Český Krumlov, The Czech Republic

In South Bohemia in the Czech Republic, is a small town featuring a castle on a hill, a small river flowing right through its middle and quant streets with picturesque pastel buildings. It is often referred to as Europe’s most beautiful town. Welcome to Český Krumlov four hours south of Prague, it’s bisected by the Vltava River and watched over by a 13th-century castle. While there are a number of people who will argue over the title of Europe’s most beautiful town it is without question in the top ten.

The historic center of the town was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1992. The castle incorporates Gothic, Renaissance and baroque elements, and includes a large garden and an original 17th-century baroque theater. Český Krumlov has mostly remained unchanged over the course of centuries and is one of Europe’s best examples of a historic European town. There were many such towns all over Central Europe, but most of them suffered damages during wars or their architectural heritage was destroyed in order to make space for more “modern” buildings.

Český Krumlov has worked at preserving its heritage by keeping old architecture and maintaining the original street layout. Just walking the streets and admiring the beautiful old architecture is an experience. The town is actually located on a horseshoe bend of the Vltava river and often gets very busy as it is a favorite location for canoeing and rafting, especially on weekends. Add to that more than a million tourists visiting each year and the town can be crowded at times.

Český Krumlov Castle (Státní hrad a zámek Český Krumlov) is the most important feature of the town. Its history dates back to the 13th century when it was founded by the Vítkovci (Witigonen) family. It was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. At that time the castle was owned by the Rosenbergs. Members of this family were prominent Bohemian aristocracy and many of them were great patrons of the arts.

The Emperor Rudolf II of the House of Habsburg bought the Český Krumlov dominion in the early 17th century. Its current form of a large Baroque residence castle owes to Johann Christian I von Eggenberg, who undertook its remodeling in the 1680s.

The bloodline of the Eggenbergs died out in 1719 and the town with the castle became property of the Schwarzenbergs. After World War II it was transferred to the Czechoslovak government. It remains in state-ownership today. It is the second largest castle complex in Czechia (after Prague Castle) and one of the largest in Europe.

There is an entrance fee providing access to a number of historic exhibits. One of the favorite sights in the castle is its unique Baroque Theatre and the characteristic round castle tower is open to be climbed for spectacular views of the town.

The Church of St. Vitus (Kostel svatého Víta) also stands out on the town skyline, competing with the castle. The church was built in the Gothic style in the early 15th century.

Unity Square (Náměstí Svornosti) is the center of the historic Town. The beautiful square features a Renaissance town-hall from the 16th century and a Marian plague column making the square one of the most beautiful town squares in all of the Czech Republic if not all of Central Europe.

Latrán is another section near the Inner Town located in the northeastern part of the town, near the castle. There is a high concentration of Gothic and Renaissance buildings in the Latrán quarter.

Basilica of the National Vow Quito, Ecuador

The Basilica of the National Vow is a new Gothic style cathedral, considered to be the most significant religious site in Ecuador in terms of design, and one of the most impressive in South Americas. This basilica was inspired by Notre Dame in Paris; its construction began in 1892 and was completed in 1988. The Basilica of the National Vow is famous for its gargoyles on the facade, featuring numerous animals of Ecuador like alligators, turtles, boobies, monkeys, pumas and more.

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Port Call Copenhagen, Denmark

The city’s historic centre is remarkable with culture, great restaurants, attractions and fun things to do. To enjoy Copenhagen consider visiting Tivoli Gardens, exploring Nyhavn, checking out the Little Mermaid statue, visit Christiansborg Palace, and take a canal tour.

The heart of this city is Copenhagen Central Station, bordering the trendy Vesterbro. It is a gateway to all public transportation in and around Copenhagen. There you will find buses, taxis, local S-trains as well as regional trains which will take you to the airport. Copenhagen Central Station is home to a post office, supermarket, bakery, food service, a pharmarcy, shopping center, baby changing facilities, bathrooms, showers and luggage storage.

Where Your Ship Docks

Copenhagen has three cruise terminals: Langelinie, Nordre Toldbod and Ocean Quay. Both Langelinie and Nordre Toldbod are near to the city center and offer good walking routes along the waterfront. If your ship is docked at Langelinie don’t miss taking a short walk along the water passing right by the famous Little Mermaid statue.

