Year in Travel

I would like to take the opportunity to wish all my readers A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR as we move on to 2012.

2011 has been a pretty good year in travel. While major airlines are punishing us with steep increase in prices and fees, budget airlines are increasingly popular among travelers with the no fuss and frill attitude. They have certainly give major airlines a run for their money. Today there are almost 50 low cost carriers in Asia alone, and they amount close to two hundred from around the world. With a little time and homework done before you head to your next destination, you'll find that there are still a lot of good bargains out there. 

Accommodation is another factor to think of when travel. Budget hotels, hostels, and home-stays are getting trendy these days. They are not just affordable, but most have their individual character and style. Travelers have the chance to know other travelers, and share their experiences. Recently I found a site, CouchSurfing which provide a platform for people to connect, foster, and immerse into other cultures by encouraging users to provide and benefit from free in-home lodging. 

Years ago when someone offered a cigarette to a stranger, it seemed like an icebreaker for a conversation. But today, it's no longer a norm since most people are pretty health conscious, and they know the effects of nicotine. But I find that food can be a hot conversational piece in the new millennium. Where is a good place to eat? What food should I try while here? How do you make this? All these can bring any conversation to a whole new level. 

I am pretty adventurous when it comes to food although I have to cautious you not to eat any cooked food that is not hot. A friend of mine got a bad stomach pain after eating a cold fried chicken when in Guatemala. It all ended well after he took some Tums with ginger ale.

Iceland is in almost every list for best places to visit in 2012. I have booked my flight to Reykjavik next March, and I am very excited to find out what makes this city tick despite its extreme cold weather. Panama and Nepal are also on my list. I wish I have more free time, and deeper pocket to travel but I am not complaining with the bad economy these days.  We are working harder than ever before although it doesn't seem that way. We are more careful with our finances but everything is going up, it doesn't really make any difference anymore.  

But if we spend time to chart our course, I believe we can still afford to travel at least once to a dream destination of our choice in 2012.

Happy Holidays in New York City

Happy Christmas in London

Comfort food for the long cold winter months

                                                                    Yong Tau Foo

                                                                 Pork's blood jelly soup

                                                                        Goulash soup

                                                                      Garlic soup

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

I was so excited that my friend was able to get tickets for us to see 'Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark' broadway show last summer. All the hoopla surrounding the show's troubled preview period, and the sudden departure of director, Julie Taymor had made me wanted to see the show even more. With music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge, I was expecting a high octane entertainment summer blockbuster.

"No camera," said the usher as me and friends walked into the auditorium. All eyes were focused toward center stage with striking visuals of the web slinger and his nemesis and the blinding windows of Manhattan's skyline in red. 

Visually, the show was stunning. Street blocks flipped and unfolded as the actors weaved their way from one street to the next. There were scenes of the Brooklyn Bridge with the subway train running above, and not forgetting the Chrysler building arching up toward the audience as Spiderman and the Green Goblet  battled out on top of the iconic building.

Choreography of the fight scenes was another interesting element. The acrobatic aerial stunts and flying dazzled the crowd. Spiderman even dropped into the aisles, and showered the audience with his spidey confetti for fun.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the music score. The ballad "Rise Above" and the duet "If the World Should End" were good, while the rock songs just splattered like flat tyre at best. A friend complained that the show reminded her of an over-budget high school play at the second half of the first act. Two Korean ladies were sleeping at each other's shoulders in front of me.

"‘Turn Off the dark’ is a pop-up Pop-Art opera with a bit of rock ’n’ roll circus thrown in,” Bono wrote by e-mail in response to questions. Pop-Art? Rock 'n' Roll? Or Broadway Musical? It sounds like Mr Bono is as confused about the direction of the show as the 'Where's the Beef?' lady. 

After a record-setting investment of over $70 million, months of delays and previews, I think Mr Bono and the producers 'still haven't found what they are looking for'. 

As for my evening with my friends, we left feeling lousy.

The 'chicken bus' in Guetamala

Mail boxes from around the world

                                       From the world's largest mailbox in Betong, Thailand....

                                           to one of the oldest mailboxes in Lyiv, Ukraine.....

                                            and a patriotic mailbox in Gulfport, St Petersburg.

God's Waiting Room

My last trip to Florida was 25 years ago when I went to Orlando to receive a student award. 

Miami, Orlando and Tampa are the common top three choices for anyone who wants to enjoy the sun during the cold winter months in the North. St Petersburg, the fourth largest city in Florida is an unusual trip for me for one good reason. My decision to see an old friend of mine who has moved there three years ago, and she is someone that I have not seen since I left Chicago in 1992!

My trip started well with an upgrade to first class from United Airlines. I arrived late at Tampa International Airport, and when May pulled over to pick me up, it sure didn't seems that long we last saw each other. 

The drive from the airport to Gulfport is about 45 minutes. A suburb of St Petersburg, Gulfport has a few name changes between 1884 and 1910 before it finally got its official name. As May turned the street toward her house, I realized that most houses are single stories with huge front lawn. The backyard in the house is even bigger.

With temperature in the 80s' in most days, Gulfport is distinguished by its high concentration of artisans inspired by the intense light and tropical scenery. On the first Friday and third Saturday of each month, the main street in Gulfport is transformed into cultured atmosphere with street performers, artists and craftspeople. The celebration is called "Art Walk" and it is popular among the locals and tourists. Tuesdays are Fresh Market days on Beach Boulevard in the Gulfport Waterfront district. The Market showcases fresh produce, baked goods, plants, arts and crafts with an entertainment of music and songs nearby. A year-round event, I find that it is not a huge crowd pleaser, probably because it is being held on a weekday.

With a mix of small-scale cottages and small independent businesses in proximity of restaurants and cafes situated among mature oak trees, the Gulfport waterfront district has the "Old Florida" feel to it.

May drove me along the coast the next day. Known as St Pete by the locals, St Petersburg is located on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. St Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Indian Rocks Beach and Clearwater Beach are all intracoastal land connected by causeways and bridges. 

Jutting out half a mile into the Bay is the St Petersburg Pier, a major tourist attraction with various activities in downtown St Pete. Well, at least that was what it used to be. Locals are seen taking nice long walks with their dogs, while others are fishing on the dock with the pelicans and seagulls flying freely around the area. A picturesque surrounding, but once inside the Pier, it is pathetic looking with empty shop lots and just a few people. May told me that it might be torn down to make way for a new condominium project. 

There are lots of attractions within walking distance. There are Great Explorations (a children's museum), Museum of Fine Arts, a Holocaust Museum, the Salvador Dali Museum, which houses the largest collection of Dali's outside of Europe, and the Sunken Gardens. High rise condominiums situated along the waterfront, with hotels and other office complexes and shopping centers encompass the downtown area. Palm trees and other tropical trees grow to maturity in breezy sunny days make St Pete a perfect paradise to relax and enjoy life after retirement. Known as "God's waiting room," the population in St Pete has shifted in a more youthful direction in recent years.

May works in the bank. As there are not too many Asians living in this area, she is a standout like a living monument. Business owner knows her either by name or the girl who 'works in my bank'. We try to catch up as much as we could either in the car while driving, or during and after dinner. I cannot believe that the street is absolutely dead as night falls after 7 pm. I remember one night I had wanted to head out after 8, Neil (May's husband) was almost freaking out. "I don't like the idea that Herman is going out this late at night" he said. I obliged. May and her husband sleep at 9 every night, and they wake up around 7 the next day. I sleep late. And I wake up late. It's your choice if you're in paradise.

