Posts tagged Dresden

European Capitals of Culture: Salzburg, Riga and Dresden…

Adventure Travel 5 Comments

My dear travellers, how are you today? I sincerely hope that you are doing great and you are safe and healthy according to this situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Have you ever thought that traveling is a form of non-formal education? Did you notice that you learned something new after every trip? Every visit to a museum or some other sights helps us to connect with other cultures. Today I have decided to write a new post in which I will try to compare three different European capitals of culture that are completely different and which I consider to be real gems in Europe. When you mention Austria, Latvia and Germany, what do you think do people think at first about these three countries having something in common?

Livonia, the original name of one of the areas of present-day Latvia, was influenced by the German Livonian Sword Brotherhood (Schwertbrüder) from the 13th century until the 16th century when the Livonia Institute was abolished by local aristocrats. After that period, Latvia had a tumultuous history and until its final independence in 1991 was influenced by many European emperors.

Getreidegasse Street makes the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town so special and recognizable by its large metal sign shop …

On the other hand, we have two neighbors, Germany and Austria, who share a common language. It is more difficult for foreigners to recognise different pronunciation and dialects, which may be why Austrians and Germans sound exactly the same and foreigners are often confused. Neither Germans nor Austrians like to talk about it. When it comes to the most common stereotypes, many people think that what is true of Germans is that the same applies automatically to Austrians. However, this is not exactly the case and you will often hear Austrians talk about what Germans are like in the same way we do with our neighbors in the region. You never have to say which one is better in sports or which one has a better sense of humor, it is better for you to skip this topic…

In any case, these are all general impressions, believe me you will only get the right picture if you have the opportunity to meet the Germans and Austrians, especially if you have the opportunity to work with them or otherwise spend more time in their countries. Today I will try to bring you closer to their cultures and ways of life – lifestyle.

A building in the heart of Salzburg where the musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

Salzburg or Solnograd as even older people in Europe call it the fourth largest city in Austria. It is a city that proudly boasts the most famous musical genius at every turn, a composer who has left behind a great artistic heritage – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart Café, Mozart Hotel, Mozart Bakery, Mozartkugel, Mozart Ice Cream… Everything you can imagine in Salzburg in its name can proudly carry the Mozart attribute, but you must have a special license for this legal work, because Mozart is a trademark today. How did this town on the Salzach River get its name?

In the immediate area of Salzburg are the famous salt mines, which were exploited until 1989, when the mines were completely closed. Today they are the biggest tourist attractions of the city. The German word “salz” means salt, which is why the name of the city literally means “castle or fortress of salt.”

When I received an invitation from the Salzburg Tourism Board to visit their city and to find out more about their history and way of life, there is little to say that I was thrilled. I had the opportunity to get to know the city in a completely different way. I was able to visit the family candy factory where Mozartkugel are made according to the original recipe, I met craftsmen who still today make unusual products and souvenirs that this city is known for.

Of course I visited various museums, outdoor monuments and the most famous lookout point in the city. Also interesting was a visit to the tomb of Marianne Anna “Nannerl” Mozart, the birth sister of the composer Mozart who assisted her brother and performed with him. She had an unusually turbulent and sad life and because of her life story I decided to single out and visit her grave in Salzburg.

Salzburg is a small town with an interesting history where you will always have plenty to see and explore. In my blog posts I shared with you in 2018 on the blog, I did my best to share with you some of my stories about this lovely city in Austria.

Posts which I wrote about Salzburg:

  1. Salzburg: The eternal classic in the heart of Austria
  2. I love Salzburg, because…
  3. Salzburg: Fashionable Fairy Tale Come True (fashion outfit post)

I will take this opportunity to quote myself as I still thank the same and stand behind this statement of mine:

“Salzburg is perhaps a small town, but believe me nothing is behind the bigger capitals in Europe. In the main street you will find all the most famous world fashion brands. Nice restaurant, wonderful view it will be enough to enjoy in the beauties of the city like Salzburg. You can buy one pack of original Mozart chocolates and you will be very happy, it’s much better than buying of expensive shoes but you will feel much better! I will write you in the next post about famous Austrian Folkwear, I’m sure you will love it! ”

