I haven’t been on Steemit for almost a month. There were a couple of days that I even forgot to turn on my laptop. Believe me, this is the first time it happened to me in many years. Technology became such an important part of my life that I couldn’t imagine being without it but frankly, it is possible 😊 

You might know that cooking is my passion and I usually cook every day (sometimes even twice a day) but lately I’ve started to cook bigger batches so that I don’t need to cook that often and have more time to read and translate my German texts.   

I also try to go out every day. I like to get fresh air, go for long walks and take tons of pictures. I must admit that there were not that many times that I left my apartment for other reason than grocery shopping in the last month or so. 

I spent all days studying. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried to memorize some texts and it’s been the first time in my life that I’ve tried to memorize a text that was in German – 300 pages of local rules and regulations. 

<strong>I’ve made a lot of sacrifices but was it all worth it?</strong>

![exams.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/xioIShIq-exams.jpg)
<a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/education/article/upsc-civil-service-exam-2019-date-sheet-released-for-upsc-preliminary-exams-on-upsc-gov-in-check-dates-here/287961">source</a>

Last Tuesday I had my exams. That night I couldn’t sleep, and I was sure I would forget everything even though I spent almost 2 months trying to get it done. The exams started at 9 AM and I was there already at 8:30. I was just walking in circles at home, so my husband told me it would be better to go there 😊 

And guess what? I was not the first one there! There were 4 other people already. It made me feel better that I was not the only one who was stressed out like a teenager. 

When I finally opened the exam papers I was horrified. I was skipping one question after another. They were so different to what I expected! I realized I had to put some system in place as otherwise it would all go totally wrong. 

There were a few questions that I could answer without any doubt, so I started with those. Then I moved to the ones that I was not so sure about and read them carefully. Slowly, I worked my way through almost all of them and started to relax a bit. 

There were 3 questions that I didn’t understand very well so I discussed them with the guy who was making sure that we were not cheating. As I’m not a native German speaker he helped me to understand the content so that I could answer them.

It took me around 90 minutes to complete the exams and I was offered to wait for about 30 minutes if I wanted to know the results. If not, I could go home, and the results would be sent to me the day after. Of course, I chose to wait 😊 

After 30 minutes I was asked to join the group. My heart was racing like I was running a marathon… I approached them and they all smiled and nodded. At that point I knew all was good.

They congratulated me and told me that my results were the best that they ever had there. <strong>From 192 points I only lost 3!</strong> I couldn’t believe me ears and they could see that I was surprised so they asked me why. 

I told them how important it was to me and that I was afraid because of the language and the guy who was helping me during my study said that he had no concerns and he was sure that I would pass with no major issues. <strong>That guy believed in me more than I did!</strong> 😊 

I was extremely happy and called my husband who told me that after all those hours that I put in studying he was also sure that I would pass. Then I called my mom, my friends and it looked like everyone believed in me and I was the only one who was not so sure about it.  

Did I learn anything from this experience? <strong>NO!</strong> I’m sure that if I would ever have to pass some exams again, I would be freaking out like I always do 😊 

And now I am legally allowed to get my business license! 

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png


My exams are over!

You might have noticed that I haven't been online for a couple of weeks. I wrote a comment here and there, but I have tried to stay away from Steemit as much as possible as I'm working hard on getting the restaurant ready to open for business in 6 months. You might think it's a lot of time but it's the opposite if you want to plan and execute all the steps properly.

It took me a few days to select the right wallpaper so you can imagine that it doesn't go very fast 😊 There are so many things that need to be done and I'm glad that I have met the right people from the business who are helping me to realize my dream. It's a time consuming but enjoyable process and I'm proud of every single small achievement that brings me closer to the goal. 

Besides the work that I do I also still have to study as my exams are approaching fast and I must admit that I'm not ready yet. I only have two more weeks to study and I'm becoming a little bit nervous to be honest. I will have to study harder if I want to pass them, but there are many more interesting things to do that keep me away from the books. 

I'm so excited as later this week I should receive the sketches from my interior designer. We agreed on three different designs that she will put together. I will choose one that we will be working on and which we will also use for the 360-degree visualization that will be uploaded to the website as well. 

Right now, I am working on a draft of my seasonal menu too, so I also do a lot of recipe testing to understand if a certain dish would fit the whole theme or not. All dishes will be regional and as we have an abundance of wild garlic here, I would like to add it to my spring menu. Last Sunday I went to the forest to collect some and turn it into delicious meals. These are my secret recipes 😊, but I would like to share some photos that I took on the way. 

Hope you will enjoy them:

![_DSC1675.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbTEPvv5kB3wRHkZQy9anKvrGZ7eDwSsSsR8m3FbrCKoT/_DSC1675.jpg)
ISO 160 1/320 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![_DSC1679.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXoUsi8exu5ctHry4PfjjEocMe3CcGXTnXgsJ4T5PmVz8/_DSC1679.jpg)
ISO 160 1/320 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![_DSC1658.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRLJTbXvbGwgzNFuqCW4SYo7EeeC8yaSJmhbY8KLLASEP/_DSC1658.jpg)
ISO 100 1/320 sec. f/4 70 mm

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ISO 100 1/640 sec. f/6.3 70 mm

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ISO 100 1/640 sec. f/6.3 70 mm

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ISO 100 1/640 sec. f/6.3 70 mm

![_DSC1578.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSfZFEiEumvHhNoaLkfzLHbT2hghFsYkuPZikChjayTEC/_DSC1578.jpg)
ISO 100 1/640 sec. f/5 70 mm

![_DSC1618.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWMnWbEAYvQaJk5RR6cTND7TTrh3mwPnVTi7eLqtBG5kE/_DSC1618.jpg)
ISO 100 1/640 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

<hr>

I will share more updates with you soon.

Thank you for reading,
Cheers,
Martina 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

What am I up to at the moment?

As you may know already, I am getting ready to open a vegan restaurant in Switzerland. I have chosen Schaffhausen for my business as I've been living here for over 8 years and I love the city and its surroundings. 

Even though Schaffhausen is the capital city of the canton with the same name, it is rather a small place. Cities in Switzerland are generally not that big but when I say small, I mean really small. It has an estimated population of around <strong>36,000</strong>. We have cinemas, a theater, restaurants, bars, shopping malls and even a casino but what <strong>we miss is the right location for a vegan restaurant</strong>.

I've been looking for several months already but I wasn't able to find anything that I liked. There is one place that is available for almost a year and I keep seeing it in my browser search. It is reasonably priced, but I didn't consider it as the location is not ideal. It's about 10 minutes' walk from the main square which doesn't sound far away but if you live in such a small place it is already on the edge of the old town. A lot of tourists wouldn't see it as it's not close to the main attractions. 

It stuck in my head and I found myself thinking about this property very often. <strong>Marketing is the key</strong> and I believe that if it's done properly then people would come. It might take a bit longer, but they will come. So, I picked up my phone and set up a meeting with the real estate agent. 

I've just come back from the meeting and I'm so excited that I had to share this with you. The property is <strong>almost ideal for my needs</strong>. 

The size of the restaurant is perfect, the bar would require just a small adjustment, the kitchen has a good size and layout, there is a lot of storage room and I could even put a few tables outside and make a terrace in summer. This terrace would be visible from the old town on the top of the hill which would potentially attract some customers too. The owner is flexible with the start of the lease so I would still have time to finish my business and project plan. The only downside is that the rent agreement would be for 5 years which I think is too long for a new business but let's see if I can work around it. 

I was feeling so happy after the meeting that I walked back home and enjoyed a sunny day instead of taking a train. I have seen a few murals on the way which I didn't notice before. 

I have no regrets that I decided to give this place a go. I am actually happy that I listened to my gut feeling and I think that I have finally found my location! The person who created this had <strong>NO REGERTS</strong> instead 😊 I had to laugh when I saw it...

![_DSC1258.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUK4Pkz1fv8HPb3j8wLLV851S5W27HaKjQBZ6Vu6i3qpR/_DSC1258.jpg)
ISO 100 1/125 sec. f/8 38 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

These murals are created by <strong>Ursula Knapp</strong>. She works as a piano tuner in Schaffhausen. The building served as a car service for many years but it's going to be demolished soon. Ursula started a project of painting temporary murals that will attract visitors until the building will be destroyed. I don't know when it will happen and I'm glad that I managed to take these photos...

![_DSC1434.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmY4i8hMhLtwGynUsoFVKXzdVvAJLSccfKfN2ABYXXwgAk/_DSC1434.jpg)
ISO 100 1/125 sec. f/8 70 mm

![_DSC1411.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmckNxVfRk88ksC4q6RjxxFfAUomLG7hD7wCGEdVmDQSkv/_DSC1411.jpg)
ISO 100 1/125 sec. f/7.1 52 mm

![_DSC1413.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUfUM9cUw66UYMbyAZF2R3iSQqZsLBr2hGfcDmNVdWuw6/_DSC1413.jpg)
ISO 100 1/125 sec. f/7.1 65 mm

![_DSC1416.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNVtpVLmur1Vr3urJsv6rZd9GAnvMpiQD5FKwbMFke3b8/_DSC1416.jpg)
ISO 100 1/125 sec. f/7.1 70 mm

![_DSC1424.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc5m3BXz6scq6f3SvM4aiSTrEHAkpn47kxmATdufMrvWt/_DSC1424.jpg)
ISO 250 1/125 sec. f/7.1 32 mm

![_DSC1429.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR5fEFwtrqMAG9UkGn3M9yzVFRHEXLmyE2rk1ZAANDDZu/_DSC1429.jpg)
ISO 100 1/125 sec. f/8 68 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Thank you for reading!

I wish you all an amazing day!

Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

Next step into the future

A couple of weeks ago I've started with <strong>TRX training</strong>. I go to the gym on a regular basis and consider myself a fit person. I climb stairs to 9th floor (where I live) at least once a day without feeling short of breath - unless I run up fast, of course 😊 I also go on long walks at least 3 times a week, so I thought that my muscles would be a little bit sore after TRX but I expected that the next day I wouldn't even know that I did some training. <strong>I was wrong!</strong>

<strong>Our instructor is a maniac!</strong> 😊 She combines HIIT with strength training and at the end of each session <strong>my muscles are shaking like jelly</strong>. It's 45 minutes of constant pain! Last time I couldn't sit properly for 2 days after the training! I could feel some muscles that I didn't even know I had! 

Today, I had the training again. I already feel sore so I'm sure that it's going to get worse tomorrow, but it is so addictive that I'm going to purchase my own TRX band to do the workout at my own convenience!

