Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
The Kunsthalle of Bielefeld is a surprisingly large exhibition hall with a special style: it was built in 1968 in International Style (a modernist architecture style developed in the 1920/30s) by architect Philip Johnson from the United States. It is the only building in Europe designed by him. The Kunsthalle is an art exhibition hall with changing exhibitions, but it also owns an art collection from the 20th century.
Continue reading “Abstraction”
A high tower, strong fortification walls and casemates cut deep into the 180 meters high Sparrenberg mountain: the Sparrenburg is the most important and most visited sight of Bielefeld. It was built until the year 1250 CE to protect the passage through the Teutoburg Forest in which the city of Bielefeld is located in. The castle was continuously altered over time and adopted to technology changes in warfare.
Continue reading “Sparrenburg”
Gottfried August Bürger was a German poet who first studied law at the university of Göttingen. There his attention turned away fast from jurisprudence to literature and he became a writer. His most famous work is called Lenore and received attention even beyond German borders. Today the large street around the city center of Göttingen is named Bürgerstraße after him and a bust of him is standing next to. Probably most inhabitants believe that the street is named after themselves (Bürger means citizen in German).
Continue reading “Bürgergrotte”
It was 4 am when the lights of თბილისი appeared at the windows of the plane taking me to Georgia. A driver picked me up and drove me through the capital city that was still completely asleep. I dropped my bag at the hotel and sat in front in the dark, surrounded by stray dogs. A quick look at the watch: 5 pm, time for a coffee from one of the 24/7 shops and a walk through the empty streets to enjoy sunrise over the Mtkwari river.
Continue reading “Place of warmth”
Directly at the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan you can find different orthodox monasteries dating back to the 6th century CE. While the archeological sites on Azeri land are unused, the David Gareja monastery in Georgia is still active and often visited by tourists. It is a a wonderful cloister built into the Udabno mountain in a beautiful scenery.
Continue reading “David Gareja”
If you decide to take a tour from თბილისი to the David Gareja monastery at the border to Azerbaijan than it will be probably offered together with a stop at the so-called rainbow mountains. They are actually directly in front of the monastery and not known by this name – but they’re nevertheless absolutely worth a visit.
Continue reading “Rainbow mountains”
If you’re in for some comfort and international atmosphere you should consider the Moxy hotel at the Saarbrücken square of თბილისი. It is located close to the Mtkwari river and after crossing it you already have reached the old town of თბილისი and Rustaveli avenue as well as the Orbelani square are rather close-by.
Continue reading “Saarbrücken square”
One of the delights of a visit to თბილისი are the different sulphur spas that were formerly found throughout many parts of the city. Today you can find different of them at the bath district close to the city center, opposite to Metechi. The most famous nowadays is Chreli Abano, the luxurious one with the impressive facade giving it an oriental look.
Continue reading “Chreli Abano”
West of the city center of თბილისი you can find Vake park, a large garden opened in 1946 to commemorate the victory in World War II. A long central axis leads you on red sand to the tomb of the unknown soldier surrounded by a mosaic of Georgian flags. Behind there is a water cascade that you can follow up to the central monument finished in 1981 by a Soviet sculptor.
Continue reading “Gamarjoba”
One of the recreation areas of თბილისი is the turtle lake, named because of the amount of turtles found there. It is located at a height of 686 meters above the city quarter Vake of თბილისი. The turtle lake is an artificial lake created from a small mountain river called Varazis-Khevi. It has a maximum depth of 2.6 meters and you can swim in it – but most people come here just for taking a walk around or having a coffee at its shore.
Continue reading “Turtle lake”