Postcard-pretty Kanoni

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Ody

Kanoni

After seeing a lot of postcards with Kanoni, I wanted to see it for myself. This part of Corfu is named after the canons that used to protect the city. From Corfu town, I took the 2a bus ~~and missed my stop~~.

I should have gotten off the bus when I saw this cannon.

Kanoni Walking past the cannon, through a café and down the stairs, this view greeted me: tiny Pontikonisi or Mouse Island, and the Vlacherna Monastery.

I quickly went down the steps so I could get closer to the magnificent view.

Kanoni Soon, I found out that the better way to see it is from an airplane, as Kanoni is really close to the Corfu’s runway at the airport.

{I didn’t notice it on the flight to Corfu because before we landed, there was really bad turbulence. I’ve never been more scared in my life. I needed the whole afternoon to recover.}

The Vlacherna Monastery of Panayia looks so serene against the background of the bright blue sky.

Kanoni Like a gate to paradise.

Kanoni

Kanoni The obligatory selfie.

Kanoni Mouse Island! You can rent a boat to take you there.

After feasting my eyes on such beautiful sights, I had to feast on great food as well.

Trying the local beer – ice cold on hot days – is a must for me.

I highly recommend going to Kanoni in Corfu – it is a picturesque place that is simple and serene. Truly a postcard-worthy view that you have to see for yourself.

Corfu: white and blue

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Ody

Summer is in high gear here in Vienna right now, so it’s fun to spend time outside. Today, I’m visiting a Filipino food festival in the morning (it’s an all-day fiesta, but I like going in the morning to avoid midday heat and the crowd), and watching Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo and Juliet. I’ll be arming myself with a fan and sunglasses.

What are you up to this weekend? Hope you have exciting plans (although two days of doing nothing sounds good, too). I’ll leave you with these photos of white and blue Corfu. Happy weekend!

busy doing nothing

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Ody

Friday!!! Yes! I took the day off today to for a little rest and relaxation. I’m looking forward to having a long, leisurely lunch, a bit of window shopping, people watching, and walking around. But maybe I’ll just do a whole lot of nothing.

I found that doing nothing is the ultimate luxury, and I got to experience it for a week in Corfu in May. Corfu, or Kerkyra, as the Greeks call it, is a Greek island on the Ionian Sea. Surrounded by the deep blue, that faded into turquoise sea, and lush greens, Corfu is a beautiful paradise perfect for a retreat.

The Grecotel Eva Palace has a pool with seawater, but I was more drawn to its private beach. Almost everyday, I went to there with a bag filled with a book, a camera, my phone (which I barely checked – a miracle! I posted on instagram once in a while), sunscreen and a snack. During my reading breaks, I would either swim, sleep, or sunbathe. It was perfect. It was like a really, really long weekend. The sun’s warm rays against my skin, the gentle sound of waves crashing, and the feel of sand under my feet were just what I needed to recharge. *starts daydreaming now*

Comfort food in Cologne

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Ody

It’s always nice to find something that reminds you a little of home when you’re traveling. I went to Feynsinn Café, which the Wallpaper* City Guide listed as one of the restaurants with delightful ambience and hearty food in Cologne. It was tempting to go for one of the burgers with sumptuous descriptions in the menu and organic ingredients, or delicious home-made pasta with fresh tomatoes from the café/restaurant’s own garden. When I saw that there was Leberkäse, (a type of meatloaf) on the menu, though, I had to order it. In Vienna, a Leberkäse in bread is what I would usually buy from a snack stand or the meat section of a supermarket for a quick and delicious meal. Feynsinn’s version was like a gourmet version of my favorite comfort food. One bite into it and all was fine and good again.

Feynsinn Café
Rathenauplatz 7
50674 Cologne
Germany

Cologne Cathedral

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Ody

The most visited landmark in Germany, the Cologne Cathedral impresses with its massive size and beautiful Gothic architecture. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is really worth seeing.

Cuties in Cologne

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Ody

I really didn’t have an itinerary for my Cologne trip. There is no Lonely Planet city guide for Cologne, and sadly, I feel a little lost without an LP. So mostly, I just based my daily activities on the weather (the rain was just crazy! it was April after all), my energy level and my mood. On the first day, I just got totally lost and wandered off past a really huge cemetery (I was rather creeped out) and into a residential area when all I wanted was to visit a trendy neighborhood I read about. Oops.

But whaddyaknow, walking is the only exercise I am really good at, so getting lost is no problem for me at all. I always find my way back.

Walking miles and miles, I not only accumulate steps on my Fitbit, but also get to see a lot of random stuff. Here, a round-up of cute things (and a person) I saw:

I passed by the City Hall of Cologne when a wedding just ended and spotted this cute flower girl hanging out by herself. And look at that jacket! OMG so cute.

At the House of 4711, I found this cute vending machine on display. It says “please refresh yourself”

These two are just irresistible!

I was so happy to see this little one, because I used to watch Die Sendung mit der Maus when I was a kid!

Currywurst in Cologne

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Ody

It’s a cool and rainy Sunday, and I’m just chilling out at home. The evening will be more exciting, as I’ll be watching the World Cup finale at a friend’s place. In the meantime, I’ll be daydreaming about fattening food like this currywurst I tried in Cologne.

Have a great Sunday!

Eau de Cologne from Cologne

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Ody

I usually get two souvenirs for myself when I travel – a postcard that I mail to myself and a small snow globe. Then, I look for either really cool or classic local brands and products. When I went to Cologne, I just had to get an original Eau de Cologne.

When I was a kid, I used to carry around a sample glass bottle of cologne with me. I just loved it. When I used up the 3 or 5ml of cologne, I just started filling it with water and continued to bring it with me everywhere.

In 1709, Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian perfume maker who moved to Cologne, Germany, concocted a scent that reminded him of “an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain.” Farina named his fragrance Eau de Cologne in honor of the city of Cologne, his new hometown.

I got this small 30 ml bottle of the original Eau de Cologne from Farina and now I wish I got a bigger one, because it smells amazing! And also because I don’t want to refill it with eau.

snack time in Cologne: Merzenich

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Ody

We’re almost through the week! I’m trying to get over the incredible and heartbreaking loss of the Brazil team at the World Cup. Sigh. I am happy for the Germany team, though. It’s really a world-class team that loves nutella likes the rest of us.

As a humpday treat and celebration, let’s have a snack. During my visit to Germany a few months back, I had an afternoon snack at the bakery Merzenich. I tried their famous Erdbeerschnitte and washed it down with a latte. Happy Wednesday!

Feschmarkt – design at the brewery

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Ody

On the weekend of June 13 – 15, Fesch’Markt, a market festival for art and design, was held at the Ottakringer beer brewery. A fun event with chill-out music, great food, and really cool, under-the-radar design.

Polka-dotted and gray shirts are always a good idea