City of Art

Austria is the land of many capitals - Vienna over the years has been announced as the capital of architecture, culture, music, design and creativity, fashion and many others. The majestic Alps and the extremely clean and covered Austrian towns and villages are crucial for the European civilization and culture of the past centuries. Popular tourist destinations, attracting tourists and visitors continuously with diverse interests who came on holiday or trip are the cities of Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. There is no less interest in the ski resorts of Tyrol and the Alps.

Vienna is a beautiful and rich city. There are so many attractions so that I am wondering where to start from and who to tell for. Yet let me start with the symbol of Vienna.

1. St. Stephen's Cathedral - situated in the heart of Vienna. It was built over several centuries, beginning as it was launched by Rudolf IV on the ruins of old churches in 1359g. The cathedral was built from limestone and is 107 meters long and 40 m. The highest point is on top of a gothic tower, 136 meters. Its primary color has initially been white, but over time, air pollution and burning of the town at the end of World War II have colored the stones in black. The cathedral has 23 bells, one of which is the second largest in Europe. The interior is very beautiful with many stone sculptures and ornate columns. They overwhelm majesty, gigantic bodies and dimensions of the cathedral, which does not seem so huge when seen from outside. In one corner of St. Stephen cathedral is one of its most popular symbols. This is a carved in stone self-portrait by an unknown sculptor who participated in the construction cathedral's construction. You can climb on foot to the top of the south tower, with an elevator to the top of the north tower, or to enter the catacombs. The entrance to the cathedral is free, but the guided tours to the towers and the underground are paid. According to history, Beethoven learned that he has become completely deaf when he saw frightened birds fly from the roof of St. Stephen, but could not hear the ringing of bells.

2. Prater - The most famous attraction of the park is the Wien's wheel, where you will have an amazing view to the city. It moves very slowly, which allows shooting. Some extreme attractions include the American way, launch towers and the horror tunnels.

3. Hofburg Imperial Palace - Residence of the Hofburg dynasty for 600 years. The complex consists of many buildings in different architectural styles - from Gothic to Baroque. The life of some important historical figures took place here - Emperor Franz Josef I and Empress Elizabeth (Sissi) Maria Theresia. Here was born Marie Antoinette. The complex houses the National Library, Imperial Treasure, ethnographic museum, collections of weapons and musical instruments. On the Heldenplats square are placed statues of Karl who defeated Napoleon and of Prince Eugene of Savoy who defeated the Turks. At present, Hofburg is the residence of the Austrian President.

4. Castle Cathedral, its gardens, the Zoo - summer residence of the Hofburg dynasty. Included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. You can see the Emperor's chambers in the castle. Here is the oldest zoo in the world, built in 1752. I'm a big fan of zoos, and anywhere I go, I usually visit one. The one here definitely worths. Located on a small area, it is very well organized and is rich of species.

5. Vienna State Opera - Who has not heard of the Vienna Opera?

World famous for its performances and its Philharmonic Orchestra. The building has been completed in 1869 and laucnhed with the opera Don Giovanni by Mozart. So far I have not had the opportunity to go to the show, but you should not miss.

6. The Twin museums - Museum of Natural History and Museum of Fine Arts - The two buildings are designed by the same architects and besides being beautiful architectural works they also contain rich collections. In the Natural History museum can be found collections collected since 250 years. There are skeletons of dinosaurs, a small figurine of 25 centuries, a giant diamond weighing 117 kg., specimens of extinct species.

7. City Hall - The building was built in Gothic style and it is the seat of the city's municipal council. The square in front of the City Hall hosts outdoor performances, Christmas Market, protest rallies, and marches.

8. Belvedere Palace - Complex of two castle with a lovely garden between them.

Here is located the museum of Austrian art. Exhibited are works by Klimt, including "The Kiss".

9. The Danube channels - about 18 km long, it is a center for sports and recreation for the Viennese.

10. Club "Planter's" - a nice bar. The design is colonial in style with leather sofas, wooden tables and bars, palm trees. It is not crowded even when full. Alcohol assortment is amazing - more than 450 types of whiskeys, cognacs and ROMs. Entire room with premium cigars. Incredible atmosphere.

