by simeon | Feb 16, 2022 | Food, Fun, Sights, Travel Experience
Bansko is a small town at the foot of mountain Pirin in southwestern Bulgaria. In recent years, Bansko has become a quite famous winter destination, especially in northern Greece, due to the nice winter tourist facilities, the very good ski slope and its attractive prices!
The Food
Bansko has several restaurants and traditional taverns called mehanas. The prices are more than reasonable and the atmosphere in all the taverns is warm and charming. You should try kapama (meat, rice and sauerkraut), chomlek (potatoes with boiled meat) and locally smoked dishes, like sausages and beans, all ideal after an exhausting day on the slopes. There are of course restaurants that serve classic delicacies such as pizza, burgers and pasta. Most of taverns are located on Pirin Street or scattered in the alleys of the city.
Skiing at Bansko – The Ski Resort
Today Bansko is one of the first choices among fans of this popular winter sport. The ski center is located right above the town, some 12 km on the Pirin mountain. The ski slope is well made and safe while is over 70 km long. A modern, high-capacity lift (Basco Gondola) transports visitors from the city to the ski resort. As in most ski resorts around the world, here too, you can rent your equipment and if you are a beginner, you can also attend classes by experienced masters of the sport.
Bansko Ice Rink
This ice rink is located on Pirin Street about 200 meters away from the Bansko Gondola. It’s the ideal place for having fun with children or for those who don’t feel ready yet to try skiing but want to have a taste of winter sports. It isn’t a huge ice rink for professionals but a small, well-kept and cheap ice rink where you’ll spend some hours of fun, especially if you have children with you.
Thermal Springs & Spa
Bansko is the ideal place to visit some of the spas in the area and dedicate a day to alleviate your aching legs and tired muscles. Many small villages in the region have a natural spa with therapeutic properties, where the water reaches a very pleasant temperature(40 degrees) for the body. The most famous areas are Banya, Sandanski and Ognianovo. Having a spa is an activity that is highly recommended. The prices are low and the quality is excellent!
by simeon | Feb 16, 2022 | Food
Spain is famous for its interesting dishes and its traditional cuisine. That’s why you should prepare to try many Spanish specialties during your trip to Madrid. Down below, we recommend some of the top tastes you should definitely try in order to get to know Spanish culture and cuisine better.
What to have…
To start, you should try Paellas which is one of the most popular and authentic dishes. Then, you can try patatas bravas, but if you aren’t fans of hot tastes, it would be good to ask the accompanying sauce not to be added to your plate. Of course, you should taste the tapas, they are local Spanish delicacies. Finally, you can try street food, where the options are very attractive and numerous. Indicatively, we suggest you try bocadillos, which are baguettes with various delicious fillings. You can also try jamon, which is the well-known ham that is offered in a cone. Believe us, you’ll hardly be disappointed by any of the aforementioned foods/delicacies. Buen appetito!
by simeon | Feb 16, 2022 | Food
Are you going to visit London this year? Then, you shouldn’t miss the chance to try its famous english dish, fish and chips! We do know that London has endless options to offer when it comes to food, but you really have to choose fish and chips as one of your lunches in the English capital! Keep reading this article to find out more about this traditional English dish!
Fish battered and fried
Fish battered and fried! This dish has a tradition of many years in England, dating back to 1860 when immigrants from Spain and Portugal brought with them the two main ingredients for its creation. One of the first references was in the book “Oliver Twist” by Carol Dickens which mentions “fried fish warehouses”. Of course, the location of the first fish & chips restaurant in England is not clear. The dish became hugely popular in the 19th century when fishing in the North Sea increased rapidly and so the English middle class had access to cheap fish. The structure of the dish is simple but quite tasty: the fish which is usually breaded cod fried in hot oil, french fries, onion and a sauce of melted peas. The result is a crispy cod that you can accompany with enough lemon to taste. The dish is quite filling, and you can now find it in various fast food options. In London, there are various places where you can try fish & chips. Poppies Fish & Chips is one of the best known, as it’s a chain of restaurants in Soho, Camden Town and Spitalfields. In the heart of London, at 12 Tottenham Street, you can find Gigs Fish & Chips, which follows the traditional wood-fired cooking method, said to have been carried by Cypriot immigrants who belonged to the then Commonwealth. We suggest you try the famous dish, and we are sure you’ll lick your fingers!
