Driving in Rome, Italy

I just wanted to share about an experience that me and my friend had during our trip to Rome, Italy last month. I find it there quite a chaotic place especially the driving on the streets of Rome. We arrived at night in Rome Fiumicino airport that time. After getting our luggage, we tried to find a means of transportation or shuttle going to our hotel. Some taxi drivers are offering very expensive charges. We finally found a shuttle who drove us to our hotel. It only cost 15.00 Euros per person which is quite fair compared to taxis who are charging for up to 100.00 Euros. The driver was always telephoning while driving. It was quite scary because we were on the highway and it was night time. Sometimes the driver is already out on the street marking. As we passed-by at the center of Rome and the traffic light happened to get red, he still continue driving even there were passers-by on the middle of the road. I don't know what kind of car insurance he has that he can do such kind of driving. It was truly very scary. For a driver who has a lot of accidents, finding cheap car insurance rates is quite difficult. I can't imagine how many accidents did that driver had with that kind of driving he has. I am just thankful that we arrived in our hotel safely and most of all we came back home whole and safe. Here is an image I took at the streets of Rome. This was taken some meters away from Colosseum. If you are driving to Rome, be very careful and drive safely always.

an image I took during our visit to Rome, Italy last month.

Read More

The monument to Ferdinand Foch in Paris, France

I already heard and read the named Ferdinand Foch since last year. I am trying to remember where and how but now it finally came to my mind. During my first visit in Paris last March 2009, the bus where we rode during the trip passed-by at the monument of Foch. I remember that our tour guide mentioned his name. That is the reason why I took an image of him during my second visit. I can't really elaborate more about him but you can continue reading below about what this person had contributed to France during his time.

The monument to Ferdinand Foch in his native Tarbes in Paris, France. I took this photo during my second visit in Paris last August 2010.

Ferdinand Foch (pronounced "Fosh") OM GCB (2 October 1851 – 20 March 1929) was a French soldier, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing "the most original and subtle mind in the French army" in the early 20th century. ] He served as general in the French army during World War I and was made Marshal of France in its final year: 1918. Shortly after the start of the Spring Offensive, Germany's final attempt to win the war, Foch was chosen as supreme commander of the Allied armies, a position that he held until 11 November 1918, when he accepted the German request for an armistice.

He advocated peace terms that would make Germany unable to pose a threat to France ever again. His words after the Treaty of Versailles, "This is not a peace. It is an armistice for twenty years" would prove exactly prophetic; World War II started almost twenty years later. more here

Read More

The Tall Buildings in Brussels, Belgium

We happened to pass the Northern District of Brussels which is known to be the central business district in this city. This is where you can see the collection of skycrapers' steel building rising to the sky. I was inside the bus while I took this image. We were on the way to Luxembourg during this time. I also read that the buildings in this area are mostly 100 meters tall. I am trying to find an image of a building with WTC name in my file but I can't find it at the moment. I just have thousands of images which I took during our three weeks Europe tour. I still have to organize them. More images to be posted from Brussels.

Read More

Featured Article: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart toured Italy

It took me awhile to upload this image here. I guess my pc needs a replacement soon. Finally, I was able to upload it. That yellow house you see here is the birthhouse of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a famous musician and composer. This was taken during my second visit in Salzburg, Austria last November 2008.

I decided to share the featured article below because it seems to be very interesting sharing the life of one of the famous people of all times. Feel free to find me in the image below. Have a great weekend too!
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart toured Italy with his father Leopold three times between 1769 and 1773. The first, financed by performances for the nobility and by public concerts, was an extended tour of 15 months to a number of major Italian cities. The second and third journeys were to Milan, for Wolfgang to complete operas that had been commissioned there on the first visit. From the perspective of Wolfgang's musical development the journeys were a considerable success, and his talents were recognised by honours which included a papal knighthood and memberships in leading philharmonic societies. Each of Wolfgang's operas written for Milan's Teatro Regio Ducal was a critical and popular triumph. In the course of the three visits he met many leading musicians in Italy, including the renowned theorist Giovanni Battista Martini, under whom he studied in Bologna. Leopold also hoped that Wolfgang, and possibly he himself, would obtain a prestigious appointment at one of the Italian Habsburg courts. more here

Read More

Planning for Your Europe Travel

I was talking to a friend last weekend about traveling in Europe. She was surprised how we were able to visit a lot of cities and countries in around three weeks. She also loves to travel but now that she just gave birth to a baby boy, traveling is not her priority. Besides that traveling can be very stressful sometimes especially if you have a little baby with you. Probably with the help of
phil and teds explorer stroller, traveling can be lighter because you don't need to carry your baby or toddler all the time. I also told her that she need to plan her travel ahead. Early booking for flights and hotels can be of great advantage because you can have it cheaper most of the time. I told her that we planned our Europe trip since last March of this year. That is also the reason why we had it cheaper. Thanks to the invention of computers and internet because searching for cheap vacation online has been very easy and faster now.

Read More

The Cinquantenaire in Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, written in French Bruxelles and Brussel in Dutch is the capital city of the European Union (EU) and the largest urban area in Belgium. It comprises 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels proper. The City of Brussels is the constitutional capital of Belgium, the seat of the French Community of Belgium and of the Flemish Community.

I have here an image of the Cinquantenaire Park which is a large public, urban park (30 hectares) in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium. It is also known as Jubille Park of "Park of the Fiftieth Anniversary".

I took this image while riding on a bus going to Luxembourg. I wish to share more images from Brussels in my future post. The triumphal arch was planned for the National Exhibition of 1880 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the independent state of Belgium.

Read More

Do You Need an Insurance When Visiting Europe

I already received a lot of inquiries in my inbox asking me about the necessity of getting a travel insurance when visiting Europe. I am not very sure if all of the countries in Europe require a travel insurance when visiting anyone of them. I know for sure that when you are a non-EU citizen and wishes to visit Germany as tourist, one of the visa requirements is getting a travel insurance. How about life insurance and What is life insurance? I mean the difference between travel insurance and life insurance? For all I know, Life insurance provides a monetary benefit to an insured person's family or a form of income for the payment of burial, funeral and other final expenses of the insured person. Travel Insurance on the other hand is an insurance that is intended to cover medical expenses, financial and other losses incurred while traveling, either within one's own country, or internationally.

For any travel or visa requirements you need when visiting any Europe countries, I suggest you better visit their own website. Simply google it and I know for sure, you will get more information online.

Read More