Shopping in Florence

That trip in Florence was awesome! Although visiting it for a day is not enough, I am still thankful that I was finally there. Florence is indeed a very beautiful and interesting city! It is so far one of the most cities I visited in Europe.

Florence, known as Firenze in Italian, is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. The city is noted for its history, culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. It also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, amongst others, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. These are only some of the reasons why I always wanted to visit Florence.

The famous Ponte Vecchio on the left side. A bridge that crosses river Arno.

How about shopping in Florence? If you are a traveler who loves shopping, Florence is a perfect place for you. I love shopping too everytime I travel. Depending on my budget, I buy what I want as long as there is still money left in my wallet. I wish to buy a birthstone jewelry in the famous bridge in Florence known as Ponte Vecchio. Also known as the Old Bridge, is a Medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence. You can find many shops in this bridge including jewelry stores, sellers of souvenirs and arts.

Don't forget Florence is also a Fashion capital. There are also a lot of luxury stores in Florence. Famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bvlgari, Roberto Cavalli and more also found in this city.

I wish I have more time to shop but a day-visit in this city is just not enough. I am glad that I brought home with me some travel souvenirs like postcards, fridge magnets, keychains, travel guide books and more.

A Lovely Day in Limone sul Garda, Italy

How's everyone? I hope you are  all doing great! I can't complain with my life at the moment. Besides, there is nothing to complain especially if we are happy and contented with our lives. In short, I am doing  great  and I am so thankful about it.

It was indeed a lovely day in Limone, Italy. The weather was sunny with a temperature of 24-28 degree Celcius. It was indeed a perfect day for sightseeing.

Boats in Limone,  Lake  Garda, Italy. I love the scenery in this part of the world!

Historical buildings in Limone sul Garda during our recent  visit in Italy.

From Riva del Garda,  we took the public  boat transportation  going to Limone. I would say, it was like a mini cruise in Lake Garda, also known in German as Gardasee. I had fun walking  in this fun and truly enjoyed the scenes around.

Here are some  information about this town:

Limone sul Garda is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy (northern Italy), on the shore of Lake Garda.
It has an abundance of cafes, restaurants and shops selling all manner of souvenirs, food and clothing, and the streets in summer are thronged with tourists.
The town was popular with writers such as Goethe, Ibsen and Lawrence, and more recently was used for filming parts of the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
Despite the presence of famous cultivations of lemons (the meaning of the city's name in Italian), the town's name is probably derived from the ancient lemos (elm) or limes (Latin: boundary, referring to the communes of Brescia and the Bishopric of Trento). In 1863-1905 the denomination was Limone San Giovanni.

I Miss This Night Walk in Albayzin, Spain

It was quite a chilly evening but it was a lovely one. This little town of Albayzin which is located near Granada in Andalusia, Spain is truly a worth to see place.We had a night sigthseeing there and our tour guide was quite a good one.

That night, we passed thru the narrow winding streets of this Medieval Moorish town. If you are near the church of San Nicolas, you can have a spectacular view of the famous Alhambra.

Albayzin which is also known as El Albaicin is listed in the World Heritage Site since 1984 along with Alhambra.

We witnessed the Flamenco show in Albayzin that night. It was quite interesting.

A  historical Moorish Bath in Albayzin.

View of the lighted Alhambra from the  Church of San Nicolas in Albayzin..I love especially this view.

.These images were taken during our trip last December 2011.

My 4th Visit in Salzburg, Austria

I should be in Andorra and France  this coming July 1-7, 2012 but it did not  materialized. This is the problem if you are travelling alone sometimes. I called the travel agency last week  that I am willing to pay the  extra charge for single room occupancy but they said  that  there no available  single  rooms anymore. I thought you  will be paying the extra room charge  if you are alone in a double-room. This is quite confusing. But anyway, that trip might not really for me. There are might be other destinations destined for me next month or in August.  I will just wait and see!

For now, I just want to share some images taken during my 4th visit in  Salzburg, Austria. And yes, last  month was my fourth visit to this lovely city of Austria.

Salzburg, the birthplace of the famous composer and musician named Mozart  is also famous for  the setting of the movie, The Sound of Music.  How about climbing to the top of Hohensalzburg fortress?  I did not really climb its top due to time constraint but I was able to go up to the top of the castle by riding the furnicular. If you love shopping, the Getreidegasse is the perfect place for you. This is the famous shopping street in this city.

There are just a lot of things to do and experience in this city. Even I was there for the fourth  time already, I still did not see everything in it. Still hoping for another come back huh?

The St. Stephen's Cathedral in Salzburg.

