Poznan in Poland

Poznań is a city on the Warta River in west-central Poland, in the Greater Poland region and is the fifth-largest city in Poland. It is best known for its renaissance Old Town and Ostrów Tumski Cathedral. Today, Poznań is an important cultural and business centre and one of Poland's most populous regions. It is among the oldest and largest cities in Poland and is a centre of trade, sports, education, technology and tourism.
But what made me decide on visiting Poznan was its vibrant street art. They even have a map exclusively for visiting all the street art on display. And then of course the fulfilment of a long time desire of driving in Europe, specially on the much read about and written about ‘Autobahn’. So we rented a car in Berlin, Germany and drove to Poznan, Poland and back to Berlin, Germany. It was an incredibly satisfying drive, especially the seamless transition from one country to another. It was the closest to realising John Lennon’s dream that he sings in ‘Imagine’ ….Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for… It is heavenly for an Indian passport holder that we can go from one country to another with just one visa, without having to establish your credentials at the border. The beauty of United Europe. Here is a video of our drive.

  

My 1st impression of Poznan was that it is a laid back city with nobody in a hurry and everyone out to please the tourist. There were plenty of European families out there to enjoy their vacation and I did manage to spot one Indian family 😀

Like all European cities, Poznan too has its own beautiful catherdral, the Poznan Cathedral, the

St.Peter and St.Paul cathedral dating back to the 10th century, on the island of Ostrów Tumski. As you walk past the cathedral you will see a pretty little bridge that arches over the Cybina river, from

Ostrów Tumski to Srodka. This is named the Bishop Jordan bridge after the first Bishop of Poznan from the 10th century. In Srodka, the most amazing mural we have ever seen appears, to stun us

visually. It is a 3D mural titled ‘The tale of Srodka with a trumpeter on the roof and a cat in the background’. This mural shows what life in Srodka was a century ago. It was commissioned by the Chairman of the District Council and completed in 2015. Apart from the trumpeter and the cat, the mural also features a butcher’s shop which originally was located in the building and the portrait of Prince Władysław Odonic who founded Srodka in 1234.

Like all European cities, Poznan too has an ‘old town’ and is the centre of attraction. In the centre of

the Old town square is the impressive Old Town Hall dating back to the 13th century. Formerly the seat of the city council now it houses a museum but its main claim to fame now is the butting heads of mechanical goats at noon above the clock on the front wall, everyday.
Ref Wiki A legend behind the original addition of the goats to the clock mechanism states that a cook, while preparing a banquet for the voivode and other dignitaries, had burnt a roast deer, and attempted to replace it by stealing two goats from a nearby meadow. The goats escaped and ran up the town hall tower, where they attracted the attention of the townspeople when they began to butt each other (according to some versions, this drew attention to a fire which might otherwise have done significant damage). Because of the entertainment provided, the voivode pardoned both the cook and the goats, and ordered that two mechanical goats be incorporated into the new clock being made for the building.

Adjacent to the Town Hall building is a row of colourful buildings, built by the merchants in the 16th century. Most of the buildings in the square were reconstructed following heavy damage in the Battle of Poznań (1945).

All the buildings lining the square have cafes and souvenir shops. Overall an interesting place to spend a day! We did not go for a structured street art walk as we could sight quite a few all along the

way wherever we walked in the city.

And yes, the mascot of the city is The Goat as evidenced by the souvenirs on display in the shop.

Poznan - A city that is very tourist friendly and a must visit for history, heritage and art.

A photo essay of Budapest.

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, considered to be one of the largest cities in the European Union, is a combination of two cities Buda and Pest, which were united in 1873 to form Budapest.

Like most of the cities in Europe Budapest too bears the scars left by the Nazis. Let us take a walk through this beautiful city starting in Pest and then climbing to Buda to discover what makes it one of the most visited cities in Europe. Buda and Pest are separated by the Danube river.

The architecture is marvellous and leaves you spellbound with its beauty. 