There are many other attractions in Vienna that worth seeing. Walk along the Ring Strasse, Parliament, Burg Theater, anchor watch, Hundertwasser House, Karlskirhe, the Technical Museum, the statue of plague, the modern complex of buildings of the United Nations. There is never enough time to consider everything interesting in and around Vienna. Weeks may compass and find new things in this wonderful city with an aristocratic spirit.

Check for more Vienna and Austria resources in the Europe Directory.

Palermo, Italy - the capital of Sicily

Founded by Phoenicians in the 8th century BC, but received its name from the ancient Greeks and passed through the rule of Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Germanic tribes, norms, Aragon, Spanish, Savoy Kingdom, Austria until joining the United Italy, the city of Palermo has always stood out with its remarkable architecture, culture monuments and developed trade.

If you want to visit a place where you can see combined the culture of ancient Greece, the glory of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance wonders added by dozens of civilizations, this place definitely is Sicily and its capital city, Palermo, which represents thirty centuries of history as expressed through the ancient classics, Roman greatness, Gothic and Baroque style.

One of the most remarkable monuments in Palermo are the numerous churches in a beautiful Sicilian Baroque style. The Politeama Opera and the Massimo Theatre are cultural centers not only for the city but also for the entire island. There are numerous galleries, clubs and cinemas in them, which contributes to a rich cultural life.

Nice little squares with beautiful statues, broad boulevards shaded by large trees; small, the largest botanical gardens in Italy; tidy gardens and extensive park with Mediterranean vegetation; various playgrounds, colorful cafes the sidewalks; lavish markets and lively conversations of noisy Sicilians - all this is a joy to the eye and makes the tourist feel well relaxed and enjoyed by the Mediterranean lifestyle, which includes the mandatory glass of good local wine. The prices in Palermo are pretty normal: in the restaurants of average category and even in most of the 4-star hotels, the appetizers run between 10-12 euros; main dishes - from 12 to 16 euros; good wine - 10 to 16 euros; coffee and Coca-Cola around 1 euro. In general, the standard is lower not only from the one in the continental part of Italy, but also from other European countries.

If you combine a visit in Plaermo with a trip to Malta, you can use airline Ryan Air (3 days a week Malta-Trapani), which costs only about 10-40 euros in both directions. A Trapani is about 70 km from the capital of Sicily. From the airport you can enjoy city bus service to downtown Palermo (ticket price 12 euros) as the bus departs 30-40 minutes after landing. The other accommodation options are in Trapani with previously booked taxi from the airport to hotel (35 euros), while using Rent-a-car in Palermo in the next day. Driving in Palermo is relatively difficult - local drivers are very impatient and you will often hear horns. Regarding accommodation in Palermo, you can choose a hotel in downtown or in one of the beautiful and tranquil suburbs, next to one of the largest urban parks.

You can choose to stay 2-3 nights in a hotel, which is enough to see the historical sights with excursion buses Hop of-Hop on. The guiding text can be chosen among all Western and Russian languages. The tickets costs 20 euros and is valid for 24 hours.

Check for more Palermo and Italy resources in the Europe's Travel Directory.

Vacation in the Germany's capital city Berlin

Berlin is the capital and the largest city of Germany. Located in northeastern Germany, Berlin is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Area. The city is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. About thirty percent of Berlin's territory consists of forests, gardens, parks, lakes and rivers.

I recommend a trip to Berlin to those who are interested in history, modern trends of development of urban culture, the spirit of freedom and who want to feel like in the center of European life. With this diary of a journey to Berlin and surroundings with my ideas and recommendations you can make your own plan for the conquest of Berlin.

Information:

I, unfortunately, did not remember where the tourist information office in Berlin is situated. Perhaps, in the railway stations surroundings, but there are several stations in Berlin. In any case, you can take a map of the city and the city's program of activities from your hotel or the tourist offices in major tourist areas of the city, which you certainly will find during your stroll through Berlin.

Shopping:

Shopping in Berlin can almost everywhere: from the main shopping street Kurfyursterdamm to the central station. At the airport, take a shopping guide - a booklet named "Tax-free shopping in Berlin", which describes the most important places.

Other European capitals:

Berlin is not very close to other popular tourist cities of Europe. On East - Poland with its capital Warsaw, where you will unlikely want to go. In the south-east - the Czech Republic. But the distance to Prague is 6 hours by train, so I do not recommend such a trip as you will actually spend 2 days on the road. In my opinion, it is better to devote your vacation to Berlin and its surroundings, or to travel carefully and thoughtfully to Germany, than to jump on the neighboring country.

Anyway, if you have a spirit of adventure or dream to go to another European city outside Germany, then use the plane. Keep your eyes open and get tickets for this additional city right now on sale at Airberlin. If you are lucky, you may find flights to many cities within Europe on sale for just 29 euros. At this price, you will not find any other vehicle. Even if you are interested in the option - to land in Berlin and then fly away from Dusseldorf, the movement Berlin-Dusseldorf costs 29 euros too - this is also the cheapest way. Cheap railway tickets are also within this range, but it is unlikely that you can catch them on sale.

A brief summary of your potential entertainment in Berlin:

* On a boat on the Spree - Survey of historic and political quarters. It is said that over the weekend on board the excursion boat can see the family Bundeskanzler for morning coffee, because the boats routes pass near Bundeskantsleramt (residence of the Chancellor).

* Potsdamer Platz - a place with plenty of museums - a museum island with museums for every taste and interest

* Panorama in Berlin with television tower height of 200 meters on the Alexanderplatz.

* In Berlin there is definitely much more fun, just you may have to look for information on other sites, because for me this city is still a mystery. I go there regularly, but I can not say yet that I know Berlin. Every time I am discovering something new.

Other notable German towns near Berlin:

* Potsdam and Sanssouci Castle - UNESCO cultural heritage

* From Berlin for a couple of days you can go to Dresden - on the road-speed train will take 2 hours on the regional - 4 hours.

Check for more Berlin and Germany resources in the Europe's Travel and Tourism Directory.

What will impress you in Romania - a trip to Bucharest and Sinaia

Romania is a country in South-East Europe that offer a rich choice of tourist attractions and vacation experiences: the magnificent architecture of Bucharest, the romantic Danube Delta, the popular Romanian Black Sea resorts like Mamaia, the impressive medieval towns in Transylvania like Brasov, the world-famous Painted Monasteries in Bucovina, the traditional villages in Maramures, the majestic Carpathian Mountains, and much more.

Our Romania trip started in the capital city Bucharest. Station Nord (Bucharest North) station is a quite nice building with old architecture. Measures are taken to limit the beggars and street vendors have introduced such a fee to stay on the platform - pour half. It's quite cheap, but with this approach the station assumes much cultural form.

There is a direct connection to the subway from the station (directly from the waiting room). Bucharest metro is relatively new - it was placed into service in 1979, but is quite granular. (Four beams with about 45 stops). Unfortunately, its performance was not particularly good quality and now looks rather shabby.

Architectural subway is a socialist Art Deco, but filled with cheap materials so that it would look really good if restored. The station where we left - Stefan Mare - has read quite spartan furnishings - yellow tiles of the same material as the yellow pavement in Sofia, the most ordinary gypsum plaster walls, and most ordinary neon lights - in Sofia's South Park to the subways. Generous to myself Ceausescu was pretty frugal for his people. The trains are regular, although sometimes one can get nervous while waiting.

I was placed in the neighborhood of composers. The whole neighborhood has streets named after composers. The quarter is nice with a perfectly straight streets and geometrical located 4-5 storey blocks, and with streets and sidewalks in perfect condition.

What you will NOT find in Bucharest:
1. Chalga - instead listen to folk music, which closely resembles the Bulgarian. Continuously on TV you can see a lead in costume, leading folkloric show.
2. New construction in the old quarters and center - in some downtown buildings are beginning to repair just now. Overall, the center looks battered. I heard about new and beautiful quarters, but I have not seen any new building and a few new commercial buildings.
3. Narrow streets clogged with parked cars. Partly because of the megalomania of the leaders of Romania, partly because some saw other reasons not clogged by parked cars on small streets.
4. Working Church. I visited several churches on Sunday (!?!) and only one of them worked.
5. Tickets for public transport to be sold freely.
6. Blade commercial street.
7. Broken streets - all streets and sidewalks are in perfect condition.

