Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Central Europe

Sofia
I kind of liked this place. Surprising because I generally don't like big cities, and Sofia, being the capital city of bulgaria, could be considered as a big city. Well, my encounter there was mostly pleasant. Despite being a big city, its citizens did not live a hurried life. Life was pretty relaxing there, and you feel as if the whole place belongs to you. The city square was pretty empty when we were there, sans all the noise, hustle and bustle of big cities. I liked the way we could wander around without being bothered by anything. The backdrop of the city was beautiful too, a lovely mountain Vitosha in the near vicinity of the city centre, and rivers flowing near it. An underrated place, in my opinion.
Rating: 8/10

Belgrade
The Serbian capital was one of the biggest surprise of the trip. The former yugoslavian city was not quite what I expected it to be. My image was that of a war torn nation, of broken walls, dilapidated structures .... yet, i was horribly wrong. This city rivals some of the most developed cities in the world, with its architectural style similar to that of highly developed nations. The city's landmark, the Kalemegdan fortress was a pleasant treat, ironic for the serene peace of the park inside a supposedly war-ravaged citadel. Flanked by the mighty Danube river and the gentle Sava river, a relaxing stroll in the citadel is sure to do wonders to the soul. One more thing to note: The water there is highly delicious.
Rating: 8/10

Zagreb
I remembered the Croatian capital as a highly clean and meticulous city, pretty much the same way i view Singapore. Tourist information in the place is easily available and the employees are helpful and always ready to serve. The capital itself boasts some great and cheap food, and the nearby town of Samobor is rather scenic and relaxing as well. But the highlight of this place has to be the Plitvice lakes National park. The colour of the water is something that you can only dream about, and the endless waterfalls and lakes brings away the dirt and burdens from living in urban estates.
Rating: 8.5/10

No comments: