GeoTravelTales: august 2015

miercuri, 26 august 2015

VENETIA – O DAAAA :D 4 zile/2012

        Pentru a ajunge in Venetia – orasul romantismului, am optat pentru avion. Aterizarea s-a facut pe aeroportul Treviso si de acolo se poate ajunge in Mestre cu autobuzul 12 Euro/pers/dus-intors (durata - 30 min). Sejurul nostru a fost de 4 zile, in august 2012. Am ales sa ne cazam in Mestre, un orasel de langa Venetia, fiind mai ieftin. Din Mestre pana in Venetia se poate ajunge cu autobuzul sau cu trenul 1,3 Euro/pers/sens (durata 10 min). Mai multe detalii despre abonamente gasiti pe www.actv.it .
       Cand am ajuns in Venetia, in autogara, nu ni s-a parut cine stie ce. Am aflat ca poti lua Vaporetto pentru a ajunge in Piata San Marco, insa am ales sa ne plimbam pana acolo pe stradutele inguste, pline de magazine de tot felul, cele cu masti sunt exceptionale. Pe cateva case sunt indicatori catre Piata, insa frumusetea orasului te va face sa uiti de ele si sa te pierzi.

Un mic canal

Magazin de masti

In cele din urma am reusit sa ajungem in Piata San Marco (dupa 2 ore)... am ramas fara cuvinte pentru cateva clipe....am stat si ne-am uitat in jur la cladirile impresionante si am ascultat formatia de muzicanti de la terasa.
Am vizitat Palatul Dogilor si Muzeele din Piata, impreuna pe un bilet de 16 Euro/pers. Cine nu are rau de inaltime poate urca si in Turn pentu 8 Euro/pers. In Basilica intrarea este 3 Euro/pers si trebuie sa va innarmati cu multa rabdare pentru ca este coada mare.

Piata San Marco

Basilica San Marco

   Preturile sunt destul de mari, insa daca aveti timp si rabdare puteti gasi cu usurinta restaurante sau bistro-uri acceptabile. Ne-am hotarat sa incercam FAIMOASA PIZZA ITALIANA, insa nu am gasit-o :)))). Toate pizzele pe care le-am gustat nu se compara nici la degetul mic cu cele din Romania. Am mancat chiar si la un restaurant de langa Piata San Marco 15 Euro o pizza, dar a fost slaba. O apa plata la 1L cumparata de la magazin este 1,5 Euro, iar una de 2L este 2 Euro. Dupa experienta cu mancarea am hotarat sa servim masa la un restaurant de langa Gara din Mestre unde 1 portie de Lasagnia este 6 Euro si am mai cumparat sandwichiuri/felii de pizza/pannini la 3 euro/buc de la patiserii.
            A 2-a zi, am plecat in excursie pe Insulele Lido, Murano si Burano cu Vaporetto 25 Euro/pers/36 ore. Se poate opta si pentru alte tipuri de abonamente.
           Prima Insula a fost Murano, am vizitat fabrica si magazinul fabricii unde erau puse la vanzare obiecte facute din sticla de murano, foarte scumpe. Apoi am luat-o la pas printre case, care pareau parasite si stradutele erau pustii. Cam dezamagitor...
           A 2-a insula, Burano, a fost supriza zilei. Este superbaaaa! Ne-am indragostit de aceasta! Casute viu colorate, exact ca o sorcova :))), stradute foarte bine intretinute, magazine cu broderii, patiserii in adevaratul sens al cuvantului, lumea foarte primitoare si zambitoare. Toate astea ne-au dat un sentiment de caldura si fericire. Nu ne mai venea sa plecam din Burano :).

Insula Burano

Ultima insula Lido, are o plaja lunga si frumoasa, am incercat sa facem baie, dar ne tot pisca ceva in apa si am renuntat :)).

Insula Lido

La intoarcere am ales sa luam Vaporetto si ne-am plimbat pe Grand Canale. Nemaipomenit! Se vede altfel de pe apa Venetia :). O gondola consta 70 Euro/canale mici sau 120 Euro/canale mici + Grand Canale.

Grand Canale

A 3-a zi, am ales sa ne plimbam pe jos prin toata Venetia. Nu exista straduta necutreerata de noi :). Canalele nu miroseau urat, dupa cum ni se spusese, parterele caselor de pe canale nu mai erau locuite probabil din cauza igrasiei si a faptului ca nivelul marii creste. Am vizitat multe basilici, insa una din ele ne-a impresionat tare mult - Basilica Sfanta Maria Gloriosa dei Frari care prezinta mai multe stiluri arhitectonice. Am ajuns apoi pe podul Rialto, o capodopera arhitecturala magnifica, in ale carui arcade gasesti magazine de bijuterii si suveniruri. Am continuat drumul spre Puntea Suspinelor, prin care condamnatii la moarte treceau, din Palatul Dogilor spre locul in care erau executati, prin a carei fereastra puteau sa isi vada pentru ultima oara familia si lumina soarelui. La o intersectie de stradute am intalnit un grup de persoane care dansau tango :D! Ca in basme! Pur si simplu, cu un casetofon, in mijlocul intersectiei! Tango! Mai romantic de atat ce poate fi? :)

La final ne-am tras sufletul :))...intr-un parculet superb cu vedere la mare. Da! Au si parculet! :)

Interior Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

Venetia ar trebui vizitata de toata lumea. Este acel lucru ce trebuie sa il faci o data in viata! Cand pasesti in ea, este ca si cum intri intr-o poveste...

