June 9, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
TRIP COUNTDOWN
Next Trip Departs in 3 Days

Gonna be another SCORCHER!

Hey guys!

I can't stand how hot it was yesterday! 

UGH!!!!
I am not a fan of the heat whatsoever - and I know that it's only gonna get hotter. Boo.
(insert sweating sad face here)

While I thought that I'd be taking Cosette and possibly Jet and Chaplin to the stables to see Dream and Star today, I've decided that we are gonna wait out the high temps and go on a later day this week.
As far as the forecast goes the temps are suppose to go down by about 10 degrees starting tomorrow. 
But do they ever really know?! 

Enough about that. Let's talk travel - because I luv the topic and because it's Travelin' Tuesday!

I've got one more trip to go and then I'll be counting down to our Eastern Europe Trip!

Dave, the kids and I leave on Friday and head up to San Francisco! Stopping along the way in San Jose to participate in the Gladiator Mud Run. 

Dominic and I did one of these last year and it was sooo much fun (aside from something rather essential), that Cosette and Dave (who were cheering us on) wanted to be a part of it! 

So we are all signed up to get dirty on this one! 
Read all about our last Gladiator HERE

And not to worry, because I'll be keeping you posted on all of the action with my LIVE posts to FB & Twitter, as well as right here on the Daily Scoop!

After we've cleaned up, we'll be ready to grab some much needed grub and then we'll be set to paint the town!

We'll be going to spend some time around the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and up at Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands for "the postcard shot."

The Golden Gate Bridge - 
Drawing crowds of more than 10 million annual visitors. With its tremendous 746-foot tall towers, sweeping main cables, signature International Orange color, and Art Deco styling. 
It's no wonder that since it opened in 1937, this 1.7-mile suspension span between San Francisco and Marin counties has become one of the most beloved bridges in the world! 

Have you been???

And then what is a trip to San Francisco for a baseball fan without catching a game at AT&T Park, one of the most beautiful Ball Parks in America? 

We are so there!

Famous Garlic Fries at AT&T Park

The trip will be full of lots of yummy food stops and then anything else that we manage to fit in the schedule will all be played by ear...
I'll be keeping you posted!

After we leave San Fran, we will be taking the beautiful coast drive (PCH) down to Monterey for some more fun. 

It's sure to be a fantastic weekend to remember!

In other travel news...
I came across a few pictures of this magnificent and amazing piece of architecture that is located in Belgium. 


Borgloon Church - 
See-through church, Limburg, Belgium / Gijs Van Vaerenbergh
The church is a part of the Z-OUT project of Z33, house for contemporary art based in Hasselt, Belgium. Z-OUT is an ambitious longterm art in public space project that will be realised on different locations in the Flemish region of Limburg over the next five years.

I can't wait to see what else they come out with next!

And now as you must already know and realize... 
I've gotta go see it in person! 
I just don't quite know when yet!

Check this out:

credit: yatzer.com

credit: flickr.com

credit: weburbanist.com

And now for some super exciting travel news, and something that is already on the calendar...
I am stoked to announce that our EUROPEAN SKI CIRCUIT AND FIS ALPINE SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP (FEBRUARY 2017) happens to fit perfectly in my working itinerary with...
Wait for it. Wait for it....

The Carnival of Venice!!! 
(insert screeching excitement here)

credit: telegraph.co.uk

This is sure to be a dream come true trip for me...With true Once in a Lifetime experiences to be had!

And lastly, but certainly not least...
Let's just touch on our Cousins Niagara Falls / Toronto Road Trip - which seems to have definitely been overshadowed by our Europe trip.

This trip will be taking place almost immediately after our return from Europe. One week later to be exact, and only 2 days after I return from the MLB ALL-STAR GAME and Festivities in Cincinnati (another road-trip).
 
So without getting into too much detail, I do want to mention one very exciting stop that we will be making is to RAMBLEWILD, the Tree to Tree adventure park located in Lanesborough, MA.

Recognized as the number one Best Outdoor Attractions in Massachusetts by Yankee Magazine!

Our gang will climb, swing and float through canopies of leaves and columns of pristine Berkshire hemlock. 
Ropes, bridges, zip-lines, and walkways will lead us through an unforgettable and exhilarating aerial adventure.
And as we all know - 
THIS IS DEFINITELY MY TYPE OF FUN!!!

Having my type of fun in Switzerland!

I can't wait to get over there and experience it hands-on - and not to worry we'll be taking lots of pictures and there will be an upcoming article for you to enjoy and hopefully to inspire you to go there too!

Well, that's about all folks! I'm gonna leave you with a couple of the professional pictures that were taken of me on the course of the AMBBR just this last weekend in Lake Tahoe. And don't forget to check out Elisa's column and find out all about the grand time that we are gonna have in Budapest!

Wishing you a good one!

See ya back here for W2GW (tomorrow),
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
TRIP COUNTDOWN
Next Trip Departs in 16 Days

Travelin' Tuesday: Spotlight: Budapest, Hungary

Howdy! It just hit me as I was writing "16 Days" till my next trip - I can't believe how fast our Milestone Birthday Eastern Europe Trip is coming up!!

I'm so excited to continue talking to you about the next city on our Eastern European rail trip and the places that me and my bestie cousin Tanya will be visiting during this amazing trip of a lifetime!!

For the past few weeks. I’ve been telling you about the sights targeted on our itineraries for PRAGUE, Czech Republic and KRAKOW, Poland that she and I created from our travel research.

Well, last week, I decided to take a week off from talking about our itineraries and instead, shared what Patricia Schultz says are MUST-SEE's in her incredibly successful book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die for Prague, Krakow, Budapest and Vienna. (there was nothing noted for Bratislava, Slovakia)
 
This week, I'm jumping back to our itinerary and will be sharing some of the key spots on our list for BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, the third city on our Rail Trip.  