Moreover, in Romania:
1. Nuclear power works
2. Cars are being produced
3. Railways are in pretty good condition
4. No currency board

Sinaia is a former royal residence, now part of the resort complex of several villages located in the Prahova valley 120 km northwest of Bucharest. The valley is easily accessible as it passes over the main rail route Bucharest - Brasov - Budapest and has trains almost every hour. Fare little surprise-60 lei per person (40 euro) in both directions. Then it turned out it was worth - the train was very comfortable with soft seats, doors are opened by machines with compressed air after pressing the button. Toilet train, although it was slightly depreciated, was in perfect purity and fully usable.

Another feature of the Romanian railways is that the trains glide very smoothly on the tracks, apparently because some technology is used to remove the annoying clatter of trains and tracks are perfect. The train rattled only when the branch went through the line moved smoothly anyway.
I landed to Sinaia at noon and the day proved to be promising. The sun was shining, the frost is melted from the roofs, the sky was completely blue and the air crisp and clear. It couldn't be better. Since the station is located in the lowest point of the valley, one had to climb some very steep stairs (about 30 meters almost vertical) to reach the resort itself. Immediately after climbing eyes you see a snowy palace, up on the left there is another, but a little higher, and shortly after that comes the medieval Monastery Sinaia (Named after Mount Sinai in the Bible). We continued to Pele and Pelishor palaces. A picturesque alley covered with pavement (much of pavement has disappeared) leads there. Almost all of the lane is clogged with souvenir stalls. Looking to buy anything but just murmur bought magnetic beads. Pele and Pelishor are not medieval palaces. They were built on the threshold of 20th century with the idea to resemble the medieval ages, so that all their beauty is a little fake, but that does not diminish their attractiveness.

Check for more Romania travel resources in the European Travel Directory.

Antalya, Turkey - the Turkish Riviera

Recumbent quietly and peacefully in the arms of the mountains and protected from the inevitability of time, the Turkish city of Antalya remains and will remain one of the most ancient and rich in historical monuments and sites.

Representing a combination of very successful and vibrant landscapes, Antalya is Europe travelers' preferred place for relaxation and fun, and offers huge opportunities for utilization of quality time spent on vacation.

The combination of mountains, sea and many rivers in Antalya accompanying long and stormy passage through the history of time have formed a real paradise corner.

Antalya's very favorable climate which seems to present just to caress tourists and vacationers actively, and to welcome them with open arms when they arrive on vacation. One of the things that Antalya has beside the long and clean beaches, is the wonderful weather even during the winter season, which is a positive factor for choosing to spend Christmas and New Year holidays in Antalya.

New Year trip in Antalya can be one of the most memorable experiences in life, because besides the many sights and incredible winter pictures which will enhance the effect beyond recognition by the advancing winter holidays, if the choice to spend the New Year is just Antalya with all its enticing holiday events and the possibility of practicing many extreme sports, time will pass away. Even likely, infatuated by the beauty and organized thousands of entertainment, is easy to forget the New Year celebration itself.

To be able to achieve its excursion primary goal after a truly picturesque New Year celebration, Antalya provides a myriad architectural landmarks, which can cause one to stare at for hours. The cultural centers and attractions offer an opportunity to intelligently drawn trip.

All positives can hardly be felt in a single trip to Antalya resort in Turkey. This place will need a few breaks for avid travelers. Only then could be fully enlightened the spirit of this very old city. Antalya, definitely worth a visit not only in time of winter holidays, but several times during different seasons. And each time, for any other trip will be open again and again with all its surprises.

Antalya is one of the brilliant goals for spending the excursion at any time of year and just should not be missed when choosing a holiday destination.

Check for more Antalya travel resources in the Europe's Travel Directory.

