Meteor Crater – worth seeing

It is the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site on Earth.  It is located about 40 miles from Flagstaff.  We headed there from the Grand Canyon area and on the way to Sedona.
The Meteor Crater is a result of a collision between an asteroid and the Earth approximately 50,000 years ago.  The asteroid traveled 26,000 miles per hour.   The crater is nearly one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and more than 550 feet deep.

Well, it does not say much to most of us, so do not miss opportunity to visit the site and see an impressive hole.  But even there it would be difficult to estimate the real size without binoculars.  There is also a statue of human size located in the very center of the crater.  You cannot see the statue without a zoom or binocular.
Being such a unique site it looked deserted with just a few visitors.  Maybe competition of such recognized attractions as Grand Canyon and Sedona is a reason. But do not miss it.
The Meteor Crater visitor center site.

Lublin

Lublin, offers everything you need for a perfect short break.  It is a rising star and your next must-visit city break destination.  The city is just 2-hour drive away from Warsaw or two and a half hour flight from major European cities.  But it is still little known.

The list of monuments includes a few dozen points.  They are scattered around all over the city. The most important and outstanding monuments such as the Cathedral,  St. Stanislaus Church and St. Dominican  Convent, the Old Town Hall and the Court Bastion are located in the Old Town area. The Old Town spreads between to city gates: Krakowska Gate and Grodzka Gate.  The second one leads to the Castle Hill, where we find the Castle, the Tower and the Holy Trinity Chapel.  When you are planning your trip make sure to arrange tickets to see stunning frescoes in the Chapel.  They depict both religious and historic scenes.  And one of the Polish-Lithuanian kings is pictured there.  But it is not the only place where you can see frescos.  The frescos with scenes of everyday life were preserved in Fortuna cellar of Lubomirski Palace.  Today the place serves as a museum where multimedia technology is used to tell the story of the city.

There was a Jewish district between Old Town and Castle Hill before the World War II. The Jewish Community and its culture had made part of the city for almost 500 years.  And it presence was so eminent that Lublin used to be described as the Jerusalem of the Polish Kingdom. But during the II World War the Germans completely destroyed the Jewish Quarter.  And its inhabitants were murdered in the fascist’s death camps of Majdanek, Belzec and Sobibor.  There are just a few places associated with Jewish history in Lublin.  But the memory remains strong.

Lublin is also strong academic and cultural center.  A special event is the Night of Culture, which this year (2016) had its 10th edition. And there is a new facility for concerts, performances and exhibitions.  It is an example of modern architecture.  But the construction has a long history behind.

Once you are there visit Tourist and Culture Information Centre at 1/3 Jezuicka Street.  They will assist you with support and information.  If you wish to contact them beforehand there is and e-mail address: info@loitik.eu.

Downtown Los Angeles - worth seeing

Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios are the key tourist attractions in Los Angeles.  They visit Kodak Theatre, Rode Drive and stop at one of the beaches and run to see other parts of California.  Nobody bothers to stop downtown Los Angeles and most likely they do not know it exists.

At first sight downtown LA does not seem much different from other American downtowns.  But I think it is worth stopping there for a stroll.  It is definitely a place where history blends with modernity and affluence with poverty.
Let’s start from the beginning - El Pueblo, a place closest to the first settlement. But just a few steps further there is a railway station. Union Station is known as the last of the great railway stations. The building and its interiors have been beautifully restored.  They impress both travelers and visitors.  For full history of the station, visit Amtrak Great American Stations website.

Now let’s move to the center.  It had its best times as business, shopping and entertainment center between 1890 and 1930. Today the city is trying to restore the area to its former glory and life is slowly coming back there. Due to the restoration works buildings regain their splendor.  We can admire examples of beautiful architectural decoration of the epoch. For those interested in how interiors looked like stop by Bradbury Building.

Also theaters regain their former function.  They serve as places for performances and movie screenings, instead of warehouses and stores.
If it is just right time for lunch, stop at the Grand Central Market.  The right place for lunch and shopping for fruit and vegetables.

Imperial Dunes - California

The word “desert” always brings an image of impressive sand dunes to my mind.  But the variety of desert landscape is much wider.  And it really amazed me how fascinating it is to watch it while driving in West Coast states.  Just a few pictures do not show the whole beauty of the area.  I can admit I have plenty of them.

But now I realized that none of them truly pictures attractiveness of what you can see.  The only option is to “hit the road”.

The biggest surprise of the trip was Glamis Dunes / Algodones Dunes / Imperial Sand Dunes. A strip of sand dunes appeared unexpectedly.  It stretches over 45 miles long and it is approximately 6 mile wide. The dunes are the biggest mass sand dunes in California.  It supposed to be result of Colorado River floods and flow diverted over flat area.  I seldom use Wikipedia as a reference but I could not find a better source of information on Imperial Dunes.  It is also recreational area, for sport lovers. More information can be found at the website of the deserts of the United States.

Peruvian Cuisine

First time I have heard name 'ceviche' was a culinary shows. Preparation of a starter became a big challenge for the participants of the program.  And what was even worse it was one of the dishes often ordered by guests of the television restaurant. There is an educational side of the situation. I searched more information about the dish.

It turned out it was the most famous Peruvian dish.  It is made of raw white fish marinade in a spicy mixture of lime juice, onion and hot peppers. It sounded great.  Thus when I found out I was going to visit Peru to try ceviche became a must.

Not much to say ceviche is delicious dish. Of course, each place has a slightly different way of marinating fish.  But a set of basic ingredients remains the same. First we tried ceviche at one of the chain restaurants Segundo Muelle.  We were advised not to eat a random place as freshness of fish is vital. But, next time we picked up one of local bars in Barranco.  Both places served exceptional ceviche.  And I do regret that I couldn't try everything on short stay.

Some people say Peruvian Cuisine is one of the best in the world.

For those interested to visit one of chain restaurants Segundo Muelle go to website for more details.

Café Imperial in Prague

Cellars, taverns and bars are the first to think of when you search for eating place in Prague.  Interiors are rather simple, but nice. Long benches and tables make people to get together, make friends and enjoy good company.  Such places usually serve local menus with beer and knedle at the top of the list.

But if you want to experience something different, Café Imperial is a good place.  It makes part of the hotel of the same name. The fact it is a 5-star hotel may scary you a little if you are on a short side. In my opinion stopping there for coffee and unusual interiors will make for the price.

Tiled walls of Cafe Imperial make and incredible impression.  Also have a look at the toilets, where you can find custom decorations.

For more details visit Cafe Imperial website.

Barranco - Lima

Lima, like any other big city, has a nightlife district where the life starts after dark. Yet, it is worth visiting also during a day to see a completely different "face" of the city.

Barranco – the name of the district began to develop in the late nineteenth century. It quickly became a seaside resort where affluent citizens of Lima spent their weekends and holidays.  You can still enjoy relaxed atmosphere where and life at slower pace.  In the early twentieth century artists and writers began to settle in Barranco.  It gave the district a fleur of “bohemian” style.

Today, there are many cafes, restaurants, bars and discos in Barranco.  It is a paradise for both gourmets and entertainment seekers. But there are also the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros), the path leading to the sea (Bajada dos Baños), museums, the library and the beautiful houses.  It is fantastic area for a walk.  Bridge of Sighs is a favorite meeting place for lovers so there are plenty of young people over there.
A visit to the Barranco should be a part of any stay in Lima. The historic center is a must see. But the real charm of the city can be found in a place like Barranco.
If you want to learn more about the district and Lima itself you have found Lima Easy sight - enjoy it.