TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

This is a long overdue post because I am lazy as can be! I actually like writing as this type of activity help my thoughts wander into relaxing mode territory. I am hyperactive and energetic so this hushed way of channeling my energy open up new dimensions in soothing and destressing my senses. That is why I can never stop blogging! The Texel trip seemed so far away now but the experience is still very vivid to me. Cockersdorp The red lighthouse in Cockersdorp, Texel and 2 girls doing power walk. We stayed in a B&B in Cockersdorp, a small rural village up north in Texel Island. It was Dutchman’s idea as he wanted something different from what we normally take. He did not fancy staying in De Koog or Den Burg where many tourists opt to stay, which is fine with me. So there, I am pleased to report that our first B&B accommodation was a success! There was a lighthouse nearby the village and a white sand beach filled with kite flyers. I read on Texel tourist website that there will...

Belgium compared to the Netherlands is a shopper’s sanctuary. There are more choices, better of course, and many popular designer shops abound. Moreover, the women in Belgium are better dressed than their counterparts in the Netherlands. The petite Belgians as compared to the gigantic Dutch women are in my opinion classier, elegant, and feminine. Of course, it is not complete visiting Ghent without a souvenir foto, there must be! This is taken in Veldstraat shopping street and if I am not mistaken that is the Sint Bavo Cathedral at my back. Thanks Rich for taking this foto! In Holland, I only see stylish women in moneyed suburbs, posh little villages, PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam and in Maastricht, but in Belgium these women with the élan touch are everywhere. They strut the busy streets of Ghent from 9 to 5 and till later. I just love to see well dressed women around me and I can’t help but admire these Belgian women, they absolutely have finer tastes in fashion. Ghent (Gent) as ...

This week has been so slow for me. I have been weighed down by a cold, and still am (yet I worked all week), and my wireless internet at home has been acting up! So I am really looking forward to this weekend where I can unwind. Do nothing, blog, and maybe go out for a long relaxing nature walk. Back to blogging programming – I wanted to share a few fotos I took in Budapest recently when I was there for a quick visit a few weeks ago. A random foto of a horse carriage with tourists in the Buda Castle District and on the right is a building with clearly Turkish influence, remnants of the Ottoman occupation in Hungary. I had the opportunity to visit the Buda side, which I wasn’t able to during my last visit early this year. Buda is very pretty, green, hush, aristocratic, and boasts a brilliant cultural Hungarian heritage. It has splendid nature parks and houses many magnificent old structures such as the Buda Castle for example in the popular Castle District where many visitors come to v...

In Athens I met up with a good friend, Herr Philippe. He is on holiday here together with Stan. We had coffee at a cafe restaurant in a park at the back of the Greek Parliament. We watched the changing of guards earlier and had to stand for an hour or so under the heat of the sun. Thus time for some cold refreshments. If I am notorious with taking pictures, I lag behind Philippe. The evidence below. He was non-stop taking pictures of Stan and me! And here we are again goofing around on the high street of Athens. Travel Period: September 2008 Destination: Athens, Greece Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)

Greece as we all know is beautiful. It’s actually one of my favourite countries to holiday, mainly in the Greek Islands – an oasis of beauty, culture and relaxation. The difference though from Athens and “the Islands” is worlds apart. So I am talking about “the Islands” when I said favourite to holiday ;-) A hazy foto of us in Pireaus train station. The station was quite nice, it reminds me of Antwerp train station and some of the older train stations in the Netherlands. In this post I will be writing about all things typically Greek and some observations I found interesting and familiar. I’m also going to plug in a brief summary of Pireaus, the biggest harbour of Greece. Our train ride from Athens to Pireaus took about half an hour. One thing that stands out with Athens is its great public transport. S told me the infrastructure was laid out to meet the Olympic deadline 4 years ago. It is indeed the soundest investment the government invested but she said many Greeks were against it. ...

A great place to experience Athens on panorama is from the Lycabettus Mount. It is the highest point in the city. The views are spectacular, priceless I should say, and much, much better than from the Acropolis. Lycabettus Mount means the mountain of wolves. Speaking of wolves, its tamer cousin, the dog, are quite a sight in Athens. There are many stray dogs in the city, it is unbelievable. Some have the scary habits of chasing cars in the frenzied traffic. I met up with a good friend, Herr Philippe who happen to be in Athens with Stan. We took a cab to the Teleferique (funicular, climbing tram) that goes to the top of this limestone hill. Another way of reaching the top is by hiking, but I believe that’s only for the good faithful pilgrims. Well we simply cannot be bothered when the sun is scorching heat at 35C. So the funicular is it. It goes every half an hour. Perfect. The view of white Athens on top of the Lycabettus Mount. Magnifico! Moi with Herr Philippe and Stan. We arrived an...