{"id":640,"date":"2025-12-29T21:15:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T15:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/?p=640"},"modified":"2025-12-29T21:21:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T15:51:25","slug":"europe-through-my-eyes-and-stomach-during-summer-of-may-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/europe-through-my-eyes-and-stomach-during-summer-of-may-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe through my eyes (and stomach) during summer of May 2025."},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Another International trip and this time it was cities in Europe. On the 20th of May we landed in Prague, Czech Republic and walked around the neighbourhood. The next day we visited the Prague castle complex , the square and the jewish quarters.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-711 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24-254x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24-254x300.png 254w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24-866x1024.png 866w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24-768x909.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24-750x887.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24.png 1060w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-709 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/22-218x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/22-218x300.png 218w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/22-744x1024.png 744w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/22-768x1058.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/22-750x1033.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/22.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-710 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-300x234.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"222\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-1024x798.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-768x598.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-1536x1197.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-750x584.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23-1140x888.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23.png 1748w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We then left to a place which was an hour from Prague ie <strong>Kutn\u00e1 Hora<\/strong>, home to the infamous Sedlec Ossuary. A chapel is decorated with human bones, chandeliers, coat-of-arms,all bones. Yes sounds haunting, but architecturally mind-blowing.<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-661 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.0-220x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.0-220x300.png 220w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.0-752x1024.png 752w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.0-768x1046.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.0-750x1022.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.0.png 938w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/> A short walk away was <strong>St. Barbara\u2019s Cathedral<\/strong>, a Gothic masterpiece so intricate it feels like stone lace. Standing there, I realised medieval architects clearly didn\u2019t believe in minimalism.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-664 alignnone\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-300x197.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-1024x671.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-768x503.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-1536x1006.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-2048x1342.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-750x491.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.2-1140x747.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-665\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-300x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"338\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-1024x682.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-1536x1023.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-2048x1364.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-750x500.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.3-1140x759.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-667\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-300x198.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"335\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-1024x678.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-768x508.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-1536x1016.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-2048x1355.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-750x496.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.1-1140x754.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">\u00a0As I explore more medieval architecture I learnt that <\/span><span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">it was known for its grandeur, intricate decoration (stained glass, carvings), and massive scale, especially in Gothic <\/span><span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">cathedrals and Romanesque churches, though some simpler domestic buildings existed, the iconic medieval style is elaborate, emphasizing height, light (Gothic), and thick walls (Romanesque).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">On 22<sup>nd<\/sup> May we travelled to Saxon Switzerland &amp; Czech Wilderness. This day was dedicated to legs, lungs, and humility. We hiked up to the <strong>Elbe sandstone mountain<\/strong> range on both sides of the national border between Germany and Czech Republic and saw the remains of the Medieval rock castle build in the early 13th century on a sandstone reef . <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-670 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-300x181.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"374\" height=\"226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-1024x617.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-768x463.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-1536x925.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-2048x1233.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-750x452.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4-1140x687.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-671 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-300x194.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"333\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-1024x662.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-768x497.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-1536x993.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-2048x1324.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-750x485.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4.2-1140x737.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">After a snack break ( ate Pretzel and sausages) we walked into the Deep Wehlgrund valley , Rathen area, Saxon Switzerland in East Germany .W e walked around 3 kms and reached the bottom dock where a 450m long section was accessible only by boat. <strong>Wild Gorge<\/strong> is a deep rocky canyon of the river Kamenice in Czech <span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">Republic.<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-647 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-225x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"280\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-767x1024.png 767w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-768x1025.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-750x1001.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.png 1062w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-669 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.1-226x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"288\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.1-226x300.png 226w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.1-771x1024.png 771w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.1-768x1020.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.1-750x996.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.1.png 1060w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After a scrumptious local meal and beer, we hiked around 5 kms ( to and fro ) into the deep forest, wild rivers and massive sandstone formations. The final push led us to <strong>Prav\u010dice Gate<\/strong><strong> (archway) <\/strong>, the largest natural stone arch in mainland Europe and is listed as a Czech national monument. The views from the top of the mountain range is unforgettable . Standing there, exhausted and awestruck, I felt small \u2014 in the best way possible.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-673\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"344\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-1024x680.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-1536x1021.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-2048x1361.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-750x498.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.1-1140x757.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-704\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-300x186.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-768x475.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-1536x950.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-750x464.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2-1140x705.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5.2.png 1894w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">On 23rd May, we headed to <strong>\u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov<\/strong>, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that looks suspiciously unreal.