Travel to relax, eat and shop ......

Marne-la-Vallée

2010-07-29T12:47:00.013+08:00

Day One

My colleagues and I took morning TGV train at 0601 hours from Neuchâtel. The cost of the return train tickets cost EUR 86.40, cheaper this time as we bought our tickets 2 months ahead. We had to change to another train at Lausanne about an hour and half later, which then took us straight to Gare de Lyon at 1103 hours.

Bought our one-day ticket for Zone 1 to 5 at the train station for EUR 13.65, after which took RER to Val d’Europe station. Reached the station at about 1158 hours and we then checked in Hôtel l'Elysée Val d'Europe.

Marne-la-Vallée is a new town near Paris that consists of Val d'Europe and Chessy - Disneyland.

Centre Commercial International Val d’Europe

Centre Commercial Val d’Europe (left photo below) is a large shopping complex that is just opposite our hotel. It consists of 130 shops (right photo below) and even an aquarium with about 300 marine species. The complex is open from 0830 to 2200 hours daily.

Decided to have our lunch at this Le Dragon d’Europe Chinese restaurant (left photo below). Dining atmosphere was good at this restaurant especially if want to people watch shoppers in the mall (right photo).

Ordered a Dim Sum set meal at EUR 12.17 per person. The first dish was fried shrimp dumplings (left photo below), followed by dim sum (right photo below). After staying in Europe for more than 4 months, this is the best authentic Chinese food I’ve tasted. The main course was fried rice (bottom left photo), and ended with a cup of rich coffee (bottom right photo).

Vallée Village Outlet Shopping

After a satisfactory lunch, we then shopped at La Vallée Village Outlet Shopping (left photo below). The outlet village is just opposite the Centre Commercial International Val d’Europe. Over 90 prestigious boutiques are located in this shopping village (right photo below).

Non-EU visitors can even claim a refund of VAT on all purchases under the tax-free shopping scheme. The price was rather attractive and my colleagues even bought three large bags of items back, including Longchamp, Timberland, Agnes B, Puma and Nike, just to name few.

Opening hours is 1000 to 1900 hours daily, but closes only on Christmas, New Year’s Day and Labor Day.

Disneyland Paris

After some fulfilling shopping, we walked back to our hotel to put our bags before going to Disneyland. Took bus number 50 (left photo below) outside our hotel where the journey was only about 10 to 15-mins. The bus reached the bus terminal (right photo below) at the park where most buses will drop visitors and pick them up during their departure.

Disney Village – stands in front of the main entrance of Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios (left photo below). This is a shopping, dining and entertainment transitional area to allow visitors to spend time with family and friends. Needless to say Disney Store (right photo below) is one of the shops in this village.

Due to the limited time we had, we only choose to visit Disneyland Park instead of Walt Disney Studios. Opened in 1992, Disneyland Paris, or Parc Disneyland in French, is the second Disneyland Park outside United States after Tokyo Disneyland. Occupying 566,560 m², it is the largest Disneyland Park based on the original design in Anaheim, California.

All visitors first have to pass through security screening (left photo below), which is nothing but just a visual check of bags carried in by visitors. After the security check, the most prestigious and priced Disneyland Hotel can be seen (right photo below).

Disneyland Hotel – this hotel (left photo below) is built over the entrance of the park with the claim to have a good view of the whole park. Built in the style of luxurious Victorian in a palette of cream walls and pink roof; there is even a Mickey Mouse Clock Tower in which the clock surface remains me of my childhood Mickey watch. Its ground floor contains 42 ticket booths and turnstiles (right photo below).

One personal advice is to buy the admission tickets online as the queue can be long during peak periods. And there is no price difference between online and those bought from the ticket booths, so why waste time queuing instead of spending more time inside the park?

Second advice is to bring drinking water into the park because they can be pricey; for example a bottle of coke can cost EUR 2.50. However water coolers are located throughout the park for visitors to drink or refill their bottles.

Main Street Station of Disneyland Railway – it is the first attraction that all visitors will notice (left photo below). For a start, we decided to take a ride on this train (right photo below) to see the perimeter of the park. Disappointedly view from the train wasn’t that fantastic as it was blocked by trees and shrubs most of the time.

Main Street USA – an area of shopping arcade and information centre (left photo below). This is where USA flag can be seen flying in the land of France. Basically the buildings are built according to style of US (right photo below) and named after many famous places there.

Sleeping Beauty Castle – dominating structure in the park (left photo below). The design is probably the best I’ve seen, comparing with those in Tokyo and Hong Kong Disneyland, which brings out the Disney fascination. Attentions are paid to the exterior building details, such as the exquisite tower (right photo below), glided roofs (bottom left photo) and even Tinker Bell at its top (bottom right photo).

Snow White ride – located at Fantasyland section of the park, this is considered to be 'kiddy' ride for young children. Nevertheless, there was still long queue of young children with their parents (left photo below). As there are turns during the ride, all visitors are secured to their seats by the handle bar (right photo below). At the waiting area, the columns (bottom left photo) are decorated with squirrels to depict the forest that Snow White lived in, and of course the wall painting illustrated all the characters in the Snow White story (bottom right photo).

It’s a Small World ride – a cute ride for all ages (left photo below). All visitors will have to take a boat ride (right photo below) to enter the colorful world of dancing dolls. The catchy tune: "It’s a Small Small World" played in different languages will remain on visitors' mind even after the ride.

Here's the video taken during my ride:

Phantom Manor – also known as Haunted House (photos below). This ride is recommended to first timer to Disneyland. The animatronics and special effects will make visitors believe that ghosts exist! However the whole narration is in French, so the plot may be hard to understand.

Welcome Princess Tiana to Disney’s Once Upon a Dream Parade – the most popular Day Parade that can see most Disney Cartoon characters. Crowds already packed the walkways at both sides of the road before the show (photos below) and waiting for their favorite character to appear. This parade began rather late at 1915 hours during my visit in summer.

Here are name of some characters that appeared: Pluto, Chip 'n' Dale, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh (photos below).

The parade is enhanced with the fascinating floats accompanied with the characters, such as Alice in Wonderland (left photo below) where the evil queen is seen dancing with her poker cards (right photo below).

The next float is the Toy Story (left photo below) where characters like Buzz Lightyear (right photo below), Sheriff Woody (bottom left photo) and Jessie (bottom right photo) appear and waving to the crowds.

And not to forget Peter Pan float (left photo below) where Peter Pan was played by a cast member (right photo below).

Speaking of cast members, I do observe that the Princes and Princesses in Paris Disneyland have more resemblances to the actual character than those played in Asian Disneylands; perhaps it’s the Caucasian look. Judge them for yourself from the photos below:

Disney’s Fantillusion – on the contrary to the Day Parade, the Night Parade focuses on lighting effects (photos below). The parade began at 2225 hours during the Summer period.

Soon after the Fantillusion show, The Enchanted Fireworks began above the castle. The whole fireworks display lasted almost 10-mins with some colorful fireworks using the Sleeping Beauty Castle as its background (photos below).

Admission cost to the Disneyland Park was EUR 53 per adult, and its opening hours from 1000 hours till 1900 hours, with exception of cafés and restaurants and parades till late. Refer to the actual day schedule distributed at the entrances for more accurate timings.

We waited till the show ended before taking the last bus no. 50 back to the hotel to have a good rest. The wait can be rather long as all visitors came out of the park almost at the same time. Overall the experience of visiting Disneyland was fun as it brings out my childhood memories.

Central Paris (part 2)

2010-06-27T18:27:00.059+08:00

Day Three

Being Singaporeans, my colleagues and I bought our admission tickets two days ahead of our actual visit. On the day, we woke up early and reached the Louvre Museum at about 8.50 am, which was 10-mins before its opening hours.

Musée du Louvre

The Louvre Museum, or Musée du Louvre in French, is known to be one of three great museums in Europe (and probably the whole world). The other two great museums are British Museum in London and Vatican Museum in Rome. The Louvre Museum (left photo below) now houses more than 35,000 objects.

First constructed as a fortress in 1190 by King Philippe-Auguste to protect Paris against Vikings raids, it lost its imposing keep in the reign of François I, who replaced it with a Renaissance-style building (right photo below). Thereafter four centuries of French Kings and Emperors improved and enlarged it.

The most recent addition is a glass pyramid (photos below) in the main courtyard from which all galleries can be reached. This popular new main entrance was designed by American Chinese architect I M Pei. The pyramid and its underground lobby were inaugurated on 15 October 1988. To me, the glass pyramid added some contemporary elements to the museum.

Among the many exhibits, three objects are most well-liked by visitors; namely Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and Venus de Milo.

Mona Lisa – Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in circa 1503–1519, this is a small portrait of Florentine noblewoman known as La Gioconda. The portrait’s engaging smile has prompted endless commentary ever since (left photo below). The image is widely recognized and sought out by visitors to the Louvre. It is considered the most famous painting in the world.

Immediately after the museum has opened we rushed up to the Salle des Etats (Denon Wing) to see this famous painting. Within 10-mins after we’ve arrived, the area was swarmed with many visitors (right photo below).

Winged Victory of Samothrace – also known as the Nike of Samothrace, it is a marble sculpture of the Greek Goddess Nike (Victory). Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world (left photo below). Despite its significant damage and incompleteness, the Victory is held to be one of the great surviving masterpieces of sculpture from the Hellenistic period (late 3rd to 2nd century BC). The sculpture is located at the daru staircase where it is often crowded with visitors (right photo below).

Venus de Milo – also known as Aphrodite of Milos, it is an ancient Greek statue depicting Aphrodite (Venus to the Romans) the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Found in 1820 on the island of Milos in Greece, this statue is the ideal feminine beauty which was made in the Hellenistic period (left photo below). From the congested exhibition area, there is no reason to doubt how popular this statue is (right photo below).

After visiting the 'Mona Lisa' gallery, we walked up to the French paintings gallery (left photo below). There are portraits of various painters from mid 13th to 19th century (right photo below) painted on the ceiling. So do look up to the top when visiting this gallery.

The red wall gallery exhibits many large-format French paintings (left photo below). Among these large paintings, the more renowned is The Raft of the Medusa (right photo below) painted by Théodore Géricault in 1819. Measuring 4.91-meters by 7.16 meters, the painting depicts a moment from the aftermath of the wreck of the French naval frigate Méduse where 15 passengers were set adrift on a hurriedly constructed raft. The Raft of the Medusa portrays the moment when, after 13 days adrift on the raft, the remaining 15 survivors view a ship approaching from a distance.

The Galerie d'Apollon is situated above the Petite Galerie. The original room was destroyed by a fire in 1661 but was rebuilt later. The ceiling is homage to the Sun King, Louis XIV. The gallery was recently restored to its former glory (photos below).

Napoleon III reopened the Louvre in 18th century and boasted a number of sumptuous reception halls. Those of the Palais des Tuileries have unfortunately been lost. However, the rooms in the Ministry of State, opened in 1861 in the Aile Richelieu, have retained their decor of gold, stuccos, marble, bronze, silk and velvet. They also feature ornate painted ceilings (photos below).

One interesting exhibition I saw was the King's bedroom where furniture from the bedroom of Louis XVIII were displayed. One question that most visitors had was why the bed seems to be shorter compared to modern ones? Perhaps it’s the height of the King that explained all (photos below).

Several treasures from the former court were also on display, including the ivory products (photos below).

Running parallel to the small rooms, the entrance gallery leads to the large hall, the small dining room, and the large dining hall. The large drawing room of the Napoleon III Apartments typifies the taste of the period for opulent interiors (photos below).

As we were tired from walking the huge areas in the museum, we decided to have our break inside Café Richelieu (left photo below). The Café Richelieu can seat 60 guests for dinner and accommodate up to 150 guests for breakfast or cocktails (right photo below).

The prestigious setting in the café is further enhanced by a splendid view of the Louvre Pyramid and a terrace overlooking the Court Napoléon (photos below).

We ordered some cakes to share and I got myself a cup of earl grey tea (photos below). The taste was good and total cost for each person was EUR 8; definitely worth the price for the food and the view.

The Department of Egyptian Antiquities comprising over 50,000 pieces, including artifacts from the Nile civilizations which date from 4,000 BC to the 4th century. Guarded by the Large Sphinx (ca. 2000 BC), the collection is housed in more than 20 rooms. Holdings include art, papyrus scrolls, mummies, tools, clothing, jewelry, games, musical instruments, and weapons (photos below).

One important example of ancient Egyptian art is the sculpture of Seated Scribe (left photo below). The sculpture was discovered at Saqqara in 1850 and dated to the period of the 4th Dynasty, 2620 –2500 BC.

There are also many Egyptian sarcophagus exhibited (right photo below and bottom photos). These relics are comparable to those in British Museum in terms of numbers and varieties.

Another interesting collection is the Department of Near Eastern Antiquities (left photo below). The colored glazed terracotta bricks with an image of a lion (right photo below) is one of the highlights exhibited in this department.

The hall of Italian Sculptures contains many famous sculptures made by Italian artists (left photo below). Among them, the most renowned is the dying slave (right photo below) created by Michelangelo between 1513 to 1516 that was meant to serve the tomb of Pope Julius II in Rome.

There are several rules within Louvre museum such as forbidden to use flash lights during photography (left photo below) and prohibit to speak loudly (right photo below). All these signs have been creatively incorporated into the image of some familiar paintings.

The admission cost was EUR 9.50. The nearest metro station is Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre station. Opening hours from 0900 hours to 1800 hours daily. Admission is free on first sunday of the month.

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (left photo below) is a triumphal arch located in the Place du Carrousel on the site of the former Tuileries Palace, now Louvre Museum. It was built between 1806 and 1808 to commemorate Napoleon's military victories of the previous year. The quadriga on top of the arch (right photo below) is a copy of the so-called Horses of Saint Mark that adorn the top of the main door of the St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

Restaurants du Monde

We decided to have our lunch inside this restaurant du Monde (left photo below). In fact it is a food court which is located underneath the Louvre inside a mall. This food court has Mediterranean, Asian, Italian, Spanish and French cuisine to choose from. There's even separate McDonalds Restaurant and McCafe with drinks and pastries.

Ordered a set meal of salmon with fries and drinks (right photo below) for myself that cost EUR 13.90. Taste was acceptable and the food was plenty that I couldn’t even finish the chocolate pie.

Notre-Dame de Paris

No other building is more associated with the history of Paris than Notre-Dame de Paris (photos below). It stands majestically on the ile de la cité, cradle of the city. Pope Alexander III laid the first stone in 1163, marking the start of 170 years of toil by armies of Gothic architects and medieval craftsmen. Ever since, famous processions had passed through the three main doors below the massive towers.

The cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece standing on the site of a Roman temple. At the time it was finished, in about 1330, it was 130-meters long and featured flying buttresses, a large transpet, a deep choir and 69-meters high towers. Perhaps it is the legendary novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo that makes this cathedral even more famous.

The West Rose window depicts the Virgin in a medallion of rich red and blues (left photo below). The King’s Gallery below the window features 28 Kings of Judah gazing down on the crowds (right photo below).

The cathedral’s legendary gargoyles or chimères, hide behind on a large upper gallery between the towers (left photo below). The portal of Virgin, surrounded by saints and kings, is a fine composition of 13th century statues (right photo below). The saints formed the decoration of the main doors (bottom photos).

From the main entrance, the view takes in the high-vaulted central nave looking down towards the huge transept, the choir and the high altar (photos below).

The chancel screen is a 14th century high stone screen enclosed the chancel and provided canons at prayer with peace and solitude from noisy congregations (left photo below). A model of the building was exhibited (right photo below) together with the history of the cathedral.

The South Rose Window (left photo below) is located at the south end of the transept. This window retains some of its original 13th century stained glass. The window depicts Christ in the centre, surrounded by virgins, saints and the 12 Apostles. Other stained glass windows within the cathedral are also equally impressive (right photo below).

