Tag Archives: travel

Vegetarian Delights … four veggie alternatives

In last weeks food post about the Austrian Cuisine I talked about the “Big Four” and none of them offered an alternative for Vegetarians or people who want to reduce their meat consumption. Today I want to offer you with some great alternatives, which are not sweet. Austria is famous for its Sweet dishes and I will come to them later on …

Here are my four nominations for Vegetarians:

Krautfleckerl:

This is a traditional dish from Vienna, which came to Vienna through Bohemia. It is some sort of Austrian Pasta (the Fleckerl) with white cabbage. Krautfleckerl are not really a posh meal, but I like them and they are great after a day of hiking or walking through a city. Be aware that you might sometime get a version with minced meat and Cheese, so ask if you want to avoid meat at all cost.

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Traditional Hay Poles in Eastern Tyrol

Hay rack

Hay Poles waiting for their use in Innervillgraten, Tyrol

Today I want to present another picture out of my archive. This shot was taken in Innervillgraten, Eastern Tyrol. It shows traditional hay poles that are waiting to be used to dry the grass into hay. You do not see them too often anymore, but in the Villgraten-Valley they still do farming in a traditional way. Here the grass is cut, dried and then put onto the poles by hand. Now the rain can only wet the outer parts of the hay … in Winter the hay will be moved to the barns using sledges.

Hay stacked on Hay poles

Hay stacked on Hay Poles in Innervillgraten

The Villgraten Valley is especially famous for its sheep farmers and if you ever happen to be there you should not miss out on the Gannerhof, probably my favorite restaurant in Austria.

More articles that feature Tyrol

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Get to know Edinburgh like a local

I am happy to present another guest post today, it was written by Nicolas, an American who has a lot of European experience – he lived in Scotland recently and he gives us some insights into Edinburgh:

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is nestled in the central belt region of the country between a collection of gorgeous historical villages and medieval relics. It’s filled with an ancient heritage that really is as old as the hills, as well as new architecture that has sprung up from the cracks, and is packed with plenty of culture, activities and parties to keep the wandering traveller settled for a few months.

Enjoy the Edinburgh entertainment!

Edinburgh is renowned the world-over for its entertainment. Hogmanay is the biggest night of the year with street festivals, huge parties and on-going events but the rest of the year won’t disappoint. Expect to find cultural festivals and night-life parties that are scheduled throughout the year (come rain or snow) as well as many street performers that will entertain you during the day. Many restaurants and pubs come alive well before midday, and Edinburgh boasts a collection of fringe and mainstream clubs to satisfy any musical cravings. The party here doesn’t stop, and it’s worth sticking around to enjoy the family-friendly events as well.

Things you should see in Edinburgh

It goes without saying that you should visit the Royal Mile. It’s the stretch of roads that go from the Castle down to Holyrood House (both worth a visit, too) and it’s packed with charming little shops and houses as well as some big names like Starbucks. This is a great place to stay if you like being in the heart of the action and renting a flat is a great option for those who want to enjoy the sites of Edinburgh for a bit longer than a three-day weekend. The Royal Mile is typically geared towards tourists with shops toting tartan apparel and fudge but there are some lesser-known treasures as well. Pop into Mary King’s Close while you’re there and take part in a shriekingly disturbing ghost tour for famous Scottish scares and hauntings. Other important sights include the Rosslyn Chapel (of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ fame), Arthur’s Seat (excellent views on top of an extinct volcano) and the Camera Obscura (which affords a 360’ view of the city!).

Castlehill forming part of the Royal Mile. In ...

Castlehill forming part of the Royal Mile. In the center is The Hub, housing an information service for the Edinburgh International Festival. On the right is The Scotch Whisky Experience. On the left is the Camera Obscura and shops. Photo by Gregg M. Erickson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Things you should eat in Edinburgh

Scotland is famous for a number of things, but none less important than its black pudding, deep-friend desserts and ‘bangers & mash’. Monster Mash is a tiny little bistro restaurant that offers up a multitude of mash and banger combinations (swede mash is particularly good), and you can get deep-fried desserts at speciality restaurants in the centre of town. Keep a look-out for their popular vodka burgers, and be ready to drink everything down with a generous helping of Scottish Whisky.

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Renting a flat in Edinburgh doesn’t have to be a costly affair: flats and rental accommodation in New Town is affordable, if not cheap, and the closer you get to the bigger sites the more expensive things get. You might consider staying close to the action and renting a flat with friends as you’ll soak up more of the culture and nightlife, but it’s easy enough to walk the width or breadth of Edinburgh if you’re looking to save a few pennies.

Nicolas is a travel writer and all round globetrotter originally from New York but is now specialized specifically on the United Kingdom but also Europe and the Mediterranean in general. He has traveled extensively throughout the UK, Scotland being his most recent stop where he spent for 4 months last year.

