Europe - Pics - Tripatini2024-03-28T23:04:58Zhttps://tripatini.com/photo/feed/tag/EuropePoland is a budget travel starhttps://tripatini.com/photo/cracow-krakow-poland-budget-travel2024-01-25T15:44:39.000Z2024-01-25T15:44:39.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12366029089?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Culturally rich and one of Europe's least expensive countries to visit, <a href="https://poland.pl/tourism/">Poland</a> has a lot to offer both in the great outdoors and fascinating cities such as dynamic capital Warsaw, historic Cracow/Krakow (pictured here, with side trips to sobering Auschwitz and another astonishing salt mine, <span class="js-about-item-abstr">Wieliczka), and Gdansk. Meanwhile, its most popular region for nature and adventure activities is the</span> Tatra Mountains down south, centered especially around the city of Zakopane; the Tatras are very popular for hiking, camping, skiing, and snowboarding. </p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones">Rohny Jones</a>´ post <a href="http://rofiles/blogs/3-eastern-european-countries-budget-travel" target="_blank">3 Eastern European Stars for Budget Travel</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>Snowmobiling above Norway´s Arctic Circlehttps://tripatini.com/photo/kirkenes-norway-snowmobile-snowmobiling2024-01-09T12:29:41.000Z2024-01-09T12:29:41.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12355376071?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Just got back from a winter whirlwind in <strong>Norge</strong>, during which among many other adventures my husband and I took our first spin on a snowmobile - a two-hour excursion with an adventure tour operator in the town of <strong>Kirkenes</strong>, on the country´s northern coast. A bit of frosty adrenaline, indeed!<br /><br /></p>
<p> </p></div>Why red undergarments are a Spanish New Year's traditionhttps://tripatini.com/photo/spain-red-underwear-new-year-traditions-culture2023-12-31T11:24:22.000Z2023-12-31T11:24:22.000ZJoseba Basabehttps://tripatini.com/members/JosebaBasabe<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12343185687?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>For those looking for love in the coming year, the belief is that wearing red underwear will make it happen (though claim say that it only works if these undies are a gift, and others hold that you need to give them away before dawn – er, whatever).</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/spain-new-years-eve-traditions" target="_blank">5 of Spain's Special New Year's Traditions</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/wine-bottle-near-flowers-on-white-textile-h0dZX39mJRs"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Heather Ford</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>A poopy Christmas in Catalonia, Spainhttps://tripatini.com/photo/caganer-catalonia-spain-christmas-tradition2023-12-20T07:21:12.000Z2023-12-20T07:21:12.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12331483889?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Catalans are traditionally a bit scatological, and they’ve got not one but two traditions to prove it. First is a Christmas log called <strong>Tió de Nadal</strong> or <strong>Caga Tió</strong> (“pooping log”), a hollowed-out bit of rustic wood – usually around a foot long – with a smiley face and draped with a blanket. When kids smack it with sticks, they´re rewarded with candies, nuts, <em>turrón</em> (holiday nougat), and little gifts which get “pooped” out of its back end.<br /> <br /> More explicitly fecal-centered, the <strong><em>caganers</em></strong> (shitters) are small figurines which have adorned Nativity scenes and other holiday décor since at least the 18th century. They depict bare-assed peasants (inevitably dudes) in their traditional red caps, in the act of squatting and taking a dump. The idea is that they´re fertilizing the earth and thus bringing good luck. In recent years, variations have arisen of <em>caganers</em> depicting politicians and other celebrated figures both real and fictional – from Hollywood celebrities to the <strong>Pope</strong> to <strong>Darth Vader</strong> – meant as a satirical device to cut them down to size a bit.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unusual-christmas-traditions-of-the-world?edited=1" target="_blank">A Quirky Christmas tp All! 10 of the World´s Weirdest Yuletide Traditions</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/caganer-gm499399498-80205375?phrase=caganer" target="_blank">agafapaperiapunta</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>A witchy Christmas in Italyhttps://tripatini.com/photo/la-befana-italy-christmas-tradition2023-12-20T07:16:04.000Z2023-12-20T07:16:04.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12331483460?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Never mind Santa Claus, here on the eve of the <strong>Epiphany</strong> on January 6th (the 12th day of Christmas) a friendly <em>strega</em> (witch) called <strong>La Befana</strong> comes overnight to leave good children candies and presents and the bad ones lumps of coal (though since every kid (though since every kid has likely been bad once or twice during the year, in their stocking they´ll also get dark-colored rock candy, to symbolize coal).<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unusual-christmas-traditions-of-the-world?edited=1" target="_blank">A Quirky Christmas tp All! 10 of the World´s Weirdest Yuletide Traditions</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/2177868558" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Truus, Bob & Jan too!!