tango
Warsaw
03/06/11 21:33 Filed in: Travel
First impression?
BIG City: The roads are broad and the intensive traffic tells you very clearly, this is not a neat small town, but a major city.
However, once you start exploring the city, you realize how green it is. There are parks everywhere and they are quite big too. This image should give an idea:
I was exploring the city mostly by bicycle. I have to say that given the size of the city and the bumpy roads, you need a mountain bike. A Dutch style „omafiets“ is not an option. Even then, a 1/2 an hour ride is already tiring. The noise of the traffic doesn’t make it more pleasant either. As it was also exceptionally warm when I was here, I felt like I had my daily dose of sports.
Considering the fact that Poland was a communist country not too long ago, I must say it must have developed very fast. From that point of view, you feel like in western Europe. Look at this fancy roof of a commercial centre and you know what I mean. It feels safe, things work and you can communicate in English better than in Spain or France. Sometimes, German is the preferred foreign language. Only the quality of the roads have still room for improvement...
My camping place is a disappointment though. I got used to this super clean, friendly and modern camping including great WIFI in Krakow. Here it is more expensive and all these things are worse...
Do you remember that I missed the little mermaid in Copenhagen? I found her here in Warsaw! OK, maybe not exactly the same one, but this sister is probably the same size. And if the houses in the background remind you the Netherlands, you are right. This is the centre of the old town and there was a lot of trade with the Dutch long ago, such that they influenced also the architecture.
The picture below shows a unique house. It combines the history of the art of building houses in one building. The big stones at the entrance are original building material from the 13th century. Then you see bricks, which were introduced much later and finally, the modern flat facade.
There are of course several monuments about the 2nd world war. The one below was made to remember the children that were sent into the fighting... I don’t want to go into the details of this as I will also go to Auschwitz in a few days, but of course the horrors of war shall not be forgotten to prevent these things from happening again. These monuments are not there to look nice for pictures, but to make you think and feel..
Last, but not least, the very centre of the modern Warsaw is dominated by the Palace of culture and science. If I remember right it was a „gift“ from Stalin to the city. Whatever the history, the building itself is impressive. I have been to the terrace at the 30th floor. That is a good starting point to explore the city. I had also my first tango evening in that building in a rather small, but very beautiful hall. Come here on a Sunday.
My series of repairs of the caravan had a new episode here. Now the second water tap is broken and this one is quite difficult to replace... Worse than that, the car had a completely destroyed break at one of the four wheels... Apparently, I was driving while that break was active a little all the time...
Beside all the things I explained above, the highlight for me was to meet a relative of mine and his family. We had lost contact for nearly 30 years! We both don’t know exactly how long. This was such a great enrichment and I enjoyed the Turkish & Polish hospitality.
OK, tonight the last tango in Warsaw. Tomorrow, I return to Krakow.
BIG City: The roads are broad and the intensive traffic tells you very clearly, this is not a neat small town, but a major city.
However, once you start exploring the city, you realize how green it is. There are parks everywhere and they are quite big too. This image should give an idea:
I was exploring the city mostly by bicycle. I have to say that given the size of the city and the bumpy roads, you need a mountain bike. A Dutch style „omafiets“ is not an option. Even then, a 1/2 an hour ride is already tiring. The noise of the traffic doesn’t make it more pleasant either. As it was also exceptionally warm when I was here, I felt like I had my daily dose of sports.
Considering the fact that Poland was a communist country not too long ago, I must say it must have developed very fast. From that point of view, you feel like in western Europe. Look at this fancy roof of a commercial centre and you know what I mean. It feels safe, things work and you can communicate in English better than in Spain or France. Sometimes, German is the preferred foreign language. Only the quality of the roads have still room for improvement...
My camping place is a disappointment though. I got used to this super clean, friendly and modern camping including great WIFI in Krakow. Here it is more expensive and all these things are worse...
Do you remember that I missed the little mermaid in Copenhagen? I found her here in Warsaw! OK, maybe not exactly the same one, but this sister is probably the same size. And if the houses in the background remind you the Netherlands, you are right. This is the centre of the old town and there was a lot of trade with the Dutch long ago, such that they influenced also the architecture.