RIGA, LATVIA

Riga is a city that I have always wanted to visit but never had enough funding for that trip and after I started working I did not have the free time to visit the capital of Latvia, which is considered to be the heart of the Baltic. When we say the Baltic, we immediately think of the cold, but I always think of three fairytale countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

My first visit to the Baltic was in 2018 when I visited their “brother” city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, as part of a project with the Helsinki City Tourism Board and the Finnish Tourism Board. Even then, I promised myself that I would visit other Baltic capitals, today I can say that I partially fulfilled that promise because I visited Riga, but I have not reached Vilnius yet.

I am sure that I will succeed if God gives health to what our people say and that Mr.M will soon embark on a journey to Lithuania and complete my Baltic adventure.

The invitation to visit the capital of Latvia came during my trip to Azerbaijan where one day I received an email from my PR agency do I want to visit Riga? The schedule was very tight since I was visiting Santa Claus at the North Pole, and at that moment I was in Azerbaijan, we did not know at all how to carry out the possibility that at that time Marko would clone and manage to visit the jewel of the Baltic – Riga.

I managed to somehow reschedule the travel dates and made myself almost 4 days of “space” and together with my photographer who was crazy about the sound of the engine of the plane and my mom who joined us decided to take a break and learn something new about this part of Europe.

airBaltic was wonderful so we all had the opportunity to feel the comfort of traveling in Business class with them on the Berlin – Riga route and this time I thank them for the kindly invitation and for being wonderful hosts and really doing our best to experience Riga as their second home. Mom and I were fascinated by the shops and the stunning number of outlets located in the heart of the city, while the photographer was fascinated by the architecture.

Riga is an ideal city for rest, leisure and adventure. You want to try their cuisine, believe me you will have a lot of restaurants in the Old Town, which makes the city centre warm & rich with many restaurants of Latvian and international cuisines so that all gourmets lovers can enjoy.

Riga is a European city of culture and has numerous museums and monuments. In addition, the city always strives to preserve its culture and organizes numerous cultural and artistic events every year.

The old part of Riga (Vecrīga) makes only the heart of the capital, located on the right bank of the Daugava River. In this part of the city there are many sights, of which the most famous is the Church of St. Peter, the saint who is also the patron saint of Riga. The Old Town is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in Europe as it has the largest number of secessionist (jugendstyle) buildings in all of Europe.

Posts I wrote about Riga:

  1. Letters from Latvia: Explore Riga with airBaltic!
  2. Letters from Latvia: One Artistic Day in Riga

Riga is truly an exceptional city to remember, I’m sure this city left no one indifferent. Honestly, I would love to return there soon, especially for the sights I didn’t get to see. I hope to have some new stories for you about this interesting city soon.

DRESDEN, GERMANY

In Germany, in the heart of Saxony, somewhere on the bank of the river Elbe is Dresden. An unusual city with rich Baroque architecture that managed to rise from the ashes after World War II. Dresden was a city that was razed to the ground during World War II. After the end of the war, the city belonged to East Germany and was not heavily invested. This was the case until the 1980s when the city began to rebuild.

If you decide to visit Dresden, trust me you will not go wrong because you will be able to enjoy the beauty of royal treasures left in museums. Unfortunately, much of the jewelry from the Green Vault Museum was stolen in the middle of last year.

It was my last time in March 2018 and I was able to visit the Green Treasury Museum which houses royal priceless jewelry. Today, some of the treasures are in other museums in Dresden and I believe that this beauty would be felt by all of us at least once in our lives.

Of course, in addition to outdoor jewelry, you can see the largest crown in the world… I think this is also one of the most visited places in Germany and anyone visiting Germany will go to Dresden to see this attraction.

For many tourists, Dresden is marked out as a special shopping destination. Shopping is special in Dresden because right in the center there are interesting sights and cultural monuments in the middle of the shops of famous international brands.

The most famous Baroque style building in Germany is located in the heart of Dresden. The Zwinger Palace was built at the behest of Saxon Prince Augustus II of Jakob in the late 16th century and was intended to commemorate the ceremony and ceremony. I think you should visit the Zwinger Palace, even if you have a couple of hours to visit Dresden, trust me you will remember, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Crown.