The Mirabell Garden and from afar, the Hohensalzburg fortress on top of the hill.

Touring Troy, Turkey

I guess you are very familiar about the dangerous computer virus called Trojan Horse or Trojan Virus. A Trojan Horse derives its name from the Trojan War. Legend has it that King Odysseus built a Trojan Horse as a gift to the city of Troy to signify surrender. He then ordered the Greek army to retreat and left the ‘gift’ outside the city gates. However it turned out that the Horse had more than 40 soldiers hidden in its belly. Once inside the city of Troy, these soldiers snuck out and opened the gates for their fellow soldiers who went on to attack the unsuspecting city with iron weapons.

It is an honor for me to visit this historical place named Troy in Turkey. I thought I can only see it on postcards or images in the internet but I was really there. Our tour guide explained to us about Troy, also called as Ilion and Troia in Greek, Wilusa in Hittite or Truva in Turkish.

Troia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998.

Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida. It is best known for being the setting of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Metrical evidence from the Iliad and the Odyssey seems to show that the name Ἴλιον (Ilion) formerly began with a digamma: Ϝίλιον (Wilion). This was later supported by the Hittite form Wilusa.

A new city called Ilium was founded on the site in the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus. It flourished until the establishment of Constantinople and declined gradually during the Byzantine era.

The Trojan Horse during our vacation in Turkey last September 2011.

In 1865, English archaeologist Frank Calvert excavated trial trenches in a field he had bought from a local farmer at Hisarlık, and in 1868, Heinrich Schliemann, wealthy German businessman and archaeologist, also began excavating in the area after a chance meeting with Calvert in Çanakkale. These excavations revealed several cities built in succession. Schliemann was at first skeptical about the identification of Hissarlik with Troy, but was persuaded by Calvert and took over Calvert's excavations on the eastern half of the Hissarlik site, which was on Calvert's property. Troy VII has been identified with the Hittite Wilusa, the probable origin of the Greek Ἴλιον, and is generally (but not conclusively) identified with Homeric Troy. continue reading here.

The Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest, Hungary

The Halászbástya or Fisherman's Bastion takes its name from the guild of fishermen that was responsible for defending this stretch of the city walls in the Middle Ages. It is a viewing terrace, with many stairs and walking paths in Budapest, Hungary.

Below is the snapshot I took during our visit last August 2011.

he Halászbástya or Fisherman's Bastion is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on the Castle hill in Budapest, around Matthias Church. It was designed and built between 1895 and 1902 on the plans of Frigyes Schulek.

From the towers and the terrace a panoramic view exists of Danube, Margaret Island, Pest to the east and the Gellért Hill. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 896.

My Europe Travel in Madrid, Spain

This is one of the most beautiful and liveliest city in Europe and also in the whole world. Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is also the third largest city in Europe after London and Berlin. It is famous for its great cultural and artistic heritage in which the El Prado museum is a very good example.

There are just a lot of things to see and experience in this city. A day of visit in this lovely city is not enough to see everything. At least I had the chance to visit it once in my lifetime and one of these days, I will surely come back there again.

Some of the sights we saw during our trip last December 2011 were the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel, Catedral de la Almudena,Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta de Alcala and many more.

the Plaza Mayor in Madrid Spain taken last December 10, 2011.

the famous Almudena Cathedral, Catedral de la Almudena, located just in front of the Royal palace of Madrid.

The South Gate of the Agora in Ephesus, Turkey

If you are planning to visit Turkey, you might want to include the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in your itinerary. This is one of the very interesting and historical sights in Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus are a favorite international and local tourist attraction. I had never seen such ruins as big as Ephesus.

One of the impressing historical sights there is the south gate of the Agora which is also known as the gate of Mazeus and Mythridates. They were the ones who erected this gate for their emperor, Augustus, who gave them their freedom. It is located near the Library of Celsus.

Today's archaeological site lies 3 kilometers southwest of the town of Selçuk, in the Selçuk district of İzmir Province, Turkey.

taken during our 10-days vacation in Turkey last September 2011.

At the right side of this gate, you can find the information that says below,

"The richly ornamented gate was financed by the imperial freedmen Mazaeus and Mithridates in 2 B.C. The refined articulation of the southern facade with alternating projecting and re-entrant elements, as well as the use of arches and beams, was repeated in the original side wings of the building. Statues of the imperial family stood on the inscribed attic zone. The unadorned northern side was connected to the Agora Hall. The re-erection of the gate (1982-1988) was made possible by Anton Kallinger-Prskawetz."

