Poland

Authentic Polish Restaurant

We went to a great authentic Polish restaurant in the old city center of Krakow. The restaurant was called “Gościnna Chata” which translates to “Guest Cottage”. The restaurant was located on a side street in the town center of Krakow.

Entrance to Gościnna Chata restaurant in Krakow

What attracted us to the restaurant was the unique decorations and the authentic Polish menu. We went into the restaurant entrance area and could see a quaint waiting area. There was a genuine fur draped over a bench for people to sit and wait for a table.

Entrance waiting area in the Restaurant

The main area of the restaurant was decorated with some unique items. There were wooden carvings of different faces throughout the restaurant.

We sat down at our table and looked around the room. There were so many unique things to see. There was hanging wooden baskets with candles in them and holes in the ceiling and straw on the rafters.

There were sculptures throughout the restaurant and the staff was also dressed in traditional Polish attire.

Ray with a carved wooden statue looking over his shoulder

We ordered some traditional polish food and enjoyed the great atmosphere of the restaurant. The waitress brought over a complimentary polish appetizer which consisted of bread, butter, and a lightly flavored lard.

Lard as part of the appetizer at the restaurant.

We tried the lard and it was quite tasty although we did not eat much of it. The waitress also lit a candle on the table which was a little concerning for Ray. He felt the candle was a bit too unprotected to be used in a restaurant.

Bev at the restaurant with a candle lit on the table.

We had some polish soup and assorted polish styled dishes which were very tasty and enjoyable. After our meal, we went downstairs to check out the decor.

Ray on the stairs on the lower level of the restaurant

 

There was a cozy area that was set up with some tables.

The restaurant had great decor and was a perfect spot for our traditional polish meal.

“Do widzenia i wielki dzień”

Spain

A day in Segovia, Spain

We went to the beautiful city of Segovia, located north of Madrid. The historic town of Segovia was established around 75 B.C. and is known for its Roman aqueduct.

Bev, Shelley, and Ray in Segovia near the Roman Aqueduct.

The aqueduct is a central focus of the city and was an amazing site to see. The architectural and ingenuity of the design was impressive.

Segovia Roman Aqueduct

The aqueduct was built during the first century AD and there is no mortar of any kind in the structure. It has endured the test of time delivering water until 1922 when the city blocked the flow of water through the aqueduct.

Segovia aqueduct constructed with no mortar in 1st-century A.D.
View of the two tiers of the aqueduct in Segovia

The line of arches is organized into two levels, the top pillars are both shorter and narrower than those on the lower level. On the upper level, of the aqueduct, the arches are 5.1 meters (16.1 ft) wide. The top of the structure contains a channel through which the water traveled. The overall length of the raised aqueduct section is 813 meters and is 28 meters high ( 92 feet).

One of the arches in the Segovia aqueduct.

After exploring the aqueduct, we explored the main area of Segovia and saw some of the historic sites.

Cathedral of Segovia
City hall in Segovia Spain.
View of the old quarter in central Segovia
Statue near church of San Martin in Segovia
Church of San Martin in Segovia

Segovia is also on the main route of the Camino de Santiago de Madrid. We walked along the streets of Segovia admiring the beautiful buildings. The city is rich with history and we could see it almost everywhere in the old quarter. It is truly a beautiful city.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Netherlands

Venice of the North

We went to Amsterdam for a few days and explored this amazing city.

Ray in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is also known as the “Venice of the North” because of all the canals. There are 165 canals covering over 100 kilometers in Amsterdam.

We decided to take a dinner cruise and enjoy the canals in the evening. We arrived at around 7 p.m. and lined up to get onboard our cruise boat.

Each table was reserved and we had a nice table near the rear of the boat.

We set off and shortly after the waiter served us with wine and cava. The cruise was a very calm and the slow ride down some of the less traveled canals made it enjoyable. We enjoyed the wine and relaxed as we passed by some of the amazing homes.

Beautiful homes along the canals in Amsterdam

We came across some interesting things on our cruise. There were restaurants and other businesses located on boats anchored on the canals. There was the largest Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam which happens to be a floating barge.

We also saw some unique buildings and boats located at the canals.

During the cruise, we were served an amazing meal. There was a kitchen on board and the chef made the meal while we toured the canals.

Shelley, Ray, and Bev on boat cruise

During the evening cruise, it became dark and we were able to see the canals at night. The canals take on a new appearance and feel after dark.

The buildings, canals, and bridges take on a new look at night. The bridges have lights on the arches and light shimmers across the water of the canals.

The cruise was very relaxing and enjoyable. We had a delicious meal and was able to see Amsterdam on the water. It is definitely a great way to see the city and the canals.

“tot ziens en een goede dag”

Spain

Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

The Alcázar of Segovia is a world heritage site in beautiful Segovia Spain. This castle is unique and is recognizable by its unique style. It is claimed that Walt Disney Castle was inspired by a variety of  Castles including the Segovia Castle.

Peaked style roof at Alcázar Castle in Segovia, Spain

Note the similar style of roofs between the Disney Castle and the Alicázar Castle.

Walt Disney Cinderella Castle

The Alcázar Castle was built high above the point of two rivers on cliffs between two rivers.  The Alcázar was originally built as a fortress but over the centuries it has also been used as a royal palace, a prison, and a military garrison.

Inside the castle, there were numerous rooms with assorted artifacts. We walked through the different rooms looking at the architecture and displays.

Ray and Bev “guarding the Door” in the Alicázar castle
medieval armory on display in the castle.
Displays in the Alicázar castle

All of the ceilings were ornately decorated and painted.

One of the ceilings in the Segovia castle.

In the center of the castle, there was a large courtyard with a central fountain.

Bev and Shelley in central courtyard of the Castle in Segovia

The castle had some unique features that definitely resembled the Disney castle.

We enjoyed walking through the rooms and exploring the 12-century castle.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

A walk in the park in Madrid

I decided to take an early morning walk from my hotel to one of the biggest parks in Madrid called “Parque del Buen Retiro”. I started out walking along some of the back streets of Madrid towards the park. It was a fairly quiet walk and I was able to enjoy the serenity of being fairy alone in this large city of 3 million people. What was enjoyable was seeing things at a slower pace and noticing the beauty of the city. I walked along a quiet street and noticed some inlaid writing on the road. Normally the street would be too busy to read it.

Writing on the road in Madrid

It translates as “The Beauty” “What it is we do not know what for now with certainty mathematics, maybe we never know; but that beauty is something, that exists, that pulsates in nature, and that, just as the wave that reaches the beach breaks into foam ..  speech of entrance in the real Spanish academy” -José Eche garay

I came across some unique bronze statues or city workers that appeared to be randomly placed in areas of the city.

A statue of a street sweeper in Bronze in Madrid
A bronze statue of a worker who would light the street lamps in Madrid

I arrived early at the Parque del Buen Retiro which literally means – park of the pleasant retreat. The gate that I entered into the park was stunning and was very welcoming.

One of the gates to the Parque del Buen Retiro in Madrid

The park itself has some very beautiful vistas and paths. I began to walk the paths with no set direction in mind. I was simply enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the park.

Each path would join other paths that could lead you in many directions. I walked along some of the secluded areas of the park admiring the beauty of the trees.

I eventually found my way to an area called the Crystal Palace. The palace was constructed of ornate glass and was visually stunning to see.

Crystal Palace in Madrid
A section of the crystal palace in Buen Retiro park in Madrid

The palace which was built-in 1887 to exhibit flora and fauna.

Section of the Crystal Place in Madrid

The palace was almost completely made with glass and was an impressive building. I walked around the building and came across a pond at the front of the Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace in the Buen Retiro Park in Madrid

I walked around for approximately three hours enjoying the sights and sounds of the park. There were people gathering in the park as the day progressed. I could see people jogging, kids playing, couples holding hands and people on tour bikes.

People enjoying the Buen Retiro Park in Madrid

There were some interesting groups in the park as well. One group was doing synchronized moves using Spanish hand fans called “Abanico”

Another group was playing music for money as people walked by.

Musicians playing music in the park for donations.

The Buen Retiro Park is a beautiful and a large nature area in the heart of Madrid.

Below are some of the pictures that I took of the Buen Retiro Park.

It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day. I recommend to anyone who goes to Madrid to take a relaxing day and walk through the park.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Life is too short to wait for adventure!