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Category: Travel in Europe

Celebrating Semana Santa in Seville!

Filed under: Spain, Travel in Europe — Leave a comment

April 7, 2013

The best part of traveling is not the sights you see, but the people you meet. We were blessed to have Sevillan friends who introduced us to their beautiful city and showed us how they celebrate Semana Santa with its traditions that date back to the 16th century.

The festivities start on Palm Sunday and conclude on Easter morning. More than 50,000 people wear traditional robes to parade in one of the 50+ processions, which celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of Christ.

The processions are organized by Catholic brotherhoods (confradias).

Each procession has a designated route. Each procession has two or three pasos (floats), one or two of them representing a scene of the Passion, and the other one an image of the Virgin Mary.

One of our friends took us to Iglesia Colegial San Salvador to see some of the pasos that are part of the processions.

Note: this is NOT the main cathedral of Seville!

The image of Jesus is by Juan Martinez Montanes in 1615.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

Watch this paso on youtube:

Watch for this paso later…

Our friends invited us to a special family lunch on Thursday of Semana Santa. The food was delicious!

Our friends took us to watch the processions. We found lots of people lining the street, hours before the procession was to start. It was a social, family event!

Waiting for the procession with our friends!

Holy Wednesday.

Watching from balconies…premium locations!

Each procession has an order to it:

A great cross (called Cruz del Guia) is carried at the beginning of each procession to open the way. A musical band follows or precedes the paso.

The music is beautiful!!!

Listen to the music here:

http://www.marchasdeprocesion.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=513&Itemid=1

Then come the nazarenos who are members of the brotherhood. Nazarenos are dressed in a robe, with a tall pointed hat to hide their identity.

Nazarenos de la Exaltación(Los Caballos)

A group of altar boys, dressed like priests and carrying either chandeliers or incense follow the Nazarenos.

Next comes the paso. You have to be there to feel the emotion in the crowd. The crowd is reverent, expectant. There is a hush that comes over the crowd as the paso goes by.

The paso: “Sagrada Columna y Azotes”.

A number of penitents follow the paso. They carry wooden crosses to make public penance. The penitents wear the habit and the hood of the brotherhood, but their hood is not pointed.

The penitents.

The costaleros are the most important members of the processions.They carry the paso by supporting the beams upon their shoulders and necks. Each one supports a weight of about 100 pounds for up to 8 hours! There are about 40 costaleros per paso. The pasos weigh about 4000 pounds. The costaleros also lift, move and lower the paso, unseen beneath the velvet skirts of the paso. The costaleros consider it a great honor to carry the paso.

The costaleros.

Costaleros watching the procession, taking a much-deserved break.

Our friends took us around the city to watch other processions. It was a huge blessing to be with locals who knew where to go and how to squeeze through the crowds to find the right place to wait for the procession!

Cute kid watching the processions!

The night time processions were stunning, with the candlelit pasos. The atmosphere was…well, you need to experience it first hand to understand!

If you would like to learn more about Semana Santa and the Cofradias, try the sites below. They were helpful as I did research for this post. Thanks also to Ana C. for her help!

http://www.seville-traveller.com/semana-santa-sevilla.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semana_Santa

A big thank you to our friends from Sevilla! We will always remember our wonderful week in your beautiful city!!

Tags: Andalucia, family travel, Holy Week, Semana Santa, Sevilla, Seville, travel in Spain, travel with kids, traveling

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What’s there to do in Venice?? by Nate

Filed under: Italy, Nate's Take, Travel in Europe — 12 Comments

March 23, 2013

This time last year we went to Venice for our Easter break.

We saw lots of pretty canals.

Mom wanted me to pose for lots of photos…BORING!!!

We saw lots of bridges.

Mom said, “This is so ROMANTIC!”

Dad said, “I feel like I’m walking around in a movie set!”

I said, “Can we eat some pizza now? And some gelato??!!”

More gondolas.

A gondola parking lot:)

Photos SHMOTOS! I want to RIDE in a Gondola!

So we did!

Next we went to San Marco Square.

“That’s amazing!” exclaimed Mom and Dad. Did they mean the pigeons??

Chasing pigeons is a blast!

Hey! What’s that guy in the green doing? I think I’ll try it, too!

I’m waiting…

Yikes! There’s a pigeon on my head!!!

Sweet success!

I got to ride a lion.

Then, more sightseeing and photos….sigh!

This is the Bridge of Sighs.

But, WAIT! A better plan…

Water taxi…now, that’s what I’m talking about!

That’s me entertaining the tourists on the boat:)

Venice by water taxi.

Being on a boat makes sightseeing so much more fun!

Hmmm…I guess Venice is a very cool place!

I hope you liked my photo essay. They are ALL our own, REAL photos…with a little artistic work on picmonkey!

This Easter we are going to Spain…I wonder what adventures we’ll have there?!

Tags: family adventure, gondola rides, San Marco Square, sightseeing in Venice, travel with kids, venice for kids, Venice water taxis, what to do in Venice

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My Amazing Year!

