Asifs Travels: Juliet’s Balcony makes Verona the City of Love.

Asifs Travels: Juliet’s Balcony makes Verona the City of Love.: I recently saw the movie “Letters to Juliet“ with Vanessa Redgrave and Amanda Seyfried. Vanessa...

Juliet’s Balcony makes Verona the City of Love.

I recently saw the movie “Letters to Juliet“ with Vanessa Redgrave and Amanda Seyfried. Vanessa’s long lost love Lorenzo in the movie is actually her husband in real life.

The movie was filmed in Juliet’s hometown of Verona. Did you know that you could go to Verona and leave a message under her balcony at the 14th century palace? Look at all the documents under the picture in the post. Her secretaries will respond to your request offering advice about your Romeo. You don’t actually have to go to Verona to leave a letter, you can email the letter seeking romantic advice to her secretaries. The volunteers at the Juliet Club(Club di Giulietta) will answer your letter. On Valentine’s Day you may win a prize. Every Valentine’s Day a prize is awarded for the most beautiful letter. The prize includes a weekend trip to Verona. Juliet’s Club is financed by the city of Verona and was the subject of a book by Lise and Ceil Friedman.
The Capulet’s House (Casa di Giulietta) has a balcony, a courtyard and a bronze statue of Juliet. For good luck, stroke Juliet’s breast on the bronze statue. If you write your name and your loved-ones name on the wall, it is believed that your love will be everlasting.
The historic city of Verona has pastel candy-colored buildings. It was founded in the first century B.C. and is located at the foot of the Monte Lessini on the river. Verona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an outstanding example of a military stronghold. Verona is the second most important art center in the Venato region outside of Venice.
Verona has developed progressively and uninterruptedly for over 2000 years. The top row of the Roman Amphitheatre offers a panoramic view over the town and on a clear day the Alps are visible. The amphitheatre continues to serve as an opera house. Verona’s arena serves as a venue for an annual Shakespeare Festival. It was completed in 30 AD.
The Giardino Guisti is one of Italy’s most famous gardens and offers a beautiful view from the “monster balcony.” Verona flourished under the 124 year reign of the Scaliger family in the 13th and 14th centuries and as part of the Republic of Venice from the 15th to 18th centuries. Several seminal stages of European history have been preserved in this magical city. Tour the museums to view masterpieces from the medieval and Renaissance periods.
When you go to Verona to send your letter to Juliet, have a seat at a café in the Piazza dei Signore and order a Rosso Veronese, Soave or Valpolicello Classico as you gaze at the imposing statue of Dante. Think about Shakespeare embellishing Romeo and Juliet’s love story in this romantic “City of Love”.
Another of my favourite places in Verona is Castelvecchio. This is part castle, partart museum and like so much of the town is steeped in history. Kids of all ages will love climbing the castle walls, making this the ideal place for families getting wanting a break from too much antiquity. On the other hand, the Castelvecchio museum has an interesting collection of sculptures and other exhibits from pre-Roman times to the Renaissance.

I have fond memories of the Piazza delle Erbe, the central square in the town, as it had remained picturesque and a great place to stroll and explore. The square has been the main meeting place since it was the forum of the Roman city and there are huge numbers of restaurants, bars, cafes and all manner of other shops to visit. I have heard from people who have visited Verona more recently that the piazza has changed now, possibly due to ‘improvement works’ by the city authorities in an attempt to bring in more tourists. However, unless they have removed the tower over the piazza and its merry fountain then I doubt that the atmosphere has changed greatly.

Dine at Osteria Sottoriva on Via Sattoriva and try some asparagus lasagna.Arche and Il Desco offer outstanding regional cuisine. There are two Buon Ricordo restaurant options near Verona: ( 1) Gardesana in Torri del Benacoke on the eastern Riviera of Lake Garda is located at Piazza Calderini, 20 (www.hotel-gardesana.com). Order the whitefish filet in sweet and sour sauce and gaze at the glistening lake from the terrace and (2) Ristorante 12 Apostoli on Vicolo Corticella S. Marco, 3 (www.12apostoli.it) offers a delightful vegetarian cuisince . This restaurant has a 250 year history.

The ‘fair Verona’ of today compares favourably with the one portrayed in Shakespeare. There are more tourists nowadays but the gang warfare between Montague’s and Capulet’s has subsided, leaving an appealing and relaxed place to visit. While neighbouring Venice has a greater number of sites to see, Verona is more laid back and lacks the stress and mania attached with Venice, especially in the high season.

The Berlin Wall: The East Side Gallery

If I asked you to name two famous walls, what are the odds that you will say “the Great wall of china and the Berlin Wall”?
One or two rock fans among you may also note Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, but with that we've named the most known walls I guess.

For those of you who have just arrived from another planet or have been sleeping through most history classes, I’ll give you a short explanation of what the Berlin Wall is.
Stick with me, it’s not that much.

Important facts about the Berlin Wall also known as the Iron Curtain

Why was the Berlin Wall built / why was the Berlin Wall put up?
After the 2nd world war, Germany was separated into an eastern (GDR) and a western (BRD) country, which also included a separation of Berlin according to the divisions (West Berlin as British, French and American – East Berlin as the Russian sector). So the socialistic regime in the east wanted to “protect” its national border from the capitalistic influence from West Berlin by building this Wall as an “anti-fascistic barricade”.
When was the Berlin Wall built?
The construction started on 13th of august in 1961 and took a couple of months to be finished.
Who ordered the Berlin Wall?
Walter Ulbricht, president of the GDR at this time, ordered (subsidiary for the interests of the socialistic regime and those of Russia) the build-up of the Berlin Wall.
How long was the Berlin Wall?
The longitude between West Berlin and East Berlin (inter-city border) was 43.1 km.

When was the Berlin wall knocked down?
The “knock-down” started in the night between Thursday, November 9th and Friday November 10th in 1989, after over 28 years of existence.
Why was the Berlin wall torn down?
Because it was time for a change! The opening of the Berlin Wall was driven by numerous manifestations and the demand for “travel freedom” in the former GDR. There was a continuous so-called “escape of the Republic” – where large parts of the population of the GDR flew into the Federal Republic of Germany on international territories, through embassies in several Eastern European capitals (among others Prague and Warsaw) and partly in Hungary since it opened its border with Austria on September 11th in 1989.
Considering just how historical this Berlin landmark is, it’s amazing how much it has been neglected. Thanks only to an artistic accident of history, the East Side Gallery is one of the few surviving pieces of the Wall still standing and relatively intact

The Berlin Wall East Side Gallery is a 1.3km-long section of the wall near the center of Berlin. Approximately 106 paintings by artists from all over the world cover this memorial for freedom and make it the largest open air gallery in the world.
Running from the Kreuzberg end of Warschauer Strasse until near the Ostbahnhof train station, the East Side Gallery is a large portion of the Berlin Wall that has been left over from the Cold war and separation era and become transformed into a gallery of works from over one hundred worldwide artists from all corners of the globe and all walks of life. The gallery, which is free to view by anyone, is supposed to “document to times of change and express the euphoria and great hopes for a better and free future for all people of the world” (guide book). Renovated in the past decade, it is quite a sight to behold, and kept to a high standard.
I have walked so many times across and my experience of viewing it over and over again was really one of awe and admiration. The level of detail and lack of graffiti are quite intriguing, as with the varied messages being portrayed by each artist. Each depicting anything from a crack in a divisive world to quotes showing the power of the individual to influence the unification of mankind and the pacification of our species. Quite powerful messages overall to be fair and it’s no surprise that it is such a tourist attraction.

