Walk by Petersburgo

We arrived at Petersburgo without any planning. Without exaggeration, we didn't have anything planned. Can it be that trips to Russia and don't have nothing at all planned? Sometimes let that the destination surprised completely changes the experience of the trip. What poetic sounds!, but this was not the case. Was an experiment of life traveler or romantic travellers leaving is amazed by life itself. Due to lack of time we arrived in Russia without realizing, we were already there and didn't have the slightest idea that we were going to do or visit.

We passed the border by bus from Tallinn, Estonia, and that is a story for another post. We arrived exhausted after thousand hours and 2 borders. How does reach a country and know nothing about anything? Even the language. Reaching the hostel was arduous task. Edgardo with your mental GPS knew that we should walk in western direction. Without map, we headed to somewhere that we never got. It was the first time in the history of our life traveling that we missed. We can attest that Petersburgo is a large city with more than 300 bridges, we walked about 18 km and we note that only with the mental map of Edgardo we never got very far, well... far does we arrived, we never got to destination.

We asked the few people that we crossed on the road but there was no way to understand us. We only had the hostel's name and address on a paper. We got a map half way but it was not full, it did not show all the names of the streets. As two tourists from those movies with Hawaiian shirt and map in hand we stop to discuss: where are we? It is there... no no is for the other side. A nice lady to see the scene approached kindly help us. This was about what we heard: esvoroski toroski moloski socotroski while it was signs of arms and smiled... do?, do German?, do Portuguese? We tried everything but Russian, not didn't know even the basics. Well Yes, the basics "Spasiva Lady". We follow the friendly Lady finger but we did not get anywhere. Experienced travellers go!.

After having traveled all night and stepped through all the suburbs of the city in the end we arrived at destination. Check in, shower and restorative NAP. Petersburgo was waiting for us and with anxiety, we rested fast.

What are we going to go visit?, to the right?, to the left? but... to where we are going? We didn't have anything thought. The target signal: before our eyes a tourist bus (destination signal, these buses run every 5 minutes) do raise the tourist bus? No, a little bored us. What do we do? The route of the tourist bus, but on foot.

No doubt had reached Petersburgo, majestic, palatial, colorful, romantic. The route of the tourist bus but walk, ended up being a success, we enjoyed it at our own pace.

The excitement of getting to know a new country and be amazed by the new or different things. The typical food, architecture, the sound of language, what are you saying? It's like to be children again, can't read or write in an environment where many things are new. There are cities that this does not happen. In Russia by your secure account Yes.

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA - the living history site

 ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

There are magical places where you can feel and experience the same story with all your senses; sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. One of these places is the city of Antigua Guatemala.

It was the third seat of the capital of the so-called Kingdom of Guatemala which included the current States of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, as well as Chiapas (Mexico).

As part of the trips I make every year to Guatemala is wanting to re-discover with different vision places and special corners of this country, this beautiful nation which has been very punished through out history; earthquakes, floods, civil war, etc.

It became the third capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala after the destruction by flooding of the second capital located in the Valley of Almolonga, on the slopes of the Volcán de Agua (where had been taken after leaving the first settlement in Iximché in 1527).

Since its foundation it was named Santiago de los Caballeros, and 10 June 1566 King Felipe II extended the title "the very noble and very loyal city of Santiago of the Caballeros de Guathemala"during its development and splend our was known as one of the three most beautiful cities of the Spanish Indies.

This city is now known as "La Antigua Guatemala" because in the year 1773 during the celebrations of Santa Marta was destroyed by a series of earthquakes which forced its inhabitants to move to the Valley of the Hermitage, which is where is now located the city of Guatemala.

Most of its buildings were of character religious, which even in these days you can observe and admire since its buildings are the old colonial style by what was considered one of the most beautiful cities of the Spanish colony in America.

This city also is one of the universities most oldest in Latin America, the University of San Carlos, becoming the third University of America, also the heart of the city begins at the square knownas Plaza Real or Central Square which is gorgeous and in whose centre is a fountain built in 1739. This Cathedral to the North to the South the Trade Portal, East City Hall and the General captains Palace West Palace

This "jewel of America", as it is known today, was declared by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage in 1979, apart from serving as capital of the fledgling Kingdom of the Spanish colonies in America was also a place where religious orders built real architectural jewels such as monasteries, churches and chapels all them in a style rich in Spanish Renaissance architecture and Baroque façades.

From this, we have a few impressive remains despite the series of earthquakes that has already suffered this city over the last 300 years that Guatemala is located in a highly dangerous seismicair.

Walk on this trip and I walked and I was with the small details, Antigua is a very quiet town but, due to the large influx of tourists who come each year and foreign students coming to learn Spanish to a wide variety of Spanish schools, has become it a vibrant city and it has a very intense nightlife.

From the plaza mayor you can observe the volcano of water as a witness of the blossoming and destruction of this city.

