This week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge is from Elke with the theme of Triptychs. This is Szentendre, a charming riverside town just outside Budapest, known for its cobblestone streets, colourful facades, and creative art scene. With its baroque churches, quirky museums, vibrant public art, and lively markets, the town feels both historic and playful. Szentendre in…
Category: Travels 2018
Almost Deleted
I often find myself drawn to the rejects in photography—the frames that didn’t quite make the cut. The ones that are slightly off, imperfect, or overlooked. Sometimes it’s in these discarded moments where the real story lives: a raw expression, an honest haze, a feeling that wasn’t planned. They may not be technically perfect, but…
It’s that time of year again
It’s that time of year again when everything feels merry, and there’s a spring in everyone’s step (except for Scrooge and the Grinch). The Christmas season is here! Here are some doors decorated with a festive theme (some I have posted previously). In Melbourne, however, we don’t tend to go all out with holiday decorations….
2018 is special
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite? *** Being an Australian, i am defining holiday as not going to work or it’s also a longer break from work such as taking time off to go on a trip somewhere. In 2018, I embarked on an unforgettable journey through London, Prague, Vienna, and…
Cityscapes from Prague to London
In this week’s challenge, hosted by Patti, I will be showcasing Prague and London. While every city worldwide holds its own unique narrative, Prague and London hold a special place in my heart. Each snapshot I’ll be sharing is filled with cherished memories that resonate within me. (Well I really wanted to do Prague and…
The Holocaust Memorials
“And now, a prayer—or rather, a piece of advice: let there be comradeship among you. We are all brothers, and we are all suffering the same fate. The same smoke floats over all our heads. Help one another. It is the only way to survive.” — Elie Wiesel, Night …and on a serious note… I…
Public Art in Budapest
“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” – Claude Monet You’ll be surprised with the number of Monuments, Statues and Streetart all around the streets of Budapest.…But if you’re like me and my husband, every time we look for a place in google maps, we get lost. Why is it that my kids can find…
A rainy day in Budapest
“I told them they’d see me walking in the rain in Budapest.” – Mary Chapin Carpenter’ TRAVEL DIARY: BUDAPEST DAY 3 Our fifth and last day in Budapest was very cold and wet but that didn’t stop hubby and I to make the most of our day. We decided to go back to those places…
The quaint little town of Szentendre
“It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancolies du Voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about travelling.” – unknown TRAVEL DIARY: SZENTENDRE On the 17th of November, 2018 we went on a day trip to Szentendre (St Andrews), just…
A walk on the PEST side of Budapest
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson The following day, the 16th of November 2018, took us to the opposite side of the Danube River, the PEST side of Budapest. From our hotel we crossed the Széchenyi Chain Bridge to get to the other side….
A day in BUDApest
“Europe’s most underrated big city, Budapest can be as challenging as it is enchanting.” – Rick Steves TRAVEL DIARY: BUDAPEST DAY 2 It was a wonderful morning in November of 2018 and this was the view from the hotel where we stayed. Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is divided into two parts by the River Danube. The…
Budapest is Glowing
‘They said that, of course, Budapest is beautiful. But it is in fact almost ludicrously beautiful.’ – Anthony Bourdain TRAVEL DIARY: BUDAPEST DAY 1 It was dark when we got to Budapest. I wanted to freshen up a bit before going on our dinner cruise when I decided to just look out of our bedroom…
Esztergom
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu TRAVEL DIARY: ESZTERGOM Our Trafalgar tour was on its way to Budapest and we stopped by this lovely city on a hill…Esztergom! We just stayed there for a few hours to look at the scenery but oh my gosh…the view was…
Last Day in Vienna
“You need some reason why Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn in the 18th century all flocked to Vienna. What was it about Vienna? They must have known on some level that that is where they would flourish. It’s what biologists call selective migration.” – Eric Weiner TRAVEL DIARY: VIENNA DAY 4 Situated in the very heart…
Sightseeing in Vienna
“Adventure is allowing the unexpected to happen to you. Exploration is experiencing what you have not experienced before.” – Richard Aldington TRAVEL DIARY: VIENNA DAY 3 It was the 13th of November 2018 and it was foggy, cold and raining when we went for our first breakfast in Vienna. Beautiful and calming scenery from the…
KunstHaus Wien
TRAVEL DIARY: VIENNA DAY 2 I am posting this for Ludwig’s Monday Windows and for Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge The KunstHausWien is a museum in Vienna, designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. This museum houses the world’s only permanent exhibition of Hundertwasser’s works but it also hosts regular temporary exhibitions of other artists….