The nearest metro station is Cité or Saint-Michel station of Line 4, and opening hours from 0800 hours to 1845 hours (or till 1915 hours on Saturdays and Sundays).

After our visit, my colleague and I then took the train from Gare de Lyon at 1758 hours to Neuchâtel. Along the train journey in France, fascinating scenes were seen; such as the thick fog among the dense forest (left photo below) and the magnificent castle situated high on the hills (right photo below).

After a long train ride, we reached Neuchâtel at 2147 hours. With this, it ended my first part of visit to Paris.

Central Paris (part 1)

2010-06-26T16:50:00.000+08:00

Day One

My colleague and I headed towards the train station after work, and took the TGV train at 1802 hours from Neuchâtel. The cost of the return train tickets cost EUR 111. During the journey, we had to change to another train at Frasne. There was anything for us to do while waiting at Frasne station, except we could only take our snack bought at Neuchâtel station. After waiting for 1 hours and 19-mins, we at last boarded the train at 2014 hours and reached Gare de Lyon at 2315 hours.

After searching the Ibis hotel for 10-mins, we finally checked in the hotel and had a good rest.

Day Two

Woke up early at about 7.30 am and walked towards Gare de Lyon. Saw this snack kiosk Bonne Journée (left photo below), therefore decided to get our breakfast there. Got myself a cup of cappuccino and a pastry for EUR 3 (right photo below).

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (left photo below), also known as Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, is a Roman Catholic Church located at Montmartre district of Paris. Construction began in 1875 and was finished in 1914. It was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919. The ovoid dome (right photo below) is the second highest point in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower.

View of Paris skyline (left photo below) is great from the Basilica. At other part of the hill, the Eiffel Tower can be seen (right photo below).

The Great Mosaic of Christ, entitled Christ in Majesty, is one of the features inside the basilica (left photo below). Outside the basilica stood the Statue of Christ (right photo below). It is the basilica’s most important statue that is symbolically placed above the two bronze saints. The Equestrian Statues consists of Saint Louis (bottom left photo) and Joan of Arc (bottom right photo).

The façade of the basilica is decorated with many interesting gargoyles (photos below). Just need to be observant to spot them.

The nearest Metro is Abbesses station, then take the funiculaire or walk up the steps to the basilica. The opening hour of the basilica is 0600 hours to 2230 hours daily.

Place du Tertre

Place du Tertre is a square which is only a few streets away from Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. It is full of portraitists (photos below) who began exhibiting their paintings since 19th century.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe (photos below), or Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in French, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. Literally translated as Triumphal Arch, this monument honors those who fought and died for France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Names of all French victories and generals were inscribed on the monument’s inner and outer surfaces.

The arch stands at an impressive height of 50-meters, 45-meters by length and 22-meters deep.

Construction began in 1806 under the orders of Napoleon after his greatest victory, the Battle of Austerlitz. The arch only completed in 1836. Its design was inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus.

Many details have been incorporated into the design and construction of the arch; such as the detailed flowery pattern on the vault ceiling (left photo below). Six reliefs were sculpted on the façades of the Arch where each representing important moments of the French Revolution and of the Napoleonic era, such as the La prise d'Alexandrie, The Fall of Alexandria, on 3 July 1798 (right photo below).

The four sculptural groups at the base of the monument are La Paix de 1815 (left photo below), La Résistance de 1814 (right photo below), Le Triomphe de 1810 (bottom left photo) and the most renowned of them all, Departure of the Volunteers of 1792 (bottom right photo) commonly called La Marseillaise.

The large vault measures 29.19-meters high and 14.62-meters wide (left photo below). Beneath the vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I (right photo below).

The Arc de Triomphe is accessible by the RER and Metro, with exit at the Charles de Gaulle-Étoile station. Due to the heavy traffic around the monument, it is recommended that visitors take one of two underpasses located at the Champs Élysées and the Avenue de la Grande Armée to reach there.

Champs-Élysées

One of the world’s famous shopping streets, Avenue des Champs-Élysées has a length of 1.91-km from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.

Probably the most famous luxury brand is Louis Vuitton, where its flagship store (photos below) is located near Arc de Triomphe along Champs-Élysées. Seems like its a dream of every LV fans to visit this flagship store. One observation was there seems to be many Chinese salesperson hired at this store just to serve the Chinese customers. Perhaps the buying power of PRC has increased so much that even the famous French brand has to adjust to this trend.

Other luxury brands include the French brand – Cartier (left photo below) and the Italian brand – Gucci (right photo below).

We spent about an hour in Louis Vuitton. After which we walked along Champs-Élysées, and had lunch inside one of the fast food restaurants which cost EUR 6.40. Due to the limited time, we only visited Gucci store.

At least 4 metro stations are located along Champs-Élysées, including Charles de Gaulle-Étoile station, George V station, Franklin D. Roosevelt station and Champs-Élysées Clemenceau station.

Grand Palais

The Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, commonly known as the Grand Palais, is a large historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex located at the Champs-Élysées. The exterior of this massive palace combines an imposing classical stone façade with a riot of Art Nouveau ironwork.

The palace has colossal bronze statue of flying horses and chariots at its four corners (left photo below). The metal structure supporting the glass weighs 8,500-tonnes (right photo below), some 500-tones more than Eiffel Tower.

The nearest metro station is Champs-Élysées Clemenceau station.

Petit Palais

Directly opposite of Grand Palais, the Petit Palais (left photo below) was built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900 to stage a major display of French art, this jewel of a building now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris. The Palace has iconic columns, a grand porch (right photo below) and a dome, which echoes that of the Invalides.

The nearest metro station is Champs-Élysées Clemenceau station.

Les Invalides and Dôme Church

Beyond Pont Alexandre III bridge is Les Invalides and Dôme Church (left photo below). Also known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides, or literally The National Residence of the Invalids, Les Invalides is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This building complex (right photo below) contains museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans which was the building's original purpose. The cupola of the Dôme church was gilded.

The most notable tomb at Les Invalides is that of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821). Napoléon's ashes were first buried in the Chapelle Saint-Jérôme in the Invalides until his final resting place, a tomb in the Dôme Church, which was finished in 1861.

Due to our tight schedule, we didn’t visit Les Invalides. The nearest Metro is Varenne station or La Tour-Maubourg sation.

Pont Alexandre III

This is the prettiest and most extravagant bridge in Paris (left photo below) with its exuberant Art Nouveau decoration of lamps, cherubs, nymphs of the Seine (right photo below) and winged horses at either end.

It was built between 1896 and 1900, in time for the Universal Exhibition and it was named after Tsar Alexander III (father of Nicholas II) who laid the foundation stone in Oct 1896.

Four gilt-bronze statues of Fames watch over the bridge, supported on massive 17-meter socles (left photo below), which provide stabilizing counterweight for the arch, without interfering with monumental views. The socles are crowned by Fames restraining Pegasus (right photo below).

The nearest metro station is Champs-Élysées Clemenceau station.

Palais Bourbon

The Palais Bourbon (left photo below) is a palace located on the left bank of the Seine, across from the Place de la Concorde. It is now the seat of the French National Assembly, the lower legislative chamber of the French government. The grand Roman portico (right photo below) was added to the Palais Bourbon in 1806 – 1808.

Place de la Concorde

This is one of Europe’s most magnificent and historic squares, covering more than 8-hectares in the middle of Paris. It was built in the mid-18th century where an open octagon with only the north side containing mansions. It underwent a series of name changes in the nineteenth century, but the city eventually settled on the name Place de la Concorde.

Even the lamppost is decorated ornately (left photo below). The fountains are monumental to commemorate maritime, navigation, commerce and industry of France (right photo below). There are eight angles located at the octagonal Place, where each statue represents a French city, for example the statue of Lyon (bottom left photo). The highlight of the square is a giant Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaoh Ramses II. It is one of two obelisks the Egyptian government gave to the French in the nineteenth century (bottom right photo).

The nearest metro station is Concorde station.

Laduree

While walking towards Boulevard Haussmann, we saw this Laduree store (left photo below). It is known as the inventor of the double-decker macaron where almost 15,000 are sold every day. Laduree is considered to be the best makers of macarons in the world. To me it is rather a luxury snack where 125-grams can cost EUR 8.50 (right photo below).

Galeries Lafayette

We finally reached our last shopping destination - Galeries Lafayette.

After some searching inside the shopping mall, we decided to have our dinner at the Restaurant Sichuan (left photo below). Ordered a plate of fried Kway Teow for myself (right photo below) and we shared other snacks and drinks. Ended up paying EUR 18 per person. Taste was good, especially to be able to have authentic Chinese food in Europe.

Galeries Lafayette is a flagship 10-storey up-class department store located at 40 Boulevard Haussmann. The glass and steel dome, together with Art Nouveau staircases were built in 1912 (photos below). Personally feel that this is the most ornate and lavish shopping mall I’ve seen. Interestingly the Chinese name of Galeries Lafayette has been translated as '老佛爷百货' (bottom right photo).

The nearest metro station is Chaussée d'Antin - La Fayette station, Havre-Caumartin station, Opéra station, Madeleine station, Saint-Lazare station, and RER – Auber station.

Hard Rock Café Paris

Before going to our final sight, we went to Hard Rock Café – Paris (left photo below) to get some souvenirs. The Hard Rock Cafe Paris is centrally located next to the Opera and the Grands Boulevards, not far from famous places such as Musée Grévin, les Etoiles du Rex or the Theather of Varietes. For me I only bought a shot-glass (right photo below).

The nearest metro station is Grands Boulevards station or Richelieu-Druot station, with about 10-mins walk from either station.

Eiffel Tower

Our last destination of the day: Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower stands 324-metres tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building (photos below).

One advice is to pre-book the tickets from the official website as it will shorten the time and hassle needed to buy on the spot. However do note that visitors are not allowed to enter if the designated time selected by visitors themselves has passed.

As it was evening, golden rays from the setting sun coated the tower with orange-brown color. We were lucky that we were allowed to go to this express queue even though we were late for 5-mins. After which, all visitors are required to pass through a security check (left photo below). We then got onto an elevator (right photo below) where it will bring us to first level, second level and finally to the top or third level.

View of Paris skyline changes as we go higher up to the top.

There is a small kiosk that sells champagne to visitors at the third level, which definitely at a much higher price (left photo below). Directions and distance of various cities around the world can be found in the viewing platform. It seems like Singapore is rather far from Paris, almost 10,745-km away (right photo below).

From the third level, Paris skyline can be seen, such as buildings at Chaillot Hill (left photo below) and Pont de Grenelle where a smaller copy of Statue of Liberty is situated (right photo below).

We stayed quite long, more than half an hour, at the third level waiting for the sun to set (photos below).

And the bonus we got was to see the whole Paris got lighted up (photos below). Famous buildings we saw included the illuminated Dôme Church (bottom left photo) and Arc de Triomphe (bottom right photo).

Of course, the Eiffel Tower itself was illuminated with many light bulbs and the effect was stunning (photos below).

The cost to reach the third or highest level of the tower was EUR 13.10 via online booking, and its opening hour is 0900 hours to 1245 hours (17 jun to 28 Aug) or 0930 hours to 1145 hours (rest of the year). The nearest RER station is Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel station.

After which we took the RER then Metro back to the hotel, and had a good rest.

Paris (Jun / Jul '10) - Overview

2010-06-25T18:50:00.045+08:00

Went to Paris with my colleagues over 2 separate weekends; from 25 Jun (Fri) to 27 Jun (Sun) and from 31 Jul (Sat) to 01 Aug (Sun). Paris (巴黎) is the capital and largest city in France (法国). Many worlds' most visited tourist sights are located in Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower (埃菲尔铁塔), Arc de Triomphe (凯旋门), Champs-Élysées (香榭丽舍大道), Notre-Dame Cathedral (巴黎圣母院), Louvre (卢浮宫), Disneyland (巴黎迪士尼乐园) and Palace of Versailles (凡尔赛宫).

Traveling to Paris is easy from Switzerland; there is a direct high-speed train from Neuchâtel to Paris train station in about 4-hours. The time taken is similar traveling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Leisure trip at a glance

Country: French Republic

Period: 25 Jun to 27 Jun 2010

25 Jun: Neuchâtel to Frasne, ETD 1802 ETA 1855

25 Jun: Frasne to Paris Gare de Lyon, ETD 2014 ETA 2315

27 Jun: Paris Gare de Lyon to Frasne, ETD 1758 ETA 2046

27 Jun: Frasne to Neuchâtel, ETD 2052 ETA 2147

Return tickets at EUR 111

Hotel Ibis – Paris Gare de Lyon Diderot (25 to 27 Jun)

Period: 31 Jul to 01 Aug 2010

31 Jul: Neuchâtel to Lausanne, ETD 0601 ETA 0715

31 Jul: Lausanne to Paris Gare de Lyon, ETD 0722 ETA 1103

01 Aug: Paris Gare de Lyon to Neuchâtel, ETD 1658 ETA 2107

Return tickets at EUR 86.40

Hôtel l'Elysée Val d'Europe (31 Jul to 01 Aug)

Currency exchange rate: EUR 1 = SGD 1.72 (Jun / Jul '10 period)

There is no time difference between Switzerland and France, both countries uses Central Europe time. Total damage was about SGD $450 per trip including train tickets, transport, food and hotel, excluding personal expenses.

Here's the overview of the trip itinerary:

25 to 27 Jun 2011

Day 1 – Evening train from Neuchâtel (Switzerland) to Paris Gare de Lyon (France). Arrive at about 11 pm. Checked in the Ibis hotel and had a good rest.

Day 2 – Took metro to Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Next we visited Place du Tertre and Arc de Triomphe, and walked along Champs-Élysées. Passed by Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Pont Alexandre III, Les Invalides, Palais Bourbon and Place de la Concorde. Shopped at Laduree and Galeries Lafayette, and had dinner there in one of the restaurants. Went to Hard Rock Café to get some souvenirs. Last destination: Eiffel Tower, where we watch the whole of Paris got lighted up during the night from the highest viewing platform.

Day 3 – Woke up early and check-out from the hotel. We were the first few visitors to Louvre Museum. Had lunch near Louvre and after which visited Notre-Dame Cathedral. Took train from Gare de Lyon back to Neuchâtel.

31 Jul to 01 Aug 2011

Day 1 – Took morning train from Neuchâtel to Gare de Lyon. Checked in Hôtel l'Elysée Val d'Europe. Had lunch at Centre Commercial International Val d'Europe, then shopped at La Vallée Village Outlet Shopping. Took bus from hotel to Disneyland and we stayed till the night show before taking the last bus back to hotel.

Day 2 – Checked out the hotel and took metro to Paris Gare de Lyon to deposit our luggage. Next we took metro to Versailles. Visited almost every exhibit inside the Versailles museum and the gardens before heading back to Gare de Lyon. Bought takeaway dinner and had it on the train back to Neuchâtel.

TGV train

The TGV, also known as Train à Grande Vitesse in French, which literally means high-speed train. This world famous French high-speed rail service runs frequently to Southern parts of French and Switzerland. The TGV service (left photo below) held the record for the fastest scheduled rail journey with a start to stop average speed of 279.4 km/h. Seats and overall cabin atmosphere are comfortable inside the train (right photo below).

Frasne Railway Station

Frasne station (left photo below) is located at a small commune Frasne at the eastern part of France close to Switzerland. With a population of less than 2000 residents, there aren’t many activities to do, especially at the station building (right photo below) during our train transit from Neuchâtel to Gare de Lyon.

Paris Gare de Lyon

Paris Gare de Lyon is one of the six large railway termini in Paris. The railway station building is one classic example of architecture built during the 1900s (left photo below). Most notable is the large clock tower atop one corner of the station, similar to style of Big Ben (right photo below).