BUGET 2 PERS:
Avion - 150 Euro
Cazare hotel/3 nopti/mic dejun - 260 Euro
Mancare - 140 Euro
Diverse (bilete autobuz, vapporeto, intrari obiective turistice, suveniruri) - 200 Euro
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TOTAL - 750 EURO/2 pers

MARAMURES – IUBIRE, VERDE, TRADITIE 4 zile/2014

Romania este una dintre cele mai frumoase tari din lume care isi pastreaza traditiile vii si isi prezerva natura. Va prezint – Maramures – un loc cu bogatie mitologica, privelisti uimitoare si biserici unice din lemn, situat in nordul tarii.

Excursia noastra a inceput din Bucuresti, 10 ore de condus. Drumurile au fost foarte bune, cu o exceptie: Pasul Prislop. Daca nu vreti sa va distrugeti masina stati departe de acest drum :) .


Panorama de pe Prislop

Dupa ce am ajuns in Viseul de Sus, ne-am cazat si am pornit la o plimbare pe Valea Izei, am vizitat Manastirea Barsana, una dintre cele mai inalte biserici de lemn din lume, inclusa in Patrimoniul UNESCO, taxa 5 lei/pers (intrare+fotografiere). Frumoasa putin spus!

Am fost impresionati si de Valea Izei, care ofera peisaje de vis. Ne-am plimbat si pe camp pentru a simti parfumul florilor, desi solul era moale :)).

Valea Izei

Manastirea Barsana

Interiorul Manastirii Barsana

Interiorul Manastii Barsana

Manastirea Barsana

A doua zi, am mers in Cimitirul Vesel Sapanta, de asemenea inclus in Patrimoniul UNESCO, pentru 14 lei/pers (intrare+fotografiere), situat in satul Sapanta, la 70 km de Viseul de Sus. Este unic in lume si are caracteristici diferite precum: cruci de lemn pictate in culori vii cu imagini sculptate care arata atitudinile caracteristice ale vietii fiecarui decedat si epitafe care sunt scurte poeme scrise la persoana intai ca o confesiune a decedatului insusi. Unele sunt amuzante, altele triste, dar ne-a facut placere sa citim fiecare confesiune.

Cimitirul Vesel Sapanta

Dupa aceasta vizita atat de speciala, am oprit sa vizitam Muzeul Satului din Sighetul Marmatiei. Pentru 2 lei/pers, un ansamlu de arhitectura populara si tehnici, care prezinta case vechi si anexe ale acestora specifice regiunii.

Casa din Muzeul Satului


Interiorul unei case din Muzeul Satului

A treia zi, am mers in Gara Mocanitei, pentru a ne plimba prin Parcul National al Muntilor Maramuresului, dar nu avea program in acea zi (contactati Gara inainte sa va planificati excursia), insa am hotarat sa mergem pe jos acolo. Luati-va sandwichiuri la pachet pentru ca nu veti gasi restaurante. Pe drum am trecut prin mici sate si verdele s-a aratat pretutindeni. Singurul lucru ce ne-a deranjat a fost sunetul drujbelor care se auzea din spatele muntilor si nu inceta. Cred ca localnicii doboara copacii :(.

Valea Vaserului

A patra zi, am pornit spre Bucuresti si am oprit sa vizitam satul Viscri si Biserica fortificata Viscri, cea mai veche biserica transilvaneana fortificata, de asemenea face parte din Patrimoniul UNESCO, intrarea 5 lei/pers. Daca incercati sa cautati satul, pe multe harti nu se regaseste, parca este scos din basme si asezat in Romania! Pana si Printul Charles a cumparat o casa aici si face tot ce ii sta in putinta sa il prezerve. Am fost tare bucurosi sa vedem ca localnicii inca isi faceau vechile meserii: crosetat, fierarit, olarit, etc. Am simtit ca ne-am intors in urma cu 100 de ani :) .

Satul Viscri

Biserica fortificata Viscri

Interiorul Bisericii fortificate Viscri

Urcati? :)

Panorama din turnul Bisericii fortificate Viscri

Cand calatoresc in Romania, mi se pare din ce in ce mai frumoasa pe zi ce trece.

BUGET/2 pers:

Benzina – 580 Lei

Cazare 3 nopti – 360 Lei

Mancare – 450 Lei

Diverse (bilete intrari, suveniruri) – 90 Lei

TOTAL/2 PERS – 1480 Lei

vineri, 21 august 2015

MARAMURES – LOVE, GREEN, TRADITION 4 days/2014

Romania it's one of the most beautiful countries in the world who keeps alive it's traditions and preserves it's nature. In this article, I present to you – Maramures – a land of mythological richness, unbeliveble landscapes and unique wooden churches, situated in the northen.

