Blue lake - Голубые озера - one weekend in Urechche

   Belarus is called the “lungs of Europe”. Theorigin of the name is the thousands of lakes and swamps that are located on the territory of Republic of Belarus. I would like to present only one but very interesting lake which is called “The Blue Lake”. I would rather call the color “turquoise” but it does not make a difference – the nature that is surrounding the lake is as amazing as the lake. The place is located in central Belarus, near the city of Slutck. Nevertheless the “blue” lake is so far from industrialized areas so you can feel pure connection with the nature. The history of the lake is not complicated: in the past there were deposits of chalk all over the place. That is why the color of the lake is so incredible. For your attention it is very very deep – 9 meters in some places.

        You get more than just pleasure from swimming there - the clay which covers the bottom of the lake is very beneficial for your skin. All these clay scrubs that you’re buying in the store – you have here – natural, better, from the source.

This is the best place to go for a picnic on the sunny day with the family or friends and just relax, watching the marvelous work of the nature…

Ausswitz

Poland. Cracow. Kazimierz district.

              The famous director Steven Spielberg has made a movie on these narrow bright streets and called it “the Schindler’s list”. There is an amazing spirit and more history than anywhere else in Cracow. Welcome to the Kazimierz.  Jewish district. The most famous area in the city. The district is located in the center of Cracow alongside the Vistula River. The composition of beautiful renaissance architecture and nature around creates unforgettable perception and brings you back to the past.

  There are a few working Synagogues in the center. This is a big spiritual part of the life of the district that was a separate town in the past. Visiting the Jewish house of the prayers is a nice experience, putting you to a deeper understanding of their traditions and belief. There is history all around you, the streets are decorated with different symbols and colors that

makes the place special.For a long time this district

has belonged to the Jewish people. It was their home,

the place where they could save their culture. It was a present from King Kazimierz III, who invited the Jewish people to move to Cracow in order to develop and modernize the city. The people were grateful to the King and named the district in the honor of him. The Kazimierz district played an important role in the economy of the city since the end of the thirteenth century. It passed through its Golden Times and right now we can see all the wealth of the Jewish heritage.

            There are a lot of cultural events during the year. The festival of Jewish music, the biggest one in the world takes place in the end of June and it is one of the brightest and most cheerful events. People from all over the world gather here to enjoy the beautiful music, dance and have joy.

    There are some specialties for the gourmets as well. The Jewish restaurants are all over the district offering different delicious meals (kosher food). We had four course meal included very delicious bread (still have it in my mind), goose pastete under the cranberry sauce and such wonderful desert but there was no free space for it…I was wondering if the water was kosher as well?

The restaurants are very nice, decorated in a very cozy way so you can feel the calm, amazing atmosphere and enjoy the Jewish traditional meals. The dinner is accompanied by live music and this makes the place and the spent time very special like everything in the district.

Visiting the Kazimierz is one of the important parts of your stay in Cracow.

Viva!

Here I am. No luggage, no tickets in my hands. Yet. Ok, I lie. Always with some tickets for the future.
Location: Berlin.
Challenge: german language studyng.
I've just returned from the trip to Greece. Wonderful weather, amazing food and the most important thing:
first time I fell in love with Athens!
I wanted to stay there forever (one place for me forever? never enough) But this and other stories I am going to tell later. Now - VIVA!

P.S. starting this blog I ate one box of chocolate cookies. at least they are gone!

when only the sky and the sea count

In the middle of winter. Among all my little and big businesses it was she, Ελλαδα μου (my Greece).

It was like coming back home…It is always like this. First evening I couldn’t wait to see the sea. I have never seen the winter’s sea. It was amazing. Yachts are everywhere. 

 In dark dark water. Silence is hitting the water and going up so you can hear it.

Long night came in luminescent Athens.

What do I love the most in Greece? Peloponesse's never disappointed me. Colors, air, more colors...

It was a little bit changed with fireplace and colder weather that time. But still colors...

All these valleys and mountains put you into a fairy-tail (I imagine it's like in the Nord-West in Middle-earth from "Lord of the Rings". Here I am also like Gandalf among hobbits. I think for locals I am like a giant:)

We spent two beautiful days in the village. Here you can find the best feta cheese.

I was also lucky to tried the best local homemade food (potatoes and meat from the oven)

In January in mountains isn't so sunny and hot like it seems when you are in Berlin watching weather broadcast. But when we returned to Athens the weather prepared a surprise for me: hot sunny day.

Sunlight was jumping on the waves. People were relaxing under the pure blue sky. It was hard to imagine that somewhere is raining now (somewhere in Berlin indeed).

(the sigh shows – Olga’s driving is prohibited)

Mice, watch out! Cats are everywhere. It seems like they were fishing or catching crabs. Whatever. They were eating something for sure.

 Last day but not the last walk in the "Monastiraki" area.

I don’t remember when I wore so light last time in January (in Minsk last January it was -20)

And the last notice. If you see mandarins on the street don’t take them. Greeks keep saying that it's something wrong with them. Mandarins in January:)

Fish market in Hamburg

         Certainly there are a lot of attractions in such wonderful city like Hamburg. Our short trip for a weekend to Hamburg in January seemed longer then just 2 days. The story began when my German friend told me I must go to the fish market in the early morning to try fresh “fish Brötchen” (sandwich). 

     So following her advise I woke up after 3 hours of sleeping (Hamburg is very party city so it is hard to go to bed early especially when you stay at the most party area in downtown), I also woke up my companions (haha) to go in the dark along empty streets, meeting  from time to time some “not fresh” persons on our road…to the market!

        I had so much fun waking up my polish friend Kamil. Knocked his door as he asked me on the eve, saying, Kamil, I am going to the market if you want you can join us with Kasia. After 15 minutes of drama through the doors (Kamil was begging me to go later or to not go without him, wait for him. After I said my final word – ok, stay in bed, we are leaving, he appeared all dressed up and ready to eat the most fresh fish sandwich in the country).

      

        When we approached the market  and(I was worried there is no any market cause my friend was doubting all the road) we found that: (amazing choice of fresh and fish products)

You can find whatever your soul (taste) wants:

And here they are: fresh, tasty, with the different stuffing:

Me and my little fishy partner.

He in en face

  We left the market full with a lot of thoughts: about the concert that took place exactly there, 6 in the morning (!) something like after party for those who still has some power, about the strange trade of fish and a basket with the goods (it was wonderful, the salesman was so professional). We wanted to buy one (basket included a lot of oranges, pineapples, carrots, grapes and etch. and cost only 10 euros!!!) but we had our train back to Berlin and I don’t thing the basket would survive.

If you ever are in Hamburg – don’t miss the opportunity to go to that place. It is worth it!

Berlin. Christmas market “Weihnachtsmarkt”.

From the middle of November dozen of Christmas markets appear in Berlin. All of them are different. There are a lot of possibilities of spending your time.

You can either try Glühwein (Mulled wine) or eat various kinds of sausages, roasted potatoes, and there is a massive amount of different sweets.

You can make some shopping as well. There are all kinds of items that you can find on the Christmas markets: Christmas decorations, brilliant souvenirs, sweet things made from natural sources like wood or etch. For those whose heart has been stolen there is a possibility to buy a new one – from the tastiest dough – big and bright. 

For children and not only there are a lot of entertaining attractions: roller-costers, shooter gallery or panic room.

There are joy and happiness in the air. It seems like all citizens of Berlin have gathered here, sharing their emotions, waiting for a miracle of this wonderful holiday. And it does not meter if you are young or you are old: somewhere deep inside we are always children when it is about Christmas…

And my sweet best friend: