Friday, May 25, 2012

Me -- Exploring Hamburg Germany

Hamburg is both a city and a state thus both the government and the parliament are made in the Town Hall or in German the Rathaus. Hamburg is one of the most beautiful, busy and lively city in Germany. It is as well the second largest city in Germany with a population of 1.8 million people. Hamburg is young, modern, friendly and open to the world. People who have visited Hamburg are enthusiastic about the city, like me and my partner we spent majority of our time winding our way to every districts.

Hamburg has several districts and each of these were distinct from one another.

Altstadt District (Old Town)- the heart of the city and home of the oldest buildings of the city, religious architecture, shoppings malls, Rathausmarket, Alsterarkaden- full of indoor shopping arcades and the  Rathaus (City Hall). The lake streets it is composed of Mönckebergstrasse, Steinstrasse and Jungernstieg.

Altstadt Photos:

The Rathaus (City Hall) -  It was inaguarated  in 1897 and has 647 rooms exactly 3 more than British Buckingham Palace. Above the main port is a writting in Latin: "The descendants shall aim to maintain the freedom which was achieved by the ancestors with dignity."

Left side of the Rathausmarkt

Rathausmarkt towards St Petri church.

The Rathaus  and the  Memorials for soldiers who were killed during the 1st World War. It has an incription that says '' Forty thousand sons of this town let their lives for you''

Rathausmarkt

The stairs is a very good place to unwind and relax while looking at the Klein Alsters.

 Altstadt and Neustadt are opposite each other, only they are divided by a canal.  In the Alsterarkaden, can be found the  white archades famous for indoor shopping.

If you dont want to explore the city by walking , then you can rent one this transporation and you will have both a driver and a tour guide at the same time.

The carvings above is the  motto of the Hanseatic Town: '' Libertatem quam peperere maiores digne studeat servare posteritas

The Rathausmarkt - the white arches (building behind me ) at a canal is called Alsterarkaden, it is full of indoor shopping arcades.

Photo was taken in Jungfernstieg this is the shopping street of Hamburg. From big to small shops, famous international brands to local they are all here outperforming against each other with there offers.  Furthermore,  the popular "Alsterhaus" and traditional houses like the "Streit's"-cinema where i watched '' The Avengers Movie'' are  also located in this street. Way back, families  walked here on Sundays and took out their unmarried daughters but things has change and now this street is totally different.

@ Jungfernstieg Street

@Jungfernstieg Street

@ Jungfernstieg Street

Jungfernstieg Street

Jungfernstieg Street

Bikes for Rent


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Exploring Lisbon / 25 de Abril Bridge

1. Photos Below is the 25 de Abril Bridge

When i first glance the 25 de Abril Bridge, i thought i was in San Francisco. The bridge looks exactly the same to that of the Golden Gate. That's why it is often compared to it.

Facts:

* 25 de Abril Bridge - is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon to the  municipality of Almada.
*It was built by American Bridge Company. The same company that constructed the San Francisco Bay Bridge not the Golden Gate Bridge.
*It has a total lenght of 2,277 m making it the 21 largest suspension bridge in the world.
* In 1974 25 de Abril Bridge was change to Salazar Bridge.


---- JUST CLICK THE PHOTO FOR A LARGER VIEW -----











The popular tram 28 passes through the oldest quarters are still the best way to reach the top of the steepest hills around Lisbon.
Photo was taken in Rossio Square the busiest and liveliest square in Lisbon. The photo above is a baroque fountain, there were two of these standing opposite each other which added to the whole beauty of the square.
 Elevador de Santa Justa or  Santa Justa Lift also known as the Elevator of Carmo is one of Portugal's best landmark. It was originally powered by steam. It is 45 meters (147ft) high and can carry a maximum of 25 passengers for 2.80 euro cost.
designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, a student of the great iron craftsman Gustave Eiffel

Read more at: http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/lisbon-sights/Elevador_Santa_Justa.html
Copyright © LisbonWeekendGuild.com
designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, a student of the great iron craftsman Gustave Eiffel

Read more at: http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/lisbon-sights/Elevador_Santa_Justa.html
Copyright © LisbonWeekendGuild.com
designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, a student of the great iron craftsman Gustave Eiffel

Read more at: http://www.lisbonweekendguild.com/lisbon-sights/Elevador_Santa_Justa.html
Copyright © LisbonWeekendGuild.com


The Santa Justa Lift was designed by Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard, Gustave Eiffel apprentice that's why the structure's has similarities to Paris' Eiffel Tower. The Elevator connects from downtown to Bairro Alto.


Baroque fountains in Rossio Square - Baixa


Baroque fountains in Rossio Square - Baixa. The building behind the fountain is the Dona Maria II National Theater, a monumental neoclassical building built in the 1840s and crowning the pediment is a statue of playwright Gil Vicente.



Statue of King Jose I showing him on horseback, wearing his emperor's mantle, measuring 14 meters in height.

Arch de Triumph


Terreiro do Paço or The Palace Square  is the place where the royal palace stands where the royal family  used to live. Because of the earth quake the palace was damaged and so the royal family transferred in Belem.




Portuguese sweet bread, this bread is only available during Easter.


Rossio Square

Baroque fountains in Rossio Square - Baixa. The building behind the fountain is the Dona Maria II National Theater, a monumental neoclassical building built in the 1840s and crowning the pediment is a statue of playwright Gil Vicente.



The 27 meters in height Dom Pedro IV monument is consists of pedestal and marble, allegories of Justice, Wisdom, Strength, and Moderation, qualities attributed to him.


King Jose I statue

A unique souvenir shop in Lisbon, there are faces of famous people around the globe.


It's freakin hot in Lisbon so in most places they have this cute Ice cream shop

 One of the street in Baixa District

Preparing for the procession during the Lenten season.

Santa Justa Lift

A very unique house design and deceiving as  well at first i thought they are real people when u look at it from a far and turns out not so as the windows and doors.


One of the subway route

I photograph this one coz it catches my attention,  the whole side of the building was covered with this painting.




One of the famous sea foods restaurant in Lisbon, the place where i had more than a kilo crab all by myself heheheh!









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