facebook twitter instagram
  • Home
  • Discovery
    • LOCAL
    • EUROPE
    • Apps
  • About
  • Contact
  • Sustainable Tourism

TravelZIN

I spent like two days in Lisbon (Portugal). It was one of my usual quick business trips. A crazy jump and short impression which makes me think a few days after: was it true or I just had dream?

Portugal

I had prejudices. I imagined Lisbon like Athen or Naples. Nice, nice, sunny and historical but let’s be honest it's dirty, messy and untidy. That's what I expected from Lisbon, too.

Portugal

But Lisbon has surprised me. It's a very nice, tidy city. Yes, my first impression was that its a very clean place. Not like those German sterile "do not touch anything" places. Narrow streets, little one- eyed tramways, several cafés.

Portugal

I felt so bad that I had only a few hours to look around. To my melancholic mood that city was perfect. To sit in a Café watching the people and life around. The colorful buildings the real blue sky with the white clouds. And Lisbon is not as crowded (yet) as for example, Prague is. No flows of tourists, you have your own place. I am sure I will be back there. Not alone. This place is the best for dates, every stone is romantic in Portugal.

Portugal

Even in the countryside those single churches, monasteries, the white painted family houses are like paintings became real.

Portugal

So now I promise to myself…to take my wife to Lisbon. I will invite her to a Café or rather to a cozy restaurant and it will be like inviting her to the world to the atmosphere which is so often in my mind.

Portugal
May 11, 2017 1 comments
Pärnu 

Pärnu Estonia is the Summer Capital of Estonia. It is a seaside resort city with the warmest climate in Estonia. Its location is on the southwestern part of Estonia. There are active recreation and holiday facilities, housing spas, theatre and wonderful places for staging concerts. Historical and rich vibrant Hanseatic cities during medieval period -Unspoilt nature, clean air and delightful views, photo: zannnie  -  2.7.2016 @ Pärnu, Estonia. www.travelzin.com


Getting there:


Map of the public transport routes
(12,8 MB, .pdf) 


Timetables
Bus info: +372 447 1870; 12012 (priced)

Tickets:
Tickets can be bought at newsstands/R- kiosks and bigger shops and food stores or from the driver. Buying a ticket from the driver please enter at the front door; tickets are only sold at stops, not while the vehicle is moving. Tickets bought from the driver are more expensive than those bought at a newsstand.

Punch your ticket right after entering at a machine located in the bus. Note that you must punch your ticket immediately upon entering. The ticket is valid one hour.

Passengers traveling with false tickets or without tickets will be fined.

Prices:
* From trade outlets 0.64 € 
* From the driver 1.00 € 
* 10 day ticket 7.67 € 
* 30 day ticket 14.06 € 

See more:
* peatus.ee
 - public transport timetables and map in Estonia

* visitparnu.com - transportation

Source: http://www.parnu.ee/lang/eng/transport.htm
July 26, 2016 No comments
I have been searching for a place like this for soooo long. A place which is like candy to the eyes, to the nose and to the ears too, which is rather relaxing but full of life and which is not overcrowded but you don't feel yourself as Robinson on an island.

Though Croatia is just the next country to the south of Hungary, I have never been there. Ok I was once, working in the nothern part of the country but it was not the coast side. And I found a place which totally matches my recent mood:)

Stari Grad on the island Hvar in Croatia.


There are different type of vacations to me.

  • The Ibizia-Corfu-Mallorca type. Beach, party, music, bikinis and coctails. Lot of fun, lot of people, nightlife.
  • The sight-seeing type. Athens, Barcelona, Paris, Saint-Petersburg, Rome, Venice. Every corner a living history, a lot to see, museums and exhibitions, taking photos and getting a lot of impressions.
  • The hiking, diving, climbing, rafting, jumping, icy, mountain, sporty adrenaline rushing vacation.
  • The relaxing one. Renting an apartment in Florence, reading a book on the terrace watching the evening city life in a restaurant with a glass of wine. Mobile phone off, no internet, no television especially no news but you can feel the gentle wind on your face and this is the only stimulus which might bother you..but it doesn't.
Stari Grad belongs definitely to this last category. A little town in a hidden bay where the typical Dalmatian buildings are not museums but part of the recent life. Everything is so old here, and still everything is so real.