It is a jewel worthy to be visited and enjoy its tranquility, its good and wonderful cuisine, stunning craftsmanship and their houses in bright colors and lots of flowers

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND

It was already in the month of February and still couldn't decide me to that part of the European continent could go to enjoy a few days of vacation, had the need to escape for a few days in the city and wanted to find a place which cover everything;

-Nature,

-Beauty,

-History,

-Interesting people,

For several days I was shuffling my chances and decided to finally and after many headaches do not go to Scotland.

Scotland is a country with a lot of history and was a very coveted land so it has rather turbulent chapters, it was Center of many battles and there that there are many heroes of battles and exist through out your true beauty of castles, and many remains of what were their strengths and ancient churches. Its territory predominantly green because of the large amount of rain during most of the year, luckily we had Fortune during the 12 days that lasted my visit we had a phenomenal time.

I think I should clarify because I referred to "we". Initially I planned my trip to do it alone, and as I was reporting more and more of the places I wanted to visit me did account it would be almost impossible to do so if it was not in the car, would have to rent one to be able to mobilize point to point since Scotland doesn't have a good system of transportation between town and city,what would come later to give me is that it also has a network of roads in good condition well I have to say, there are no roads in many places.

A few days before my departure I commented it with some friends who joined the trip project, without hesitation and 72 hours before my departure now were 5, the perfect number to make a trip well accompanied and economic, which was a great joy. Clear you assaulted me my doubts because whenever you make a journey deep and 3 days is not the same and do it alone with other people who may have different reasons for travel, different tastes of to see and visit, but was lucky to have the company of what would be the perfect travel 

-Natalia,

-Albert,

-José Antonio,

-Emmanuel, and

-I

We decided that our meeting point would be Edinburgh since all came from different places, Emmanuel and Albert came from Liverpool, José Antonio and Natalia from London. I had arrived the night before from Madrid, so it gave me time to give me an idea of the city that I get to fall in love.

That afternoon prior to our meeting, since I arrived at Edinburgh airport and from the beginning I gave is that the people are very friendly, requests and smiling, virtues that sometimes is very difficult to find in larger cities. The city received me with rain, was an afternoon quite grey and fortunately at the last minute I decided to take a jacket with me was what saved me from dying the days of hypothermia because there is a very large temperature with Madrid difference, and not only the temperature is what changes between Spain and Scotland.

From the first minute entering the city on the bus that brought me from the airport fell in love with me this city's neo-classical style, and compared as one of the cities most beautiful cities in Europe and the most beautiful in all of the United Kingdom.

I chose to stay in a hostel located in one of the largest and most attractive streets of Edinburgh called 'Royal Mile' (transl. golden mile) where its huge buildings, all Brown impressed me thatrainy afternoon. I devoted myself to a little tour of the city, without wanting to see it all in a moment because it would devote you 3 full days at the end of my trip to Scotland. There were certainly not a single corner without that I fall in love more and more this city.

I'll have to make a new chapter just to Edinburgh because really it is worth having a section for this special city

So for the moment I cover me from the rain and go to rest, that it has been a busy but productive day and I am happy with it

We continue to see us...

I LOVE NAGARKOT NEPAL

NAGARKOT

After 4 months in Nepal and, after having finished my volunteer work in an NGO located in Kathmandu, I decided to take a trip to Nepal.

Nagarkot is a village located 32 km east of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur. I had heard through my coworkers and locals that this place absolutely must visit if I wanted to see one of the sunrises more

Impressive in Nepal since it is at an altitude of 2,195 meters, and is considered one of the most picturesque places. It is famous for the views of the sunrise in the Himalayas, including MountEverest, as well as other snowy peaks of the Himalayas of Eastern Nepal. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the entire range of Langtang, the sunrise over the mountains and sunset views. The scenic beauty of the place makes it avery popular for tourists hiking route since it is a famous station of hills overlooking the Himalayas, hills, deep valleys, and the forests of pine in a rural environment.

From the Matador you can enjoy the sunrise or sunset views of the Himalayas, Nepal has one of the most extensive in the snowy peaks of the Himalaya visions in the Kathmandu Valley, and 8mountains of the highest on the planet of 13 can be observed. The sub-cordilleras that can be observed are amongst others:

-Annapurna,

-Manacle,

-Hymnal Gnash, (in English)

-Lang tang,

-Jubal, (in English)

-Rowling, (in English)

-Mahalangur (Everest) and

-Number (in English)

-In addition to splendid views of the Valley of Kathmandu and the Shivapuri National Park.

Located in a strategic place, Nagarkot was an ancient fortress of the Kathmandu Valley to oversee external activities of other kingdoms. Later, it became a summer residence of the Royal familybefore becoming popular as an international station Hill.

Public buses are the main means of transport and are incredibly cheap, incredibly uncomfortable and tediously slow, in Nepal, we have to get that life does not have the rhythm of a big city, Madrid for example. Buses to Nagarkot leave Kathmandu each time and are always full, so we have to arm with patience and try to be ready for when they reach the terminal because there arena queues or any order to enter.

Buses run through beautiful countryside along Bhaktapur and a beautiful pine forest after reaching the destination.