</span></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/2177868558"><br /> </a></p></div>For Ukrainian Christmas, itsy bitsy spidershttps://tripatini.com/photo/ukraine-christmas-tree-spider-web2023-12-20T07:05:38.000Z2023-12-20T07:05:38.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12331481898?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Plenty of Ukrainian Christmas trees feature ornaments in the form of spider webs. This comes not just from the tradition of spiders bringing could luck, but more specifically from an old western Ukrainian folk tale. It seems a family too poor to decorate their tree woke up on Christmas morning to find it covered with cobwebs. Then when they opened the windows, the sun´s rays turned the webs into gold and silver. Yuletide wonder restored and bye-bye poverty! Now if there were only some magic that could make these invading Russians disappear.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unusual-christmas-traditions-of-the-world?edited=1" target="_blank">A Quirky Christmas tp All! 10 of the World´s Weirdest Yuletide Traditions</a>.</p>
<p><br /><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_spider_ornaments_ukraine.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Erika Smith</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Austria and Germany´s creepy Christmas Krampushttps://tripatini.com/photo/austria-germany-krampus-christmas-tradition2023-12-20T07:02:02.000Z2023-12-20T07:02:02.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12331480900?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>December 5 is celebrated as <strong>St. Nicholaus Day</strong> in parts of <strong>Europe</strong>, particularly Austria and Bavaria, where it´s also known as <strong>Krampusnacht</strong>. It´s when folks dressed up as the half-goat, half-demon <strong>Krampus</strong> – thought to be rooted in pre-Christian folklore and used to scare kids into behaving – run rampant through the streets of various towns and cities, mock-terrorizing all and sundry but particularly the little ones. Charming bit of holiday cheer, eh? In my opinion it´s enough to keep the couches of <strong>Sigmund Freud</strong>´s descendants full for the rest of their lives. <br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unusual-christmas-traditions-of-the-world?edited=1" target="_blank">A Quirky Christmas tp All! 10 of the World´s Weirdest Yuletide Traditions</a>.<br /><br /></p>
<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Krampus_Salzburg_2.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">MatthiasKabel</span></a></p>
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<p> </p></div>Putting a cork in it in Portugal´s Algarvehttps://tripatini.com/photo/cork-trees-algarve-portugal2023-12-16T08:51:09.000Z2023-12-16T08:51:09.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12326936271?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Tripatini contributor Keith Kellett writes:<br /><br />"When we booked the "<strong>Algarve</strong> jeep safari," they promised a tour to the interior to show there was more to <strong>Portugal</strong>'s southernmost region than beaches, bars and golf courses. We passed through remote villages; stopped off at a couple of out-of-the-way places for a coffee break and lunch; visited a distillery; and finally stopped in a cork oak grove, where Tomás our guide gave an interesting presentation.<br /><br /> At home, I usually drink wine in a screwtop bottle. I know there’s a bit of controversy about it, but for me the wine is just the same. The main advantage is that if you don’t drink all the wine at one go, you can put the cap back on and stick it back in the fridge or wine rack.</p>
<p>The cork still has its place, though. That is, corks made out of actual cork (in my view, the plastic cork is the invention of the Devil - and which by the way should be disposed of responsibly, rather than crushing it contemptuously underfoot as it deserves)."</p>
<p>Read more in his post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/algarve-portugal-cork" target="_blank">Discovering Cork (in Portugal, Not the Irish City</a>.</p>
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<p> </p></div>This year Madeira is a star of European destination marketinghttps://tripatini.com/photo/brand-madeira-portugal-destination-tourism-branding-awards2023-12-10T19:48:40.000Z2023-12-10T19:48:40.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12313559291?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Europe of course continues to put in very strong performances and at the World Travel Awards the honor of “World´s Leading Island Destination” went to <strong><a href="https://visitmadeira.com/en/" target="_blank">Madeira</a></strong>, a balmy, dreamy outpost of <strong>Portugal</strong> in the <strong>Atlantic Ocean</strong> famed for its dramatic landscapes and often pristine beaches as well as its food and wine. <br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/tourism-branding-top-destination-brands-2023-world-travel-awards" target="_blank">7 of the Top Destination Brands of 2023</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://visitmadeira.com/en/" target="_blank">Visit Madeira</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Bern, Switzerland and its Old Townhttps://tripatini.com/photo/altstadt-old-town-bern-switzerland2023-12-06T09:31:22.000Z2023-12-06T09:31:22.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309719876?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Quick, what's the capital of <strong>Switzerland</strong>? No, not <a href="https://love2fly.iberia.com/2014/04/perfectly-zurich/" target="_blank"><strong>Zurich</strong></a>, not <a href="https://love2fly.iberia.com/2014/07/geneva-elegant-switzerland-a-la-francaise/" target="_blank"><strong>Geneva</strong></a>, nor even <strong>Lucerne</strong>, <a href="https://love2fly.iberia.com/2017/08/loving-lausanne-a-gem-of-french-switzerland/" target="_blank"><strong>Lausanne</strong></a> or <a href="https://love2fly.iberia.com/2016/06/basel-switzerland/" target="_blank"><strong>Basel</strong></a>. In fact, most of the Federal government is based in the low-key, German-speaking city of <strong>Bern</strong> (the country's fourth largest, with a population around merely 134,00) on a mostly hilly plateau in east-central Switzerland between the <strong>Alps</strong> and the <strong>Jura Mountains</strong>. Founded in 1191 on a peninsula mostly surrounded by the swift, remarkably clean <strong>Aare River</strong>, it's a pleasant, charming city - so charming, in fact, that its <strong>Altstadt</strong> (Old Town), rebuilt in 1405 in greenish grey sandstone after a fire, is a <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong>. And as an easy drive or train ride from Iberia gateways Zurich and Geneva (an hour to 90 minutes, depending), it's definitely worth a day trip, and I'd say even an overnight or two.</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feeling-the-bern-in-switzerland" target="_blank">Feeling the Bern in Switzerland</a>.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/vista-a%C3%A9rea-del-casco-antiguo-de-berna-gm816146686-132029059" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">VogelSP</span></a></em></p>
<p> </p></div>The charming Old Town of Bern, Switzerlandhttps://tripatini.com/photo/marktgasse-kramgasse-altstadt-old-town-bern-switzerland2023-12-06T09:30:01.000Z2023-12-06T09:30:01.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309719459?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>
<p>Bern has something of a reputation among the Swiss for being on the sleepy side, and the Bernese for being slow in both speech and motion, but I think this is a bit of an exaggeration, because the cobblestone streets - mostly pedestrian except for electric trams - of the flag-adorned <strong>Altstadt</strong> (as well as other parts of the central city) are generally bustling. They're also quite distinctive because of more a bevy of mid-16th-century fountains with colourful statues (check out the astonishing "Child Eater"!) and some six kilometres (nearly four miles) of doughty stone arcades (though these days a bit marred with ads and shop signs), especially along the Altstadt's main high street, <strong>Marktgasse</strong>, which at one point becomes <strong>Kramgasse</strong>. <br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feeling-the-bern-in-switzerland" target="_blank">Feeling the Bern in Switzerland</a>.</p>
<h6><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/gente-en-la-calle-marktgasse-en-viejo-centro-de-ciudad-de-berna-mittelland-de-berna-gm664811026-125416115" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Roman Babakin</span></a></em></h6>
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</div>The iconic astronomical clock of Bern´s Old Townhttps://tripatini.com/photo/zytglogge-astronomical-clock-bern-switzerland2023-12-06T09:28:17.000Z2023-12-06T09:28:17.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309718877?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>At the end of this Kramgasse, one of the Altstadt's most iconic landmarks is a early-13th-century astronomical clock called the <strong>Zytglogge</strong>, part of the main gate of the original town hall. Like a few others of its type throughout central and northern Europe, it stars a merry cabal of little mechanical figures, especially bears (more about them later), which twirl around every hour on the hour - a whimsical tourist favourite, for sure (you can also sign up for the tour to get a look at the machinery from the inside). </p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feeling-the-bern-in-switzerland" target="_blank">Feeling the Bern in Switzerland</a>.</p>
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<h6><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Zytglogge_clock_tower.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Dmitry A. Mottl</span></a></em></h6>
<p> </p></div>The Berner Munster cathedral of Bern, Switzerlandhttps://tripatini.com/photo/berner-munster-cathedral-church-bern-switzerland2023-12-06T09:26:31.000Z2023-12-06T09:26:31.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309716872?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Another iconic landmark of Bern´s Old Town is the elaborate Protestant cathedral, the <strong>Berner Münster</strong> (above, dominating the skyline) - Switzerland's largest church, built between 1421 and 1893. Go up to the spire (if you don't mind the 344 steps!) for magnificent views over the city and surrounding landscapes. </p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feeling-the-bern-in-switzerland" target="_blank">Feeling the Bern in Switzerland</a>.</p>
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<h6><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bern_2.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Dmitry A. Mottl</span></a></em></h6>