The picture below shows a unique house. It combines the history of the art of building houses in one building. The big stones at the entrance are original building material from the 13th century. Then you see bricks, which were introduced much later and finally, the modern flat facade.
There are of course several monuments about the 2nd world war. The one below was made to remember the children that were sent into the fighting... I don’t want to go into the details of this as I will also go to Auschwitz in a few days, but of course the horrors of war shall not be forgotten to prevent these things from happening again. These monuments are not there to look nice for pictures, but to make you think and feel..
Last, but not least, the very centre of the modern Warsaw is dominated by the Palace of culture and science. If I remember right it was a „gift“ from Stalin to the city. Whatever the history, the building itself is impressive. I have been to the terrace at the 30th floor. That is a good starting point to explore the city. I had also my first tango evening in that building in a rather small, but very beautiful hall. Come here on a Sunday.
My series of repairs of the caravan had a new episode here. Now the second water tap is broken and this one is quite difficult to replace... Worse than that, the car had a completely destroyed break at one of the four wheels... Apparently, I was driving while that break was active a little all the time...
Beside all the things I explained above, the highlight for me was to meet a relative of mine and his family. We had lost contact for nearly 30 years! We both don’t know exactly how long. This was such a great enrichment and I enjoyed the Turkish & Polish hospitality.
OK, tonight the last tango in Warsaw. Tomorrow, I return to Krakow.
Prague
13/05/11 16:49 Filed in: Travel
I arrived at a caravan camping place almost in the city on an island in the river a bit south of the city. From here, it was easy to get to the centre by bicycle. With this sunny weather, a pleasure. Prague has so many beautiful buildings, charming cafe’s and relaxing parks that it must be a pleasure to live here. The public transport works great and everything is quite clean. Even the first Turkish kebab place I tried was delicious! The only thing that I disliked is the fact that everybody is smoking everywhere. I appreciate it so much that it is forbidden in many countries now, but here the smokers seem to have the majority.
I realized that I am still not ready for any visits in a museum. So I just enjoyed a lot of sightseeing. As you can see, the tulips made their way to Prague too!
SInce I arrived on a Monday and will leave on the Saturday morning, I can’t say much about night life at the weekend. But during the week, most cafes are closing latest at midnight. Even at the very centre. So, it is still not a match to Berlin or Amsterdam from that point of view.
Of course I visited several milongas. I ended up dancing with more tourists than locals. Well, what do you expect in such a touristic city
I realized that I am still not ready for any visits in a museum. So I just enjoyed a lot of sightseeing. As you can see, the tulips made their way to Prague too!
SInce I arrived on a Monday and will leave on the Saturday morning, I can’t say much about night life at the weekend. But during the week, most cafes are closing latest at midnight. Even at the very centre. So, it is still not a match to Berlin or Amsterdam from that point of view.
Of course I visited several milongas. I ended up dancing with more tourists than locals. Well, what do you expect in such a touristic city
Brussels
12/04/11 19:12 Filed in: Travel
Last week, there was a tango festival in Brussels. I was there only for the Saturday, but early enough to pay a visit to the famous Atomium during this lovely sunny day. Of course I have seen pictures of it before, but somehow I was surprised to see how shiny it actually is.
And bigger than I imagined. It symbolizes an iron crystal rather than a single atom as the name might suggest There is a restaurant at the top, but outside my budget limitations 
But it is definitely worth to go inside and have a view over the city and there is of course an exhibition inside. It is about some history around the 1958 world exhibition and about the cosmos. I was a bit surprised to see this panel with the title „No big bang“. That reminds me a book that I read long time ago with the title „The big bang never happened“. But that book is 20 years old by now. I don’t know if there is an update.
And the tango festival was in a wonderful hall. The building looks so modern and boring from the outside. But as soon as you get inside, it is the complete opposite. Very beautiful. They had a Russian band this time. It was refreshingly different to hear some Russian tunes smuggled into the argentinian tango. 10 points for this place.
Århus, Denmark
01/04/11 15:37 Filed in: Travel
Just visited good friends in this university town. It is the second biggest city of Denmark and half of it belongs to the university. So, you can imagine that it is a big time student city.
