Sightseeing in Stanford, California

First of all,  I would like to thank the lovely ladies from California especially Brianna and  Ate Mary  for  touring us in San Francisco and other places in this area.  Despite of your busy schedules, you still managed to tour us around. I truly appreciate everything. I would say, I truly had wonderful moments with you all.

One of the places we visited in California was Stanford.  Our lovely tour guide brought us to the famous Stanford University.  Inside the university campus, one of the buildings we visited was the Memorial Church. I love the architecture  of this church especially its interior.

Some images I took from the Memorial Church are found below. 

The facade of the  Stanford Memorial Church.

The interior of the Memorial Church in Stanford University.

 Stanford Memorial Church stands at the center of the campus, and is the University’s architectural crown jewel. It was one of the earliest, and is still among the most prominent, interdenominational churches in the West. Jane Stanford built the church as a memorial to her husband, Leland. Together, Senator and Mrs. Stanford had constructed the University as a memorial to their son, Leland, Jr...http://www.stanford.edu

Travel Snapshots from San Francisco, California

Hey peeps! How are things going on? I don't have many things to say now. First, I am still not feeling well but feeling very better compared to yesterday. Thanks to sister  nurse for the medication. I would  only love to  share some snapshots I took from San Francisco, California. I love that city and wish to go back there again in the future.

At the Union Square in San Francisco.

At the Fisherman's Wharf! I love the seafood in this area.

view from the Port of San Francisco. Thanks to Brianna for suggesting to us to ride the ferry. It was a wonderful experience!

I Love Insel Mainau in Germany

I finally visited Insel Mainau (Mainau Island). This island is famous for its gardens with  lovely flowers of all kinds. It is known as the Blumeninsel of Flower Island. It is an island in Bodensee or Lake Constance. Since I am a number one fan of flowers, I truly fall in love with this place. It made me crazy for a bit seeing all those beauty of nature in the whole island thru the different flowers and trees. Simply amazing!

I told hubby that  it is fine for me to live in this place. I find it a paradise. The long bus ride that we had that time was fully paid-off.  The weather was also perfect. I was quite hot  during our visit  that you need to drink a lot of water when you walk around the island to avoid dehydration.

I love all the flowers  on this island. Insel Mainau is a paradise for me. I love it there.

The Seville Cathedral in Seville, Andalusia

One of the cities we visited in the region of Andalusia in Spain was Seville. I love this city although we did not really explored all of the sights there. A day sightseeing is not enough to see everything especially when visiting a big city like Seville. This city is the lovely capital of Andalusia region.

One of the sights we visited was the Seville Cathedral. Our tour inside was already included in our 7-day trip to Spain. It is known as the Cathedral of St. Mary of the See or Catedral de Santa María de la Sede in Spanish. It claimed to be the third largest church in the world and the largest Gothic Cathedral as well.

It was a great feeling for me seeing wondrous and historical architecture like this. I was truly amazed by this building.

The interior of the Seville Cathedral in Andalusia, Spain. It was truly a great experience visiting this city especially going inside this magnificent building. Truly amazing!

The Door of the Prince.

These images were taken during our 7-day trip to Spain last December 2011.

I Miss The Sunset in South Cebu

This is one thing I miss when I am home in the Philippines. The beautiful sunset that I can watch from our terrace is truly a spectacular scene for me. Its beautiful setting over the horizon with its colorful rays that touch the blue sea is truly amazing! I feel like looking in a kaleidoscope when I a see a colorful pattern of the sunrays that goes down the horizon. Truly a phenomenon!

I hope to go home soon once again to  unwind, relax, recharge  and simply feel at home! There is really no place like home! Agree with me folks? Have a nice day!

The spectacular view from our home in Cebu City. I truly miss this phenomenon!

Photo of the Day-Puerta del Sol, Madrid

I can't exactly remember how many times I was in Puerta del Sol in Madrid. This is where we usually ride the Metro train and the Cercanias wherever we go. I noticed that the "Gate of the Sun" is the most busiest square in Madrid, Spain's capital city. You can find there musicians, street artists and performers, live shows and of course many tourists and locals.

Here is a snapshot   taken in Puerta del Sol, Madrid.

Puerta del Sol Madrid  during my second visit in Spain's capital. The statue of Charles III in front of the House of the Post Office.

View of Big Ben and the Parliament from London Eye Capsule

This is not really a good shot. What can you do with an ordinary point and shoot camera. My other canon camera did not work that time. The lens won't open anymore but now I already had it fixed and it work again. This photo doesn't really matter to me. The mos important thing is, I have some photo memories during my trip to London last 2008.

