Travel Tuesday: 3 Places

This is my first foray into the trends and series that exist in the travel blogging world.  I can't promise that I have enough discipline to regularly participate, but one might as well start somewhere, right?

This Travel Tuesday's theme is:

Share three places - the place that you love the most, the place that you cannot wait to visit, and the place you live now.

Westminster Abbey
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

1.  London, UK:  I really ought to buy one of those corny "I <3 London" t-shirts because it's true.  I never expected to fall so hard for London.  I prefer to live in small towns or rural countryside, but that city took my breath away.  The combination of history, culture, and the fact that so many of my favorite movies and books are set in London makes this an easy choice of the place I love the most.  Singing "Feed the Birds" on the steps of St. Paul's, paying my respects at Chaucer's grave in Westminster Abbey, marveling at the imposing nature of the Tower, enjoying bangers 'n mash, fish 'n chips, and a good English ale at various pubs, giggling as I recalled the snide comments from "Pride and Prejudice" about relatives living in Cheapside as I walked to our hotel on Gracechurch Street... all these moments resulted in one glorious weekend spent in the capitol of the English-speaking world, and I cannot wait to return for more memories.

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

2.  Rome, Italy:  Although there are many places I can't wait to visit (see here and here!), my road will lead to Rome this summer, and I can't wait!  I studied Latin through high school and college, and it will be a surreal experience to see Roman ruins in person instead of through the dull pages of my textbooks.  I want to enjoy gelato on the Spanish Steps like Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday," and feel small under the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.  And so much more!

Source

St. John's Episcopal Church ("Give Me Liberty, Or Give me Death!")
in Richmond, VA. Source.

3.  Richmond, Virginia:  It's no secret that I'm a fan of Richmond.  We experience all four seasons without the harsh winters of farther north or the unbearably toasty summers of further south.  We are within two hours or less of mountains, rivers, beaches, and Washington D.C, which makes filling your weekends full of events an easy task!  Richmond is emerging as a cultural hot-spot for restaurants and festivals, and we have a little of everything when it comes to history: Native American, colonial, the War for Independence, plantation life, etc.  Recently, Frommer's named Richmond a Top Destination for 2014!  (I know, we were just as surprised as you!)  While there are many things that may interest a tourist, there are even more reasons why Richmond is a great place to live, particularly the rural counties surrounding the city.  Great schools, varied and affordable entertainment, fairly low taxes, good shopping, good food, and a growing diversity of culture.  And you just can't beat the natural beauty of the James River...

Float Trip!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Maidens Landing, Goochland VA. Source.

So those are my three places!  What are yours?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

Linked up through Melanie, Bonnie, and Tina. 

The American Experience: NASCAR at RIR

"Gentlemen, start your engines...!!!"

On Friday I posited that it doesn't get much more stereotypically-American than experiencing a NASCAR race in all its glory and I still stand by that statement!  You'll get your fill of down-home, blue-blooded, patriotically cheerful people and atmosphere at a NASCAR race.  We came, we saw, we conquered - and then we spent all day Sunday recovering from the sunburn, walking, and headache from the roar of the cars.  But it was worth the price of admission.

Party hearty, folks!
(C) Thrifty Gypsy

When we arrived at 8:40a at Richmond International Raceway, I was shocked to see how many people were already there!  NASCAR fans are hard-core pros when it comes to their tailgating.  Come early, hit it hard, and stay late.  And their site set-ups were impressive: canopies, chairs, shirts, and corn-hole gear were all decked-out in their favorite driver's numbers and colors.  Although you will see representatives of all types at a race, you'll primarily see the good ol' boys and girls of the Southern stereotype, and country music is the anthem of the day.

The atmosphere is exciting; I mean, who wouldn't want to camp out in a huge field all day with 6,000 of your new best friends to soak up the sunshine and wash down some brats with a cold brew?!

The Master Chef
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

For being such relative newbs to the NASCAR tailgating scene, I was impressed that our group came together and had all the comforts required.  We even started out our day by cooking a deluxe eggs and bacon breakfast!  So long as you remember the five basics of tailgating (Beer, Burgers, Chairs, Canopy, and Radio) you'll be good to go.  Sunscreen and hearing protection are good additions, too!

