Tag: places to go

Categories
Travel

Lufthansa vs Ryanair

Chocolate Snack

The difference is REAL! Lufthansa and Ryanair are completely different flying experiences. You pay a low fare to get to a destination. One is basically a cattle wagon while the other has a customer service dimension.

Don’t complain, sit back and tolerate what paying pennies can buy. I took a flight to Milan on Ryanair. High blood pressure angsts from the start. Yes, the airline is reliable to a point. A bearable bus with wings carrying passengers from point A to point B, no more, no less.

Boarding is always an adventure. I paid for speedy boarding, but in the chaos of the new Berlin airport (upcoming story) this did not make a difference. The mass chaos of trying to figure out a sibilance of an organized line got lost after the overwhelmed gate attendant turned his head away in fear. Getting on airlines stripped down standard Boeing 737 was all that matter. Boarding a train in Delhi left me with less trauma. The positive, Ryanair states on ticket: front or rear boarding. 

Ryanair

While on board a Ryanair flight passengers are bombarded with announcements of one for or another to buy something. Relaxation is not an option built in this low coast flying model. Can anyone explain Ryanair’s Scratch Card lottery?

Lufthansa

Contrast this with mega carrier Lufthansa. I took the German airline five days later from Milan. I paid more for the return ticket. What a difference a few euros make. The boarding experience is saner, not a mad dash. In Covid Times airlines boardings are made by sections. The regional Bombardier jet took me to Frankfurt for a transit to Berlin. The crew handed out water and small chocolates.

Lufthansa

The second leg of my journey, off to Berlin on an Airbus 320 for a 55 minute flight. A bit of chaos getting onboard this time from the rear and back at the same time. The plane was parked on the tarmac.

On the tarmac
On the tarmac.

Once again, water and chocolate handed out to passengers. The captain made two announcements before landing. I managed to grab a quick nap. I was even more amazed the airline used an air bridge to the terminal.

Will I take Ryanair over Lufthansa in the future? Ryanair’s advantage is point to point flights and price. How do you complain about a 19.99 euro ticket to Italy?

Lufthansa’s hub and spoke system carries a risk of getting stuck in a location.

Categories
Travel

Salerno On Tap

More to come on the undedapprecicated Amalfi city. I had a two day then loved the coastal resort.

The ancient city gate.
Categories
Travel

My Mother Made It

A New Series

A new series based on my cuisine experiences in Italy. The title comes from a conversation about who prepares the food in the kitchen. The guy replied, “My Mother Made It”. I had no more to say.

A New Series

Of course pasta plays a role in the story. How much?

Categories
Travel

A Day on Rugen

Binz
      Categories
      Travel

      Straslund Part 2

      More images from the Baltic Hansa City Straslund and the its old city.

      Strusland
      Strusland
      Strusland
      Strusland
      Strusland
      Strusland
      Strusland
      Strusland
      Categories
      Fashion

      Florence in 3 Words

      One word cannot describe Florence. We decided to use 3. Who could not fall in love with an intimate city offering gorgeous landscapes every part of the day, an early morning walk after breakfast, a hike up the hill in the afternoon, a stroll after a late cocktail.

      Categories
      Travel

      All in One Travel Experience

      The Franconia region of Southern Germany is worth exploring, offering an array of travel experiences. For the outdoor sports enthusiasts, mountain hiking to the top is rewarded with 100 km landscape vistas.

      If history is your passion, top recommendation is exploring the many historical cities of Wurzburg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, and Ansbach.

      Wurzburg

      Main Bridge to City Centre

      Wurzburg is a romantic picturesque city of 120.000 on the river Main with spectacular Catholiccathedrals.While walking over the Old Main Bridge with its lined with statues, I was reminded of an intimate Prague.

      Main Bridge

      The Wurzburg Residence in the city center is a splendid example of German Baroque style. For eye sweeping views of the city, climb the hill where the Marienberg Fortress is located.

      Bamberg

      Bamberg is a smaller city of 70.000 centered around a hill on the banks of the river Regnitz. A large portion of the historic community is a UNESCO heritage site. City Hall sits on an island in the middle of the river. The 13thcentury religious monument, Bamberg Cathedral overlooks the city from the hilltop.

      Rothenburg

      The animated city of Rothenburg, founded in 1535, is a living Disneyland of  preserved history. Behind medievalwalls sits buildings resembling an American amusement park. I have no doubt the Universal Studios team was here. Walking along the cobble stone roads, looking into shops in the historic center made me feel a bit “touristic”.

      Kathe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas shop is a “must go”. An Ikea type labyrinth of Christmas decorations of every shape, size, and color topped by a 4 meter high Christmas tree, then an equally high Christmas Pyramid. The store is enchanting while beyond kitsch, especially in July!

      Ansbach

      The best reason to visit Baroque city of Ansbach is the joy of the Ansbacher Garden. Simply Gorgeous! The Middle Evil is small, 40,000 inhabitants, but punches above its size with many beautiful monuments, start exploring from the Martin Luther Square.

      Beer or Wine?

      The Franconia area of Bavaria is split in two parts: Uppper Beer lands, Lower Wine lands. During the warm months there are many local festivals and tastings.  A blessing but make sure you have a designated driver.

      Ansbach and Bamberg are situated in Beer territory, look for Kellers serving .5 liter ceremic beer mugs.

      Bocksbeutel Bootle

      Wurzburg and Rothenburg are located in Wine country along with the unique Bocksbeutel bottle.

      Sidenote:  I forgot my camera for part of the journey. Why?  I was a bit hungover from the wine and beer tastings, so I for got to charge the battery.  Even after the 600 meter hike, the first stop was a beer keller. When in ROME! 

      Categories
      Travel

      Surf’s Up

      The Baltic Coast of Germany is known for the historic trade of the Hansa League, a federation of shipping states that controlled commerce from Russia to England, historical references are everywhere.

      However, the past is not the only thing on offer in the region, if you are searching for something more modern, sexy, and active like a bit of surfing this is the place. Kitsurfing is a popular recreation because of the strong wind conditions with young and old hitting the surf in the afternoons.  These guys and ladies move over the water at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

      Many schools, rental shops, and clubs dot the coastline.