Santorini, Greece - a Lava Tale

The most southern Aegean archipelago - Cyclades, is relatively unknown destination for Bulgarians and Santorini (or Therra as the Greeks call it) is the most distant point from it to us. Located 128 nautical miles from the capital of Greece, Athens, which means that if you take the plane from Athens you will have one hour flight, another hour by metro from the Eleftherios Venizelos airport to the port of Piraeus and finally 8-12 hours ferry trip - depending on the company chosen to travel with. There is also a cheaper option - by bus, train or car to Athens, but then the journey becomes a double.

However, every kilometer, every penny of this trip worth it.

Santorini is the last remnant of a volcano erupted monstrously in 1600 BC. and one caused by the sinking of Atlantis, others - the decline of Minoan Crete civilization. After the last major eruption 500 years ago in the middle of the Aegean Sea remain what we see today - Santorini island crescent against its two tiny pieces of land named Tiraziya and Aspronisi.

By boarding at the port, the long winding road to Santorini seem to does not end - caldera to be climbed by bus, funicular lifts or donkey, depending on the amount of adrenaline you want to deliver. The main town on the island - Fira, is situated 330 meters above sea level. In general, rent a car is recommended when making vacation in Greek islands, but however, not on Santorini. Here the roads are steep, narrow and unimaginable serpents, posing a test of skills and most experienced driver.

Santorini is not just white houses grouped in four villages on the west coast - Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Ia. On the east side of the island - in Kamari and Perissa, the tourism machine spins at full speed. There, on beaches with black and red sand, vacation turns into a fire-dancing - volcanic beach summer gets so hot that it is impossible to walk the distance from the umbrella to the water barefoot without burning first or second degree. In the middle of the island are Pyrgos and Megalohori - sparsely populated villages with medieval architecture, numerous wineries and the Akrotiri archaeological site - a 3600 years old town, only opened in 1967 under layers of volcanic ash and stones. Walking in the footsteps of mass tourism, however, is the most stupidest thing you can do in this magical place.

If, however, there is a organized tourist attraction that worth to book, this is a boat trip to Nea Kameni. Get off the boat, climb a hundred meters, peek into the throat of a sleeping volcano - erupted five times in the last hundred years - and I ask very logical question: when will the next awakening that will sweep away the careless tourists and will immerse lava back into the realm of Poseidon?

Check for more Santorini travel resources in Europe Travel Directory.

Bergen, Norway - A North Tale

If you want to enjoy the beauty that offers the second largest city in Norway - Bergen, you'll need to stock up in advance with an umbrella, waterproof clothing and courage. But if you're lucky, you might grab the 2-3 weeks in the year when there is no rain. But as the local people say how sad it would be if a man leave a few drops of rain to deter him, because the city has so many things that you should see.

The truth is that the drops are not just a few - the average of 260-270 rainy days per year would help Bergen to win the prize "rain capital of Europe" against London and Brussels. But if we leave aside the vagaries actually worth to listen to advice and should not pass because it will actually miss the opportunity to submerge into a medieval Scandinavian tale.

In tourist guides Bergen is not accidentally defined as a "city, entered the sea in the clouds with head and heart in the right place". Located on the Norwegian Sea in the southwest of the country, Bergen is surrounded by a group of mountains which are called seven mountains. To a large extent they are "culprit" for the heavy rain that poured over the city as act as a barrier for the clouds caused by the Gulf Stream does not allow them to scatter and literally pour over it. These mountains, however, give Bergen the picturesque views of endless literally immerse in the sea snowy mountains.

The biggest natural charm, however, is to view fjords, and the town deservedly has earned the nickname official port to the fjords. They are one of the main reasons Bergen to be one of the most attractive destinations for European cruises.

One of the most charming things in the port city is the fact that it has managed to preserve its historic appearance. Created by King Olaf III in 1070, later Bergen became the first capital of Norway. The spirit of rich commercial fishing center can be felt even today in the port section, where multicolored wooden houses have been restored in the traditional style of architecture dating back 900 years after every fire. So well-deserved in 1980, the complex is on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.

Check for more Bergen travel resources in Europe Travel Directory.