Walking on the Narrow Alleys of Toledo, Spain

I remember some words from an acquaintance I met in Las Vegas during my visit last 2008. He said that there are a lot of narrow streets in Europe. That is very true but we have to understand that there are a lot of historical places in Europe and these narrow streets and alleys especially in the old city centers were already made during the medieval period or even older times.

This is also true in Toledo, Spain. In its historical city center you can find labyrinths of narrow alleys. I find it very interesting as we walked on those alleys during our sightseeing tour. Toledo is a very nice place especially its old city center. Its setting on a mountaintop surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River made it very romantic. I thought I can only see it on books or in the internet but I was really there. That trip in Toledo was really a memorable one for me.

Don't miss to visit its famous sights such as the Cathedral of Toledo, the Alcazar and the Zocodover. You have to know that the Historic City of Toledo belongs to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

an alley near the Zocodover, a central market place in Toledo. This was taken during our trip last December 2011.

another alley in its historic center. This is one of the alleys we walked through during our sightseeing tour. I love Toledo!

Remembering Alhambra in Granada, Spain

I was trying to select randomly the pictures to be posted here. And yes, I was able to browse the files from my recent Spain trip last December 2011. I am trying to remember Alhambra again. Now I understand how did Washington Irving felt as he left Alhambra....a melancholic goodbye as he was leaving this place. I just received yesterday the book that I I ordered online. It was written by Washington Irving. It is entitled "Tales of the Alhambra". According to our knowledgeable tour guide named Lothar, Alhambra had inspired Irving to write this book. Irving actually lived in the palace while writing the book and was instrumental in reintroducing the site to Western audiences. This is a collection of essays, verbal sketches, and stories. I just started reading some pages and it was truly very interesting.

I also felt a bit melancholic after leaving Spain after our 8-days trip from Dec. 5-12, 2011. My heart was captured by the beauty of this country. I am just thankful that once in my life I was there and I hope to come back and visit other places in Spain.

The Alhambra (literally means "the red one") is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in al-Andalus, occupying the top of the hill of the Assabica on the southeastern border of the city of Granada.

The Court of la Acequia.

Fountains and flowing water are a common feature around the Alhambra, they are particularly prevalent in the Palacio de Generalife.

taken during our tour in Alhambra last Dec. 8, 2011.

The Palacio de Generalife ( literally, "Architect's Garden") was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Emirs (Kings) of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

The Town Hall of Győr, Hungary

It was a very memorable trip we had in Hungary last summer of this year. We did not only visited a lot of places but we did also experience a lot of things which are always worth remembering. Probably, that is one treasure that we can keep after seeing or visiting a certain place, the fun, experiences and most of all the memories.

Győr, called in German as Raab is located halfway between Budapest and Vienna. This is where our hotel is located during our five days trip to Hungary. Gyor is also one of the old towns in this country.

I have below a photograph of the Town Hall of Győr.

The Városháza or Town Hall at night. One of the images I took as we had a night stroll in Gyor last August 2011.

The Town Hall called as Városháza in Hungarian, has a Neo-Baroque architecture. It boasts a 190 ft or 58 meter- high tower. It has a U-shaped form and was built in 1896-98. Concerts and other programs are often performed in its magnificent festival hall.

A Visit to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey

I can't imagine how many tourists were at the Grand Bazaar during our visit last time. Would you believe that this bazaar is visited by thousands of people including locals and tourists each day. It is said that it attracts between 250,000 and half a million visitors daily.

As I entered this place last time, all that I said was a huge WOW! I can't believe that this bazaar is so large that a day-visit is not enough. You can find everything in this place.

Don't you know that The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world? It has more than 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops.

Below are some of the images I took during our visit last September 2011. such a very interesting place!..and yes, especially for those who love shopping.

The grand bazaar began construction in 1455 and opened in 1461. It is well known for its jewellery, pottery, spice, and carpet shops.

Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like.

Wonderful Trip to Ephesus, Turkey

Hubby was asking tonight if Ephesus was once a Greek city. He said that he read somewhere that it is. He finally found the travel flyer that says, Ephesus was once an ancient Greek city.

It was truly a wonderful and interesting trip we had in Ephesus. It is on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province in Turkey. No wonder an online friend told me that there are more ruins in Ephesus as in Greek today. The ruins in Ephesus are truly amazing. The architecture during those times are truly a work of engineering considering that they still don't have the modern machinery and equipments like what we are using now.

the library of Celsus in Ephesus..We visited this historical site last September 23, 2011.

There were a lot of international and local tourists at the time we visited Ephesus last September 2011. Partly owing to its easy access from Adnan Menderes Airport and via the port of Kuşadasi, this archaeological site is now a favorite destination of both local and international tourists.

striking a pose in Ephesus. In my background is the Theater of Ephesus. It was like taking a journey back in the past..a must-visit place when visiting Turkey.

Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John may have been written here. The city was the site of several 5th century Christian Councils, see Council of Ephesus. It is also the site of a large gladiators' graveyard.

Paris Sightseeing

I miss Paris! This is one of the beautiful cities I visited in Europe. The capital city of France is dubbed as the "City of Lights" and "Capital of Fashion". I had been to this city twice and I am lucky to get some cheap flights to Paris during my trips. I am still planning to visit again this city in the future because there are still some sights and attractions that I did not see during my previous trips.

For now, I want to share the top 3 famous sights I visited in Paris.

Eiffel Tower

There are a lot of interesting and beautiful sights in Paris but its iconic symbol is the Eiffel Tower. This magnificent tower was built in 1889 and was named after its designer Gustave Eiffel.

I had seen this structure twice but I never had the chance to go up to the tower. That is also the reason why I want to go back to Paris.

the Eiffel Tower during my second visit to Paris last August 2010.

Arc de Triomphe

I had seen the replica of Arc de Triomphe in Paris Las Vegas. The Siegestor, a triumphal arch in Munich, the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin and the Arch of Constantine in Rome, also looks like almost the same as the Arc of Triomphe in Paris. I was able to visit all of these historical monuments but the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is very much unique and much more beautiful.

Called in English as Triumphal Arch or the Arch of Triumph, it honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. It was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Also known as Our Lady of Paris, it is an impressing Gothic Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Ile de la Cite. It was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This is a very interesting architecture because it was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress, some sort of arched exterior supports.

There are a lot of important events that took place in this cathedral such as the beatification and canonization of Joan of Arc, the marriage of James V of Scotland and Madeleine, Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II and many more. No wonder this Cathedral has become one of the famous sights in Paris.

Notre Dame Cathedral and the Seine River. taken during my second visit last August 2010.

There are still a lot of stunning landmarks in Paris. The Pantheon, Sacré Coeur, Catacombs, Sainte Chapelle, Assemblée Nationale, are only some of it. Versailles is also worth to see. Paris is also home to famous museums and galleries such as the the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Les Invalides, Picasso Museum and a lot more.

I guess, I am very lucky to go inside the Louvre Museum during my first visit in Paris.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris in France

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris, commonly known as Sacre -Coeur Basilica is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. It is also a popular landmark in Paris. It is located on the top of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city.

I took this image during my second visit in Paris with a friend last August 2010.

The construction of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris begun in June 16, 1875.

I should use Nikon binoculars to have a better look of this historical building. We just stayed in this square watching the basilica because we don't have much time for going up to the hill for sightseeing. I also read that taking pictures inside the basilica is forbidden.

The Parthenon in Athens , Greece

The Parthenon is dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their protector. It is a temple on Acropolis which dominates the city skyline of Athens, Greece. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. Its construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 438 BC, although decorations of the Parthenon continued until 432 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art.

Thanks to my friend Ritche for this image taken during her vacation in Athens, Greece.
online accounting degrees

ORIGIN OF PARTHENON

The origin of the Parthenon's name is from the Greek word "παρθενών" (parthenon) referred to the "maiden's apartments" in a house and in the Parthenon's case seems to have used only to a particular room of the temple; it is debated which room this is and how the room acquired its name. LSJ states that this room was the western cella of the Parthenon. Jamauri D. Green holds that the parthenon was the room in which the peplos presented to Athena at the Panathenaic Festival was woven by the arrephoroi, a group of four young girls chosen to serve Athena each year. Christopher Pelling asserts that Athena Parthenos may have constituted a discrete cult of Athena, intimately connected with, but not identical to, that of Athena Polias. According to this theory, the name of Parthenon means the "temple of the virgin goddess" and refers to the cult of Athena Parthenos that was associated with the temple. The epithet parthénos (Greek: παρθένος), whose origin is also unclear, meant "maiden, girl", but also "virgin, unmarried woman" and was especially used for Artemis, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation, and for Athena, the goddess of strategy and tactics, handicraft, and practical reason. It has also been suggested that the name of the temple alludes to the virgins (parthenoi), whose supreme sacrifice guaranteed the safety of the city.
more details here

My Euro Travel in Prague, Czech Republic

It's time to visit and see Europe again! I guess, it is favorable to visit again the capital city of Czech Republic. Prague is also its largest city. It has been a political, cultural and economic center of Europe particularly eastern Europe for the over 1,100 years of its existence. It is one of the beautiful cities I had visited in Europe.

Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites which makes it one of Europe's most visited cities. It has also a good economic standing. Here are some images I took during our visit last 2008.

