A magical trip to Europe
"A magical trip to Europe" is a travel photography squidoo lens, including landscape and cityscape photos of Greece, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Switzerland as well as a selection of books, travel guides, gourmet food and other useful links.
The trip starts in Greece, my homeland. Our first stop is the awesome landscape of the Meteora monasteries, built on natural sandstone rock pillars!
Then we take the plane to Munich, Germany, my actual location. We visit some of my favorite places: the English Garden, the Odeonsplatz, the Botanical Garden and the Zoo.
We continue the trip by car. We visit the German Alps, then we travel to the Austrian Alps, then to the Italian Alps, to arrive to the idyllic and picturesque Garda Lake (Lago di Garda) in Italy and Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet.
After that, we take the plane to Barcelona, Spain, a city characterized by the original architecture of Antoni Gaudi.
My favorite European city is Paris, so this will be our last stop.
Thank you for visiting my site and have a nice trip!
Links
- Bel Phos on Artistrising.com
- Buy affordable photographic prints and posters with beautiful European landscapes!
FIRST STOP: GREECE
In Santorini, I got dehydrated and was rushed to hospital; I knew absolutely nobody on this island because it was our second day there. Curiously so many people came visit me in hospital! The hotel director and her husband because "they felt responsible for me" (that's what they said!), the owner of the Cafe where we used to take our breakfast because he saw me collapse, as well as some other people I didn't know, because "they heard about it and were a bit concerned"! The next day, many people were talking to me on the road, they even knew my name: "hello marina, how are you today? i'm the cousin of...". The 5-room hospital never sent me a bill, because they saw I have no social security in Greece but "I am Greek so it should be free"... This is how Greek people really are: they open their heart and give you their last piece of bread, if they see you are in need. Unfortunately, in big cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, most people are not like that any more - they barely offer you a smile.
Do you want to hear about the REAL Greece? Greece is a country blessed and cherished by gods and nature, and devastated by its own people, a country where individualism and money count more than preserving your own culture and land. I'm sure you've heard of the fires that devastated Greece in August 2007. The firefighter force asked the Greek government to give them more equipment, more planes, more firemen, but the government replied that the Greek state had no money. After the Peloponese was completely destroyed by the fires, the government offered some millions of euro to whom could give information on the arsonists! It's insane! Why not invest the money in equipment to fight the fire before this happens? To replant trees? Why not invest this money to rebuild all those destroyed schools and buy books, pencils and school bags for the poor children who lost their homes? That's Greece - 1 person is fighting the fire (volunteer fireman), 10 persons are organizing his work (the Greek administration), 100 persons are commenting on how he is doing his job (the Greek media), 1000 persons are investing money in investigating who was the arsonist (politicians) while 10,000,000 persons are watching this on TV without reacting, just screaming about the political situation (the Greek people). Who is helt as responsible? The one and only firefighter who didn't do his job right! At the same time, another 10,000,000 of people, incapable of helping, are crying for their country turned into ashes (we, immigrants). That is the real Greece if you ask my opinion.
The real Greece is a holiday paradise and an administrative and political hell to live in...
Carnaval 2 - Limni Evias, Greece, 2007
GREECE - The Meteora Monasteries
Framed prints and calendars by Bel Phos
GREECE - The Meteora Monasteries
"Suspended in the air"
Suspended in the air #12 - The Meteora Monasteries Scenic Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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Suspended in the air #17 - The Meteora Monasteries Scenic Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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Suspended in the air #11 - The Meteora Monasteries Scenic Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 8x10
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Greek Flag on Meteora, Central Greece World Culture Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 8x10
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Suspended in the air #4 - The Meteora Monasteries Scenic Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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GREECE - Artwork - Greek Figures
From the series "Ethnic Figures" by Ina Mar
Ethnic Figure #7, Thebian "Kourotrophos" (Nurturer of Children) People Photographic Poster Print by Ina Mar, 16x20
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Ethnic Figure #6 - Tanagrian cook with mortar and pestle People Photographic Poster Print by Ina Mar, 16x20
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Ethnic Figure #7, Thebian Flute Player Photographic Poster Print by Ina Mar, 16x20
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Visit the following three lenses
"It's All Greek to Me!" Gift Shop - Buy some Greek products: gods and goddesses on T-shirt, clock or mousepad, because "Classical Art Never Goes Out of Style"! (that's the shop's slogan)
"Athens, Greece Travel Guide" - Visit a Japanesese visitor's point of view: he lived two years in Greece and gives many useful advise. The lens includes photos of Meteora, Santorini, Plaka - Athens, as well as culinary and reading tips!
Just click on the links bellow.
Greece - Featured Lenses
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"It's All Greek to Me!" Gift Shop
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Welcome to the Squidoo lens for my "It's All Greek to Me" Gift Shop, selling unique gifts with an ancient Greek twist! Many of you have visited my Ancient Greece Odyssey: A Traveller's Journal travel diary with photos, stories, and...
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Ancient Greece Odyssey: A Traveller's Journal
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Myth major seeks armchair travellers, art lovers, and born-again pagans for a ramble through the ruins of ancient Greece. Odyssey Latest Update: Mycenae Museum Posted 4.25.08 I visited Greece in spring 2005 for the first time, where I have been going...
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Athens, Greece Travel Guide
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Greece should be on every bodies checklist to go on VACATION. I was lucky enough to be assigned to Hellenikon Air Base from 1987 to 1989. My nick name was "Sony". My sponsor could not say my name so he gave me a nickname that stuck with me...
GREECE - A selection of book on the Meteora Monasteries
Can you help me complete this list?