The classic style can be seen even inside the railway station (photos below). Besides railway services, the station also is connected with RER Line D and Metro Line 14.

There is luggage deposit service (left photo below) at the basement of the station. All luggages first have to go through security screening before putting them into the lockers. As a guide, it cost EUR 7 to use a middle luggage deposit locker (right photo below) for 72 hours.

Transportation in Paris

Transport Tickets

There are several types of transport tickets available:

For the subway, a single ticket known as ticket t+, costs EUR 1.70. It is generally not advisable to buy single ticket every time. Instead, a block or carnet of ten tickets can be purchased, which cost EUR 12.50 at any station. This brings down the price to EUR 1.25 per ticket. However this unlimited Metro and RER or bus and tram transfers must be used within two hours.

There is also transport pass available in daily, weekly or monthly. The cheapest 1-day ticket called Mobilis, valid only within zones 1 to 2, at a price of EUR 5.90 (left photo below). To travel further within zones 1 to 4, it cost EUR 10.15 per day. Zones 1 to 2 are within Paris city centre while zone 4 allows passenger to travel to Versailles or Disneyland.

Once the Mobilis ticket is bought, it is necessary to write on the empty spaces on the ticket. The date format to be written is in European notation of Day/Month/Year (Valable le), the last name or surname (Nom) and first name or given name (Prénom).

Do note that passengers must retain the tickets during the trip, as regular inspections are made and fines can be imposed for not having a ticket.

Paris Metro System

The RATP (Paris Transport Company) operates 14 metro lines. This is often the fastest and cheapest way to get across the capital, as there are dozens of stations scattered around the city. The metro and RER (Paris rail Network) systems operate from 0530 hours and last train return between 0040 to 0115 hours back to termini.

Making the journey using the Metro System can be easy, just follow the steps below:

First traveler needs to find out the start and destination on the Metro Map. It can be confusing at a fist glance; the metro map (photo below) is differentiated with different colored line which indicates the Metro line.

Next, tickets to be purchased. Tickets are sold at all stations through coin-operated automatic machines or ticket counters.

To enter the platform area (left photo below), insert the metro ticket, with the magnetic strip facing down, into the first barrier slot. Remove the ticket from the second slot then push through the turn-style.

To change between different metro lines, just get off the appropriate stations and follow the correspondence signs (right photo below) on the platform indicating the appropriate direction.

Follow the 'Sortie' sign which indicates way out. Sortie in French means 'Exit'.

Train cabin (photos below) are generally the same as other metro trains in other European cities. One advice is to be careful with personal belongings, especially wallets and bags. The rate of pickpockets happened mostly in crowded and packed trains.

Train stations in Paris can be modern (left photo below) and classic (right photo below), and it do makes a nice photo background. I once saw a photo blog where almost 20 pictures were taking inside the train station.

Here's the video clip I took on Paris Metro:

Hotel Ibis – Paris Gare de Lyon Diderot

Booked this hotel via the internet for EUR 181.90 per standard room for 2 nights, and that is EUR 90.95 per night.

Hotel Ibis – Paris Gare de Lyon Diderot (left photo) is well situated and it is just 5 to 10-mins walk from the Gare de Lyon station. Located in the centre of Paris, this hotel is close to the Bastille Opera House, the Coulée Verte, the Jardin des Plantes and the Palais Omnisport de Bercy. It is definitely convenient for travelers like us.

Breakfast is not included in the hotel package; therefore we took our breakfast outside the hotel during our stay. The room is air-conditioned and definitely useful in a hot summer. The bathroom was reasonably clean, however the room was typically small in size (left photo below). There is even a LCD television (right photo below) inside the room.

The hotel is located at 31 bis, boulevard Diderot – 75012 Paris France.

Hôtel l'Elysée Val d'Europe

Like the previous hotel, we booked this hotel via the internet for EUR 152.30 for a triple room per night.

Hôtel l'Elysée Val d'Europe can be reached via Exit A4 of Val d'Europe station with just 5 to 10-mins walk. The hotel is conveniently located opposite Centre Commercial International Val d'Europe and La Vallée Village Outlet Shopping. And to reach Disneyland is just a 10 to 15-mins bus ride away. Best of all, the complementary shuttle bus departs late from Disneyland which enabled us to see the fireworks. For visitors who don’t want to pay extra price at Disneyland resort, this hotel is the best alternative.

The hotel façade (left photo below) has the modern look with grand entrance (right photo below). The room (bottom left photo) is decorated with simple furnishing and a LCD television (bottom right photo).

Breakfast was included with the hotel package. The lounge (left photo below) is located at the hotel ground floor. Part of the lounge is beside the hotel greenhouse which enables hotel guests to get close to nature (right photo below).

Being French, wide varieties of bread and coffee were available for selection (left photo below). For me, I selected some ham, croissant and cereals for breakfast (right photo below).

Interesting Observations

Like most European cities, modern pay toilets (left photo below) can found along pavements in Paris. These toilets have automatic cleaning functions. In some units, classical music is played.

Another machine that will attract tourists is the souvenir coin medal machine (right photo below). This is common in European countries where a landmark or building is embossed onto the souvenir medal for tourists to collect.

Useful Links:

Paris Travel Guide
http://www.paristravelguide.com/

Paris Travel
http://www.justparis.org/

Visit Paris – France
http://visitparis-france.com/

Wikitravel – Paris
http://wikitravel.org/en/Paris

Kutná Hora / Prague

2010-06-20T18:39:00.021+08:00

Day Two

After breakfast at the Ibis hotel, we then took tram no. 22 to Prague Castle.

Prague Castle

The Prague Castle, known as Pražský hrad in Czech, is the largest coherent castle complex in the world; roughly the size of seven football fields. Dated back to earliest 10th century, it had since been office for the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and Presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic before opening to public as museums.

First Courtyard – designed to be the ceremonial court which encompasses the Giant’s Gate and the Matthias’ Gate (left photo below). Along the railings of the Giant’s Gate on either side are statues portraying cherubs (an eagle – symbol of Hapsburg rulers) and lions (right photo below) – symbol of the kingdom of Bohemia. The Giant’s Gate got its name from the gigantic figures (bottom photos below) which dominate the pillars at the entrance of the courtyard.

Second Courtyard – surrounded by various buildings of different styles, periods and purposes. In the centre of the courtyard stands an elegant baroque fountain (left photo below) designed with a mythological theme in 1686. The Chancellery of the President of the Republic was undergoing renovation during my visit (right photo below).

Due to the limited time we had, we could only buy the combined tickets (Prague castle – short trip) for CZK 250 at the second courtyard, which includes admission to Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica and Rosenberg Palace. There are also other tickets available: Permanent exhibition “The Story of Prague Castle” at CZK 140, Prague Castle Picture Gallery at CZK 150, Powder Tower at CZK 70, and long trip at CZK 350 for all the mentioned museums.

Old Royal Palace

Built in the 12th century by Prince Soběslav in a Romananesque style and with a rectangular plan. Among the many beautiful areas within the palace, the Chapel of All Saints (left photo below) is worth visiting. Though built during 1370 to 1387, the current decorations are furnished in late 16th century with a Renaissance vault and a baroque high alter (right photo below).

The majestic and imposing Vladislav Hall is not to be missed. Built between 1492 and 1502, the hall is 62-meters long, 16-meters wide and 13-meters high; it was the largest room in Europe during that time. The extraordinary design of the groins and highly elegant ‘star-shaped’ curved vault and excellent light provided by large windows are clearly the inspirations of early Renaissance (left photo below).

Rosenberg Palace

This large palace is located on Jirska Street in the area of the Prague Castle. Originally a Renaissance palace for the noble family of Rosenberg, it was rebuilt in Baroque style and used as a residence for unmarried women from insolvent noble families. The beautifully restored ceiling is another highlight of Rosenberg palace (right photo above).

Cathedral of St. Vitus

The Cathedral of St. Vitus, also known as Katedrála svatého Víta in Czech, can trace its history as early as 925 where St. Wenceslas built a small circular Romanesque structure for his future burial. After a series of expansion, destruction and renovation, the construction of the cathedral can only be said to be finally finished in 1929 to its present day architecture.

West Façade – Famed by its two lofty twin towers ending in soaring spires of 82-meters high (left photo below). Decorative elements, such as saints (right photo below), reliefs of scenes of Christ (bottom left photo) above the doorway, and traditional gargoyles (bottom right photo) can be spotted. The west façade is the entrance to the cathedral.

South Façade – shows the full length of the cathedral where the main tower and the golden gate can be seen (left photo below). The elegant clock tower was designed during 16th and 17th century in a baroque style.

East Façade – is where the flying buttresses with pinnacles be seen clearly observed (right photo below).

The interior of the cathedral is 124-meters long, just over 33-meters high, with two lower naves flanking the central one. Light filters through the large stained glass windows making the cathedral austere, unadorned and harmonious (photos below).

The cathedral is decorated with magnificent gallery of sculptures, such as the painted miners on the pillars (left photo below) at the Royal Oratory. The Royal Oratory was built by King Vladislav Jagellonsky in 1493 and these miners, with long aprons, are significant homage to the precious silver mines that were fundamental to the power of the Jagellonsky. The tomb of St. John Nepomucene (right photo below) is the funerary monument of St. John Nepomucene, considered to be a masterpiece of 18th century Bohemian art. Made of splendidly worked silver, the monument is framed by a elegant canopy with a imposing figure of the saint kneeling.

The stained glass windows of St. Vitus Cathedral is a not-to-miss feature (photos below) inside the cathedral.

Located within the cathedral, the Chapel of St. Wenceslas (left photo below) has almost 1,350 semi-precious stones set into the walls creating a grandiose frame for the fresco cycle dedicated to the Passion of Christ. This chapel is most sacred as it houses the relics of prince Wenceslas, patron saint of Bohemia, on the same spot. A fine door (right photo below) leads to the stairway up to the Crown room.

No admission is required to enter the cathedral. One personal advice is to visit this cathedral as the first itinerary because long queue will form soon after it has opened.

Saint George’s Basilica

St. George Basilica (left photo below) was founded by Vratislaus I of Bohemia in 920 and is dedicated to Saint George. The beautiful baroque stairways (right photo below) lead from the funerary monuments of the Přemyslid princes to the square choir. The nave of the basilica could only house a small number of worshippers (bottom left photo). The frescos enhance the ceilings and the dome (bottom right photo) of the basilica. This basilica also houses the 19th century Bohemia Art Collection.

Palladium Shopping Mall

Largest Shopping Mall in Prague, Palladium Shopping Mall (left photo below), offers a selection of more than 200 shops spreading over 5 storeys (right photo below). A large Albert Supermarket and a drycleaner are located on its lower Market level floor.

We had lunch at a Thai Fast Food Restaurant known as Noodle Point located on the top floor of the shopping mall (left photo below). I ordered a plate of fried noodles with chicken (right photo below) and a cup of drink at CZK 219. The taste of the noodles was so authentic with the Thai spices that even Thai restaurants in Singapore may not have.

Half-day tour to Kutná Hora

Booked this half-day tour from the concierge of Ibis hotel at CZK 900 per person. The tour departs at 1300 hours from the main meet-up point at Národni Street 38 (left photo below) or earlier if pickup from hotel. Do note that the tour operates only from Tuesday to Sunday. The duration of the whole tour was 5-hours and we were brought to the attractions via the mini-coach bus (right photo below). Journey to Kutná Hora took 1-hour drive east of Prague.

Kutná Hora is an architecturally rich town built in the middle ages in the centre of extensive silver ore field and over time became the second most important town after Prague. Kutná Hora and the neighboring town of Sedlec are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Only 3 attractions, namely Sedlec Ossuary, Saint Barbara Church and the Italian Court are included in the tour itinerary.

Sedlec Ossuary

Sedlec Ossuary (photos below), known as kostnice Sedlec in Czech, is a small Roman Catholic chapel, located in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutná Hora. The ossuary, known locally as the "bone church", is estimated to contain the skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people died during the Black Death in the mid 14th century, and after the Hussite Wars in the early 15th century.

Around 1400 a Gothic church was built in the center of the cemetery with a vaulted upper level and a lower chapel to be used as an ossuary for the mass graves unearthed during construction, or simply slated for demolition to make room for new burials. After 1511 the task of exhuming skeletons and stacking their bones in the chapel was, according to legend, given to a half-blind monk of the order. Between 1703 and 1710 a new entrance was constructed to support the front wall, which was leaning outward, and the upper chapel was rebuilt in the Czech Baroque style. In 1870, František Rint, a woodcarver, was employed by the Schwarzenberg family to put the bone heaps into order. The macabre result of his effort speaks for itself (photos below).

An enormous chandelier of bones, which contains at least one of every bone in the human body, hangs from the center of the nave with garlands of skulls draping the vault (left photo below). Four enormous bell-shaped mounds occupy the corners of the chapel (right photo below).

Other works include piers and monstrances (left photos below) flanking the altar, a large Schwarzenberg coat-of-arms (right photo below), and the signature of Rint on the wall near the entrance.

Saint Barbara Church

Also known as Chrám svaté Barbory in Czech, St. Barbara church (left photo below) is one of the most famous Gothic churches in central Europe. Construction began in 1388, but because work on the church was interrupted several times, it was not completed until 1905.

The original design was a much larger church but due to the less productive of the silver mines, the incomplete structure was enclosed with a provisional wall, and thus its present size. The outside appearance is fascinating. Originally there were eight radial chapels with trapezoidal interiors. Later on, the choir was constructed, supported by double-arched flying buttresses (right photo below).

Internal points of attraction are the altars (photos below), pulpits and choir stalls.

Medieval frescoes depicting the secular life of the medieval mining town and religious themes have been partially preserved (photos below).

The stained glass windows are one of the best I’ve seen in central Europe; the figures are decorated with colorful dressing coupled with the realistic background (photos below).

As the church was constructed on a hill top, once we walked out from the church, we could see a section of the Kutná Hora town (left photo below). The walkway (right photo below) from the church do resembles part of the Charles Bridge in Prague where it was adorned with figures (bottom photos).

Italian Court

The Italian Court, known as Vlašský Dvůr in Czech, is the Central Mint originally. It was named after some after the Italian experts who were at the forefront of the minting reform.

The main area of the mint consisted of coin-makers-workshops, or Smithies, which were located around the courtyard (left photo below), and the minting chamber, called “Preghaus”, where the Prague groschen were struck. Our guide to the Italian Court was demonstrating the making of Prague groschen (right photo below).

Various illustrations inside the minting chamber display the types of Prague groschen during different era (left photo below), and of course with some exhibition of the real Prague groschen (right photo below).

The hall of audience (photos below) used to be the place where town hall meeting was held after 1770.

Wenceslas Square

The mini-coach bus took us back to Prague at about 1730 hours. As it was still early, so we decided to visit Wenceslas Square.

Wenceslas Square (left photo below), known as Václavské náměstí in Czech, is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague. In 1348, Bohemian King Charles IV founded the New Town of Prague, designating several open areas for markets, including the Horse Market (presently Wenceslas Square). During the Czech national revival movement in the 19th century, a more noble name for the street was requested. Thus Wenceslas Monument was built, and the square was renamed to Wenceslas Square.

Not truly in the shape of a square but more of a boulevard, the Wenceslas Square has the shape of a very long rectangle (750-meter, total area 45,000 m²). At that end, the street is dominated by the grand neoclassical Czech National Museum (right photo below). The main façade of the building is decorated with many sandstone statues (bottom left photo) and reliefs. Just in front of the National Museum stood the Wenceslas Monument (bottom right photo), in which the square is named after him (Saint Wenceslas).

