Sunday, February 21, 2010

Friday February 12:

Today was a very constructive day, as we started around 10 in the morning and got the bus to the center of the city the place we ended up yesterday evening and visited some places.
In fact, as I mentioned before Salzburg is a very touristic city; most of the places included castles, palaces, churches, shopping malls; museums are very close by each other.

As Mozart has made a great contribution to the Austrian and German music and art culture we saw so many places for ballet, opera, theater and concerts.

Unfortunately some places were closed and we could find couples of concert which were affordable to attend and visit.

We went to the Barock Museum, where they kept really classical 17 and 18 centuries Barock style paintings, sculpture, which was fascinating to see how oil spread on the canvases and such a tangible view of drafts, and edges on the canvases appeared which expressed how old some of those paintings are.

Actually, they haven’t tried to renovate in a matter of keeping them as new ones, just maintain them .In that museum we have been told that we could see a concert just in the afternoon by a solo violin and piano musicians.

Another interesting museum we went was toy museum where we could find about our childhood toys.

Actually, I discovered a bit more about my toys and how some of them could be interesting and luxurious, or somehow unique for nowadays for some collectors in Europe.

Then we passed though some churches and monuments and got some nice pictures from snow and how it wrapped most of the statues like a bridal dress.
There is a district in the center of the city which calls “Mozart District” where you an see the place where Mozart grown up and his instruments include his first violin and Piano, sonatas and all music notes from his first official works and his daily practice till end of his short life, letters he had made to his children .
There are pieces of advice for spreading their prodigy blood through their responsibility to the public, and donate it to the art world.

Besides all these we went up to the woods and hills and got the cable railway to the fortress Museum and palaces which are the highest part of the city and you can have a great bird view in fact.
It took us more than 2 hours to observe and scan all the art part which were include the story of history of Salzburg ,war time,arsonal traditional clothes and so on.
Afterward we hit St.Peter commentary which was a very fascinating place to be, even if nobody wants to be and see the momentary, but each ingle grave stone was great with special stones, decorated nicely and a lot of grave places there, were a complete family graveyard with the door leading you inside end to an small garden inside with beautiful monuments and statues of angels, saints and son on.
All those graves, tombs were ups and downs of the hill area covered by flowers and trees and bird’s statues.
Anyhow we tried even beer testing for Austrian special beer as well, and after a big glass of it, we were both woozy for a while.
Salzburg has a nice well down puppet show which worth visiting as well and Sound of Music shows which a bit upper class from the ticket and price but it gives you a unique, pleasant ambience of this artistic city.
We are getting ready to reach to Vienna for tomorrow with all excitement.

Thursday, February 11:

Thursday, February 11:

Today we have arrived Salzburg and our trip took approximately another hour from Munich. In fact, the trip was pretty short and comfortable. We were a bit worried and concerned about train arrival, as we have had a pretty much heavy snow fall from yesterday, more than 24 hours non stop.

I do love snow and especially during this month in Europe which is winter time. Actually, I am thinking, arrived in a perfect time, because a bit earlier they had a very sever bad weather and all flights or trains schedules were effected by heavy snow fall, but good enough for us to have a perfect wedding photo album.

Actually, this city is over crowded by tourists. I was wondering during this season shouldn’t be that many people over here, but from East Asia, Japan to North America, tourists were maneuvering in the streets here and the center of city was full of souvenir shops ,candy shops and especially Mozart’s chocolate, which is pretty popular.

We visited Mozart Birth place and Salzburg National gallery and Modern art and prehistoric Museum as well which was a great luck and chance ,cause all places are gather together very vlose ,walking distance. Afterwards, we shrewdly walked up to the hills and as time was short ,planning for tomorrow to visit the castle on the top f hill and get our free cable car and slide cart which should be great fun.
However, I should say there are over than 20 Museums in this small city. We found out to get a special card for 30 Euros and instead to be able to use it for all Museums free.

