There is no little enemy

I took this photo at the Castle of São Jorge in Lisbon, Portugal. The castle is visible from a huge square nearby my hotel, so I thought I could get there very easily without a map. Then, I started to walk toward the castle above. But it wasn't exactly easy to find a way to the castle. People who had a mobile map also had gotten lost and asked me a direction. Many tourists had the same question; Do you know how to get to the Castle of São Jorge? I think it sounds like a nice castle. It is often said that there is no little enemy, so the very complicated way to the castle seemed like protecting the castle from enemies.

A cannon overlooking Belem, Lisbon, Portugal

I flew in Libon, Portugal last night around 21:00. It was less than an hour flight from Porto. Lisbon Portela Airport is not too far from the city, so I took a cab from the airport to my hotel nearby Rossio railway station. After check-in, I just dropped off my luggage in my room and made a beeline for my favorite restaurant next to Rossio Railway Station. I chose my hotel to go to the restaurant many times during my stay. This morning, I visited the Castle of São Jorge to see Lisbon from above. This is a cannon overlooking Belem district.

Rio Douro Cruise in Porto, Portugal

I've been having lots and lots of fun here in Porto, Portugal. Actually, I want to expand my stay, if I could, but I have to keep going. My next destination will be Portuguese capital Lisbon. I will fly in Lisbon tonight, so I have some more hours to explore Porto before I will go to Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport by metro. What I'm gonna do for the rest? I'm so excited. By the way, I took this photo while I was taking a river cruise on the Douro River. It was a 50-minute audio guided cruise. I took so many beautiful pictures during the cruise.

Port wine, Fado, and twilight view of Porto

I took this photo a few hours ago or so in Porto, Portugal. This evening, I visited a wine cellar in Gaia district and tasted a couple of glasses of 20-year-old Tawny Port Wine with fabulous Fado. It was my first time to listen to Fado in a live. Could you please paint a mental picture? So let say, you are in Port, Portugal where is the home of Port wine and are in one of the Port wine cellars in Gaia district. You have a glass of 20-year-old Tawny in your hand, and there is a stunning Fado singer right in front of you and she smiled at you... How impressive, right? After Fado, I returned to Ponte de D. Luis I (a.k.a . Dom Luis Bridge). Lucky for me, it was around twilight, so I could see this outstanding view from there. I really love Portugal. Really.

Porto from above

This morning I crossed Ponte de D. Luis I (a.k.a. Dom Luis Bridge) over Rio Douro (the Douro River) and visited Via Nova de Gaia, Portugal. The bridge is a very beautiful metal arch type, and is walkable. I took this photo while I was walking on the bridge. As you can imagine from the photo, the bridge is very high, so if you are afraid of heights, it will be a bit of scary experience to go there, but the view from there is just breathtaking. I think you'd better go to see this stunning Porto from above.

Porto, Portugal; must see is the city itself

I flew in Porto, Portugal last night; on the 22nd of November around 23:50. It was a little bit late arrival to get into a new city, so I made a beeline for my hotel by taxi from the airport, then passed out. This morning after breakfast at my hotel's dining, I got out of the hotel with a map and started to exploring this beautiful city. It is often said that one of the must-sees of Porto, Portugal is the city itself. Yep, now I know what the saying means.

The Heineken Experience in Amsterdam

I took this photo at the entrance of  the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, Holland. It is kind of like a museum about the Heineken brewery, but is not even remotely close to the stereotypical many other museums where I have been. Even though the Heineken Experience is known as a museum, it's more like an amusement place. From my point of view, the Heineken Experience is sort of like a themed bar or something. The entrance fee includes 2 drinks at a bar; of course your drinks gonna be Heineken beer, 1 free gift at the Heineken Brand store. Plus, you can see a lot of interests relative to the Heineken brewery. The crews are extremely cheerful, radiant and have full knowledge of Heineken. Check it out. I'd highly recommend to go there.

I decided to see something very beautiful

The photo shows my very first beer in Belgium; Stella Artois, my favourite lager beer of all time. I went to Antwerp, Belgium the day before yesterday. Actually, I was teetering between Brussels or Antwerp to visit one city in Belgium from Amsterdam, Holland. Brussels is the capital where you can see the world-famous Manneken Pis (a.k.a Little Man Piss). Antwerp has the stunning central railway station which is often described as the most beautiful railway station in the world. I decided to go to Antwerp at the end. It was less than 15 minutes before my departure.