<p> </p></div>The iconic Bear Park of Bern, Switzerlandhttps://tripatini.com/photo/bear-park-barenpark-bern-switzerland2023-12-06T09:23:42.000Z2023-12-06T09:23:42.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309714891?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p style="text-align:justify;">Perhaps the most unusual local icon is the <a href="https://www.tierpark-bern.ch/index-en.php?frameset=200" target="_blank"><strong>BärenPark</strong></a>, a habitat overlooking the river which has existed in some form for centuries, home to a family of bears, which attract spectators to in particular watch the cubs play. According to lore, Bern was named (in the German of the time, of course) by its founding duke for the first animal he encountered on a hunt, and so bears are also featured on the city's crests and all around town. Animal lovers these days may not love this tradition, but at least these days their enclosure - last hugely overhauled and expanded in 2009 - is a whole lot more spacious than it was historically.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feeling-the-bern-in-switzerland" target="_blank">Feeling the Bern in Switzerland</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"> </p>
<h6><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/parque-del-oso-de-berna-suiza-gm685874968-125939271" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">olli0815</span></a></em></h6>
<p> </p></div>Why Langwies in Switzerland´s Grisons is a winter charmerhttps://tripatini.com/photo/langwies-switzerland2023-12-06T09:18:27.000Z2023-12-06T09:18:27.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309710891?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The <strong>Langwieser Viaduct</strong> is a single track railway bridge that runs from one side of <strong>Switzerland</strong> to the other. And this little town down in the Alpine <strong>Grisons</strong> (<strong>Graubünden</strong>) is beautiful, with large, snow-capped trees; this track elevated in the middle of this beautiful snowy place makes this especially a worthwhile experience for sure.<br /><br />Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AbbiClarke">Abbi Clarke</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/spectacular-winter-destinations" target="_blank">11 Unexpected Lovely Spots to See in the Winter</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>The allures of Genevahttps://tripatini.com/photo/geneva-switzerland-from-lake-geneva2023-12-06T09:17:02.000Z2023-12-06T09:17:02.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309710099?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><a href="https://www.tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/switzerland-destinations-attractions" target="_blank">Switzerland</a>'s second largest city, and capital of Romandy, the French-speaking region that makes up a quarter of the country, is a handsome, elegant, and affair with a gorgeous lake- and riverside setting, cosmopolitan cultural and dining scene, and majestic views of the soaring French Alps (more or less three hours away, if you love skiing or snowboarding) and just an hour from another wonderful Francophone Swiss city, Lausanne.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/geneva-french-switzerland" target="_blank">Geneva</a> has plenty of great places to visit, including the cobblestone Vielle Ville (Old Town), the Botanical Garden and Conservatory, and Paquis Baths, a riverside spot especially popular in the summer for its beaches and restaurants. Here I'd like to tell you about three of my other favorites (and since two of them are out of town, I recommend you <a href="https://www.autoeurope.ca/car-rental-geneva/" target="_blank">rent a car or SUV</a> to make traveling there as flexible and easy as possible; otherwise, getting around within the city is fairly easy with public transport and taxis):</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatinicontributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones">Rohny Jones</a>' post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/weekend-in-geneva-switzerland" target="_blank">3 Fabulous Places to Visit During a Weekend in Geneva</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>Geneva´s absorbing Museum of Natural Historyhttps://tripatini.com/photo/museum-of-natural-history-geneva-switzerland2023-12-06T09:15:43.000Z2023-12-06T09:15:43.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309708684?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>
<p>Switzerland's largest natural history museum, the <a href="http://institutions.ville-geneve.ch/fr/mhn/" target="_blank">Musée d'Histoire Naturelle</a> is within walking distance of the Lake Geneva shore welcomes 250,000 visitors a year to explore its 8,00 square meters of exhibitions on regional fauna (including replica habitats), minerals/geology, dinosaurs, and a whole floor devoted to the earth and the history of humankind. There are also interactive workshops especially geared to kids. The museum also focuses on future scientific challenges, new technologies, current issues and, of course, environmental protection. And there's a café for light bites and refreshment. An engaging few hours, for sure - and to top it all off, the museum is free of charge!</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatinicontributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones">Rohny Jones</a>' post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/weekend-in-geneva-switzerland" target="_blank">3 Fabulous Places to Visit During a Weekend in Geneva</a>.</p>
<p><br /><a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/geneva-natural-history-museum/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>myswitzerland.com</em></span></a></p>
