TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Dutchman and I were visiting Rotterdam last June and we were able to see and experience the ‘De Trap’ (The Staircase) art installation. Although the day was a bit grey with a little bit of showers, we were quite lucky to have made it here, on the last weekend of the De Trap exposition. ‘De Trap’ is a massive 180-step staircase installed in front of the Groot Handelsgebouw on the stationsplein (station plaza) of the Rotterdam Centraal Station. The entrance is free of charge. This was an idea of the MVRDV Architects in conjunction with the 75th year celebration of the city’s rebuilding after the WW2 (World War 2). Rotterdam was bombed by the Nazis on the 14th of May 1940. The whole city lay in ruins. Being a small country with a small military, the Netherlands thereafter surrendered to Nazi Germany. 5 years later the war ended and the city was rebuilt. It took years to rebuild Rotterdam. Because the historical centre was destroyed, Rotterdam is known in the country as the most ...

We have moved offices in Cologne and we are now situated in the city centre which is just a few minutes walking from the Dom Cathedral and Cologne Hauptbahnhof. I will not contest that the new office has a much handier location, but I will for sure be missing these lovely views in Rheinauhafen. I took these pictures end of August when temperatures were between 25C and 30C. To learn more about Rheinauhafen go here: Kranhaus in Rheinauhafen Rheinauhafen District, Cologne If you are visiting Cologne and want to check out this place, you can easily walk here from the city centre by just following the Rhine River going south. The Rheinauhafen boulevard is a nice place to stroll on and there are cafes and restaurants in the area as well. Just 21 minutes walking from the Cologne Cathedral. If you prefer to take the bus, take #133 at Breslauer Platz in Cologne Hauptbahnhof or Heumarkt and get off at Rheinauhafen or the Chocoloate Museum. There is underground car parking in ...

After having our fill at Vathi and slurping our chilled Greek frappes and milk chocolate shake dry, we were ready for our little island road tripping. Meganisi is a very small island and a large part of it is not even reachable, rather recommended to travel by car. You need a boat to see its long rugged rocky coastline and caves for example. The narrow streets of Katomeri village. But helaas, we were somewhat pressed with time for this little road trip. We still have to lunch somewhere which at this point we didn’t know where, although I have an idea but would need to bribe my way through the Dutchman and the Dutch mother using my charm, and then we would have to find a beach to settle down in for the rest of the day before taking the 19:30 ferry back to Nydri, Lefkada (also spelled Nidri). What is important for us though during summer holidays is to GO SLOW. No rushing. We take our time and savour every minute. So this was a bit of a luxe predicament for us. Stress *rolls ...