A Pinay in Europe

[mariadams]

What makes a drab structure exquisitely charming is the garden around it, be it in containers, on land growing upright or through the walls rambling down. Venice is already a stunning city but the flowers and vegetation surrounding it could melt everyone’s heart even further…

The gardens of Venice

[b|ued]

it has been quite awhile since the last entry:

Rome's Best in One Day (excluding Vatican)

[b|ued]

thanks for sharing this mariadams! it made me remember how fun it is to get lost in venice and savor the quaint neighborhoods that surprise you

What makes a drab structure exquisitely charming is the garden around it, be it in containers, on land growing upright or through the walls rambling down. Venice is already a stunning city but the flowers and vegetation surrounding it could melt everyone’s heart even further…

The gardens of Venice

[mariadams]

thanks for sharing this mariadams! it made me remember how fun it is to get lost in venice and savor the quaint neighborhoods that surprise you

you're welcome, blued!


Just arrived home today after a long drive from the south of France. The lovely golden yellow colours of the rapeseed fields dominate the countryside scenery and I'd like to share it with all of you...




Driving through the golden yellow fields

[mariadams]

The word “copenhagenize“was coined by Jan Gehl, the Danish architect who paved Copenhagen’s bike-centric system. It means the practice of adopting Copenhagen-style bike lanes and bicycle infrastructure in cities. He has already advised London, Melbourne, and Dubai on how to “copenhagenize”.
Biking Copenhagen

[magicmajenta]

Here's my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...7096&sk=photos

I've uploaded a lot of my travel pics from going around Europe since arriving here in September.

[crystal_raven20]

hi mariadams! wow! i've been following this thread for so long! it's been a while since i last dropped by though. i'm now living in London (from Manila before). it'd be amazing if i could meet you and neodyn!

[arduous_trek]

Here's my blog entry about my recent trip to Vienna:
http://livelifelimitlessly.wordpress...-of-classical/

mariadams thanks for your tips. I wasn't able to do the viennese waltz but I did experience 1 and 3 in your list!

[mariadams]

it has been quite awhile since the last entry:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...e/IMG_1746.jpg

Hi blued

That's Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II!
It reminds me of that Electric Bus no. 117 which I boarded in Rome by chance! It's through this bus that I saw a lot of amazing sites of the Eternal City including this piazza for only 1-euro!


Setting: Rome in August 2011


One early morning, around 6am, I left my sister and her family still sleeping at our rented holiday apartment in Rome, boarded the metro and just took a random stop at the Flaminio Station. It was not planned, I didn't know what to expect but this must be one of my most unforgettable experience of the city.

I was drawn into the Roman-era looking gate of Porta del Popolo and as soon as I got through, I was blown away by the majesty of the buildings and sculptures around me! I saw a church on my left, went in without realizing I was entering the famous Santa Maria del Popolo! And what a bonus! two paintings of Caravaggio in the altar, and even if there is a sign saying "No Photography", I couldn't resist!


(left)..Crucifixion of Saint Peter by Caravaggio, 1601

Outside the church are magnificent fountains and a statue of Neptune up above. I went up and saw a garden and a stately mansion. I didn't realize I was already on the heels of Villa Borghese, shame I missed it!

Down below, the piazza is huge and round.. or oblong. I continued my exploration and found myself admiring the absolutely straight grand avenue and the old buildings on both sides. I was standing at one end of the Via del Corso and how charming and oldy-worldy everything looks like. Then I saw this green bus 117. I boarded it and though small and cramp, I immensely enjoyed the sights. It's a long avenue of luxury shops, restaurants and banks, all housed in palatial looking buildings and in-betwen them are the marvelous Baroque churches.

I stopped at Vittorio Emanuele II to take photos of the monument. The wax museum is in one corner where displayed on the window is a wax model of Leonardo the Vinci painting Monalisa. The image of Pope Paul II is on another window. After feasting my eyes on the other grandiose sights, I walked and walked until I reached that viewpoint where I could see the ruins of the Forum. ...

Huh, I must stop here before I get carried away and might book another trip to Rome before I know it! For those who are going to Rome, you must try this bus, here is the link:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=389

[mariadams]

Here's my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...7096&sk=photos

I've uploaded a lot of my travel pics from going around Europe since arriving here in September.

Hello magic!

Nag-punta ka pala ng Ventimiglia, sana kung sinabi mo sa akin, I could have shown you how to take the train going to the Vallee des Merveilles, lots of charming hilltop villages there including Saorge (just next door to us), included in the top 40 most beautiful villages in France!

Dami mo na pala'ng napuntahan, siguro dami mo na'ng absent

Thanks, for sharing!

[mariadams]

hi mariadams! wow! i've been following this thread for so long! it's been a while since i last dropped by though. i'm now living in London (from Manila before). it'd be amazing if i could meet you and neodyn!

Hi crystal!

Thanks, for your message! Ako rin, dream ko ring ma-meet si mards, sana nga magkaroon ng chance na mag-meet tayo'ng tatlo. It would be like a triumvirate meeting of Pinays from the UK, France and Germany, hehehe!!.

Saan ka sa London? paminsan-minsan nagpupunta kami dyan para lang mag-shopping sa Charity Shops..arghhh! Suwerte mo at mae-experience mo ang London this coming Olympics, and of course, during the diamond jubilee of the Queen!!

We would appreciate seeing your photos of both these events if you have the chance to take snapshots ..maski na pityurs ng mga tao'ng um-attend ng parada...Thanks in advance!

