Chocolate Museum, Koln

Being die-hard cholocate fan, Chocolate Museum in Koln, Germany was one of the must attraction in my Koln to do list. It is situated on the banks of the river Koln. There is an entrance fee for this museum which you need to buy at the entrance.

The museum shows whole history of chocolates. It also has a chocolate preparation machine which acutally vends chocolates at the end of its supplier belt. The whole set up is separated with a glass wall and the visitors can view it.

There a three meter high chocolate fountain which oozes out liquid chocolate from the golden cones. The museum employees dip wafers in the liquid chocolate from the fountain and offer it to the visitors.

There is also room filled with old collection of wall clocks from Germany.

Williamsburg, VA

Williamsburg in Virginia, is one of the oldest Colonial township in USA. I got a chance to visit this township during Thanks Giving Holidays along with Abhis Sister and her family. The place marks begining of colonization in USA and hence forms an intergral part of USA's History. The government has still preserved the old colonies and habitat. One can find people dressed up in colonial outfits at some of the tourist points inside the park. It forms a major historic tourist attraction for people around East coast of USA. For more details about this place please visit the following site http://www.williamsburg.com/.

Uffizi

Uffizi

There is a separate window for collection of reserved tickets in front of the Uffizi entrance. As usual there are two separate lines- reserved tickets and non-reserved tickets. It’s worth taking audio guide or visiting the http://www.uffizi.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffizi before you visit Uffizi. You are not allowed to take snaps or film in the Uffizi. You are not allowed to take in water bottles. So either you have to throw them at the entrance. If you are carrying any sack bags then you have to leave them at the reception. After 2 to 3 hours tour in Uffizi you can come out and rest in the big courtyard. Enjoy drink or may be Gelato.

Academia- David

Academia- David

We had booked 9:15 am slot for Academia Gallery in Florence. The Academia is not mapped on some of the tourist maps. The Landmark for Academia is St Marks Square or Academia itself. It should take you about 1 hour to visit Academia. Yes, this can increase to couple of hours more if you haven’t booked the Academia tickets in advance. (Note: Please refer the advance booking section. ) There are two lines at the entrance- one for reservations and the other is normal line. The Academia has housed the original of original David by Michelangelo since 1873. If you plan to visit Uffizi then the 1 hr visit to academia is worth admiring the only David and the four unfinished prisoners. The David is master piece of Renaissance sculpture. It is one of the two greatest works of sculpture done by Michelangelo. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Michelangelo) ) You are not allowed to take snaps of the original sculpture. However there is copy of David in the courtyard of the Uffizi. At the exit there are toilets and get ready for another day through the lanes of Florence.

Campidogli Museum

Campidogli Museum

The person at the Roman baths ticket window guide you to Bus stop for Piazza Venezia. Reaching the Piazza Venezia you have to climb the steps of the Campidogli Museum which is quiet unnverving if you are tierd. Couple of Snaps on the steps of the Museum is a good idea. The Museum was built on the top of Capitoline Hill and was designed by Michaelangelo. Various artifacts and statues were removed from the Roman Forma and Palantine hill and placed in the Museum. You have to go collect the entrance tickets by validating your Roman pass. The entrance is marked by huge statues of Agustus. The famous She wolf status who suckled Rome's legendary twin founders is placed in the Museum and is must see. However recently there are some controversies going on about the age of statue. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080711/ap_on_re_eu/italy_how_old_the_she_wolf).

From Campidogli/ Piazza Venezia we took bus to Coloseum metro station->metro to Rome termine->Hostel. That was end of day three.

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Vactican Musuem, Sistine Chapel

Vactican Musuem, Sistine Chapel

By the time you have finished the Vactican Church it will be already 10 o clk. Without wasting to much of your time, head straight to the Vactican church Museum. One has to walk towards the Ottaviano Metro and take left turn for the Museum. You have to buy separate tickets for the musuem entry. You can skip the line if you are in big group as the Museum has separate entry for those in a group. I would suggest to buy an audio guide at after climbing the cicular steps or the escalator. Be ready with your Id to be kept as deposit. The Museums path is one way and directions are pointed on map. If you are bound by time then I would suggest you skip the initial Egyptian, rooms and head straight to the Raphels room. The 10 highlights of the museum are listed at the following site http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/x-Select/10select.html. I would personally recommend you the Raphels rooms and the Systine chapel. No photography is permited in the Systin Chapel.

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York Rail Museum

The York Rail Museum is the biggest Rail Museum in UK. Entry to the museum is free of charge. The museum has live size rail models from all over the world. From high speed train in Tokyo to old nineteen century rail wagon, it has all. Its worth visiting the York Rail Museum to see how the rail technology evolved over period of time. The visit would take around 2 to 3 hours of your time.

York Brewery

There is a small brewery in York City behind the Michael Gate Road. I will recommend you to visit the brewery only is you have York pass.

They brew fresh beer around the year. The brewery offers short tours and explain you the process and techniques of producing the beer.

The York pass site quotes that the Brewery will offer free pint of beer for all visitors with York pass. My parents visited York in Sep 2008 and the brewery staff offered 10% discount on a pint of beer for York pass holders.

York Museum and Gardens

The York Museum is one of the attractions of the York covered by the York Pass.
The museum occupies some of the excavations of the Viking age.
If you are short of time, then I will not recommend one to visit York Museum.
However I would recommend strolling in the Gardens of the York Museum is good value for time.
One can see some monuments and structures of the Viking age in the York Museums Gardens.

York Model Railway Museum

The York Mini Railway Museum possesses miniature models of the Railways. The entrance to museum is free for York Pass holders.

The museum lies next to the York Railway Station. The Museum has imitated Railway Stations, docks and yards of Railways from old and the latest technology.

Using buttons and pulleys, one can simulate the trains and see the live show. You also have liberty of changing tracks of the trains if there is another train coming on the same track.

Overall it was very good experience and I would recommend one to see it.

Micklegate Bar Museum

Micklegate Bar Museum is on your way to the York Munster from the York Railway station is the ancient Gate.

It stands middle of the Micklegate Road and is part of the York City Wall.

The Micklegate Bar Museum has Richard III Museum.

Entry to this Museum is 2.50 GBP per adult and comes free with York Pass.

You can climb the steps of the Micklegate Bar and enter the Museum to take snaps with the old armour, shield and war helmets.

There is a statue of the Prisoner being prisoned in jail and looks queit real.

York Castle Museum

York Castle Museum is ride through England or precisely world’s technical civilization period.
Entrance to the Museum is free with York Pass. The museum is located next to the Clifford Tower.

Here you will get to see how some of the today’s high tech gadgets are evolved. It tells you the story behind today’s washing machine, vacuum cleaner, kitchen stove, sewing machine, radios, Television, telephone, baby buggies, etc.

The next section covers the shops candle shop, barber, goldsmith, coppersmith, cobbler, tailor, etc which were available in the market in the olden days.



There is section which illustrates how the medium transport under went change from Horse pulled carts to todays cars.
For person from Asia Pacific region, it is an enthralling experience, because you actually get to see how these products have been involved.
It is must item in your list.
For more details visit the Museum site.

Fairfax House, York

Fairfax house contains gorgeous collection of the Victorian furniture.
Entrance to the Fairfax house is free if you have York Pass, otherwise you have to buy tickets at the entrance.
For more information visit the following site: http://www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk/ .
The house contains various rooms with the Victorian setup. There are volunteer guides who will tell you the details of the room and the furniture hosted in them.
Fairfax House is one of the star attractions in York and I will highly recommend it.
There is BBC documentary on the Fairfax house attraction.
Since the house hosts some of the rare and costliest furniture of the victorian age, the photography is prohibitted in the house.

Jorvik

Jorvick is one of the most famous attractions of the York and is must see.
The location of the attraction is basement of the York Shopping centre and this might misguide you.
The entrance to the Jorvik is free for York Pass holders. All you need to do is go to the ticket window, flash your York Pass and get the entrance tickets. Well, you need to stand in the Queue though to enjoy the ride.
Jorvik is excavation site date back to Vikings period. Sitting in this trolley is similar to sitting in Ropeway in Switzerland; the only difference is that it takes you through the excavation site rather then Swiss Alps.



The tour lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes, but you might have to spend an hour in the queue at the entrance in peak days. So better plan your visit at early morning or book your visit in advance.

The advance booking will cost you extra fee of 1 GBP per person.

Murano Glass Museum, Venice, Italy

There are many water buses from Piazzale Roma, Venice which will take you to Murrano Glass museum. It is 10 to 15 minutes journey. If you get down at Murano instead of Glass museum stop then you will have walk to the glass museum.
On way you can enjoy glass work displayed in the shops and if you have some Euros to spare then might as well buy something.
The Entry fee for glass museum is 5 Euros. And its not worth it if you plan to visit an showroom with exclusive pieces of glass work.