WorldAtlas.com (webmaster's) Europe Blog

EuroStar Trains

2007-09-22T09:18:00.000+02:00

At dawn's first light, two sleek EuroStar trains await their passengers in Rome's Termini Station. One of the real joys of travel in Europe is the train system. Most are convenient, fast and affordable - especially for tourists. Use trains on your next trip, we always do.

Are You Looking At Me?

2007-09-04T08:54:00.000+02:00

This video was created by photographing a large billboard in Amsterdam. This mesmerizing billboard stands near the central train station and when one walks by it you have the feeling that all of the participants are staring - just at you. It's very hard to ignore, much less forget.

Anne Frank

2007-09-04T08:49:00.000+02:00

Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. She later died in a German concentration camp, and her poignant diary really comes to life when one visits her childhood home in Amsterdam. I read the "Diary of Anne Frank" while in high school, but I need to read it again, in fact we all should, as that tragic slice of human history must never be repeated. This bronze statue of Anne stands in a public square.

Michelangelo's Tomb

2007-08-18T09:49:00.000+02:00

The Basilica di Santa Croce is one of the most visited spots in Florence, Italy, as it's the burial place of many Italian geniuses, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Gentile and Rossini. The photo shown is Michelangelo's own tomb, and standing next to it is a somewhat haunting experience. Directly across from Michelangelo rests Galileo Galilei. He was born in Pisa in 1564, and is widely considered one of the most accomplished scientific minds in the history of man.

The Beggar and the Beer

2007-07-30T08:12:00.000+02:00

The picture shown is the opening slide of a video I recently shot in Rome. It features female street beggars, or better said, clever actors that work the streets securing money from unsuspecting tourists. One woman in particular puts on quite an act, and interestingly, she drinks beer while she works, thus the title.
Watch That Video here!

The Death Chair

2007-07-03T07:11:00.000+02:00

In my travels I've sat in many a chair, but this one was by far the most interesting, and at the same time, the most ghasty. Located deep within the Aragonese Castle on the Italian island of Ischia is a Nun's Cemetery. It was once part of a local convent, now long abandoned. When one of its cloistered nuns would die, her lifeless body was placed on this chair, and then, well, the rest of this macabre story is here!

the T-shirt

2007-06-12T16:14:00.000+02:00

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Paris, in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, a large group of people (all ages) were doing some sort of crazy dance and humming some sort of crazy tune. I watched for a few minutes, trying to figure out what the commotion was all about. Was it a political rally? Was it a war protest? Was it Greenpeace in action? Then all of sudden a man danced by and his t-shirt seemed to provide the answer to my questions.

The Scribe

2007-06-12T16:09:00.000+02:00

Since viewing the King Tutankhamin (King Tut) exhibition in Chicago many years back I've been fascinated by the art and history of early Egyptians. In the Louvre in Paris sits this stunning statue of an Egyptian scibe. At over 4,500 years old its reddish color remain remarkably bright, and the face and eyes so haunting (and lifelike), that I stood in front of it, astonished and literally transfixed for the longest time.

Paris Opera

2007-06-12T15:09:00.000+02:00

In an opulent building in central Paris designed by Charles Garnier in 1862, some of the most memorable moments in opera have taken place behind the curtain shown above. Today the "Opera de Paris Garnier" is used mainly for ballet performances, as operas in Paris are staged in the newer "Opera de Paris Bastille" building. However, any visit to Paris should include a tour of this truely remarkable place.

Venus De Milo

2007-06-12T14:47:00.000+02:00

The Louvre Museum in Paris contains three of the planet's most photographed pieces of art; the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory (or Goddess Victory), and of course the Venus De Milo. Taking a picture of any of them is quite difficult in the Louvre due to lighting conditions, but mostly due to the very aggressive photographic competition, all pushing and shoving at the same time for the best view. On a recent Sunday afternoon I spent my time there taking photos of people taking photos on their cell phones. As for Venus (shown above) I counted over 90 people taking photos of her at the same time, and it was rather amusing watching all of them at work.

Joe DiMaggio

2007-05-14T10:25:00.000+02:00

While walking through the small fishing village of Isola Delle Femmine, just west of Palermo, on the island of Sicily, I literally stopped dead in my tracks, as there above an old wooden door was the plaque shown above. It honors a gifted Italian, Joe DiMaggio, one of the greatest players ever in the American game of baseball. His father, Giuseppe Paolo Di Maggio, lived right here before emigrating to America in 1915, and today this place (this small museum) is an honored spot. What made the moment even more special was I watched the "Yankee Clipper" play the game in Chicago, and I think it was 1948. I was quite young, but I still remember my Dad saying that DiMaggio was his favorite player. During that game - while watching the Yankee's play - my life-long love of baseball was born.

