Back in time- Croatia and Netherlands 2012

Hi guys,

I am studying hard for my final state exams at university. It means that at the moment nothing special is going on in my life.  I can´t wait these exams and my university will be over.

This summer it will be already three years since I came back from England. As you know I travel a lot. Let me tell you now how I spent my summer in 2012.

My family gave me some money ( as a reward) for passing the final state exams (my bachelor´s degree). So, I decided to spend them the best way I know- for traveling.

The list of countries I visited in 2012: 
- Austria
- Croatia
- Netherlands
- I do not count the time in England (1 year)

Croatia

I went to Croatia with 3 friends of mine (Katka, Jirka, Andreas). I like spending holiday with my friends, why not? You have so much fun and it is also cheaper...

Dress-H&M, sunglasses-M&S

T-shirt-Atmosphere, jeans-H&M, bag-Dakine, watches-present from SFS intec

blouse-New Yorker, earings-klenoty Aurum, skirt-gift from Prague

hood- Sam 73, shorts- F&F

autumn day in Croatia

My holiday in the island Brac (in Croatia) was amazing. We visited really lots of places. The best way how to do that is to have a car. I definitelly recommend this place, if you have a chance just go. We went there during the september so some days were really warm that you could swim in the sea but there were like 2 days when it was cold and I had to wear autumn jacket as you can see on the photo above.

Netherlands

After like 2 days I came back from Croatia, I took my friend from university (Lucka) and we went together to Amsterdam and Zaanse Schans. Yes, I do like traveling :-)

Zaanse Schans-amazing place, recommend it

Zaanse Schans- me and Lucka

Amsterdam

You can guess what I am about to do with money from my family for passing (in case I pass) following final state exams. Yes, I will use it for traveling again. Last time I went to the U.S. (Economic final state exam last year). This time I will go to my lovely Italy.

My final state exam is going to be on Monday 15.06.
- 7:20 - 8:00: preparation time
- 8:00 - 8:40: exam
- 12:00 - 12:10: announcing the results

Wish me luck, please. I´m going to need it.

See you later

Casteldaccia as a small town with beach and castle

Ciao ragazzi,

this is the last article about Sicily. I´ve showed you all places I had a chance to visit during my Erasmus project. 

Why Casteldaccia?

Well, as I´ve told you already I´m starting to prefere smaller towns over the big ones. Mostly for the atmosphere and the thing that there not so many tourists. I wanted to visit Casteldaccia also because it´s a seaside little town and not so far from Palermo.

My experience:

- one annoying guy

- 4 times almost hit by a car (the way from the beach to the castel is not very comfortable by walk)

What you can find here:

- nice square

- castle

- beach

I´m arriving to Casteldaccia by train. Trains in Sicily are generally not very realiable (always delay etc..). Although this time I didn´t have any problems.

There it is. Local castle. I´ve never seen a castel like this before and have to admit that I like it very much. Unfortunately I couldn´t go inside because it was closed for some reason.

A photo with local guy can´t miss. This is a very good place for relax.

Honestly, I think this square is really beautiful.

Generally I don´t like selfies so much but when I travel I really want to be on few photos at least.

And now let´s go to the beach. This is very nice walk along the beach.

One guy actually offered me to take a photo. Although he did bother me for the rest of my stay there. So, it wasn´t such a good bargain, was it? :-)

I could sit here all day long...

perfect location of bench

perfect view

During these months the beaches are very dirty as you can see. However that guy told me that now they are about to clean it for summer time.

And one last photo of me. I love spending time on the beach.

This little town is really nice. I´m very happy that I´ve decided to come here. There are no tourists, no people who would bother you (except for one guy) and you can relax on the beach. What else do I need? :-)

Next article is going to be about how I spend my holiday financed by reward - money, for my final state exams 3 years ago and what I´m planning to do with the same reward this year (this month actually). 

Ciao

Trip to Bagheria

Buongiorno,

I´m still writing articles about places in Sicily. I wanna tell you about all those citties I had a chance to visit and perhaps motivate you to come to Sicily one day. I´m studying hard for my exams. So my life isn´t that interesting at the moment anyway..

So, why Bagheria? Two years ago when I went to Sicily I remember that one guy from the party told me he comes from this city. And somehow I couldn´t forget it. Then I´ve found a mention about Bagheria in my guidebook. So, it was decided. Now unfortunately I couldn´t read any more information about this city because I had forgotten my guidebook about Sicily at home.

What do I think about Bagheria? First let me tell you this. When I travel I want to find in every city 2 things: the square and the church. Well, in my opinion you won´t find many nice squares in Bagheria. So, from this point of view I´m a little bit disappointed. On the other hand you can find plenty of nice churches there.

Here are some facts:
- 15 km from Palermo
- population over 50 000
- very popular among aristocratic families from Palermo (until the 19th century)
- lots of famous villas

This city is full of villas.

Villa Aragona

Villa Palagonia is the most famous villa in Bagheria (from 1705).

Villa Palagonia

Local road.

I can´t help myself but I like these kind of streets and always taking photos.

Modern church.

And that´s how their square looks like...

It´s not so nice, is it?

This is my favourite view. I can imagine sitting here, looking at the church and doing nothing...

Chiesa Madre di Bagheria.

Of course I had to ask somebody to take a photo.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III.

Honestly, who would you recognize me?? I wouldn´t.

Chiesa delle Anime Sante del Purgatorio (my favourite church).

Via Corso Umberto I.

This street is full of shops.

Two monumental pillars (Villa Palagonia) in Corso Umberto I.

Random beautiful old building.

The nature in Bagheria.

I want to be on the photo as well :-)

And that´s it guys. So, what do you think about Bagheria? Is it worth it or not?

Ciao
Ci vediamo dopo

Castelbuono as a place with the best "gelato" in Sicily

At least that´s what I was told by our organizers :-) Anyway, the ice cream here is good so :-) After a trip to Cefalu our plan was to visit a town called Castelbuono which is not so far from Cefalu (around 23 km). I´ve just discovered that this little town is also mention in my guidebook. In other words, it´s worth for the visit as you´re about to see right now. 

Here are some facts:
- province of Palermo
- population around 10 000
- famous for the castel
- grew up in the 14th century

Main street begins now.

Local church.

The castle.

First of all I always want to see the square. (Piazza Margherita)

with my friend Francisco from Spain

This one is very nice, don´t you think?

the fountain

I found very beautiful small Italian Cafe. If we had more time I would definitely come here.

Typical small street can´t miss on my blog.

I like this clock.

This is one of those moments, when I just look in the air and realize how much I love Italy. You might not recognize it but that´s how I´ve felt even if there is nothing special on this particular photo.

And finally we are having dinner.

Pizza Margherita

It´s very nice inside the restaurant.

With my roommate Georgiana from Romania

Do you see our red noses? Yes, we didn´t use any sunscreen at all because we thought we are going to be just fine. Actually I was really laughing to Martins during the day when I saw him. Although I stop laughing the moment I saw myself in the mirror!!

with Martins from Latvia

And here we go. The best ice cream in Sicily.

Nocciola con la panna

I have to say that I enjoyed the time here very much. I´m really starting to prefere more and more smaller towns over the big ones. You can always feel the right atmosphere in the air. And that´s what I love the most.

Ciaoooo