Winter fairytale in Bled

Ko hodiš, pojdi zmeraj do konca

                                                                                   Ko hodiš, pojdi zmeraj do konca.

-Path around Bled lake-

 Spomladi do rožne cvetice,
poleti do zrele pšenice,
jeseni do polne police,
pozimi do snežne kraljice,
v knjigi do zadnje vrstice,
v življenju do prave resnice,
a v sebi – do rdečice čez eno in drugo lice.

A če ne prideš ne prvič, ne drugič
do krova in pravega kova
poskusi
vnovič
in zopet
in znova.

<Tone Pavček>

Turkey

TURKEY

When in Slovenia the leaves is already falling down the trees and hot summer days are replaced with morning mist, you know the autumn and new academic year is knocking on your door. No better way to prepare yourself for long long winter with few days of vacations in the land far south and with excelent company of your friends of course!! :)

Vacations in Alanya, september 2010. 

 -view on Alanya behind us-

After a pretty long ride from the Antalya airport to our hotel 

we just wanted some proper nap.
But next day we were happy about what we see in hotel surrounding :) 

 -Alanya city centre and harbor-

The Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage makes Alanya a popular destination for tourism, and responsible for nine percent of Turkey's tourism sector and thirty percent of foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey (by Wikipedia).
Well we would say no wonder! It really is an amazing place!

-our hotel beach-

But although the city tourism is nice, our purpuse was more then clear: vacations! :) Which means a lot of sand, cold drinks and thinking as less possible :)

After seeing amazing sunset where see is open and horizont extremly wide, we were happy to try some original turkish kebab and learn few steps of traditional turkish dances.

Next morning: coffee and after we went for a trip in inland of Turkey.

To see some nice waterfalls...

...some historical masterpieces like amazing old theatre... 

...or Apollo temple, Side...

...the whole city of Hierapolis...

...and finaly Pamukkale!

This really amazing place is considered today the eighth wonder of the world. It is presumed that the travertines were formed in the course of a process which lasted 15 thousand years. As the water, having a temperature of 34 degrees Calcius, gushing from the underground springs at an elevation of 160 m off the plain of Menderes, with calciumbicarbonate content, flows down the hillsides, carbonmonoxide gas emanates, and the calciumbicarbonate, dissolving thereby, is sedimented, thus forming the white-coloured travertines. Therefore, the area is called Pamukkale (Cotton Castle).

And yet, we saw just a tiny piece of this magnificent country...

Tanja V.

Estonia - Tallin

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” 

(Susan Sontag)

Tallinn, Old Town: the best protected and intact medieval city in Europe. 

When you passing between Viru gates you start thinking 

you´ve left the 21st century behind and landed in the middle of the 18st...

-Viru Gates-

...you can see why :)

But there aren´t only nice girls who remind you are in middle-age city... 

 -rabin is waiting for us infront of Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments-

Inside Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments you can see the collection of over 60 means of torture, including the well-known rack, Spanish boots and chastity belts. After 15 minutes there - on the dark side - I became realy sick :/...unimaginably horrible!!

Town Hall Square is surrounded by elaborate merchant houses and packed with café tables that invites tourists. Historically it served as a market and meeting place, and was the site of executions. In the middle of the square is round stone marked with a compass rose. From this spot you can see the tops all five of Old Town's spires.

 -Town Hall Square-

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is Estonia's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. It's also by far the grandest, most opulent Orthodox church in Tallinn. Built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire, the cathedral was originally intended as a symbol of the empire's dominance.

 

-Alexander Nevsky Cathedral-

 -view from Toompea hill-

 -streets of Old Town-

"No, it´s not pink, that is colour of salmon!"  ...yeah right :) 

 -Parliament house-

 Tanja V.            

  

Helsinki - unique Nordic city

"Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, 
the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, 

and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books."  

(John Lubbock)

-view from Suomenlinna Island to Helsinki-
                                                             .