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</div>Mont Salève, the ´balcony´ of Genevahttps://tripatini.com/photo/mont-saleve-geneva-switzerland2023-12-06T09:14:06.000Z2023-12-06T09:14:06.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309706897?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>This 4,524-foot peak looms over the city from 12 miles away, just over the border in the French Prealps, and it's a popular day trip for locals and visitors alike. You can drive up here, or the more fun way is to park your <a href="https://www.itineraryfrog.com/how-to-rent-a-car.html" target="_blank">rental vehicle</a> at the bottom and take the Téléphérique du Salève cable car (with daily service in summer every few minutes, less frequently off season) up to the observatory restaurant, which by the way specializes in simple French mountain dishes. Besides spectacular views over Geneva, the lake, and surrounding countryside,it offers lots of recreation opportunities, from hiking trails and bike tracks to rock climbing, paragliding, hang gliding, caving, and even winter skiing - there's something for all levels of physical fitness. There's also a Maison du Salève visitor center, occupying an 18th-century stone farmhouse, with exhibitions about the mountain's history and natural environment. Curiously, there's also a Tibetan Buddhist center up here that's open to visitors. </p>
<p>Read more in Tripatinicontributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/rohnyjones">Rohny Jones</a>' post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/weekend-in-geneva-switzerland" target="_blank">3 Fabulous Places to Visit During a Weekend in Geneva</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saleve_vu_du_ciel.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><br />Benoit Kornmann</em></span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>The famous Swiss ´Grand Tour´ road triphttps://tripatini.com/photo/switzerland-grand-tour-road-trip-driving-motoring-vacations2023-12-06T09:12:18.000Z2023-12-06T09:12:18.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309704675?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>This Alpine country features stunning mountain scenery and one itinerary in particular, called the <a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/experience-tour/grand-tour-of-switzerland/" target="_blank">¨<strong>Grand Tour</strong></a>¨, exudes all the fun and thrills you could ever want from a road-trip in Europe. This popular 1,643-kilometre (1,021-.mile) circuit passes almost fifty of the country’s top tourist attractions, more than 20 lakes, five formidable Alpine passes, and more than a dozen <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Sites</strong>, including the famous fortress of <strong>Bellinzona</strong> and the beautiful Benedictine <strong>Convent of St John</strong> at <strong>Müstair</strong>. There’s much more to motoring in Switzerland than the Grand Tour though, with several other breathtaking routes from which to choose, such as a relaxing drive along the <strong>shores</strong> of <strong>Lake Geneva</strong> followed by a visit to some of the <strong>Lavaux</strong> vineyards, where the wine terraces date right back to the time of the Romans.</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AutoEurope521">Auto Europe</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/autumn-fall-road-trips-motoring-holidays-vacations?edited=1" target="_blank">8 Excellent Options for an Awesomme Autumn Road Trip</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences/experience-tour/grand-tour-of-switzerland/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;"><br />Switzerland Tourism</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>At Zermatt, Switzerland, excellent skiing-snowboarding and an iconic peakhttps://tripatini.com/photo/zermatt-swtizerland-skiing-snowboarding-winter-sports2023-12-06T09:07:12.000Z2023-12-06T09:07:12.000ZIberia Airlineshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberiaAirlines<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309699889?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Even if you’ve never been to <strong>Zermatt</strong> (top)you will no doubt recognise its iconic mountain – the <strong>Matterhorn</strong>, the model for <strong>Toblerone</strong> and star of many a chocolate box and Christmas card. The sophisticated village is one of the loveliest in Switzerland, with its ancient blackened barns, but Zermatt is a lot more than just a pretty face.</p><p>For a start, there’s 350 km (217 mi.) of piste, linked with <strong>Cervinia</strong> over the border in <strong>Italy</strong>. If your pocket is deep enough, you can try a day’s heli-skiing, with some fabulous descents including a trip from the top of <strong>Monte Rosa</strong>.</p><p>There are ten ski schools, but some say the best is British-owned <a href="http://www.summitskischool.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Summit Ski & Snowboarding School</strong></a>.</p><p>For nourishment, you’ll find delightful little mountain huts wherever you go, offering everything from traditional Swiss Alpine fare to <em>haute</em> gourmet cuisine. You’re completely spoiled for choice, so make sure you try a different mountain eatery every day. For checking in, hotels are a mix of stately five-stars and a few more modern and/or offbeat properties, and there’s also a wide variety of home-away-from-home options at <a href="http://www.matterhornchalets.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Matterhorn Chalets</strong></a>.