It seems to be the major draw for normal touristy types (ie Not Techno Tourists) into the Kreuzberg, especially seeing as no matter what time of the day, sun, rain or snow, you’re going to get caught as a photo bomber in at least twenty tourist photographs if you walk or cycle past it so be careful.
The easiest way to access the gallery if you are unwilling to spend a small fortune on a bus tour full of hardcore camera wielding tourists hell bent of photographing absolutely every single thing in the entire world… Is to make your way to Warschauer S Bahn station, easily accessible from Alexander platz and all other central locations. Exit the station and turn left on the bridge, keep walking downhill until you reach another red bricked bridge, turn your head 45 degrees to the right and voila. All you have to do then is to cross the street safely and the East Side gallery is your Oyster!

Mediterranean Blue

Santorini is an island that emerged from the bowel of the ocean; it’s imposing, impressive, majestic, and gorgeous. The island of Santorini features a rather eerie beauty; created by a cosmogony of the volcano that rests amidst the ocean.

On the top of the cliff, the dawn blends with the wildness and otherworldly aura. The white garland of houses with the characteristic blue colour of the windows and doors. As the island baths pleasurably with the sun rays, the whitewashed dwellings carved in the rock gleam and blaze; houses, hotels and churches in Santorini feature the two most characteristic colours of Greece: the white of the waves with the blue of the sea. Santorini is amazing and bright, but it's not the only colour celebrated on this island. The sun blends its colours with the volcanic soil creating a unique optical phenomenon.

You can feel the uniqueness of Santorini from the very first moment you land in the Island. You cannot help it but fall in love with this Aegean island right away. You will confront the steep slopes with the white washed houses and the amazing blue domed buildings and churches.

Santorini is one of the most surprising spectacles in Europe and it is different from the rest of islands because it is situated into an old volcano. The island is a huge wall with a shape resembling a half moon, the cliffs are colourful and they fall from 300 m. high sharply to the sea. In the summit, villages such as Santorini seem to balance. The silhouette of the island resembles the crater of a volcano inundated with water. If you add to the singular and imposing nature, the small white houses with mild edges and roofs with a "u" shape or the typical churches in blue domes you understand that this is one of the most special places in the globe.

Indeed in Santorini every new house has to be built following the same style than the old houses, including the hotels

Pay attention to the amount of hotels and swimming pools on the edge of the cliffs. The landscape of Santorini from this cornice is once more superb, indescribable.

We had refreshments in a terrace with views over the volcanoes at the same time that the dusk had begun. This is such an incredible sightseeing that you can't stop looking at it.

Make sure to save some time to lounge on one of Santorini's gorgeous beaches. Because Santorini is volcanic, there is a wide variation in the color of the sand found on the beaches. You can enjoy basking in the sun on white sand, grey sand, black sand, and even red sand. The beautiful red sand beach on Santorini is the most famous on the island, with stunning red cliffs that contrast marvelously against the bright blue sea. As you cruise the Greek Isles, you will discover why people return to Santorini again and again.

There are countless picturesque villages on this planet… but not many are blessed with the physical beauty of santorini . To be sure there are villages with grander architecture, richer and more colourful history (although as you will discover santorini has its own unique history), ancient landmark buildings and traditions that sometimes date back centuries. Santorini may not offer the very best of what other famous villages have to offer…but then NONE of them have what Santorini has. The following is a pictorial view of one of the most beautiful, romantic and physically stunning places on this planet

Many artists fell in love with the area and settled there. For that reason, every turn you take you will spot an art gallery.

The following are few hot spots if you do visit the Island:-

Ancient Thera-One of the most important archaeological sites in all Greece, the ruins of Thera are one of the island's biggest attractions. Still not fully excavated (it is still a working archaeological dig), the parts that are visible are enthralling, with parts ranging from the prehistoric to the late Roman period. Visitors are free to wander around (except for a few restricted areas).

Akrotiri-Another major archaeological site in Santorini, this Minoan town is amazing in many ways, in particular how it vividly brings home how advanced the Minoan civilization was at the time of its destruction. Akrotiri is a working site and one of the main attractions of visiting here is not only seeing the artifacts that are brought up, but also watching the work taking place around you.

Byzantine Museum-Generally considered to have the finest collection of Byzantine art in Greece, this museum's superb exhibits include priceless icons, jewellery, manuscripts and other similar artifacts - well worth a visit if you're at all interested in the Byzantine Empire and its culture.

Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni-Located in the middle of the Bay, these two islands erupted from the sea over two thousand years ago, and is worth a visit just to see the strange lava landscapes.

View Asifs work at http://www.pedlarsinngallery.com/

Heidiland! – Maienfeld, Switzerland

Why Maienfeld? I’ll tell you why. When I was a child, I used to watch a TV anime “Heidi”. A story about a little girl from a small village in Switzerland sent to Frankfurt, Germany to be a live-in friend to a girl in a wheelchair. I loved everything about this story as it captured so many scenic locations, and I dreamed to visit Maienfeld even though I knew that it was a fictional story.

This year, the dream came true, when I went to Zurich on work. I had one free day, and decided to take a train up to Maienfeld. It was sunny but not too hot, the perfect weather for a hike up the mountain side of Maienfeld.

I went to a ticket window at Zurich, and asked, “a round trip ticket to Maienfeld, please.” He wrote down which platform to get on a train, which station to get off to get on the connection train, and gave it to me with tickets. The information became very handy as I don’t speak in German at all.

After about a 2 hour train ride, I arrived at Maienfeld. It was a tiny station with 2 platforms. As I walked out of the station, excited with the beautiful scenery and the thought of “I’m finally here!”, it hit me. “I don’t know how to go to Heidiland from here!!” I knew that there was a replica of Heidi’s house and a fountain (mentioned in the story many times) somewhere, but had no idea where they were… I looked around, but didn’t see any public buildings nor shops near the station. I didn’t see anyone on the street, either. As I started to panic a little, I walked back to the station hoping to find someone to ask for the information. I went to the ticket window and asked if he knew how to get to Heidiland. He pulled out a piece of paper from a desk drawer, and gave it to me with a smile. It was a brochure of Heidiland with directions. Indeed, he saved the day! (I guess, I’m not the first one to ask him this question.) I said, “Danke!” to him and started to walk towards the hiking course. (I hope I wasn’t running… but maybe I was. Good thing no one was out there.)

Maienfeld is as lovely as its postcard picture. It is a steep village with cobblestone streets that are lined with half-timbered shops selling handmade wooden toys. From Maienfeld, you can easily walk up to Oberfols, a tiny hamlet which was Spyri’s inspiration for the fictional village of “Dorfli” in the book. Oberfols is considered the Heididorf or Heidi Village, home to the Heidi Haus, a mid 19th century Swiss hut outfitted with Heidi-era furniture, crockery and clothes to give visitors an authentic feeling for what life in Heidi’s time was really like. Readers of Heidi from all over the world come here to witness the source, each one seeking something private and personal that speaks of health, tranquility and freedom. Thus the sign on the path that reads:

‘May the Heididorf be a place of inner reflection where our dream of oneness and our search for peace become a fruitful reality.’

In Oberfols I also found a souvenir shop, a small petting zoo and a post office where you can send letters with the Heidi cancellation postmark. From Oberfols I began my hike up the Heidi Weg or Heidi Path. This is a gorgeous 1 1/2 hour walk in the woods that rises to the mountain top.

According to the brochure, there are two hiking course, blue and red. I took the course that leads to the fountain and to the Heidi museum. The hiking courses were marked very generously with signs at every corner and intersection. There were no worries of getting lost. From the bottom of the hill up to near the fountain, I walked by several grape vine fields.

The fountain was set in a small flat ground, and re-designed with a statue of Heidi. I saw a bus load of tourists there. From the fountain, I walked through woods and fields up to the Heidi museum. The hill was really steep (most of the tourists come by bus as a group), but that was a best part of this trip,From there, I could further walk up to Grandpa’s house, but I decided not to. I had to go back to Zurich before the dinner time.

What a day, I had at Maienfeld, realizing my childhood dream!

I left Heidiland having completed a quest since childhood yet knowing I would return. I will come back to Maienfled for its soul-inspiring scenery, natural mineral spas, and fresh food make Heidiland as seductive a region as it eternally appears in the beloved children’s classic.