I can't say that Saturday turned me into a die-hard NASCAR fan, but attending a race is much more enjoyable than watching it on tv.  And I can't rule out another NASCAR race in the future!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day:

Tailgatin' ...like a boss!
(C) Thrifty Gypsy

The Ladies
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Jeff Gordon's ride
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Don't tell Jimmie Johnson, but this is MY new ride now...
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

I suddenly developed a craving for M&Ms...
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Making a Grand Old Flag kind of entrance
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The flyover
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

"I wanna go FAST!!!" (c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The Grand Finale
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

So have I convinced you yet?  What do you think about NASCAR?  Do you have a favorite driver?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

A NASCAR Newb No More

Doesn't that just scream "America"?! (Source)

Apple pie.  Baseball.  Popping off tin cans with a rifle on a Sunday afternoon.  Riding in a jacked-up truck with country music blasting from the speakers.  These are quintessential American experiences often referenced, "humorized" and stereotyped through movies and pop culture here in the U.S. and abroad.  But just as American, particularly southern American, is the experience of attending a NASCAR Sprint Cup race!

Although I've spent the last twenty years living in Virginia, the gateway to America's southern states, I have yet to attend a NASCAR race.  I love sports, but I've never been taken by NASCAR.  There's only so many times you can watch a car run around a huge circle before you tire of it (pun fully intended).  I can agree with my mom's fond testament that "some of my best naps were experienced with a NASCAR race running on tv for background noise."

Even so, I've always wanted to experience a NASCAR race as it's such a big part of culture in my neck of the woods.  The fun of the tailgating, getting pit passes to meet the drivers, and the thunder and shaking of the ground as the cars speed by.

So, I'll be attending my first (and probably only!) NASCAR Sprint Cup as they race under the lights at Richmond International Raceway tomorrow night!

Source

We're doing the whole shebang, arriving early in the morning to tailgate, people-watch, and take in the atmosphere of a race.  A friend's boss generously provided pit passes to meet some drivers, view the cars, walk the track, and enjoy some free food and drinks, which is even more awesome!

I'll write more about it after the weekend is over - how to attend a race, what to bring, what to do, etc.  Thankfully we're going with a couple who has already done this, so it's sure to be a great experience!

But just to make sure I'm up to speed and in the mindset for tomorrow, I will be watching "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" tonight to brush up on my NASCAR lingo.  I wanna go fast!!!

Have you attended a NASCAR or other automobile race before?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

Happy Birthday to the Bard!

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

 "With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come."
-Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

***

On the 450th celebration of William Shakespeare's birthday, I am wishing that I'd had more time and opportunity to explore his life while in England.  Beyond viewing the marker honoring him at Westminster Abbey and the view from the top of St. Paul's of his re-created Globe, this English major has not yet been able to explore Shakespeare the person in his own country.  Maybe one day.

Side note, but if you're a Shakespeare fan, you should check out the American Shakespeare Center at the Blackfriar's Playhouse located in Staunton, Virginia.  It's well worth it!

Are you a fan of Shakespeare?  Have you been able to visit Stratford-Upon-Avon or other Shakespearean sites?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

Destination: Bavaria, Germany

Alpsee, Bayern - July 2010
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

"Bavaria appears to be only a small part of Germany, but it's not so small."
-Gernot Nerb

***

Since my first visit in 2010 while on honeymoon, the German state of Bayern (or Bavaria) has become my European home.  From medieval towns to pristine lakes and rivers to the snow-capped Alps and hospitable Germans themselves, what's not to adore about Bayern?  Beyond a few trips to Stuttgart in the state of Baden-Württemberg, I have not been able to pry myself away from Bayern long enough to experience other parts of Germany - and that is a testimony to the natural beauty, history, warmth and traditions found in Bayern.  It's not that the other parts of Germany aren't worth seeing, but that there is so much to see and do in Bayern that I can hardly even think about exploring elsewhere yet!