The history of Stari Grad:

Stari grad, the oldest town on the Hvar island and one of the first in Europe , was founded by the ancient Greeks in 385/384 BC as an independent polis of Pharos. At the time of the Roman colonisation it was called Pharis. From the formation of the Hvar commune in 1278, when Hvar (Civitas Nova) became the island's chief town, Stari Grad (Civitas Vetus) stagnated somewhat.
The medieval settlement grew up north of the Greek one and by the coast on the east. But there was nonetheless no change in the previously mentioned political and economic stagnation of the town in the 13th century. The architecture of the town, however, was not affected. Although the majority of the buildings were built in the 16th and 17th centuries, i.e. the Renaissance and baroque style are dominant in the city centre, there are many buildings with Romanesque and Gothic traces. (source)

Croatia - Stari Grad

Looking at the buildings and considering the entire atmosphere of the Dalmatian towns and cities the Venetian influence is the most obvious. I felt like just being in Italy though this is Croatia, an original Slavic community.

I guess due to the local policy...Stari Grad is a quiet or better to say 'noiseless' place. Not because its empty, plenty of tourists and local people are everywhere but somehow they try to keep that relaxing feature. There are no bars which try to be the most loud in the street. Only cafés and restaurants - some of them with a great style.

Croatia - Stari Grad

That's what I wanted. Finally being able to finish my books, forgetting about work and about the bills and about everything from my everyday life. Just three of us here...Zannnie and Momo and me. And this hidden paradise which respects so much my need for recreation this time.

April 02, 2014 2 comments
Italian Morning
Flickr/Trey Ratcliff

Pompeii Italy is an ancient Roman town/city In the Italian region of Campania. The key places to see are the The Garden of the Fugitives, Villa of the Mysteries, the House of the Faun, Mount Vesuvius, House of the Vettii, Temple of Apollo, House of Menander, House of the Tragic Poet, Amphitheatre of Pompeii, Temple of Jupiter, House of the surgeon and House of Loreius Tiburtinus.







Pompeii - Garden of the Fugitives
flickr/Rick & Sue
March 25, 2014 1 comments

Waiting at the Ciampino Airport for four hours was no joke. We were 'strapped' there because the staff issuing the tickets for the city bus made a mistake. Better to say she was given a chart that was with a flight schedule which was not updated:( so the 'wrong timings' were given to us.



We watched this sunset with a lot of migratory birds above our heads. It looked speckled in black spots but they are actually birds! It was really amazing watching this with the beautiful orange coloured sunset:) One almost hit me right on my face as it was right before I moved a step out. But no escape. I got some 'present' (ie birds' dropping) on my left shoulder.

With so many hours at the airport, we had another Foccacia sandwich;) Zannnie bought a new book about Rome called "Rome Past and Present, with Reconstructions of Ancient Monuments" - R.A. Staccioli. She likes it as it was a book overlaid with acetate illustrations, which shows how they looked in their heydays. This method of relating the ruins to their original selves is amazing:)


February 27, 2014 No comments
Tallinn Old Town, Olde Hansa

Tallinn in February Travel packing guide is out:

Click on cover image to download or read more

January 01, 2014 No comments
Vatican

The Christmas in 2007 was spent in the Vatican City. Though it was pretty cold (ok not as cold as in Hungary) but the Christmas time made the place even more special.

Christmas in the Vatican

Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the capital city of Italy. At approximately 44 hectares (110 acres) (0.44 km2), and with a population of barely over 800, it is the smallest country in the world by both population and area.

Christmas in the Vatican

On these photos you can see the Christmas Nativity scene in front of the St. Peter's Basilica. The scene had been radically changed that year. They have shifted the scene from Bethlehem to Nazareth, and placed Jesus in his father's carpentry shop.

Christmas in the Vatican

The Nativity scene at St Peter's Basilica is a 27 years old tradition which was introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Vatican

Beside the Nativity Scene a giant, fully-adorned Christmas tree has been erected in St Peter's Square. .