Posts I shared with you about Dresden:

  1. Dresden: The City of Kings
  2. Fall on the Crown of Dresden

How did you like this second post about interesting destinations that I visited during 2018 and 2019? This is just the beginning of this special series of posts where I will do my best to briefly write down some of my basic observations that I missed sharing with you while writing posts, and of course you will have the opportunity to remind yourself of some of my previous posts and to “renew” knowledge all together.

Have you ever had the opportunity to visit some of these cultural capitals in Europe so far? I would love to hear some of your experiences and would be glad to read your impressions in the comments.

If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page.

Best,
Mr.M

This post is not sponsored.

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Fall on the Crown of Dresden

Adventure Fashion Outfit Post Travel 7 Comments

Hi everyone, how are you today? I know I promised you that the next post will be from Italy, but I found an interesting post from the previous season that I forgot to share with you last winter. Before I start with todays post I would like to remind you that in March this year I had the opportunity to visit a city in Germany – Dresden. Interesting collaboration with Dresden Tourist Board – Visit Dresden.

The city of kings – post which you loved, I noticed by your reactions. I forgot to publish an outfit post, since that was the overlap of the season, the winter took a little longer, I completely forgot to share with you a special outfit post from this magical German town.

Dresden is one of those cities in Germany which are different from classical German architecture, those straight lines of. As you walk into the city, you have the impression that you are walking in some city in Austria or France, you would never say that you are in a city in Germany. An exceptional city you can not miss to visit. If you want to find out why I love Dresden you can read it in a post which I wrote in March this year. You can read on this LINK, enjoy!

In the picture above, you can see the symbol Dresden – the Great Crown Gate. It is also the largest crown in the world and due to this crown, many tourists come from Europe and the world to get to visit this magnificent and exceptional beauty. Of course, I have not missed my chance to enjoy in her immediate beauty…

If you are wondering why this image different from other photos because of the shades of colours, I can only tell you that natural light in winter is very deceptive and suddenly when the Sun is up, it automatically changes everything. That very day, the sun has played some games with us, but in the end, as you can see yourself, everything turned out fantastic.

The crown has left an unbelievable impression on me and I hope that at least I managed to show you this magnificence with a little help picture that you can see above. They are not called Dresden by the city of kings just like that, this crown is the proof of this well-known epithet.

This picture is my favorite! I am looking at a pastry shop in this moment, it was so cold, but I knew that in a couple of minutes I will enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with some sweets. At least that’s what my photographer promised to me… 

My photographer always kept promises and this smile shows my happiness that I finally find myself in warm cosy space, I could only stay at this restaurant with just one glass of water. I would not really be scared at all! After a bit of relaxation time, our Dresden adventure continues!

In the winter days are very short, you feel truly lonely in the streets, there is no people on the streets at all! Even outside when is winter the cold is there and you do not know whether to laugh or to cry… I decided to smile at least from the pain because it was so cold and I remembered that I was almost 6 am when I got out from hotel and we were not even make the plan to return to the hotel… Sometimes it’s hard for me to understand, sometimes I admire myself how I can manage on my those little mood things. I would love to see everything, but my physical condition has always been a big sign question!

OUTFIT

Sweater: Pal Zileri

Jacket: Burberry

Jeans: Pedro del Hierro

Backpack: Louis Vuitton

Scarf: Burberry

Gloves: Marina Yachting

Camera: Sony Alpha Mark II

 

After we finished another walk tour of the city, I decided that it was better for me to go on one more tour and that I would increase my chances of returning to the hotel as soon as I had a fear of freezing outside. This was my last photo from Dresden and it was spontaneous when the photographer asked me the magical question: “Do you want to go back to the hotel?” My smile just said everything. One more adventure ended, it was time to go home. We learned something new about Dresden and we brought a lot of nice memories from this unusual town.

Adventure in the hotel

When we returned to the room, I realized that we had forgotten about an outfit that I should take photos, it was very cold outside, and the night fell, so this possibility immediately turned out. The photographer gave me the idea to take some photos in the hotel, it’s warm and it’s great lighting, nothing costs us to try it! So in the end, there was… AMAZING!

