First Flush Tea Room in Bonn Review

16 May, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 23 seen

Welcome to my second Germany's restaurant review. First one happened some 40 km South from Bonn in a lovely town of Andernach, back there I made a review about Italian style restaurant "Bellini".

First Flush Tea Room as it's name already suggests is more a tea room than a restaurant, but you can order some meal here as well.

First Flush Tea Room

This place is centrally located on Bonn's marketplace just next to Old Town Hall

Menu at First Flush Tea Room in Bonn

Porcelain cups at First Flush Tea Room

The thing is they are serving each tea in a different cup

Sugar-basin at First Flush Tea Room

Again, different sugar forms, staring small grains ending large ones. At first I thought it's some sea salt

Teapot at First Flush Tea Room

Each visitor is obligated to order a pot for himself, you are not allowed to share a pot here. Price for a teapot here is around EUR 7.00 and it's a lot of tea for person.

Real and delicious German sweets at First Flush Tea Room

First Flush Tea Room is centrally located in…

Marketplace and Old Town Hall in Bonn, Germany

14 May, 2015 | Tourism objects | 69 seen

One thing I like about travel photography it helps to recall those amazing places you have visited during your travels. So today looking through my travel photos I found an intereting place, I would even call it a gem - Bonn's Old Town Hall and marketplace near it.

In fact during my visit there I had no clue there is a marketplace actually. Cool right?

We just headed straight on Bongase street after I took a few photos of Beethoven's House of Birth, and actually we were looking for some cosy place to order our supper. 

A cyclist in Bonn's marketplace 

Old Town Hall and Obelisk

The old town hall in the Bonn marketplace was completed in Rococo style in around 1780. This three-storey building with gilded stairs leading down to the marketplace was reinvented as the setting for important events: Theodor Heuss, Charles de Gaulles, John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II and Mikhail Gorbachev all gave speeches here.

The old town hall still serves as an office for the mayor and is used as a representative building. Great individuals such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa have all been…

Beethoven's House of Birth in Bonn, Germany

13 May, 2015 | Tourism objects | 136 seen

The idea to visit Beethoven's House of birth arrived from friend of us whom we earlier picked up in city of Koblenz. Honestly speaking I have no idea why he (friend) was so eager to see this place because in fact we didn't see anything more than just a usual dwelling house and a street table on that house indicating that indeed a maestro of all times Ludwig Van Beethoven was born here a few centuries ago.

No don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to deny a Beethoven after all his "Ode to Joy" is an official anthem of European Union, but that's all my knowledge ended here. I even didn't knew which century Ludwig Van Beethoven lived in. Now I know - it was the 18 century he born (17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827).

Anyhow - in case you are wondering how a house were Ludwig Van Beethoven did born looks like, please see a few photos bellow I managed to take on a lovely Bonngasse street in Germany.

Bonngasse street in Bonn, Germany

Just a regular street pretty much in German style. As you can see even contruction works are held just opposite to Beethoven's house of birth. At the end of Bonngasse street some (perhaps you…

Poppelsdorf Palace And Its Surroundings In Bonn, Germany

12 May, 2015 | Tourism objects | 64 seen

We hadn't any plans to visit this lovely and former capital city of West Germany Bonn. Our friend who is living in Germany and we picked up him earlier this day in Koblenz insisted we should visit some place were some Mozart (well actually Ludwig von Beethoven) were born and it turned out to be a city of Bonn. We arrived here at Bonn from a lovely town on the banks of Rhine river Andernach, and parked our car in some residential area - turned out just next to a place which I latter learned is called a Poppelsdorf Palace.

Since I have been lately into to improving my photographer skills I just couldn't resist to try to make here some shots. Unfortunetly we were a bit on rush, so best I could get our of my camera is displayed bellow. I believe if you have more time you can take a really impressive photos here.

A channel near Poppelsdorf Palace

Anything what mirrors back from water look fantastic right? 