Even though I suffer during and after the training, the feeling that I get from doing this kind of workout is so good and worth the pain. I clear my head completely and I'm so euphoric that I want to hug strangers on the way back home - but I give them a smile instead 😊 

A few years ago I couldn't bear the thought of going to the gym and working out. Now, I can't imagine my life without doing it. <strong>The only challenging part is the beginning but as soon as you build your routine you won't be able to stop</strong>.

It was a sunny spring day today and I took some photos on the way to the gym.

<strong>I hope you will like them.</strong>

![1.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTW18BAWYLodNagn5pGAeQqHuABrq6FCnPJaZsfdtGTXB/1.jpg)
ISO 100 1/200 sec. f/9 24 mm

![4.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmX9zajpTqrmxgn91zcJon6WJPbwTVRSP19Z3mPRSGLPDM/4.jpg)
ISO 100 1/160 sec. f/8 24 mm
 
![5.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYXaNosa9tusRVBFuNfa17mJHqXtdZC5frtUfhZvNjMqo/5.jpg)
ISO 125 1/160 sec. f/7.1 24 mm

![6.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVgL8DPoLk1qPaj4yUNbFPHjJZwk9zUAmtK8g8ZswCPej/6.jpg)
ISO 100 1/200 sec. f/8 24 mm

![7.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUdkZMtjCC18zNPDJXbsLwbUKUEdYAg8dGZ2tSDHj7FEP/7.jpg)
ISO 100 1/200 sec. f/8 24 mm

![8.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNZwzT88NtfGD1mbJM9k3Tw1V4XqC34jTCJStaekurKti/8.jpg)
ISO 100 1/200 sec. f/8 40 mm

![9.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVBGeGhcDZC3HRD42iyrG6QDaBA5yctdwhCEmmStx8mxf/9.jpg)
ISO 100 1/160 sec. f/8 24 mm

![10.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVc4pZXFDR9okToqkCuez26ws31PquQoNnbxdNYLFgprF/10.jpg)
ISO 80 1/640 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![11.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS88oJZeBJpvRMtrF6rkxTSoUhXyJFB1TJPVgzTkZsjXZ/11.jpg)
ISO 100 1/500 sec. f/4.5 62 mm

![12.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTJSRqvfGy1y6bEZjQXHEfXYRNoe3JgAmWP2QVTiFqao2/12.jpg)
ISO 80 1/640 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![13.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSmmk2HgX4gYyNsPPv5opeRa7E9CEp6S9D76z38uEj2Dh/13.jpg)
ISO 100 1/400 sec. f/4.5 70 mm

![14.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdJBegRRpbPFJo66iwPzRcGBQHuBnM7aSUAqByrMWTC9c/14.jpg)
ISO 100 1/640 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![15.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYAEpZvPLHsy6f1nGqHyvc4t8EM7VGUVfXKinX4E1sQhh/15.jpg)
ISO 100 1/400 sec. f/3.5 68 mm

![16.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZDNznhWaHHGxTHfXnCN81vsVZm8fpYHtnTJyTnJuU217/16.jpg)
ISO 100 1/400 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina

PS: And now I'm going to indulge myself and eat my pizza! 😊

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png




A walk with me - on the way to the gym

Tuesday started just like a normal day. I made my breakfast in the morning and went to a grocery store as our fridge was empty after the weekend. <strong>All went as planned..</strong>

I was in a great mood as it didn’t take me long to get all the items and I was about to bake a cake. I love baking! 
I checked my phone in the lift on the way back to our apartment. And I saw an e-mail with a name in the subject. <strong>Nothing more, just the name. </strong>

I had a strong feeling that something was wrong. I quickly opened the e-mail and the whole world stood still for a moment. I read it once and then another time and still couldn’t believe my eyes. In the meantime, I was already upstairs, and I’ve noticed that the door of the lift opened and closed again. <strong>I had to go out of the lift and breathe! </strong>

I opened the e-mail again and read and read and read until my eyes were flooded with tears. I’m getting emotional even when I think about it now. 

<blockquote>There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. Washington Irving</blockquote>

The e-mail was telling me that my former colleague, my dear friend passed away last Friday. <strong>What? How? Why?</strong> There were so many questions going on in my head. He was 28 years old, healthy and very fit. He was one of those people who were always smiling and happy to help. One of those that everyone likes. <strong>Is this just a joke?</strong>

![heaven.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVDav11Mo72GzWYQiZ2hCXuiotY8EPzZGYHZ8jmrA71Mj/heaven.jpg)
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/10-song-lyrics-that-improve-if-you-replace-heaven-with-kevin-37395582.html">source</a>

How could that happen? Later that day I learned that it was an accident. He fell off the stairs, hit his head and died the next day. <strong>Just like this</strong>. And I can’t stop thinking about him, about young life that was wasted like this. <strong>I am shocked, angry and deeply sad</strong>. 

I think about how often we complain about unimportant things? How often do we worry about something that we can’t change? How often do we pity ourselves? How often don’t we say I’m sorry or I love you? How often do we waste our time with people who suck all our energy out of us? How often do we do things just because we are expected to do them? How often do we know that we should say NO, but we don’t? How often do we feel like we could do better?
 
I could go on and on but I’m sure you get the point. 

Everything could change in a split of a second. And therefore, we should focus on what is important to us. We should spend our time with people we love, and we should tell them that we love them. We should stay true to ourselves and don’t do things just because we are expected to do them. We should live life to the fullest and don't regret the past. Be grateful every time you go to bed and every time you wake in the morning as we don’t know when our time here comes to an end. 

<blockquote>You needn’t die happy when your time comes, but you must die satisfied, for you have lived your life from the beginning to the end. Stephen King</blockquote>

Rest in peace my dear friend.

You will truly be missed.

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>

Stairway to heaven

Let's see another castle, shall we? I promise that this will be the last one from my trip to Czech Republic...

But before I start, I would like to say that my tooth surgery went very well. I feel much better and the wound hurts just a little bit. If it goes like this I will stop taking painkillers soon. I would like to <strong>thank all of you</strong> who were thinking of me and who wished me a speedy recovery. I didn't expect that so many people would ask me how I was feeling. You guys rock! 

And now we can start the tour of Loket castle 😊

We visited the castle on our way back to Switzerland. It's not that far away from the borders with Germany. 

<h3>Loket Castle </h3>

The castle stands on a massive rock above the town of <strong>Loket</strong> close to Karlovy Vary in Czech Republic. It's history dates back to <em>the second half of the 12th century</em>. 

![1.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXek7Gy7z7pjRtkZfDj9V4n3AY5BjF4jBQeyCU6FtoWEv/1.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

The town of Loket is a charming medieval town with its colorful painted houses. The first mention of the town is from <em>1234</em>. 

It is situated in a meander of the river <strong>Ohře</strong> that flows around the raised place resembling an <strong>elbow</strong>, hence is the origin of the town’s name.

![2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQPXFnr6UHiEn3vh8nf7yUbZ8kj9fRUCw7SUqWsud1BLD/2.jpg)

We parked our car close to the river and walked up the hill to the castle. It's a lovely walk and if you ever happen to be there, I recommend you to take that walk too as you will love it. 

You will enter the castle just behind this square. The entrance fee is <em>CZK 110</em> per person and the castle is open daily. The opening times vary depending on the season. You will get a text guide with a castle plan for better orientation in the complex. 

![3.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPvgxuAvBdeYyCoG5rX5YJewT2P38tGLZDgqunjF9Nmqm/3.jpg)

Loket Castle is one of the oldest stone castle in Czech Republic. It is assumed that the castle was founded by <strong>the Czech King Vladislav II</strong> or by <strong>ministerial officials to the Emperor Fridrich I Barbarosa</strong>. <em>From the 13th to the 15th century</em>, the castle was enlarged and formerly Romanesque building turned into a Gothic castle which was often visited by the royal family. 

We started our tour in the courtyard. From there you can see all the rooms that are open to public and you can plan your tour.

![4.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZUqNy51MfbmXh8teoNbHVMvVTEM1wPCY7nPb2nEznneV/4.jpg)

There are 10 rooms that you can visit but I will focus only on <strong>the dark side of 
 history</strong>. Before we start, we will walk up the tower and enjoy the views.

![5.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTTzSsariPnmxBW78VZNVAnu7cLZr7e3x2uB12sZi9i8t/5.jpg)

The tower is easily accessible and even people who are not very fit can conquer the wide staircase. 

On the way up there are a few openings in the wall and you can observe how the view is changing the higher you go.

<div class="pull-left">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdNp5jYGvrqEdd8z7EfbFR6feZDX2cGqsHksKFfF9yWFX/6.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZ73mj6MoKiL7HBaRRJ8Y5BvSpMCaT4aUaCrCMBb6J5FJ/7.jpg</div>

<hr>

Be careful as there is a dragon hidden in the cellar 😊 It is said that Sarkan who is close to a snake or a saurian is an old good dragon. Local housewives seek to get the fire for their stoves from him.

<div class="pull-left">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQGGZYsi7AMjzf9jmrRrwDwDdG3LMpWFrU5upMTUKKTkv/8.jpg</div>

The tower is <strong>26 meters high</strong> and offers beautiful views of the town and its surroundings. 

The old castle consisted of two towers, a church and a building standing on the site of the museum today. This original building was burned down in <em>1725</em>. The only part of the building that remained untouched was the foundation. The rest of the building was renewed at <em>the beginning of the 20th century</em>. 

We are standing in one tower and the other used to stand to the north east of the castle. 

During several centuries the castle served various purposes. It was used for the protection of the merchant's path leading from Czech Republic to Germany and later it became an administrative center of the region. 

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h3>Let's enjoy the views from the tower</h3>

We can see <strong>The Margrave's House</strong> - this is the part of the castle that was burned down and rebuilt.

![9.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVUApPzMPWrXN8rzXdRpjm86ucEnmqxbXEUVrEoGR6rTA/9.jpg)

The river <strong>Ohře</strong>...

![10.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWY1WBoBRtT9jQU7YYTiZb5koX2YTnMZ4QNPZbHpcTfGQ/10.jpg)

<strong>St. Wenceslas' Church</strong> - the original church was burned down in 1725 and construction of new church was completed in <em>1734</em>. Unfortunately, we couldn't visit the church as it was closed and we were not able to wait a few hours before it would open again as we had another 5 hours to drive back home.