Easter Rising, Dublin, Ireland, 1916

2007-04-10T10:02:00.000+02:00

After the events of Easter Sunday, 1916, the nationalist leaders that supported an independent Irish Republic were all quickly court-martialed, then brutally shot (executed) at Dublin's Kilmainham Gaol (prison) by the British.

Within that prison (marked by a cross) stood the Irish heros, Eamonn Ceannt, Tom Clarke, Cornelius Colbert, James Connolly, Edward Daly, Sean Mac Diarmada, Sean J. Heuston, Michael Mallin, Major John McBride, Thomas McDonough, Michael O'Hanrahan, Patrick Pearse, William Pearse and Joseph Plunkett. All were marched (blindfolded) into this prison courtyard, then executed at point-blank range by British solders. James Connolly was so badly injured in previous fighting that he could not stand, so he was placed in a chair, and then shot. Thomas Kent was later shot in Cork, Ireland, and Roger Casemen was hanged in London, England.

Despite its military failure - mainly because of the overpowering force of British troops in Dublin - this event, this 'Easter Rising" is rightfully judged as the most significant inspiration in the eventual creation of the Irish Republic. If you ever travel to Dublin, Ireland, don't miss touring Kilmainham Gaol. And when you stand in the central courtyard and see this cross (there are two) you can't help but feel proud of the men that died here, and it's a moment that will stay in your mind for a very long time.

Street Sweeper

2007-04-01T10:09:00.000+02:00

A few days back I took some friends visiting from Texas to see the Pantheon in central Rome. It is the best-preserved of all Roman buildings, and been in continuous use throughout its 2,000 year history. Regardless, standing in front of this incredible building was a female street sweeper in her "Uniform of the Day." From local police to street sweepers, all public employees have designer duds, and for the most part, all public employees spend much of their day checking their cellphone messages, and this one was no exception.

Positano, Amalfi Coast

2007-03-31T09:02:00.000+02:00

Unless you've traveled on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, it's hard to describe the rugged beauty of the place. The city in view is called Positano, and the picture speaks for itself. Have you ever seen water so blue? Those houses are built into the cliffs, and let me tell you...the price of real estate here is off the charts.

Old Jewish Cemetery

2007-03-28T13:56:00.000+02:00

In the city of Prague, Czech Republic, stands the old "Jewish Cemetery" in Josefov, the former Jewish ghetto. This cemetery was used from the mid-15th century till the end of the 18th century. Historical records indicate that about 100,000 Jews are buried in this small plot of land, with their graves layered 12 deep in some places. Reportedly, even though the Nazis made it a policy to destroy Jewish cemeteries during World War II, Hitler (himself) ordered that this cemetery be left intact, since he was planning to build a Jewish museum in Prague after all the Jews in Europe had been exterminated. Standing here is quite disturbing when one considers the madness of Hitler, and the terrible sufferings he instigated.

Nuns in Rome

2007-03-28T10:52:00.000+02:00

In Rome, birds of a feather seem to flock together!

Mr. Etna, Sicily

2007-03-28T10:48:00.000+02:00

Standing on one of Mt. Etna's recent lava domes is quite an experience, as the mountain is still quite active, and in fact it erupts on a regular basis. The day our mapping team was there we experienced two minor explosions. To me, any explosion is one too many, but I must say that the bus trip to the top is quite a thrill.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

2007-03-28T10:43:00.000+02:00

This is a view of a small harbor in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This ancient town was bombed into submission by Serbia in the early 90's, but it's now almost completely restored. Many idyllic homes dot the hillsides along it's lengthy waterfront, and this is a wonderful destination to add to any European travel plans.

Sagrada Famila Church

2007-03-28T10:32:00.000+02:00

This amazing carving is on display in the Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona, Spain. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, this sculpture really shows the architectural genius this man possessed. The church is still under construction, but if you visit the very clean city of Barcelona, this church is a must see.

Harborside in Cannes

2007-03-28T10:27:00.000+02:00

The French Riviera port city of Cannes, France, is famed for many things including small boats, large boats, luxury yachts of all description, sailboat regattas, and of course the Cannes Film Festival. On most days there are over 500 sailboats of all sizes in the harbor.

Ruins in Rome

2007-03-28T10:08:00.000+02:00

Rome is in reality a large outdoor museum, and no matter where you journey in this ancient city, you will turn a corner, and right there in front of you are the stunning ruins of history - and I do mean stunning!