It was a real lucky that from the minute one in this place, I've found other travellers with whom we immediately had good communication and after finding a hotel where stay, I have to say waspretty easy and inexpensive and with all the comfort that could ask, we went to enjoy a well deserved dinner, and many hostels pass movies free nightIf you do not want to entertain with Board Games. That night I saw a very impressive film about the climbing of Mount Everest

Amazing Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv

It is a modern, uncluttered and clean city. It is the financial center of Israel, and is a beautiful metropolis, located along the Mediterranean Sea with beaches always full of families, young people and tourists.

The summer time is a time of life that permeates it to the city, its terraces, bars, restaurants are open until late in the evening, quite relaxed people walk the streets with enough summer clothes,their

wonderful beaches and has some splendid sunsets as the Sun is getting around 21:00 to 21:30 hours, hours extra of light and heat that makes its beaches exuberant.

One of the things that I liked this city was a promenade filled with itinerant sales, music, joy, and artists Street, finally gives you a print out of place that really live this country, violence andterrorism to the order of the day.

Night life in Tel Aviv, has nothing to envy to the European cities, you can find all kinds of bars, clubs and all sorts of shows, live music in special oriental music, which to my I particularly love.

There is all kinds of restaurants, and the food is spectacularly delicious especially eh humus and the famous falafel. Israeli cuisine is basically Mediterranean and delicious.

He has very exquisite design and modern malls, but something that might be a little shocking for the tourist who is unknown to the political situation in this country is that to enter any Mall ormarket entries will be flanked by the police or the army itself, having to go through a metal detector.

Another interesting aspect is to see especially in the stations main train and bus to hundreds of young people, both boys and girls in military uniform carrying machine guns and rifles, since TelAviv is more or less in the center of the country and is a place of heavy traffic to these young people that go or come from their homes to their military bases. Military service in this country iscompulsory from the age of 18; for 2 years and for boys 3 girls.

Tel Aviv has everything a tourist may require, has a huge variety of museums, parks, beaches, markets, historical sites and ancient part called Jaffa (Yafo), which we'll see in another entry.

Almost 1 1/2 years I lived in this beautiful city and my favorite places were the

-The Rabin square

-The square of Dizengoff (which was where he lived)

-The Marina

-In the old Jaffa clock tower

-The Marina where could spend hours simply watching people or a sunset

-The beautiful Rothschild Boulevard

-The Hearken Park, a place to rest in the shade

-The famous market of HaCarmel where I loved to go shopping or just to see how the daily life of this city unfolded

I think at least a three-day visit is the obligatory in this city, you will not disappoint

EXCITING GRANADA

Yes, Granada is a place that awakens passions...

passion for history,

passion for beauty,

passion for nature,

passion for the good tapas

In the month of December we decided with some friends we go a few days to enjoy this wonderful city, and this time we decided to rent a cottage, which turned out to be for 4 days cozy, cleanand above all very well kept and very nice.

It was some kilometres outside Granada but within minutes by car you could perfectly enjoy the city, and at the same time enjoy the tranquility and a wonderful view to the dawn of the SierraNevada and the city of Granada.

We take course to perform once more, if once more, because I cannot go to admire the beauty of one of the places without a doubt, more beautiful throughout Europe; THE ALHAMBRA

Granada it is a delight to discover it on foot, that will give you the feeling of returning in time that this place was the jewel of the Nazarí Kingdom. Granada is discovered with all the senses, withthe sense of smell by the fresh air smells, taste because few places there are best in Andalusia and Spain where vares can find covers abundant, varied and delicious, with the view becausewherever your eyes are fixed you will find corners with charm, places that make you feel you're living again during the years of the heyday of this city. To do this I recommend the followingplaces;

Albaycín

You should take your time and walk the narrow streets of this wonderful neighborhood, its steep and cobbled streets and with a musical background flamenco. This place is no data safely, whowere the founders and early settlers of this corner of Granada.

Currently is a neighborhood with narrow streets and many shops of souvenirs, and tea houses, so I recommend you don't miss it. In many tea houses you will find places where you can order a"shisha" or "Hookah" and enjoy this water pipe with different flavors.

The Carrera del Darro or Paseo de los Tristes,

There are few places so endearing and exciting to walk by this place, starting from the Church of Santa Ana, which is going on a bit of the new Plaza, is called, according to the story, the sad walkit because this was the route used by locals to funerals since it was way to the cemetery.

Along the promenade of the river Darro, to this we owe the name, we will be glimpsing the wonder with breathtaking views of the Alhambra.

We will also find cafés where you can taste a good coffee with stunning views

The Mirador de San Nicolás,

It is a place where the Church is located with the same name and is the best vantage point that I have found in Granada, it is a special place, where you have a perfect view of the magnificence ofthe Alhambra and the beautiful Sierra Nevada backdrop.

It is always full of tourists and locals and there are singers who delight in songs Ivy geranium and flamenco to remind us of the beauty of living in Andalusia. At the top of the mirador find cafes,restaurants, some enjoying a dress stunning.