Traveling student : Bonn

"Now entering Bonn, former Western Germany capital city"

Bonn has the unique status of "Federal City, in recognition of its former status as German capital : almost half of government ministries and embassies are maintaining a sizeable presence in Bonn I would have played one of the Beethoven's masterpieces, but as I am a violinist, that would be difficult to play ^^

Train station and (of course) ivory cabs ^^

(I cheated a little bit, I came by train instead of my car)

Unfortunately, due to a lack of time, I did not visit Villa Hammerschmidt, Beethoven Monument and Godesburg Fortress. For all that, I made my dream come true by visiting the "Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland," (House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany), a museum containing a genuine vintage ambiance, just the way I like it.

I promised to come back there, and I will visit ALL the sights of the Federal City ;)

The Haus der Geschichte presents German history from 1945 until the present, in its permanent exhibition. Numerous temporary exhibitions deal with different features.

The exhibition of December 2015 was about politics and media in Germany

 I still wish for owning that vintage phone, but not a huge camera like this one :p

 "Sturm" means "storm", right? ^^

Now that the exhibition is over, time to visit the contemporary history museum, shall we? ;)

 Ready for a ride?

 I wanted that poster, unavailable to buy it :'(

Authentic seats and ceiling of DDR Parliament (a short moment as a DDR MP ^^)

Dear JFK

 

Concrete blocks, extracted from the famous Berlin Wall

 

Section of the Berlin Wall. I still don't realise I saw through my eyes a symbol of the Cold War era, a physical barrier splitting the world and Germany into two : East and West. A strong symbol of freedom when it has been destroyed.

 

DDR flag & club flag

 

If you don't spot those vintage plates in a vintage museum like this one, you missed the most important items of the Cold War era ^^

I took too many photos and I considered that some of them are irrelevant or too blurred to be published. Visiting Bonn was a pleasure and memorable. It does worth it, all the way! I always dreamt to see the remains of the Berlin Wall, and I finally did it.

Anyway, I did not come back to my natal city with my hands empty (I had an interesting discount for this poster ^^)

 

Traveling student : Düsseldorf

One of my objectives of my last year of studies was to enjoy the most travels I can do. I started with Germany thanks to its proximity and the interest I have, according to the history of West Germany before the German reunification on 3 October 1990. As a friend of mine has moved to Germany, I seized the opportunity to make a little trip across Nordrhein-Westfalen State during and after Christmas 2015 ;) So one day, I took my car and crossed Begium t reach Düsseldorf and that was the first time I roam 3 countries by car : Belgium, The Netherlands & Germany (I try to break my record ^^).

Some people said to me : "Why do you go to Germany? You do not even speak German, you learnt Dutch for many years!". I agree, but they also speak English and inhabitants of Aache understand Dutch, a good deal to practice that language ^^

Düsseldorf is the capital city of the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen and the 7th most populous city in Germany. Düsseldorf is an international business and financial centre, renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Weather was good, but cold at night, and I hate when it's freezing like a giant freezer!

 Yeap : wealthy city, big houses and and big cars

 What did I understand with that ticket? "-Ticket! ^^"

 Indoor tram-stations are equipped with vintage ivory signs, an authentic German signature in Düsseldorf

I was very surprised to see that kind of student jobs in Germany! 

 Best place to visit Christmas markets? Germany, all the way!

If the water was not so cold, I would swim to board that boat :p

 If you do not walk on the Rheinpromenade, you did not visit the city, and not else Germany ^^

 I was kinda hypnotized by that giant wheel! But I did not take a ride on it :'(

 Another thing I love with Germany? The authentic "Ivory cabs" ;)

Now I know that Hbf means "Train station" ^^

I know that's too much but it is mandatory to catch it ^^

Once I went outside of the train station, I thought it was a real man standing on this pillar, but it was a statue ^^

 I love the style of those plates, but I understood nothing, except "-rheinstrasse" & "-platz" ^^

Another view of the Rhein, just before the sunset (notice how wide it is, just incredible)

That sunset symbolises the beautiful stay I had in Düsseldorf ;)

Well, that was my first footsteps in Germany, and it is not over yet!

Next stop (here is an easy clue) : Former West Germany capital city ;)

Traveling student : Jūrmala

I have good news!! I am finally graduated! 6 years of higher education are over! That is the best period of my life and I will enjoy each day after this awesome graduation day!

Time to go back to (travel) business ^^ By going to the beach in Latvia, I meant one of the beautiful beaches of the Baltic countries, Jūrmala!

Jūrmala is a resort town, sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. Jūrmala's beach is 33 km (21 mi) long, covered with white quartz sand. The weather was at times sunny, at times cloudy, but it did not remove its beauty.

Jūrmala is at almost 40 minutes by train, and this transportation is cheap in Latvia.

Riga skyline, view from the train

 Jūrmala Culture Centre

 Cubic flats (they attracted my sight ^^)

 Jūrmala Beach 

 As a travelling friend of mine said : "Wherever you travel, always, always take a selfie". That's what I did ^^

 Jūrmala beach overview (I dreamt about swimming until I reach Estonia coasts, but the sea was too cold ^^)

 Jūrmala traditional house

 Jūrmala train station 

When I was on my way to Jūrmala, a young boy stared at me. Not the destabilizing one, but the pensive one. After I overtook the city of Bilderlingshof, he sat next to me and started to talk to me, with a pretty good English and its Latvian accent. He asked me a series of questions about my stay and my origins, was pleasantly surprised by my presence in Latvia for holidays. His open-minded spirit affected me, an exemplary curiosity. I almost forget that when I got off the train once I arrived in Jūrmala, I stared at the platform and we both waved our hand, as a heart-rending goodbye. I really hope that boy will travel as I do!

Some of you will certainly ask yourself : who gave me the selfie advice? Well, let me introduce her! 

Her name? Anggia Angela. A unique "travelling leather girl", she is one of a kind, a pioneer ;)

You can check her travelling stories through these links :

Blogspot

Steller

Instagram 

You won't be disappointed, promised ;)

Currently, I am thinking about a destination for holidays, let me know if you have some suggestions!

Disclaimer: all of these photos are mine.

Traveling student : Riga

After being in Vilnius, why not going northbound to visit one of its Baltic neighbours? I chose the closest one from Vilnius : Riga!
This capital city is located at the mouth of the River Daugava, on the coast of the Baltic Sea's Gulf of Riga. It is famous for its Old Town (Vecrīga) and city center (Centrs), in which over 800 buildings are of the Art Nouveau (aka Jugendstil) style of architecture. The old town of Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 One of the most colorful streets of Riga Old Town

That is one of the narrowest streets of Riga Old Town

 Art Nouveau District

Daugava River

 National Library of Latvia

Blackheads House

 KGB Museum ("The Corner House")

 Riga Freedom Monument 

The Laima Clock was a "rendezvous point" before the Internet era. For decades it has advertised Laima chocolate (very delicious!!), and many a sweet romance has started here.

The best place to enjoy a cup of coffee icecream, an indelible taste I will never forget :)

 Waving Latvian flag, from the Institut Français of Latvia

 Those 2 pictures I took pay tribute to a 1991 event, during the fall of the USSR

 I finally found my cultural embassy! :D

When you visit Latvia, you should have your own Latvian shawl with its identical Latvian pattern (so soft and warm!). I did not throw my grey scarf away, in case you wondered ^^

Next stop : Jūrmala!

Disclaimer: all of these photos are mine.