![11.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTFSxtHB6waecFeKHViQ251YhWBMaQwesVar7aJcTZVG2/11.jpg)

There is a balcony from where you can enjoy the views but if it's too cold or you don't feel like going outside you can stay inside and enjoyed the views from the windows. It's not bad either 😊

<div class="pull-left">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZzkyUm7gkDvi3JVeUiFT3G8CVebsmowDbvFFU3g1REoP/12.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbZFNAvSywFQR3bfLMM66yjG4T3DKmbmgjVLnd67HVyD8/13.jpg</div>

And here we have all these colorful houses in front of us. A few of them are on the market for sale if anyone would be interested 😊

![14.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWd7rBhe5zisrCtdWfchNSvZ8QnDktisbe7Sg4KfiULHo/14.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h3>The dark side of history...</h3>

In <em>1788</em>, it was proposed to change the castle into <strong>a town prison</strong>. The work was finished in <em>1822</em> and the castle served as a prison until <em>1947</em>. 

In the prison you will find horrible forms of torture by various instruments on motion life-size figurines. The atmosphere is underlined by nerve-wracking sounds. You will hear people screaming and crying. The prison is dark and humid and it all feel realistic.. 

It is important to mention that not all forms of torture that is introduce in the exposition were used in Czech Republic. 

I would like to introduce you to a few forms of medieval torture.

<strong>Hanging on gallows</strong> (on the left) - This was a punishment for theft. It was considered the least honest way of execution and it was used for lower classes. Thieves could be hanged on chain or on a hook, by their ribs or necks. 

<strong>The inquisitional chair</strong> (on the right) - This was meant as a preparation prior to the proper torture. The convict suffered excruciating torment as the metal spikes pierced his body. The inquisitional chair was used to humiliate those who considered themselves above their status. It's interesting that those who were supposed to be tortured by this device had to buy it first 😊

<div class="pull-left">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcwgrfWvPVJRoMLKuDDSoPSUfLmmXS3NYvUWaj3SjeF2d/15.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfNpcJkFizjyKHQiUxucmBsPbaejJqPodW9u1Bb7quVDU/16.jpg</div>

<strong>Waterboarding</strong> - This form of torture was used in the 14th century. It is a horrible form of torture simulating drowning. The constant filling of water causes stomach rupture and the water fills up the whole abdominal cavity which causes death. 

![17.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRrQNm7Bp1XmH7WXwiEdnh1uSUqakKUrJSgvsn8VTk7eT/17.jpg)

<strong>Bricking up</strong> - This type of punishment was used for adulterers and newborn babies murderers. If the person was bricked up entirely he or she suffocated. It didn't take long before the person died. If the person was bricked just partially it was more brutal as he or she had been suffering from thirst and the lack of blood circulations in their limbs before they died. It is said that very often they got mad.

![18.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbe2FZAZjB1Qvoq1wbacnCo49b9F1FXAJLNyBURnuv2zr/18.jpg)

<strong>Burning and stigmatizing</strong> - Fire and hot iron were frequently used in the ancient times. Burning hips, palms, soles or genitals with candles were common torturing procedures in the Middle Ages. Burning eyes was used to punish spies and traitors. Stigmatizing was used to mark swindlers, thieves or murderers. These procedures were not used to punish people but to mark them so that everyone knew that they did something illegal. 

![19.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWMMy7Xq27KNPFKPg5FtvFBp5KCwqydkGX9ZSX5t6P9NU/19.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

There were many more examples of torture but I think that this is enough for today 😊

I hope that you enjoyed our walk through this medieval castle and that it wasn't too bad to learn about various forms of medieval torture.

Thank you for reading,

Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png


[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 50.187340 lat 12.754379 long Travel adventures - castle Loket and dark side of history d3scr)

Travel adventures - Castle Loket and the dark side of history

Would you like to join me for a walk again? Today, I am going to take you to <strong>Aarau</strong> which is the capital city of the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. 

Aarau is a charming town situated in the valley of <strong>Aare</strong> to which the town and canton own their name. In <strong>1798</strong>, Aarau was Switzerland's <strong>first capital city</strong> and home to Switzerland's first Houses of Parliament. 

Last Saturday, there were several 'Cubes of Truth' organized across Switzerland and a few of them needed some additional support. One of these Cubes in need was in Aarau. We haven't visited this town before and as we had no other plans for Saturday we decided to go there and show our support. To be honest, only my husband was showing the support. I was not able to stand there for 3 hours due to my toothache, so I took a camera and went for a walk... 

![1.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/U0qOD3Rf-1.jpg)
ISO 100 1/160 sec. f/7.1 24 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>Aare</h4>

I didn't want to walk only in the old city and therefore I decided to start my walk at the river. The Aare is <strong>the longest river in the country</strong> that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its clear water reminded me of the Rhine that we have close to our home...

![2.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/spADEqT7-2.jpg)
ISO 160 1/200 sec. f/9 38 mm

It was a beautiful sunny day and I was surprised that there were not that many people walking around. It was quiet and enjoyable...

![3.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Aum9llpx-3.jpg)
ISO 160 1/160 sec. f/8 24 mm

It was enjoyable until I realized that I lost one of my gloves. Yeah, <strong>it's just a glove</strong>. But this was a special pair that I got at Schilthorn last year. They were so warm and wind resistant. Probably the best pair that I've ever had! I even walked all the way back hoping that I would find it but it was not there anymore. I wonder what would anyone do with just one glove?! 😊 Probably what I am going to do with the remaining one - <strong>nothing</strong>! 

I didn't allow this little misfortune to spoil my day though! 

![4.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/lxxLB3vw-4.jpg)
ISO 160 1/160 sec. f/8 24 mm

It was funny to see that I wasn't the only one who lost something there. Someone lost or forgot a wheelbarrow in the river! Well, I guess it's much easier to lose a glove than a wheelbarrow, isn't it? 😊
 
![5.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/B6yPz7dl-5.jpg)
ISO 125 1/160 sec. f/6.3 45 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>Spring is here!</h4>

Spring is knocking on the door and I can't just walk by without taking some photos...

![6.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/DcBrZTLE-6.jpg)
ISO 80 1/500 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![7.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/ppbdpLmX-7.jpg)
ISO 80 1/500 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![8.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/UgB4WL1R-8.jpg)
ISO 100 1/500 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![9.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/EB5Cfmpo-9.jpg)
ISO 160 1/320 sec. f/2.8 70 mm

![10.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/6zaOMD9Y-10.jpg)
ISO 100 1/320 sec. f/3.5 52 mm

![11.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/H0pHueST-11.jpg)
ISO 160 1/320 sec. f/2.8 56 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>Old Town</h4>

Once I walked all the way back and accepted that there is no chance of finding my glove I headed back to the city. Usually I would show you the architecture and tell you something about the history, but not today 😊

Today, I will show you some <strong>trash cans</strong>! Yes, trash cans! I don't have a lot of information about this project, but it should help to keep the old town clean. If you saw such a trash can you probably would want to use it and wouldn't throw your garbage on the ground, would you? I think it works! 😊

It's a monster and it's pink! Be nice and feed it with some paper...

![16.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/mWwkJw2i-16.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/5 48 mm


![12.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/11OnNE2D-12.jpg)
ISO 160 1/160 sec. f/5.6 60 mm

This one is a bit scary..

![13.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/0s4AMC94-13.jpg)
ISO 160 1/160 sec. f/5.6 50 mm

No, it won't bite your hand off 😊 

![14.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/9WPzSP3W-14.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/5 48 mm

![15.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/zGmt7EZ1-15.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/5 45 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

I hope that you enjoyed this unusual walk with me.

Thank you for reading,

Cheers!

Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 47.394022 lat 8.035372 long Walk with me - Aarau  d3scr)

Walk with me - a sunny day in Aarau 

Do you remember my last walk that I shared with you? On the way back home, I noticed a large billboard that I didn't see before. It was inviting people to the Swiss miniature world called <strong>Smilestones</strong>. It's a new museum that was opened in <strong>November 2018</strong>. I've been walking down this road all the time, so I was surprised that I haven't seen it before. But better later than never 😊  

Our small town has gone through a lot of development over the last couple of years and this is another investment that should attract more and more visitors from all over the world. I was excited about the exhibition and couldn't wait for the weekend, so that I could check it out. 

Smilestones is <strong>the biggest in-door miniature world exhibition in Switzerland</strong>. It covers an area of <strong>seven tennis courts</strong>. So far, only a part of the exhibition is open, and the second part is under construction. The entrance fee is <em>CHF 11.50</em> at the moment but as soon as the entire exhibition is available the fee will be <em>CHF 19</em> per person. 

The current exhibition stretches over an area of <strong>130 sqm</strong> from Säntis to the Rhine Falls. After you purchase your tickets you walk in the direction of the exhibition. The signs will lead you to a long dark hall. There is a tiny railway attached to the wall and a small train going around the room. When I saw it, I knew that it was a good decision to come here 😊

Once you enter the main area you will be amazed with the amount of work that was invested in this place. Even the tiniest objects have great details, and everything is placed with absolute precision. 

There are <strong>80 trains going around</strong>, <strong>400 cars, trucks and buses</strong>, <strong>15000 figures</strong>, <strong>400 houses and bridges</strong> and many more. It's like you would be walking in the places that you know, but this time they would be on the scale of <strong>1:87</strong>. The figures are about 1 cm tall. It's a true mini world.

The exhibition doesn't only show the places, but it also tackles some important issues such as waste and water pollution in the area. I was surprised to see so many various objects in the 'water' as Rhine looks very clean here.

<h3>I hope you will enjoy the exhibition through my eyes</h3>

Let's start with our biggest pride - <strong>Rheinfall</strong>. The Rhine fall is the largest waterfall in Europe. It's one of the top attractions in Switzerland and every year thousands of people come to see this beauty. 

I have a photo from last week so that you can compare it to the mini version:

![_DSC0866.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSoC5RiK3zuHeAx3BZZDqUSnmsiFjFh3tbJynWa37qyoD/_DSC0866.jpg)
ISO 100 1/200 sec. f/7.1 58 mm

This is capturing a sunny summer day as there are many tourists around 😊 

![1a.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdNVg6WDUZvdEmHqra7ZRk8ABvmCeY5oTGTrL9xbb9Bxs/1a.jpg)
ISO 2000 1/125 sec. f/5.6 45 mm

A scene from a small farm in the mountainous area...

![1b.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbwUEokXQeZRR9B4yc3Dvv19axcGS3Gexcpse4pGSvpua/1b.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5 65 mm

An important village gathering - everyone has to join! 

![2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcjR3nU15175bhb5FAxwHNQctQe8e3uc1vu5TwntjD46E/2.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5 52 mm

This is how we relax here in summer...

![3.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQrYkTZuPfXo9heefw4wU4srD8gvM32jygzr6PRWGNP1a/3.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5.6 62 mm

Let's go for a hike...