She has taken me to see the dolphins. "There! there! did you see it" she said with a tone of excitement in her voice. Finally, I sighted the dolphins but I was unable to capture them in pictures. We went to pick sea shells at the Passagrill Beach in St Pete, and May gave me two Sand Dollar shells which were beautiful. We had dim sum, sushi and Chinese takeout, and Neil made us barbecue chicken one night. Finally, I made a new friend, Finn, a furry dog with long brown hair. 

As we hugged goodbye at the airport, I was hoping I don't have to wait another 20 years to see my old friend again. 

Timisoara

Timisoara is the fourth largest city in Romania. I arrived at Traian Vuia International Airport, which is the hub of Romania's second-largest airline, Carpatair in the morning. Like Lviv, Timisoara's public transportation network consists of trams, trolleys and buses. The bus to the city center takes about 40 minutes, and it cost only 2 lei ($0.75).

Most places of interests in central Timisoara are easily accessible by foot. The Piaţa Victoriei (Victory Square) is probably the most well-known square in the old district of Timisoara. There are dozens of coffee houses, and restaurants which surround the square. The stunning Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral is located on the south side of the square, with the Opera Theater on the north across a beautiful landscape of green plants, and a fountain. The cathedral is home to many valuables, and religious objects such as old icons and early writing in Romanian. It has 11 towers, of which the central and the highest has a height of 96 meters.

Piaţa Unirii (Union Square) is the old city's center. Here you find The Catholic Dome, The Baroque Palace, and The Serbian Church among other important buildings. 

Getting around the city is also possible by bicycle as there are dedicated cycle lanes in many parts of the city. 

Located between Victory Square and Union Square, is Piaţa Libertăţii (Liberty Square), a small square with old buildings. Here you can find the old City Hall and the St. Nepomuk's Statue. Carved in low resistance sandstone, the monument was built in memory of the 1738-1739 plague victims in Timisoara.

Timisoara is known in Romania as the City of Parks. The Botanical Park which is near Piata Unirii is the most beautiful park in Timisoara. Then there is the  Rose Park which is near Piata Victoriei, the Central Park which is just behind the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral), and the Children's Park which is near the Student Campus.

The day I arrived in Timisoara was one of the hottest days in the city. Temperature was 33 degree Celsius (almost 92 degree Fahrenheit). I had to get away from the sun at a local Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. After I had a large cup of Pepsi (you need to request for ice, otherwise it will be just soda), I walked toward the Central Park, and sat under the shade. The park was originally a military cemetery. Today, it is a park with Monuments of Heroes, statues, and fountains. 

There are rows of historic buildings as I walked my way to Gara Nord, the main train station for my night journey to Brașov. Most still retained their original state, while others have recently been restored. I saw trams that reminded me of the subway cars in New York City. It was like the iconic 7 (red) train cars given a second life here in Timisoara. It took me approximately an hour to walk from the park to the train station. I stopped at a cafe nearby for (bite size) pastries before I boarded my train.

Male Bonding

                                                          ........ in Colombo, Sri Lanka,

                                                                       Kiev, Ukraine,

                                                              and St. Antonia, Guatemala.

Lviv

I took a 9-hour train ride from Kyiv to Lviv. A second class cabin cost 170 hryvnia or UAH (approximately $25), and it comes with a set of comforter, blanket, pillow and towel. There is also a tea/coffee service.  

The hostel that I stayed is located near the Old Town Square. It is in an old building with a huge courtyard. The spiral wooden staircase gave a squeaky sound as I walked up the stairs. After checking in, I took a quick shower. With no time to waste, I began to explore the historic city center which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the heart of Lviv lies the S. Krushelnystka Opera House which offers regular performances of various operas and ballets ranging in prices from 50UAH to 80UAH. Unfortunately, no shows were playing that day. I decided to walk around the Old City Center before my guided walking tour at noon. 