I was alone riding  London Eye that afternoon. It was raining hard and really very cold because it was autumn time in England. It was a sort of an adventure for me going alone sometimes in London. Experiencing London Eye was a great one feeling especially when you are on the very top and have a  breathtaking view of the whole city. It was simply amazing!

The Big Ben and the Parliament when I was inside the capsule of London Eye.

The Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey

Travel photos and memories! These are all the things I always have after I travel. Last September 2011, we had the chance to visit Turkey for 10 days. We might not be able to see everything in this country but at least we visited some of its famous sights. One of it was Ephesus, Turkey.

It was a sunny hot afternoon as our tour guide toured us around this famous ruin if Ephesus. Thanks to our tour guide's information when he told us that Ephesus was once a Greek city. It became later a major Roman City.

Ephesus is located in Selcuk in the Izmir province of Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era.

One of the interesting ruins we saw there was the Library of Celsus. It was built in honor of the Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. It was completed in 135 AD by Celsus’ son, Gaius Julius Aquila (consul, 110 AD).

The Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey during our vacation  last September 2011.

I Love This Breathtaking View of Monaco

Over a year had passed since my visit to this beautiful place. It was another dream come true when I visited Monaco. I thought I can only see it in internet or in a travel book but I was really there. I might not able to experience everything in this city state but I believed I am lucky enough to be there.

The breathtaking view of Monaco during our trip last April 2011.

The principality of Monaco or the city-state Monaco lies in between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by the French Riviera to the west and the Italian Riviera to the east.

This is the second smallest independent state in the world (after the Vatican) and is almost entirely urban.

A Day Trip to Prague, Czech Republic

Some friends were requesting me to search for cheap train tickets going to Prague. Departing from  in Parsberg train station, it is quite a long trip and the tickets were so expensive.  It was between 459.00 to 579.00 Euros for five persons depending on the date you are leaving. Sometimes last minute tickets are just so expensive.

There are sometimes bus trip going to  Prague. This is what we did during my first visit there last 2009. The bus trip only cost around 38.00 Euros. That is quite  cheap and the tour guide is already included.

My second day trip to Czech  Republic's capital city was last July  2011. I  escorted my friend's relative who had a vacation in Europe that time. The trip was quite  good especially that I showed to them most of the sights in Prague.

One of the bridges in Prague. This was taken last July 2011 when we were on our way to Prague's castle.

Cebu City's Skyline from Taoist Temple

If you are at Taoist Temple, you can have a very nice view of   Cebu City.  Dubbed as the "Queen City of the South" and also the second city in the Philippines after Manila, there are a lot  of  sights to see and to experience in this city.

Among the famous sights are the Santo Nino Basilica, Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, Colon Street, Lapu-lapu Monument  and more.

This was taken during my last vacation in  Cebu last 2010. You can see the Waterfront hotel  with its three blue towers. The port of Cebu is also visible in this image.

 

Taoist Temple in Beverly Hills, Cebu City, Philippines. This was already my fourth visit in this famous sight in Cebu.

Watching Flamenco Dance in Albayzin, Spain

It was a wonderful night..not a so-cold winter weather during December. We had a night sightseeing on the narrow winding streets of this previously Medieval Moorish place. El Albayzin, also known as El Albaicín, it is a district in Granada in the region of Andalusia, Spain.

You can have a very nice view of Alhambra from the viewing point by the church of San Nicolas. It was truly spectacular! After that sightseeing, we proceeded to watch a flamenco show in this area.

Flamenco which is a famous dance in Andalusia, Spain is noted for its energetic, staccato style..and I did witnessed it during that night show. We did enjoyed it much. We had a glass of wine while watching it which made me more classy. I guess that Flamenco Show in Tablao Flamenco Albayzín was the highlight of our trip that night.

A dancer performing Flamenco in Albayzin. We watched it during our Andalusia trip last December 2011. I miss that region of Spain.

On November 16, 2010, UNESCO declared Flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Short Stop at Garmish-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany

My first visit to this town was in August 2004. I cannot forget that day because it was my birthday when we had a 4-days trip in this area. My second visit was last year in September where we had a short stop-over there. I love Garmisch-Partenkirchen because of its setting. The nature in this town including the mountains, hills and valleys, rivers, lakes nearby and the forest and woodlands are just so magnificent.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a famous mountain resort town in Bavaria in the southern part of Germany. The highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze (2961 m or 9714 ft.) is located nearby. This town was also the site of the Winter Olympic Games in 1936. It is also a famous holiday spot for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, having some of the best skiing areas in Germany like Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze.

The tower of the Church in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The buildings are shops and stores in this town. WE were there last September 2011.

Visit to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome

This is the dream-to-visit of many like I do! I guess I am one of those lucky ones who was able to visit the center of Catholicism, the Vatican City state. It was one of the most memorable trips I had last 2010.