![4.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS8Shd6o2ZFGfAXDosBn39EhVNv6wCGGTxLqHfJnZJ5sA/4.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5.6 70 mm

What about mountain biking? 

![5.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeawt7vMUgdP72Tx3MvSSmGfXF73RcjhdvULq2V9AiSjW/5.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5.6 70 mm

A romantic morning in a field..

![6.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmY6sutSBPEDd1gUSGzQVGtjr5hCQP7YS2qqHnAvPFiFzt/6.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5.6 70 mm

<strong>Stein am Rhein - castle Hohenklingen</strong> - if you press the right button the flag will move from one side to another 😊

![7.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbAQ6hZ5gP1UKUUPrh7h8YFrXaFXnKBtGPmc2QeCfC1E1/7.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/6.3 70 mm

A bridge with one of the trains...

![_DSC1074.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQxoAdHrn8nDkdbVJLWS3qPX6xALZHpY9bjhUKQaZ44eF/_DSC1074.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/6.3 31 mm

A summer day in <strong>Stein am Rhein</strong>...

![8.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmX8TTUN5ZSgU8qwGRA6yx19btAYuSJeS8cxqMsH2HsrK6/8.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5 24 mm

Kayaking anyone?

![9.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRcUkSY7d2HjuLygWEmwuw7tptc8t3vVm4Lv5nWpSKiqV/9.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/6.3 40 mm

Detailed investigation of a UFO that landed next to Hohenklingen 😊

![10.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbgZx59RwhhbH16ibgVsdYKkm7zXSDu3n9sTD1vSjbJ5R/10.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/7.1 70 mm

A train station in Smilestones...

![11.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZrNu1MLBafDc67byaZ9DdXhTeje8V8LqC8JXm2dDzCuv/11.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/7.1 70 mm

<strong>Munot in Schaffhausen</strong>...

![12.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWeLZGJwcwu9EqpkbPZVbvBz428epwpXVH3KjrNGrzhLk/12.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/125 sec. f/7.1 66 mm

<strong>Gueterhof</strong> - the best party place in Schaffhausen...

![13.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYpsjcFuiKDBphZFzukboc2CjVvzcxVdXsdWhkRQdazKY/13.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/7.1 31 mm

A farmers' market in Schaffhausen (this one is for @plantstoplanks 😊)

![14.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNrMiSRvnDfcaiFgCjBaQFwPmyzQgQyThvLMi5PhA4Lxa/14.jpg)
ISO 2500 1/80 sec. f/5.6 29 mm

A boy with balloons...

![_DSC1205.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmX51F2ayregiRd6BS7aFfo3hygY6cFnUWRRk7G5usgxQ6/_DSC1205.jpg)
ISO 2000 1/125 sec. f/5.6 70 mm

A concert of a rock band in Schaffhausen - it was like a real concert - with music, lights, singing...

![15.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcY9GqDQYez8CjN8rPHTMnyf7XiCJyfGrG5Kwcn4Ku5eU/15.jpg)
ISO 1250 1/80 sec. f/5.6 65 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Smilestones is a great place for everyone and I know that this wasn't the last time that I've visited this museum. From now on, I will take all my visitors to see the exhibition 😊

Thank you for reading,
Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png


[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 47.679356 lat 8.616870 long Smilestones - Miniature world at the Rhine Falls d3scr)







Smilestones - Miniature world at the Rhine Falls

Recently I've been spending a lot of time inside. No, I didn't become lazy..

Two weeks ago, I had my regular professional teeth cleaning appointment. I do it every six to eight months to prevent any issues as I had some painful procedures in the past. 

I usually have some bleeding here and there for a couple of days after the procedure however this time I had a lot of pain. First, I had strong pain in my jaw on the right side, then my head and throat started to hurt. I thought I was becoming sick and left it for a couple of days. I couldn't open my mouth properly and eating was close to impossible. Sleeping wasn't easy either as the pain in my jaw wouldn't stop even though I took some painkillers.

I went to the pharmacy and I was told that such a strong reaction is not normal and that I should call my dentist. This is honestly what I wanted to avoid but <strong>what must be done must be done</strong>. So I made another appointment.

I went there on Wednesday this week. I had a scan and after he checked it and looked in my mouth, he said that he didn't have good news for me. <strong>Oh no</strong>! 

He told me that I had <strong>a wisdom tooth infection</strong> and the only thing he could do was removing it. He injected antibiotics in the place that is infected which caused me even more pain, but I was told that it should disappear after a few hours.

He was planning to remove all three wisdom teeth that I have. <em>Yes, I only have three of them and this explain why I sometimes do stupid things as part of my wisdom was always missing 😊</em> 

But after he checked the scan, he saw that my nerves are in a position that is not ideal and that they could be easily damaged during the surgery, so he suggested not to touch two wisdom teeth because of that. Lucky me, the only one that he can remove is the one that is infected.

My surgery is in ten days and I have to somehow survive by then. I have strong painkillers, but they don't seem to be working very well so I stopped taking them at all. I'm so scared as I don't know what to expect but I will do anything to stop this pain as I can't bear it any longer.

And this is the reason why I spend most of my time inside. I do nothing productive because the only thing I can think of is the pain. It all hurts and it impact my mood a lot so I try to avoid any social contact right now 😊 My husband just needs to be patient with me 😊

But today was such a nice day and I had to get some vitamin D as well, so I decided to go for a walk. And I must admit that it helped me to relax a bit and I feel better now.

This is probably the most negative post from my side and I hope you will forgive me for that..

<h3>Here are some photos from my walk</h3>	

![1.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/1ivLFnhE-1.jpg)
ISO 100 1/400 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![2.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/jbKX36UI-2.jpg)
ISO 80 1/400 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![3.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/b3xn3YAV-3.jpg)
ISO 80 1/400 sec. f/2.8 68 mm

![4.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/zapJGJLv-4.jpg)
ISO 80 1/400 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![5.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/4Cor6mj0-5.jpg)
ISO 80 1/640 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![6.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/lDqTZ4I8-6.jpg)
ISO 100 1/320 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![7.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/oIGwMgqW-7.jpg)
ISO 100 1/500 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![8.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/EXCMNSlg-8.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/2.8 70 mm

![9.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/aPumfx9w-9.jpg)
ISO 80 1/640 sec. f/2.8 70 mm

![10.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/1eEFW6zh-10.jpg)
ISO 80 1/640 sec. f/2.8 70 mm

![11.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/9AJey7uq-11.jpg)
ISO 80 1/640 sec. f/2.8 70 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Thank you for reading,

Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

Spring feeling in February

It had been more than a month since I've been to the mountains for the last time so you can imagine how excited I was on Sunday when the weather finally allowed us to go there again. 

This time we decided to go to mountain massif<strong> Rigi</strong> with its highest point <strong>Rigi Kulm</strong> (1798 m). 

Rigi is located at the heart of Switzerland and it is surrounded by three lakes - <strong>Lake Lucerne</strong>, <strong>Lake Zug</strong> and <strong>Lake Lauerz</strong>. You can admire the view of another ten small lakes from the summit as well. 

There is a good reason why they call this mountain massif <strong>'The queen of the mountains'</strong>. It is not only because its name comes from the Latin word <strong>'Regina'</strong> which means <strong>'a queen'</strong> but also because the Rigi offers the most spectaculars views of the Swiss Alps!

![1.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/z013Ssxl-1.jpg)
ISO 100 1/250 sec. f/8 24 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

We started our trip in <strong>Vitznau</strong>. It is a village at the foot of the Rigi from where you can either take a boat and explore the famous lake Lucerne or a mountain train that will take you right up into the amazing Alpine world. The railway from Vitznau to the Rigi was built in <em>1871</em> and it is <strong>the oldest rack railway in Europe!</strong> 

You can also combine these two activities if you have enough time 😊 If you like you can walk to the Rigi as well but we opted for the train ride because of the snow. 

We walked around for a few minutes before we purchased our tickets..

![2.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/300MOW4W-2.jpg)
ISO 100 1/250 sec. f/8 24 mm

We had to be fast as according to the forecast the weather was supposed to change in the afternoon.. 

And as we could already see some dark clouds approaching us we decided to purchase our train tickets and get to the summit as soon as possible. The price per person is <em>CHF 45</em> when you go there in the afternoon. Morning tickets are more expensive. 

This was not our first time here but we both forgot how long it takes to get to the Rigi Kulm by train. I think that it is not only the oldest rack railway in Europe but the slowest one as well 😊 

It is nice to enjoy the views from the train when it's sunny but when the clouds start to become darker and darker you try to push the train up the hill with the power of your mind. Well, it obviously doesn't work like this.. 

![3.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Tb7USHFx-3.jpg)
ISO 100 1/250 sec. f/7.1 24 mm

After 45 minutes in the train we finally reached the top of the Rigi. 

There was a lot of snow and it was noticeably colder and windier than in Vitznau. There were some tourists in snickers showing their bare ankles. They were shivering and I was feeling sorry for them.. 

Lucky us, we had the right equipment for such weather conditions 😊

We had to make sure that we stay on the right trail as otherwise we would stand up to our knees in the snow. And yes, it happened many times.. 

![4.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/xivoamLc-4.jpg)
ISO 200 1/250 sec. f/6.3 29 mm

<h3>Let's enjoy some views now...</h3>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Winter-wonderland and the <strong>Lake Lauerz</strong> in the back...  

![5.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/3Aowvg6l-5.jpg)
ISO 160 1/250 sec. f/5.6 48 mm

<strong>Lake Lucerne</strong>...

![6.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/gMEhaTfy-6.jpg)
ISO 200 1/250 sec. f/6.3 40 mm

I wouldn't go here... This is one of those places with deep snow 😊

![7.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/T91mBPCy-7.jpg)
ISO 200 1/250 sec. f/6.3 29 mm

A cottage waiting for spring to become accessible...

![8.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/EaZdEYhi-8.jpg)
ISO 160 1/250 sec. f/6.3 32 mm

There were more of them...

![10.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Vo22IsbI-10.jpg)
ISO 160 1/250 sec. f/5.6 24 mm

<strong>Lake Zug</strong> with <strong>Wildspitz</strong> (1580 m)...

![11.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/azHXmQCJ-11.jpg)
ISO 160 1/250 sec. f/5.6 36 mm

Lake Zug again...

![12.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/a1Xp9iaI-12.jpg)
ISO 160 1/250 sec. f/5.6 35 mm

We found these two tiny snowmen on the way 😊 They were around 10 cm tall..