Filed under: Nate's Take, Travel in Europe — 17 Comments

September 2, 2012

My name is Nate and I’m seven years old. Tomorrow I start the new school year. I’m excited to go back to school! But first I want to tell you about my amazing year.

It started during the big winter storm in February 2011. My mom and dad told me we were moving to Prague! My dad got a teaching job there. We had a big garage sale, sold our house, and then flew to Prague in July 2011.

Now I live near a castle! I go to a great school with great teachers. We get lots of breaks during the school year.

View of Prague Castle

During the October mid-term break we went to Barcelona, Spain. It was just 2 1/2 hours to fly there. I got to see Park Guell, designed by Gaudi. Mom says he is a famous architect. I think he was inspired by Dr. Seuss!

Parc Guell, Barcelona. Missing my two front teeth!

The Sanctuary of Sagrada Familia by Gaudi
What’s with the umbrella??!!

If Dr. Seuss went to church, this would be it!

In February we took the night train to Krakow, Poland. It was so fun!

This was our sleeping compartment! It had three bunkbeds and a sink.

We stayed at a friend’s home and took care of their turtle.

I got to feed the turtle every day.

The salt mines were so cool! We walked 65 flights of steps down into the earth. Here’s what we saw:

We were thankful that we could take an elevator back to the top!

The miners needed a place to go to church. Sometimes they stayed underground for days!

One day we went to Nowa Huta. It was built in the 1950’s as an example of a perfect Communist city.

After Communism fell, this is what they named their main street:

Yes, it’s Ronald Reagan Square!

In April we flew to Venice for Easter break. I got to see St. Marco’s Square.

I love chasing pigeons!

I went on a gondola ride!

Then we took the train to Florence. We saw the Duomo, Florence’s famous cathedral. We spent Easter morning watching the exploding fireworks cart. It’s a tradition that comes from the 1500’s. We went to lots of art museums. My favorite part of Florence was eating gelato ice cream every day!

Dad and me in front of the Duomo.

We saw lots of cool statues, including Michaelangelo’s David!

Italian gelato ice cream rocks!

In May we drove for the day to Herrnhut, Germany with our friends. That’s the place where modern missions started. We went with friends. It was a 2 ½ hour drive.

Suzanne, Moriah, Kelsie, me.

Moravian Christians fled persecution and settled here in the 1700’s.

This is the “Prayer Tower” where there were always people praying, 24/7.

In June the Zidek family came to visit us. We went on a dinner cruise on the Vltava river.

Mom and Vicki being silly on the boat!

We took the train to Pilsen with the Zidek family to see the Pilsner Brewery.

Dad says Czech beer is the best in the world!

In late June my Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us. It was so fun to show them Prague! Here’s Grandma and me at the entrance of Prague Castle.

Is the coast clear?

We were celebrating Grandma and Grandpa’s 50th wedding anniversary!

We went to an opera called Carmen at the Prague State Opera House. We also went to an organ and violin concert at St. Salvatore Church. We heard the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, and Handel.

St. Salvatore Church, near Charles Bridge.

Mom said I was an angel!

We took the train to Vienna and stayed with good friends at their hotel. We saw Schonbrunn (summer palace of the Hapsburgs), St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Mozart’s house, and had lunch in a café.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral was built in the 1200’s!

Grandpa was speechless!

We took the train to Dresden. Then we drove to Wittenburg. Here’s Castle Church where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses!

This is “THE” door!

Marin Luther preached here!

Next we went to Leipzig, home of Bach, who is one of my Grandma’s favorite composers. Here’s Tomaskirche, where Bach was Cantor. We also got to see the Bach Museum.

We went to a service here where the Tomaskirche Boys’ Choir sang.

The singing was amazing!

After Grandma and Grandpa left we went to Czech Switzerland, on the border with Germany. We went hiking with our friends to Pravcicka Brana, the biggest natural land bridge in Europe.

Narnia was filmed here!

We hiked 10 miles that day. Mom and Dad said I was a real trooper!

The view from the to

We stopped for lunch and to play.

At the end of July we flew to Paris. My big sister Sam met us there! We had so much fun!

The Eiffel Tower!

My wacky Mom with the Arc de Triomphe!

Montmartre!

Inside the Cathedral of Notre Dame!

Then we stayed 12 days in the French countryside, near Blois. We saw several chateaux. Chateaux really look more like palaces than what you’d think a chateau would look like.

Chateau of Blois: Joan of Arc was here in 1429! We stayed in a quiet little village outside this town.

Chateau of Clos Luce: This was Leonardo da Vinci’s bed! He lived in Amboise the last six years of his life.

Chateau of Chenonceau.

Sam and Me at Chateau of Cheverny. This is Captain Haddock’s Castle. There was a Tintin Exhibition here!

We saw other cool places in the Loire Valley. We went to Chartres to see it’s amazing cathedral. We saw the Castle of Chinon. We saw the city of Orleans, where Joan of Arc lifted the siege of the English during the 100 years war in the 1400’s.

Inside the Cathedral of Chartres. Joan of Arc is honored in the stain glass. It tells her story.

The Castle of Chinon, started in the 900’s and added to by Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Abby of Fontevraud: Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their son Richard the Lionheart are buried here!