The staff of the hotel was kind enough to help us with the shooting, so they redirected all the new “inhabitants” of the hotels to the counters that are on the other side, because it was easier for taking photos. Fortunately, we finished shooting in about ten minutes so it did not take so much time. Thanks to the marketing team of the Hyperion am Schloss Hotel on a quick response and that they tried to help me in the shortest period of time, read it like 20 minutes… The staff was wonderful so we got some sweet treats while we wait. The stay at this hotel was wonderful and its location is phenomenal for all those tourists who want to be in the  heart of the city and that all important sights are near to you.

My dear fashionistas once again we have come to the end of this special fashion post from magical Dresden. Time just flies so fast when you are having a good time! Don’t worry in a couple of days I will publish a new post where we will continue together to enjoy the charms of traveling and we will explore one of the shopping spots in Italy. I just can’t wait to show you what my friends from McArthurGlen Noventa Di Piave Designer Outlet and I have prepared for you guys.

OUTFIT

Sweater: Kiomi

Jeans: Pedro del Hierro

Sneaker: Christian Dior

Camera: Sony Alpha Mark II

How do you like this post? Do you like my special fashion outfit winter post? Have you prepared everything for this Fall? I would like to hear your opinion! If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page.

As I promised we’ll see again in a couple of days, so if something new and interesting happens to me, I promise, I will write to you!

Best,

Mr.M

 

This post is sponsored by Dresden Tourist Board, Hyperion Dresden Hotel am Schloss from H-Hotels chain of hotels.
For all these beautiful photos I used Sony Alpha 7r Mark II camera.

 

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Dresden: The City of Kings

Adventure Travel

Hello everyone! How are you today? I sincerely hope that you are well. In today’s post, I will try to show you all the beauties of a German city, which is better known as the “City of Kings”. Dresden is the capital of the federal province of Germany – Saxony. In Dresden there are about 500,000 inhabitants, but if we consider the wider city area and the municipality then the number is considerably higher, with about 800,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the valley of the Elbe river and thanks to this fact the town is decorated with precious bridges.

 

 

Dresden represents the main cultural, political and economic center. Because of its cultural and historical significance Dresden got its name – “Florence on Elbe”. I have to admit that this city has been quite remind me of Vienna because of its architecture.

Prior to the end of the Second World War, Dresden was bombed and most of the city was destroyed (there are various sources of information, but more than 80% of the city is destroyed). A lot of people have died, and the attack on the city is still under mysteries today and intrigues many historians. After the end of the war, the city was restored as well as many monuments of historical significance.

 

 

The city is really fascinating and easy to “recognize” from other typical German cities. When you walk around the city you simply don’t have the feeling that you are in Germany. I had the opportunity to enjoy in the beauties of the city with the little help of the Tourism Board of the City of Dresden. Thank you!

 

 

Since I came early in the city it was quite reasonable that the city was quiet, but after I realized that the city was so peaceful and really quiet, you will see people, but it’s not like Berlin or some other big city that you have feeling the “noise” of the city. I have to admit that it is perfectly suited to me, because I always wanted to get rid of the sound of the rails in the metro and to get out of big town for a while.

 

 

The city is one of the real artistic work, if you maybe get lost yourself in some street, you will be amazed by the beauty of details that decorate city and the buildings. I was “lost” for a whole weekend!

The sound of the music, street artists who by the sound of their instruments simply make you lose the notion of time and at least feel the magic of some past times… I spiced it up a little with a Reforma cake that I couldn’t eat in a pastry shop because it was not enough space for seating! Believe me I don’t regret! I thought people would think I was crazy as I ate cake in the middle of the street, but in the end it turned out that it was all right. 🙂

 

 

In the heart of the city is the Zwinger Castle. A unique building, somewhat like the Versailles castle like in Paris, but because of its large outdoor area, the castle itself was mostly used for festive occasions. The most important “star” in Dresden is located in this castle, a large golden crown that everyone is coming to take photos of that famous crown as I do and I finally realised that I have made 325 pictures of the crown itself and 700 pictures of the city… “The Crown Gate” is on the one of the entrances in the old part of town. Only the name says – Crown. The crown is one of the reasons that everyone is coming to Dresden…