Many historical events occurred there, and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings:

On October 28, 1918, Alois Jirásek read the proclamation of independence of Czechoslovakia in front of the Saint Wenceslas statue.
The Nazis used the street for mass demonstrations.
During the Prague Uprising in 1945, a few buildings near the National Museum were destroyed and were later replaced by department stores.
On January 16, 1969, student Jan Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square to protest the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968.
On March 28, 1969, the Czechoslovakian national ice hockey team defeated the USSR team for the second time in that year's Ice Hockey World Championships. As the country was still under Soviet occupation, the victory induced great celebrations.
In 1989, during the Velvet Revolution, large demonstrations (with hundreds of thousands of people or more) were held to overthrown the Communist Rule.

To reach Wenceslas Square, the nearest metro station is Muzeum (Line A and C) or Můstek (Line A and B).

Dinner at Wenceslas Square

Perhaps my colleagues and I have been staying in Switzerland for more than 3-months, we really missed the taste of fried chicken. Went into one of the fast food restaurant outlet at Wenceslas Square and I ordered a Golden Bites Menu (left photo below), consisted of 6 pieces of golden bites, a large drink, coleslaw, French fries and a BBQ sauce at CZK 129. Interestingly the fast food restaurant also has a picture of Wenceslas Square as part of its modern furnishing (right photo below).

National Theatre

The National Theatre, known as Národní divadlo in Czech, is acclaimed as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art. Constructed between 1868-81, the National Theatre sits proudly alongside the banks of the Vltava River, its golden roof gleaming in the sunshine on fine weather days (left photo below).

The exterior of the building is decorated with many statues, including the triga – a three-horse quadriga (right photo below) and 10 exterior allegorical sculptures. The interior of the theatre is adorned with many neo-renaissance paintings (bottom photos). Nearest metro station is Staroměstská of Line A.

Rudolfinum

The Rudolfinum (photos below) is a music auditorium in Prague. It is one of the most important neo-renaissance buildings in the city and is situated at Jan Palach Square on the bank of the river Vltava. Nearest metro station is Staroměstská of Line A.

Had our last minute shopping at Old Town before heading back to the hotel.

Day Three

We slept in the hotel till late morning then went to Noodle Point at Palladium Shopping Mall again for our brunch. Probably thought that we may not have the chance again to have such authentic Thai food in Europe, that was the reason why we chose to eat at this restuarant the next day. Ordered a plate of fried rice noodles (left photo below) and pan-broiled dumplings (right photo below) for CZK 186.

Packed our luggage and checked out the hotel. Took the same route when we arrived back to the airport. As I had some spare notes of Czech koruna, thus decided changed back to Swiss Francs at one of the money-exchangers in the airport.

Took Swiss Air flight LX 1461 at 1340 hours back to Switzerland. Sandwich and hot beverages (left photo below) were served during the flight, and best of all Swiss chocolates were given to every passenger (right photo below).

Reached the Basel airport at about 1500 hours. As it was still early, I then decided to have a short visit to Basel city before taking the train back to Neuchâtel.

Prague

2010-06-19T20:11:00.017+08:00

Day One

Took an early train at 0727 hours from Neuchâtel to Basel Train station, and followed by a bus ride to the Basel Airport. The cost for the return bus and train tickets was CHF 39. Checked in my Swiss Air (Swiss International Air Lines) flight LX 1460 upon reaching the airport and boarded the flight at 1105 hours.

Interestingly the seating configuration of this flight was 2 by 3; where 2 passengers are seated in a row on one side of the walkway while 3 passengers are seated on the other side (left photo below). This makes me wonder how the aircraft can balance during its flight? As Swiss Air is a full-fledged flight, simple light snacks of bread and hot beverage were served (right photo below) during the short journey of 1 hour and 25-mins.

Soon after exiting from the airport custom, we then bought a 24-hour transport ticket at CZK 100 from the Public Transport Information Kiosk. Next we boarded the bus no. 119 to Dejvická Metro Station, then took Line A train to Můstek and interchanged to Line B to Námestí Republiky Metro Station. As it had already long passed the lunch time, we bought some pizza and drinks at the stalls inside the station to fill up our hungry stomach soon after alighting from the train. The hotel Ibis – Praha Old Town was easily located across the street from the Metro Station. We checked-in the hotel and had a quick wash-up before beginning our itinerary.

Municipal House

Once we walked out from the hotel, this Municipal House (left photo below) was easily spotted. Known as Obecní dům in Czech, this building has an important architectural and political history in Prague. Construction began in 1905 and completed in 1912, it now serves as a civic landmark and concert hall.

Monumental allegorical figures are displayed all over the facade of the building. The large exedra under the main cupola (right photo below) is decorated with a semi-circular scene on the glass colorful mosaic named Apotheosis of Prague according to a painting by Karel Spillar. The picture is adorned with a golden sign with a quotation by Svatopluk Cech which says: “Hail to you Prague! Brave the time and malice as you have resisted all the storms throughout the ages”.

Special tour can be arranged to visit the interior of the building. The nearest metro station is Náměstí Republiky of Line A.

Powder Tower

Located besides the Municipal House, this tower is literally known as Prašná brána or Powder Gate in Czech. This tower (photos below) is one of old city gates leading into the Old Town of Prague. Built in 1475, this 65-meters gate was one of the 13 original gates of Old Prague City. As the city grew beyond the gates, the Powder Tower grew less important. In the early 18th century, it was used as a storage facility for gunpowder, thus its name developed during that period. The tower was damaged severely in 1757 but was restored to its former glory during the period of 1870s to 1880s.

The exterior of the tower is decorated with statues of Bohemian patrons and saints (left photo below). Visitors can also pay CZK 70 (right photo below) to go up the tower to get a stunning view from 44-meters above ground. To reach this tower, the nearest metro station is Náměstí Republiky of Line A.

Old Town Square

This is a famous and popular square in Prague; often crowded with visitors and locals (left photo below). Many historical buildings in various architectural styles surround the square, including the Astronomical Clock, the Tower of Old Town Hall, gothic Týn Cathedral and baroque St. Nicholas Church. The center of the square is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus (right photo below).

Nearest metro station to reach the Old Town Square is Staroměstská of Line A.

The Astronomical Clock

The Astronomical Clock of Prague together with the tower of Old Town Hall, are located in the Old Town Square (left photo below). Known as Pražský orloj in Czech, this clock was built in 1410, with the Astronomical dial added and its facade decorated with Gothic sculptures in 1490 (right photo below).

Four figures flanked the Astronomical dial and set in motion when the clock strikes the hour. These figures represent the things that were despised during the 15th century. From left to right: the first is Vanity, represented by a figure admiring himself in a mirror. Next a typical Jew holding a bag of gold represents Greed (left photo below). Across the dial stands Death, a skeleton that strike the time upon the hour and finally the Infidel Turk who wears the turban (right photo below).

On the contrarily, below the Astronomical dial and besides the calendar stood 4 figures present (from left to right) a Chronicler, an Angel, an Astronomer and a Philosopher (left photo below). The calendar was added in 1870 below the Astronomical dial.

The design of the Astronomical dial has a stationary background of Earth and local view of the sky (right photo below), while the golden roman numbers at the outer edge are the timescale of the 24 hours of a day.

At the strike of every hour, the figures are in motion and the 2 window-doors above the Astronomical dial opens where all the 12 wooden Apostles figures (6 figures at each window) take turn to show up. At the end of the display, a trumpeter will blow a short tune at the viewing platform of the tower to bring the atmosphere to climax. The video clip below illustrates the display:

Old Town Hall

To have a panoramic view of the Old Town, the best place is to go up to the viewing platform of the Old Town Hall. Admission at CZK 100 per adult can be bought at a side door beneath the tower (left photo below). If visitor is too tired to walk up the spiral steps to the viewing platform, then the elevator located in the middle of the tower will be a better choice. View of the Old Town is indeed spectacular with baroque and gothic styled churches, and buildings with red roof tiles. The medieval-style pillars make the view even more interesting (right photo below).

Let the photos below illustrate the charm and beauty of Prague Old Town.

Church of Our Lady Before Týn

Also known as Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem in Czech, this church dominates one side of the Old Town Square (left photo below). The church looks even more impressive when metallic stars above the spires reflect the sunlight (right photo below).

Built as early in 1360, the church itself is 52-metres long and 28-metres wide. On the southern face from the Old Town Square, the church is decorated with gothic-style relief of Madonna figure (left photo below). The two towers with 4 spires each can be seen from all over Prague, making it a powerful looking church. Each tower is 80-meteres high (right photo below). To me these towers look more "Disney" than of gothic-style.

St. Nicholas Church in Old Town Square

The green roof of the church is a typical style of baroque in Central Europe (left photo below). Built in 1755, the St. Nicholas Church (Kostel svateho Miluláse in Czech) was designed by the acclaimed Baroque architects, father and son - Kryštof Dientzenhofer and Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, while other prominent artists adorned the interior and exterior with exquisite carvings, statues and frescoes (right photo below).

Jan Hus Memorial

Stands in the center of the Old Town Square, the Jan Hus Memorial (photos below) was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500^th anniversary of Jan Hus’ martyrdom. The sculpture is more than a memorial in the hearts of Bohemia people in Czech; Jan Hus has became a symbol of dissidence and a symbol of strength against oppressive regimes:

His opposition to church control by the Vatican gave strength to those who opposed control of Czech lands by the Habsburgs in the 19th century, and soon he became a symbol of anti-Habsburg rule.
When the statue was erected in 1915 during World War I, the memorial became a symbol of anti-Russian rule.
A couple decades later when Czechoslovakia was under Communist rule, sitting at the feet of the Jan Hus memorial became a way of quietly expressing their opinion and opposition against the Communist rule.

Prague Ham

Stalls selling Prague Ham can be seen all over the Old Town Square (right photo below), especially during the World Cup season where live-telecasts were showed at the square. Known as the "grandmother" of all today's stewed hams, Prague Ham (Pražská šunka) has become a famous dish in Czech. Decided to get a cup of beer and some Prague ham which cost CZK 300 in total. The beer was quenching in a warm afternoon and the taste of the ham was delicious.

Old New Synagogue

The Old-New Synagogue (left photo below) is the oldest site of Prague’s Jewish Town and the oldest functioning synagogue (Jewish Church) in Europe. Built in 1270, the building has a medieval double-nave with a large saddle roof and Gothic gables.

Opening hours of this church is from 0930 hours to 1800 hours (Sunday to Thursday) with admission of CZK 200 per adult (right photo below). The nearest metro station to reach the church is Staroměstská of Line A.

Pařížská Shopping Street

Pařížská Street is located near Old Town Square, close to the Vltava River and the Jewish quarter. It is lined with elegant buildings and boutiques, which is very similar to those found in Paris.

The street is an exclusive shopping precinct filled with luxurious designer retail stores, such as Prada (left photo below), Louis Vuitton (right photo below), Cartier, Hugo Boss and Christian Dior boutiques. The street is also home to up-market hotels and restaurants, and a good selection of Czech porcelain and Bohemian glass and crystal from stores such as Karlovarsky Porcelain and Celetna. Nearest metro station is Staroměstská of Line A.

Hard Rock Café Prague

Hard Rock Cafe Prague is located at Malé Náměstí Street in the heart of old Prague of less than 50-meters from the famous Old Town Square. The Café, considered to be Europe's largest Hard Rock Cafe, is situated in the four-storey V.J.Rott building with a beautifully decorated neo-Renaissance façade and frescos (left photo below). While its interior is the style of typical American theme, such as the motorbike on display (right photo below). Nearest metro station is Staroměstská of Line A with some walking from Old Town Square.

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge, also known as Karlův most in Czech, is the most famous historic bridge that span over Vltava River in Prague. The construction started in 1357 under the support from King Charles IV, and only completed in the beginning of 15th century.

The Charles Bridge Museum (left photo below) was opened in June 2007 at the foot of the bridge in conjunction with the 650^th anniversary of the bridge. Originally a former monastery hospital, the museum now features a permanent exhibition of the foundation, development and present of the unique bridge structure. The latest scientific research discovered egg proteins in the calcic mortar from the bridge during renovation work. This proved the legend to be true that King Charles IV had ordered to add egg yolks to enrich the mortar used to bind the stone blocks harder.

Admission to the museum cost CZK 150 per adult and 33% discount with Prague card. Opening hours is daily from 1000 to 2000 hours (May to Sep), or 1000 to 1800 hours (Oct to Apr). If one is not interested in the museum, do make a visit to their souvenir shop located inside, where a wide range of gift products and related books can be found.

Outside the museum stood the statue of King Charles IV (right photo below), in which the bridge is named after him.

There are 3 bridge towers on Charles Bridge: two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third on the Old Town side. The Old Town Bridge Tower (left photo below) is often considered to be one of the astonishing civil buildings in the world. In addition, the tower is adorned with many sculptures of gothic-style (right photo below).

The bridge is 516-meters long and nearly 10-meters wide, and resting on 8 arches shielded by ice guards on each side (left photo below). During the day, many painters, kiosk owners and other traders crowd the bridge together with numerous tourists (right photo below). Only during the night that serenity can be found.

The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries of mostly baroque-style (photos below). Erected in the 18th century, all these statues and statuaries have now been replaced with replicas, while the originals are exhibited in the National Museum.

Perhaps the most interesting statue, as well as the oldest, is that of Saint John of Nepomuk (left photo) - a court priest of King Wenceslas IV. Legend has it that he was thrown off from the bridge by the request of the king because he refused to tell the king about the queen's confession.

Touching the statue is a Prague ritual; it is supposed to bring good luck and to ensure that you will return to Prague soon.

Walk a few steps towards the Old Town from the statue and you will come to a cross with five stars on the left parapet of the bridge (left photo below). This is the exact point where the priest was thrown in the water in the year 1383. Legend has it that stars appeared when he touched the water.

Here visitors are supposed to touch the cross and the stars with left hand (right photo below) and make a wish. Whatever the wish, it will come true!

Colorful Houses of Prague

Do take a moment to admire the colorful Prague houses in the Old Town (photos below). These houses definitely make an excellent background for travel photos.

St. Nicholas Cathedral in Lesser Quarter

Also known as Chram svateho Mikulase in Czech, the beginnings of this imposing Cathedral dates back to the year 1283, when the place of worship started its existence as a parish church under the name and protection of St. Nicholas. With the change of authority in the 17th century, Baroque era began. In 1702, Kryštof Dientzenhofer himself designed the plans for the new Prague Baroque pearl. After his death it was his son, the famous Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, who completed the work and designed unique vault and robust dome that later became one of the Prague’s main landmarks (photos below).

Now this building has become a concert hall which most visitors came to listen to the music played from an organ. This organ was once played by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart when he lived in Prague. The cathedral and tower are opened to visitors at CZK 60 per adult. To get there, take tram no. 12, 20 or 22 and stop at Malostranske namesti.

Schwarzenberg Palace

Walked from the cathedral along Nerudova Street to the Hradcanske square, and the steps (left photo below) will be the final path to the Schwarzenberg Palace (right photo below). This palace is located near the Prague Castle.

Schwarzenberg Palace is one of the most imposing Renaissance buildings in Prague; easily recognizable by its rich black-and-white sgraffito decorations on its walls – mixing the Italian influences with Czech traditions (photos below).

The palace was built in 1567 for Jan Popel of Lobkowicz, one of the richest noblemen in Bohemia. After Lobkowitz family, the palace changed owner to Petr Vok from Rozmberk dynasty, then Svamberk dynasty, Eggenberg dynasty and from 1719 – 1948 to Schwarzenberg dynasty after which it is called. From 1909 the palace was used as the Technical Museum, now it belongs to the National Gallery in Prague. However, the palace is currently under reconstruction.