Lviv's historic churches, buildings and relics date from the 13th century. The buildings have many stone sculptures and carvings, particularly on large doors, which are hundreds of years old. Most buildings are three-window houses. It would be a privilege to have a six-window house at that time. Constantine Corniaktos, a famous Lviv merchant, earned that right to build one for his merits. Churches are almost every where. Most of them are situated among rows of three to five storey buildings that have hidden inner courtyards and grottoes in various styles. Some of these churches worth spending time at are the Ensemble of the Armenian Church Cathedral, St. George Cathedral, and the Dominican Monastery and Cathedral.  Monuments to Taras Shevchenko - the great Ukrainian poet and artist; Ivan Fedorov - the first Ukrainian and Russian book printers; King Danilo Galitsky - the founder of Lviv; and Leopold von acher-Masoch - Austrian write and journalist, are some of the city sculptures commemorating people and topics reflecting the rich history of Lviv.

As the city was preparing for its 20th anniversary of independence from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there were lots of activities going on in the Market Square (Ploshcha Rynok) where the City Hall is located. A large stage was being set-up for the event, while groups of teenagers were rehearsing for various traditional Ukrainian dances nearby. 

Cafes, restaurants and gifts shops made this Square a huge draw to both locals and tourists. 

The Pharmacy Museum, The Museum of Ethnography and Crafts, and The Lviv National Museum are some of the museums recommended by the tour guide. The guide was really enthusiastic about the history and culture of Lviv, and the tour lasted for almost four hours. After a day of walking, I went to a local restaurant for dinner. A grilled chicken leg and thigh, with salad and rissole cost about 36 UAH (less than $5).

Venture out of the Old City Center, you would probably come across a city's architecture that reflects various European styles and periods with cobblestones roads that are all very well-maintained. Most of these buildings are residential with a few family run businesses scattered around. 

By evening, the celebration was in full swing. Participants from all over the world parading in their costumes to the thousands of enthusiastic spectators.  Song and dance by local talents were performed live on stage, while not too far away, two ladies were doing the hoopla with fire to the beat of the drums. Local politicians took the opportunities to voice their opinions to the community, while children were seen 'rock climbing' from the wave monument behind Taras Shevchenko. 

I am glad that I was at the right place at the right time. Witnessing the indenpendence celebration by the Ukrainians in their traditional costumes showed how much they loved their country.

Magical Kiev

Think of Communism, and I would associate it with a yellow star in a bright red background. Ukraine was integrated into the Russian Empire in the 1900s' until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. As I flew over the Atlantic Ocean to Kyiv, I was envisioning a city full of golden domes donning the blue skyline. 

I did not arrive at my hostel till 8 at night. Feeling hungry, I took a walk along Chervonoarmiis'ka str., where the hostel is located. I was surprised to see (at least) five Japanese restaurants on that street alone! I decided to try one. The host was a young man in an oversized coat as I approached him. Unlike New York where you have to wait to be seated, here in Kyiv you are free to seat anywhere. The menu was sushi and Italian pasta with a twist of Japanese flavor. I ordered a soup plate of green pasta noodles with sliced chicken, and yakitori. Unfortunately, the meal was not good at all. 

I started the next morning to Andrew's Descent. As I walked up the steep and winding cobblestone road, street vendors were beginning to start their business as usual activities - setting up tables, and unloading their merchandise from their vehicles. 

At the top is Saint Andrew's Church. There are steps that lead up to the Church. Dark green dome with decorative spires decorated with ornamental details made this Church a landmark in this historic Podil neighborhood. Walk further away from here, you could see an ornate white bell tower standing majestically. This is the St. Sophia's Cathedral. It is the oldest standing church in Kyiv, built in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who incidentally was laid to rest here. This majestic 13-cupola sanctuary adjoined Yaroslav's Palace has become a holy place of worship for the Kyivites. Today the entire complex is protected by Ukraine, and receives support from UNESCO. Directly opposite St. Sophia's Cathedral is St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral. Its sky blue exterior and glittering golden domes add a stunning layer to the cityscape around the entire area. Exit out from the cathedral to your right is a monument to the victims of Holodomor (starvation); a sobering reminder of Stalin's inhumane policies. 