I must say, Århus has quite a nice sandy beach. Too bad that it is rather cold so far in the North. I wonder how warm it gets in the summer. In any case, warm enough so that people do swim.
I learned that it is more custom in Denmark that friends visit each other more at their apartments rather than going out to pubs all the time. That is quite inline with my Turkish background, although I am so much used to the German / Dutch way of going out very often.
Århus has an open air museum called the old town. It is not a natural historic city, but a museum. Nobody lives there. They just physically moved beautiful houses from all over Denmark to this spot. You can enter them and see all sorts of professions from the pharmacy to the tailor. As fascinating as this is, they have also a „modern town“. That is around the 80s. You can see a HIFI shop with old tapes and records from Beatles, Abba etc. Very charming.
I have also been to the student house for a tango evening on Sunday. That was more modern music. Technically, I would say they are in the building up phase, but friendly people. I enjoyed my time. That reminds me Darmstadt. By the time I left, there was a very small group. A few years later it was flourishing so much that there was even more tango there than in Cologne.
The posh cafe in the city centre with all classical tango music was the other week. Maybe next time.
I must say, Århus has quite a nice sandy beach. Too bad that it is rather cold so far in the North. I wonder how warm it gets in the summer. In any case, warm enough so that people do swim.
I learned that it is more custom in Denmark that friends visit each other more at their apartments rather than going out to pubs all the time. That is quite inline with my Turkish background, although I am so much used to the German / Dutch way of going out very often.
Århus has an open air museum called the old town. It is not a natural historic city, but a museum. Nobody lives there. They just physically moved beautiful houses from all over Denmark to this spot. You can enter them and see all sorts of professions from the pharmacy to the tailor. As fascinating as this is, they have also a „modern town“. That is around the 80s. You can see a HIFI shop with old tapes and records from Beatles, Abba etc. Very charming.
I have also been to the student house for a tango evening on Sunday. That was more modern music. Technically, I would say they are in the building up phase, but friendly people. I enjoyed my time. That reminds me Darmstadt. By the time I left, there was a very small group. A few years later it was flourishing so much that there was even more tango there than in Cologne.
The posh cafe in the city centre with all classical tango music was the other week. Maybe next time.
A day in Copenhagen
24/03/11 13:53 Filed in: Travel
Lessons learned in Copenhagen:
Do not eat a hot dog in an open place.
Why? The wind claims half of it as soon as you hold it in your hands. My personal Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics is therefore:
Small particles like air molecules feed on hot dogs. Proven by observation. The old masters got it all wrong
Food: The Turkish restaurant „Sultan Palace“ is great. I enjoyed an iskender kebab there. Hmm, lecker. Valkendorfsgade 34.
Little Mermaid: Well, I had an appointment with her, but she was not there. Disappointing girl. In the internet I found she went to Shanghai. I think she is overrated anyway. This city has such a richness of various architecture and sculptures etc. that I don’t really understand why she is always Nr. 1 when you google Copenhagen.
Tango: I have visited the tango lounge. OMG, there were only a few people, but several maestros. Great!
Do not eat a hot dog in an open place.
Why? The wind claims half of it as soon as you hold it in your hands. My personal Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics is therefore:
Small particles like air molecules feed on hot dogs. Proven by observation. The old masters got it all wrong
Food: The Turkish restaurant „Sultan Palace“ is great. I enjoyed an iskender kebab there. Hmm, lecker. Valkendorfsgade 34.
Little Mermaid: Well, I had an appointment with her, but she was not there. Disappointing girl. In the internet I found she went to Shanghai. I think she is overrated anyway. This city has such a richness of various architecture and sculptures etc. that I don’t really understand why she is always Nr. 1 when you google Copenhagen.
Tango: I have visited the tango lounge. OMG, there were only a few people, but several maestros. Great!
Helsinki - Frost Bite Festival
10/03/11 02:44 Filed in: Travel
Same day I finished work, I took a flight to Helsinki to a tango festival. It was really nice, but the February is the coldest month there. They call that festival „Frostbite“ for a reason... It is a very modern city. The trams come so often that you don’t freeze in the cold. I am sure it is extra beautiful to be there in the summer. The architecture reminds me Berlin..
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