This city is really uniquely beautiful, as surrounded by hills, woods, castles, churches and tall classical buildings, most of the streets are covered by big breaks, stones and pebbles which are nicely done.Enourmous amount of cafés, mini bars, and fish shops are in every corner and a lot of shops selling traditional German, Austrian dresses from 19 centuries, which we are trying to find a reasonable one for me.

Wednesday February 10,

Wednesday February 10,
Today was a really exciting great day we woke up a bit late as last night we were out for late dinner with one of my old classmates. Manna Resvani, which some of you possibly remember her form primary school? Actually we arrived to Munich around 4 in the afternoon.
Tuesday was a total tiring day, cause the whole day passing through 3 train stations?
As we left Aachen, then we had stops in Hamburg and Koln and then we came down till Munich and we were a bit unlucky with 20 minutes delay as it is rare, at least in Germany.
Anyhow, the whole trip was so nice and looking at fields covered by snow and nice organized German houses. In the evening Manna took we to a very exclusive restaurant with her husband and we spent couple of hours talking about our childhood and old memories.
Anyhow, today Wednesday, we went to the train station and passed from the main station to the center of city, in fact Munich is big and has its special classic buildings, so similar to London, classical building and bridges, there are couple of Churches, Dooms and city town hall plus English Garden and Botanical Garden which are unique and worth’s visiting. The fact is the whole day was snowing and everywhere covered by snow and enormously unique picturesque sceneries for us and photography.
We hit the cheese market which had more than 40 types of Cheese and got some nice stuff there, afterwards hopped over the hills and sliding part of it having a walking tour and shopping street and local market was totally fantastic, though.
Actually, we are getting ready for Bavarian cuisines with special German beer for dinner which is unique in South part of Germany and then getting ready for our trip to Salzburg tomorrow.

Tuesday 9 February 2010:

Tuesday 9 February 2010:

We checked out in the morning and got the train to Munich.Actually, thew routs to Munich by train is a bit spiral and we have had couple of stop and turning points. The first stop was in Koln and as I had heard, it was a beautiful city.

Our track was a bit on the top of the hills, right afterwards we crossed over the country bridge, which gave us the best privilege of the whole sight seeing of the city. City with skyscrapers and other side wide river passed through the entire city and split it into 2 parts, nice, classic structure of 18th centuries’architecture, gives more classic ambience to the outskirts.
I am thinking over, about staying overnight there before we back to the Holland.

We had couple of more stops in Frankfurt and Hamburg and the way go down to the Munich will take approximately 5and half hours. The entire trip pass though woods or lands with half snow covering a light blankets the fields and rivers, some towns are hidden on steep alleys eth nice chimneys alerting us to consider their existence.

I do love the nature like that. So much different from sceneries in China and even Holland.
I am hopping to see me old class mate, Manna, after 25 years from primary school, meeting in Munich tonight and having a pleasant time.

Monday February 8, 2010:

Monday February 8, 2010:

As soon as we arrived in Aachen train station, we realized how small and historical the city is.
In fact, it was a 10 minute walking distance to get to the (Ibis) hotel, which has a great chain in Europe.
It is pretty much a cheap hotel, especially for couples, as it offers 2 nights with reasonable price in European currency and moreover, it is comfortable, located in the heart of the city.
After we got heal a bit from our 5 hours, (4 stops in different destinations, till last one), then we went for a short walk around the heart of the city.

Actually, we knew this city is in the heart of industrials art of Germany and very close to the boarder of Belgium and on the other side near South boarder of Holland as well; but I must confess how cultural and religious this city is.
In fact, this small city is so beautiful and well-known for its old, Romans style buildings and churches and domes.
We easily could walk around, in less than 2 hours in the most touristic areas and shopping districts, but we were desperately looking for a supermarket and hardly could see one.
Well, Actually on Monday when we were wondering around and discovering some other directions, we saw plenty of Kiosks, small supermarkets and health care around, even post office.
I tried to send 2 post cards home, but I was writing in Farsi and they use computer for post cards (new system) and told me the computers might not be able to distinguish the address on the left side, as they write on the write side. Good point and good to know from now!