 

 

At the beginning of this post I mentioned to you that Dresden was bombed at the very end of the Second World War and whether you might have wondered why Allied forces bombed the city like Dresden at the very end? Dresden has always been distinguished from all other cities, primarily because of its cultural importance, and it was also the strongest cultural centre in Germany. Residents are particularly proud of this fact and they thought Dresden was the cultural “cradle” of Germany and that it was the place where this story should start from. Because of all this, the allies decided to bomb the city at the end of the war. After all those dark times, Dresden and its inhabitants make it so easy and the city was quickly restored. The city administration today is investing in the reconstruction and maintenance of the city and monuments of historical importance.

 

 

Now let’s go over on some interesting and fun things. Many of you, on social media, wondered how much time it takes to get around Dresden… The answer to that question lies in yourself. Everything depends on your condition and how much you can chime during the day. The other thing that interests all of you is whether you want to visit the city and see some buildings and monuments or you want to see the museums how much time you need to explore city. If you want to visit a city without a museum, you could make as one day excursion (again it all depends on where you are traveling and which transportation you will use: car, bus, train or a plane). My best advice is to spend at least one night in Dresden. As in every city in Germany and in Dresden there are hotels for everyone’s budget.

 

 

“If I have enough of the time which museums I can visit?”

Dresden is a city that has a rich history and there are plenty of museums, but if you already have a little more time you can visit the Military Museum and exhibitions in the Dresden Castle. The Military museum is located on the central periphery and I advise you to use the tram while the castle is in the city centre, so you don’t need to use transportation.

 

Military Museum

After several years of construction and various changes to the construction project the Military Museum of the Bundeswehr finally was opened.

 

 

The museum follows the development of Germany from the early beginning of history to the present. It was an interesting exhibition of animals used in the war for centuries. It is not advisable to take the children with you because certain pictures are disturbing. The museum is very modern and interactive, if you have time I think you should pay a visit to the Bundeswehra Museum.

 

Das Residenzschloss – Dresden Castle

The castle is located in the heart of Dresden. There are many interesting exhibitions, with special exhibitions such as the Royal Jewellery Collections, the Golden Age and the Chamber of the Ottoman Empire history.

 

 

 

A special collection of the Royal jewels can’t be photographed as a visitor-tourist or as a media representative. The collection is extraordinary and it is one of the rare and largest collections of royal jewels and items of exceptional value throughout Europe.

On the second floor there are artwork that can be photographed, certain objects you can see in the pictures above. The museum itself is divided into several themed areas.

 

 

 

I think you should visit the castle and you can enjoy the beauty of these items of unpredictable value and find out something new. It’s always good to learn something new, every new experience and knowledge makes a man richer and better.

 

 

Especially interesting is the exhibition which is showing the Ottoman Empire history. Really fascinating exhibition, I really enjoyed! That was the most beautiful two hours spent in my life.

 

 

Dresden: Where to eat?

We went to museums, we learned something new, maybe we could eat something nice! ?

There are plenty of cool restaurants that are affordable but of course you can always choose fast food restaurants, but if you want to try real German specialties or to feel exotic Asian food in the centre of Dresden it will be better for you to visit these restaurants.

My first suggestion is the Felix restaurant, located in the centre of the city. The restaurant is a modern and urban. This is a place where you can always try the unbelievable tastes of Asian cuisine. Of course, there is a classic menu, but to enjoy in Asian cuisine and to have a stunning view from the 6th floor just to see famous crown is an unbelievable feeling. Apart from the restaurant within the complex there are apartments, so you can make your trip even better!

 

 

 

If you want to feel the right German cuisine, my recommendation is Sophienkeller. Prices are affordable if you consider it to be in the heart of Dresden and that the food is of excellent quality.

 

Where to stay in Dresden?

In Dresden there are plenty of hotels that are really affordable to everyone’s pocket, but my sincere recommendation is the Hyperion Hotel am Schloss which is located in the center of the city. By name you can find that the hotel is located near the castle, which is a great thing and allows you to easily and without using the transportation to explore Dresden.