![13.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXgtzgKRfbW4677jarXC3bT49Mw5c9FzToHZSqsEi4v8h/13.jpg)
ISO 200 1/400 sec. f/5.6 62 mm

![14.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZdD6kSQibG3PPPMmDsmhtUEiqdmGgFnT2s4DNfTX55Un/14.jpg)
ISO 200 1/500 sec. f/5.6 58 mm

I like this composition...

![15.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPnpvj35ThAksbphXfnvRhnZXsmsEbWYAK9Z2Mt9bL3fw/15.jpg)
ISO 200 1/500 sec. f/5.6 58 mm

The last view of the Lake Zug 😊

![16.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdE7N8pF7Q1H8qyYDsTEid5ZT3iia28LdGLeesGVuraYP/16.jpg)
ISO 200 1/250 sec. f/5.6 24 mm

There is a cultural and touristic partnership between the two mountains <strong>Emei Shan</strong> (Sichuan province, China) and the Rigi which was established in 2009. This stone symbolizes this precious partnership.

![17.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc46LD4TWnkEkTqT9RW6hbHNejiCa9cmfnZVBEY9YQewh/17.jpg)
ISO 200 1/250 sec. f/5.6 32 mm

On this sign you can check all the peaks visible from the Rigi. We couldn't see many of them because of the weather conditions but at optimal visibility you should be able to see around <strong>620 peaks</strong> from here!

![18.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRLuBgyf28zuTLu8U66G5mKdPgVjCYTeAoUpvRsMFJ8ha/18.jpg)
ISO 200 1/320 sec. f/5.6 29 mm

When most of the peaks started to disappear behind heavy clouds we decided that it was the right time for a cup of tea in a nearby restaurant before boarding the train and heading back to Vitznau...

![19.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR4KdyhkHWdM83bkqwjjQyeYVRBrTygd8JE1S69LmZwgy/19.jpg)
ISO 200 1/320 sec. f/5.6 58 mm

These guys don't seem to mind the weather conditions as much as we do 😊

![20.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPDVksBbqC85fAo7geZNLToL9P8KFzCcZbJBpjm9yL7R8/20.jpg)
ISo 200 1/320 sec. f/5.6 26 mm

I prefer sunny days but I realized that there is something dramatic about dark and heavy clouds which I like as well...

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

After a while it started to snow heavily and it was the best time to board the train and head back to the village. We had low visibility on the way down but we didn't mind as we were so tired from the cold that we fell asleep and woke up just on time to leave the train.

I hope you have enjoyed another day with me!

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 47.055256 lat 8.483903 long Switzerland travel series - Part 9 - Rigi d3scr)

Switzerland travel series - Part 9 - Rigi

Who knew, twenty odd years ago, when I had <strong>my first German class</strong> at my elementary school, that I would ever need German to <strong>start up my own company</strong>! 

Even though at that age there were plenty more interesting things to do than learning a foreign language, I’m so happy that I can now use it to realize my dream. Good thing I paid attention at school. Opening a business has been a fantasy of mine for at least a couple of years now. Not because I like to boss people around – <em>believe me, bossing my husband around is more than my nerves can take!</em> – but because I would really aspire to <strong>develop a company that carries my values and interests to the next level</strong>	.

![back to school.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmc3Z2y2LpTYyAHU4QmKyjaChj3sKAV9hG1LN2kKAYiFnB/back%20to%20school.jpg) 
<a href="https://www.panasonic-batteries.com/en/news/back-school-supplies">source</a>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

As I have mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I am thinking of opening a restaurant. Well, it’s more than just a thought. Because I have been burying myself in <strong>study materials to prepare myself for a test which I have to pass</strong>. When I pass the test, I will be able to apply for a licence to open a restaurant. And guess what, it is <strong>all in German</strong>. 

The licence is specific to this canton in Switzerland and warrants health and safety for guests and employees. It is personal and therefore can’t be transferred to someone else. <strong>So here I am, studying again</strong>..

The people at the cantonal commerce office were so friendly and helpful. They gave me great tips and tricks and also shared some experiences about what has proven to work well for others and what would be recipe for failure.

Bottom line, I should start with as little staff as possible. Not only because headcount puts a significant financial burden on the business, but also because it is wise to begin small and when business is running well, I can always expand. 

Another key factor in this is that I have zero experience in the gastronomy business, other than being a guest – and boy, I love that! – or entertaining friends at our place at home with some fine dining à la Martina, but that’s more of a hobby than anything else. So, I’ll probably need some experienced workers to kick off with. Obviously, those will be more expensive.

Over the last two weeks, I have been breaking my head over the right combination of opening hours and number of employees. I’ve also had a brainstorm session with some friends to exchange ideas and to challenge my plan – just to ensure it all remains manageable and that I don’t get too carried away! These friends are Swiss and they’re helping out with some networking as well. They loved the lax canapes which I had prepared as a quick bite. I might post the recipe some other day. 

All in all, I feel really good about the time ahead of me. I realize that there are tons of things still to plan, organize, learn and execute. But hey, <strong>No Sacrifice, No Victory!</strong>

More business update will be coming soon 😊

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

Chasing a dream...

<p>Czech Republic has so many castles and we wanted to explore as many of them as possible during our short visit. We focused on the castles around Prague so that we wouldn't need to drive for a half of day to get to our destination. Many of them were closed for the winter period but we were lucky to find a few interesting ones that we could enter.</p>
<p>One of them is <strong> Křivoklát</strong> castle (Hrad  Křivoklát) ..</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/SPXesTaL-1.jpg" alt="1.jpg" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png" alt="text16.png" /></p>
<p>You can get to the castle from different starting points and we chose the easiest one as it was quite cold and raining. What does that mean? It means that we had to walk around 200 meters from the parking space to the castle 😊</p>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/u2PnSitz-1a.jpg" /></div>
<p> Křivoklát is located in central Bohemia, about 1 hour drive from Prague. You're supposed to get nice views from the road but we only saw the road as it was foggy all the way to the castle. However, we didn't let the weather ruin our day.</p>
<p>After we arrived to the castle we purchased our tickets. The entrance fee is <em>CZK 400</em> (around 18 USD)</p>
<p>Unfortunately we didn't know that the guided excursions are only every few hours, and we had more than an hour before it was supposed to start. There is not much to do when it's raining outside so we went for lunch to a nearby restaurant. They didn't have any vegan meals but were creative and made us some grilled vegetables with baked potatoes. It wasn't that bad at all..</p>
<p>After lunch we returned to the castle right on time. We were greeted by our guide and our excursion could start..</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/5Mh71mq5-2.jpg" alt="2.jpg" /></p>
<p> Křivoklát is one of the oldest and most important castles in Czech Republic. Its origins date back to the beginning of the <em>12th century</em>.</p>
<p><em>The roots of the Czech name " Křivoklát" have a connection to the old word for pine scrub.</em></p>
<p>It was originally built as a wooden hunting castle by the aristocracy as it's located deep in the forest with wild animals. <strong>Přemysl Otakar II </strong> called <em>'iron and golden'</em> rebuilt the castle between <em>1230 and 1240</em> and created a monumental residence for Czech kings and princes. There were a few additional reconstructions and enlargements to emphasize royal presence at that time.</p>
<p>Before the Czechoslovak state bought the castle in <em>1920's</em>, it had belonged to the aristocratic <strong>Fürstenberg</strong> kin. During that time the  Křivoklát region had flourished.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png" alt="text16.png" /></p>
<p>Our excursion started behind the gates of the main building. From there we could see the entire castle. We spent there a few minutes listening to the stories of our guide.</p>
<p>The castle was damaged by fire several times. The fire caused severe damages and as there were no funds available to restore the castle, it was turned into a notorious <strong>state prison</strong>.</p>
<p>If you look at the picture on the right, you will see a tower in the back. The door that you can see was made in the 19th century. There is an opening in the middle of the tower. This was the entrance before <strong>the great fire</strong> in <em>1826</em>. Between these two entrances there is a space that was only accessible through a hole in the floor. This space was used as prison for those sentenced to death.</p>
<p><em>Prisoners would have to enter this closed space through that hole. They were left there without food or water until they passed away. It was not known how many people died there until the door was made through 2 meters thick wall. The remains of 6 people were found there... </em></p>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/vg1CBaqg-4.jpg" /></div>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/2TSG3J8z-5.jpg" /></div>
<hr />
<p>After the great fire, Fürstenberg built the castle from the ruins and returned it to its former glory. During the excursion we will visit <strong>the Great Hall</strong> and <strong>the Knight's Hall</strong> as well. We will enter this part of the castle through a long staircase and the corridor that you can see here.</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Dxc3cd7c-6.jpg" alt="6.jpg" /></p>
<p>Here are some views of the castle from the corridor...</p>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/eeLh9Slk-7.jpg" /></div>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/0sZBfj2c-8.jpg" /></div>
<p><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png" alt="text16.png" /></p>
<h3>Let's enter the castle now</h3>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/TpQw8yAa-9.jpg" /></div>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Xq77VBdL-9a.jpg" /></div>
<p>There is a small replica of the castle showing how it looked like before the great fire in 1826. Many wooden details and small towers were destroyed and never rebuilt.</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/pJr1g7RD-10.jpg" alt="10.jpg" /></p>
<p>The Great Hall is <strong>the second-largest late Gothic Hall in central Europe</strong>.</p>
<p>One side of the hall is dominated by a large table. It was used by visitors when they were waiting for a king to accept their visit..</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/5qKiEFuq-11.jpg" alt="11.jpg" /></p>
<p>Because this is the royal hall there has to be a throne, although this is just a replica.</p>
<p>Many consequential political talks and fateful diplomatic negotiations were held in this room. During the audience the throne was placed in the corner and the king sat there with his back to the light. <em>The visitors couldn't see his face because he was something more than them and he ruled over them so why would they have to see his face?</em>.</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/soxHYeJu-12.jpg" alt="12.jpg" /></p>
<p>The royal part of the castle also contains a large <strong>library</strong> built by Fürstenberg. It has more than 50000 precious illuminated manuscripts, ornamented prints and rare dissertations. This is the true heart of Křivoklát for me.</p>
<p>Some of the books written in German, Italian, French, Latin and other languages have golden spines. Fürstenberg spoke many languages and they enjoyed reading books. There are just a few of them written in Czech.</p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/yRgrWsVt-14.jpg" alt="14.jpg" /></p>
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/f9gSxNpi-15.jpg" alt="15.jpg" /></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png" alt="text16.png" /></p>
<p>A part of the exhibition is dedicated to a collection of <strong>original Baroque and Rococo royal wooden sleighs</strong> with rich ornaments. This was probably my favorite part as I haven't seen such sleighs before.</p>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/e1OKaQD6-17.jpg" /></div>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Blz2O4Gl-18.jpg" /></div>
<hr />
<p><img src="https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/aesPbtng-19.jpg" alt="19.jpg" /></p>
<p>Křivoklát is the second most visited castle in Czech Republic and it also hosts various celebrations and events such as concerts or performances.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png" alt="text16.png" /></p>
<p>If you are interested in history and you happen to be in Czech Republic, you should definitely find some time and visit Křivoklát. It is worth it!</p>
<p>Thank you for reading,</p>
<p>Cheers,<br />Martina</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<center><img src="https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png" alt="Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png" /></center>
<p><img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png" /></p>

[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 50.038044 lat 13.872017 long Travel adventures - Křivoklát d3scr)

Travel adventures - Křivoklát

## Introduction

This constitution is posted here for everyone to review and vote on. If you would like to join this initiative, please resteem this post and comment #cosign to record on the blockchain your agreement to form the Dolphin Council and be a member.