</p><p>Post slopes, start with drinks at either the cute little <a href="http://www.elsiebar.ch/home.html" target="_blank"><strong>Elsie Bar</strong></a> or the more avant-garde <a href="http://www.backstagehotel.ch/vernissage.html" target="_blank"><strong>Vernissage</strong></a>, then you can move on to a diverse choice of bars and clubs.</p><p>To fly here, the closest gateway is Geneva, just under three hours away, while Basel and Zurich are about 3½ hours.</p><p> Read more in our post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/top-6-winter-ski-resorts-of-switzerland" target="_blank">The Top 6 Winter/Ski Resorts of Switzerland</a>.<br /> </p><p><span class="font-size-1"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ski_Matterhorn.jpg" target="_blank">Doc Searls Santa Barbara, USA</a></em></span></p><p> </p></div>Switzerland´s legendary Gstaad ski/winter resorthttps://tripatini.com/photo/gstaad-winter-ski-skiing-resort-switzerland2023-12-06T09:05:03.000Z2023-12-06T09:05:03.000ZIberia Airlineshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberiaAirlines<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309699483?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The skiing is mainly gentle at this storied resort, with almost half of the pistes fairly unchallenging. But that’s just how its fans (which include quite a few celebrities) like it. For something a bit tougher, you can head to the glacier at <strong>Les Diablerets</strong>, also on the same lift pass.<br /> <br /> The hotel that embodies this glittering resort is the <a href="http://www.palace.ch/" target="_blank"><strong>Gstaad Palace</strong></a>, which looms over town like something out of a <strong>Brothers Grimm</strong> fairytale and has hosted stars through the ages, including <strong>Elizabeth Taylor</strong>, <strong>Richard Burton</strong>, <strong>Peter Sellars</strong>, <strong>Julie Andrews</strong>, <strong>Roger Moore</strong>, <strong>Madonna</strong>, and former <strong>UN Secretary General Kofi Annan</strong>. There are also, of course, a good range of other hotels, as well as <strong>chalet rentals</strong> (have a look at the booking options at <a href="http://www.sno.co.uk/" target="_blank"><strong>Sno.co.uk</strong></a>). On the dining side, the hundred or so <strong>Gstaad restaurants</strong> include more than a dozen boasting <strong>Gault Millau</strong> points and <strong>Michelin</strong> rosettes, yet also a share of options for the more budget-conscious.</p><p>For for ski and snowboarding tutelage, try <a href="http://www.gstaadsnowsports.ch/" target="_blank"><strong>Gstaadsnowsports.ch</strong> </a>or <a href="http://www.swissadventures.ch/" target="_blank"><strong>Alpincentrum</strong></a>.</p><p>Après-ski, <a href="http://www.charlys-gstaad.ch/de" target="_blank"><strong>Charly’s</strong></a> is the popular coffee shop, and later on the bar at <a href="http://www.hotelolden.com/en/" target="_blank"><strong>Hotel Olden</strong></a> is a top choice for tippling. The Gstaad Palace houses the <a href="http://www.palace.ch/restaurants-bars/greengo/" target="_blank"><strong>GreenGo</strong></a> nightclub for late nights, but in a resort with so many private chalets, most people tend to do their partying at home.</p><p>The closest airports are Basel and Zurich, both roughly 2½ hours away by road.<br /> <br /> Read more in our post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/top-6-winter-ski-resorts-of-switzerland" target="_blank">The Top 6 Winter/Ski Resorts of Switzerland</a>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gstaad_-_Sch%C3%B6nried_-_Saanenm%C3%B6ser_-_panoramio_%288%29.jpg" target="_blank">Patrick Nouhailler</a></em></span></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>World class and French flair at Switzerland´s Verbier ski/winter resorthttps://tripatini.com/photo/verbier-ski-winter-resort-switzerland2023-12-06T09:02:47.000Z2023-12-06T09:02:47.000ZIberia Airlineshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberiaAirlines<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309699052?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>This lively resort has few equals in the skiing world – apart from perhaps <strong>France</strong>’s <strong>Chamonix </strong>and <strong>Jackson Hole</strong> in <strong>Wyoming</strong>, <strong>USA</strong>. Not many destinations have the huge quantity and quality of steep and rugged terrain that’s easy to access from the piste and doesn’t require a helicopter to reach. The views are fabulous, too.</p><p>There are 410 kilometres (255 miles) of slopes and the top lift rises to 3,330 metres (10,925 feet). Beginners are catered for as well – at <strong>Les Moulins</strong> and <strong>Les Esserts</strong> areas – but this is a resort that’s really best left until you’re a proficient skier or snowboarder. To help boost that proficiency, there are some fabulous ski schools here, including <a href="http://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Warren Smith Ski Academy</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.skinewgen.com/" target="_blank"><strong>New Generation</strong></a>, and <a href="http://www.elementconcept.com/about-the-ski-school/" target="_blank"><strong>Element Concept</strong></a>.</p><p>Verbier used to have a dearth of restaurants, both on and off the mountain, but that has been rectified with several recent additions. When it comes to accommodation, there are a number of fine hotels and inns, but for many people the best holiday experience here is staying in a chalet (bookings: <a href="http://www.verbierexclusive.