Quirky side of Vienna
“Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true. When will you realize… Vienna waits for you.” – Billy Joel (November 2018) After Bratislava, next stop was Vienna. TRAVEL DIARY: VIENNA DAY 1 It was already a bit dark when we got there but we managed to stroll around the grounds of the Hilton Vienna…
Bratislava
“To move, to breath, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of land remote, To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Anderson TRAVEL DIARY: BRATISLAVA After Prague, our tour group passed by Bratislava for a few hours before continuing on to Vienna. Bratislava is a small city…
Last Day in Prague (Part 2)
“Prague never lets you go. This dear little mother has sharp claws.” – Franz Kafka TRAVEL DIARY: PRAGUE DAY 4 (Part 2) After our amazing pre breakfast walk, we went back to our hotel to have breakfast and to freshen up. Next in our itinerary was to go to Petrin Hill My husband and I…
Last Day in Prague (Part 1)
The ancient splendour and beauty of Prague, a city beyond compare, left an impression on my imagination that will never fade. – Richard Wagner TRAVEL DIARY: PRAGUE DAY 4 (Part 1) This was our last day in Prague so the plan was to do everything and visit everywhere that we planned on seeing. Yesterday, we…
Day 3 in Prague
“In Rome, the statues. In Paris, the paintings. And in Prague the buildings suggest that pleasure can be an education.” – Caleb Crain TRAVEL DIARY: PRAGUE DAY 3 It was hard on my feet yesterday but I am guessing that this day will be a better one. Our activity for today is a Sightseeing guided…
Windows and Cobbled Streets
“Never hesitate to open new windows in your life!” – unknown In Prague, when I avoided the crowds in the streets and was able to capture these windows …
Doors in Prague
‘The most unspoiled baroque city in Europe.’ – Christopher Booker Arched doorway, heavy wooden doors and walkways in Prague Castle, Petrin Hill and surrounds. These are old historic landmarks in Prague, Czech Republic. For Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge
Day 2 in Prague
“No matter how many countries you’ve travelled to or where you’re going, Prague will sweep you off your feet.” – unknown TRAVEL DIARY: PRAGUE DAY 2 From our hotel, hubby and I decided walk to the Old Town Square. It is said that Prague is very walkable… so that’s exactly what we did. We may…
Tour of Imperial Europe
“Prague changes like a precious stone to reflect the weather, the time of day and the season of the year.” – Christian Norberg – Schulz ”We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.” –…
Stopover in London
“When exploring London, you will come across lots of excitement by chance, so try to take everything in rather than just rushing around to all of the major tourist haunts.” – Richard Branson 2018 was the last time we left Melbourne to go overseas because plans were stopped by “you know what”. Took this Royal Brunei flight…
Christmas Markets
“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree“. – Roy L. Smith Taken from Christmas markets in London and in Budapest in 2018. For Jude’s Life in Colour – Kaleidoscope
Kiss
This is such an unforgettable mural done by figurative artist Igor Shulman. It is a beautiful mural that captures the romance and passion of Prague. It can be found under the Charles Bridge … not sure however, if it is still there. Photo taken in 2018. for Sami’s Monday Murals and for Becky’s PastSquares. I…
Windows of The Dancing House
“Oh the places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss I am intrigued by the quirky architecture of this Dancing House in Prague… also known as the Fred & Ginger House. I am also fascinated by its many windows that I decided to have a go in making a pen and ink artwork of it. I don’t know…