On Day 9 we arrive in Budapest via an overnight train ride from Krakow, Poland.  We'll be spending three full days sightseeing and touring, before departing on Day 12 first thing in the morning for Bratislava.

ANDRASSY AVENUE, BUDAPEST (credit: visit-hungary.com)

Just a little history for ya: 

Hungary is situated in the center of Central Europe.  The city of Budapest was founded in 1873 after the unification of three separate towns - Buda and Obuda on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the east.  

Developent of these three towns began  in the second half of the 12th Century, with Buda becoming the seat of Hungary's rulers beginning in 1247. Budapest is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and most of the historic sights a located along the banks of the Danube, including Parliament, Maiyas Church and the Hungarian National Museum.

So, let's start with Day 1, shall we!
After a quick check in at our hotel, we'll proceed to 
Andrassy Avenue to stroll around, take in the architecture and sites.

There is a great deal to see in an around this area, so our itinerary has us going back and forth

Andrássy Avenue is a 2.5 km long boulevard lined with buildings and links the City Centre with the City Park. 

ST. STEPHEN'S BASILICA

Millennium Underground Railway - runs between Budapest's city center and Budapest City Park.    It is the oldest electrified underground railway system on the European continent.

St. Stephen's Basilica - It houses Hungary’s most sacred treasure, St. Stephen’s mummified right hand, the Szent Jobb and from the Cupola, the entire city of Budapest is visible.

Heroes’ Square - Recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2002, Heroes' Square is located at the end and the Eclectic-style buildings in this area are considered  the crème de la crème in all of Budapest and among them a wealth of residential houses with wonderful and intimate inner courts, statues as well as the Opera House.  

Central Market Hall - The Central Market Hall (Hungarian "Nagycsarnok"), on Fővám Tér in the 9th district, is the largest indoor market in Budapest. You will find almost everything here including meats, pastries, candies, spices, and spirits such as paprika, tokaji, túró rudi, and caviar as well as eateries and souvenirs. 

CENTRAL MARKET HALL (credit: en.wikipedia.org)

Day 2 we decided to hook up with a tour all around both the Buda and Pest side of the city.  We will be re-visiting Andrassy Avenue and several of the sites listed above, but in addition to these, we will also be seeing the following:

On Buda side:
Vajdahunyad Castle
Vajdahunyad Castle is one of the romantic castles in Budapest, Hungary, located in the City Park by the boating lake / skating rink. Built in 1896, as part of the Millennial Exhibition which celebrated the 1000 years of Hungary since the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 895

Széchenyi Spa
The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs, their temperature is 74 °C and 77 °C, respectively.

Parliament Building
The Parliament Building also known as the Parliament of Budapest is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, one of Europe's oldest legislative buildings.  It is a notable landmark of Hungary and a popular tourist destination of Budapest. Located in Lajos Kossuth Square, on the bank of the Danube, it is presently the largest building in Hungary and the highest building in Budapest.

Chain Bridge
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest. It is one of the symbolic buildings of Budapest, the most widely known bridge of the Hungarian capital.

At the time of its construction, in 1839, the Chain Bridge was the suspension bridge with the second-largest span in the world. The portals are decorated with lionhead-shaped capstones and the coat of arms of Hungary with the crown and a wreath of leaves. The inauguration of the Chain Bridge took place on 20 November 1849.

VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE

SZECHENYI SPA

THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING (credit: commons.wikipedia)

THE CHAIN BRIDGE (CREDIT: BHMPICS.COM)

On Pest side
Matthias Church
Matthias Church was built in 1255 century along Trinity Square,  in the heart of the Castle District, and was Buda's first parish church. 

Officially known as The Church of Our Lady but the church takes its more common name from King Matthias, who ruled from 1458-90, well-known as a patron of the arts and enlightenment and revered for reconstructing the Hungarian state after years upon years of feudal anarchy.

ST MATTHIAS CHURCH (credit: funzine.hu)

Gellert Hill
Gellért Hill was named after Saint Gerard who was thrown to death from the hill. 

At the top of the hill is the Citadella (Citadel), from which a view is available down both directions of the Danube.

GELLERT HILL (credit: europestudyabroad.blogspot)

THE CITADEL (credit: digitalcosmonaut.com)

The Cidadel

The fortress was built in 1851 by Julius Jacob von Haynau, a commander of the Habsburg Monarchy.

It occupies almost the entire 235 metres high plateau. The fortress is a U-shaped structure built about a central courtyard, being 220 metres long, 60 metres wide, and 4 metres tall. It had a complement of sixty cannons 

From the top of the Citadel, there is a panoramic view over the city, the Danube and its eight bridges.

Day 3 we have a really wonderful experience planned.  WE will be going back to Szechenyl Spa and going to experience it!!  Tanya had suggested that we do this and I thought it was an amazing idea!!

To end the day, we will head over to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace for Tea.  We all know how much my dear Cuz loves her afternoon tea!! This world famous hotel is located at the end of the renowned Chain Bridge, with panoramic vistas of the Danube and the hills of Buda.

Yes folks, those are some of the highlights!!  Tanya and I cannot wait to live blog-it from this historic part of the world in 16 days!!!

As a matter of fact, all of my clothes are all laid out and ready to go in my suitcase!! Do ya think I'm excited??!!

THAT'S A WRAP for today!

See ya back here tomorrow for W2GW.
Please CLICK ON THE TOP MOMMY BLOGGERS LOGO along the ride side of the webpage.  If you are receiving this blog via email - you will have to click to get to the web page to see the logo!
All votes help!!!


Have a great day!!!
-E
xoxo

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GRESHAM PALACE (credit: luxurytravelmagazine.com)