The art on the exteriors of buildings are a sight to behold!

Beautiful doors too!

The streets are lined with pretty flowering plants on lamp posts.

The Great Synagogue is the second largest synagogue in the world!

Another impressive structure is the St. Stephen's Basilica, a Roman Catholic basilica  It is named in honour of Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose supposed right hand is housed in the reliquary.

 The ‘Shoes on the Danube Bank’ is a memorial to honour the Jews who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II. They were ordered to take off their shoes, and 

were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away with the flow of the river while their shoes were left behind. The story is that the killers believed that the Jews had hidden money and jewels in their shoes hence were asked to take off their shoes before being killed.

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, and was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Hungary, opened in 1849.

Just before reaching this bridge you will come across the very impressive Hungarian Parliament building that is awe inspiring.

Across the bridge is the Buda castle, the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, and was first completed in 1265.

In Buda you can see the magnificent Mathias church opposite the Fisherman's bastion.

Although no archaeological remains exist, as per the local story, it was originally built in Romanesque style in 1015. The current building was constructed in the florid Gothic style in the second half of the 14th century and was extensively restored in the late 19th century.

This is the Fisherman's bastion

Click here to see more pictures of Budapest that I have captured.

A photo walk in Berlin

Berlin is a beautiful city that sends out gentle vibrations of assimilation to anyone who cares to receive. She still remembers the brutal past to ensure a happy present and future. This can be seen in all the architecture and monuments that dot the city as a reminder. Yet the bustling metropolis is abuzz with modern technology to continue a comfortable living today.
Join me for a photo walk in this magnificent city to get a glimpse of living history.

The Brandenburg gate was built in the 18th century on the orders of the Prussian King Frederick II. It is seen as a symbol of European unity and peace. For details click here.

An imposing structure that overwhelms was opened in 1894 and was the the meeting place for 'Imperial Diet' but was destroyed in a fire in 1933 and then by bombing during the 2nd World War. The restoration started in 1970 and by 1990 was almost complete. Now tourists can visit the building and go up to the glass dome. Details here.

The Holocaust memorial for the murdered Jews of Europe is an amazing work of art. This is a memorial of 'tombstones' representing Jews of all ages, big and small. More details here.

Formerly the Luftwaffe headquarters and feared even now as it houses the German Revenue Ministry.

Time for some yummy currywurst with bread. Currywurst is German fast food of sausages seasoned with curry ketchup (spiced ketchup). 

The famous 'Checkpoint Charlie' that was the name given by the Allied Forces to the best known crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. For more details click here.

Art from the world over on the famous East side gallery, a part of the Berlin Wall that was brought down in 1990 though this is preserved. Know all about it here.

This German Cathedral is a must visit for the history and art within apart from the amazing views of Berlin from the dome.

Beautiful Berlin viewed from the dome of the German Cathedral.

As I said earlier, this is but just a glimpse into an evolving Berlin.

When in Rome...

Rome, one of the oldest cities in Europe and regarded as the birthplace of Western civilisation is an amazing city. It is the only city in the world that is the capital of two states, Italy and the Vatican! Since the 1st century AD, Rome has been considered the seat of the Papacy and in the 8th century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic.

  

When in Rome you must take a guided tour of the Coliseum to soak into the history behind that magnificent

 structure. Visit it at least twice. Once in daylight and once at night when it is beautifully lit up. It is listed as a

world heritage since 1980 by UNESCO.

It is the largest amphitheatre in the world and been in existence since 70-72AD. It was called Amphitheatrum Flavium as it was constructed by the Emperors of the Flavian dynasty. The name Coliseum is believed to have been derived from the colossal statue of Nero that was built just outside the amphitheatre. Now only the base of the statue exists.

Adjacent to the Coliseum is the Roman Forum. In Latin, Forum means plaza or square. This forum is

surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings and the ruins of the Roman kingdom's earliest shrines and temples.

In the next post we will take a walking tour of Rome.