A channel near Poppelsdorf Palace

Ahh, if I had just a little bit more time here and a good tripod...

Street table in Bonn, Germany

Poppelsdorf…

Restaurant 'Bellini' In Andernach, Germany

10 May, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 18 seen

Restaurant Bellini is an Italian style restaurant located in the spectacular German town of Andernach (some 20 km North from Koblenz).

You can find my first impressions of this lovely town located on the banks of Rhine river here: Andernach - A Lovely German Town On The Banks Of Rhine

I must admit neither me, neither us we were looking for an Italian style restaurant here in Germany, it just turned out that you will find more Italian, Greek or Thai cuisine than real German sauerkraut and sausage while in Germany.

In fact, I like Italian cuisine very much, so let's get back to the subject - Restaurant Bellini in Andernach.

Large bottles at Restaurant Bellini

As usual in Germany, you will find a garden dwarf or a garden dwarf cook here as well. Grappa or Jagermeister, sure they serve it here.

Menu at Restaurant Bellini

It's written in German, but it's not a problem to understand this German/Italian language. Although staff members speak only German. A friend of mine asked the waiter - so are you a German or Italian? He replied neither. Turned out he was a nice Bulgarian guy speaking…

Andernach - A Lovely German Town On The Banks Of Rhine

9 May, 2015 | Tourism objects | 265 seen

Andernach indeed is one of the loveliest German towns I have visited lately. In fact, I haven't visited Germany a lot. We arrived here after picked up a friend in Koblenz.

The town of Andernach is located just some 20 km North of Koblenz. I know some will find it strange to leave a city of Koblenz not seeing it much (just a railway station and a few elevated roads) but that;s the way I (we) like it. I believe we will return to Koblenz some other time.

I was very surprised by seeing Germany what I seen here at Rhineland, it was a Germany I hadn't seen before.

Original story and photos are from May 2015, with little photo-editing (post-processing) in December 2018. For a complete trip, see My Germany and The Netherlands Travel Guide: also I have updated story about tour in the Mossel Valley 3 day leisure trip to Germany (The Mossel Valley)

Some Castle Tower in the city of Andernach

Should I complain here - a tripod is a must have accessory if you are up for a good photography? Well, it all happened in a bit rush that I was lucky enough to shoot this picture from Andernach. 

City plan…

The Orthodox Church of Kuldiga

7 May, 2015 | Churches and Monasteries | 21 seen

I have been lately a lot in church photography. Perhaps Georgia as an Orthodox country has learned me this lesson. Churches are interesting for photography, I believe it's pretty hard to take a decent image of a church by not using some good lenses and a tripod. Churches looks great from a distance, they are majestic and impressive. 

Kuldiga Orthodox Church

As I have been taught and have find many times - a tripod is a must have for the landscape photography, unfortunately I haven't yet get a decent one, so this is a shot I made by hand. Actually I made some 20 other,but just this picture survived till the end.

Kuldiga Orthodox Church Tower

Some nice perspective. Those crosses on brick wall looks amazing, right?

Servings at Kuldiga Orthodox Church

Yellow church cupola 

Ahh, just another attempt of creating art

Kuldīga Orthodox Church and park

Doesn't it looks like a mini Kremlin for you? I believe in wintertime around Christmas this park around orthodox church is decorated and a real Christmas atmosphere is created here. Maybe I'm wrong…

Daigas Bakery In Kuldiga

6 May, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 55 seen

Daigas Bakery (Daigas beķereja) is one of my favourite bakery places in Kuldiga. The reason is plain simple - the pastries Daiga and her team is baking here are one of the best in the whole region and I'm not afraid to say - they are among the best in Latvia.

Discovered by accident in the summer of 2014, Daigas Bakery has found its way to my heart instantly. When I'm visiting the town of Kuldīga - Daigas bakery is a must-have. And I mean it!