Vatican

December 28, 2013 No comments
Iceland 

Dramatic and only the most dramatic natural sights you can imagine to see here in Iceland. Hot springs that are blue, sands that are black, and glaciers. Super green valleys, lava fields and places you should not missed are Reykjavík, Alþingishús and the Ráðhús. Check out the Gullfoss waterfall, Blue Lagoon and the Þingvellir National Park or Thingvellir National Park :)
December 02, 2013 No comments


Helsinki

We were greeted by the The Baltic Herring Market in Helsinki, Finland upon arrival at the cruise port. Just some distance to walk in the nice autumny season. This is a week-long festival that is very popular. It is all about seafood. It happens every year usually early October. The best Baltic herring cooked in different ways so you can try them savouring the different tastes. There are also stands selling crafts and wool clothing, and there are also the best marinated fish and herring.
November 07, 2013 No comments


Was in London and the impression of London was that it is very similar to Singapore.
I was not too impressed with the service standards there. I really think it is a well-marketed destination and while I was sightseeing, the familiarity of the street names made me feel like 'I'm playing the MONOPOLY' board game :) Here's a good looking time-lapse video of London to share:





October 15, 2013 No comments
Heidezicht, B&B accommodation, TravelZIN

For the first time to the Netherlands (Holland), we get to see a moorland. There was a pleasant bed and breakfast accommodation with a nice natural surroundings.

Moor is a type of habitat in the savannas found in upland areas. The main characteristics are the low growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog. They could be uncultivated hill land, however, they are possibly low-lying wetlands which are closely related to heath. The slight difference between the heath and moor is moorland is highland while heath is lowland zones. It was believed that human activity has to do with it.

Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe

In northern and western Europe, the heaths are diverse ecosystems. 

We were there in end July but the owners told us that there is an entire paradise of beautiful heather which are a low growing perennial shrub of about half a metre tall in August. So the entire area will be purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.

“

Now that it is August, in a way I am curious how it looks like. 

In the breakfast room, there is a pair of binoculars intentionally prepared by the owners of Heidezicht for you to watch and look out for some possibly wild animals. 

Driving from Helmond takes only about one hour.

“

The first thing we noticed was the good road conditions. Although it was rainy on our way from Helmond to Heidezicht, it stopped after about 20 minutes.

“

“

Like other parts of Europe, cars coming from the right have priority. In Holland, bikers also have the right of the way. Everything is neat: the trees, the grass in the fields, the houses from their designs to their structures. From a distance we saw these houses.

“

They are identical and have such an interesting design.

Arriving in Elspeet, the driving speed starts to slow down. It was about 50km/h or less.

“

Lots of trees in the surroundings. At this point, you should roll down the car windows and smell the nature...fresh air! All the trees are so neatly planted. It gave a very pleasant experience heading nearer and nearer to the destination. 

“

Then the encounter of some grazing cows. They seemed to be all looking at my camera's direction :)


“

I was thinking to myself, if I will be living in a house like this in the Netherlands, I will also plant bushes of hydrangeas like this.

“

Holland has such a nice climate for these kind of flowers. Mild summer and mild winter. See how beautifully they had evolved.

Elspeet is a village in the area called Veluwe. It is in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. What we saw beside a forest-rich ridge of hills, there are also different types of landscapes such as woodland, heath, small lakes, and the Europe's largest sand drifts.

“

The friendly owner was there greeting us upon our arrival. Our drive from Helmond to Elspeet was about an hour.

“

Heidezicht is the name of this B&B (bed and breakfast) accommodation. It is a special place with a special mood.

“

Chickens seem to be the thematic icon of this special bed and breakfast accommodation. These chickens provided the fresh eggs for our breakfast in the morning. Totally organic and the owners are into the green awareness and environmental consciousness. Even the washing of their linens and bed spreads are with 'eco-ball'!

“

These chickens are more treated like their pets. They are given daily exercises with the freedom to roam around the yard for some hours. You can tell they are well-taken care by the look of their feathers!

“

These breads served at breakfast time were so wonderfully fresh!

“

Selection of ham, roast beef slices and real dutch (gouda) cheese. Orange juice, coffee, or tea...

“

You can help yourself to the peanut butter ('Pindakaas' in Dutch).

“

Another detail, a decorative pair of 'hen and rooster' in the breakfast room. You can imagine the neat and the many small details taken into consideration by the owners.

“

Another window view from the breakfast room.

“

“

There was an entire shelf of books for your reading and relaxation. Some board games by the side.

“

The environment in Holland gave me the impression that they generally care much more about how they live. The Dutch are very much into details. In Amsterdam, we encounter very easy going locals who are somehow very spontaneous. From boat-bus drivers to the the passengers on the train to Amsterdam, their people are much friendlier with a good common sense about how to live together in a community.