The highlight of our visit to Vatican City was when we went up to the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica. As far as I can remember, it was quite a long line going there but with our patience and eagerness to climb to the top of the dome, we did succeeded in doing it. If you are on top of the dome, you can have a breath-taking view of Rome. Be careful if you want to go up there. If you are Claustrophobia or fear of having no escape and being closed in and Acrophobia, the fear of heights, going up to the Basilica's dome might not be suitable for you. You also need to climb around 320 steps to reach the cupola. I am not quite sure if there is an elevator that goes directly to it.

The interior of St. Peter's Basilica by Giovanni Paolo Pannini. I had the chance to be there last summer 2010.

St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica and the Obelisk in the background. I am very happy and contented to be there.

Day Trip to Herend, Hungary

Have you heard about Herend porcelain? Herend is actually a small town near the city of Vestprem in Hungary. It is a historical town dating back to the Roman times. We had a day trip there last summer 2011 during our 5-days trip to Hungary. It is famous for its Herend Porcelain, one of the world's largest ceramic factories, specializing in luxury hand painted and gilded porcelain. It is enough for us to only go sightseeing and window shopping because the porcelain there are really expensive. We only bought ceramic souvenirs in the area but not really in Herend.

The famous Herend porcelain in Hungary during our trip last August 2011.

The Porcelain Museum of Herend. It has been opened to visitors since 1964 and was chosen as the museum of the year 2002 in Hungary.

Cruising in Danube River in Hungary

I always love to turn back time when I travel. Through the travel images I took everytime I go for a trip, it always reminds me of the places I visited. During our trip to Hungary last summer 2011, we had a cruise in Danube River in Hungary. One of the interesting places we passed-by was Esztegom.

It is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there.

That cruise trip was quite a relaxing one while watching the nature around and the places we passed-by.

Esztergom Hungary. The opposite side of the bridge is already the border to Slovakia. I love the cruise we had there last August 2011.

Seeing The Sights in Boleslawiec, Poland

It was quite an adventure when we visited this pottery town of Boleslawiec in Poland. Together with some friend, we drove from Bavaria, Germany going to Boleslawiec. It was quite a long drive but we never had a dull moment.

The town of Boleslawiec in southwestern Poland is very famous for its ceramics and pottery. We only had a short sightseeing in this town and it was worth-it.

The colorful buildings in the town of Boleslawiec during my second visit last October 2011.

The Hohensalzburg in Salzburg, Austria

This was my third visit in Salzburg, Austria but it was the first time for me to go to the castle. Hohensalzburg is a castle atop the Festungsberg mountain. Its name literally means "High Salzburg Fortress". If I have to translate Hohensalzburg one by one, it actually consist of three German words, Hohe means high, Salz is salt and Burg, a fortress.

There are a lot of sights to visit in Salzburg. Its Old Town for example is a must to see because it belong to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This city is also the birthplace of the famous musician and composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The view of Hohensalzburg at the Cathedral Square. This monument with a man on top of it was still not there during my first visit in 2008. I am not quite sure but I did not see this in my first visit. The construction of the fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein.

a souvenir shop in Salzburg, Austria. This was taken during my third visit last July 2011.

Skywatch Friday
Shadow Shot Sunday
Sunday Snapshot
Weekend Reflection
Scenic Sunday

Kawasan falls in Badian, Cebu

If I have a choice where I have to stay this month, I would say in the Philippines! You know why, the weather is not cold because it is in the tropics, i miss the local foods there, there are celebrations that I want to attend like the Sinulog in Cebu or the Halad in Midsayap and yes I want to go to Kawasan Falls again.

Kawasan are a set of falls in the town of Badian in Cebu Province in the Philippines. I love to go trekking along the peaceful river going to Kawasan Falls. It is around 130 km southeast of Cebu City. I hope to visit this place again in my next vacation to the Philippines!

Kawasan during my third visit last January 2010.

View of Salzburg City from Hohensalzburg Castle

The best way of looking around Salzburg is to climb on Hohensalzburg castle. From there, you can have a breathtaking view especially of the Historic Center of the city of Salzburg which also belong to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Last July 2011 was already my third visit to this Austrian city. I find it always interesting would love to come back again and again. I hope you are all having a wonderful start of 2012. Cheers!

view of the historic center of salzburg from one of the fortress' windows. It was during my third visit in Salzburg when I had the chance to go up to the castle.

Salzburg is on the banks of the Salzach River, at the northern boundary of the Alps. The mountains to Salzburg's south contrast with the rolling plains to the north. The closest alpine peak—the 1972 m Untersberg—is only a few kilometres from the city centre. The Altstadt, or "old town", is dominated by its baroque towers and churches and the massive Festung Hohensalzburg.