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Verbier Exclusive</strong></a>).</p><p>The nightlife, by the way, is every bit as good as the action on the slopes. Verbier aficionados come both to ski hard and to party hard. Après-ski choice includes the <a href="http://www.hotelfarinet.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Farinet Lounge Bar</strong></a>, <a href="http://lerouge-verbier.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Le Rouge</strong></a>, and <a href="http://www.wverbier.com/en/carv" target="_blank"><strong>Carve</strong> at the <strong>W Verbier</strong> hotel</a>.</p><p>The closest airport is <strong>Geneva</strong>, 163 km (101 mi.) and about a two-hour drive away.</p><p>Read more in our post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/top-6-winter-ski-resorts-of-switzerland" target="_blank">The Top 6 Winter/Ski Resorts of Switzerland</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <em><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/uncle-leo/5384546742" target="_blank">Leo-Setä</a></span></em></p><p> </p></div>Western Europe is a star when it comes to road tripshttps://tripatini.com/photo/europe-road-trips-driving-motoring-holidays-vacations2023-11-26T08:12:52.000Z2023-11-26T08:12:52.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12300993488?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>And Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AutoEurope521">Auto Europe</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/autumn-fall-road-trips-motoring-holidays-vcations?edited=1" target="_blank">8 Excellent Options for an Awesome Autumn Road Trip</a> particularly highlights Austria, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.</p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/coche-en-carretera-de-asfalto-en-el-d%C3%ADa-de-oto%C3%B1o-en-el-parque-gm1283692155-381017838?phrase=europe+foliage+road+trip" target="_blank">LeManna</a></em></span></p>
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<p> </p></div>Rome´s magnificent, iconic Colosseumhttps://tripatini.com/photo/colosseum-rome-italy-archaeological-sites-unesco-world-heritage2023-11-04T13:56:27.000Z2023-11-04T13:56:27.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283739894?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The world’s largest amphitheater, nearly 2,000 years old (buying a ticket at the nearby Forum includes admission here and will let you skip the long lines), where you can roam the tiers of seats, the <em>hypogeum</em> (underground passageways), and temporary exhibitions. Also take note of the spectacular nearby <strong>Arch of Constantine</strong>, built in 312 AD.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-in-one-weekend-si-signori" target="_blank">Rome in One Weekend? Sì, Signori!</a></p>
<p><br /><span class="font-size-1"><em>Adam Logan</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Rome´s one and only Pantheon!https://tripatini.com/photo/pantheon-church-rome-italy-history-travel2023-11-04T13:54:24.000Z2023-11-04T13:54:24.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283702680?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=332"></div><div><p>You’ll definitely want to leave time for <strong>Rome</strong>’s best preserved ancient structure in <strong>Piazza della Rotonda</strong>: the mighty <strong>Pantheon</strong>, dating from the reign of the emperor <strong>Hadrian</strong> in the first century AD. Why best preserved? Because this former temple to the “pagan” gods has been an active Roman Catholic church since the 7th century. It’s majestic inside and out, but especially inside, with its soaring dome and oculus (central opening). It closes at 7:30 pm, by the way.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-in-one-weekend-si-signori" target="_blank">Rome in One Weekend? Sì, Signori!</a></p>
<p><br /><span class="font-size-1"><em>stanrandom</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Doing the Vatican Raghttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-peters-basilica-vatican-rome-italy-history-spiritual-travel2023-11-04T11:07:25.000Z2023-11-04T11:07:25.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283702295?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Bright and early is a good time to tackle perhaps the single largest sightseeing project in <strong>Rome</strong>. <strong>St. Peter’s Basilica</strong> opens at 7 am, so get in there for a gaze at the largest and one of the most over-the-top church interiors in Christendom. The top highlights here, of course, include <strong>Michelangelo</strong>’s <em><strong>Pietà</strong>,</em>the Virgin Mary holding the dead Christ, and <strong>Gian Lorenzo Bernini</strong>’s elaborate bronze altar canopy (known as a <em>baldacchino</em>). At 8 the dome opens, and to save time (and your feet) you’ll want to spend a couple of extra euros to take the elevator up for some sweet views out over the city. Then, around 8:45 am, head out into <strong>St. Peter’s Square</strong> and bear left, following the wall to the <strong>Vatican Museums</strong>, an extensive, complex maze of rooms and art collections that alone could take weeks to absorb. You’ve got maybe a couple of hours, so you’ll want to stick to the absolute musts. That would be the <strong>Pinacoteca</strong>, the painting gallery whose stars include <strong>Raphael</strong>’s <strong><em>Transfiguration</em></strong>; the <strong>Raphael Rooms</strong>, adorned by that painter for <strong>Pope Julius</strong>; and of course the magnificent <strong>Sistine Chapel</strong>. Before leaving this side of the river, you’ll want to stop at hybrid classical-Renaissance <strong>Castel Sant’Angelo</strong>, which started out as an imperial tomb, was converted to a Roman fortress, then much later a papal castle and prison.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-in-one-weekend-si-signori" target="_blank">Rome in One Weekend? Sì, Signori!</a></p>