The bakery is located on Liepājas street 26 in a small courtyard

Inside bakery it's a really tiny though cosy place. There are 2 tables and maximum 8 people can sit around them

Although a sklandrausis is a part of traditional Latvian cuisine I first tried it just a year ago, and indeed it happened at Daigas bakery. It's filling is made from grated carrots. Here is a bit better explanation of what Sklandrausis actually is:

Sklandrausis is a traditional dish in Latvian cuisine which has a Livonian origin, but it is known by Latvians for many years. It is a sweet pie, made of rye dough and filled with potato and carrot paste and seasoned with a caraway. Read: Sklandrausis

I'm not…

Confectionery 'Kukulītis' in Kuldīga

5 May, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 24 seen

One thing I really enjoy at small Latvian towns - they offer a charm and a personal touch. And you will find a lot of from both in the town of Kuldīga located in Western Latvia.

On a lovely Wednesday morning I was doing some random photography around Kuldīga Old Town when I noticed this lovely confectionery shop 'Kukulītis' - literally meaning "a loaf" located on Liepajas street 35.

I was so impressed of it, that I went straight in, asked for permission to do a few shots, so I can share this lovely place to you:

Building in which "Kukulītis" is located in

Lovely right?

Buns and pastry at Kukulītis store

Ahh, those are pretty typical Latvian buns and pastries. I find them a bit unhealthy, but hell they are tasting also.

Latvian bread for sale at "Kukulītis" store

Simple yet effective corner to enjoy a bun and cup of coffee

Soda and water for sale at Kukulitis store

I didn't try anything here, so I cannot tell did I enjoyed or not. But I'm sure everything here is tasty, the prices seems reasonable. If you are walking around Kuldīga Old Town and are thirsty…

Blog Monthly Online Income Report - April 2015 - $362.53

3 May, 2015 | Blogging | 34 seen

Welcome to my monthly blog income report. This is the 16th report so far.

I'm doing those report since start of 2014 and they (reports) help me track my online success or failures. I hope they can inspire you as well. Now, if you are a person reading just titles then I must steal another second or minute of your precious time. The thing is - I made a bit more than just $362.53 but to learn more about that you should continue reading.

In total I earned $733.53 what is a increase of  18.47% if compared to previous month

$733.53 in a month equals to $26.54 per day

So far so good, right?

Although blogging is not my full time profession (Drupal Development is) it makes a pretty decent money for me, so I decided to compare how would my earnings would stand against minimum and average salaries in European Union.

It turns out in April I earned about a minimum wage in Portugal and a bit more than average salary in Latvia

Blog traffic report April 2015 (Data source: Google Analytics)

April was a little bit slower month than March and in…

Blog Traffic Report - April 2015 - 17,865 Users

2 May, 2015 | Blogging | 14 seen

Welcome to the already 19th my blog's traffic report. I'm doing both traffic and online income report at the start of each month, to learn, discover and compare how did it go for the last month.

Those reports keep me track my progress (or bounces) and hopefully can give a lesson to you as well.

In short - nothing. After a negative experience last month (see my report about March) I decided not to use any promotion for my blog and indeed I didn't.

Well, that doesn't mean I didn't produce any article. In fact, I did 31 articles last month. You might find it's much and I can only agree on that. But hey it's already the 19 months in a row I'm not missing a single day of blogging.

Again, in April I decided to slow down a bit - prior to this April I produced even 2 and 3 articles per day, but then I found the quality of those articles just sucks. So I decided to slow down this month. 