GIFT SUGGESTIONS!
"It's All Greek to Me!" Wall Clock
Fun classics humor clock for teachers, students, professors and educators in the humanities, Latin, Greek, or art history departments! Perfect for museums and libraries. Same numerals Aristotle used!
Wall Clock
Price: 14.99
Athena Art Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Unique gift from ancient Greece for the art lover, student, teacher, or history buff! Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom, leans on her spear. Original art based on the 5th-century BC "Mourning Athena".
Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Price: 16.99
SECOND STOP: MUNICH GERMANY
The city of Munich, city of Oktoberfest, is multi-faceted with places of interest for all tastes: art lovers, architecture lovers, sport lovers, nature lovers... Here are some of my favorite places in Munich:-The "English Garden", an enormous park in the centre of the city. For Munich residents it's the weekend paradise: a place to stroll and forget the stress of a working week. Take a look at my "surfers in the English Garden" photo bellow: Yes! Crazy people are often surfing in the Munich river!
-The baroque "Nymphenburg Palace", its beautiful park and the Botanical Garden (see a photo of the Botanical Garden bellow).
-The Olympic Park (Olympiapark) - take a walk or a bike tour in the site of the 1972 Olympics, stroll along the Olympic lake, lie in the grass... Visit the Olympic Stadion with its impressive architecture and climb on the Olympia Hill. Are you now on the hill enjoying a Munich Panorama? The remains of the Second World War are under your feet! After the Second World War, the rubble cleared from the city was moved here and formed the basis of this hill!
-Don't forget to visit the world's most famous beer hall, the "Hofbräuhaus", where you can enjoy live traditional music, Bavarian food and ... lots of beer!
Bel Phos - Surfing In The English Garden In Munich
GERMANY - Munich, the city of Oktoberfest
Surfing In The English Garden In Munich Sports Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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The Game Of The Swans - English Garden in Munich Animals Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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Theatinerkirche in Munich, Odeonsplatz Architecture Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg Places Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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Authentic grilled Steckerlfisch (fish-on-a-stick) Cuisine Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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GERMANY - The Munich Zoo
The lion is watching #1 Motivational Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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The Lemurs' Picnic Humor Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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The small fish eats the big one. Zoologischer Garten, Munich Animals Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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Pinguins, Zoologischer Garten, Munich Humor Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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Orange birds Places Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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GERMANY - The German Alps
German Alps - Finstermünz Alm #10, Brauneck Ski Area near Lenggries in Bavaria, Germany Architecture Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 24x20
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German Alps - Finstermünz Alm #6, Brauneck Ski Area near Lenggries in Bavaria, Germany Scenic Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x24
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German Alps - Finstermünz Alm #7, Brauneck Ski Area near Lenggries in Bavaria, Germany Places Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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German Alps - Finstermünz Alm #13, Brauneck Ski Area near Lenggries in Bavaria, Germany Seasons Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x24
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Girl and dog on the Alps - Finstermünz Alm #16, Brauneck Ski Area near Lenggries in Bavaria, Germany Places Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
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GERMANY - Munich Travel Guides
Passport's Illustrated Travel Guide to Munich & Bavaria (Passport's Illustrated Travel Guides)
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Eyewitness Travel Guide to Munich & the Bavarian Alps (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
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Munich (Berlitz Travel Guide)
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New Orbitz!
JUST A SHORT STOP: THE AUSTRIAN-ITALIAN ALPS
Bel Phos - Timmelsjoch Panorama Street
The Alps, South Tirol, Austria-Italy
Bel Phos - Timmelsjoch Panorama Street
The Alps, South Tirol, Austria-Italy
AUSTRIA .... ITALY - The Alps
Timmelsjoch Panorama Street #3, Alps, South Tirol Places Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 20x16
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Timmelsjoch Panorama Street #1, Alps, South Tirol, Austria-Italy Transportation Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
Süd Tirol, Austria-Italy. Street sign for motorcycles.
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Timmelsjoch Panorama Street #2, The Alps, South Tirol, Austria-Italy Scenic Photographic Poster Print by Bel Phos, 10x8
Abandonned construction.
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THIRD STOP: ITALY
We stayed there for 3 days: Every day we used to take the car and just drive, without a plan, until the next city or landscape that impresses us. This would happen every 10 minutes... We visited between other the cities of Malcesine, Brenzone, Torri del Benaco, Bardolino, Lazise (a really nice one!) and of course Sirmione, the so-called "Lake Garda pearl", whose history dates back to the 6th-5th millennia BCE.
The main historical landmarks of Sirmione are "Grotte di Catullo" (the Grotto of Catullus), a Roman private villa, and the 13th Century Scaligera Fortress. Here under you will find photos of both landmarks.
The last day of our trip we visited Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet's balcony is a popular tourist spot in Verona - you will not find any photos of Juliet's balcony on my site because in fact there were so many tourists that it was absolutely impossible to take a photo. And to tell you the truth, I'm not the type of person who would queue 2 hours just to be on Juliet's tiny balcony together with another 20 tourists. So we just pushed some stinky tourists, took a short look at the place and then went to the Verona Arena (Arena di Verona), an impressive Roman amphitheatre. Between June and August there are always productions mounted - we had the chance to get two tickets for Aida by Verdi! The opera started late at the evening, we sat on the stone steps and enjoyed an unforgettable evening! There is an original tradition every time there is a performance in the arena: Candles are passed out to the public and they are lit after sunset. Every visitor has at least one candle and the whole Arena is candle lit - an incredible feeling that I could never describe in pictures or words. You'll just have to visit Verona and book a ticket for the Arena performance...
