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9th of November 2009, they are breaking the Wall again, this time just to celebrate the 20th anniversary. Now when you walk in Berlin you can feel what it was like… sometime it is hard get to the “other” side, because of the wall. The the Wall contains of plastic domino blocks, that are painted by different companies and organizations, if you are interested in details you can get the book with detailed catalog of this blocks for 5 Euro in information office.

They are breaking the Wall again, tomorrow is the 20th anniversary celebrated in Berlin with domino effect out of plastic blocks

Actually, while the preparing to breaking the wall there were some free space left, to allow people to cross the Wall, in about each 200-300 meters. Hope to add some video from YouTube after the celebration.

P.S. This event is widely covered, even Google have a special logo for this “Fall der Berliner Mauer” day!

In this post you will find useful information about Hamburg - port-city in Germany.

Hamburg center - by Alster and Rathaus

Hamburg is “Hafen-city” (Port-city) so you will find there storehouses made out of red brick and port itself, with huge number of tourist ships and huge cargo ship.

Cargo ship in Hamburg Port

Storehouses of red brick

Every night at 22 p.m. there is a colorful fountain show in Planten un Blomen park.

In Marine Museum you will find everything from marine art to some fancy ships, like Nautilus submarine

Hamburg Planetarium is also worth visiting, there is a projection device that creates a great show sharing the history and nowadays ideas about space and space research.

Open-air u434 submarine museum - great experience inside u-boot

Great auto museum placed on 3 floors - it is not focused on certain brand, but shows the most famous cars produced in Germany.

Few tips about driving

• There is Elbtunel the tunnel under Elbe, and there are always traffic jams in the weekends, so if possible, choose another road.
• If you need a long-term parking, check the Vinci Parking

Dinner in Hamburg

• Check the “Colonnaden” street (Stephansplatz or Gansemarkt U-bahn stations) - you will find there a number of inexpensive Italian restaurants (10-12 Euro per person) and there is also a sushi-restaurant with “All you can eat” option for 16 (?) Euro.

Short distance travel from Hamburg

• Bremen - you will find there the statue of famous Bremen musicians
• Stade - old city near Hamburg

Long distance trips from Hamburg

• Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• Copenhagen (Denmark)

Copenhagen is another port-city. The first thing is how to get there. I was driving from Hamburg (Germany), so I have two options:

• Drive and use ferry service (about 60 Euro per car, ferry is every hour)
• Drive and use paid bridge (30 Euro, as far as I can remember)

I’ve taked “bridge” route - it is 30 minutes longer, but the country side is really beautiful, more over, if drive to Copenhagen to the west, you can Visit viking ships museum.

I've taked "bridge" route - it is 30 minutes longer, but the country side is really beautiful

Now few words about visiting interesting museums and places:

The “Belive it or not” - the branch for the Ripley’s museum. The most interesting experience was with the tube, where walls were rotating, if you get in, you start thinking the actually, not the walls, but floor is swinging. Very interesting, very unusual.

If you get in, you start thinking that actually, not the walls, but floor is swinging. Very interesting, very unusual.

Design museum - it another “must visit” place - the exposition was devoted to light - a lot of information about light physics with examples that you can see and touch.

Learn light physics - with examples that you can see and touch

The Mermain is the symbol of Copenhagen, don’t use public transportation to get to it - walk by the park instead.

The Mermain is the symbol of Copenhagen, don't use public transportation to get to it - walk by the park instead.

Classical museum are also very interesting, in Glyptotek you will find many sculptures by Roden. National museum is near - good structured and well represented information about Denmark, there are no audio-guides in museum, but it is really interesting, for instance, this check this kviz-picture.

For sure, Copenhagen is a port-city - so things like “self-made U-Boat” seems to be usuall there:

Copenhagen is a port-city - so things like "self-made U-Boat" seems to be usuall there:

Viking Boats Museum is located in the Roskilde town (Vindeboder 12, Copenhagen, Denmark), but it worths visiting it.

You will find there copies (free to visit under open-air) and originals of Vikings ships:

A lot of copies (free to visit under open-air) of Vikings Ships

Also, the process of viking-ship-building is covered in details, starting the tree selection and processing ending the discussion of sailing experience.

The process of viking-ship-building is covered in details

Amsterdam is known not only for large number of Coffeeshops, but there are also some interesting places to visit, like great Van Gogh museum. Also, you will . face there many, probably too many, bicycles:

If you think there too many bicycles in Amsterdam - you are right. 3-level parking for bicycles near main train station.

One of the most unusual place to visit is a very small Boat Houses Museum. If you like the idea about living in the boat-house, you’ll find it really interesting.

There are more than 2000 boat-houses in Amsterdam, building new is not a problem, but all possible parking places are now occupied, so it is not possible to build a new house, but one can buy existent one.