The closest way is to walk from Malostranske namesti (trams no. 12, 20, 22 or 23) up Nerudova Street to Hradcanske Square. If don’t want to walk up the hill, tram no 22 or 23 can be taken from metro station Malostranská and get off at stop Prazsky Hrad. Continue via Prasny bridge and Prague castle courtyards.

Loreta

Loreta (left photo below), or Prague Loreto, is a remarkable complex of baroque buildings in Hradčany consisting of a cloister, the church of the Lord’s Birth, a Holy Hut and clock tower with a world famous chime (right photo below). It is a large pilgrimage destination, established more than 300 years ago.

Construction began on 3 Jun 1626 and gradually arose over the course in 17th and 18th centuries. In 1950s to 1960s, a new treasury was built. Among the many treasures, the most famous is the Diamond Monstrance adorned with 6,222 diamonds. There are various sculptures (photos below) stood on the balustrades in front of the main entrance, making it an open-air stone sculpture gallery.

Admission fee is CZK 110 per adult and opening hours daily from 0900 to 1215 hours and 1300 to 1700 hours (Apr to Oct) or 0930 to 1215 and 1300 to 1600 hours (Nov to Mar). The loreta is just a 10-mins walk from the Schwarzenberg Palace or Hradcanske Square.

Dinner at Hradčany area

While walking back to the hotel, we decided to have dinner at this Mystic Café (left photo below) in Hradčany area. The bread was complimentary with 3 different spread to choose from (right photo below). The must-try dish in Prague is this Czech dumplings (kynute knedliki) which is nothing but fluffy dumplings dip in a good slow cooked pork shoulder (bottom left photo). For the main course, I had ordered a fried filet (bottom right photo). Food was delicious, especially the Czech dumplings. Total cost for my meal was CZK 570.

Night Sceneries of Prague

After dinner, we walked back to Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and Powder Tower before heading back to the hotel to end the day’s itinerary. Along the way back, realized that the night sceneries were equally impressive as the day scene, thus took a few photos. As I didn't bring my tripod, the photos may appear to be blur and slightly high 'noise' level.

Czech Republic (Jun '10) - Overview

2010-06-18T13:45:00.066+08:00

Visited Czech Republic (捷克共和国) with my colleagues over the weekend from 18 Jun (Fri) to 20 Jun (Sun). To be exact, we only went to Prague (布拉格) and Kutná Hora (库特纳霍拉).

Prague, also known as Praha in Czech, is the captial and largest city in Czech Republic, while Kutná Hora is the second important town after Prague historically. Both cities have many famous cultural attractions which had survived the violence and destruction during the 12th century in Europe. The Historic Centre of Prague has been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1992, while the Historical Town Centre of Kutná Hora is added to the same list in 1995.

Leisure trip at a glance

Country: Czech Republic
Period: 18 Jun to 20 Jun 2010
Flight timings:
18 Jun: LX 1460, BSL–PRG, ETD 1105 ETA 1230
20 Jun: LX 1461, PRG–BSL, ETD 1340 ETA 1505
Air tickets: Return tickets at SGD 279.75 (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodations:
Hotel Ibis – Praha Old Town (18 to 20 Jun)
Currency exchange rate: CZK 100 = SGD 6.65 (Jun ’10 period)

No VISA application is required for Singaporean on short stay up to 90 days. For other countries, do check with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic. Total damage was about SGD 450 including flight tickets, airport taxes, transport, food, hotel and admission charges, excluding personal expenses.

Here's the overview of the trip itinerary:

Day 1 – Morning flight LX 1460 from Basel Airport (Switzerland) to Ruzyně Airport (Prague). Took the airport shuttle to the nearest station and went to hotel to check-in. Visited Municipal House, Powder Gate, The Astronomical Clock, Old Town Square, Old New Synagogue, Pařížská Shopping Street, Hard Rock Café, Charles Bridge, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Schwarzenberg Palace and Loreta. Had dinner in one of the restaurants at Hradčany area. Went back to Charles Bridge, Old Town and Powder Tower to take night pictures of the famous buildings before heading to hotel.

Day 2 – Took tram no. 22 to the Prague Castle; visited Old Royal Palace, St Vitus Cathedral, and Basilica of St George. Went to Palladium Shopping Mall for lunch and boarded the mini-coach bus to Kutná Hora for a half-day tour, which includes Sedlec Ossuary, Saint Barbara Church and the Italian Court as part of the itinerary. Went back to Prague and visited Wenceslas Square. Had dinner at KFC and went to National Theatre, and Rudolfinum.

Day 3 – Had early lunch at Palladium Shopping Mall again and boarded flight LX 1461 back to Switzerland.

Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is an international airport (photos below) is located 6-km northwest of Basel (Switzerland), 22-km southeast of Mulhouse (France) and 70-km south of Freiburg (Germany).

The airport is one of the few airports in the world to be operated by 2 countries, namely France and Switzerland. Interestingly, this airport has 3 different IATA codes; Swiss code: BSL (Basel), French code: MLH (Mulhouse), and International code: EAP (Euro Airport). Due to its strategic location, passengers can choose to exit from this airport either to Switzerland, French or Germany (left photo below). To reach Basel train station from the airport (or vice versa), passengers just need to board bus no. 50 which took about 10-mins (right photo below).

Prague-Ruzyně Airport

Prague-Ruzyně Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe. The IATA code for this airport is PRG. Most flights depart from the North Terminals (Terminal 1 and 2), while the South Terminals (Terminal 3 and 4) handle a few irregular flights and VIP flights.

The departure terminals are large complex with over 85 shops and restaurants (left photo below) opened from 0700 hours to 2100 hours. Even the linkway connecting the boarding gates to the main complex has souvenir shops for last minute shoppers (right photo below).

Transportation in Prague

Transport Tickets

Upon arriving at Prague airport and after leaving the custom, do look out for the Public Transport Information Kiosk (left photo below). There are several choices of tickets available which permits passenger to travel in all modes of transportation (metro, tram or bus):

Basic transport ticket cost only CZK 26 which is valid within 75-mins.
Limited tickets is also available at CZK 18 which is valid only for 5 metro stations (excluding station where it is validated) between all metro lines but no longer than 30-mins in total.
However, we bought a 24-hours ticket at CZK 100 (right photo below) from the kiosk. Other tickets include 3-days and 5-days tickets.

Beside kiosks, transport tickets can also be bought at any tobacco shops in Prague.

It is important to validate the transport tickets before any ride!

Tickets can be time-stamped (validated) by slipping in into one of several boxes (left photo below) in the tram or bus as you board, or at the metro stations before entering the metro platform (right photo below). Tickets are not checked upon boarding, but uniformed or plain-clothes inspectors often make their rounds will ask passenger to show their tickets. An unstamped ticket is invalid, it will be confiscated and the passenger will incur a fine of CZK 700.

Be aware of false inspectors! But these deceivers can be easily detected by requesting them to show their identify card.

Getting in/out from the Airport

The easiest way to travel out from the airport (Exit D) is by bus no. 119 (left photo below) which departs daily to the metro station Dejvická (right photo below) of Line A. The whole bus ride from the airport to metro takes about 20-mins. Likewise on the last day, we followed the same route back to the airport.

Prague Metro System

The whole metro network is divided into 3 main lines (left photo below), in which each represented by its own color: Line A (green), Line B (yellow) and Line C (red). The metro operates daily from 0500 hours to midnight.

The metro platform is spacious and well lit (right photo below) with contemporary elements in its design (bottom photos). However elevator is rarely found within the metro stations. The train condition does not give the feeling of Russian-built, because all trains were replaced in 2008 with new ones by Siemens.

Below is the video clip taken during one of my train rides:

Prague Trams

Trams in Prague cover a large area of the city in various types (photos below) that were installed over the century. Generally trams in Prague can be grouped into 2 categories, namely daytime and nighttime. Daytime tram operates from 0430 hours to midnight, and nighttime tram (no. 51 to 59) operates from 0030 to 0430 hours.

To me, trams in Prague are equivalent to city buses that provide another efficient means of transportation. To experience tram ride, my recommendation is to take tram no.22 from the city area to Prague Castle, which passes through many historical buildings, such as the National Theatre and St. Nicholas Cathedral.

Hotel Ibis – Praha Old Town

Booked this hotel via the internet a month before the actual trip at a slightly discounted price. After some email correspondences, we managed to get a suite room for 3 adults at 84 EUR (inclusive of 10% VAT) per night without breakfast, instead of the original quoted price 111 EUR. We stayed in this hotel for 2 consecutive nights.

The hotel is well located; 5-mins walk from the nearest metro station Námestí Republiky, and besides the largest Shopping Mall in Prague, Palladium. The suite room of 36.4-meters² was spacious (left photo below) with a LCD television (right photo below) and a huge bathroom (bottom left photo). There was free wireless internet available too.

Breakfast was not included in the hotel package, but we paid additional 11 EUR per person during the 2nd day stay. Breakfast was good with a wide selection of breads, cereals, meats, cheese, fruits and yoghurts, in which all served till mid-day (bottom right photo).

Interesting Observations:

Drainage and flammable underground pipe covers are beautifully embossed with city logo (photos below). Do look out for them during your visit.

Travel Tips:

If you are a museum lover and staying in Prague for at least 3 days, then it is advisable to get a Prague Card.

This Prague Card provides free admission to over 50 top Prague attractions, heavily discounts to all city's major museums and a Prague Tourist Guidebook.

Each card costs CZK 790 per adult and valid only for 4-days. However public travel pass is not included as part of the package.

Useful Links:

My Czech Republic
http://www.myczechrepublic.com/index.html

Prague Official Travel Guide
http://www.prague.fm/

Prague Welcome
http://www.praguewelcome.cz/en/

Prague Experience
http://www.pragueexperience.com/index.asp

Inverness / Loch Ness / Fort William

2010-06-05T17:23:00.071+08:00

Day Four

Had the breakfast at Hawthorn Lodge Guest House, and next we got onto the car to explore Inverness City further.

Inverness City

Literally known as 'Mouth of the River Ness', Inverness is regarded as the capital of Scottish Highlands.

After checking with the local tourist office on some attractions, we then decided to walk around the city center (photos below) since there was a Saturday market. One of the shops was having a sale promotion, and my two colleagues were so tempted in trying out the shoes. They almost got themselves a new pair. For me the only thing I bought at Inverness was a pack of super-glue for just £ 1 at Poundland shop.

Buildings at both sides of River Ness seem to have preserved the medieval look with bricks of terra-cotta color (photos below).

One magnificent building we saw was this Inverness Castle (left photo below). Built in 1836, the red sand stone structure is located on a cliff overlooking the River Ness (right photo below). Now this castle has become the Inverness Sheriff Court.

Plantations at Scottish Highlands

We departed Inverness and headed towards Chanonry Point. Weather was good and so scenic that I took few more photos (photos below) from the moving car.

The yellowish flowers that grew throughout the plantation caught my attention (photos below). This sight is common in Europe as I saw a few while in Switzerland during this period. It was colza oil plantation that was grown for its rich oil. Colza oil is obtained from the seeds of Brassica rapa, var. oleifera. and used extensively as a lubricant for machinery.

Chanonry Point

Chanonry Point (left photo below) is reputed to be one of the best spots in the U.K. to view Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus from the land. Located at the end of Chanonry Ness, most of the land now is taken up by golf courses.

A lighthouse (right photo below) can be seen from afar situated at the tip of the point. It was first lit in 1846 and become fully automated in 1984.

Disappointedly no dolphin could be seen; we just relaxed and enjoyed the coastal view (photos below).

Lunch from Petrol Station

We bought our lunch again from the Petrol station. This time, it was cheaper compared the day before. Choice of sandwiches, bottled drink and a pack of chips cost a total of only £ 3.29. Here’re two choices that we made (photos below).

Rocky cliff along the road

While driving to Loch Ness, we saw this rocky cliff that would make good photo background. Thus stopped our car and took some photos (photos below).

Loch Ness Exhibition Centre

Located at Drumnadrochit beside the Loch Ness, the Loch Ness Exhibition Center (left photo below) was opened by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The centre takes visitors through several themed areas from dawn of time to the third millennium.

Of course the focus is on the Loch Ness famous monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie". Almost 1000 reliable eye-witness and some classic photography have supported the existence of the monster. However modern scientific researches proved it otherwise. Be it hoaxes or illusions, Loch Ness has attracted many visitors to visit the lake in hoping to spot the lake monster. Perhaps disappointed visitors can get some souvenirs of the monster from this Nessie Shop (right photo below) besides the Exhibition Centre.

Admission cost to the exhibition is £ 6.50 per adult and opening hours various from 0900 to 1800 hours depending the period.

Urquhart Castle

The Urquhart Castle is located close to Drumnadrochit village, overlooking Loch Ness. The Castle witnessed considerable conflict throughout its 500 years as a medieval fortress and its history from the 13th to 17th centuries was particularly bloody. Following Edward I’s invasion, it fell into English hands and was then reclaimed and lost again. In the 14th century, it figured prominently in the Scots' struggle for independence and came under the control of Robert the Bruce after he became King of Scots.

After a chequered history, the castle was blown up in 1692 to prevent it becoming a Jacobite stronghold. The ruin site was then purchased by Mr. Chewett in the 1930s and in 2003 it was gifted by his widow to The National Trust for Scotland.

Bought our admission tickets at Urquhart’s Visitor Centre. Visitors would then either take a lift or walk down the stairs to the basement of the centre. Exhibition of the Urquhart Castle’s history is located at its basement (left photo below). A model of the castle’s former glory was displayed (right photo below). Only through the model that the functions of each hall and defense of the castle could be understood (bottom photos).

Now the place seems like a ruin site (photos below).

A re-constructed mangonel (left photo below) was on display outside the field, which was used in the medieval period to throw projectiles at a castle's walls. Visitors first have to cross over a wooden gangway (right photo below) which now lies in place of the original drawbridge across the defensive ditch.

My colleagues and I explored almost every ground of the castle ruins; walking at every corner of the site (photos below). We even climbed up the tower to have a better view of the ruins.

Besides the chapel and gatehouse, there was remain of an old kiln where grains were dried.

Opening hours from 0930 to 1800 hours (Apr to Sep), 0930 to 1700 hours (Oct), or 0930 to 1630 hours (Nov to Mar). The last admission closes 45-mins before closure time. Admission cost to the castle is £ 7 per adult.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness (photos below) is a large and deep freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands, extending for approximately 37-km southwest of Inverness. Its deepest point is 230-meters, making it to be the largest by volume loch in Scotland. Loch Ness alone contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.

Loch is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic term for a lake or a sea inlet. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, "Nessie". We kept staring at the lake during our visit but weren't so lucky to see anything that resembles Nessie.

Fort William

Fort William is the second largest town in the highlands of Scotland after Inverness town. Our purpose there was not for sight-seeing, but rather to look for our dinner and hope to have a good view of Ben Nevis. We walked almost whole of Fort William high street (photos below) to search for a decent restaurant.

Takeaway Dinner

Saw this Highland Star Restaurant (left photo below) in Fort William that offers take-away. Each of us bought noodles (right photo below), and had it at a golf-course car park. I ordered Singapore Chow Mein (bottom left photo) at £ 5 and we also shared some dumplings (bottom right photo).

Ben Nevis

The best view of Ben Nevis is probably from Fort William Golf Club (left photo below). We had to walk past the golf course (right photo below) for about 5-mins from the car park before able to see Ben Nevis.

Reaching the height of 1,344-meters, Ben Nevis (left photo below) is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It has attracted and challenged many climbers and mountaineers to reach its peak for decades. Although it's already in June, there was still snow left from the spring (right photo below).

Scenes along A82 Highway

Beautiful scenes (photos below) were spotted along the A82 highway to Cumbria. We passed through the Grampian Mountain ranges, including Ben Nevis, that are occupying main belt of mountains across the centre of Scotland.