“

A pair of Dutch wood clogs (Klompen) - traditional symbol of Holland (other than the windmill and tulips.)

We like the nature of this area which is very calm. On the second day, on our return to Heidezicht from Amsterdam, we saw deers, a family of three which were so adorable as the little deer calf (physically it looked smaller, so it is the baby:) of the family)...

Deer

...was pondering with so much curiosity, looking back at us, not leaving the roadside. While we were in the car moving very slowly at most probably only 5km/h, a short distance away. We paused and were observing their moves. The little one has such a gentle face, seemed to be waiting for me to take out my camera but I decided to just enjoy the short moment in the quietness of the nature, watching them. They were so beautiful!

“

We had a comfortable good night's sleep (the beds were very comfortable). The next day after breakfast, we drove to Emerlo, and from there we took a train to Amsterdam. Click here for our encounters and adventures before arriving and in Amsterdam.
September 12, 2013 No comments
Older Posts

TravelZIN

About Me








Work With Me

TravelZIN, curated by the passionate traveler Zannnie, stands as a beacon for wanderlust souls searching for their next adventure. This platform is not just a blog; it's a gateway to inspiring destinations, offering readers a glimpse into the beauty and diversity of the world through Zannnie's explorations. With a focus on uncovering the essence of each place, TravelZIN brings to its audience: A Wealth of Inspiration: From the cobblestone streets of ancient cities to the serene landscapes of hidden natural wonders, TravelZIN paints a vivid picture of countless destinations, igniting the wanderlust in every reader. Invaluable Travel Tips and Insights: Zannnie's journeys come with a side of practical advice, covering essential travel tips from budget management to cultural etiquette. These nuggets of wisdom are designed to equip travelers with the knowledge to navigate the globe smoothly. Trustworthy Reviews and Personal Recommendations: Every post on TravelZIN is a testament to Zannnie's honest experiences, offering unbiased reviews and personal recommendations that readers can rely on for planning their travels, ensuring memorable dining, accommodation, and activity choices. Cultural Exploration and Learning: Beyond the surface, TravelZIN delves into the heart of destinations, offering readers cultural insights and educational content that paints a comprehensive picture of local life, history, and traditions, enhancing the depth of travel experiences. A Vibrant Community of Travel Enthusiasts: TravelZIN is not just Zannnie's journey; it's a collective adventure. The blog fosters a community where readers can connect, share stories, and offer advice, making it a hub for travel enthusiasts to come together and share their passion for discovery. TravelZIN is more than a travel blog; it's a source of inspiration, a guide for the curious, and a community for those who seek to explore the vast, beautiful world around us. Join Zannnie and the TravelZIN community on a journey to discover new destinations, embrace diverse cultures, and create unforgettable memories.