## Constitution V 1.0

![dolphins-3748940_1280.jpg](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmQMcSnWWF3F1wBNBJ1UeX7ETsJ3g3Kcs112CYDC1NdUqL)


**Aims;** the Dolphin Council exists to promote people and projects that help enrich the user experience for all users on the steem blockchain

*1.a Users;* are stakeholders, content creators and ultimate consumers of the steem blockchain.

*1.b Enrichment;* means to take and support actions which add value to the steem blockchain.

**Membership Requirements;**. Types of members;

*1a. Founding Members;* are all those who meet the Full Membership requirements and who vote for this genesis constitution before this post pays out its reward. You can vote by commenting #cosign below and resteeming this post. The steem blockchain user names of these accounts will be included in the founding post with the first ratified constitution

*1b. Full Members;* membership requires the account's wallet contains 5000 (or greater) in Steem Power at all times. All those who meet the full membership requirements and confirm their desire to join at any time by creating a post using the #dolphincouncil tag, or by resteeming this post and commenting #cosign to be a Full Member. You will the be registered as a Full Member by the Council. 

*1c. Other types of non-voting memberships;* Full members can pass a motion to allow in a sub-set of users or a single user. These types of members currently include:

*1c.a Friends of the Council;* are users who support the constitution of the Council and have stated this on the steem blockchain. Users can do this by resteeming this post from their account on the steem blockchain and commenting #cosign. Usernames of these accounts that comment #cosign on this post before the post pays out its reward will be included in the founding post with the first ratified constitution

Anyone who meets the membership requirements for any type of membership, cannot be denied the same membership benefits as all other members of that type.

**Membership benefits;** all Full Members and Founding Members can:

*1a. call a vote by creating a post with #dolphincouncil-motion;* and

*1b. cast a single vote* ;

Friends of the council; may have temporary benefits, such as votings rights for specific motion only as put forward by a Full Member. Any other permanent benefits can be added by way of a change to the constitution

**Voting;** Only two types of votes can be called and only members with voting rights as stated in this constitution can vote, each eligible member will have one vote:
 
*1.a General motions;* need greater than 50% majority (50% quorum) and can suggest an idea that members are encouraged to follow

*1.b Special motions;* are able to change this constitution and need a greater than 75% majority (75% quorum)

end.


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join the discussion: https://discord.gg/bcaPphK
and follow @dolphincouncil for updates

Dolphin Council Genesis Constitution: Vote to be a member

A few years ago, I started to learn about the impact that we have on the environment and I read a lot about our contribution to climate changes, depletion of natural resources, pollution, deforestation, waste and other relevant topics. 

I know I can't change the world, but <strong>I CAN</strong> change the way 	<strong>I LIVE</strong> and I can have a direct impact on the reduction of my personal negative footprint that I have on the environment. 

This is the reason why I'm always excited to visit exhibitions showing new perspectives, alternative ways of living and future technologies that can help us to have more positive impact on the environment. 

A couple of weeks ago I visited <strong>Gewerbemuseum</strong> in Winterthur because of their exhibition called <strong>Food Revolution 5.0</strong>.

![gewerbe museum.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/dXRzq82j-gewerbe20museum.jpg)
<a href="https://www.gewerbemuseum.ch/en/exhibitions/food-revolution">source</a>
![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)


The Food Revolution 5.0 includes more than 50 international research projects and focuses on our future food. <strong>How will we eat in the future? How can we feed our growing population? How will we satisfy our essential nutrition?</strong>	 You can find some interesting answers to these questions there. 

The exhibition is interactive, and you can watch various short movies, try different processes or test some products. It is divided in three rooms and each room is dedicated to one topic. 

In the first room you will learn about negative impacts of factory farming and you will get to see some alternative ways of growing food. The second room shows the controversial impact of production in the country where the product is made and the country where the product is sold to the end customer. The third room focuses on the food waste and what it means for the environment. 

The exhibition is so interesting that you can easily spend several hours there.

![_DSC0079.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/O4FKRtRR-_DSC0079.jpg)

I like that visitors spent some time understanding the topics instead of just quickly walking from one project to another...

![_DSC0083.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/TwSZuEgV-_DSC0083.jpg)

Some topics required a lot of focus and thinking to fully understand them😊

![_DSC0073.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/4jKinYCy-_DSC0073.jpg)

There were two processes that I've found very interesting and I can imagine them being fully implemented and one project that I still can't properly place. 

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h3>Let me introduce you to these three projects: </h3>

First project is using <strong>urine as a natural fertilizer to grow crops</strong>. Urine would replace commercial fertilizers which would reduce the production costs as well. I must say it seemed to be working as those crops looked healthy (I just don't know why they had just a few of them 😊). 

I think that this process might already be used by some small farmers but this project was about applying it to grow crops on the bigger farms as well. 

![_DSC0075.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/dMbNKGxk-_DSC0075.jpg)

The second project suggests using <strong>baby diapers as fertilizer for fruit trees and plants</strong>.

<blockquote>DYCLE is a fundamentally new way of how baby diapers are to be produced, used and recycled, or rather upcycled, when they are no longer a waste but a nutrient for plants, transformed into fertile soil.</blockquote>
<a href="https://dycle.org/en">source</a>


The diapers impact is 12 tons of CO2 emissions per child which is obviously not sustainable. Dycle suggests that using compostable diapers is the solution for this issue. The diaper waste is converted into black soil which is used as fertilizer. DYCLE estimates that 1000 kg of soil can be produced from one year’s supply of diapers from a single child. 

This is a very exciting project! You can learn more about this project <a href="https://dycle.org/en">here</a>.

![_DSC0068.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/qBTylIYs-_DSC0068.jpg)

The third project is called <strong>Near future symbiosis suit</strong>. The main question that they ask is why do we design new food when we could re-design how we fuel our bodies altogether?

They design a symbiotic relationship between humans and algae. What does that mean? They see a future where human bodies will be enhanced with algae living inside organs. This will allow us to gain food from light by being semi-photosynthetic. They propose that the human and algae will depend on each other survival and that the relationship will be mutually beneficial.

They created a prototype but to be honest I can't imagine anyone agreeing to look like this. But I might be wrong as I don't know what the future will bring us 😊

![_DSC0080.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/dhGtSQJa-_DSC0080.jpg)

There were  also some controversial topics discussed in various sections of the exhibition.

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h3>Every choice in food we make has an impact on others, positive or negative.</h3> 

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Whatever is in trend, is bound to become a target for large corporations to exploit resources. There were many examples of this issue but two of them were particularly interesting to me.

We all love <strong>chocolate</strong>, don't we? And we know that cocoa is the main ingredient to make chocolate. But I didn't know that large volumes of cocoa are grown in Ghana. To maximize profits from the production, the corporations are forcing young children to work in this cocoa business. 

![_DSC0100.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/lW7zeUCY-_DSC0100.jpg)

These children work long hours because they have no choice. Injuries and deaths are not uncommon there and all this is happening so that we can enjoy our chocolate anytime we want. 

This is the message that was presented there and I am of course not saying that we should not indulge in chocolate anymore but I realized that we should start making conscious choices if we don't do so yet. 

![_DSC0101.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/qBfTprEP-_DSC0101.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

And what about <strong>avocados</strong>? Almost everyone loves them and they became very popular around the world. They actually became so popular that the market attracts criminals who are not afraid to use violence, extortion or manipulation at the cost of local population.

![_DSC0103.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/5JMKOM3Q-_DSC0103.jpg)

While advertising companies make us feel good, healthy, sweet and romantic by buying foods they promote, we often don't realize that behind all the glitter and glamour, there's a dark side to many food choices that we make every day. 

![_DSC0099.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/MlbEA6Cv-_DSC0099.jpg)

I truly believe that it is important to get the information to enable us making the right choices not only for ourselves and others but for the environment as well. 

It was not easy to read all the material and admit that I might have to change my habits but on the other hand it's important to accept it as it's the first step towards any improvement. At the end of the day we are all 'work in progress'.

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

After so many impressions and thinking we went to Grand Café in the museum to discuss our opinions on different topics and to enjoy a well deserved cup of tea 😊

![_DSC0058.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/doj58gyz-_DSC0058.jpg)

Thank you for reading,

Cheers,
Martina


<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png


[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 47.499413 lat 8.729772 long Food Revolution 5.0 - Exhibition in Winterthur  d3scr)

Food Revolution 5.0 - Exhibition in Winterthur

<center>

![SOS.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcYBFYD9Ed97sx2EUjc5oh45MGJGHCQksBwypHmKbCDKa/SOS.png)

</center>

# I am posting this as an OFFICIAL CALL FOR HELP from the individuals AND communities of Steemit - whether in the delegation voting poll or not - whether voted or not! 

# WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE!!! 


<div class="text-justify">

### We have fought tooth and nail to hang on to our position in the top three and our community members have poured nothing short of blood sweat and TEARS into this every single hour of every single day! The reality is, we are the ONLY TRULY INTERNATIONALLY driven contender that now stands a chance at WINNING this - AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!! WE NEED THE HELP OF YOU AS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY HEADS. We realise many of you have voted already, but please can you help us find those that haven't! Please can you help us by spreading the word - resteeming our posts and well - ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF! Anybody who knows our community knows that we deserve this win and knows full well that the rewards of the win would be used to greatly benefit the platform as a whole!


