NEMO science and technology center in Amsterdam

Science center NEMO, located not too far from the central train station in Amsterdam is a good place to visit if you are with kinds. Most of attractions in NEMO are focused on children, adults and teenagers will have little to do here.

We have visited NEMO for two reasons: first is that it was included in our Amsterdam card with a free entry and second reason is that weather was quite bad and we had nothing to do as it was our last day in Amsterdam.

You can get to the place quite easily using several busses that stop quite close to central station, just check any map before going.

NEMO technology center is famous for its architecture which is a green and dramatic copper building located just next to the sea. Inside you will find several floors of technological attractions some of which you can interact with, also a good café which is reasonably prices (reasonably to standards of Amsterdam).

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Published on 19/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

Benefits of I am Amsterdam card for tourists

I visited Amsterdam on my 25^th birthday in September 2011. Together with my girlfriend we spent 3 full days in Amsterdam visiting a lot of museums, some art-galleries, walking narrow streets of Jordaan district and of course, walking next to many canals the city of Amsterdam is famous for.

As we both prefer traveling on our own (a good way to save money also) we started preparing several months in advance, bought flight tickets, found a place to stay for 3 nights. Next step was to find a way to save money on attractions. Here is when we first checked for I am Amsterdam tourist card (I Amsterdam, how it is actually named).

Tip: It does not really matter in what month you are planning to visit Amsterdam start looking for a place to stay at least 1 full month in advance to get something to choose from within your price range!

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Published on 16/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

Review: Hole in The Wall pub, Malta

A very small but a nice pub with untypical name “Hole in the Wall” is located in Sliema, Malta. As I have already mentioned place is tiny, with a few tables inside and several chairs next to the bar. It looks like a hole also inside.

This place is located in Sliema, Malta next to Alborada Apart hotel, on the intersection of San Pawl and Ghar Lembi streets, close to Towers shopping mall.

I have visited this place on Sunday evening at around 9PM on the way home. Place was empty, no one except the bartender was in. I went for a beer watching some old Cops series on TV and listening to the guy behind the bar telling me stories of his life in US.

There is one special thing about this average small place – I got a feeling that I’ve known this place for all my life although this was my first time in this place! This feeling was “old” – a kind of a feeling you get when you are at your parents summer place after years of living abroad.

It is a bit new because you were away for some time and don’t remember everything in details but at the same time those “new” things do not surprise you. Similar feeling I got at this bar.

Hole in the wall is a worth to check place if you are around.

Published on 14/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

Short trip to Tharros, Sardinia

We visited Sardinia in the middle of April for a short stay of 6 full days. First 2 days we spent in Cagliari, capital of the island. Tharros was our second destination of 2 days car trip on the island. We drove from Laconi, a small town in the hills and in the mountain area of Sardinia.

We arrived at around 1PM; weather was very nice and warmer than usual for this time of the year. It reached +28 Celsius or around that. Make sure you take water with you and a hat as it can get very hot and there is no place to hide on the ruins of Tharros; there is almost no shade.

Tharros is located in a desert-like area with a few restaurants and several tourist shops with souvenirs. The main attraction there is the ruins of an ancient city founded by ancient Phoenicians.

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Published on 11/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

New York City in 5 hours

The story in this post is quite old and happened to me in summer 2007. Since that year most probably all prices have changed so I will list any numbers but the points of interest I have managed to visit I’m sure are still there.

Credits: Dimitripros, Flickr

During the summer of 2007 I have managed to visit NYC 2 times; first one was 10 hour visit between connection flight to Atlanta and second on the way back, but then I spent a bit over a week staying for the night somewhere on the border of New York in New Jersey.

I have arrived to JFK International airport from Helsinki someday in the end of May at around 3 PM local time. Already on the plain I have decided to try and see New York before my next flight to Atlanta as I was not sure if I manage to see it on the way back in September.

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Published on 09/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

Tallinn art gallery Atrium and latest exhibition “Idee..ideetu

Atrium gallery located in the heart of Tallinn in a commerce building. Atrium gallery had its first exhibition in 1992 and is the highest exhibition hall in Tallinn. Working hours are from Monday to Friday from 10AM to 8PM and on Saturday from 12AM to 8PM. Entrance is free of charge.