\u00a0 \u00a0 A <strong>13th-century castle <\/strong>has Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, manicured 11 hectare garden, an original 17<sup>th<\/sup> century Baroque theatre, and the\u00a0 panoramic views of the old town and the Vlata river from the top of its round belltower is breath taking. Also had one of the finest potato dumplings which is the staple local food in Czech. Soft, comforting and slightly dangerous because you will not stop at one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-666\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-300x197.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-1024x674.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-1536x1011.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-2048x1347.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-750x493.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.0-1140x750.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-674\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-300x223.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-1024x762.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-1536x1143.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-750x558.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1-1140x848.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.1.png 1876w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The 24,25<sup>th<\/sup> &amp; 26<sup>th<\/sup> May was spent in Salzburg . We celebrated by sister\u2019s birthday at Salzburg . This city is elegant, quietly confident, like someone who knows they\u2019re cultured but won\u2019t brag about it . A city known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amedeus . Also in Salzburg was a town called Braunau am Inn where Adolf Hitler was born. Salzburg balances beauty with reflection.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-676 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-1024x679.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-768x509.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-1536x1019.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-2048x1358.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-750x497.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6-1140x756.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>On the 25<sup>th<\/sup> May , I visited was <strong>Hitler\u2019s Eagle\u2019s Nest<\/strong> , a building altitude of 1834 meters above seal level. It was originally built as a diplomatic meeting house for the Nazi regime in 1938. Hitler himself visited only 14 times. After an overdose of history it was time to have lunch and I decided to try some local delicacy &#8211; German beer and white sausage with mustard sauce.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-707 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20-244x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20-244x300.png 244w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20-832x1024.png 832w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20-768x945.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20-750x923.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20.png 1058w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-708 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/21-289x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"269\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/21-289x300.png 289w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/21-987x1024.png 987w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/21-768x797.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/21-750x778.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/21.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 269px) 100vw, 269px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you go to Salzburg, you can\u2019t miss watching the spots where the famous movie <strong>Sound of music<\/strong> had been shot. Places like the Hellbrunn Palace , the Gazebo, Leopoldskron Palace , Basilika St. Michael in Mondsee Abbey , Mirabell gardens, Nonnberg Abbey \u2014 resisting the urge to twirl dramatically.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-705\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1-294x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1-294x300.png 294w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1-1004x1024.png 1004w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1-768x783.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1-75x75.png 75w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1-750x765.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7-1.png 1012w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-678 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-300x224.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"277\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-1024x764.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-1536x1146.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-750x560.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1-1140x851.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.1.png 1900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-689 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.4-266x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.4-266x300.png 266w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.4-909x1024.png 909w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.4-768x865.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.4-750x845.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.4.png 1060w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-690 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-300x223.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-1536x1141.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-750x557.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5-1140x847.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.5.png 1888w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-691 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-300x197.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-1024x673.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-1536x1009.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-2048x1345.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-750x493.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7.2-1140x749.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">On the 26<sup>th<\/sup> , \u00a0I took a walking tour of Salzburg city. After the tour ended , I went up the <strong>Hohensalzburg fortress<\/strong> via a funicular ride . The fortress is of the largest intact medieval castle complexes in Europe from the 11th century. From the top, a <strong>360-degree view<\/strong> of Salzburg that makes you pause, breathe, and take far too many photos. Below lay the DomQuartier, Salzburg Cathedral, St. Peter\u2019s Abbey, Mozart\u2019s statue \u2014 a compact crash course in European art history.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-679\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-300x151.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"394\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-1024x515.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-768x386.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-1536x772.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-360x180.png 360w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-750x377.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-1140x573.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.png 1882w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-680\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-300x198.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-1024x678.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-768x508.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-1536x1016.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-2048x1355.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-750x496.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.1-1140x754.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\nHowever for me the highlight and unique experience that I was looking for from the time I decided to visit Salzburg was the <strong>Mozart concert<\/strong> followed by dinner at <strong>the St Peter\u2019s Stiftskulinarium<\/strong> one of the oldest restaurants in Europe operating since AD 803. Candlelight. Classical music. Austrian cuisine.At that moment, I peaked emotionally.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-682 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-300x224.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-1536x1148.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-750x560.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3-1140x852.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.3.png 1882w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-681 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.2-224x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.2-224x300.png 224w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.2-764x1024.png 764w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.2-768x1029.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.2-750x1005.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.2.png 1066w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Last of the cities I visited in my Europe trip was Vienna from the 27<sup>th<\/sup> to 31<sup>st<\/sup> May . It\u2019s an <strong>experience curated by centuries of emperors, musicians, and obsessive dessert-makers<\/strong><strong>. <\/strong>And yes I did visit the popular palaces. Though I feel each o<span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">ne needs an entire day to absorb and do justice to the palaces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-683 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-300x177.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-1024x604.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-768x453.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-1536x905.