<center>***A message from my little man @judethedude... and the only reason we didnt post this on his account via dtube is because he has delegated all his steempower to @theluvbug and did not have enough RC to post right now... so here it is! :)***</center>

https://youtu.be/gflhhEhSVXM
<center>

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# [VOTE FOR @STEEMITBLOGGERS HERE](https://dpoll.xyz/detail/@theycallmedan/which-steem-project-should-i-delegate-10k-steempower-to-for-1-year/)
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</div>


![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<sub>[HERE](https://steemit.com/powerhousecreatives/@jaynie/jaynie-1548699810426-steemitwe-have-worked-so-hard-and-now-we-need-you) IS THE ORIGINAL POST SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A LOOK THROUGH THE COMMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS TOO</sub>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<div class="text-justify">




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# THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US IN GETTING THIS FAR! WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US IS INVALUABLE!

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<br>

[S.O.S] CALL FOR HELP FROM ALL STEEMIT COMMUNITIES & INDIVIDUALS - WE NEED YOU!!! PLEASE!!!

Recently I went through my archive and when I saw a folder called <strong>'Trappist'</strong> I knew I wanted to share this experience with you.

My friends in The Netherlands support elderly people in the local community and when I'm there I try to help them as much as I can. Once a year we plan a day when all volunteers meet and spend some quality time together. We organize some interesting program and finish our day with nice potluck dinner. 

Two years ago we went to <strong>Onze Lieve Vrouw of Koningshoeven Abbey</strong> and its famous <strong>brewery</strong> in <em>Berkel-Enschot</em>.

![Trappist.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Ldqjx4P3-Trappist.jpg)
<a href="https://www.rsl.nl/la-trappe-trappist">source</a>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

In <em>1881</em>, french Trappist monks came to this moorland with a sheep barn. They converted the sheep barn into temporary monastery and on the <em>5th of March</em> they celebrated the first Holy Mass there. This became the official establishment date of the abbey. 

The Trappists wanted to support charitable causes but they needed some income to achieve this. This is why they established the brewery next to the old abbey in <em>1884</em>. They became successful and within ten years they earned money to build their new abbey as well. 

Nowadays, <strong>The Koningshoeven Brewery</strong> is one of the few true Trappist breweries in the world. 

It's because <em>the authentic Trappist beer can only be brewed within a Trappist monastery by monks or the process must be at least supervised by them. The profits are used to cover the expenses of the monastery and its monks and whatever remains must be donated to good causes. </em>

They are able to produce <strong>9 million liter of beer each year</strong>. The money that the brothers currently earn is mainly used to renovate two local schools in Uganda and provide them with clean and safe drinking water. They also support several projects in The Netherlands.

<div class="pull-left">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/D8geSRdI-3.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/onYkFyCa-4.jpg</div>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

The brewery is open to public but it is usually not allowed to visit the abbey. However after long discussions in advance, we were able to enter the abbey and meet one of the monks - <strong>brother Johannes</strong>. 

We were greeted by the Secretary who accompanied us to a room where we were supposed to meet brother Johannes. We were offered cookies baked in the abbey and a cup of tea. After a short while brother Johannes entered the room. 

He looked younger than I expected and his life story was fascinating. We had a nice chat and he told us a lot about the history of the abbey as well. 

After our discussion he led us to a chapel for their afternoon prayer. We walked through the part of the abbey that is only accessible to the monks. I can't even describe the tranquility that you feel in the abbey. It's almost surreal.

In the chapel we found the other monks, <em>big and small, young and old, fat and thin, everything was in between</em>. After their prayers they quietly left the chapel and returned to their daily activities. 

For us, it was time to leave the abbey and continue our tour with the excursion of the brewery. 

<div class="pull-left">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/CmZbi61u-1.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/nAqWVqgu-2.jpg</div>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

The abbey and the brewery were established at the sheep barn - <strong>De Schaapskooi</strong>. You can see this written next to the entrance to the brewery. 

![5.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/OMYrZwfJ-5.jpg)

During the excursion of the brewery you will learn about the production process and you will understand how it was brewed in the past and how it is brewed today. 

The brewery was modernized in <em>1989</em>. The old equipment had to be removed and replaced. 

<div class="pull-left">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/A2wCRfAT-6.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/iEaXFJKZ-7.jpg</div>

<hr>

The monks use only local ingredients in the production process such as <strong>hop, barley and yeast</strong>. <strong>The water used for brewing is from their own spring</strong>. They produce nine different beers varied from <strong>La Trappe Puur (4.7%)</strong> to <strong>La Trappe Quadruppel Oak Aged (11%)</strong>. 

They also produce special editions of beer. These editions have limited batches. I bought one bottle of Oak Aged from batch number 25 made with Kirsch schapps and white wine. I still have the bottle in a sealed box 😊

As the taste depends on the type of barrel in which it is aged, each batch is different. The ale continues to ferment after bottling and may be kept for many years. I am not a beer drinker but the idea of having something special was too exciting so I had to get one 😊

![8.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Kir4VTtl-8.jpg)

The most interesting area of the brewery is <strong>the bottling space</strong>. Almost hundred years ago they were already able to bottle <strong>6000 bottles per hour</strong>. I'm not sure how many they can bottle now but it's definitely not less 😊

https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/DVFweHDO-10.jpg

![9.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/zP375AW9-9.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

The excursion takes approximately 1 hour and you will be entertained by the local guide who has many funny stories to tell. He can also answer most of your questions and I had a feeling that even if he didn't know answers to all the questions he was able to change the topic so quickly that the one who asked the question didn't even realize that he didn't get the answer 😊

The entrance fee is <strong>12 EUR</strong> and you will also have a chance to watch a short movie about the abbey at the end of the excursion. During the movie you will be served one beer of your choice.

<div class="pull-left">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/b8BYjaJB-11.jpg</div>

<div class="pull-right">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/KGILSfQM-12.jpg</div>

After the excursion you can visit <strong>The Tasting Room</strong> and drink even more beer or you can visit <strong>Abbey gift shop</strong> where you can purchase various products made in different monasteries as well. 

I purchased a set of eight special brews and I must admit that I still have four of them. Now when I talk about it, I think it's the right time to open one of them 😊

I hope that you have enjoyed the tour!

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina

PS: All photos are taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7. 

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 51.587923 lat 5.147033 long Trappist adventure d3scr)

Trappist adventure

Prague's vegan scene is rapidly growing and every time I visit the city there are many new places with delicious food and friendly atmosphere.

Today, I'll show you my favorite places from my last visit of Prague at the end of November. I hope it will help you if you ever happen to be in this beautiful city of 100 towers 😊

![Prague.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmebUX292yWCGprhFYQdMkuShhhMV2NSrVBaFMbFqgU9XN/Prague.jpg)

<h4>Waipawa</h4>

<div class="pull-right">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVdWKv7hYUdJSzTGS4sHECpRqDhAQpqB3vFM7a9WttVHJ/7.jpg</div>

Waipawa has two vegan restaurants in Prague. We went to the one that is located at <em>Šmeralova 12</em>. It's open from Monday to Saturday, from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. The location is ideal if you're staying in the city center and you're looking for some restaurant in walking distance. It is a very nice walk as you will cross Letná Park which is overlooking Prague historic center and Vltava River just besides Prague Castle.

The restaurant is in the underground and it's quite small, so I would suggest to make a reservation in advance. 

<div class="pull-left">https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUuZE4fgMkrmyFJSYoZ2HGKUn4uZJp9rkwpwhv4NGFtZ1/13.jpg</div>

The interior looks nice for a few drinks with your friends but these high tables are in my opinion not very practical for dinner. We were lucky as we got a normal table behind the corner. 

The waitress came with the menus as soon as we took our seats. The service was fast in general. The menu is not extensive but I like it better as it's easier to choose a meal. 

They have <strong>3 starters, 6 mains, 3 burgers and 2 tortillas</strong>. Food there is very cheap but I have noticed in most vegan places in Prague that the prices are very low. The most expensive meal in Waikawa was around <em>7 USD</em>. I wish we had similar prices in Switzerland 😊

For starter I took <strong>pate </strong>made from <em>onions</em> and <em>apples</em> (CZK 60). It was served with raw red onion, pickles and a few pieces of bread. I was curious and skeptical at the same time as combination of onions and apples sound bizarre to me BUT let me tell you that this was the <strong>best pate</strong> that I've ever had! 

For main course I took the most expensive meal of course 😊 In my defense, it was just a coincidence! It was <strong>tempeh in creamy sauce</strong> (CZK 155) served with <em>baked potatoes</em> and <em>small side salad</em>. It was delicious but a little too much of tempeh for me. It was very filling. 
<hr>

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Then we took <strong>salad</strong> with <em>tomatoes, cucumber, tofu nuggets</em> and <em>beetroot</em> (CZK 130). The salad was fresh and crunchy and the tofu nuggets were golden baked and crispy. Together with the dressing it was a great combination!

We also had to try their <strong>gyros tortilla</strong> (CZK 125). Tortilla was filled with <em>gyros tofu, iceberg</em> and <em>tzatziki</em>. It tasted exactly how we expected it - delicious!

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We didn't have that much space in our bellies but those <strong>pancakes</strong> (CZK 80) on the menu were so tempting that we ordered them as well. 

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They were served with <em>hot mixed berries sauce, tofu soft cheese</em> and <em>fresh basil</em>. I think I ate the basil before I took the photo 😊

They were so good! The pancakes were fluffy, the sauce was not too sweet and not too sour and the tofu cheese gave you a very nice soothing feeling on your tongue.

I must say that Waikawa surprised us with their meals and their service. Everything was tasty and so cheap! The interior is not that cool but we quickly forgot about that as soon as we started to eat the pate 😊 

And as it's walking distance to the city center we also had a nice walk after dinner. If you ever happen to be in Prague make sure to pay Waikawa a visit. You won't be disappointed. 

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>Pastva</h4>

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This was not the first time that I visited Pastva. It's a very cozy restaurant serving comfort food and it's a great place if you're very hungry. 

It's located at <em>Nádražní 102</em> and you can easily reach it by metro. It's about 100 meters from <em>Anděl station</em>. It's open from Monday to Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM. 

Their menu is changing every season and I'm sure that everyone would be able to find something to eat there as they always have some interesting options. 

For starter they have <strong>variation of hummus</strong> (CZK 115), <strong>foie gras</strong> (CZK 120), <strong>sweet potato fries</strong> (CZK 60) or <strong>french fries</strong> (CZK 50). 

I ordered variation of hummus. It was <em>classic and beetroot hummus with chickpeas, olives</em>, and <em>small salad</em>. There is not much to say about the taste as hummus is always good but the portion was way to big for one person. It's a great meal to share. 