This April comes with a -12.85% traffic dip if compared to the previous month (March) and totaled in 17,865 unique visitors. Although there is a dip, I'm not sad about that,…

Skrunda-1 Abandoned Soviet Military Ghost Town In Latvia

30 April, 2015 | Military Heritage | 309 seen

Update: Originally I visited Skrunda - 1 in Summer 2015, Skrunda -1 is closed for public visitors in 2022

Skrunda-1, also known as Skrunda-2, is a ghost town and former Soviet and later Russian radar station located 5 km (3 mi) to the north of Skrunda, in Raņķi Parish, Kuldīga Municipality in Courland region of Latvia. It was the site of two Dnepr radar (NATO designation "Hen House") installations constructed in the 1960s. A Daryal radar was being built there before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Skrunda was strategically important to the Soviet Union as its radars covered Western Europe. The two barn-like radars were one of the most important Soviet early warning radar stations for listening to objects in space and for tracking possible incoming ICBMs.

I have always been interested in a digger's stuff. Latvia is an amazing country for diggers. Speaking of this object - Skrunda-1 ghost town, in fact, I was just eager to find a place where more than 20 years ago Latvian Government blasted a mighty Soviet Military radar system, I didn't find that place,  but instead, I found an abandoned ghost town - Skrunda-1. 

Concrete slab…

Snēpele Manor

29 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

Latvia is a land of old manor houses and palaces, they dates back from the times when German nobles ruled this territory. A lot of manors one (perhaps you) can find in a historical region of Courland. I found this interesting Snēpele manor during a trip back from Kuldīga town. Since I'm eager to improve my photography skills, I did find just another reason to add a new post on my blog. 

Snepele manor 

I made a lot of shots of this manor by hand (not using a tripod) and just this one made it to you. 

The outhouse near Snepele manor

Road Sign to Snepele Manor

As well a bus stop  - probably you can take a bus from Kuldīga here

View to the Snepele village

That tall building on the left is a water tower not some old Soviet monument.

Snēpele Palace (Latvian: Snēpeles muižas pils) is a palace in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia. It was originally built at the beginning of the 19th century as a baronial hunting lodge with two room apartments for guests on the second floor. The building has housed the Snēpele primary school…

Bangert's Restaurant Review in Kuldiga

28 April, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 33 seen

Bangert's restaurant is kinda a new restaurant located on the banks of river Venta between Old Brick Bridge and the Venta Waterfall on Pils street 1 in Kuldīga.

I first visited this restaurant last summer and found it a really great. So on the lovely Springs Sunday when I was doing some photo-shooting near Venta river banks I insisted we should visit this restaurant again so just I can add it to my blog and show it for you.

Restaurant Bangert's in Kuldīga

Wood carved naked lady at Bangert's restaurant

Interior at Bangert's Restaurant

Working hours for Bangert's Restaurant

Interior at Bangert's Restaurant

Bar counter at Bangert's restaurant

Menu at Restaurant Bangert's

Bar counter at Bangert's restaurant

Restaurant is located in two floors, I was egaer to make as much photos as possible so I went upstairs

Interior at Restaurant Bangert's second floor

Coffee latte at Bangert's Restaurant

While I was exploring all premises of this lovely restaurant our coffee were served. A really good one…

The Venta Waterfall (Rapid) - Widest In Europe

27 April, 2015 | Tourism objects | 83 seen

The Venta rapid forms a widest waterfall in Europe. It's located very close to Kuldīga town centre in Latvia.

See: Flying Fish over Venta Rapid in Kuldīga

I took my DSLR camera and decided to master my photography skills, couldn't say it improved drastic, but here is the thing I was told by a good friend a professional photographer: 

If I may say try and get lower angles on the waterfall. Popular idea is to stand in the water if its shallow and not too cold. And if you don't mind to get wet

I didn't listened this time to this advice 

View to the Venta Waterfall through the Brick Bridge

Kuldīga is a very interesting town from tourism point of view - you have a great access both to the widest waterfall in Europe and to the kind of (!sic) longest bridge in Europe. The Old Brick bridge across the Venta river is located just 240 meter distance from the Venta waterfall and you can have a great views to the rapid from the bridge. Read: The Old Brick Bridge Across The Venta River In Kuldīga 

View to the Venta Waterfall from the Brick Bridge

The Venta waterfall…