Milan, Christmas Mood 2

Two weeks before Christmas, and I am ready to set off for the new Christmas experience.

The next flight is to Milan. It is quite cheap from Prague and it is quite fast, only one hour and 20 minutes.

There is no snow in the streets of the city, but its not very warm neither. Still, I could not refuse myself the delicious gelato. Some Italians would judge me eating gelato in winter, but I am fine. And one more bonus of eating gelato in winter is that it is not melting.

Now it is time to visit the main square and to see two main Christmas trees in the city. One is in front of the Cathedral. And another is inside the Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II. This year the tree in the gallery is decorated by Dior, and it looks really beautiful. But the tree on the street looks very simple, and it is leaning as the Pisa tower.

I am quite satisfied with what I have seen, but I need to go to the hotel for the check-in.

The hotel 21 House of Stories Citta Studi is located not very far from the central station, and it is absolutely to my taste - modern, clean, quiet, not very expensive and with very good breakfast.

At the hotel is good, but I need to continue my exploration of the city.

Visiting Italian city and not trying local focaccia would be a crime. So, I found some trustworthy bistro, where I tasted Margherita with lots of cheese. One of the best focaccias! 

And the evening I was finishing with the coffee in flagman Starbucks, the special Christmas blend. Just perfect.

The Christmas mood in Milan is achieved, and it is such a nice completion of my trips in the current year.

Munich, Christmas Mood

It is less than a month before Christmas, and I am already seeking for a Christmas mood. So, my point of destination is Munich, Bavaria, in the south of Germany.

The direct train from Prague to Munich takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes. Not very far I would say.

So, after arriving to the city I immediately headed to the old town, to see the main Christmas tree and to eat something after a long trip.

Of course, I could not but taste the famous sausage, at Viktualienmarkt. And it was so good, that I have eaten two of them. Definitely, you should go there if you want to try some delicious fast food.

After walking around and having some rest at the hotel I went out for dinner. And I came to the Ratskeller restaurant in the very city centre. This place is so spacious that I am pretty sure you will always find a free table there.

My order was some pork with a crunchy part, with potato dumplings and cabbage. Yet it is fat, but at the same time you will be extremely satisfied, especially with the local blonde beer.

It was necessary to have a walk after such a heavy meal. The city was bright and colourful at this moment. Very nice illumination boosted my mood, and I finally started feeling approaching of the Christmas time. Of course, one weekend is not enough for such a big city, so I would come back here for more days, somewhere in summer. Meanwhile, I am already planning my next Christmas trip.

Escape to Olomouc

It is always a good idea to go somewhere for a weekend, especially if there is a direct train connection with Prague. For this time I travel to Olomouc. And honestly, I do not have any plan, what to do there, but maybe I just wanted to check the train company Leo Express, cause usually I travel with Cesky Drahy.

Olomouc is the 6st largest city in Czechia, and it has around 100000 inhabitants. It lies in the heart of Moravia and in the past it was its capital.

One of the most beautiful and the most needed to visit monuments in Olomouc is the Saint Wenceslas Cathedral. Founded in 1107, nowadays it has the gothic style.

The next necessary thing to do in the city is of course tasting local delicatessen, called Olomoucke Tvaruzky. Indeed, its very salty, very smelly, but with very unique taste cheese. It contains lots of protein, but usually goes well with beer. Honestly, I am not going to miss this food, but next visit I will eat it again.

Of course there are much more places and things to explore in the city, including the iconic Holy Trinity Column, the Astronomical Clock and even the beautiful Botanical Gardens, and the good thing is that all of them are located close to each other. Very compact and comfy.

I need to say, that am in love with cobblestone streets in Olomouc. But most of all I appreciate the quietness here. So, this silent, cozy city is an ideal destination if you are tired of the hustle in the megapolis. Definitely, I would come here again to enjoy solitude and unhurried walking.

Brussels, The Sights

The day with visiting the main sights in Brussels, which you cannot miss in any case.

First, The Atomium, a striking structure that was originally built for the 1958 Brussels World Expo. In fact, it is a representation of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. It consists of nine stainless steel spheres, connected by tubes, which together form a model of an atom. Nice one.

Second, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, with significant collection of Old Masters from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Peter Paul Rubens, Antoine Van Dyck, Jan Bruegel the Elder, Rogier van der Weyden, Jerome Bosch and Frans Hals.

Third, a quirky bar Goupil, located in the heart of the city. The vibrant atmosphere and eclectic decor. It is not just a place to grab a drink but also a space for socializing, whether you're looking to chat with friends or enjoy a casual night out.

It was the very eventful, diverse and interesting trip just during two days. To summarize, I would love to visit Brussels again and again. You definitely will not be bored here.