The mountains are composed mainly of granite, gneiss, marble, schists and quartzite. Interestingly, some took peculiar shape while others look like pyramid (photos below).

As it was close to sunset, the golden rays from the sun make it even more picturesque (photos below).

Along the way we saw some marshes (photos below) which reminded me of the scenes from the movie Lord of the Rings. Perhaps the author, J. R. R. Tolkien, an Oxford University Professor, got the inspiration from there when writing the Dead Marshes. The marshes in the novel were once part of an ancient battlefield, the War of the Last Alliance.

It was already 1 am when we checked in at the Guest House, Home from Home. As it had passed sleeping time, the owner of the Guest House wasn't too happy when we arrived. Nevertheless we apologized and had some wash-up before getting a good rest.

Day Five

We woke up early and departed the Guest House at about 8 am. The weather turned foggy while driving towards London.

We stopped at one of the eateries, EDC caffé (left photo below), along the highway. Ordered an English breakfast set (right photo below) at £ 6.99 for myself. Taste wasn't that bad which was similar to those we ate at the Guest Houses.

After dropping off our colleague at Stansted Airport, we then drove towards Heathrow Airport to return the car at Sixt. Next, we took the complementary shuttle to Heathrow Airport.

We shopped at the transit area of the airport before boarded the flight LX 349 back to Geneva Airport. The seat of this Swiss Air flight (left photo below) was rather comfortable compared to other budget airline seats. And light snacks of bread and drinks (right photo below) were served during this short flight.

With this, it ended my 5-days Scotland trip.

Edinburgh / Stirling / Inverness

2010-06-04T19:10:00.053+08:00

Day Three

After having a nice "home-made" breakfast at the guest house, we then boarded our car to the next destination located near to Edinburgh.

Rosslyn Chapel

Located in the village of Roslin, approximately 7 miles south of Edinburgh, the Rosslyn Chapel was built between 1446 and 1484. Practically every surface of Rosslyn Chapel is covered with carvings of individual figures and scenes, thus it has been described as an "Architectural Wonder" and a "Library in Stone". This chapel probably made famous due to the movie The Da Vinci Code, which was based on Dan Brown’s novel of the same name.

During our visit, the chapel was under extensive conservation (left photo below), and from the signage outside the chapel (right photo below), it will only be completed by end of 2011.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Also known as Holyrood Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is located at the end of the Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

This palace has played an important role in Scotland’s history ever since its foundation by King David I of Scotland nearly 900 years ago. Rebuilt by James V of Scotland, it was to become the home of his daughter, Mary Queen of Scots, and the scene for many of the most dramatic and tragic events of her reign. Rebuilt again by Charles II after the Civil War, the palace becomes a showplace of baroque architecture and interior decoration. Now Queen Elizabeth II spends one week in residence at Holyrood Palace at the beginning of each summer, where she carries out a range of official engagements and ceremonies.

First building we saw was the Queen’s Gallery located outside of the main gate (photos below). It is an art gallery and forms part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse complex. It was opened in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II, and exhibits works from the Royal Collection. It is open to the public daily.

We were totally disappointed that the Palace was closed during our visit (left photo below). And the reason was the visit by HRH Duke of Rothesay (right photo below). Don’t know who is Duke of Rothesay? It is a title of the heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and its current holder is Prince Charles.

Security was tight during HRH’s visit; as evidence from the number of security guards at the side gate (left photo below) and outside each palace door (right photo below).

Through the gates, we could only appreciate the exterior and the forecourt of the palace. The large stone fountain (right photo below) was installed in 1859 at the forecourt. The residence of Duke of Rothesay in the Palace was signified with the flying of Royal Standard flag of Scotland (left photo below) at the top of the building.

Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat (left photo below) is a hill rises at a height of 251-meters located in the centre of the Edinburgh city, about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. It is relatively easy to climb this hill with a gentle slope (right photo below).

This hill provides an excellent panoramic view of the city, including the aerial view of Holyrood Palace (photos below).

Scottish Parliament Building

Located opposite Holyrood Palace, The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament. Construction began in Jun 1999 and the building only completed in Sep 2004.

The building design is abstract and contemporary (photos below), and has been widely criticized by the public. For example the series of "trigger panels" constructed out of timber or granite on the building façade is so abstract that it can represent anything from anvils, hairdryers, guns, question marks or even the hammer and sickle.

Since we didn’t get to visit the Holyrood Palace, we had some time to visit this parliament. After some security screenings, we were inside the exhibition area. The exhibit includes the wishes from the then Prime Minister Tony Blair on Scotland Act in 1998 (left photo below), and an example of Royal Assent (right photo below).

Scottish Parliament is made up of various parties and usually seated in groups inside the Debating Chamber (left photo below). The Debating Chamber (right photo below) is where the meetings of the full Parliament are held.

Calton Hill

Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh just to the east of the New Town. The hill also includes several iconic monuments and buildings, such as the National Monument, Nelson's Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument, the New Parliament House (the Royal High School), the Robert Burns Monument, the Political Martyrs' Monument and the City Observatory.

Built between 1807 and 1815, the Nelson Monument (photos below) is to commemorate Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and his own death at the same battle. The monument is 32-metres high, and has 143 steps leading to a public viewing gallery.

Construction started in 1826, the National Monument (photos below) is notable for being only partially completed. It is modeled upon the Parthenon in Athens, however due to the use of high-quality materials, the project ended in 1829 with funds running out.

The Dugald Stewart Monument (photos below) is a memorial to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart (1753 – 1828). It is situated on top of Calton Hill, overlooking Edinburgh city centre. The monument was built in 1831 and modeled after the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, Greece.

Lunch from Petrol Station

Calton Hill was our last sight in Edinburgh. Next we drove further up to Stirling and along the way we bought our lunch at one of the petrol stations while topping up our car fuel.

There was this sandwich promotion, thus we selected our choice sandwich, and took a bottle drink and a pack of chips which cost £ 3.99 in total. Here’re just two of the sandwich meals we took (photos below). As we were rushing for time, sandwich is thus the ideal meal to settle our lunch.

Stirling Castle

We reached Stirling Castle at about 3 pm. Located in Stirling, Stirling Castle (photos below) is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland.

The gatehouse (left photo below) provides entry from the outer defenses to the castle proper and was probably completed around 1506 duing the time of King James IV. It originally formed part of a Forework, extending as a curtain wall (right photo below) across the whole width of Castle Hill.

Soon after the outer close, there is a hanging bridge (left photo below) that connects the Great Hall to the Palace. After passing through underneath the bridge, we came into the inner close where the Regimental Museum (King’s Old Building) and the Chapel Royal are located (right photo below).

Built by James IV in 1497, the Great Hall (left photo below) is the largest in Scotland measuring 42 by 14.25-meters. There are five fireplaces inside the hall and display where the former kings would seat (right photo below). The Hall was built with Renaissance details within a conventional medieval plan, such as the intersecting tracery on the windows (bottom photos).

The Chapel Royal (left photo below) was where Queen Mary was crowned in 1543. The building was rebuilt as a suitable venue for the royal christening in 1595. The wall paintings (right photo below) were rediscovered in the 1930s, and restoration began soon after the Second World War.

Fine tapestries (photos below) were displayed inside the Chapel Royal, together with the carved wooden roundels (bottom photos) that were once decorated on the ceiling of the palace halls. The tapestries are reconstructed and woven by hand using techniques dating back to the 1400s.

The Great Kitchens used to be the busiest place for kitchen stuff to prepare food and drink for royal banquet. Located close to the Great Hall, the Great Kitchens were a large suite of basement rooms where food was prepared and cooked, ale was brewed, wine was stored and bread was baked. Now the bustling scene is created with life-like figures and food (photos below).

Located at the northern side of the castle, the Nether Bailey (left photo below) contains defensive walls, former guard house and gunpowder stores. Now the Tapestry Studio (right photo below) is located at the area.

A statue of Robert the Bruce (left photo below) is located on the castle esplanade, outside the main entrance. Robert the Bruce (11 Jul 1274 – 7 Jun 1329) was King of Scots from 25 March 1306, until his death in 1329 (right photo below). Needless to say, he played an important role in the history of Stirling Castle.

We left the castle at about 6 pm.

Opening hours of the castle is 0930 to 1800 hours (Apr to Sep) or 0930 to 1700 hours (Oct to Mar). Do note that last ticket is sold 45-mins before closing. Admission ticket is £ 9 per adult.

Wallace Monument

Wallace Monument (left photo below), also known as National Wallace Monument, is a tower to commemorate Sir William Wallace who was a 13th century Scottish hero for the independence of Scotland against England. If you have watched the movie Braveheart, perhaps William Wallace might be a familiar character who was portrayed by Mel Gibson.

At the foot of the hill has the display board detailing the admission and opening hours of the monument (right photo below).

Visitors have to climb up the hill in order to reach the monument (left photo below). Completed in 1869 at a cost of £18,000, the monument measures 67-metres and it takes 246 steps of spiral staircase to reach the viewing gallery inside the monument's crown (right photo below). Standing at a corner of the monument is the statue of William Wallace (bottom left photo), while other parts of the tower are decorated extensively with relief (bottom right photo).

Opening hours of the monument varies: 1000 to 1700 hours (Apr to Jun), 1000 to 1800 hours (Jul to Aug), 1000 to 1700 hours (Sep to Oct) or 1030 to 1600 hours (Nov to Mar). Do note that last ticket is sold 45-mins before closing. Admission ticket is £ 7.50 per adult.

We didn’t visit the exhibition inside this monument as it was already closed when we arrived there.

Ochil Hills and Forth Valley

Extensive landscape of Ochil Hills and Forth Valley (photos below) can be viewed from the Stirling Castle or from the Wallace Monument. The shady sky with occasional ray of lights makes the sceneries even more charming.

Inverness City

We left Stirling and continued to drive up to the Scottish Highlands. Reached Inverness at about 9 pm. After check-in to our next lodging: Hawthorn Lodge Guest House, we decided to head towards the city centre for our dinner.

Found some parking lots in front of Inverness Train Station (photos below). Probably it was due to the day light that only when the sky was turning dark, then we felt hungry. And amazingly we didn’t realize that it had already passed 9 pm !

We walked along Academy street (photos below) to hunt for a decent restaurant but only could find this Chinese take-away store: Hong Kong Kitchen (bottom left photo). Ordered a seafood fried rice for myself (bottom right photo). Can’t remember the exact price for this dinner but the taste was satisfying especially after eating Swiss food for more than 3 months.

We had our dinner inside the hotel room, after which had a good rest at the Hawthorn Lodge.

Edinburgh

2010-06-03T21:13:00.046+08:00

Day One

After work, my colleague and I went to Houky for dinner before heading to the train station. Took train at 1737 hours from Neuchâtel to Geneva Train station. The cost of the return train tickets cost CHF 44. After custom clearance, we checked in our Swiss Air flight LX 358 at 2035 hours. Seats are comfortable and interestingly there are screens (left photo below) showing documentaries and cartoons after take-off. Simple light snacks of bread and hot beverage were served (right photo below) during the short journey.

The flight reached Heathrow Airport at about 9.20 pm. After custom clearance, we then took the complementary shuttle van to Sixt service centre near Heathrow Airport. This was followed by some verification and documentation before we drove to London Stansted Airport to pick up another colleague who would be joining us in this trip. We didn’t know that Heathrow and Stansted airports are directly opposite each other with London City located between them. Thus it took us more than an hour’s drive to reach Stansted Airport. It was already closed to mid-night when we departed from the Stansted and headed towards Birmingham. By the time we reached Apollo Hotel, it was about 2 am. After some wash-up, we had a good rest for the night.

Day Two

Woke up at about 8 am and we paid £ 5 per person for our breakfast at Apollo Hotel café. Next we drove up to Edinburgh. Beautiful landscapes and weather (photos below) caught our sights during the drive.

We had coffee at one of the café outlets known as 'Coasta' along the motorways. As the sceneries was too beautiful, we even stopped along the road to take pictures (photos below).

Edinburgh City

Edinburgh (爱丁堡) is this country’s capital and second largest city. The well-known Edinburgh International Festival is held there annually. In 1995, the Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

We reached Edinburgh at about 4 pm, and despite the heavy traffic, we still managed to find a car park near the castle. However there was still quite a distance for us to walk up hill to the castle entrance.

Edinburgh Castle

From the foot of hill, the Edinburgh Castle (photos below) looks very fairy-tale like which fits the image of Hogwarts School in Harry Potter series.

Edinburgh Castle has played many roles over centuries. It has been a residence for Scotland’s monarchs, a prison for her enemies, a repository for her treasures – but it has always been a military stronghold. To this day, the Army has a military and ceremonial presence at the castle.

The Gatehouse (left photo below) was built in 1888 with the sole intention of making the castle look more imposing. It replaced a much simpler 17th century gate. The Scottish Royal Arms (right photo below) is represented on gatehouse together with a banner below that inscribed with a Latin motto of Scottish Army regiments: "NEMO : ME : IMPUNE : LACESSIT", which translated as "No one harasses me unpunished". At both sides are bronze statues of King Robert the Bruce (bottom left photo) and Sir William Wallace (bottom right photo) set into the façade of the gate. They are added in 1929 to mark the 600th anniversary of Bruce’s death.

The Portcullis Gate (photos below) is a formidable entrance built as the principle gateway into the castle after the Lang Siege ended in 1573. It marks entrance to the Middle Ward of the Castle. Originally the gate had four barriers – an iron portcullis and three pairs of wooden doors. Now visitors can still see the iron crooks on which the heavy doors were hung.

The Argyle Battery (left photo below) was built in 1730s. These six guns are not the original armament, but on loan from the Royal Armories. They are cast-iron, muzzle-loading 18-pounders, made around 1810 (right photo below).

Views from the Castle were outstanding. On the north (left photo below) is the 18th century New Town - one of the greatest works of Georgian town-planning in the British Isle. Northeast view (right photo below) showed the Scott Monument, Princes Mall and the Calton Hill.

The exhibition on 'The Honors of the Kingdom' is the highlight of this castle and should not to be missed. It is located at the Crown Room and visitors have to walk up a flight of stairs (left photo below) before reaching the exhibition.

The story begins with Robert the Bruce being crowned in 1306 (right photo below).

The Honors of the Kingdom – the Crown, Sceptre and Sword of State – are the oldest crown jewels in the British Isle. The Sword of State was presented to James IV by Pope Julius II in 1507 (left photo below). Whereas the Crown was made for James V in 1540 by an Edinburgh goldsmith (right photo below). They were first used together for the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543.

However from 1651 to 1660, they lay buried to preserve them from the clutches of Oliver Cromwell (left photo below). After the 1707 Treaty of Union, they were locked away in the Crown Room. Until Walter Scott in 1818, with Royal approval, opened the oak chest (right photo below) and found them intact after being kept for 111 years.

These treasures are exhibited inside the Crown Room with tight security and no photographs allowed. Only through the information panels (photos below) that visitors can gain a better understanding of these valuable jewels.

The other important exhibit is the Stone of Destiny. This stone is a coarse-grained sandstone block measuring 67 x 42 x 26.5 cm and weighs 152-kg. For centuries the Stone of Destiny served the seat on which the Scottish Kings were enthroned at Scone, near Perth, Scotland. Then, in 1296, Edward I of England, had it forcibly removed and kept in Westminster Abbey in London where it was enclosed within a new throne – the Coronation Throne. Since then, the stone has been used in coronation ceremonies of most monarchs of England from 1714. On Nov 30, 1996 this ancient stone was returned back to Scotland and now exhibited in the Crown Room besides the Honors of Scotland. Only when there is a coronation in Westminster Abbey that this stone will ever leave Scotland.