The building with two towers on the background is the Church of Our Lady before Týn or simply called as the Týn Cathedral. It is located on the Old Town Square, between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge.

The Astronomical Clock at the Old Town Hall

Prague's Old Town Square is often bursting at the seams with tourists in the summer. Featuring various architectural styles including the gothic Týn Cathedral and baroque St. Nicholas Church, the square is an oasis for travelers wearied by Prague's narrow streets. Among many churches, tourists may find the Astronomical Clock on this square, while the tower at the Old Town Hall offers a panoramic view of Old Town.

The Vltava River that flows along Prague. It is called in German as Moldau.

My Euro Travel in Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is a city located in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. This city was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage last 1993. It is a historical city and was not destroyed by World War II. Bamberg also called a City of Creches, the Rome of Franconia and International Cultural Treasure. Another unique name given to Bamberg is Little Venice due to its location on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main.

Here are some images taken during our visit last October 2010.

the river Regnitz in Bamberg, Bavaria

The bridges connecting to the Old Town Hall. The building in front is the Rottmeisterhäuschen and at the back of this is the Old Town Hall.

The Old Town Hall, also known as the Island Town Hall, since it is located between the spans of two bridges...see that second image here.

Some of the main sights are:

* Cathedral (1237), with the tombs of emperor Henry II and Pope Clement II
* Alte Hofhaltung, residence of the bishops in the 16th and 17th centuries
* Neue Residenz, residence of the bishops after the 17th century
* Old Town Hall (1386), built in the middle of the Regnitz River, accessible by two bridges
* Klein-Venedig ("Little Venice"), a colony of picturesque fishermen's houses from the 19th century along one side of the river Regnitz.
* Michaelsberg Abbey, built in the 12th century on one of Bamberg's "Seven Hills"
* Altenburg, castle, former residence of the bishops

Christmas Market in Strasbourg, France

The Christkindelsmärik called in French as Marché de Noël in Strasbourg, France is an event held annually from November 24 to December 24, 2010. This event was said to begin since 1570 and considered as one of the oldest Christmas markets. It usually takes place at on Place Kléber, Place Broglie, Place du Marché aux cochons de lait and around the Strasbourg cathedral.

We are one of the 1.5 to 2 millions of visitors who witnessed this event this year. I find Strasbourg a very interesting city. Visiting it for some hours is not enough to see all around the city. I am just happy that I experienced this event once in my life. I believed I will be coming back to Strasbourg in the future.

Here are some images I took during our visit last December 13, 2010.

one of the stalls we visited. this is where the bus driver dropped us as we had a walk in the city.

another stall located near the Strasbourg Cathedral.

you never get hungry when visiting a Christmas market. Stall like this is selling crepes filled with marmelade or nougat.

My Europe Travel in Zurich, Switzerland

I had finally visited Zurich in Switzerland! But first of all I want to thank God for bringing us safe home from our trip to Zurich and Strasbourg, France. It was another memorable and interesting trip.

To begin with some information about Switzerland;
It is not a member of the European Union but a member of Schengen Agreement.
It is located in western Europe.
Just like Belgium, it is a landlocked country where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Its monetary unit is Swiss franc (Sfr) which is divided in 100 rappen. The banknotes are in 10,20,50,100,200 and 1,000 francs. The coins are in 1,2 and 5 frans as well as 5,10,20 and 50 rappen.

I wish to share more about Switzerland next time.

For now, I wanted to share about Zurich.
It is the capital of the canton of Zurich and is the largest city of Switzerland. It is considered to be a leading global city and among the world's largest financial centers. It is also known to be the wealthiest city in Europe. That is probably the reason why I was amazed how expensive to go shopping in this city.

I was shopping for souvenirs during our visit and I was surprised because the prices are double and even triple compared to the other cities I had visited in Europe. The food are also double the price compared to Germany. So far, it is the most expensive city I visited in Europe.

I guess it is getting late now. I will share more about Zurich in my future post. Here are some of the images I took during our visit last December 12, 2010.

taken at the Christmas market in Zurich. It is an indoor Christmas market located in the train station hall. It is also the biggest indoor Christmas market in Europe and I believed in the whole world also.

The two towers of the Grossmünster Cathedral, the iconic landmark of Zurich.

That building right at the end of the bridge is the Fraumünster abbey of Zürich. It was founded in 853 by Louis the German for his daughter Hildegard. He endowed the Benedictine convent with the lands of Zürich, Uri, and the Albis forest, and granted the convent immunity, placing it under his direct authority.

we had an overnight at the Hilton Zurich Airport. It was quite a nice accommodation.