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Lindau – a picture perfect city at Lake Constance

Lindau is one of the most beautiful places at Lake Constance. This city belongs to Bavaria and is located on the North-Eastern side of the lake. The medieval City Centre is located on a small island in Lake Constance which is connected to the mainland through a bridge.

English: View overlooking Lindau, Lake Constan...

Lindaus existence was first mentioned 882, in a document of a monk from nearby St. Gallen. Later first churches and a monastery was founded and 1274/75 Lindau became an Imperial Free City in the Holy Roman Empire. In 1804 it became part of the Austrian Empire (for one year) and since then it belongs to Bavaria.

Lindaus great location and its rich history make it a perfect place to visit. In summer you can reach it by boat service, as there are several regular boat lines that connect all the cities at Lake Constance. This is one of the first great places to take pictures, too. The entrance to the harbour is guarded by a light tower on one side and a statue of the Bavarian Lion on the other.

Harbor entrance with Bavarian Lion and New Lig...

Image via Wikipedia

There are nice restaurants and you can enjoy the view from Lindau over the lake towards Bregenz (Austria).

But you should enter the medieval centre of the city, too, as there are lots of beautiful houses to be seen. Especially nice is the Maximillian-Strasse in the centre, it features colonnades and you will be amazed by the many details that can be found. The old city hall is also very impressive, its front side features a painting which tells the history of Lindau. There are still parts of the old city wall existing and the remaining towers will provide a great background for commemorative pictures.

As Lindau is part of Bavaria you should not miss out to taste some Bavarian “Weiss-Wurst” (sausage)  – it is traditionally accompanied by White Beer – and I strongly recommend you to follow this tradition. Vegetarians could swap the Sausage for a “Obatzter” (cheese-spread)

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5 great Places to grab a beer in Innsbruck

Recently I wrote about architectural travels to Innsbruck and gave some information about the places I love to visit when in Innsbruck.

Today is Saint Patricks Day and to celebrate this I am going to follow up with my favorite places in Innsbruck to have a beer.

1. Krahvogel:

This bar is near to the Town hall in the Anichstrasse. Krahvogel has a huge variety of different beers – bottled and on tap. You get some decent Austrian Beer, but you can also have some of the best from the rest of the world, with a strong focus on Europe. I also love their food offer …  This is the place I visit almost every time I am in Innsbruck.

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Sightseeing around the Brandenburger Tor

Saturday I managed to see some amazing places in Berlin. I got up rather late, as the days before were exhausting and I was disappointed to see, that it was raining. But anyways, there is nothing like bad weather for a traveller and I hit the road. First I got myself some breakfast to charge my batteries. Afterwards I walked a rather long distance through the streets of Berlin. First I walked towards the Spree-Insel, where the most famous museums of Berlin are located. They are located next to the Berlin Dom. Unfortunately they were rather busy, and as I had an appointment to visit the Reichstags-/Bundestag Building I decided to do something else. I took the Bus towards Brandenburger Tor.

Brandenburger Tor is the last gate remaining from the old city walls. It is probably the most famous landmark in Berlin and therefore was very busy. It was just on the Eastern Side of the Berlin Wall and the street towards East “Unter den Linden” got a major renovation after the German Unification. You can find the Hotel Adlon there, and there are also a lot of embassies located in this area: e.g. the French, the US or the Russian embassy. Continue reading

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Arrived in Berlin

Today I arrived in Berlin, where I will attend the ITB, which starts tomorrow.

I wrote a post about my decision, to take the train to Berlin some weeks ago and it was a long journey, but it was a pleasant one.

Some remarks about the Deutsche Bahn: the staff is very friendly and they know what they are doing. I especially liked the guy from the board restaurant, who invited the passengers to visit his restaurant at every stop, in a quite funny way.

What came as a surprise to me was, that the Wifi was not for free. Its rather difficult for people who are not customers of the German Telecom to use it.

I was especially impressed by the Frankfurt Skyline, which can be seen from the train rather well.

I have not seen to much of Berlin so far, as I only checked in at my Hotel and visited a sports bar to have some dinner and watch Arsenal vs Milan.

Tomorrow I will visit the first day of the ITB – so stay tuned …

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Paris Travel Tips and Apartments Guide

Paris, the City of Light, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The entire city is practically a landmark, but there are several key attractions which stand out and should be on every visitor’s must-see list.

Attractions

1.) The Eiffel Tower – Known as the Tour Eiffel by locals, the Eiffel Tower is perhaps the most iconic site in Paris. Trips to the top require a large amount of patience and come with a big price tag. For many tourists these points are not a deterrent, but if you’re on a budget or if you’re short on time, then you should consider experiencing the Eiffel Tower from the outside. There are several grassy areas available in which you can lay down and take in a stunning view of the majestic landmark.

2.) Paris Catacombs – If you enjoy learning about history in a slightly macabre context, then a trip to the Paris Catacombs is definitely recommended. You’ll descend down 130 steps to reach the Catacombs, where you’ll be greeted by an artistic display of the skeletal remains of millions of ancient Parisians. The Catacombs are great for a hot summer day, as the temperature is much cooler when you go that far below the surface.