Antwerpen Centraal

Yesterday; on the 18th of November, I visited Antwerp, Belgium from Amsterdam, Holland by train. My ticket was Superdagretour which means Great Day Return in English term. I could take any trains on that day except for Thalys. It took two to three hours or so to get to Antwerp and I transferred trains at Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Rossendaal. The photo shows inside of the train station Antwerpen Centraal. The station is often described as the most stunning railway station in the world. I totally agree with the opinion. It was breathtaking.

Looking for something more dodgy

The photo shows view of a street in Amsterdam, Holland at night.  I took this photo in the area called Leidseplein (a.k.a. Leiden Square). The square is located at the southern end of Amsterdam  Canal Ring and is 30 minute-walk or so from Amsterdam Centraal (the Central Station). There were so many people walk around in this area from morning to night. Almost all of them just looked like they were looking for something more special, something more exiting, something really unknown or dodgy. To be honest, I was there as one of them.

Dutch souvenir; wooden shoes' slippers

This is a photo I'd love to share. I wrote about my exploring experience in Amsterdam, Holland yesterday and added a story a little bit about Dutch souvenirs that I bought. The photo shows the wooden shoes' slippers. Version: cow print. They are not made of Dutch traditional wood, but they are so cute and warm. There are a lot of different design, colour, and size available. I'm sure you can find your favourite ones. The Netherlands is famous for its dairy product, especially delicious cheese, so cow or cow print design is one of the popular souvenir items. As I bought them, I could cover two famous parts of the Netherlands; wooden shoes and dairy. Killing two birds with one stone.

Amsterdam Centraal

This morning I went to see Amsterdam Centraal. It's the central railway station of Amsterdam, North Holland. When I look at a map of Amsterdam, it seems like everything starts from this place. So I went there to get to know the lay of the land. After that I shopped around souvenir shops and bought Dutch souvenirs included a pair of wooden shoes' slippers. They are made of warm cloths, but look like the famous Dutch wooden shoes. They came in handy immediately. I'm wearing them right now.

Heineken with a city map; I amsterdam

I flew in Amsterdam, Holland around 10:30 this morning and checked in to my hotel around 13:00. I got to my hotel by Schiphol Hotel Shuttle from the airport. When I arrived in Amsterdam, it was rainy, but it's okay now. First of all, I had to choose my first place to drink and eat in this attractive city, then I found a large Heineken pub nearby my hotel. Their menu is quite simple, Heineken (Large), Heineken (Medium), Heineken (Small) or something like that. The photo shows my today's first beer in Amsterdam, Holland; Heineken (Large). I should have taken this photo from a side of Heineken logo on the glass.

Dead Sea Cosmetics made my eyes lit up

The photo shows my hotel's toiletries in Tel Aviv, Israel. Even though I'm on vacation in the country of the Dead Sea, I did't expect that I could use the Dead Sea Cosmetics as a hotel's toiletries. I'd really appreciate it. There are luxury shower gel, shampoo, hair conditioner, body lotion and Rich Mineral Soap. The Dead Sea Minerals are in the middle of a fad, but its products are relatively a bit steep. So my eyes lit up when I saw them, you can imagine.

My wish was to touch my zodiac sign, but...

I went to explore Old Jaffa in Israel yesterday. The area called Old Jaffa is located about an hour walk distance from my hotel. One of the must-sees in the area is wishing bridge. The bridge has a tempting myth; When I stand on a bridge facing the sea, and touch my zodiac sign of the bridge, it makes my wish will come true. Unfortunately, the bridge was closed yesterday, so I took a photo of the bridge from Jaffa hill (a.k.a. Tel Yafo). I have three more days in Tel Aviv. Should I go again?

The Dead Sea Resort

I took this photo while I was sitting on a chair under a resort-ish beach parasol like the photo shows. Where Was I? I went to the Dead Sea Resort yesterday via Jerusalem, Israel and came back to Tel Aviv at night. In Israel, temperature is 27 degrees in Celsius around this time of the year, so it's kinda hot, but sea water temperature is getting a bit colder. But, no one leaves this place without floating in the Dead Sea, you can imagine, so obviously I enjoyed floating. It was such a special experience.

