Countryside Trip

It was not really a long drive but only a less-than 10-minute  ride from where we had overnights in our hotel in Baveno. Stresa is just  less than  5 kilometers away from Baveno. Both these towns are located on the shores of the Lago (Lake) Maggiore in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy.

Stresa on the shore of Lake Maggiore where I had a walk during our sightseeing last March 2013. It was cloudy indeed that day..typical winter weather!

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It was included in our program hearing live music in our hotel Panorama in Malosco. We came back late to our hotel that night because of a long trip from Riva del Garda. As we arrived in our hotel, the live music performance was almost ending. Well, I heard them singing  their last song as we arrived. If I am not mistaken they might be using  a lavalier microphone as I heard them  sang their  song. I wish I witness live the  whole performance of this  group of Italian musicians in our hotel in Malosco.

View of the town of Malosco from our hotel from my recent trip to Italy this month. © www.countrysidetrip.com

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Cape Town known as the Mother City, is also the second largest city in South Africa. Visiting this city can be a unique experience not only because it is well known internationally but also for its significant history and beautiful scenic spot for tourists. Nestled in the suburbs of famous table mountain and bordered by appealing beaches, the city with endless attractions, is an amazing destination for nature lovers.

The Twelve Apostle’s Beach in Cape Town.

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I have some friends who are asking about trips to Israel. I told them I will let them know about it if I find a cheaper one. Israel is one of the countries I wish to visit in the Middle East. If I go there, I would love to experience its financial center which is Tel Aviv. I would love to hire a  taxi to tel aviv if ever I can visit it in the future.

There are so many random destinations in my mind. Morocco, Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dabhi,  Portugal and countries in South America are only some of them.  I am happy and contented right now that I have been to over  30 countries  and still counting. I felt blessed and so thankful about it.

If you experience  the train ride called Bernina Express, you surely have an idea on  how beautiful are the sceneries  you see while passing the so-calle Bernina Pass.  It was truly an amazing   experience seeing  the beauty and wonder of nature while riding a train in this part of Europe. This is  one of the reasons why I am loving this continent, the beauty of  its landscapes wherever part you are.

This is the Brusio Viaduct. I took this photo while we were riding the Bernina Express last June 12, 2013.  Not really a good shot but better than nothing at all.  © www.countrysidetrip.com

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Not really totally gone! There are probably 5 tulips still blooming in our garden. Most of them are gone now. I want to do some gardening but with the rainy weather outside, it is better to stay inside the house. Besides, I haven’t fully recovered yet with my cough and colds.

Tulips taken last month in our garden.

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I set the alarm at around 5:30 in the morning. We stayed that time in a 3-star hotel in Biograd na Moru, a small tourist city near Zadar in Dalmatia. After taking a shower and fixing myself, I took a breakfast, went back to my room afterwards, brushed my teeth and brought my luggage in front of Hotel Kornati, where the bus was waiting for our next journey to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

We drove along the Croatian highway and had a stop-over in one of the gasoline stations there. I recognized the area because of the shield I found near the toilet. This part of Croatia is called Dalmacija, also known in English as Dalmatia. Remember a dog named Dalmatian? This is where they get its name.

The shield Dalmacija in one of the gas stops along the highway of this region. Dalmatia is the southern coastal region of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea.

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That was quite a tiring trip but it was all worth it. Visiting 5 countries in Southeast Europe for a period of 9 days was a record for me. When I received the flyer offering cheap trip to the Balkans, I did not hesitated to book it because I was thinking  it will be my chance to visit some of the countries I wish to see in this part of Europe.

The monument in front of the Castle in Maribor, Slovenia. © www.countrysidetrip.com

To make the story short, I booked and joined this  travel where I was in a group of the most-travelled people in the world. Any idea who these people are?  I will share about it  before I end this post.  so keep on reading. I booked most of my trips in Europe in this travel agency. I usually call them everytime I book a trip from them.   Before the travel agent confirmed my trip to   Southeast  Europe, she asked me if I need a travel insurance. I told her not really because I already have one.

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There are a lot of Weiden places in Germany and I am talking about Weiden in der Oberpfalz (known in English as Weiden in Upper Palatinate). There will be another celebration coming on this weekend near this city. A friend sent me a message that it will be the 25th wedding anniversary of our friends who live near the area. For sure, there will be sumptuous foods again, tons of laughter, drinks and karaoke singing. (more…)

After some hours of sightseeing in Zagreb, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Croatia, our bus headed to our hotel in Biograd na Moru, where we had two overnight stays. It took us over 4 hours to Biograd na Moru from Zagreb. Bus stops and breaks sometimes made the travels a lit slower but I am thankful that we arrived to the destination safely.

The waterside or port of Biograd na Moru which is just located in front of our Hotel Kornati and Ilirija. © www.countrysidetrip.com

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