Dresden, Germany

Dresden, Germany, capital of the federal state of Saxony, situated on the shores of the river Elbe, is considered the fourth largest city in Germany and more than half of its surface is represented by forests and green spaces, including four nature reserves . 
Among the most important tourist attractions in Dresden, are: 

Right near the Opera, Zwinger Palace is among the most ravishing baroque buildings in all of Germany. Being a collaboration between architect and sculptor Balthasar Permoser Pöppelmann Matthäus was originally a royal palace party, despite the odd name (which means "dungeon"). 
Some charming arcade leading to a vast courtyard filled with fountains, lavish buildings framed with carved baroque. At the top of the  western flag is Atlas, looking tense, holding the world on his shoulders, as opposed to it is a carillon of 40 Meissen porcelain bells, which emit a sound every 15 minutes.
Attractions located near: Catholic Church, Johanneum building, mural Fürstenzug, Royal Palace, Semper Opera House, the August bridge .

Church of Our Lady, known as Frauenkirche dome, one of the most beloved symbols of Dresden, was raised from the ashes of the city. The original, designed by Georg Bähr, embellished Dresden skyline for two centuries before collapsing two days after the bombing from February 1945.
Visitation fee is 8 euros and if you want an  audio guide in English it will add 2.50 euros.
Attractions located near: the Museum Albertinum, Municipal Museum, the building Johanneum, Bruhl terrace, mural Fürstenzug.

The Royal Palace, known as Residenzschloss , was the residence of the Saxon kings until 1918. When postwar reconstruction was almost complete, in the palace was restored the Green Vault, a stunning collection of objects made ​​of gold, ivory, silver, diamonds and other materials. There are so many, that are exposed in two separate rooms of treasures, both in the west wing of the palace. 

New Green Vault features over 1,000 objects in 10 modern rooms on an upper floor. Among the most valuable items include a frigate decorated with ivory with sailing very thin, a grain of cherry with 185 faces carved into it, and a set of 132 exotic gemstones figurines representing a royal court in India. Each art object is astounding. To avoid the biggest crowds visit the place during lunch.

Other 3000 additional items are listed below in Historic Green Vault . Are displayed on shelves and tables in a number of generous rooms , as it were on the days of August der Starke .

In the same wing , on the upper floor is a collection of prints and drawings . For beautiful views , head to the Palace Tower . For numismatics lovers we recommend coin collection , all located in the tower.

The ticket for all museums and collections in the palace, except the old green safe is 6 euros, and if you want to visit the old green safe the fee is 11.50 euro. 

The cost of visiting the old masters gallery is 6 euros, for visiting armory is 3 euros, for porcelain collection is 5 euro and for lounge math and science state is 3 euro.

Attractions located near:Catholic Church, Johanneum building, mural Fürstenzug, Semper Opera House, the August bridge, Zwinger Palace.

In northwest of Altstadt, you can not miss what looks like a giant mosque , a giant onion-shaped dome and stained glass. Yenidze, building the world's first reinforced concrete frame, initial worked in 1907 as a tobacco factory, producing a pseudo-exotic cigarette called Salaam Alakhem, but without success. Today it houses three restaurants and a terrace where you can have beer on the roof, inside the dome taking place  cultural events.

Attractions located near:The Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House, the building Johanneum, Carl Maria von Weber Museum, Japanese museum.

Semper Opera House is one of the most beautiful monuments in Dresda. The original building of Semper Opera  House burned  three decades after its inauguration in 1841. When it was reopened in 1878, neo-renaissance jewel came into the most amazing time of its, who saw premieres of works by Richard Strauss, Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner. Unfortunately, World War II ended fun, and only in 1985 music filled the huge room again.

Even if you are not passionate about the work, it will be impossible not to be impressed by the opulent interior: the velvets, brocades and imitation marble skillfully crafted , creates an atmosphere of luxury and privacy. 

Guided tours of the building takes place throughout the hole day, depending of the work program at the opera and the fee is 6 euros.
Attractions located near:The Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, the building Johanneum, catholic church, August bridge.

Occupying the former royal hunting land, is rightfully called Large Garden (Grosser Garten), a delightful retreat during the warmer months. Here, a magnet for visitors, is the excellent zoo, where crowds gravitate around the Africa hall and the new exhibition about tundra, with polar foxes and owls snow.In the northwest corner of the garden is Botanical Garden. From April to October is available a fun way to visit the park, aboard a miniature train.
Attractions located near: zoo, Botanical Garden,  Municipal Museum, Hygiene Museum, Church of Christ, transparent factory

Bern, Switzerland-historical monuments and sights

Bern, capital of Switzerland, is one of the most visited swiss cities, considered the most beautiful medieval town in Switzerland. Located in an area full of hills and large forests, this city has a charm besides dream landscapes that offers, is also a very quiet town.The old town, full of narrow cobbled streets with old houses, has a special glow, give it by the landscape provided by the beauty of the Alps.

Among the most important  historical monuments and sights from Bern are:

Federal Palace of Switzerland, designed by architect Hans Auer, inaugurated in 1 april 1902, is the name of the building in Bern in which are housed the Swiss Federal Assembly and the Federal Council.

The two rooms, were the National Council and Council of States meet, are separated by hall dome.  The dome itself has an external height of 64 m and an inner height of 33 m. The mosaic in the center contains federal crest with the latin motto "Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" (One for all and all for one), surrounded by coats of arms of the 22 cantons that existed in 1902.

Among the attractions are located near the Federal Palace are: Marktgasse Avenue, clock tower, fountains in Bern, Einstein house, Swiss Alpine Museum and the History Museum.

Marktgasse Boulevard is one of the streets of the old town and is part of the inner city, built in the XIII century. Street in the old town is part of the Unesco world heritage and was first mentioned in 1286. 

Among the tourist attractions that are located in the boulevard area: fountains from Bern, Federal Palace, Museum of Fine Arts, clock tower, Einstein house and Kramgasse alley. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

The Clock Tower is an important symbol of the city of Bern. Clock located on the east side, made in 1530, is also the astronomical clock. My recommendation would be to get in the area  5 minutes before the clock to beat the exact time, because then mechanical figures are set in motion, which is a bizarre process, that must be seen to be believed.

Among the attractions are located near the tower clock:

-fountains in Bern known for the beauty of its statues;

-Einstein House in Bern, museum and former residence of Albert Einstein;

-Cathedral of St Vincent in Bern;

-Bern Avenue Marktgasse;

-Alley Kramgasse;

Cathedral of St Vincent is one of the most beautiful places of worship in Europe, visited each year by countless tourists and believers coming from all over the country .

The market where  is the cathedral, Münsterplatz, is surrounded by baroque buildings and even has a fountain from 1790 , its sculpture depicting Moses ,that reminds  the second commandment . On entering the cathedral you can admire the extraordinary sculptural rendering  Doomsday , with almost 200 characters, a unrivaled composition in gothic style

The interior is as the exterior : solid , carefully built and with the impressive decorations . They kept some original features , as well as several statues of saints of Christ and the Blessed Virgin .

You can climb over 100 meters on a small scale , with 254 numerous stone steps , but once reached to the top of the tower you will not regret . There you will find the largest bell in Switzerland , cast in 1611, with a weight of over 10 tons.

Among the attractions that are located near the cathedral are: fountains from Bern, clock tower, Einstein house and Kramgasse alley. 

At History Museum of Bern  you can spend days exploring the levels of the building , full of various collections . Downstairs there are temporary exhibitions , while the basement has a collection theme: "Dance of Death", a medieval artists obsession.

On the first floor you will find an impressive model of the city of Bern as it looks in 1800 . You will also find in here  medieval Flemish tapestries , and tapestry of a thousand flowers, the resistance piece of this collection.

Among the attractions that are located near the museum are:Federal Palace, clock tower, Einstein house and Kramgasse alley. 

Museum of Fine Arts Bern, within walking distance of the town train station, is a modern building, smart designed and newly renovated, a paradise for art lovers. 

In this museum are many works of Kandinsky, Modigliani, Giacometti, Cézanne, Matisse, Rothko, Miro, Pollock and many others, most presented in permanent exhibitions. 