Am I green?

I flew in Tel Aviv, Israel safe and sound on the 7th of November at around 19:00. After I got a green light from immigration, I took a cab from the airport and checked-in to my hotel slightly before 20:20. I then went out in 10 minutes to buy some postcards and cans of Gold Star. Gold Star is an Israeli dark lager beer that I really love. I'm glad to have the beer again after a long three years. On the way to my hotel from a shop, when I looked up a traffic signal, I kinda realised that the green man is wearing his pair of underpants. Look closer, if you would like.

Take the Egyptian Escalator @ Harrods

The photo shows the world's most luxurious department store Harrods located in Knightsbridge district, London, England. I visited there through Hyde Park from Lancaster Gate in Paddington district on foot. Even though, I don't have enough money to spend at a high-end department store like Harrods, but I think it was worth going and seeing. To be honest, I just wanted to take the stunning Egyptian Escalator and that was it. But, Seeing is believing. Check it out, if you would like.

Four lions are detailed to guard a monument

I took this photo in Trafalgar Square in Central London, England. There is Charing Cross Tube station right under the square. The public square has Nelson's Column which is guarded by four bronze male lions and the photo shows one of them. I visited the square three times. When I visit there for the first time, the square was used for a political demonstration and was packed like sardines. So I visited there again for the second time and I could take this photo.

Sunday Roast

The photo shows Sunday Roast that I had at a pub near Paddington station in London, England. I went to the pub on my first Sunday of this vacation to have my very first Sunday Roast with good beer. One of my English acquaintances had ever told me about a British traditional meal Sunday Roast that is only eaten on Sundays, normally for lunch. The contents of  the meal change every week, but basically it doesn't dramatically change. Staples are roasted meat, potatoes, veggies, Yorkies and gravy. I was totally in a food coma after I had this delicious Sunday Roast. Luckily, my hotel is a minute away from the pub. Thank you London. Yay!

London Paddington to Oxford by train

On the 2nd of November I visited Oxford, England for the first time. I took a First Great Western train from London Paddington at 9:50, and arrived in Oxford at 10:44. My ticket was Standard Off-peak Day Return, so again it was my day-trip from London. There was a tourism centre in Oxford railway station and I was able to get a very useful free map from there. At the end of my visit, I had a pleasant surprise at a Lebanese restaurant on Park End Street. Their cuisine was absolutely fabulous. By the way, I took this photo in front of a fancy hotel in Oxford city centre. The Union Jack looked really nice.

London Waterloo to Alton, Hampshire by train

On the 1st of November, I went to Alton, Hampshire as a half-day excursion from London, England. First of all, I took a tube: southbound Bakerloo line from Paddington to Waterloo to get to a National Rail station: London Waterloo. Next, I purchased a Standard Off-Peak Return ticket from a vending machine by a credit card, then checked the train information boards above. The platforms are shown 10 minutes before the departure, so a lot of passengers were looking up the boards in the station. I did the same. It was my first experience to take the National Rail in the UK. Alton is the terminal station of the Alton Line, South West Trains, so there weren't any concerns to get there. Just buy a ticket, take a train, and get out of the station. That's pretty simple, huh? My train departed London Waterloo at 10:53 and arrived in Alton at 12:10.

Changing of the Guard gets all attention

As you know, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the must-sees and definitely a featured attraction in London, England. Around this time of the year the ceremony doesn't take place everyday. So first of all I checked the schedule and of course checked the weather, then next checked the directions from my hotel. I arrive to the palace around 10:10 on foot. Even though the ceremony starts at 11:15, there were already so many people. It seemed like the ceremony got all attention of tourists who stay in London.

The ceilings look like a piece of art

It's Halloween today, I was thinking to shop around and walk around some famous streets in Greater London, England but it's a gloomy day, so during the breakfast at my hotel's dining, while I was sipping a cup of hot chocolate, I looked up the sky once, and then twice and I kinda realised that I need a plan B that a thing I can enjoy inside of a building. Then I chose to go to the British Museum. The photo shows the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court and the ceilings. It looks nice, doesn't it?