Dinkelsbuehl, Bayern - Sept 2012
(C) Thrifty Gypsy

I've had the privilege of visiting Bayern twice now, with a third trip planned for summer 2014.  My favorite experience of the first trip was being able to meet my husband's German friends and relatives for the first time.  Mr. Gypsy's mother emigrated to the U.S. from Dinkelsbühl, a beautiful, fully-walled, thousand-year old town located on the Romantische Straße in Bayern (the picture at the top of this blog is the view of Dinkelsbühl from the Church of St. George).  The family still resides in Germany, and the highlight of our European vacations is being able to spend time with them.  The family home is located within the old town itself, and being able to stroll through the cobble-stoned streets and shop at the Bäckerei (bakery) and Metzgerei (butcher shop) like a resident is a real treat.  Every July, the town hosts a 10-day festival known as the Kinderzeche, in which they re-enact the salvation of the town by children against the invading Swedes during the Thirty Years' War.  (I often wonder if my Swedish ancestors took part in sparing Mr. Gypsy's ancestors!)  It is a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend you plan any trip to Bayern with a day or two in Dinkelsbühl for the festival!    

Dinkelsbühl, Bayern - July 2010
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Dinkelsbühl is often by-passed in lieu of a visit to its more well-known sister city, Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, which I visited in September 2012.  Rothenburg is more touristy, but its position on a train line makes the town more accessible than Dinkelsbühl, which is accessible by bus or car only.  Rothenburg's city walls are better preserved, too, facilitating delightful walks along the catwalk, and Mr. Gypsy enjoys the Medieval Crime Museum located there.  I'm sure you'll recognize the photo below as it's an iconic part of Rothenburg.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bayern - September 2012
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Probably one of the most recognized icons of Bayern, or all of Germany itself, is King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein castle nestled high in the Alps near the border with Austria.  The romantic beauty of Neuschwanstein has inspired people since its "completion" in 1892 (technically, the castle is not completely finished), including Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle in California.  I've always wanted to see Neuschwanstein because of its inclusion in Dick Van Dyke's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and I was able to realize that dream in 2010!  If you're visiting Neuschwanstein, you can also tour its (not-as-famous) predecessor, Hohenschwangau Castle, located a stone's throw away.

Neuschwanstein Castle - July 2010
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

 

Hohenschwangau Castle - July 2010
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Bayern certainly has its share of castles, and if you need to see more, you can check out the Residenz or the Marienberg Fortress in Würzburg, located in the northern part of the state.  In German there are two words that mean castle: schloss and burg.  A schloss translates more accurately in English as a palace, as it does not necessarily have fortifications and its emphasis is on aesthetics rather than defense.  A burg is a stereotypical castle with walls, ramparts, towers, etc.  In Würzburg you can see an example of each.  The Marienberg Fortress dates as early as 704AD with the fortifications built in the 1100s, and it housed the Bishop-Princes of the city.  It is an excellent example of a burg, whereas the Residenz is a schloss completed in 1729 (also for the benefit of the Bishop-Princes).  The interior of the Residenz is stunning and its gardens are almost equally so.

Würzburg Residenz - July 2010
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Gardens at the Residenz
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Honeymooning :)
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Marienberg Fortress - July 2010
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

View from halfway up the hill to the fortress!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Beer is almost synonymous with Germany thanks to their long-established, high-quality breweries scattered throughout the country.  But did you know that Germany has excellent wine, too?  Germany is best known for its Riesling, which is grown throughout the Rhine regions to the east of Bayern.  The region of Franken in northern Bayern, however, is where Franken Wine originates.  Legend has it that during the Thirty Years' War, a mayor of Rothenburg o.d. Tauber saved his town from destruction at the hands of Catholics by drinking a massive flagon of rich Franken wine in about ten minutes.  The city was saved, but I hope they kept their cheering to low decibels while he recovered through an epic hangover!

The best companion to a good wine or beer is some hearty German food, of which I am a huge fan.  Sausages of all types, potato dumplings, sauerkraut, roast duck, wiener schnitzel, fish, beets, asparagus - is your mouth watering yet?!  And be sure to top off your meal with a strudel and a scoop of vanilla ice cream or maybe some delicious German chocolate.  Your taste buds will thank you!

I could think of a hundred other reasons to visit Bayern, but I will save those for another time.  Have you ever visited Bavaria?  What were your favorite places?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

"I'm Shipping Up to Boston, whoa!"

I'm shipping up to Boston in two weeks, but not to find my wooden leg!  Although Virginia is my home, New England holds my roots (I bleed Boston Red, y'all!), and I'm excited to go back for a quick weekend visit in celebration of my uncle's wedding.  Mr. Gypsy has only visited Massachusetts three times - twice for a funeral - so this will be a much more joyous occasion, and hopefully I'll be able to show him the beauties of the New England countryside and coastline.

We'll be flying in on a Friday and leaving around 6pm on Sunday, so we should have some time for sight-seeing before and after the wedding festivities!  I'm thinking the Salem coastline will be gorgeous in May...

From Wikipedia

And we're planning to visit Plimoth Plantation on Sunday before we leave, too.  (Hopefully joined by a dear friend!)

Source

Then maybe, just maybe, Mr. Gypsy can get a peek of the Old North Church and the Boston Harbor before we jet back south of the Mason-Dixon.

Source

Source

But more than anything, I will be exceedingly happy to spend time with my relatives, most of whom I hardly see once every one to two years, and to share in the joy of the newlyweds on their special day!

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

Have you been to New England or Boston?  What are some of your favorite sites?

Destination: Prague

The Charles Bridge, Prague, CZ
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

"It's easy to fall in love among the winding cobblestone streets and snow-covered castles of Prague..."   -Dana Newman 

*** 

We arrived in Prague on a clear Saturday afternoon in August 2012, having flown from Dulles to Amsterdam to Prague Václav Havel Airport for our first European vacation in nearly two years.  Excitement and elation cannot even begin to describe my emotions as we left the airport and were chauffeured to our hotel situated on the banks of the Vltava.  Prague had been on my "Top Five Before 25" list since I'd been in high school.  Although gaining in popularity in recent years, Prague remains a fairly well-kept secret to most Americans when it comes to choosing an affordable, historic, and beautiful European city for a vacation.  I wish it would stay that way, but that's a wish in futility considering Prague has appeared on Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice Destinations at the #9 spot in 2013 and #5 in 2014.

Mr. Gypsy and I stayed at the Mamaison Hotel, located roughly a twenty minute walk south of the Karlův most, or Charles Bridge.  Check-in was swift and easy, having already paid for our room through Orbitz, and we hastily stowed our luggage before starting our exploration of the city.  True to my "project manager" nickname, I had already planned an itinerary for our two full days in Prague as well as mapped out an exploration route.

Statues on the Charles Bridge
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

We began by walking straight into the heart of the old city, bent on seeing the Charles Bridge first.  The Bridge, along with the Old Town Square and Prague Castle, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  We reached the bridge right before 5pm, and one could hardly see the bridge for all the people on it!  "Hordes" of tourists is the most apt description (for a less crowded view of the bridge, come very early in the morning or after 10pm).  Regardless, it was an impressive site.  The Charles Bridge acquired its name from Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, who himself laid the first stone of the bridge at 5:31am on the 9th of July 1357.  The precise timing of this event is documented due to the Emperor's strong belief in numerology, as this date makes a numerical bridge of its own (1357 9 7 531 - year, day, month, time).

But numbers weren't on our mind as we studied the 30 statues gracing each side of the bridge.  Saints, kings, and knights of Bohemia's past are all depicted there. A love lock site appeared on the Charles Bridge, and Mr. Gypsy and I affixed our own lock to the bridge like giddy teenagers to symbolize our eternal love.  I'm sure by now it's been cut down and thrown into a dumpster somewhere.  So much for eternal love!