Visit Asif’s work at the Pedlars inn Gallery in Galle fort or visit www.pedlarsinngallery.com

Why Visit Prague

Why visit Prague?

Photographer Asif Jiffry

In Central-Eastern Europe there are plenty of cities visited by hundreds of tourists all year long. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Prague the capital of the Czech Republic. According to many people the city is a real jewellery casket, which can be proud of its historical sights and architecture located within a relatively small area.The following are a few sites that could be visited in two days.

Charles Bridge

Charles bridge is the oldest bridge of Prague (construction began in 1357 and ended in early 15th century), and it was the only bridge until 1841. It is made of Bohemian sandstone and it has been preserved in a relatively good shape. Earlier, a wooden bridge and a stone bridge stood in its place. The stone bridge was named Judith bridge after the wife of king Vladislav I, but a big flood ruined it and a new one had to be built in its place. The present bridge is 516 meters long, almost 9,5 meters wide, and has been constructed on the command of King Charles IV.

Old Town Square, the Center of Prague

Undoubtly, the heart of Prague is the Old Town Square It is located between Chalres Bridge and Wenceslas Square, bustling with tourists during the summer. Among the major sights to view here are the Tyn Cathedral, Stone Bell House, Kinsky Palace, Virgin Mary Church, St. Nicholas Church, Astronomical Clock and the Old Town Hall. During New Year's Eve, the square is crowded with happy people celebrating the coming of the new year. During Christmas holidays, there is a Christmas market set up. In addition, football and ice-hockey games are shown on large screens.

Astronomical Clock

My favorite on the list is the clock that consists of three independent parts next to one another: the puppet play, the sphere circle and the calendar. Topmost is the puppet play which is considered the peak of the spectacle, attracting crowds of spectators when at every round o'clock a bell rings, two little windows open and the twelve apostles come out. The procession is started by a skeleton, which stands on the right side and represents Death. With one hand he pulls the rope of a little bell, with the other hand he turns the sand glass held in his hand. Then the two windows open, and the figures of the apostles appear, lead by St. Peter. Then the raven begins to croak and the clock beats the exact time. In the puppet play we meet the figure of the Turk shaking his head, reminding the threat of the Turks, we see Vanity gazing herself in the mirror, and we see Greed, depicted in the medieval cliché as a Jewish moneychanger(source:guide book).

Prague Castle

The castle was built in the 9th century instructed by lord Borivoj. The fortress above the Vltava River quickly became the centre of the empire of the family Premysl due to its perfect location. Three churches, a palace and a cloister were built within its walls. The castle was reconstructed several times. The major changes took place during the rule of Charles IV and Ladislaus Jagiello. The buildings burnt in the fire in 1541 were reconstructed in renaissance style. Later between 1753 and 1775 the whole castle came through a reconstruction. It was rebuilt in baroque and neo-classicist style. The three courts were also created during this period. The role of the castle has been the same for eleven centuries. It was the seat of the Czech rulers till 1918. Since 1918 it has been the seat of the presidents.

The Golden Lane

The Golden Lane was named after the goldsmiths who settled down in the city in the 17th century. The row of houses in this small street is one of the most picturesque locations in Prague. In the first years of the 16th century Rudolf II decided to build the small colourful houses for to the castle marksmen who guarded the fortification. Later in the 17th century the goldsmiths who moved into these houses reconstructed the buildings. The street passed through a dark period in the 19th century. It got into evil ways and became a slum where delinquency was an everyday occurrence. In the middle of the 20th century the renters had to move off because the houses were restored to their former condition.

Nowadays in most of these small houses shops offer their goods such as books, lace and the famous Czech glass products.

Czech Republic can now be visited with a valid schengen visa. If you do plan on visiting Europe take a two day break and visit Prague, You will not regret your decision.

Asifs work is exhibited at Pedlars Inn gallery Galle fort or visit www.pedlarsinngallery.com