The Royal Palace (left photo below) was the royal residence in the castle, which were the residence of the later Stewart monarchs. It was begun in the mid 15th century, during the reign of James IV, and it originally communicated with David's Tower. The building was extensively remodeled for the visit of James VI to the castle in 1617, when state apartments for the king and queen were built.

The cramped birthchamber (right photo below) was where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her only child – James VI in 1603.

The Laich Hall (left photo below) was recently restored back to the decorations in 1617 which was originally used to serve as an outer reception room and dinning chamber for King James VI.

Completed in 1511, the Great Hall (right photo below), measures 29 by 12.5 meters, was intended to serve as a place of ceremony in the castle.

The Scottish National War Memorial (left photo below) was officially opened in 1927. The building was originally a castle church of St Mary but was later converted into ammunition store in 1530s. This memorial now commemorates the dead of First and Second World Wars, and also military campaigns since 1945. A stylized unicorn (right photo below), supporter of the Royal Arms of Scotland, guards the entrance to the War Memorial together with the armed sentry.

The vaults beneath the Crown Square are bleak spaces that were used as prisons for centuries. The cells (photos below) have been reconstructed to show how they would have looked in the late 18th century.

The prison doors once held captive thousands of prisoners of war through three major wars: the Seven Years War (1756-63), the War of American Independence (1776-83) and The Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815). Some of the graffiti (photos below) made by the prisoners showed that they sailed in several kinds of ships before reaching the castle.

The military prison (photos below) was built in 1842 for defaulting soldiers from the garrison, for offences such as 'drunk on guard'. In the 1880s, it was extended by increasing the number of cells from 12 to 16 in response to new health regulations.

Independent museums devoted to two of Scotland’s oldest regiments are housed in the New Barracks and the Drill Hall opposite. Many important exhibits are dedicated to the history and honor of the regiments (photos below).

The Foog’s Gate (left photo below) was built in the 17th century, during a major fortification of the castle commissioned by King Charles II. However the origin of the name is unknown. Walls on both sides of the gate have openings for cannons and muskets.

The Governor’s house (right photo below) was built in 1742 for the castle governor. Lodging for his principal staff officers, the mater gunner and storekeeper, were provided in the two wings. The building is now an officer’s mess for the garrison stationed in the castle.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the few ancient castles in Britain that still has a military garrison, mainly for ceremonial and administrative purposes. Public duties performed by the garrison include guarding the Honours of Scotland, and armed sentries stand watch at the castle gatehouse outside opening hours. We were lucky to witness the changing of these guards (photos below) when we were to leave the castle.

Opening hours of the Edinburgh Castle is 0930 to 1800 hours (Apr to Sep) or 0930 to 1700 hours (Oct to Mar). Admission cost is £ 15 per adult during peak period (Jun to Sep) or £ 14 during off-peak period (Oct to May).

The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is a succession of streets which form the main road of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh. As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scots mile long, and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock down to Holyrood Abbey. It is still possible, among 66 alleys and closes off the main street, to sense Edinburgh’s medieval past. The Royal Mile is now a diverse mix of tourist shops and eateries.

Starting from the Edinburgh Castle, The Hub (left photo below), easily recognized by its characteristic spires. It is the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival.

St. Giles Cathedral (right photo below) is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at the mid point of the Royal Mile.

The Mercat Cross (left photo below) marks the city centre. It was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie was proclaimed King in 1745. Diagonally opposite the Cross is The City Chambers (right photo below) built in 1750s is where the City of Edinburgh Council meets.

Further down the street is Tron Kirk (left photo below) that was built in 1630 for the Presbyterians who left St. Giles Cathedral when it came under the control of the Bishop of Edinburgh.

Until the 18th century most residents in Edinburgh lived along and underneath the Royal Mile and Cowgate. The old abandoned cellars and basements, which lacked any proper water supply, daylight or ventilation, were once centers of domestic life and industry. Anchor Close (right photo below) is one of such famous areas linking the Royal Mile to Cockburn street.

Dinner at ClamShell

As we were tired from the Castle visit and walking along the Royal Mile, we decided to have our dinner in this ClamShell eatery (left photo below) located at 148 High Street of Royal Mile. Ordered a fried fillet and Mango ice tea for £ 6 (right photo below) and coleslaw at £ 1.30 for myself.

Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became famous in the 19th-century. After the death of his owner, John Gray, the dog spent 14-years guarding his owner's grave until he died on 14 January 1872. A year later, Lady Burdett-Coutts had a statue and fountain erected (photos below) to commemorate him. This monument is located at the southern end of the George IV Bridge.

The Elephant House

The Elephant House (left photo below), opened in 1995, was made famous as the place of inspiration to writers such as J.K. Rowling, who sat writing much of her early novels in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle (right photo below). This café even claims that it is the birthplace of Harry Potter.

Bridges in Edinburgh

Two bridges spanned over the railway tracks that connects the Old Town to New Town of Edinburgh. North Bridge, opened in 1772, is a road bridge and street linking the High Street with Princes Street. Situated on the bridge is a war memorial which memorializes soldiers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers killed in campaigns between 1878 and 1902 (left photo below). The other bridge is Waverley Bridge (right photo below) which linked Market Street to Princes Street.

Scott Monument

The Scott Monument (left photo below) is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott (right photo below). The tower is 61.11- meters high and has a series of viewing decks.

Hard Rock Café Edinburgh

Located at 20 George Street at New Town of Edinburgh, this Hard Rock Café (left photo below) has something that is different from the rest of the cafés throughout the world. Of course there’s city-specific souvenir for collectors, such as the Edinburgh Hard Rock Bears (right photo below).

Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is a public garden in the centre of the city with Edinburgh Castle as its backdrop. There are many monuments and statues within the garden, such as the Scottish poet: Allan Ramsay (left photo below). Many wooden benches (right photo below) outside the garden fences along Princes Street were donated generously by various groups and people from the society.

Together with my colleagues, we walked towards the car park to get our car, and then drove to Northfield House Hotel to check-in for the night.

Scotland (Jun '10) - Overview

2010-06-02T20:17:00.056+08:00

Had a short trip to Scotland from 02 Jun (Wed) to 06 Jun (Sun) with my two colleagues. Scotland (苏格兰) is a country part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国), occupying the northern part of the island of Great Britain. Besides it's rich history, the beautiful natural sceneries is another factor that attracted us to visit this country. From the distinctive national dress, drink, bagpipe music, and folklore, Scotland has shaped an identity easily recognizable.

Historically, the Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the Early Middle Ages and continued to exist until 1603 with the succession of James VI of Scotland to the English and Irish thrones. In 1707, Scotland entered into an incorporating political union with England to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain resulted from the Treaty of Union.

Leisure trip at a glance

Country: Scotland – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Period: 02 Jun to 06 Jun 2010
Flight timings:
02 Jun: LX 358, GVA–LHR, ETD 2035 ETA 2115
06 Jun: LX 349, LHR–GVA, ETD 1715 ETA 1955
Air tickets: Return tickets at SGD $305.97 (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodations:
Apollo Hotel – Birmingham (02 Jun)
Northfield House Hotel – Edinburgh (03 Jun)
Hawthorn Lodge Guest House – Inverness (04 Jun)
Home from Home Guest House – Cumbria (05 Jun)
Currency exchange rate: GBP £ 1.00 = SGD $2.07 (Jun ’10 period)

There is time difference of one hour between Switzerland (Central Europe time) and United Kingdom (Western Europe time). Total damage was about SGD $750 including flight tickets, airport taxes, transport, food and hotel, excluding personal expenses.

Here's the overview of the trip itinerary:

Day 1 – Evening flight LX 358 from Geneva International Airport (Switzerland) to London Heathrow Airport (UK). Took the complimentary shuttle van to Sixt for car rental. After which drove to London Stansted Airport (UK) to pickup another colleague, and we continued to Birmingham. Checked in Apollo Hotel and had a good rest.

Day 2 – From Birmingham, we drove up to Edinburgh. At Edinburgh, we visited Edinburgh Castle, and walked along Royal Mile. Had dinner at one of the eateries along the Royal Mile. We then explored the Edinburgh city where we visited Greyfriars Bobby, The Elephant House, Scott Monument, and lastly Hard Rock Café to get some souvenirs. Checked in at Northfield House Hotel for the night.

Day 3 – Explored other parts of Edinburgh, including Rosslyn Chapel, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scottish Parliament Building, and Calton Hill. Next, we drove up to Stirling. Along the way we bought sandwiches for lunch from one of the petrol stations. At Stirling, we visited Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. After which we headed to Inverness, and checked in Hawthorn Lodge Guest House. Bought Chinese take-away and had it inside our guest house.

Day 4 – Walked around Inverness town and then visited Chanonry Point, Loch Ness Exhibition Centre and Urquhart Castle. Had sandwiches for lunch from one of the petrol stations again. Drove to Fort William and bought our Chinese takeaways for dinner. Had our meal at a golf course carpark after we took some photos of Ben Nevis. This was followed by driving pass A82 highway to Cumbria to check in Home from Home Guest House.

Day 5 – Drove down towards London and had breakfast at EDC along the highway. After dropping off our colleague at Stansted Airport, we then drove towards Heathrow Airport to return the car at Sixt. After which took the complementary shuttle to Heathrow Airport. Shopped at the transit area of the airport before boarded flight LX 349 back to Geneva Airport.

London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport (IATA code: LHR) is located in London Borough of Hillingdon. This airport is the busiest in the United Kingdom and fourth in the world (based on statistic tabulated in 2011). Heathrow has a total of 5 terminals utilized by over 90 airlines which connect to about 170 destinations worldwide. Our flight Swiss Airlines uses Terminal 1 which servers mainly members of Star Alliance. Heathrow together with other 6 airports, namely Biggin Hill, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Southend and City, all served the air-traffic for London.

Over 70 shops (left photo below) are located inside the Departure Lounge of Terminal 1, including the famous brands like HMV, WHSmith, Hugo Boss, Longchamp and of course Harrods (right photo below). This was one of the outlets where I took a photo with Harrods’s gigantic mascot.

Transportation

Car Rental

From the experiences of other colleagues that it is easy to self drive in UK, we decided to do the same when in Scotland. However after checking the price of internal flight from London to Scotland, and comparing the price of the rental car, we opted for the choice of doing a self-drive from London to Scotland. One main reason for choosing London as a starting point was because our other colleague was flying in from Austria and we were getting in from Switzerland. London is most accessible by most international flight, and thus we decided to meet at London to start off our journey.

My colleague went through several car rental services in UK and finally selected Sixt. Known to be one of the largest car rental companies in Europe, Sixt has more than 3500 service centre worldwide. Complementary shuttle service is available at Heathrow Airport to their service center (left photo below). We just need to follow the signs of 'Off Airport Car Rental Bus stops' and the shuttle van took less than 5-mins to pick us up.

The car rented to us was a brand-new Ford Focus. The car’s interior was equipped with standard features (right photo below) and the car’s exterior was spotless too (bottom photos). One important device which my colleagues brought to this trip was the GPS.

The car rental rate was based on per day, and in total we rented for 4 days (96-hours). Including all the taxes like local tax, 3rd party insurance, road tax etc, the total cost we paid was £ 217.35.

Self Driving in UK

Do note that Singapore driving license is recognized in UK and can be used as international driving permit. All cars in UK are left-hand drive and the highways (or motorways) in UK are generally smooth with adequate lightings and signages. All distances are measured in miles and speed limits are 30 – 40 mph (50 - 65 km/h) in built up areas but can exceed up to 70 mph (110 km/h) on motorways. Just like Singapore, wearing safety belts is compulsory and it is illegal to drive while using a hand-held mobile phone. And of course there are severe penalties for drinking and driving.

Driving can be a little tricky when the weather turned hazy (left photo below). Luckily this bad weather encountered was only on our way back to London. One joke that my colleague made was he couldn’t understand why there were many "F09" signs flashing (right photo below) along the motorways, until we told him that it meant "Fog".

Public Transport in Edinburgh

While traveling in Edinburgh, I saw a dozens of coach tours available offering half and full-days tours, such as this Vintage open top bus (left photo below). Public transport in Edinburgh is extensive and efficient, and buses are operated by two main companies, namely Lothian (right photo below) and First Edinburgh. There is an unlimited day bus ticket for £ 3.20, while each single flat fare per trip cost £ 1.30 per adult.

Apollo Hotel

Booked this hotel via the internet only 1 week in advance for a standard triple room at SGD 91.50 per night without breakfast. Apollo Hotel (left photo below) is located at 243 Hagley Road, Edgbaston at Birmingham. There is free parking in this hotel and free wifi.

Our room (right photo below) is clean and has an attached bathroom. However one drawback was the room is located on the 3rd floor and there was not direct access from the lift. It took us some effort to walk up with the heavy luggage.

Breakfast was not included in the hotel package, but we paid additional £ 5 per person. The café was large and has sufficient seats (left photo below), and the selection was typical of English Breakfast (right photo below).

Northfield House Hotel

Booked by my colleague, we paid £60 per twin room with additional bed per night, with breakfast. Northfield House Hotel (left photo below) is located at 115 Lasswade Road at Edinburgh.

The room design (right photo below) was my favorite among the 4 hotels we stayed. The dinning room (bottom left photo) was spacious styled with pine furniture. Like all standard B&B (Bed and Breakfast) in UK, breakfast is often prepared by the owner. We had toasted bread for a start (bottom right photo).

And followed by self-service cornflakes (left photo below) from the cereal counter, and lastly the mushroom sausage breakfast (right photo below) made by the owner himself.

Hawthorn Lodge Guest House

Located at 15 Fairfield Road at Inverness Highland, Hawthorn Lodge Guest House (left photo below) is a family run guest house. We paid £ 75 for family room with 1 double bed (right photo below) and a single bed with a private bathroom.

Breakfast was at the dinning room (left photo below) located at ground floor, and the menu for the day was beacons ham and eggs (right photo below).

Home from Home Guest House

Booked this Guest House only two days before our official check-in during our trip in Scotland. Home from Home (left photo below) is located at 6 English Street, Longtown at Carlile Cumbria. Cumbria is northest county in England just south of Scotland. Our room consisted of 3 single beds (right photo below) which was nicely decorated with dried flowers (bottom left photo). Although breakfast was included, we didn’t take it at this cozy dinning area (bottom right photo) as we had to leave very early the next day in order for us to reach the airport on time.

Interesting Observations

Guess Singapore isn’t that far from the two commercial billboards I saw during this trip. Time of 'Singapour' (French spelling) and other Asian countries was displayed on a poster at Geneva Airport (left photo below), while the skyline of Singapore (right photo below) was used as a backdrop at Heathrow Airport.

Icons of UK: the Red Telephone Booth (left photo below) and Pillar Mailbox (right photo below) can be seen along Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Is there a design flaw? Bus stops at Edinburgh are protected with transparent sheets at 3 sides while the opening is back-facing the road (left photo below). This makes passengers boarding / alighting difficult. However on a second thought, it's more logical based on the rationale that the transparent sheets are to protect passengers from strong cold winds caused by rushing vehicles, especially during winter period.

On the contrary, I still can’t think of good reasons why there are two separate taps for hot and cold water (right photo below).

If you think that the currency notes in Hong Kong are confusing, then it's even more complicated in Scotland. There are 3 Scottish Banks authorized to issue bank notes, namely Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank. In addition, bank notes issued by Bank of England can also be used throughout Scotland (photos below). So that makes four designs of same value currency notes circulating in Scotland at the same time.

To make full use of money, there are Pound Stretcher (left photo below) and Poundland (right photo below) in UK for smart consumer. This is very similar to the Daiso store in Singapore. Interestingly I didn’t get to see these shops when I was in London.

Running out of ideas for Scotland souvenirs? Here’s what my two colleagues bought in Edinburgh (left photo below). Perhaps a Scottish Kilt may make a good collection which is sold in almost every souvenir shops (right photo below).