Our view
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Speaking of love, Mr. Gypsy fell in love... with Czech beer, that is!  After the Charles Bridge, we stopped at a restaurant to enjoy an ice cold Pilsener Urquell along with a delicious meal of roast duck.  We chose that particular restaurant because it had outdoor seating, and it also advertised menus in various languages.  Being jet-lagged, we did not write down the name of the place, but thanks to Google Maps, I think that it was simply called Česká Restaurace (meaning "Czech Restaurant") located on Karlova street halfway between the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical clock.  If you should happen to stumble across it, be aware that Czech wait-service is typically unhurried and "slow" by American standards, and this place was no different.  Don't fret; enjoy the experience!

Once our bellies were full, we meandered down to the Astronomical Clock in time for Vanity, Greed, the Turk and Death to usher in the top of the hour, accompanied by a procession of mechanical apostles, and then we moved just around the corner to survey the cobblestone grandeur of the Old Town Square.  Simply stunning.

Astronomical Clock
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

By this time, we were surrendering to jet lag and walked back to the hotel for the night.  On Sunday our itinerary dictated spending the day at Pražský hrad (Prague Castle) and St Vitus Cathedral located within the castle walls.  I'm glad we budgeted that much time; we spent almost three hours in the cathedral alone, and as for the castle, I don't think we were able to see everything!

Expansive courtyards, beautiful wrought iron gates, an imposing palace, and above all the Gothic spires of St Vitus Cathedral - that is Prague Castle.  Mr. Gypsy and I love old churches, and this one remains on our top five favorites list.  Words can't do it justice, so I hope these pictures do.

Front entrance to Prague Castle
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Front of St Vitus Cathedral
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What gorgeous detail!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Mr Gypsy and I :)
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Stunning interior of the cathedral
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The archangel Michael defeats a demon
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Your gaze is directed up, designed to elevate your thoughts to God
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

View from the cathedral tower
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Charles Bridge!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

St. Vitus was martyred at the age of 13 when Romans threw him into a pot of boiling oil.  Supposedly, they threw roosters in with him, too, which is why the rooster features prominently in the cathedral.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

On our final full day in Prague, we set out for the Church of St. Nicholas, one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture I've ever seen.  Prague has almost every architectural style available: medieval, Baroque, neo-classical, Art Nouveau, Gothic, etc.  Again, words can't express the beauty of St. Nicholas, so enjoy these pictures:

WOW!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The Altar
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

This saint vanquished a demon apparently.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

How does the speaker get up there? There were no visible stairs...
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

View from the second level
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

After St. Nicholas, we went to the Jewish Quarter to tour the synagogue and the Jewish cemetery, but photos were not allowed, so I will post about this experience in the future.  So we returned to the Old Town Square to examine the Astrological Clock more closely, taking the time to climb all the way to the top for some stunning views of Prague, enjoy a gyro while sunning ourselves in the square (and being treated to an impromptu "rally" by some French bicyclists singing anthems around the statue of Jan Hus), and simply reveling in the liveliness of the area.  The weather couldn't have been better.

Old Town Square with the statue of Jan Hus to the left and the Church of Our Lady of Tyn standing tall above all.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Facing east
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral on the horizon
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Already sad about leaving the next day :(
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and our time in Prague was swiftly drawing to a close.  We spent one last night walking through the brightly-lit streets and saying our adieus to our favorite spots in the city before we continued on to Germany the next day.

In closing, I'd just like to emphasize that Prague is one of the most affordable cities in all of Europe.  For the price of a two star hotel in Rome, we stayed at a four star luxury hotel in Prague.  Although part of the EU, Prague still uses its Koruna, which has an excellent exchange rate with USD and Euros.  Beer is cheap, plentiful, and very good; Mr. Gypsy looks for their Pilsener Urquell in specialty stores whenever possible.  If you're looking for an exciting European city that won't break the bank, Prague is the place for you!

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy 

A few final photo favorites:

Charles Bridge
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The "Dancing House" directly across the river from our hotel
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

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Full moon over the Old Town Square
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

As an American, you know you're in Europe when you can drink beer on the streets!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Our Lady of Tyn - the one church we didn't get to tour
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Prague Castle
(c) Thrifty Gypsy