Having time on my side, I headed back to Andrew's Descent, and took the metro to Kyivo-Pechers'ka Lavra-Caves Monastery. The Monastery which made Kyiv the 'Rome' of Orthodox Christianity receives pilgrims from all over Europe and attracted droves of visitors yearly. It is 28 hectares of land with churches, towers and museums. The most interesting and holy site is the Underground Caves, where priests were mummified naturally, and laid in glass caskets. Women are required to wear scarves to cover their head before entering. Candles are given to some visitors to guide them through the tunnels.

Not far from the monastery, lies the Museum of Great Patriotic War. There are painted battle tanks, and other artillery and monuments surrounding the area. One of the monuments that stands out is the Mother Motherland monument, shining brightly as it reflects the beams from the sun. It is made of titanium, and measures 102 m (203 ft). 

I ended my day at the Independence Square. This is where history was made in November 22, 2004, where the Orange-clad demonstrators gathered to protest the results of the run-off vote between two political candidates.   

The unthinkable happened to me on my last day in Kyiv. I was pick-pocketed while riding the metro. It nearly spoilt my entire day. Not to be deterred, I went to the Golden Gate (Zoloti  Vorota). It is the remains of the ancient Kyiv's main gate that were originally constructed during the height of the Kyivan Rus, and is considered as one of the most unique architectural archaeological sites in Kyiv.

The Kyiv Metro is the first rapid transit system in Ukraine. Riding the metro itself is a joy and its interior is amazing: decorated elaborately, it shows the postwar Stalinist architecture blended with traditional Ukrainian motifs. It has one of the deepest stations in the world, Arsenalna at 105.5 metres below ground. The best part is, a single ride costs only 2.00 hryvnia which is less than a quarter in the United States. 

I went to the main train station to relax my tired feet before my departure to Lviv.

Despite the misfortune incident, I had a really good time in Kyiv. I believed Ukraine has the most influential atmosphere from the former Soviet Union era. Now, I have added gold and dark green to my palette of yellow and bright red when I think of Communism. 

Berlin

The following morning, we flew to Berlin on Air Berlin. We had a little trouble locating our hostel, but when we got there, I was surprised to find that the hostel was actually pretty nice although linen was not provided. Unfortunately, the weather in Berlin was just as cold.

What was so interesting about the hostel is that it is located in a neighborhood where part of the Berlin Wall is still left standing. We stopped at Alexanderplatz where we had lunch at Dinea in Galeria Lafayette. Alexanderplatz is a large public square and transport hub in the central Mitte district of Berlin. Not too far from the train station is the Neptune Fountain. Built in 1891 and designed by Reinhold Begas, it has the Roman God Neptune in the center, with four women around him representing four main rivers of Prussia: Elbe, Rhine, Vistula and Oder. The tallest structure in Germany, Fernsehturm (television tower) is also located here. Further away, is the Museum Mile, a major highlight of any visit in Berlin with superb museum collections and stunning architectures. Some of the interesting places around here are: DDR Museum, which offers hands-on experience of what day-to-day life in socialist Germany was like; Alte Nationalgalerie, offers three-level collection of 19th century art; Lustgarten, a garden known for its visual pleasure and Pergamonmuseum, a massive wealth of information regarding classical Greek, Islamic, Middle Eastern and Roman art and structural design.