Probably the most iconic of Scottish culture is the Scottish Bagpipers. How can a trip to Scotland be complete without taking a photo with these bagpipers? There are dummy ones (left photo below) displayed in most castle museums and artists (right photo below) playing along the streets.

Useful Links:

WikiTravel - Scotland
http://wikitravel.org/en/Scotland

Visit Scotland
http://www.visitscotland.com/

All Travel Scotland
http://www.alltravelscotland.com/

Historic Scotland
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index.htm

Liechtenstein (May '10)

2010-05-29T13:26:00.010+08:00

Went to Vaduz (瓦都茲) of the Principality of Liechtenstein (列支敦士登公国) with my colleagues on 29 May (Sat). Lies entirely within the Alps, Liechtenstein is a double-landlocked country bordered by Switzerland and Austria, and with an area of just over 160 km². Thus Liechtenstein earned itself to be the 3rd smallest country in Europe after Vatican City and San Marino. For comparison, Liechtenstein is just slightly more than one-fifth the size of Singapore.

Liechtenstein is the last German-speaking monarchy country and it has its capital at Vaduz. Though the country has an estimated population of 35,000, but interesting it is the second highest gross domestic product (GDP) per person in the world. Liechtenstein uses Swiss Franc as their national currency.

Took a morning train from Neuchâtel at 0724 hours and arrived at Sargans at about 1032 hours. Along the journey, beautiful sceneries could be seen when the train traveled pass Lake Zurich (photos below). One observation was the clouds were seems to be hanging low near to the lake. My guess is that we were at a higher altitude.

This was my first time taking a double-deck train (left photo below). The cabin has sufficient space for passenger movement even though it is second class. Finally after more than 3 hours of train ride, we arrived at a Switzerland town – Sargans (right photo below).

A majestic mountain welcomed us upon stepping out of the train (left photo below). The bus that we need to take was just across a the road (right photo below). We boarded Bus no. 12 (bottom left photo) which took about 15-mins to reach the capital Vaduz directly. The bus was air-conditioned which is very similar to those of Switzerland (bottom right photo). Cost per ride was CHF 3.60.

Along the journey, I realized that bus-stop at Liechtenstein has a clear and bright signage (left photo below). Also I noticed that the word ‘Post’ was found at every bus-stop. Not too sure if this word means ‘bus-stop’ in Liechtenstein?

We alighted at ‘Post Vaduz’ (right photo below), which is just in front of the capital centre.

Liechtenstein Center

Walked behind the bus stop and the Liechtenstein center (left photo below) caught my attention, especially the colorful flags hanging above. As part of the promotional presentation for Shanghai Expo 2010, the Chinese name of Liechtenstein was displayed (right photo below) outside the center.

According to most travel guides, the best souvenir to get from this country is a Liechtenstein stamp on the passport (left photo below). Each stamp (right photo below) cost CHF 3 or EUR 2 and it is unique because there are no custom checks at either Liechtenstein boundaries; be it from Switzerland or Austria.

Besides the stamp, there is souvenir coins available for collectors from a dispensing machine (left photo below) located outside the center. Collectors' coins or medallions are common in most European countries, in which the cultural heritage or landmarks of each city will be embossed onto these coins. Each medallion sold from the machine cost EUR 2 and I only got myself the design of Vaduz Castle (right photo below).

The smell of barbeque food was so strong that we were attracted to these food stalls (left photo below). Interesting there was roasted suckling pig (right photo below). Probably there is no cultural difference when comes to delicious food. The barbeque smell actually came from this stall (bottom left photo) and I bought a burger with sausages (bottom right photo) for CHF 10. The taste of the sausages was great.

Vaduz Streets

There was some performance at the Liechtenstein center on that day (left photo below) but we only stayed for less than 15-mins to watch the performance while having our lunch. Decided to stroll along the main street of Vaduz and I saw this cow painted with the national flag of Liechtenstein (right photo below). This definitely will make good background for travel photos.

Most shops at Vaduz sell souvenirs that are associated to Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The hand-crafted wooden dolls displayed outside the shops looked delicate and eye-catching (photos below). Wonder if anyone will buy out of impulse?

As it was Saturday, weekly Saturday market was held under the shaded canopy (left photo below). Farmers from various parts of the country will gather at this market place to sell their product. The streets of Vaduz aren’t that long (photos below) and can be covered easily within half an hour by foot.

Tourist Attractions at Vaduz

The Liechtenstein National Museum, also known as Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, is a public foundation of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The museum displayed the national and natural histories of Liechtenstein. The musuem is just located besides the Liechtenstein center (right photo below). Cost of admission is CHF 8 per adult, and opening time from 1000 to 1700 hours (from Tuesday to Sunday) and extension till 2000 hours on Wednesday. The museum is closed on Monday.

Just a few minutes walk down the street from the National Museum is the Post Museum (right photo below). It collects and preserves important documents of the Liechtenstein philately and postal history. Admission is free and daily opening hours from 1000 to 1200 hours and 1300 to 1700 hours.

Liechtenstein Art Museum, known as Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, is the state museum for the Modern and Contemporary Arts of Liechtenstein and other international collections. This modern building is only completed in year 2000 (left photo below). Regular admission to the museum is CHF 12 and free on 1st Sunday of the month. Opening time is from 1000 to 1700 hours (from Tuesday to Sunday) and extension till 2000 hours on Thursday. The museum is closed on Monday.

Though not exactly a museum, the Rathaus of Vaduz (right photo below) is worth taking a look as it was built in 1932 till 1933. Rathaus is a German word which means City Hall.

There is also city train tour available just behind the market place. The train (left photo below) looked similar to the trams except it runs on wheels. Tickets can be purchased from the counter (right photo below) behind, at CHF 10.50 or EUR 7 per adult. The whole ride takes about 35-mins around the Vaduz city. We didn’t take the ride as we intended to visit the next landmark: Vaduz castle.

Vaduz Castle

Vaduz Castle, or Schloss Vaduz in German, is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. A model of the Vaduz Castle (left photo below) is displayed directly behind the market place; probably for tourists. The signage (right photo below) ‘Schloss’ directed us towards the castle. The path leading to the castle are steep at times (bottom left photo) and can be slippery during raining season. Historical and geographical information about Liechtenstein can be learned from the information boards (bottom right photo) while walking up along the path.

As the castle is located at a hilltop overlooking the Vaduz city, almost the whole city is within sight (photos below) from the viewing platform along the path. Also the Austrian Alps can be seen clearly opposite the city.

Since 1938, the castle has been the primary residence of Liechtenstein's Royal Family. To me the castle look modest from outside compared to other castles I’ve seen (photos below) even though it is the royal palace of a country.

Do note that Vaduz castle is not open to tourists and are guarded tightly round the clock.

Gutenberg Castle

Located in Balzers municipality, the Gutenberg Castle is owned by the State. There is a restaurant inside the castle, and cultural as well as social events are held at the castle occasionally. The photos below were taken during the bus ride on the way to (left photo below) and back (right photo below) from Sargans.

From the schedule posted at the Post Vaduz (left photo below), bus timing is fixed in Liechtenstein. Just like Switzerland, the buses are very punctual and this was verified by the Bus no 12 arriving on time at 1450 hours. A ticket was issued to every passenger (right photo below) and the cost of each ride was CHF 3.60.

This visit to Liechtenstein was the shortest tour I’ve ever made to a country in less than 4 hours. Though small and almost similar to most towns in Switzerland, the visit does give me an opportunity to understand this lesser-known and mysterious European country better.

We then took train to visit the Rhine Falls in Switzerland.

Windsor / Salisbury / Bath

2010-05-24T20:54:00.013+08:00

Day Four

Booked the day tour from Premium Tours almost 3 weeks prior to our arrival in London via the internet for £ 69 per person. Reason is we don’t want to be disappointed and wanted to get out of London city on our last available full-day. This tour covered 3 sights, namely Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. The duration of the tour took about 12-hours.

After breakfast, my colleague and I walked a few streets away to Hilton hotel to be picked up by the complementary shuttle bus to Victoria Coach station (left photo below). The coach bus departed at 0830 hours sharp and took about an hour to reach the first sight: Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle

Upon reaching the Admission Centre of the Castle, the tour guide handed us an admission ticket each (right photo above). After some security screening, the tour group was brought to the Audio Tour Collection / Return booth (left photo below) to collect our Audio Guide (right photo below). This audio guide was used inside the Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the State Apartment.

Windsor Castle is one of the oldest royal residences still in use today. For over 900 years it has been a potent symbol of the monarchy. Built by William the Conqueror within what was a royal hunting forest after the Norman Conquest in 1066, Windsor Castle has been successively enlarged, adapted and rebuilt by monarchs from Henry II to Queen Elizabeth II. The fire in 1992 gave the Castle a new legacy; including the superb new interior to the historic St. George’s Hall, and most recently the Jubilee Garden has been added to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. The castle remains an important venue for ceremonial visits from Heads of State of other countries.

Our tour guide led us through the various structures / buildings within the castle, such as the King Henry VIII Gate (left photo below) and Victoria Monument (right photo below) of the lower ward. Followed by the St George’s Gate (bottom left photo) and Engine Court (bottom right photo) in the middle ward of the castle.

The keep, better known as Round Tower (left photo below), is easily recognizable among the many structures of the middle ward within the castle. If a Sovereign’s Standard flag is seen flying from this Round Tower, this indicates that the Queen is in residence. From the photo below, the Queen was not around during our visit. The tour group was next led to the Upper ward (right photo below) to visit the Castle’s main exhibition: Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the State Apartment. As no photography is allowed inside the Castle, therefore I can’t post any pictures here to illustrate its exquisite Gothic interiors.

According to our guide, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family continue to spend most of their private weekends at an exclusive part of Windsor Castle and this area (photos below) is definitely out-of bounds to visitors.

Changing the Guard (photos below) takes place at 1100 hours daily, when weather permitting, from Monday to Saturday from April to end of July, or on alternative days from August to end of March. Do note that there is no Changing the Guard on Sundays.

St. George's Chapel

St. George's Chapel (photos below) is the place of worship at Windsor Castle. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter. The chapel is located in the Lower Ward of the castle, which is one of the principal residences of Queen Elizabeth II.

The chapel has been the site of many royal weddings and funerals.

Windsor Royal Shopping

Windsor Royal Shopping (photos below) is located at Windsor & Eton Central station. This train station is one of two terminal stations serving the town of Windsor in Berkshire. A tourist oriented shopping centre; the mall has over 40 shops with an array of continental style restaurants and bars, and an art and craft market which open daily.

The coach bus brought us to a country pub for lunch. Price of lunch was not included in the tour package and an additional cost of £ 11 was required for Fish and Chip. However the tour agent recently decided to include lunch as part of the tour package; as the saying 'there's no free lunch in this world', the cost of the tour also increased.

Stonehenge

The tour group was then brought to the second sight: Stonehenge (photos below). Like the Windsor Castle tour, hand-held audio guide was also distributed to each visitor.

Probably the most famous prehistoric monument in the world, Stonehenge stands in the middle of the vast empty tract of Salisbury plain located in the Wiltshire county. Its origins can date back to nearly 5,000 years, and has been home to pagan religion and spiritual worship. The stones are aligned to the mid-summer sunrise and mid-winter sunset, but its exact purpose remains a mystery. More mysteries still remain unsolved such as who carved and moved these 40-tons stone to the present site.

Perhaps it’s these mysteries that make Stonehenge more charming and fascinating (photos below).

Besides the henge, there is one famous stone known as the 'Heel Stone' (left photo below) that stands near the main entrance next to A344 road. It is about 7.6-meters tall from the ground, weighs almost 35-tons and leans southwest nearly 27 degrees from the vertical. Like other stones, its exact purpose remains unsolved. One interesting observation was sheeps can be found grazing and resting (right photo below) at the plains close to the Stonehenge.

Stonehenge, together with its surroundings, was listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1986.

City of Bath

Bath is a city of Somerset County located 156-km west of London. The city was first established as a spa for the Romans. The Romans built baths and a temple on the surrounding hills of Bath in the valley of the River Avon around the hot springs. Much later, Bath (left photo below) became a popular as a spa town during the Georgian era.

While the coach bus was moving, I managed to take a snapshot of the Pulteney Bridge (right photo below). Built in 1773, the bridge was modeled after Ponte Vecchio of Florence and the Ponte di Rialto of Venice, both in Italy.

The city has become one of the most visited cities in England as many buildings are built in Georgian style (photos below). The surge in tourism is mainly attributed to the city being listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

Bath Abbey

Also known as the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the Bath Abbey (left photo below) is located in the centre of the city. The building contains monuments to several notable people, and has two organs and a peal of ten bells. One interesting feature of this church is 'Angels' are seen climbing the Jacob's Ladder (right photo below) on the west front of Bath Abbey.

We were allowed to self-explore the city for about 45-mins before the tour group met up for our last visit inside the Roman Bath.

The Roman Baths

Gathered outside the entrance of the Roman Baths (left photo below), each of us was given an orange chip (right photo below) as an admission token into the museum.

The Roman Baths complex is a site of well preserved Roman site for public bathing. The original site was used by the Roman during 1st century, while the current buildings were built in 18th to 19th century. The actual bath is below the modern street level (left photo below), while carvings of many Roman Emperors and Governors of Roman Britain (right photo below) are found on the terrace overlooking the bath.

The museum houses many artefacts from the Roman period, including objects which were thrown into the Sacred Spring (photos below).

Miniature models (photos below) are used to illustrate the former structure and various functions of the bath complex.

Surprisingly water still flows through the Roman Baths from the Sacred Spring Overflow (photos below). However the water that flows through the Roman Baths is considered unsafe for bathing; an incident occurred in 1979 proven that the water is contaminated with infectious diseases.

The Great Bath (photos below) is still fed with hot water from the hot spring and often steam can be seen rising from these baths. Hot water at a temperature of 46°C rises at the rate of 1,170,000 litres every day from a geological fault.

Besides the thermal bath, the circular bath known as frigidarium (left photo below) was a cold pool used for swimming or a dip after soaking in a hot bath. A caldarium was another feature in Roman Baths where it was a room with hot water plunge. The floor has been removed in the museum (right photo below) to reveal the empty spaces where the hot air flowed through to heat up the floor.

After boarded the coach bus, and while the bus just began to depart, I took the last set of photos of the terraced houses of this historical city (photos below). This day trip ended by departing from Bath and we were then droved back to London city.

Dinner at Malaysia Kopi Tiam

We had dinner at this Malaysia Kopi Tiam (left photo below) for the last time as we really missed Singaporean food badly while staying in Switzerland. We shared a plate of Fried Chicken Wings at £ 3 (right photo below), while I ordered a mushroom noodles at £ 6 (bottom left photo) and an ice BoBo ChaCha at £ 2.80 (bottom right photo) for myself. Taste was good and authentic as expected.

Day Five

Woke up early in the morning, we took the public bus no. 148 to Victoria Station and followed by Gatwick Express to the airport.

As we didn’t take the complementary breakfast at the hotel, soon after custom checks at Gatwick Airport, we then had our breakfast at an eatery called 'EAT' inside the transit area. This was where I ordered a sausage muffin at £ 2.05 and a cup of mocha at £ 2.05 with £ 0.35 of organic whipping cream (left photo below). Must comment that this meal was fulfilling which lasted me till I reached Geneva Airport at 1100 hours. After which I then bought a sandwich at CHF 2 and an ice peach tea at CHF 1 (right photo below) from a local supermarket 'Migros' at Gevena train station.

Had a quick wash-up at my apartment in Neuchâtel before heading back to the office for lunch and worked for the rest of the day. With this, it ended my tiring but fulfilling 5-days trip in London.