When I need to relax after traveling for a bit, I make a stopover in Amsterdam and visit with good friends. There is no itinerary to follow, no places to go, just days spent relaxing and enjoying the view of trees lining the entrance to Vondel Park. I love the new spring foliage, so fresh and delicate. But fall foliage is just as enchanting with its golden hues. While summer’s green is a welcome backdrop, winter’s naked branches give me a view of my neighbors’ 17th century homes across the park. All the seasons have a magic of its own and I’m just here to soak it all in. My friends and I often go out to dinner. This is usually the only item on my agenda. On this particular evening, we decided to eat at the Café Amsterdam in Watertorenplein. We like this place because apart from the good food, there is an outdoor terrace that borders a canal, perfect for long summer evenings. The indoor seating area is just as atmospheric with its high ceiling. This evening’s added attraction is the lig
The minaret of the Sinan Pasha mosque is the first landmark I spotted upon approaching the center of Prizren. It rises to 143 ft. and seems to compete in height with the Sharr Mountains in the background. When we arrived at the city center, I was pleasantly greeted by the rushing sound of the river flowing across this picturesque town. Sinan Pasha Mosque and Sveti Spas (background) Sveti Spas or the Church of the Holy Savior is a Serbian Orthodox Church from the 14th century. It was heavily damaged during the Kosovo Unrest in 2004 together with thirty five other orthodox churches. Its interior is hollow. It was listed in 1990 as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance by the National Assembly of Serbia. Sinan Pasha Mosque was built in the 17th century under the Ottoman Empire. It is also listed as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance. Sinan Pasha Mosque Sinan Pasha is right in the center of town but while it is surrounded by the bustle of the city, I found a quiet c