May 2017 – Annikin fotoblogi

End of the tour, Rome

Nuns eagerly taking selfies at the piazza in front of St Peter

Boys fed by a wolf mom are a symbol of Rome

Our final target, Rome. Today May 25th we however spent a few hours watching the Funeral service of former and appreciated president of Finland, Mauno Koivisto via internet.

Rome is full of beauty, but the most touristic sites were full of people, too. There were also many soldiers with dogs and heavy machine guns in railway- and underground stations and in front state offices. Don’t know if it was just due to G7 meeting or was it because of terrorist attacks in major cities. However I enjoyed a lot walking along the river banks, visiting Capitolium, narrow alleys and street cafes. The journey has been full of experiences. During nearly three weeks we travelled from Helsinki via Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and finally stopped for a week in Italy. Tomorrow’s flight to Helsinki is already looked forward. Good to get back home. Rome will be revisited, but hopefully during more peaceful time.

Exploring Amalfi coast

Positano and Amalfi were built on steep rocky coast line.

Made boat trips from Salerno to Positano, Sorrento and one whole day trip to Capri.

Views from Sorrento balconies. Riitta bought a photograph of nuns playing on this balcony.

I who don’t normally like pizza enjoyed this Margarita, in Sorrento, maybe the best pizza I have tasted.

Axel Munthe built his Villa Michele at Anacapri, on an ancient place were Roman emperor Tiberius had his villa.

Looking down from the Munthe’s Villa. Exiting ride up to Anacapri along narrow serpentine roads packed in the small crowded buses was experience as such.

One of the few sandy beaches was in Paestum, south of Salerno. To get to the beach required 2 km s walk.

On the way to the beach we found a large area of Greek ruins.

Our homebase for next days Salerno

Youth hostel is located in an old convent, from seventeenth century.

Salerno is a a small and still authentic Italian town, close to different touristic attractions, that can be reached by boat, bus or train. After travelling through Europe our aim is to stay here a few days, enjoy the atmosphere and visit Capri and other Amalfi towns.

My first visit to Pompei

Paintings at the ruins

Relaxing at the beach

For swimming you have to take bus to Vietri sul Mare. Water was warm for Finns, but not warm enough for most locals.

Found a familiar plant in the botanical garden.

Minerva botanical garden is the oldest in Europe. It was built on three balconies for medicinal plants and herbs.

Nest of kittens with their mom under the plants.

Venezia Venice

Italian breakfast, not so healthy, but delicious.

How much you can see of Venice during two nights and one whole day.

From here, Rialto Mercado comisario Brunetti used to buy fresh wegetables on her way home. I bought some apricots.

Checked also the Finnish pavillion at Biennale. Two artists, Erkka Nissinen and Nathaniel Mellors had created a funny, but propably also profound video+ animatronic sculptures. Talking of myths and current Finnish society.

We walked along the small alleys of main island, several vaporetto drives, visited mercado, the market place by Rialto bridge, checked the Opera house Fenice, Murano glass island and most exiting the Biennale. A positive surprise that it was already open.

The hostel was nicely located on a more peaceful island across the main island. We shared the dormitory with 12 others, but nights were peaceful. Our bunkbed was near open window with a scenery to a small forest.

In addition to all valuable touristic sights I was exited of the everyday life of that strange city. Ambulance and police boats, vaporettos were moving people, all the goods had to be moved without cars, shopping was done without cars.

Through the Alps

Beatiful mountains and lakes by the railway although, the highest Alps were passed through in a tunnel.

In Switzerland we could relax when visiting beatiful home of a family member. From the balcony we could admire the Alps and beautiful Lake Zurich. The same elements we could enjoy also when railing from Zurich onwards, although the highest mountains were passed in a tunnel.

Berlin now- like a big construction site

Arrival to Berlin on Friday evening, and after some small adventures due to missing buses we found the youth hostel.

The Berlin youth hostel lies near Tiergarten and although big it is quite peaceful. My memories from the atmosphere in Berlin were of a serene big city, but due to those big construction works it has now changed to more chaotic place.

Right now opening my eyes in a small dormitory with two bunk beds and four persons, windows are open and what do I hear, just birds singing. So far all our experiences of these youth hostels are very positive.

Very old cat in Neues museum. It could be one character of Egyptian Gods.

Our catch yesterday was two museums. We saw exhibition of Helmut Newton in the photography museum and valuable collections of Neues Museum at Museum insel. Coffee and apfeltorte in the museum cafe were needed after that. But those ancient statues, sarkophags and documents from the times bC really enlarge your conscience.

For the dinner we found our way to Prenzlauerberg a cosy restaurant near U-station.

Dresden with Sabine as a guide

Our Dresden day was perfect. Weather was sunny and hot. We met Annikki’s old colleague beside the Frauenkirche at the statue of Luther. We climbed up to the belltower, from where was a magnificent scenery over the 800 years old city of Dresden. River Elbe flew through the city.
The old centrum was bombed during the war. However, a lot has been rebuilt. Inside they are modern, but outside old style facades were used.

The work done with the renovation of the houses and the church was unbelievable. Most of it was done with donations. Part of it was done directly after the war, but the renovation of the church was done first in the nineties. After the war some symbolic peace work by British and German individuals was carried out. A son of a British bombarder pilot had prepared and donated a new cross to the church.

Friday was also a day for kindergarten to visit Frauenkirche.

When walking from the Youth hostel to the Frauenkirche, we asked the way from the kindergarten group.

Former kings of Saxony were painted on the wall. Dresden was the capital of Saxony after Maisen.

Admiring the old town scenery

We were first in the line to the belltower of Frauenkirche

That was a good day, thankyou Sabine for guiding us in your beautiful city.

Hamburg am Elbe

Scenery to harbour from youth hostel breakfast room.

Youth hostel in Hamburg had a great scenery towards harbour, plenty of trees in blossom around it. With us there were maybe 50 14-16 years old boys, so some noise in the echoing corridors, but the scenery and good breakfast made the experience really positive. The evening in the town was freezing cold, but next morning on a harbour tour we could enjoy sun.

Our train towards Dresden served afternoon coffee on white table cloths.

Afternoon coffee in train towards Dresden

Green leaves after Finnish winter make you feel good

Finally in Dresden the evening temperature was 19 degrees. I tried to catch the temperature display into this picture, but it has already moved to show our arrival time. Tomorrow we will meet a former colleague at Frauenkirche. Looking forward to that.

Finally warm, Dresden.