Anyhow, I would strongly can say this city, which the cover of less than few mile has more than 5 churches and symbols of Christ every where hanging and glittering, is definitely, a very Christian, old, cultural city, which doesn’t attract too many international tourists, which is the good for us enjoying and drowning in the beauty of the nature and atmosphere, rather than being in a very big city, lost in crowd.

Sunday February7, 2010:

We eventually reached to the point to have our own free time for a real journey, which I love. We left Hallum(a town where we stay with Wijbren’s parents, in Friesland) and got our first train in Leeuwarden .
We were plenty of time ahead in our schedule and it was good ,rather than rushing and running to the station. Anyhow sitting on the first class it is nice though. we spent one hour and we had to change the train twice in 2 different cities and then we passed from the boarder and I had to spend a couple of extra Euro for international pass, which was duable.Our first stop changing train in Germany was Düsseldorf to Aken.

In fact Düsseldorf station was so nice and clean and variety of handy shops indeed.I do think maybe I have had the first time a great impression about Germany or it is really nice and organized I do enjoy passing each city by city in this country.

So now we are still in train going to our last destination Aken in less than an hour.

Saturday, February 6 2010:

Saturday, February 6th, 2010:

Today is the third weekend, we are spending in Holland. The first Friday afternoon we were woozy and slow and the second one was the big day for us, as we got married, and the third one was the day, again we came back from The Hague.

I am wondering how fast time travels, and how busy we are with things, which needed to be done.
To me always my trips and holidays’ time has been the busiest part of my routine life, even more than the time we are working.

We are going to pack today, again for the next 2 weeks, for our honeymoon vacation.
Actually, till now everything’s has been going fine, but some days seem so boring and tiring.
The Hague trip was perfect on its own. We booked a hotel near the beach and stayed there for 2 nights.
It was the second time that I was visiting The Hague, but actually the first great impression. Last trip we dropped off The Hague to reach to the embassy and visited Meduradam Museum.
In fact, this trip we booked a nice, cozy, homely hotel near the beach and coincidentally very close to the embassy as well. I was very impressed with the tram and Metro line which was so efficient and moreover the city appearance was nice, organised and so clean.

I didn’t like that much Amsterdam.
In fact, so many tourists first hit the capital, but for me once in one day tour visiting or maybe some other times have shortly visit will be more than enough. We were talking about houses and living conditions between the capital and government capital (The Hague).
It was so tangible that Hague is more tranquil, organised, and efficient; moreover, not crowded with hasty groups of tourists grumbling in the streets shops on and off and throw you a price and you might be ripped off easily, and things and rubbish reveal in the pavements, but I must confess Amsterdam is a beautiful city on its own.

We were lucky that our hotel was in a resort area which we could have view of the sea and walk in the beach and other side we could walk into the woods and natural parks which were massive and impressive.
Wednesday, we hopped into the tram and visit Iran embassy which was not the more terrific things you could do in our holiday, and as usual things in Iran start with “No” answer we were trapped as well.
I should say luckily, we had Islamic marriage and Wijbren converted to Islam but still 2 more documents which are no criminal record and health certificate were not ready, so we got the answer, we have to register there not in any other countries’ embassies. That was a sweet solid answer.

We are hoping if the police state result gets clear after our vacation we might hit The Hague one more time, to do official things in embassy and finish the long story.

In The Hague we have another National Museum, so alike the one in the Amsterdam. In fact we hit the Museum and it was established in the storeys and the paintings mostly were from Wimeir, one of local artist’s in 17 centuries in Holland.
Mostly the paintings were covered by oil in a very Dutch atmosphere with gray clouds and dark fields, covered by snow, stormy North Sea or big, heavy Dutch dinners and parties with long robes and dressers and some were black and white or Sepia color sketches, which were nice on its own.
We do enjoy staying in The Hague, admittedly.