-31. of july, 23:00, it´s getting dark-
_______________________________________________________

After more than 2000 km from Ljubljana to Tallin with wonderful Chech Airlines 

and after arguing at the airport because of the lost lagguage, we went to Tallin´s port. 

There was lovely ship from Tallink Silja Line. 

 After 2 hours of sailing we saw first Finnish island and soon also the coast. 

 -one of the Finnish tiny cute little islands :)-

 -Finnish coast-

City map and directions of friendly locals have helped us to find our hostel.
And than....let see that unique Nordic city!
During the journey from port to hostel I was already amazed  
by the beauty of architecture.
And closer look of the city was even more impressive.

-Finnish National Opera-
                                

-Olimpic Stadium; summer olimpic games 1952-

 -view from olimpic belvedere-

-National Museum of Finland has very special door-keeper-

-Senat Square and the Cathedral-

-Railway Station-

-Parliament house-
.

- Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral-
.

-Finlandia; concert and congress centre-

 -University of Helsinki-

-Presidential Palace-

 

-Slovenian Embassy in Finland-

-that should be some important statue behind me... but I think it´s missing :)- 


 
-Helsinki at night-

 

What I liked the most is the blend of eastern and western cultures.
City has amazing architecture with huge buildings 
from grand empire-style architecture of St. Petersburg - architects C.L.Engel. 
But there are not only fascinating buildings that makes Helsinki such a amazing place. 
This city is harbour town and it is crisscrossed with naturally.
                                       

-small ships are part of pulic transport-
  

-Esplanadi Park-

 -Helsinki are full lot of incredibly orderly and clean parks-

-relaxing-

 

-lake of Helsinki; in the back you can see concert centre Finlandia- 

-planning new adventures; or me against the map :)-

After walking around the city you get bit hungry. 
And that is the right time to visit the market. 
Finnish cousine is just delicios! Specialy if you like salmon 
or other kind of fish and seafood. 
And of course berries: raspberries, blueberries, strawberries...
market is full of fruits, mushrooms and food of all kind.

 -finnish cuisine at market square-

Besides food market offers unique hats, scarves, gloves, socks, coats 
and other textiles for cold winter days. You can also find amazing wooden products, 
products made out of moose horns or bones.
   

 -Lapland girls :) -

-more than enough ideas what to bring your frieds; I´m wondering where creators got the idea for the outfit of third moose...I can not help myself to think of the Balkan :) anyway - nice sweatshirt :) :)- 

 -gift boxes for jewelry-

 -wooden souvenirs-


The city is full of history and culture. Besides the great sightseeings, parks 
and market is there also beautiful coastline of Helsinki. 
The capital of Finland surrounds Baltic Sea and makes it 
one of the nicest cities in Europe. 
Third day we take a ferry and went on a tour around the area. 
We stopped in Suomenlinna Sea Fortress Island.

-a ferry take us to Suomenlinna Island; Helsinki in the back-

 -houses in Suomenlinna Island-

 -Suomenlinna Island-

 

 -sun is God; sun is good-

-Suomenlinna island-

Suomenlinna has played a key role in many turning points in Finland’s history. It has been the property of three sovereign states. The majority of its buildings date from the late 18th century, the end of the Swedish era. From the early 19th century to the early 20th century, Suomenlinna – then known as Viapori – was part of Russia along with the rest of Finland. Russian-era Viapori was a lively garrison town. After Finland gained her independence, Suomenlinna became home to a coastal artillery regiment, a submarine base and the Valmet shipyard, where ships were built after the Second World War for Finland’s war reparations. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions.

-Suomenlinna Island-


3. day: still without my losten luggage and my love for Czech Airlines 
is bigger and bigger every day... but staying in Helsinki is so good 
that not even that could affeck on my cheerful mood. 
After three days I left this wonderful city with lots of 
sweet memories and definitely determined I will come back!

  

-on the way back to Tallin-

_________________________________________________________________

 -...what´s next destination?!-

Tanja V.