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-2048x1207.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-750x442.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10-1140x672.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px\" \/><strong>Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/strong> &#8211; Sch\u00f6nbrunn isn\u2019t just a palace; it\u2019s a statement. Once the summer residence of the Habsburg emperors, this Baroque masterpiece reflects what happens when royalty decides comfort should also look magnificent.The palace interiors narrate stories of <strong>Empress Maria Theresa<\/strong>, royal diplomacy, and controlled extravagance. But for me, the real magic lay outside with \u00a0the immaculately landscaped gardens, endless pathways, fountains, and hilltop views that make you feel like you\u2019ve stepped into a period film set. Walking here, I understood something clearly: Europeans didn\u2019t just rule empires \u2014 they designed them beautifully.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-685\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-300x145.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"374\" height=\"181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-1024x495.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-1536x742.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-2048x989.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-750x362.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.2-1140x551.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-684\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-300x197.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-1024x673.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-1536x1010.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-2048x1347.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-750x493.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10.1-1140x750.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Belvedere Palace<\/strong> &#8211; Belvedere is where architecture and art sit down for a serious conversation. Home to Austria\u2019s most important art collections, the palace famously houses <strong>Gustav Klimt\u2019s \u201cThe Kiss\u201d<\/strong> a painting so iconic that even people who \u201cdon\u2019t really get art\u201d stop and stare in silence.The palace itself, with its reflecting pools and geometric gardens, was built as a symbol of victory and prestige. Standing there, I felt Vienna\u2019s deep respect for art as legacy, not luxury.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And Incase you are with a group you better reach early to find out the spots to meet because for a first timer , one can get lost.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vienna State Opera &#8211; <\/strong>For a filmmaker who loves theatre visiting Vienna and watching a play was a must do . Booked the tickets well in advance. During the time we were around , we saw DAS RHEINGOLD on the 28 May 2025 .one can book tickets from anywhere in the world though <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.viennaconcerts.com\/\">www.viennaconcerts.com<\/a>.The Vienna State Opera is not just a performance venue , it\u2019s a temple. This is where composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Strauss are not historical figures but cultural family members.<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-692 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11-227x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11-227x300.png 227w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11-774x1024.png 774w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11-768x1016.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11-750x993.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.png 1070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-693 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-300x223.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-1536x1139.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-750x556.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1-1140x846.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.1.png 1890w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-694 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.2-222x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.2-222x300.png 222w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.2-758x1024.png 758w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.2-768x1037.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.2-750x1013.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/11.2.png 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Being a coffee lover I had to explore <strong>Viennese&#8217;s coffee house culture<\/strong> . Vienna\u2019s caf\u00e9s deserve their own paragraph , maybe their own UNESCO badge (which they actually have). These are not places to \u201cgrab a quick coffee.\u201d They are places to sit, think, read, argue, write, and observe life. Marble tables, bentwood chairs, newspapers on wooden racks, and w<span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">aiters who look like they\u2019ve been serving coffee since the Austro-Hungarian Empire.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-701 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17-228x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17-228x300.png 228w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17-778x1024.png 778w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17-768x1011.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17-750x988.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/17.png 1060w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-702 alignleft\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18-235x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"249\" height=\"318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18-235x300.png 235w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18-801x1024.png 801w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18-768x982.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18-750x959.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18.png 1046w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-703 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/19-216x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/19-216x300.png 216w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/19-739x1024.png 739w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/19-768x1065.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/19-750x1040.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/19.png 952w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-700 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/16-253x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/16-253x300.png 253w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/16-864x1024.png 864w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/16-768x910.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/16-750x889.png 750w, https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/16.png 1036w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 253px) 100vw, 253px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I had the desserts like Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel, creamy cakes that laugh at calorie counts. I came for culture and accidentally stayed for sugar. I wandered through Imperial spaces, admired Klimt and Van Gogh, soaked in classical performances, enjoyed the sight and sound of horse-drawn carriages clip clopping through streets, musicians perform casually in public spaces, and sunsets feel cinematic without trying too hard walking through the rose gardens and riverbanks and sitting in caf\u00e9s pretending I was a writer from the 1800s (with Wi-Fi). From palaces to opera houses, rose gardens to river views, from boat rides to horse rides. Vienna doesn\u2019t ask what you like \u2014 it simply offers everything.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Prague , Salzburg, Hallstatt and Vienna was romancing with <strong>art, architecture, history, long walks, longer hikes, and dangerously good desserts<\/strong><strong>. <\/strong>Thanks for reading and Ciao until the next passport stamp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another International trip and this time it was cities in Europe. On the 20th of May we landed in Prague, Czech Republic and walked around the neighbourhood. The next day we visited the Prague castle complex , the square and the jewish quarters. \u00a0\u00a0 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; We then left to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Europe through my eyes (and stomach) during summer of May 2025. - People and Places<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/europe-through-my-eyes-and-stomach-during-summer-of-may-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Europe through my eyes (and stomach) during summer of May 2025. - People and Places\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Another International trip and this time it was cities in Europe. On the 20th of May we landed in Prague, Czech Republic and walked around the neighbourhood. The next day we visited the Prague castle complex , the square and the jewish quarters. \u00a0\u00a0 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; We then left to [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/europe-through-my-eyes-and-stomach-during-summer-of-may-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"People and Places\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-29T15:45:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-29T15:51:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/24-254x300.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sharmista Nag\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sharmistanag.com\/travel\/\",\"name\":\"People and Places\",\"description\":\"Life moves pretty fast. 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