The Berliner Dom is a Baroque Cathedral located on an island in the River Spree, also known as the Museum Island. It was severely damaged during World War II, but reconstruction only begun in 1975. One of the most interesting items in the richly decorated interior of the church is the reconstructed pipe organ, built by Wilhelm Sauer. The organ, originally built in 1905, has more than 7.000 pipes. A number of members of the Hohenzollern family are buried in the church, among them Friedrich I and his wife, who are entombed in beautifully sculpted sarcophagi. The oldest tomb in the cathedral (1530) is the tomb of elector Johann Cicero, elector of Brandenburg. We spent sometime in the Dom, and as night time approached, we decided to head back. The ensemble on Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Brandenburg Gate is a former city gate and one of the main symbols of Berlin and Germany. It is the only remaining gate of a series which Berlin once entered. It was heavily damaged in the war, but now fully restored in 2002. Today it is regarded as one of Europe's most famous landmarks. The Reichstag building is another historic building in Berlin. It has a large glass dome at the very top. The dome has a 360-degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape. I had wanted to view the interior of the building (the next day), but unfortunately the line was way too long. The Reichstag is one of the few famous buildings in Berlin that does not charge a fee to enter. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe also know as the Holocaust Memorial consists of a 19,000 squares meters (almost 6,000 squares feet) covered with 2,771 concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field. Designed by an American architect, Peter Eisenman, the slab are designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason.

Berlin does have lots of history significance, after all, it was here that Adolf Hitler and his subordinates had great plans to transform Berlin into a center fit for his new empire. 

Before we could stay any longer, it began to snow heavily. We detour to one of the streets and found a nice little restaurant. We had soljanka (a spicy sour soup), kartoffelsuppe (potato soup), and eisbein (ham hock). It was a delicious meal to end the night.

Weather was better the following day. The sun came out, and we went to Kurfurstendamm, one of the most famous avenues in Berlin.  It has very long, broad boulevard with lines of trees (in this case, trunks), and full of luxurious stores, shops, hotels, restaurants and houses. This is also where the ruins of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church located. I bought some Easter chocolates at KaDeWe, a famous departmental store in Berlin. We went back to Brandenburg Gate for another look. 

Berlin has a population of more than 3 million people. Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany hosting 147 foreign embassies. Berlin is a world city of politics, media, and science. It is known for its diverse culture, arts, architecture and historic legacy. Like New York, it is the city that never sleeps.

As we were on a train back to pick up our bags from the hostel, we were asked to show our train ticket to the inspectors. We did not buy our tickets that day. As I was pretending to look for them, Jack just acted dumb. To make the long story short we were ticketed and asked to pay a fine. "We don't have any money left. Can I pay later?", I said. "Yes, you can. You can send us your money" he said. The inspectors took our information. We left Berlin for Frankfurt in the rain that night. Snow, rain, wind, and sun - we had it all in Germany.

After a few hours of sleep, we flew back to New York the next morning. And, I still have not pay the fine yet!

St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev is an outstanding architectural monument of Kievan Rus'. Listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the city's best known landmarks in Kiev.

Frankfurt

I've been to Frankfurt am Main twice before but both times were in the summer. We left Kuala Lumpur at a near record 90 degrees Farenheit (32 C), and came to Frankfurt am Main at a 30s' F (almost 0 C) temperature.  With a huge drop in temperature in less than 12 hours, I felt cold when we got off the plane in a chilly Thursday night in March.

Jack and I left our luggages at the Frankfurt International Airport, and we took a train (cost €3.80) to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station), where our hostel is located. 

Situated in the Main River, Frankfurt is a major financial and transportation center in Europe. The Stock Exchange is one of the world's most important exchanges, and there are over 300 national and international banks represented here in Frankfurt. In fact, it is the only German City listed in the top Alpha world cities. You may not think of Frankfurt as a tourist destination given the fact that it is a major key player in the financial and commerce sectors, but Frankfurt does offer a lot more.