Catacombs of Paris

Image via Wikipedia

 The photo above shows a typical view from the Paris Catacombs.

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_catacombes.jpg

3.) Louvre Museum – The Louvre is an art museum which houses some of the most extraordinary works of art that the world has ever seen. Highlights include the enigmatic Mona Lisa and pieces from Raphael and Michelangelo. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, and after a day spent within its walls you’ll easily understand why.

English: Courtyard of the Louvre Museum, with ...

Image via Wikipedia

The photo above shows the entrance to the Louvre Museum, Paris.

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_July_2011-27a.jpg

Tips

1.) Getting Around Town – The Metro is an extremely efficient way to travel while you’re in Paris. If you’ll be using the Metro a lot, then you should consider purchasing a carnet, which is a bundle pack of ten tickets. Please note that the automatic Metro ticket machines in the main train stations sometimes have difficulty accepting American credit cards.

2.) Accommodations – Renting one of the many available holiday apartments in Paris is a fantastic way to save money while also experiencing the Paris lifestyle. If you’re looking for more space, there are also several French holiday homes to choose from. With a fully equipped kitchen you’ll be able to prepare your own meals, and you can take a picnic with you when you go to look at the Eiffel Tower. Having a picnic with the iconic landmark in front of you will be a memory that you’ll talk about for years to come; for a romantic twist, have a picnic dinner as the sun is setting.

3.) Free Museum Day – Most Paris museums offer free admission to visitors on the first Sunday of the month. Lines can be extremely long, especially at the Louvre, but if you’re on a budget and you’re able to get in line early in the day, then the savings can be well worth the wait.

4.) Take to the Streets – To truly experience Paris you should definitely spend some time walking through the city’s streets. Taking a stroll along the River Seine is particularly beautiful, and you’ll also encounter several of Paris’ talented street performers.

By following these tips you’re certain to have the vacation experience of a lifetime. Paris is truly unique, and the more time that you plan for your visit there the better, but even if you only have one day Paris is definitely worth visiting.

This article was written by Alan Horton. He is a regular author of travel and social media articles, to view more of Alan’s work click on his Google+ profile

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Busy week ahead – ITB Berlin

On Tuesday I will travel to Berlin as I visit the ITB Berlin, the biggest tourism fair world wide. I am looking forward to this, as I meet a lot of interesting people and hope to get some boost for my business. I will try to give you some insights about the ITB. To start with I will give you some facts and figures, so you know a little bit about the backgrounds of the ITB.

  • ITB stands for Internationale Tourismus Börse – international tourism exchange. It was founded in 1966 and is held annually in Berlin.
  • 2012 ITB starts on March 7th and ends on March 11th. The last two days are open to the public, the first three days are for tourism professionals.
  • The fair is spread over an area of 160.000 square meters, with over 11.000 exhibitors that have stands at this years ITB – they represent business from over 180 countries of the world.
  • 2011 there were 169.295 visitors and 110.791 trade visitors.

To visit a fair of this extend needs a lot of preparation – I have a lot of meetings on Thursday. Wednesday I will try to visit some of the most interesting stands (in my oppinion) and Friday is my back-up day. I guess I will not attend on Saturday, as I would love to visit some places in Berlin …

Tomorrow I have another guest entry scheduled – the rest of the week will be concentrating on the ITB and Berlin …

If anyone reading here is also attending ITB, please drop me a message, if your available for a cup of coffee. It´s on me …

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5 Architectural Highlights to see in Innsbruck

Bergisel Schanze (Architect: Zaha Hadid), Inns...

Innsbruck is famous for its medieval pedestrian area in the City Centre, which surrounds the “Goldene Dachl” – you will not find to many tourists, that leave Innsbruck without a picture in front of this landmark taken. But there is also a different Innsbruck – places where you can see modern architecture, created by some of the most famous Architects in the world. I would like to point out the five most important buildings to see – most of them do not only offer great architecture, but also unique sights to the mountains and the city.

1. Berg Isel Ski Jump

The Berg Isel is well known as it hosted the opening ceremony of two Olympic Winter Games – above it sits the huge Berg Isel Ski Jump. This was completely rebuild in 2001/2002. It was planned by Star Architect Zaha Hadid. The Jump can be seen from a lot of places in the City and you will see, that it has lights that change colors on, during the night. On top of the Ski Jump there is a panoramic restaurant and a viewing platform – they allow great views towards Innsbruck and the mountains behind it on one side, and to the Vipptal (direction towards Brenner) on the other side.

2. Town Hall

Architect Dominic Perrault planned the new town hall, which was built between 1996 and 2002. This town hall is more than just a community building – it features shopping arcades, restaurants, a hotel and offices. Its roofs are partly made of glass, therefore it opens itself to the City. There are especially great views from the two restaurants on top of two Glass towers – the Lichtblick (restaurant) and the 360° (a bar)

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