Transportation

Copenhagen has an efficient public transportation system that includes buses, trains, and metro. You can buy tickets at ticket machines located at train stations, metro stations, and many bus stops. It’s also possible to purchase tickets through the DOT web site HERE or with the DOT Mobilbilletter app. Visitors interested in using public transportation should purchase a City Pass which includes unlimited travel on buses, trains, and metro for a set number of days, starting at DKK 80 (approximately US$13) per day. It’s worth noting that children under the age of 12 travel for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. It’s very important to remember to validate your ticket before boarding. For more information or to buy tickets click HERE.

To get from Langelinie to the city center take bus route 26 that runs from Langelinie to the city center and takes approximately 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a train from Østerport Station, which is about a 15-minute walk from Langelinie,

To get from Ocean Quay into the city center, take the metro from the nearby stop called “DR Byen” and get off at “Kongens Nytorv” station. From there, you can easily walk to many of the city’s attractions or transfer to other public transportation options.

From Nordre Toldbod take a bus, which has regular schedules and stops at various locations in the city center.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – Depending on where your ship docks disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with in all locations. Generally Copenhagen has a well developed wheelchair friendly infrastructure. The port area is flat or has few inclines. Intersection crosswalks have few issues with curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

Currency

The local currency is the Danish Krone with 1 Krone is equal to $0.15 US Dollar. Credit cards are welcome and ATMs are plentiful. Of special note is the Danish use of digital paying. Even vending machines only accept tap and pay usually from cell phones.

Attractions

First Copenhagen has many sights to see and activities with many of them free:

  • Visit the Little Mermaid statue, which is one of the most famous landmarks in Copenhagen and is free to see.
  • Check out the colorful houses of Nyhavn, which is a picturesque harbor area with plenty of photo opportunities.
  • Take a stroll in the beautiful Botanical Garden, which is home to over 13,000 species of plants.
  • Explore the historic district of Frederiksstaden, which is filled with beautiful architecture and landmarks such as Amalienborg Palace and the Marble Church.
  • Visit the National Museum of Denmark, which has free admission and showcases Danish history and culture.
  • Christiansborg Palace
  • Amalienborg Palace – visit for the changing of the guard each day at noon.
  • Experience 800 years of royal history at the awe-inspiring Christiansborg Palace.
  • Walk along the Strøget, which is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe and is perfect for people watching.

Visit 6 museums on 1 ticket at Parkmuseerne museum district

Parkmuseerne is Copenhagen’s green museum district with six museums situated in and around three historical parks in the city center.

  • Tivoli Gardens – Magical Tivoli Gardens is Copenhagen’s central theme park. And one of the oldest in the world.
  • The David Collection Copenhagen – The largest collection of Islamic art in Scandinavia.
  • The Hirschsprung Collection – This glorious gallery showcases Danish art from the 19th and early 20th century, including the best of the Danish Golden Age.
  • Natural History Museum of Denmark – Marvel at meteorites, fossils and a piece of the moon at this natural history museum.
  • SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark – Denmark’s largest art gallery, SMK has an outstanding collection of Danish and international art.
  • Rosenborg Castle – A royal hermitage set in the King’s Garden in the heart of Copenhagen.
  • Take a bike ride along the many bike paths throughout the city, which is a great way to see Copenhagen like a local.

Food

Copenhagen is known for its diverse food scene, blending traditional Danish cuisine with international flavors. Here are some popular food and drink options to try in Copenhagen:

  • Smørrebrød: This traditional Danish open-faced sandwich typically consists of rye bread topped with various toppings such as pickled herring, smoked salmon, or roast beef.
  • Danish pastries: Copenhagen is home to some of the best bakeries in the world, offering a wide variety of delicious pastries such as cinnamon rolls, danishes, and kringle.
  • Hot dogs: Copenhagen has a long-standing love affair with hot dogs, which can be found at street vendors throughout the city.
  • Craft beer: Denmark is known for its craft beer scene, and Copenhagen has a wide variety of breweries and beer bars to choose from.
  • Aquavit: This traditional Scandinavian spirit is often served as an aperitif or digestif and pairs well with many Danish dishes.
  • Coffee: Copenhagen takes its coffee seriously, and there are many cafes throughout the city serving up high-quality coffee and pastries.