Greek Islands

2006-12-01T07:05:00.000+01:00

If you travel to Athens, Greece, and you want to visit an offshore island, it's easily done. From the port city of Piraeus, the Argo-Saronic islands are popular weekend getaways for Athenians, and they also provide tourists with a convenient close-by island destination, be it for a quick visit or a longer stay. For tourists the most popular islands include Aigina, Poros and Ydra. Aigina is the site of the Temple of Aphaia, considered the most well-preserved temple in all of Greece (see photo). Both Poras and Ydra are famed for their quaint villages and casual atmosphere, and on Ydra, no motorized vehicles are allowed so bikes and donkeys provide the local transportation. All of the islands are accessible by a reliable ferry service from the mainland, and one-day, three-island cruises are recommended for those with limited time; they're affordable, they're fun and they're very Greek!

Prague

2006-10-26T08:56:00.000+02:00

I am reminded almost daily of one of my favorite European cities by a picture on the wall of my office, one taken from the historic Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. It was a brisk fall day, and in all directions Prague had that fairy tale-look going on, and it would be almost impossible to take a bad picture even for an amateur photographer like me.

Prague is a very striking city, as it's so perfect it's almost like a fantasy. The Charles Bridge spans the Vltava River and as I crossed the Charles Bridge on my way to Old Town Square, a canal (yes, a canal caught my eye) as it reminded me so much of Venice. Turns out that near the shoreline a few canals wind their way from the river through the old buildings and then, under the bridge.

In all of Europe Prague is one of the favorite cities of international travelers, and in addition to its beauty, prices here are very inexpensive now and it is truly one of the best bargains on the entire European continent.

High Water

2006-10-25T08:33:00.000+02:00

For those of us fortunate enough to have traveled to Venice, Italy, like me, they've no doubt stood in Saint Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and marveled at the many historical buildings and monuments, as well as the boat traffic on the Grand Canal that fronts this beautiful place. (photo by webmaster)

A few visits back, while researching streets for a series of travel guide maps, I stood in the Piazza with water almost to my knees. This is a somewhat common occurrence in Venice supposedly caused by rising tides, high winds and very low atmospheric pressure. Well, yesterday the water rose again by almost four feet, flowing over the banks of the Grand Canal and on into the Piazza. Regardless, tourists were seen having lunch with their feet covered by water.

That water receded rather quickly, but nevertheless, when you travel to Venice (and you should), you might consider packing a pair of waterproof shoes.

A Fake Rolex

2006-10-23T08:08:00.000+02:00

Street shopping in Rome is quite an eye-opening experience and if you journey to this most-interesting of cities I suggest you take a look at the street vendors, as Rome is certainly "Knock-off Central." Of all of the cities I've traveled to (including Hong Kong) here, on most days, but especially on the weekends, knock-off entrepreneurs seem everywhere, selling fake (but labeled as real) name brand clothes, pens, purses, scarfs, shoes, watches and more. The most incredible thing about it is many sell their wares on the same street that the actual (real merchandize) is sold, and yet it seems that the authorities just look the other way. Actually, on almost anything passively illegal in Italy, the authorities look the other way.

I collect watches of all kinds and over the years I've bought my share of cheap and expensive, real and fake. What's rather weird is that even though the knock-off watches are of inferior quality, I've owned a few of these replicas that have lasted for a quite a long time. I had one that ran perfectly for almost two years and I own a few that look exactly like (and I mean exactly like) a real Breitling, Bvlgari, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Tag Heuer or Rolex. Now once the battery goes in these look-alikes, it's usually time for the trash can, but at these very low street prices ($15 - $40) they can easily be replaced.

The street vendors (for sure) understand and speak English, and once you look at their merchandise, well the real fun begins and it's all about bargaining. For me, once I find a watch I like, I put it on my wrist, set the time and date and ask the vendor his price. Whatever he says I would never pay more than half. If he refuses to budge I simply walk away and most of the time the "dirty deed is done" as he chases after me in earnest.

A fake watch makes a great gift for any occasion, but I would encourage honesty to be the best policy when it comes to knock-offs. I once picked up a (very real looking) Rolex on a street corner in Florence, had it wrapped very nicely (box and all) and gave it to a friend of mine in Texas as a gift. In the bottom of the box I put 30 dollars. He opens the box and loves the watch, I mean really liked it. "Is this real?' he asked. I didn't answer him and he continued to rave about. "God, it sure looks real, so is it real?" Finally he spotted the cash and asked what the money was for. "Well," I replied, if this one ever stops working you can use that money to buy another one." He laughed for the longest time.

Ciao from Rome!