For those of you who have loved our blog, we're bringing you the very best highlights from our trip over five final entries. For those of you who didn't like our blog and couldn't be bothered to read it, we're bringing you 124 entries compacted into just five.
To begin with, are the awards for the things we did within cities and towns around Europe. These are the typical "Things To Do" that you'd find in a guide book or on travel website. But now, they have the Josh and Yaz stamp of approval.
P.S. Feel free to refresh your memory by clicking the orange titles to see the original entry
Gold Medal: Jemaa el-Fnaa of Marrakech, Morocco
Snakes, monkeys, cheap delicious orange juice, aggressive henna tattooists, horses, motorbikes, story tellers, musicians, acrobats, sizzling and spicy food, friendly vendors, not-so friendly vendors, seasoned hippies, intimidated tourists, storks, stray cats and lots more. How could any square in Europe possibly match a place that has been the meeting point for travelers and traders for centuries.
Gold Medal: Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
We've been exposed to a lot of art from across history and across geography, yet we would both agree that none made as big an impression on us as the French impressionists. This renovated train station has the most impressive collection from this era, and also had Yasmin's favourite two pieces by Rousseau as a bonus.
Gold Statue: Musée Rodin, Paris, France
We didn't have to think long about this one. The way that Auguste Rodin captures movement and expression in his sculpting is très formidable.
Gold Medal: Warsaw Rising Museum, Warsaw, Poland
Beating Paris to the gold was the exceptional Warsaw Rising Museum. Through a variety of multimedia displays, the museum describes the rise of the populace against the Nazis in the closing stages of World War II, while their Russian allies stood by and did nothing. The descriptions were excellent in portraying the situation for the citizens, in outlining the competing interests of the powers involved and in showing the devastation caused.
Gold Medal: Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb, Croatia
It's either the most innovative idea for a museum in years or just a blog or subreddit in the form of a museum. Either way, we really enjoyed the museum which gave an insight into everyday people's lives accompanied by objects which once meant a lot to them.
Gold Medal: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
With over 3,000 shops selling all kinds of things at great prices, you can't go past the Grand Bazaar. You can spend hours walking through the covered streets of organised chaos, and then another few hours trying to find your way out.
Golden Goblet: Krebsegaarden, Copenhagen, Denmark
Run by an excitable Norwegian and with a menu inspired by the ever changing art on its walls, this was the meal of the year. We stuck to a budget for most of the trip, but luckily when we did splash out, as in this case, it was well worth the expense.
Gold Medal: Szimpla, Budapest, Hungary
This once abandoned building, like many others in Budapest, has been turned into a huge bar complex playing cool music, showing old movies and serving traditional and strong pálinka.
Gold Medal: Crazy Bieber Boys, Riga, Latvia
The video says it all...
Well that's the first installment of our awards. So far, Paris and Copenhagen seem to be winning. But stay tuned, cause there's plenty more to come.
To begin with, are the awards for the things we did within cities and towns around Europe. These are the typical "Things To Do" that you'd find in a guide book or on travel website. But now, they have the Josh and Yaz stamp of approval.
P.S. Feel free to refresh your memory by clicking the orange titles to see the original entry
Four Corners Award for Best Town Square
Bronze Medal: Grand Square of Sibiu, Romania
Within Transylvania are several Saxon towns, each with brightly coloured medieval buildings. We found the grand square in Sibiu to be the grandest. It was filled with people young and old, and surrounded by renaissance and baroque houses. Many of the buildings have tall attics with cute small windows known as the city's eyes.
Silver Medal: Market Square of Wrocław, Poland
Just like Transylvania, Poland forced us to choose between many beautiful town squares. We could have easily picked Gdańsk, Toruń, Kraków or even Warsaw, but in the end the spacious layout, the inner block of buildings and the resident gnomes were enough to grant Wrocław the silver medal.
Within Transylvania are several Saxon towns, each with brightly coloured medieval buildings. We found the grand square in Sibiu to be the grandest. It was filled with people young and old, and surrounded by renaissance and baroque houses. Many of the buildings have tall attics with cute small windows known as the city's eyes.
Silver Medal: Market Square of Wrocław, Poland
Just like Transylvania, Poland forced us to choose between many beautiful town squares. We could have easily picked Gdańsk, Toruń, Kraków or even Warsaw, but in the end the spacious layout, the inner block of buildings and the resident gnomes were enough to grant Wrocław the silver medal.
Snakes, monkeys, cheap delicious orange juice, aggressive henna tattooists, horses, motorbikes, story tellers, musicians, acrobats, sizzling and spicy food, friendly vendors, not-so friendly vendors, seasoned hippies, intimidated tourists, storks, stray cats and lots more. How could any square in Europe possibly match a place that has been the meeting point for travelers and traders for centuries.