 

 

Okay, now you know some tips what you should do in Dresden, where you can eat, where you can stay… I think we miss something… I think that activity is well known to everyone, and guess what it’s a SHOPPING. At the beginning before I write some recommendations, you should know that in Dresden are mostly multi-brand stores. To whom this type of stores is unknown, these are the stores that have more brands in their offer. So far, I had positive experiences with such stores, in some cases it happened that the things of certain brands on discounts were cheaper than discounting in the official stores of those brands. Sales in their official flagship stores are from 30% to 40%, and in multi-brand stores you can find the same or similar model at a discount of up to 70% on sale.

Since I’m a male fashion blogger, guys, I think you should visit the stores I recommend. If you can’t remember, leave it to your dear ladies…  Sometimes women know better and have better memory for these things than men, so it will be much easier to take your dear lady  for a nice shopping spree.

 

Recommendations:

Prüssing & Köll – If you are a fan of the classic style and timeless elegance, this is the right place for you! You need a new coat, maybe a new suit? This store really has everything you need to be elegant. Of course, this is not just a fashion paradise for men, it’s also a heaven for ladies. If you love classic trousers, my dear ladies here will surely find them and of course much much more! Address: Heinrichstraße 5. You can find this store on the MAP.

LUI Menswear – another great “fashion” address in Dresden! Are you a fan of Italian style? You follow the latest fashion trends? I think you’ll definitely like this store. Address: Neumarkt 6 – MAP.

Schneiderei und Herrenmode Küchler – This charming tailor salon has left an incredible impression on me, because my grandfather was also a tailor. He also made beautiful suits and trousers for men. Memories are a real miracle! The owner of this salon has a longstanding experience and he is willing to follow all the latest fashion trends. All the materials are exclusively purchased from Germany, and I have to admit that the suits are very affordable if you know that you will get a quality suit that is tailored to fit you perfectly. Rates range are from 150 euros to 500 euros depending on the material and the model of the suit itself. A very interesting salon, if you need a nice and quality suits just pay a visit to this tailor salon! Address: Leipziger Str. 82 – MAP.

 

Now I would like to write some nice recommendation for ladies too! Of course, men can find something for themselves, but the accent is on the clothes for ladies.

 

Silbermann Fashion – This is a true fashion paradise for all high-end fashion brands lovers. The small department store, as I called it, has everything that you need to look amazing. Like all the things in life that have that famous BUT, in this case that’s a price. You can use final sales at the moment so you can find great fashion pieces. You just need the luck to find your size, if you find it that means you are the lucky one and you will surely have the nice item which will last for several seasons.

Altmarkt Galerie Dresden – Shopping mall in the heart of Dresden. It has about 200 shops of famous street and high-end brands. In this mall, you can find brands like H&M and all the luxurious famous brands like Hugo Boss. If you have time, I think you should visit this great shopping mall and to spend some nice and quality time there.

 

Well, I think you learned something new today and that you’ve got plenty of practical tips how to spend time in Dresden. Dresden is a beautiful city and I think everyone will find what looks for. Whether you’ve come to enjoy art, architecture or food, Dresden is here for you to fulfill all your wishes.

 

 

My travel diary is richer for a new one experience, and I went home with a smile on my face and a suitcase full of things which I didn’t dress on because of low temperatures… But I have amazing memories for a lifetime.

I sincerely hope that you enjoyed this post and that you are ready for a new adventure, maybe it’s time to visit Dresden. I think Dresden will welcome you! It’s almost Eastern, did you make some plans for holidays?  I would like to take another opportunity to thank my friends from the Tourism Board of city of Dresden on this wonderful experience.

 

 

We’ll see again the next week where I’ll show you two outfits in one post that I’ve photographed in this beautiful city. If you have a question, comment, suggestion, or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as you have always been able to contact me via mail or social media, everything you can find it on the CONTACT page.

Best,

Mr.M

 

 

This post is sponsored by the Tourism Board of the City of Dresden. The devices used to make these photos are Alpha 7r and RX100 Mark V thanks to Sony.
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