Trips
On the mouth of Mlynicka valley, at the foothills of west High Tatras, rests Slovakia’s most popular mountain retreat, the glacial lake of Strbske or Strbske Pleso as it is widely known. Surrounded by huge Norway spruces and tall firs, with the bright red September pomes of an occasional rowan tree popping out of the…
An early heat wave that hit Greece last June has claimed five lives, including the famous British journalist Michael Mosley, and with another three people missing the death toll may rise. Sadly, it is not the first time that tourists have lost their lives due to hyperthermia, one of the most tragic being the death…
I’d never intended to visit Kinsale, but more times than not, unexpected encounters prove to be the most fruitful. Wandering around the gloomy city of Cork for a couple of days, I was scouting the county for a gripping seascape to shoot, and my research eventually led me to Old Head of Kinsale at the…
The forecast said it was going to snow, and indeed, thick flakes had started to fall with the first light of the day. I was looking at them slowly drifting down, layering the dark cobblestone outside the window, thinking what I should do next. It was a frosty but welcoming morning. I grabbed my camera…
Bratislava has an array of excellent museums and galleries to visit, but the most prominent, in my opinion, is actually a few kilometers outside the Slovakian capital, where the borders of Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria meet. There, engulfed in a green landscape right on river Danube, built on an artificial peninsula next to Cunovo dam,…
Every year around the end of November, hundreds of Christmas markets all over Europe light up, signaling the advent of the world’s biggest holiday. For forty or so days, thousands of small wooden stalls fill the streets and squares, sending their heartwarming smells of chestnut and mulled wine across the atmosphere. Christmas markets, as we…
Larnaca is the third biggest city in Cyprus which in turn is the third biggest island of the Mediterranean Sea. Boasting golden beaches, a delicious food scene, and a surprisingly vivid nightlife, Larnaca is not your average European destination. The city has a Middle Eastern essence and its proximity to the turbulent region is evident…
Slovakia is often praised for its pristine nature which is consisted of virgin forests and fierce mountain lines among which High Tatras is the most renowned. The country’s ski resorts on the other hand are many times overlooked. Yes, they surely aren’t as big and lush as neighbouring Austria’s but still they are good enough…
Cyprus has always been a winemaking country traditionally producing table wine, with the notable exception of Commandaria. During the last two decades though, the island has seen the rebirth of the local varieties and the flourish of several small winemakers who by aiming higher, have actually achieved to raise the local wine scene and consequently…
Samsung S10 hit the market earlier this month and everybody now is expecting to see how these impressive specs translate in real life. No doubt, Samsung’s flagship is a great phone but how does it perform as a camera? Can you solely rely on it for capturing your travels and photographic adventures? The company claims…
Sure, your phone is capable of taking pretty good photos, but are you always happy with them, or do they leave you wanting more? The fact that manufacturers have made great leaps during last years means that there is so much more potential to be extracted from phone photography now than ever before. In order…
First Race of the Year Every year between January and March, at the south foot of Low Tatras in Slovakia, a thrilling championship takes place. It’s the annual races of Krnohy—the traditional Slovak wooden sledges. These heavy sledges are stirred by two unstrapped daredevils who race down a steep snow road—usually through the woods, while…
Is it better to invest in a flagship phone or get a camera? It’s quite a dilemma and the fact that both devices have improved greatly in the past few years, doesn’t make the choice easier. Let me say in advance that if you never watch your images outside your phone or tablet then the…
I have always loved autumn for several reasons. It’s the time of the year that marks the end of a cycle and the beginning of a fresh one more intensely than any other season. Autumn comes just in time to save us from the intolerable heat of summer, and its frenetic energy which by the…
Shooting a city’s streets always poses a big dilemma in photography. Black & white or color? In the case of Madrid, the answer was clear from the beginning. Even though the city has some amazing Art Deco buildings that would shine in monochrome, still it yells color. And above all, so do its inhabitants. I…