There are more than 2000 boat-houses in Amsterdam

The price is typically lower (200000 Euro) than for the normal house, but yearly maintain is higher (500-1000 Euro).

Get inside on of the boat-houses - now it is a museum

It is good located - check visitors information here.

The Georgian director George Ovashvilli has created a movie that opens your eyes and leaves an unforgettable impression. Though many are affected by the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, many are not even aware that it exists.
The Other Bank tells a story of a Georgian boy, whose family fled from Abkhazia during the war and who is living in poverty of Tbilisi. Yet, one day he decides to go back to Abkhazia and find his father whom he hasn’t seen in years. Through the story of his journey, the director, George Ovashvilli portrays many different aspects of life after the war: from street children to international violence.

Overall, The Other Bank is a must-see. The film’s cinematography is done in such a way, that you are hypnotized by what is going on. Calling this film amazing is not giving it enough justice. In short, The Other Bank is the definition of what film is supposed to do and what effect it is supposed to have on people.

Nürnberg - nice place in Germany. Take a good map in Tourist Center and follow major sights, as for the most interesting and unique - it is probably Train museum (near Main Train station) and very large (3 floors) toys museum.

Very Big Train Museum in Nürnberg, just near train station - must visit place!

Nürnberg Old City - is beautiful, just to walk it would take about 1 hour

Guess what is it? It is metro station - pay attention to the U sign

It seems we need a new category - gadgets - software and tools that help to make your trip better.

The service to be reviewed today is TripIt, in short what they do:

• You send to special email address all reservations you have (including hotel, plane reservation, car rent);
• The service automatically parse that information and get it into your online account;
• What benefits? I have not tried it myself yet, but at glance: they are putting all the data on one page, they will show you weather conditions for the places you go, they will show you some important information (not sure what exactly), the service will allow to share this travel plan with your friends or family and finally, using their system you can collaborate with colleagues and plan trip together.

For those who like IT gadgets - you should try it! Some reviews are in PC Words and NY Times. Po

Visiting Venice is probably on the most exiting experience in Italy. To these who have never been there:

• Venice is of the most beautiful and romantic places in the worlds, that is probably one of the reasons, why hotels in Venice are VERY expensive

Venice is of the most beautiful and romantic places in the worlds, that is probably one of the reasons, why hotels in Venice are VERY expensive

• there are just two big parking in the beginning of the Venice island, people move there only by boats

There are just two big parking in the beginning of the Venice island, people move there only by boats

So the logical thing to do would be stay in some town near Venice and combine - visiting sights of interest in Venice with swimming and taking sun bases on the beach.

Staying in Hotel Excelsior in Lido di Jesolo:

PROs:

• hotel is located near Venice;
• large and secure parking;
• direct access to sea sandy beach; or swimming pool (about 25 m) in case of bad weather;
• they have cook (even two, I think) who prepares delicious food!

CONs:

• actually, there was only good experience from the hotel itself
• people in Lido di Jesolo, as in any Italian city, have a “siesta”, so from 14-00 to 16-00 it is hard to find place to have a dinner, so better have dinner at the hotel

One of the best resorts in Italy is Lido di Jesolo, located on the Venetian Riviera. It is only 40 km away from Venice, but it allows you to experience the best of the Veneto Region in Italy: Venice, the beach, shopping, partying, etc. A 15 km long promenade of bars, restaurants, shops and of course, the beach, is everything one needs for a perfect vacation in Italy. From Lido di Jesolo there is a boat that takes you directly to St. Mark’s Square in Venice in about 30 minutes. It is one of the most beautiful views of the city and definitely a pleasant trip.

Hotel Excelsior in Lido di Jesolo (near Venice) is a perfect place to spend your vacation in Italy. It contains everything one needs to enjoy: private beach, pool, bar, restaurant as well as friendly staff and great service. Make sure you eat at the hotel also. Although there is a stereotype of hotel food being not so great, this is definitely an exception. The new chef, Francesco, who prior to coming to the Excelsior worked at the Nobu restaurant in London , is bound to make you fall in love with the cuisine. Besides traditional Italian food, there is always fresh grill, amazing salad bar and much much more.

For more information: www.excelsiorjesolo.com

Finding a good sushi restaurant in Prague seems to be as difficult as finding a good beach in the Czech republic. Most people who have tried good sushi and are now living in Prague have already gotten used to the fact that sushi is just something you don’t eat here. But there is one sushi restaurant in Prague that changes all of that completely: SOHO.

First of all, its location of SOHO restaurant right on the river and the city view is bound to take your breath away. The interior is modern and almost all white, which makes it look very different from all the other restaurants in Prague. And food here is simply amazing. There is a sushi menu, an entrée menu and on the weekends, even weekend brunch. This place lets you experience the best of Japanese cuisine, class and the beauty of Prague. It is the perfect restaurant for anniversaries, weddings, etc.

For more information : http://www.sohorestaurant.cz/