Near is found Frauen-Kunstforum, a small museum dedicated to contemporary swiss painters, a laudable initiative, complemented by a stylish café and a small library.

Swiss Alpine Museum is a museum well suited to a city right next to the mountains. Museum shows all aspects of life in the mountains, in an intelligent and new  manner. From tourism trips and the lives of those who live in the Alps, fauna and flora, to the impact of industry on the Alps, nothing was forgotten. Mountains are presented in the museum both through images and through most of the detailed layouts.

Among the attractions that are located near the museum:Federal Palace, clock tower, Einstein house, Cathedral of St Vincent and Kramgasse alley. 

Athens, the city of the gods

Athens, the city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshiped by gods and people, a magical city. These are just a few words that shows an overview of the Greek capital. 

Greece is also the country where democracy was born and have lived the greatest sages of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and live today through stories and buildings that withstood heroically against time consuming.

Today Athens is Greece's economic and cultural center, with many historical monuments and sights, among witch the most important are:

 Agora, the ancient center of Athens, the center of political,commercial, administrative and social activities, religious center and the settlement  of justice, was used as a residential area in late Neolithic, in the early eleventh century, the Agora becaming a public area.

If you want to visit Agora you should know the following information: 

 -Agora entrance fee is 4 € for adults and € 2 for students and children;

-Agora can be visited daily between 08.30-19.30 hours, Monday  less when is open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed for the holidays); 

- the Agora is located near the Acropolis hill, along the streets of Plaka and Monastiraki ;

Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Oplympeion, is located on Amalias Street at 500 meters southeast of the Acropolis and  700 meters south of Syntagma Square. Foundation belongs to a temple that was dedicated to the tyrant Pisistratus in 515 BC, but work was abandoned when Pisistratus's son, Hippias, was removed from the throne in 510 BC

If you want to visit the temple you should know the following information:

-Temple of Zeus can be visited daily between 08.00-19.30 hours Monday when it's less open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed for holidays);

-Entrance to the Temple of Zeus is 4 €  and is located on Amalias street; 

Acropolis, the most important and most beautiful temple in Athens called "Holy Stone of Athens" dedicated to its protector, goddess Athena, dominates the modern city center stone summit. The oldest myths, great festivals, worship ancient and several decisive events in history are all connected in this sacred place. Acropolis monuments are in natural harmony with the settlement. One of the main buildings of the Acropolis is the Parthenon.

The building of Parthenon was created by architects Kallikrates and Iktinos as the residence of the huge statue of Athena, its construction of lasting seven years. What is fascinating about Parthenon is that it creates a feeling that is built from parts that can be changed between them. For example, the columns are stones placed one upon another, the first sensation is that you could change one piece with the other but this is not possible. Each piece of the Parthenon is unique and fits with where it is located as in the hardest puzzle.

If you want to visit The Acropolis you should know the following information: 

-Acropolis can be visited every day from 08.00-19.30 least Monday when it opened between 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed for the holidays );

-Acropolis entrance fee is € 12 for adults and 6 € for students and children;

The construction of the Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea, began around 500 BC, but the monument was never finished. Temple and its attractions was first destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. Temple of Poseidon that you can visit today was built on the site of the ruins of another temple. . 

Lord Byron carved his name on one of the marble columns in 1810. He triggered a real current, today the temple being scratched with signatures and initial of the tourists.

If you want to visit the temple of Poseidon, you should know the following information: 

-Temple of Poseidon can be visited every day between 8:30 to 20:00. (except in March when is closed);

-entrance to the Temple of Poseidon is 4 € for adults and € 2 for children;

-the temple is located in city ​​Sounio,  Athens organizing trips to the Temple of Poseidon;

Byzantine Museum was founded in 1914. Originally located at the ground floor of the Academy of Athens, he was moved to Villa Ilissia, winter residence of the Duchess of Piacenza 

Large collection of museum objects attest development during early Christianity until years after the Byzantine (sec IV-XIX). The collections include sculptures, paintings and small ornaments from Greece and from other parts of the Byzantine Empire as Asia Minor, Black Sea, Egypt and the Danubian Principalities that today are forming Romania. 

