Berlin - Festival of Lights in October

With Berlin it is pretty much the same like with Budapest. I have been there already 3 times:

- 2007 - Pergamon musem

- 2015 - spring, attending an conference on human rights focus on women from Iran

- 2018 - autumn - Festival of Lights 

You can read my old article about Berlin here:

https://michaelapeskova.blogspot.com/search?q=berlin

I really like the event Festival of Lights. First time I saw it when I lived England which was many years ago. Every year I attend this special event in Prague. And because I love it I wanted to see how they do it in Berlin. That´s why I traveled there this October. The result? They do it nice as you can see on the pictures below.

I like Berlin. There are still some places I didn´t have time to visit. So I will definitely come back. It takes only few hours by bus or train. You can have a nice walk there. It is quite a difference between an old town and the new part of the city. You should definitely try their traditional "Currywurst", have a coffee in some local cafe, shopping in Primark and go for a drink (never say grab a beer because I don´t drink it).

A few photos

Sony center.

Currywurst - typical for Berlin.

The views from the Berlin´s Dom

Shopping

Festival of Lights

Festival of Lights in Berlin was really something special. I was so impressed that I will come back next year if I find some time :-)

Regards
Misa

Ostrava - another city where my relatives live

Hello my friends,

I don´t know if you know, but I do have relatives around the world.

In the Czech Republic you can find us for example in:

- Liberec

- Prague

- Ceska Lipa

- Ostrava

In the world you can find us for example in:

- Slovakia

- Germany

- Australie

- New Zealand

Today I wanna talk about the city Ostrava.  My relatives who originally come from Eastern Slovakia  moved there like 50 years ago. They live in part called Ostrava Poruba. Few weeks ago I was visiting my uncle Konstantin and my aunt Julka. Uncle Konstantin is one of the best people I know. I don´t remember any joke and he basically tells you at least one in every 10 minutes. It is incredible. I wish to have his positive attitude. There is so much I can learn from him. The last time he taught me something like a poem: "Good morning, good day, we start with a smile, do you smile?" You can´t see it in English but if you translate it to Czech language, it is really a rhyme.

First time I was in Ostrava 3 years ago. You can read article here:

https://michaelapeskova.blogspot.com/2015/12/ostrava-as-industrial-city.html

This summer I was exploring Ostrava - part Poruba.

A few photos from my last business trip to Ostrava

Brewery Ostravar.

National Theater.

A few photos from a weekend in Ostrava - Poruba.

 My grandma and her siblings. One day I would like to have a big family too :-)

Do you also visit your relatives who live somewhere else?

Regards
Misa

Budapest - three times and not the last

I have been to Budapest 3 times already:

- 2015 - during the summer with my friends Rafael from Brazil

- 2016 - during the winter for New Year with my exboyfriend and some friends

- 2018 - during the spring with my friend Jasmine from Taiwan

You can read an article from 2015 here:

https://michaelapeskova.blogspot.com/2015/11/budapest-as-capital-of-hungary.html

Me, Jasmine and Marlene organized this year a reunion in Vienna. Budapest is like 2 hours from there by bus. And because I wanted Jasmine to see the best of Europe (actually the places nearby) I suggested her that we can go there and she was excited about it. Jasmine totally fall in love with Budapest. The only thing I´m missing is that we didn´t have the time to go to some spa which is really cheap.

Why do I love Budapest?
- excellent gastronomy and cheap
- cozy little cafes
- good shopping - for instance my favourite Massimo Dutti
- cheap spa
- it is only few hours by bus from Prague

A few photos:

I can say for sure that it wasn´t my last time. I love Budapest so much and it is one of my favourite places in Europe. What about you? Have you been there?

Regards

Misa