Legoland, Florida’s Other Theme Park

A little over an hours drive from Disney World or Busch Gardens, Tampa is another theme park with special appeal for the three to eight year old set and it won’t bust the family budget. Located on the grounds of the old and iconic Cypress Gardens this Legoland has a decidedly Florida flavor.

 While it has a few nice thrill rides like an old fashioned roller coaster and a drop tower ride, the bulk of the entertainment is intended for a younger and more timid crowd. Lego cars and a Lego train ride. A mechanical Lego horse track (picture), bumper boats (below) and even a kiddie sized roller coaster.

We spent a day in Legoland with our six year old grandson and he had a fantastic time.

Everybody loves Legos and even the senior citizens in the group will be impressed with the Lego constructed model scenes. They included the monuments of Washington D.C., Key West Florida and the Kennedy Space Center. In addition there were pirate fleets and Star Wars scenes and all were amazing. As you travel thru the park there are Lego built full size animals and characters at every turn. Monkeys sit in trees, deer and otters stand in a woodland area with a lake and waterfalls. It really is a lot to take in for just one day.

Legoland Water Show

There is still a water show at the lake where water-skiers in the tradition of Cypress Gardens preform, but this time it is Lego characters on skies and in mini speed boats . It was a fast paced action story that will even keep the younger kids attention. It’s included with park admission. If you’re visiting with kids a good time should be had by all.

Legoland Water Park

There’s also a Legoland Water Park for a day of fun in the sun. From the Lego wave pool, Joker Soaker, an interactive water play area, lazy river, tube slides and body slides, kids will soak up the fun with lots of fun water activities. Find more information HERE.

Make It A Two Day Legoland Experience

Legoland Resorts

Legoland also has three resorts attached to the park. A new Pirate Island Hotel, the LEGOLAND® Hotel and one focused on the thrifty family called the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat. We spent a night there just to see what the resort was all about and it more than gains the approval of its intended guest demographic – young children aged two to ten.

The rooms are cinderblock constructed duplexes, but with their bold painted block scheme, they look just as if they are made of giant Legos. Each accommodation features a king bed in the main room along with a smaller kids room featuring bunk beds. Decorations are all Lego with a beach theme. The duplexes are clustered around villages with each village featuring a playground in the center. At the clubhouse building there’s a kid friendly restaurant, a swimming pool and a large lighthouse feature. In the evening the restaurant features photo ops with meet the Lego characters. There’s also a swap desk for trading Lego character figures.

LEGOLAND Beach Retreat

Some adults have been critical of the discount character of the Lego Beach Resort but the small intended target customer will be thrilled with their time there. It’s like a really fun kindergarten recess, a sleep over and theme park all rolled into a family vacation!

Katoomba Falls, Australia

It is less than two and a half hour train ride from Sydney, Australia out to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains making it a great day trip.

Katoomba Falls – Pretty much everyone who visits the Blue Mountains plans on seeing Katoomba Falls, whether it’s from one of the many fantastic viewpoints on hiking trails, or from taking a cable car from Scenic World. It’s one of Katoomba’s must popular activities. Our recommendation is to take the 1.7 mile Katoomba Round Walk, which offers several great overlooks, and if you don’t want to do the whole trail you’ll reach a great viewing overlook at on a half mile in.

Join us as we visit historic treasures, natural wonders and vibrant cities set against backdrops that are endlessly changing and visually magnificent.

A Gaudi Inspired Park In Peru – Lima’s Parque del Amor

There’s a small park that gets a lot of attention located in Miraflores on the Malecon de la Reserva (a six mile cliff top pedestrian walkway). It’s the Parque del Amor and it’s just after the bridge at the intersection with Malecon Balta. This attractive little park is dedicated to Lima’s lovers and it provides a stunning view of the Bay of Lima from high up on the cliff top.

The park took its inspiration from Parc Güell in Barcelona, Spain designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí in 1926. In the middle of this beautifully Lima park stands a sculpture by the famous Peruvian sculptor Víctor Delfín entitled El Beso (The Kiss). To add to the lovers theme there’s a major event in the park each Valentine’s Day where young couples compete for money in the longest kiss contest staged beneath the statue.

Join us as we visit historic treasures, natural wonders and vibrant cities set against backdrops that are endlessly changing and visually magnificent. Celebrate a world of travel experiences with these decorating accessories that are perfect for framing.

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