Oh So Sophisticated Award for Best Art Gallery
Bronze Medal: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark
We actually enjoyed the setting and design of this gallery more than the actual exhibitions. Its isolated seaside location made for a peaceful and relaxed introduction to confronting and obscure modern art.
Silver Medal: Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
Madrid is home to some great art galleries but this one is surreal. In addition to Picasso's Guernica, there are plenty of great works by some of Spain's and the world's strangest minds of the 20th century.
We actually enjoyed the setting and design of this gallery more than the actual exhibitions. Its isolated seaside location made for a peaceful and relaxed introduction to confronting and obscure modern art.
Silver Medal: Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
Madrid is home to some great art galleries but this one is surreal. In addition to Picasso's Guernica, there are plenty of great works by some of Spain's and the world's strangest minds of the 20th century.
We've been exposed to a lot of art from across history and across geography, yet we would both agree that none made as big an impression on us as the French impressionists. This renovated train station has the most impressive collection from this era, and also had Yasmin's favourite two pieces by Rousseau as a bonus.
I'm Still Standing Award for Best Statue Park
Bronze Statue: Memento Park, Budapest, Hungary
Not exactly in the list for its artistic merit, but a unique and recommended experience nonetheless. This park on the outskirts of Budapest is the final resting place of communist statues. They once claimed to represent the might, strength and heroism of socialism, but have no place in today's Hungary.
Silver Statue: Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
No words other than strange and creepy can describe Gustav Vigeland's statues of men wrestling babies, naked people climbing over each other and god knows what else. It was... interesting.
Not exactly in the list for its artistic merit, but a unique and recommended experience nonetheless. This park on the outskirts of Budapest is the final resting place of communist statues. They once claimed to represent the might, strength and heroism of socialism, but have no place in today's Hungary.
Silver Statue: Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
No words other than strange and creepy can describe Gustav Vigeland's statues of men wrestling babies, naked people climbing over each other and god knows what else. It was... interesting.
We didn't have to think long about this one. The way that Auguste Rodin captures movement and expression in his sculpting is très formidable.
That Wasn't Too Boring Award for Best Museum
Bronze Medal: Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, Germany
While the presentation of the museum was excellent, and the descriptions very well written, this museum wins simply because of its subject matter. From barbarian tribes, to the Holy Roman Empire, to Martin Luther, to the rise of Prussia, to the Industrial Revolution, to Bismark, to the Great War, to the rise and fall of the Nazi Party, to the Cold War and finally reunification, Germany does have Europe's most interesting history.
Silver Medal: The Louvre, Paris, France
The collection of art, artifacts ornaments, statues and jewels at the Louvre was far too extensive for us to see in just one afternoon. But from what we did see, it was smashing.
While the presentation of the museum was excellent, and the descriptions very well written, this museum wins simply because of its subject matter. From barbarian tribes, to the Holy Roman Empire, to Martin Luther, to the rise of Prussia, to the Industrial Revolution, to Bismark, to the Great War, to the rise and fall of the Nazi Party, to the Cold War and finally reunification, Germany does have Europe's most interesting history.
Silver Medal: The Louvre, Paris, France
The collection of art, artifacts ornaments, statues and jewels at the Louvre was far too extensive for us to see in just one afternoon. But from what we did see, it was smashing.
Beating Paris to the gold was the exceptional Warsaw Rising Museum. Through a variety of multimedia displays, the museum describes the rise of the populace against the Nazis in the closing stages of World War II, while their Russian allies stood by and did nothing. The descriptions were excellent in portraying the situation for the citizens, in outlining the competing interests of the powers involved and in showing the devastation caused.
This Doesn't Belong in a Museum Award
for Best Novelty Museum
Bronze Medal: Choco-Story, Bruges, Belgium
Who wouldn't love a museum about chocolate? And in fact it was almost as interesting as it was tasty. We learned about the chocolatisation of Europe in the 16th century and how to make it too.
Silver Medal: Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg, Germany
Tiny trains, tiny mountains, tiny people, tiny boats, tiny houses, tiny roads, tiny cars and huge fun!!
Who wouldn't love a museum about chocolate? And in fact it was almost as interesting as it was tasty. We learned about the chocolatisation of Europe in the 16th century and how to make it too.
Silver Medal: Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg, Germany
Tiny trains, tiny mountains, tiny people, tiny boats, tiny houses, tiny roads, tiny cars and huge fun!!
It's either the most innovative idea for a museum in years or just a blog or subreddit in the form of a museum. Either way, we really enjoyed the museum which gave an insight into everyday people's lives accompanied by objects which once meant a lot to them.