Our trip started from Bucharest, in octomber, 10 hours drive. The roads were very good, with one exception: Prislop Step. If you don't want to distroy your car stay away from this road :).


View from Prislop

After we arrived in Viseu de Sus, we made our check-in and we went for a ride on Iza valley and we visited Barsana Monastery, one of tallest wooden churches in the world, included in the UNESCO's World Heritage, for 1 euro/pers (ticket+fotoshooting). I must say, it's beyond beauty :) ! We were also amazed by Iza valley which has impressive landscapes. We even walked on the field full of flowers to feel it's fragrance although the ground was soft :)).

Iza valley

Barsana Monastery

The second day, we went to Sapanta Merry Cemetery, also included in UNESCO World Heritage, for 3 euro/pers (ticket+fotoshooting), situated in Sapanta village, 70 km away from Viseul de Sus. It's unique in the world and it has different characteristics like: wooden crosses painted in vivid colors with carved images that shows the characteristic attitudes of the deceased's lifetime's and with epitaphs which are short poems written in the first person like a confession of the deceased himself. Some are funny some are sad, but we enjoyed reading every confession.

Sapanta Merry Cemetery

After this one of a kind visit :), we stopped to visit the Village Museum from Sighetul Marmatiei, for 0,5 euro/pers, an assembly of folk architecture and technics, which presents a set of old houses and annexes specific to the region.

House from Village Museum


House interior from Village's Museum

The 3rd day, we went to Mocanita's Station, to go for a ride in the National Park of Maramures Mountains, but that day it was closed (call them before planning your trip) and we decided afterall to walk 'till there. Take sandwichies with you because there aren't restaurants. On the way there are little villages and a lot of green :). The only thing that was bothering us was the sound of the chainsaws which were coming from behind the mountains and it never stopped. I think locals are cutting trees :(.

Vaser valley

The 4^th day, on the way back to Bucharest, we stopped to visit Viscri viilage and Viscri Fortified Church, the oldest fortified transilvanian church, also Unesco's World Heritage, for 1 euro/pers. If you look for it on several maps it doesn's say nothing about it. The village it's like taken from a fairy tale and located in Romania! Even Prince Charles bought a house in this amazing village and does all his best to preserve it. We were happy to see that the locals were doing their same ancient crafts: crochet, smith, pottery, etc. We felt like we were back in time 100 years ago.

Viscri village

Viscri Fortified Church

Viscri Fortified Church interior

Going up? :)

Viscri Fortified Church view

I must say that every time we travel in Romania it seems increasingly more beautiful day by day! :)

Budget/2 pers:

Gas – 130 Euro

Accomodation – 80 Euro

Food – 100 Euro

Others (tickets, souvenirs) – 20 Euro

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TOTAL - 330 Euro/2 pers

BEAUTIFUL DUBLIN 2 days/2014

In Dublin we landed in february, it were 8 degrees Celsius, sunny and all green. Nature was not dead like back in Romania (winter time) and that made us happy, it is a nice feeling when you leave from a desolate landscape and you arrive in another one full of colours and life. Our friends picked us up from airport and it took us 20 minutes to arrive in Dublin. When we arrived we were inpressed by the city's arhitecture. English specific, buildings no more than 4 floors, renovated or built after the same plan.

We started from the center of the city and we visited Trinity College, the most famous university in Irland, we scoured all shops :D. all arranged in chain, like in Bucharet's old city center, but better organized. Then we lingered a little in Temple Bar, the oldest bar in capital, where we served tea with milk, like irish people do, but it was not on our taste :P. I watched how relaxed they were, some accompanied the singer, they really achieved to induce us that good state. After this, we went to a canteen to have lunch (chicken wrap+french fries+soda+coffee-12 euro/person).

Trinity College

Temple Bar

Then we walked along Liffey river, during which we observed how open-mind and friendly irish people are: a lady just stopped me and admired my hat :D ! We also observed the city cleanliness, I didn't sow one package or cigarette butt.

In the evening we stoppedover at Restaurant 777, with mexican specific, it has steep prices (50 euro/person), but it deserves because the food is delicious.

Liffey river

Post Office

Restaurant 777

The second day, was raining and the wind was blowing, we went to Dublinia Museum which is dedicated to vikings and to city's medieval age, entrance 8 euro/person. We received a map with the Museum's 3 areas: at ground floor – vikings history, first floor – Dublin's medieval history and at the second floor you can see archaeological evidence of the first 2 areas. In every room there are interactive displays that tell the story of the vikings, and their musical background that make you get into the characters. Near the Museum it is Christ's Church, imposing and of a rare beauty. We didn't gt the chance to visit it, you should check it's schedule before because it closes early in winter time.

In the evening friends took us to Johnnie Fox's Pub near Dublin, very old which dates back from 1798, where we served spaghetti carbonara (15 euro/person), piglet chops and Guiness beer (25 euro/person). If you go on Saturday you can catch irish dances! :D

This way we want to thank our friends for the hospitality they've showed us!