I had always been curious about Madrid. After visiting Barcelona and loving it, I was eager to see how the rival city compared. And I was not let down. Madrid is as beautiful and seductive as Barcelona but in an entirely different, almost opposite way. They kind of complement each other and that didn’t come…
Food in Madrid From fresh sea food and rich stews, to simple but palatable omelettes and mature cold cuts; food in Madrid offers everything an epicure could dream of. Countless restaurants and tapas bars all over the city, serve a wide variety of dishes, more times than not, at a great prices. This food guide…
Just east of the imposing High Tatras—Slovakia’s proudest mountain range, on top of a lofty hill, lies the mighty Spis Castle. Though a ruin today, the castle’s strength is still evident on its thick walls and rugged towers. Vast in size it occupies most of the hill casting its shadow on the nearby village of…
Dunquin If a distillation came out of Ireland — its pure essence concentrated in a single place, that would be Dunquin. The next parish to America, as they used to call it, is the westernmost village of the Irish mainland, right on the tip of Dingle peninsula where the prolific green of the meadows is…
Less than three hours driving north of Bucharest, behind the mighty Carpathians, lies the city of Brasov—one of the seven walled citadels the Saxons built in Transylvania when it was under Hungarian rule. Transylvanian Saxons who were of German ethnicity, had the fame of expert craftsmen and tradesmen, so as soon as they settled the…
Sibiu is a picturesque medieval city located in the renowned Romanian region of Transylvania. The city’s historical center, which holds most of the interest, lies on the east bank of Cibin river and is divided into the pastel colored Lower town and the more strict and upper class, you guessed it, Upper town. Hermannstadt—as Sibiu…
Cemeteries more often than not, tend to cast a shadow on people’s hearts. No other site is so emotionally attached to humans and the bitter pill they have to swallow from the first day they come into this world — death. So, how can something that reflects our mortality be so calm and beautiful at…
Cork is known for many things—Murphy’s Irish stout and the rivalry with Dublin among others—the former probably contributing to the latter. It’s an Irish city full of character, with a beautiful island in the center which is surrounded by the channels of River Lee. As a teen I knew Cork because of one of its…
I was eager to see Bucharest for the first time but on the same time I wasn’t sure what to expect. Romania is not entirely in Balkans, nor is completely a central European country. Historically it was part of the Eastern Bloc but after a certain point it kept its distance from Moscow. All these…
Jasna is Slovakia’s biggest and most renowned ski resort. Like all winter spots, it has a distinctive festive coziness which I like, so me and Veronika decided to spend three days there as part of our last winter escape. Having grown up in a Mediterranean country, I will always be impressed by northern lands with…
After a very long absence, I returned to the Greek islands and specifically to Syros, in the heart of Cyclades—a group of islands three hours from Athens, mostly known for the Cycladic civilization and the cosmopolitan islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Like every island in the Aegean Sea, Syros has a defining characteristic—its Latin influence.…
Casa Luxembourg is located at the corner of Piața Mică and the Bridge of Liars in a beautiful historical building This small hotel is full of baroque charm and magnificent views. Two minutes form Sibiu’s large square and the stunning church of Holy Trinity. My Superior double room was so big you could play football…
Stephanie is a friend and fellow blogger from the US who now lives in Europe. She combined her love for history and travel by creating HistoryFangirl.com where someone can read all about her adventures around the globe and her passion for history. She is also a great photographer and maintains a regular podcast worth listening.…
Deep in the heart of Greece, at the north western edge of the fertile Thessalian plain, is a place of mystical awe and medieval mystery. Meteora is the plural of a Greek adjective meaning “hovering above ground.” This word perfectly describes a number of monasteries that are built on the top of monumental monoliths made…
Photo Story All cities have character but not all cities have “characters” as Bruce Gilden likes to call them. Some cities aren’t very photogenic at first glance and some cities show it off on every corner. Tel Aviv definitely belongs to the latter and I fully took advantage of it during the three days I…