The Warm Sea in Autumn

It is the 4th day of my autumn vacation. At this period of a year I am always trying to get closer to the warm sea, to catch the last sunny days. The Spanish Mediterranean is usually a good choice in terms of comfort, quality and budget. And the sea is still comfortable for swimming here.

I am staying several days in Sitges, a charming town located in Catalonia, about 35 kilometers southwest of Barcelona. It has a very good connection with trains, which are going there every 30 minutes.

I am living in the apartment in the very centre of the town. Sometimes it is noisy outside, because of several restaurants on my street, but location is the best.

My usual routine during my staying is waking up at 8, doing some physical exercises, preparing breakfast and going to the beach, which is only in 10 minutes by walking.

Unfortunately, the sky looks gloomy today. So, no morning swimming for now. But it is ideal for strolling around the city and learning more about surroundings.

Here is some short information about Sitges. Actually, it has a rich history dating back over 2000 years. However, the significant growth began in the 19th century due to its connections with Spain's overseas territories, particularly Cuba. Nowadays, the population of the city is about 33 thousand. And every year about 60 thousand visitors are attracted by friendly atmosphere, modernist architecture, museums, but also by international film festival and carnival.

Sitges is blessed with 17 beaches, and each of them is with its own rhythm. Some are gentle and family-friendly, and others are quiet coves where you can relax and feel the sea salt in the air. Today, indeed, the weather is perfect to enjoy the sea breath and meditate. But I hope that tomorrow it will be much better, because honestly the weather here is very changeable, so maybe even at evening I can go swimming again.

Eventually, I have reached the nearby port, with numerous boats and yachts. I really loved this picturesque place. And I think there should be also good seafood restaurants here. Maybe another day I will try one of them.

I should admit, that Sitges is a photographer paradise with the top spots to capture stunning images. And today the air after rain is especially magical for taking bright and colourful photos.

At the end of the day I have made only 23733 steps. Another 5 days of my vacation are ahead, and I want to stay fit during these days as well.

Jubilee Year

A Jubilee Year is a special year declared by the Pope, which usually happens every 25 years. It is a time, when Catholics are encouraged to reflect, go to confession, receive communion and pray for the Pope. Doing these things with the right intentions allows the believers to receive an unconditional indulgence - basically a spiritual reset. And as a part of this tradition is walking through the so-called "Holy Doors".

Well, I am not a Catholic, but receiving at least a piece of indulgence by walking through the "Holy Doors" could be a good opportunity for me, because it is 2025 and I am in Rome.

There are four Holy Doors in Rome, which are opening only in Jubilee Years. And one of them is in St. Peters Basilica.

I am staying in the very center of Rome, so the way to Vatican on foot would take only 30 minutes.

Surprisingly, there is no long queue at this time on the square. So, I was quite fast near the church.

The camera is on, and I am ready to record the moment, when all my sins are forgiven immediately (or some of them).

So, I successfully passed through the Holy Door, left behind sin and entered a renewed life of grace.

It is Sunday, and there is a special mess at this time, where cardinals take part, but there is no Pope here.

The Pope is going to pray at 12 pm, from a window in the Apostolic Palace (second window from the right on the top floor). Typically it lasts around 15–20 minutes and includes the pope’s message, the Marian prayer, the blessing and sometimes a short greeting to pilgrims. Of course, I could not miss this chance to hear the voice of the Pope Leo XIV.

After Vatican I am going back to the Rome city centre. With visiting all remarkable places there. Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Monument to Victor Emmanuel II and Pantheon.

Finally, back home. It is the right time to relax a bit after such a long walking and drink some coffee!

The most iconic method of brewing coffee in Italian homes is undoubtedly with using a Moka pot. Of course, I have it in my rented apartment.

And here is a short instruction how to make perfect coffee:

1. Add water. Fill the bottom chamber of the Moka pot with cold water up to the safety valve.
2. Add coffee. Fill the filter basket with ground coffee; level it off but don’t press it down.
3. Assemble the Moka pot. Screw the top and bottom parts together tightly.
4. Heat it up. Place the Moka pot on medium heat; leave the lid open at first so you can watch the coffee rise.
5. Wait for the magic.The water in the bottom will heat up, creating pressure that pushes the water through the coffee grounds and into the top chamber.
6. Listen carefully. When you hear a gurgling sound, the coffee is almost done; remove it from heat right away to avoid burning it.
7. Cool the Moka. Cool a bit the bottom of the Moka with the cold water from the faucet.
8. Stir and serve. Stir the coffee in the top chamber with a spoon for even flavor; then pour into small cups.

Still, there is some time for evening strolling around Rome. It is only 30 degrees outside, so it must be a good evening.

I hope, I would not need to wait for another 25 years to visit Rome again.

Berliner Weekend. Day2

I woke up quite late. In my hotel there is no proper breakfast, but at 12:30 I had the reservation at Hallesches Haus for the brunch. Very nice place with good food, the garden and friendly personnel.

For today the main event would be visiting The Berlinische Galerie, which is located in the Kreuzberg district. The museum is in a cool, modern building, and it does not look overcrowded.

The museum shows art, photography and architecture by Berlin artists from the 1800s to today, featuring works from such artists as Otto Dix and Hannah Höch.

I should admit, it is a very calm space to enjoy thought-provoking art and learn how Berlin’s history has shaped its creativity.

The rest of the day I have spent strolling around the Museum Island. I love this area so much! Surrounded by grand neoclassical buildings like the Altes Museum, Pergamon Museum and Berlin Cathedral, the whole area feels like an open-air gallery.

It was a good time in Berlin, and I would love to come here for another weekend very soon. I would say, you never really "finish" seeing Berlin. Museums, galleries, monuments, hidden bars, flea markets, rooftop views or just streets, which can be elegant or full of chaos here. So many things to see, to experience and to admire.

Full of nice experiences and with Pretzel in hands I am on the way back to cozy and romantic Prague.