[mariadams]

Here's my blog entry about my recent trip to Vienna:
http://livelifelimitlessly.wordpress...-of-classical/

mariadams thanks for your tips. I wasn't able to do the viennese waltz but I did experience 1 and 3 in your list!

Hello Ardy!

Thanks for sharing us your beautiful photos of Vienna, your shots make me want to return to this city and one of my missions would be to watch a concert at the Opera, too! I only had the chance to watch a concert at St Stephen's church when I was there but I enjoyed it, nevertheless!

You have a very well-written and well-presented blog, congratulations! Just a tip, the next time you stay at a hostel, bring a pair of earplugs with you! I never fail to bring mine and it works!

Cheers to your successful trip to Vienna!

[mariadams]

I have always associated Delft with blue porcelain plates, blue porcelain Dutch dolls and other glazed ceramic items of the colours blue and white.




You must have seen this painting before. It’s the most famous work of the most famous son of Delft - Johannes Vermeer (1632-75). The movie, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” has partly been taken in Delft and based on Tracey Chevalier’s novel with the same name. A completely fictitious story in which farmer’s daughter Griet, at the age of sixteen, took up the job of maid in Vermeer’s (played by Colin Firth) household and finally models for the painting, “The girl with the pearl” from 1655.




Fancy buying your one-year supply of Dutch cheese from Delft…


Excerpts from:
A quick tour of Delft

[mariadams]

Friends,

After this post, ANIM na post na lang at isasara na ang thread na ito. Sabi ng Admin (at butihing info galing kay mards) pag umabot daw ng 5,000 posts ang isang thread, isasara na raw ito at recommended na magbukas ng Part Two at sa Page One ng Part Two na ito ay ilagay ang mga links ng mga important points of the old thread. Halimbawa siguro, kapag tales and tips about Germany, i-classify ito under Germany, and so on and so forth...

Pero napakahirap para sa akin ang isa-isahin ko ang bawat page (na umabot na ng 250), dami ko rin'g pinagkakaabalahan sa buhay Kaya nga ni-create ko ang blog ko, www.mariadams.com, para ma-organize ang mga entries ko dito, at least, most of them, and not the answers to your travel questions.

Pinagi-isipan ko pa kung okay nga mag-open ng Part Two. Six years na rin ako dito at siguro naman it's about time to retire para makapag-concentrate ako sa pag-sulat ko ng libro..arghhh!!!

Thank you sa inyong lahat na sumubaybay sa inyong lingkod since 2006. I am only a PM away if you have any questions...

Take care,

[oney]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7195224410_f9d6b3b3f1.jpg
I have always associated Delft with blue porcelain plates, blue porcelain Dutch dolls and other glazed ceramic items of the colours blue and white.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7...6fab99f8d6.jpg

You must have seen this painting before. It’s the most famous work of the most famous son of Delft - Johannes Vermeer (1632-75). The movie, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” has partly been taken in Delft and based on Tracey Chevalier’s novel with the same name. A completely fictitious story in which farmer’s daughter Griet, at the age of sixteen, took up the job of maid in Vermeer’s (played by Colin Firth) household and finally models for the painting, “The girl with the pearl” from 1655.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7...18c3d575d7.jpg

Fancy buying your one-year supply of Dutch cheese from Delft…


Excerpts from:
A quick tour of Delft

Hi Mariadams, lapit mo na sakin!! dito lang sa Delft office ko hahaha...
The best cheese is from Gouda!! hahaha..

[pastabasta]

Hi all, will be going to Europe this coming June for 2 weeks, entry London and exit Paris. I have read your most recent posts but can't back read everything yet, but will do so in due time. May I know how we can get in touch with people in Pinas in the most affordable day? We'll be constantly on the road, so can't access wi-fi constantly. Is there a sim which we can use in most European countries? Many thanks in advance for any assistance.

[superparadise_X]

Friends,

After this post, ANIM na post na lang at isasara na ang thread na ito. Sabi ng Admin (at butihing info galing kay mards) pag umabot daw ng 5,000 posts ang isang thread, isasara na raw ito at recommended na magbukas ng Part Two at sa Page One ng Part Two na ito ay ilagay ang mga links ng mga important points of the old thread. Halimbawa siguro, kapag tales and tips about Germany, i-classify ito under Germany, and so on and so forth...

Pero napakahirap para sa akin ang isa-isahin ko ang bawat page (na umabot na ng 250), dami ko rin'g pinagkakaabalahan sa buhay Kaya nga ni-create ko ang blog ko, www.mariadams.com, para ma-organize ang mga entries ko dito, at least, most of them, and not the answers to your travel questions.

Pinagi-isipan ko pa kung okay nga mag-open ng Part Two. Six years na rin ako dito at siguro naman it's about time to retire para makapag-concentrate ako sa pag-sulat ko ng libro..arghhh!!!

Thank you sa inyong lahat na sumubaybay sa inyong lingkod since 2006. I am only a PM away if you have any questions...

Take care,

awww.....diba pwedeng extend na lang?
nalungkot naman ako.

[superparadise_X]

what I love doing in France--walk in the market

in the small town of Antibes.







anyone in the Formula One Grand Prix later in Monte Carlo?

[alexcar]

Hello everyone! My mom and I are planning to have a european trip this november. Where can we book flights from Manila to London? Ano pong airlines ang mairerecommend nyo?

& do you know if this sight is legit? What can you say about the itinerary? Thank you! http://www.expatexplore.com/ultimateeurope/index.html

[czha_z]

I think I am the last one to post before closing..my first time eto read this blog..grabe umabot ng 6 years..I will definitiely bookmark your blog..goodluck on your book..will see the updates in your blog..