The Cathedral of Orleans.

The inside of the cathedral honored Joan of Arc.

We think this place was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion!

Then we flew home to Prague. We have been enjoying the last lazy days of summer before school starts tomorrow.

I wonder what adventures I’ll have this year?

Tags: budget, Czech Switzerland, expat, family, global, international, Leipzig, living abroad, Montmartre, nomad, Paris, Place du Tertre, Prague, TCK, travel, vacation, Vienna, Wittenberg

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A Traveler’s Tips for Paris….for those on a budget

Filed under: France, Travel in Europe, Travel Tips — 8 Comments

August 13, 2012

Arc de Triomphe!

My family and I just had a wonderful six days in Paris. We got to see most of the important sights, but not all. There is always more to see of Paris, for the next trip! So here are some things we learned, to pass on to other travelers who visit this lovely city. Mind you, these tips are for travelers on a budget. We are teachers, so we travel in comfort, but not in luxury!

1. Don’t book pre-packaged tours!

There is no need for tours, not even the “Hop-on, hop-off” bus. Paris’ metro system is excellent. There is a metro stop close to all of the famous (and not so famous) sights of Paris. You just need to spend a little time to figure out the metro map.

No caption needed:)

2. Buy an unlimited public transportation travel pass (a car in Paris is NOT recommended)!

They are good for metro, buses and RER network trains.

There are four choices: Navigo Decouverte Pass, Paris Visite Pass, and a carnet (book) of ten tickets, or single tickets for 1 Euro 50.

The Navigo Decouverte is the least expensive. The catch is that it starts on Monday and ends at midnight on Sunday. It makes financial sense if you arrive between Monday and Wednesday, but not if you arrive in the second half of the week. You will need a 1 X 1.2” passport style photo (can be purchased at the airport or most metro stations in one of the automated booths for 5 Euros). Then you go to the ticket window and purchase the pass (5 Euros) and load it with a week of credit. The pass is good for ten years, so if you return to Paris you can add more credit on it and go. Be sure to ask for a Navigo Decouverte, not just a “Navigo” pass. The “Navigo” pass is only for residents, whereas the Navigo Decouverte is for any adult. If you are traveling with children, you will need to buy them a child’s Paris Visite card.

http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-metro-week-pass-navigo-decouverte/

If you plan to use public transport to and from the airport, and if you plan to visit Versailles, it is best to purchase the Navigo Decouverte that covers zones 1-5. Round trip to the airport (20 Euros) and to Versailles (12 Euros), and the pass is only 33 Euros.

The Paris Visite Card can be purchased for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. The price varies depending on how many zones you want. If you want it to cover Versailles and the airport, it is best to get zones 1-5.

http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21894/paris-visite/

Montmartre, my favorite area of Paris!

3. Pack a picnic lunch.

Eating out in Paris is expensive, especially for those who earn in dollars or other non-euro currencies. Stop at the local market to buy a fresh baguette, cheese, sandwich meat, fruit, and a bottle of water. Bring along a knife of some sort to slice the cheese and fruit. There are dozens of lovely places for a picnic in Paris!

My French friend Nathalie showed us around on our first evening in Paris. Yes, that’s the Cathedral of Notre Dame!

4. See the Louvre for free or for a discounted price.

The Louvre is free the first Sunday of the month. It is discounted for adults, and free for anyone under age 26 on Friday evenings after 6pm.

http://www.louvre.fr/en/hours-admission/admission#tabs

The Louvre (yes, it’s my photo)!

5. MUST SEE: Paris by night on a cruise on the River Seine!

Our eighteen year old daughter, Samantha, offered to babysit her seven year old brother, and we took her up on it! We arrived at Bateaux Mouches around 10:30pm (It doesn’t get dark until 10 pm in the summer). Paris by night is magical!! There was commentary in six languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese. We got to see many of the places we hadn’t been able to see yet. In retrospect I would do the cruise at the beginning of our stay, because you cruise past amazing sights you could plan to go see in the following days.

http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en

Paris by night!

6. Avoid Versailles on the weekends!

We didn’t, and it was horribly crowded. Take the RER train: it is a short, pleasant ten-minute walk to the palace from the train station. Once you arrive, divide and conquer, if you have two or more in your party. Send one person to stand in the massive line to buy tickets (or better yet, buy them online ahead of time, or at the ticket shop across from the train station). The other person can wait in the massive line to get into the palace.

The Hall of Mirrors!

7. HIDDEN GEM: Take a day trip to Chartres!

I am a Lonely Planet Guidebook junkie, but all it told me that was worth seeing was the magnificent 13^th century cathedral. Wrong! Chartres is a lovely medieval city, perfect for strolling the quiet streets and it is oh-so photogenic. Go to the tourism office and ask for their free city map: it has an easy-to-follow walking tour. Discover more medieval churches, quaint houses with flower boxes, a canal, and more! Best of all, it wasn’t mobbed with tourists. We found a great place to eat with reasonable prices, right opposite the cathedral (thanks Lonely Planet). It is called Café Serpente.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chartres