Historical facts about Samarkand The precursor of Samarkand was Afrasiyab. Today there is only a sandhill north-east of today’s center of Samarkand left. Afrasiyab, founded in 750 BC, was the capital of the province of Sogdia in the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian empire. Due to trade on the Silk Road, the city had come […]
Libreria Acqua Alta – an exceptional bookshop
The Libreria Acqua Alta, which means high water bookshop, is in the center of Venice, in Calle Longa S. Maria Formosa 5176/b. We enter the bookshop and stand amidst a myriad of books in shelves that reach to the ceiling. In the middle of the room is a Venetian gondola, which is also full of […]
Venice off the beaten path
From the Rialto Bridge, we reach the Campo Santi Apostoli, the square in front of the church of the same name. Curved Colonnades on the building directly on the canal Rio the S.S. Apostoli serve as a landing stage for gondoliers. A small bridge over the canal makes this place a popular photo scene. 4K […]
In the center of Venice
From the landing stage in Punta Sabbioni, we take a regular ferry across the lagoon to Venice. The crossing takes about half an hour. Right at the beginning of the ride, we pass one of the three huge barrages that will protect the lagoon in the future from flooding. Two of the three barrages seem […]
First steps in Murcia
After dropping our baggage in the Hotel Catalonia Conde De Floridablanca, we immediately get on the way to explore the city. Around the corner is a small but beautiful park, the Jardin de Floridablanca, where the sardine greets us. It’s not decorated yet, but this shall change soon. At the exit of the park is […]
In the old town of Vilnius
Accidentally, we notice an announcement of a new opening right next to our accommodation, the Rentida Apartments. Theobromine Chocolatier It is Theobromine Chocolatier, a tearoom in the heart of Vilnius. The name derives from the bitter alkaloid of the cocoa plant, the theobromine. Theobromine is structurally related to caffeine and has a stimulating effect like […]