<p><br /><span class="font-size-1"><em>Jraytram</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Piazza Navona, a charming hub in Rome´s historic centerhttps://tripatini.com/photo/piazza-navona-rome-italy2023-11-04T11:05:44.000Z2023-11-04T11:05:44.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283702276?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>A famous social center, this square is lined with restaurants and cafés which make good (though not necessarily cheap) candidates for lunch. The best known is of course <strong>Le Tre Scalini</strong>, where you can enjoy a nice plate of gnocchi while people-watching around <strong>Bernini</strong>’s famous Four Rivers fountain. For dessert, you can stay and treat yourself to some of Tre Scalini’s renowned tartufo chocolate-ice-cream concoction, or stroll several blocks north and east to <strong>Giolitti</strong>, a historic gelateria (ice cream parlor) that serves some of the best gelato in Italy.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-in-one-weekend-si-signori" target="_blank">Rome in One Weekend? Sì, Signori!</a></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-1"><em>myrabella</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>In the footsteps of the ancients on Rome´s Appian Wayhttps://tripatini.com/photo/appian-way-rome-italy-archaeological-sites-history-travel2023-11-04T09:32:15.000Z2023-11-04T09:32:15.000ZRiccardo Rhttps://tripatini.com/members/RicardoR<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283690666?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The <strong>Via Appia</strong> was one of ancient <strong>Rome</strong>´s most important roads, beginning construction in 312 BCE, and you can tread its pine-tree-lined cobblestones with an easy Metro ride (<strong>Piramide</strong> stop) south of the Colosseum and Forum and such. It´s a lot less crowded than most other ancient Roman sites, and as a bonus you can visit the <strong>Catacumbe di San Callisto</strong>, and at times somewhat creepy underground crypt complex founded in the 3rd century by the deacon who would become <strong>Pope Callixtus I</strong>, and the burial place of 16 early Roman Catholic pontiffs and some 50 “martyrs”, including a saint or two.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-italy-off-the-beaten-path-attractions-museums-travel-tourism?edited=1" target="_blank">8 Interesting, Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions of Rome</a>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/eriktorner/32906114165" target="_blank">Erik Törner</a></em></span></p><p> </p></div>Take a dip in Rome´s Baths of Caracallahttps://tripatini.com/photo/baths-of-caracalla-rome-archaeological-sites2023-11-04T09:30:56.000Z2023-11-04T09:30:56.000ZRiccardo Rhttps://tripatini.com/members/RicardoR<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283690054?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The <strong>Baths of Diocletian</strong> are Rome´s largest and best known public bath house, but the <strong>Terme di Caracalla</strong>, a short stroll south of the Colosseum and Forum, are its second largest - also quite impressive and rather less crowded, thought to have been built around 216 CE and in use for a bit over 300 years, the complex covers 25 hectares (62 acres) and includes various hot, warm, and cold rooms as well as saunas, a pair of gymnasiums, and a number of pools including a large swimming pool. There´s also a very cool basement space which served as a temple for worshipping Mithra, an ancient Persian deity popular with soldiers and the lower classes. These days it´s also used as a venue for opera and other musical performances.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-italy-off-the-beaten-path-attractions-museums-travel-tourism?edited=1" target="_blank">8 Interesting, Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions of Rome</a>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pavdw/52469352350" target="_blank">PaulVanDerWerf</a></em></span></p><p> </p></div>Dem bones: Rome´s creepy Capuchin Crypthttps://tripatini.com/photo/capuchin-crypt-rome2023-11-04T09:26:56.000Z2023-11-04T09:26:56.000ZRiccardo Rhttps://tripatini.com/members/RicardoR<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12283689295?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Another short stroll from the Colosseum, beneath the <strong>Church of</strong> <strong>Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini</strong>, completed in 1631, the six-room <strong>Cripta dei Frati Cappuccini</strong> is adorned with the bones of some 3,700 Capuchin monks arranged in intricate designs. The idea is not to be gratuitously macabre but as a reminder of human mortality, and bony Catholic crypts and chapels known as ossuaries can be found elsewhere, too – especially in the rest of <strong>Europe</strong>. </p><p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-italy-off-the-beaten-path-attractions-museums-travel-tourism?edited=1" target="_blank">8 Interesting, Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions of Rome</a>.</p><p> </p><p><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rome,_Convento_dei_Cappuccini;_skulls_and_skeletons_of_the_Wellcome_V0031277.jpg" target="_blank">Wellcome Images</a></em></p><p> </p></div>