To Market To Market Award for Best Market
Bronze Medal: Marché des Capucins, Bordeaux, France
All over France we found great cheese, bread and paté at fresh food markets. The first big one that we went to will always have a special place in our hearts, and that happened to be the market of monkeys in Bordeaux.
Silver Medal: Naschmarkt Flea Market, Vienna, Austria
Of all the useless stuff that we've seen sold in flea markets around Europe, half of it was probably here in Vienna. If you need a left shoe, an electrical cord to add to your already scrambled mishmash of cords behind the TV or anything else, then the Naschmarkt is for you. Or if you'd prefer a tasty snack, or Viennese coffee, then the nearby food market is good too.
All over France we found great cheese, bread and paté at fresh food markets. The first big one that we went to will always have a special place in our hearts, and that happened to be the market of monkeys in Bordeaux.
Silver Medal: Naschmarkt Flea Market, Vienna, Austria
Of all the useless stuff that we've seen sold in flea markets around Europe, half of it was probably here in Vienna. If you need a left shoe, an electrical cord to add to your already scrambled mishmash of cords behind the TV or anything else, then the Naschmarkt is for you. Or if you'd prefer a tasty snack, or Viennese coffee, then the nearby food market is good too.
With over 3,000 shops selling all kinds of things at great prices, you can't go past the Grand Bazaar. You can spend hours walking through the covered streets of organised chaos, and then another few hours trying to find your way out.
The Mmmmmmmmm Award for Best Restaurant
Bronze Bowl: Da Michele Pizzeria, Naples, Italy
We can't go on enough about how amazing the pizza is in the town of its birth, Naples. If you live within the delivery area, then order now. This particular pizzeria sold only marinara and margherita, yet had a one hour wait for a table. Amazing!
Silver Spoon: Al Sangiovese, Bologna, Italy
Unsurprisingly Italy takes another spot in our top three with this restaurant in its culinary capital. Each of the four courses was of an incredible standard and we're already planning our return visit.
We can't go on enough about how amazing the pizza is in the town of its birth, Naples. If you live within the delivery area, then order now. This particular pizzeria sold only marinara and margherita, yet had a one hour wait for a table. Amazing!
Silver Spoon: Al Sangiovese, Bologna, Italy
Unsurprisingly Italy takes another spot in our top three with this restaurant in its culinary capital. Each of the four courses was of an incredible standard and we're already planning our return visit.
Run by an excitable Norwegian and with a menu inspired by the ever changing art on its walls, this was the meal of the year. We stuck to a budget for most of the trip, but luckily when we did splash out, as in this case, it was well worth the expense.
I'm Still Standing Award for Best Bar
Bronze Medal: Any Beer Hall in Bavaria, Germany
It turns out that beer just tastes better when surrounded by wealthy Germans, chestnut trees and/or the oom-pa-pa of a tuba.
Silver Medal: Dr. Pong, Berlin, Germany
While drinking is all good and that, table tennis is the perfect supplement. Whether showing off your skills, or laughing at your air-swing, its a great way to meet locals and tourists alike.
It turns out that beer just tastes better when surrounded by wealthy Germans, chestnut trees and/or the oom-pa-pa of a tuba.
Silver Medal: Dr. Pong, Berlin, Germany
While drinking is all good and that, table tennis is the perfect supplement. Whether showing off your skills, or laughing at your air-swing, its a great way to meet locals and tourists alike.
This once abandoned building, like many others in Budapest, has been turned into a huge bar complex playing cool music, showing old movies and serving traditional and strong pálinka.
That's Worth 50c Award for Best Street Performance
Bronze Medal: Antonio Gomes Dos Santos, Seville, Spain
All over Europe, people dress in stupid costumes and expect to get paid for it. This guy was one of the few who got anything out of our pockets, because he managed to float in mid-air. And that's a skill that deserves 50c.
Silver Medal: Bottle Dudes, Copenhagen, Denmark
Unfortunately we've lost the video, but these guys did some cool cover versions of pop songs using homemade bottle harmonicas. We appreciated their musical talent, enthusiasm and commitment to recycling.
All over Europe, people dress in stupid costumes and expect to get paid for it. This guy was one of the few who got anything out of our pockets, because he managed to float in mid-air. And that's a skill that deserves 50c.
Silver Medal: Bottle Dudes, Copenhagen, Denmark
Unfortunately we've lost the video, but these guys did some cool cover versions of pop songs using homemade bottle harmonicas. We appreciated their musical talent, enthusiasm and commitment to recycling.
The video says it all...
Well that's the first installment of our awards. So far, Paris and Copenhagen seem to be winning. But stay tuned, cause there's plenty more to come.
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