Email: deelishrecipes@gmail.com

Follow Us

Labels

2014 Spring Destinations 2014 TravelZIN 48 hours in Budapest 48 Hours in Singapore Adriatic2Alps adventures Advertise africa airline compensation Airport Alaska Alberta Amazonas Ambergris Caye America Amsterdam Anne Frank's House Ararat Arctic Circle Argentina Arktikum museum Armenia Art world Asia Australia Austria aviation law Balaton Bali Bali Sunset Balkan Baltic Banff Resort Town Beach Beijing Beijing to Xi'an Belgium Belize betabookhotels.com Bethlehem Bishkek Bol Bolivia Brac Bran Bratislava Brazil bridge Brighton Brno Brussels Budapest Budapest to Bol Brac Croatia Budapest to Cologne by Car Bulgaria Burano business California Cambodia Canada Cape Town Caribbean Sea Cathédrale chile China christmas Cluj-Napoca Colorado Copenhagen Costa Cabana Croatia Cruise holidays Cuba customer rights Czech Republic Dancing House in Prague Denmark Departure Roulette Destination Ideas destinations Dubai Dubai Airport Easter Easter Island education Eger Egypt England equador Estonia Europe eVisa Excalibur Exotic Destinations family trip farming featued featured Fertőd Finland Finnish Reindeers flashpacker flight delay Florida flying France FRIENDS OF FRIENDS TRAVEL (FOFTravel) Germany Girdwood glacier Glenwood Canyon Golden Horn golf Great Wall Greece Greenland Grenada Guadalajara Hagia Sophia Hanging Lake Harbour bridge Hardangerfjord Hawaii Heidezicht Helsinki Himalaya Himalayan Mountains holiday Holland Holloko Holyland Pilgrimages Homomonument Honduras Honeymoon Hong Kong Hortobágy Hungary Hvar Hygge Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Islamic Calligraphy inscriptions Island Island of Calm Israel Isreal Istanbul Italy itinerary Jakarta airport Japan Japan - 25 Must See Java Javea Jerusalem Jordan Kaunas kayak.com Kiama Kolozsvár Korea Krakow Kuala Lumpur Kuta Kyrgyzstan Laos Lapland Las Vegas Latvia Lendplus Leningrad Region Lewes Lisbon Lithuania live travel wire Ljbuljana Ljubljana Lloret de Mar London lottemaa luxury tent Madrid Malaysia matenadaran Melbourne Merineid Mestre Mexico Mohács Moldavia Momondo Mongolia MORI Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless Morocco Mount Everest Nagyvázsony - Hungary Namíbia Nepal Netherlands New York new york city New Zealand Nice Niger Northern Europe Norway Notre-Dame Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris Oma Optimal Vacation Length Oslo Packing List Guide Paraguay Parnu Pilis - Hungary Piran - Slovenia Plitvice Lakes Croatia poland Pompeii Portrait Portugal Prague Priceline qatar Qingdao Reindeer sleigh rides reviews Riga roadtrip Rock Climbing Romania Rome Rovaniemi Russia Santa Claus Village Santa’s office Santa’s Post Office Santa’s village Santapark SAY NO to booking.com Scotland Serbia Shanghai Short Tour Options Šibenik sightseeing Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Sopron South Africa South Korea Spain St. Petersburg Stari Grad Starsbourg Stockholm Strasbourg sunset Sweden Switzerland Sydney Szentendre Szombathely Tallinn Tammsaare Park Tančici Dům Tata Tequila Tequilla Terracotta Warriors Thailand The Baltic Herring Market The Blue Hole The Netherlands The Road to Cologne Tibet Togo TOKYO Top Romantic Destinations trains trams Transylvania travel travel advice travel agency travel app travel book travel fare aggregator travel gadgets travel guides travel insurance travel magazine travel photography travel planning travel platform travel tools travel writer travelblog travelbooks travelphoto TRAVELZIN TravelZIN Articles Trekking tripcierge Tromso Tromsø Turkey UK Unique Beaches In the World United Kingdom unusual destination US USA vacation Vatican Venice Vienna Vietnam Vilnius Visa Visegrád warsaw wedding wedding venues Wieliczka windmills wine destinations wine festival Winter Xi'an Yemen yerevan Yogyakarta Yosemite Yosemite National Park Vacation Travel Guide Zagreb Zsámbék

recent posts

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2025 (1)
    • ▼  March (1)
      • Norway
  • ►  2024 (5)
    • ►  February (5)
  • ►  2020 (2)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  March (1)
  • ►  2019 (7)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2018 (11)
    • ►  December (4)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (1)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2017 (25)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  March (6)
    • ►  February (6)
    • ►  January (4)
  • ►  2016 (47)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (5)
    • ►  October (9)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (11)
    • ►  July (11)
    • ►  April (3)
  • ►  2015 (4)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2014 (39)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (2)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (8)
    • ►  March (14)
    • ►  February (6)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2013 (48)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (1)
    • ►  October (5)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (5)
    • ►  July (20)
    • ►  June (5)
    • ►  May (3)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2012 (83)
    • ►  December (5)
    • ►  November (7)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  August (3)
    • ►  July (6)
    • ►  June (7)
    • ►  May (5)
    • ►  April (7)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ►  February (15)
    • ►  January (17)
  • ►  2011 (126)
    • ►  December (31)
    • ►  November (18)
    • ►  October (28)
    • ►  September (7)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  July (20)
    • ►  June (13)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (1)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2010 (54)
    • ►  December (6)
    • ►  November (5)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (19)
    • ►  July (9)
    • ►  April (6)
    • ►  March (3)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2009 (19)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (4)
    • ►  October (11)
    • ►  September (1)
FOLLOW ME @INSTAGRAM

Created with by ThemeXpose