by simeon | Feb 16, 2022 | Museums, Sights, Travel Experience
Zagreb was founded as two separate towns with their respective medieval fortifications at the top of the hills overlooking the Sava river, and was “reborn” during the Baroque period as a commercial center thanks to its strategic position as a crossroad of the main roads connecting Central Europe with the Adriatic Sea. Today, Zagreb is the center of the culture, arts, sports and education of modern Croatia. However, its long history shouldn’t be forgotten. The unique combination of medieval towers, 19th-century palaces, flea markets and ancient cathedrals makes Zagreb the perfect city to explore. Therefore, there are many reasons to visit it!
City tour
The northern side of Zagreb, Gornji Grad, is the most historic part of the city and has preserved its medieval alleys and streets. The southern part of the city, Donji Grad, was built in the 19th century and has some of the best restaurants in town which we highly recommend you to visit. Further south, crossing the Sava river, you’ll encounter the modern Zagreb. The city cable car, which has one of the shortest routes in the world at just 66 meters, is worth taking, as you can enjoy the great view of Zagreb at the top. Don’t miss to visit Ribnjak Park, where you can also see parts of the city fortifications from the 15th century. Also, in Zrinjevac Park, during summers, many free and interesting concerts are being organised. Finally, it’s no secret that the most beautiful lakes are in Croatia!
Visiting the museums
Zagreb is full of museums, with Muzej Mimara being the central one that houses works of Veronese, Van Dyck and Renoir. Horvath is an art gallery specialised in Croatian artists, like Zilic Davor and Malovec Hrvoje. In Moderna Galerija you’ll find works of modern croatian artists of the 19th and 20th century, such as Zlatko Bourek and Milan Steiner. Most sculptures of Mestrovic, who is known as “the Croatian Rodin”, are housed at the Atelier Mestrovic. The city’s museum of contemporary art, the Muzej Suvrememe Umetnosti, opened its gates in 2009 and has added an artistic value to a relatively indifferent area of Zagreb.
by simeon | Feb 16, 2022 | Museums, Sights, Travel Experience
City tourism or City Break according to the international term, is a rising trend mainly among experienced travelers. It regards those people who don’t just want a “superficial” and standard relationship with the popular urban destinations, but seek a deeper acquaintance with the culture, real life, rhythm and true character of a city. Sofia may not have a “cosmopolitan air” and it surely doesn’t show off its luxuries and wealth, however it’s authentic, intimate and friendly. What the bulgarian capital undoubtedly has to offer is a long journey into her past and an unexpected look into her future.
City Tour
We start from the famous Vitosha Avenue which is the busiest street in the capital. Apart from the countless shops and showcases of famous brands that you’ll see, the restaurants, the cafes, the bars with the exciting nightlife, here you’ll admire some of the most important sights of the city, such as the two landmark churches: the Cathedral Sveta Nedelya and the Rotunda of St. Georgiou. It’s also important to visit the gardens of the National Palace of Culture, and then pass in front of the National Opera in Rakovski, admire the monument to Tsar Osvoboditel that stands in front of the Parliament in Sabranie Square, and finally, enter the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Museums
Graffiti looks like an integral part of the cultural heritage of the city, with impressive street art designs painting various parts of it. The buildings and churches of the city, with their imposing volume, silently tell its history. In the museums, however, it is said that you discover the real Sofia. We definitely recommend you to visit the Archaeological Museum, which is housed in the building of the largest and oldest mosque in the city, and hosts, among others, important ancient Greek, Thracian and Roman exhibits. Plus, don’t forget to visit the National History Museum, one of the richest in Eastern Europe and the Museum of Socialist Art with its impressive “garden”.