Atrium has seen works of many artists, for example Marje Murusalu with her project “ZONA” which started back in 2006 and is still ongoing. ZONA is photo and video installation which reflects thoughts of industrial zones. Atrium has also seen works of Spanish artist Enrique Lafuente with his work named “Mystery Fruits”.

From 2^nd of May until 31^st of May 2012 Tallinn University uses Atrium gallery for its exhibition named “Idee…Ideetu”, which translates as “Ideas of no Ideas”. Young artists from Tallinn University show their works where they ponder on different topics that young and creative mind.

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Published on 05/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

Review: Kastrum Bed and Breakfast, Cagliari, Sardinia

On my recent trip to Sardinia, Italy in the end of April we have spent 3 nights at Kastrum Bed and Breakfast in Cagliari, capital of Sardinia.

Kastrum B&B is located in the heart of the old-town of Sardinia, just a minute walk to Cagliari Cathedral and a short walk to most of the tourist attractions of Cagliari. It is also around 15 minutes’ walk down to the strand.

B&B is located on the last floor of 3 stores house on one of the narrow streets of the Old Town. Elevator takes you up and right into the bed and breakfast. Kastrum B&B is a small, family owned business with 5-6 rooms. All rooms except Suite are located on the 3^rd floor; suite is located on the 4^th floor right next to the roof terrace.

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Published on 02/05/2012 by dp Share opinion

Review: St. Petersburg hotel, Tallinn Old Town

St. Petersburg 4 star hotel is located on Rataskaevu 7 just one minute from Old Town Square and next to Cat’s draw well where as legend says lived mermaid and where people on a regular basis threw cats as a gift to that mermaid. Something tells me cats did not like it.

St Petersburg hotel Tallinn is a small and comfortable with not more than 30 rooms in total on 3 floors. Hotel does not have an elevator and for people with disabilities it is advised to book rooms on the first floor. On the 4^th floor under the roof is sauna where you can also have a massage. For those who stay at the hotel sauna is free until 11 in the morning.

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Published on 25/04/2012 by dp Share opinion

Cheapest hostel room in the world

Recently I have posted a few short articles about hotels that can kill your credit card in a second. They are so expensive that some of us would have to sell their car to spend one single night at such place.

This time I went for opposite extreme – cheapest hostel in the world.

The cheapest hostel to stay is located in Michoacan a bit north of Mexico City and is called The Kennedy-Tateje hostel & Campground. Place is great for hiking and amazing scenery. A bit over 60 million (60 million and seven) Monarch butterflies migrate through Michoacan.

To tell you a bit about this hostel – it has 3 rooms for 12 people (total of 4 beds of 3 stories high), 1 room for 2 guests (probably VIP) and 1 room for 2 and up to 6 guests.

The cheapest option is to rent a bunk bed in the room for 12 guests. Such bed will cost you 0.58 EUR per night per person. Now, to repeat one more time – the cheapest hostel in the world will provide you with bed, linen and a towel for 58 cents!

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Published on 22/04/2012 by dp Share opinion

Tallinn Cheat Sheet: moving, living and studying in Tallinn

This article is written specially for those who are planning to move over to Tallinn, Estonia to live, study or to stay for any other cool reason for a long period of time. I have tried to gather lots of information that might be helpful for a first time visitor or for those who got lost in our small city.

Credits: Alex Polezhaev (flickr)

Information in this post is divided into several sub-paragraphs such as registering in Tallinn, districts of Tallinn, Tallinn public transport, renting in Tallinn, shopping and groceries, saving money in Tallinn, online shops in Estonia, going out in Tallinn and so on and so forth.

I hope this article will be also interesting for those who have been living in Tallinn for some time and maybe also for locals. If you have something to add or you do not agree with some parts of Tallinn Cheat Sheet please, leave a comment. Your feedback is very important!

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Published on 19/04/2012 by dp Share opinion

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