Along the Schaumainkai in Frankfurt's district of Sachsenhausen, on the left bank of the Main River, there is an extraordinary concentration of museums and galleries, and some of them of international standards. This area is known as Museumsufer (Museums Riverbank). If you walk along the area, don't be surprised to see houses that are transformed into museums and galleries. It was getting really cold as we walked toward Römerberg in the rain and wind. This is the central square of Frankfurt's Alstadt (Old Town). All kinds of festivities are held here yearly. There are 6 picturesque reconstructed half-timbered houses known as the Ostzeile in Alstadt. In March 1944 bombardments flattened the whole historic district, including Römerberg. Some were rebuilt soon after the war, but the Ostzeile wasn't reconstructed following historical models until 1981-1983. We stopped by at a restaurant for beers and lunch, where I had sausages with sauerkraut, and Jack had pot roast with potatoes. Meal was very good. 

We went to the Historisches Museum, just south of Römerberg. The museum covers the history of Frankfurt, including its destruction after the war. It also traces the history of the city from prehistory to the modern times. The most popular attraction in the museum is a set of three scale models. The scale models were created between 1926 and 1955 by the brothers Hermann and Robert Treuner. The largest of the three models shows Frankfurt's Inner City in the Middle Ages and shows a city center full of half-timbered houses. The two other models show the inner city after it was obliterated by two large bombardments in March 1944 and after it was reconstructed in the mid 1980s. Other museums worth mentioning here are Stadel Art Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Ancient Sculpture, Museum of Applied Arts and Craft Museum.

To end our day in Frankfurt, we went to Kaiserdom (Saint Bartholomeus), a Gothic building which was originally built in the 13th century. Twice reconstructed after a fire in 1867, and the war in 1944, it has been recognized as a symbol for the national unity to Germany, especially in the 19th century. St Paul's Church (Paulskirche) is another national historic monument in Germany because it was the seat of the first democratically elected Parliament in 1848. Partially destroyed in World War II, it has a modern interior appearance now, and used mainly for exhibitions and events.

Most of Frankfurt was destroyed in the 1867 fire, and later in World War II. What you see today, is either new modern infrastructures or a reconstructions of the Old Frankfurt like Römerberg. 

Hidden Treasures at The Cloisters

                             

                  

                                      

The Cloisters

The Cloisters is located in Fort Tryon Park, New York City. It is the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art; reconstructed in the 1930s with several elements of the European medieval abbeys. 

It was a pretty Saturday afternoon when my friend, David and I decided to go there. We took the A train to 190th street as directed in the museum's website. But when we got off the train, somehow, we missed the exit station by the elevator. We came out looking at tall uncharacteristic apartment buildings. With just one road and a hill on one side, we walked along the road which led us to a walkway up the hill. It took us less than 15 minutes before we finally reached a park overlooking the Hudson River. Families were picnicking, while friends and lovers were taking a nice long stroll in the park. 

Finally, there it was - The Cloisters: charming yet unassuming.

The Cloisters incorporates parts from five French cloistered abbeys. Buildings at Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, Bonnefont-en-Comminges, Trie-dn-Bigorre, and Froville were all disassembled brick-by-brick before being shipped to New York, and later reassembled in Fort Tryon Park between 1934 and 1938.

The Cloisters collection contains approximately five thousand European medieval works of art, with a particular emphasis on pieces dating from the 12th through 15th centuries. The Cloisters is on the Romanesque and Gothic periods. The Cloisters also holds many medieval manuscripts and illuminated books, including the Limbourg brothers' Les Belles Heures du Duc de Berry and Jean Pucelle's book of hours for Jeanne d'Evreux. Renowned for its architectural sculpture, The Cloisters also rewards visitors with its exquisite stained glass, metalwork, enamels, ivories, and tapestries art pieces.  

The bricked walls, high ceilings, and religious statutes of medieval times gave us a peace of mind as we wondered from one gallery to the next. 

The Cloisters is landscaped with gardens planted according to horticultural information obtained from medieval manuscripts and artifacts, and the structure includes multiple medieval-style cloistered herb gardens. The gardens and the area surrounding The Cloisters are very well-maintained. It is just relaxing without the hustle and bustle of city life, and a charm off the beaten path in New York City.

Borobudur