When will be finished enlargements of the museum, all 15,000 items of the collection will be exhibited and the building will be part of a huge archaeological park which includes the  Aristotle Lyceum  and a small outdoor amphitheater.

If you want to visit the Byzantine Museum, you should know the following information: 

-Byzantine Museum is open from tuesday to sunday from 8:00 to 19:30, closed on Mondays;

-the  entrance fee is 4 € for adults and € 2 for children;

-it is located on Vassilis Sofias Street,number 22;

Dionysus Theatre, built in a natural hollow in the Southern Acropolis, was the first theater in the world built of stone and represents the birth of Greek tragedy. Here was where Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility, was worshiped. Theatre of Dionysus was divided into three major parts. Orchestra, with a circular space where the action take place, elongated building scene, where the actors changed and its served as a background or setting, and the audience.

If you want to visit the Dionysus Theatre, you should know the following information:

-Theatre of Dionysus can be visited every day from 8:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the summer, and in the winter between 8:30 to 6:00 p.m. (except Mondays when it is closed) ;

-entrance to the Theater of Dionysos  is 2 € ;

The port of Piraeus, the biggest port of Greece, was built in the time of Themistocles, when the city walls were also high (year 478 AD Ch), and the entire Greek capital gains as under the supervision of architect Hippodamus.

Piraeus is composed of three ports, the "great port" is the biggest being placed in the west. From here goes all the large ships. Half a kilometer to the east, by a hill, lies the port of Zea, which is more a yacht harbor and also the starting point for many trips to the islands. Last port is Flisvos, 7 miles east of Zea, and is an exclusive port for trips. Piraeus is a commercial port and therefore will not find too many restaurants and hotels here but its worth a visit and is only  for its role in Greek history.

Bali-exotic destination for a dream vacation

Bali is an exotic island paradise, known for its green rice terraces, for its volcanoes height that can exceed 3000 meters, for  its people that although poor, are very hospitable and not least for its temples where you can view  incredible sunsets.

Bali island belongs to Indonesia which is famous for beautiful tropical beaches with palms and flowers that grow up huge, for  diversity of art represented by sculpture, painting, dance and ceremonies dedicated to the gods. In Bali are organized numerous ceremonies and festivals. 

The representative temples of Bali tourism are Tanah Lot temple, the temple Pura Jagatnatha,  dedicated to god temple Sang Hyang Widi Wasa, Pura Besakih that is  situated on mountainside Agung.

Those who want to spend their holiday in Bali will not think twice because it is a paradise destination. When you arrive on the island you can make various trips and tours with buses, cars, boats and even airplanes. 

The featured sights for a dream vacation are: 

- Kintamani, a mountain village located at 1500 m altitude, where you can admire Lake Batur and Batur Volcano, still active. You can visit the village Trunyan; 

- Tampaksiring were we can visit  the Tirta Empul temple and Elephant Cave; 

-The Mother Temple is the most sacred of Bali and the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia; 

-many museums such as Puri Lukisan in Ubud, Neka in Campuhan Gallery in Ubud Neka, Agung Rai Gallery in Peliatan and Agung Rai Museum  in Pengosekan.

In Bali, besides visiting the beauty of nature, we can make  many other activities such as: 
- Water sports: swimming, snorkelling, water skiing, parasailing, wind surfing; 
- Scuba Diving, the best places are along the east coast near Candi Dasa, Amed and Tulamben and near Nusa Penida;
- Fishing: there are companies that rent yachts and fishing boats; 
- Cruises: Daily organized near islands Nusa Penida  and Nusa Lembongan  on the south-east were you can also practice water sports;
- Submarine Safari: submarine tours of 36 seats in the Gulf Amuk Bay, Padangbai; 
- Other activities: golf, tennis and squash, white water rafting, karting, bungee jumping, horseback riding, paintball, traditional dance classes ,cooking classes;

If you want to buy souvenirs recommend natural teas, spices, frames decorated with banana leaves, wood carvings and of course the famous Indonesian coffee.

In conclusion, Bali offers many exotic places that can turn your vacation into a true paradis. In completing the thought, here is a photo gallery of the most representative locations.