If it's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium - 3/10/09

Welcome back to If it's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium.  Seems I haven't traveled any place new lately, but I have big plans for this year.  So I'm going to show a few places that I want to visit in Europe, with the help of the models that are part of "Mini-Europe" here in Brussels.  As you can see from the people, the models are pretty big, and each is made with an incredible detail at 1:25 scale.  Believe it when I say that I've seen the real thing in many cases and the attention to detail is just incredible.

But the following are places I haven't been yet...and which I will make every effort to see while I'm stationed here in Europe.

First stop, Copenhagen, in Denmark

Moving on to Sweden, for Stockholm.  I was supposed to be going to Goteborg, Sweden in June for a meeting, but my company just cancelled it.

Even though I've been working in Brussels, I haven't made it to other cities in Belgium.  This is the town hall in Antwerp, which I did pass through on the train on my way to Amsterdam, but never stopped.

And of course Bruges, here showing the Tanners' Guildhouse in Tanner's Square.

Okay, quick run up to England.  I lived in Scotland for the summer a few years ago, and have been to London a couple of times.  But I want to see the white chalk cliffs of Dover.

Also, I've been to Paris and Strasbourg, France, but not to the south of France or to see any of its wonderful chateaus.  This one in particular I want to see because I remember doing a puzzle of it when I was a kid.  The Castle of Chenonceaux.

This past summer I got to see Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona, Spain.  But I also want to see much more, including the Plaza De Toros in Seville.

As long as I'm in that direction I'll head over to Porto, Portugal.

Before hitting Italy, let's go all the way down past the toe of the boot and Sicily to the island of Malta.  Check out the Temple of Mnajdra that dates back 5400 years (that's 800 years before the pyramids).

Heading back up through Italy I want to make a stop at Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.

After spending some quality time in Rome (where I got a taste last summer for a day), I want to head up to Pisa.

And of course, Venice and the Palazzo Ducale.  I should be going to Italy this summer and seeing Rome, Venice, Pisa, Pompeii and hopefully a few other places. 

Prior to that I'm hoping to make a trip out to eastern Europe.  I'll stop in Berlin to see the famous Brandenburg Gate ("Mr. Gorbachov...Tear Down This Wall!!).  In fact, on the other side of the Gate they actually have little bulldozers pulling down sections of the wall.

From there I'll head to real eastern Europe.  Skipping the Czech Republic for now (I was in Prague last summer and loved it), I'll head for Slovakia to see its capital, Bratislava and "The Blue Church" (not an original name, but pretty).

Perhaps I'll stop in Budapest, Hungary for a dip in the Szechenyi baths.

Then over to Romania (where I definitely want to visit) and the Byzantine palace in Mogosoaia (plus the capital of Bucarest, of course).

Can't forget the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana (do NOT ask me to pronounce it).  I reallyl want to get there to see this unique triple bridge, but also the castle on the hill.

Finally (at least for today), I have plans to go to Greece this summer after my Italy trip, with of course a stop in Athens to see the Acropolis.

Phew.  I'm tired.  That's a lot of traveling.  Just hope I can do it all while I'm still here.

Thanks for coming by and commenting.  Check me out again next week.