For main course they have 8 dishes (CZK 150 - 210). I ordered <strong>cauliflower steak</strong> with <em>harissa, chickpeas, potato purée, tahini</em> and <em>lemon sauce</em> (CZK 195). This was a great comfort meal! It was hearty with various textures and the taste was amazing. It was the perfect meal for cold autumn/winter evenings. 

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My husband ordered <strong>Miso ramen</strong> (CZK 150). It was <em>ramen noodles</em> with <em>cauliflower, shiitake, button mushrooms, pak choi</em> and <em>sprouts</em>. It was nice but it missed some kick - it was not Asian enough. However, this is not an Asian restaurant so it was not that disappointing. It was a nice, satisfying dish.

My friend ordered <strong>baked sweet potato</strong> with <em>spiced beluga lentils, roasted fennel</em> and <em>garlic mayo</em> (CZK 195). The menu says 'baked sweet potato', so we were expecting 1 potato. But she got 3 big ones and couldn't finish the meal at the end. It was very filling in combination with such a big portion of lentils. The taste was very good. It's that kind of meal that you wish to eat when you have your cheating days 😊

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This time Pastva didn't disappoint us but also didn't surprise us. We had nice time together but we didn't experience any food porn or explosion of taste. I would however still recommend the place as it's really cozy and you simply feel good there.

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>Moment</h4>

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Moment is my favorite place in Prague. I've been there several times already and I will keep coming there whenever I will be in Prague. It is located at <em>Slezská 62</em> and you can reach it by metro. It's about 200 meters from <em>Jiřího z Poděbrad</em> station. It's open every day from 9 AM to 10 PM.

As soon as you enter you feel like you were visiting your friends. It's cozy, stylish and waitresses are very friendly. They are happy to help you with your choice and they are also flexible if you want to do some adjustments to your meal. 

They serve breakfast until 11:30 AM and then they serve snacks and 'all day' meals. For breakfast you can choose from <strong>pancakes</strong> (CZK 130), <strong>omelette</strong> (CZK 130), <strong>tofu scrambled eggs</strong> (CZK 135), <strong>wraps</strong> (CZK 130) or <strong>toasts</strong> (CZK 95).

For 'all day' meals and snacks they have various <strong>salads, soups, burgers, kebabs</strong> or <strong>bagels</strong> (CZK 50 - 150).

Everything is from local ingredients, freshly made and totally delicious!

I tried <strong>tofu scrambled eggs</strong> with <em>coconut bacon, sausage, oyster mushrooms</em> and small <em>salad</em>. It was amazing. Tofu was juicy and seasoned perfectly and I loved the salad! I'm not such a fan of vegan sausages and bacon in general but I enjoyed them as well. 

My husband tried <strong>sandwich</strong> with <em>tempeh, sprouts, carrot, romaine lettuce</em> and <em>mayo</em>. Their bread is homemade and so good! He loved it and wanted to take another one but I convinced him to try something different 😊

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Their <strong>pancakes</strong> are to die for! They serve them with fresh fruits, chocolate and whipped cream. I ordered them to share but at the end I ate them all 😊

We also tried <strong>omelette</strong> with <em>chickpea flour, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, kale</em> and <em>tomatoes</em>. It was very good but I don't really like chickpea flour so I prefer the scrambled tofu..

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If you're in a hurry you can also get a take away. We went to Moment on our last day in Prague and as we loved their sandwiches we got a couple of them for our trip back to Switzerland. We ate them after a few hours and they were still perfectly fresh and not soaked at all! 

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

There are many more vegan places in Prague but I hope that you enjoyed my short overview of the ones that I enjoyed during my last visit.

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Martina

PS: All photos are taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7.


<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>


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[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 50.077439 lat 14.448996 long My vegan experience in Prague d3scr)

My vegan experience in Prague

As you might know already, I visited Czech Republic on my last trip of 2018. Last month I showed you around Český Krumlov and today I'm going to take you to <strong>Český Šternberk</strong> with me.

![1.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/bV1fj2Jd-1.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

You can get to Český Šternberk from Prague in about 45 minutes by car. It's a small village on the river <strong>Sazava</strong>. The village itself is not that interesting and we came here to visit a castle overlooking Český Šternberk. 

![2.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/r9fLxquo-2.jpg)

After you park your car you will have to walk up the hill for about 5 - 10 minutes. The castle is open to public but in the winter months you may need to call them in advance to arrange the excursion. You can't visit the castle without a tour guide. Are you wondering why?

<strong>Český Šternberk castle</strong> is a <em>private property</em> and the owner with his wife live on one floor of the castle. Tourists are not allowed to wander around the castle without the tour guide to protect their privacy. That part of the castle is obviously not accessible. 

![3.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/AEA619dz-3.jpg)

When you get to the top of the hill, follow the signs to the ticket office. There you will pay for your purchased tickets. A tour in English is <em>180 CZK</em> per person (about 6.70 USD). You might wait for a few minutes to get all people together before the start of your tour. 

We were lucky as we had the tour guide just for ourselves (2 people) 😊

I have to say that this is very special as around 100000 tourists visit the castle every year 😊

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h3>Let's start the tour!</h3>

The castle was built by the <strong>Zdeslav of Divišov</strong> in the <em>13th century</em>. At that time there were many German settlers in the region, and he took the name Sternberg from the German word for star (stern) and hill (berg). <strong>The eight-pointed star is still the Sternberg symbol today.</strong> 

The heraldic symbol was also accompanied by a family motto. <strong>"The star that never falls down"</strong>.

The Sternberg family became one of the oldest aristocratic families in Czech Republic. They have been in the possession of the castle from its very beginning. 

The castle was reconstructed in the <em>15th and 16th century</em>. Jiří Sternberg and his mother Carolina also restored the castle at great expense at the beginning of the 20th Century.


![DSC_0010.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmThtS78pNLhsNK6sEC5E2qdEtNibfoHJgBLyAkZvVRjnd/DSC_0010.jpg)

When the castle was taken over by the Communists in <em>1949</em>, <strong>Jiří Sternberg</strong> became a castellan and a tour guide and he was allowed to still live in the castle with his family. The owner of the castle was suddenly occupying only two rooms with his whole family. But he didn't leave the castle. He stayed there and made sure that all artifacts remained untouched.

After the restitution, the castle was returned back to the family and his son Zdeněk returned from Vienna to take care of it. 

The current owner <strong>Zdeněk Sternberg</strong> is the second eldest son of the nine children. He is 96 years old and he is a descendant in<strong> the 20th generation of the founder</strong>. 

He and his wife have a separate entrance to the castle and live in the part of the castle that used to be for guests. The floor of the castle where the family lived before serves now as a museum. 

This is the part of the castle that is private..

![5a.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/lqucecEl-5a.jpg)

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The tour starts one floor above the private part. 

There is no central heating in this part of the castle so it's very cold. I think it was even colder than outside. Our tour guide mentioned that it's quite cold in summer as well, so make sure to dress properly.

During our tour we will visit 15 rooms furnished in various historical periods. We will go through The Knight's Hall, The Dining Room, The Yellow Salon, The Ladies’ Lounge, The Chapel, The Library, and a few more. 

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![5b.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/0HLdSO98-5b.jpg)

<strong>The Knight's Hall</strong> is the most impressive room in the castle. It dates back to the <em>15th century</em>. The high walls and ceiling of the room are decorated with beautiful stucco adornments. 

There is so much to see in this room that you have to walk around a few times to notice various details...

![8.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/nCr0zN2t-8.jpg)

All room is decorated with coats of arms related to the family and there are portraits of the family members hanging on the walls..

![9.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/OWdAmi6B-9.jpg)

This wooden box is the oldest artifact in the castle..

![10.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/DbrueHRK-10.jpg)

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From The Knight's Hall we enter a room with a portrait of <strong>Carolina of Sternberg</strong> - grandmother of Zdeněk Sternberg. 

She is known for hiding her 'silver treasure' (jewelry, cutlery, decoration, etc), so that it wouldn't be stolen during the communism. The treasure was found after returning the castle back to the family in <em>1989</em>. You can see her treasure in the castle. It is in a glass vitrine that reflects the light so I was not able to take a picture and you'll have to come yourself if you want to see it 😊

On the other side of the room is a beautiful small lounge from the <em>17th century</em>. 

![13.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/mGd83JEQ-13.jpg)

The next room is <strong>The Ladies' Lounge</strong>. The room is furnished with the 18th century Rococo floral furniture.

![14.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/ZI6oP9A1-14.jpg)

The chairs do not have armrests because the women sitting in them during that period wore big and wide dresses. I've seen so many chairs from this period but never realized that they don't have armrests. It is such a practical solution! Otherwise it would probably be very uncomfortable..

![15.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/uIeMfjMm-15.jpg)

From the ladies' lounge we enter <strong>The Library</strong>. This room holds more than 2500 books. Most books are from the 19th century but there are some of them dating back to 17th and 18th century as well..

I have always dreamed about having such library at home 😊

![16.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/elegPK1k-16.jpg)

<strong>The Dining Room</strong> is the second largest room in the castle. This room is dominated by a large table with 12 chairs. In case there were more quests a few chairs could be added. The room is equipped with precious silverware..

![17.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/3fyXBtXY-17.jpg)

The last room that I will show you today is the one with the Sternberg family tree. Zdeněk Sternberg has only one son Filip who lives with his daughter in Vienna. They visit the castle a couple of times every year.

![19.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/kN1EqnMX-19.jpg)

The tour takes approximately one hour. After that you can go to the village and support the castle by getting a meal in their hotel nearby 😊

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Thank you for reading,
Cheers,
Martina

PS: All photos are taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7 as my old camera broke during this trip. 


<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>

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[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 49.809011 lat 14.926397 long Travel adventures - Český Šternberk d3scr)

Travel adventures - Český Šternberk

Before I went to Slovakia I planned my itinerary as usually. I wanted to go to the mountains and spend a few days there. I also wanted to visit some historical places that I haven't seen before. I wrote down everything, so that the only thing I had to do is look at my schedule, get in the car and go. <strong>This was the plan but...</strong>

I was so happy to be there that a first couple of days I didn't even think about traveling. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my family. When I was ready to leave for a few days, there were severe snow storms in the places that I wanted to visit. It was not possible to get there and some people even got stuck in their homes because of snow.

I had to prepare a new plan. Instead of traveling I met old friends, worked on the business plan, ate my body weight in traditional food and compensated it with lots of walking. 

Today, I'd like to take with me on a walk in my hometown...

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ISO 250 1/160 Sek. f/8 35 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

My hometown is located in Eastern Slovakia, close to the Ukrainian and Polish borders. It is surrounded by beautiful hills but they were not visible during my stay because of the clouds, so you'll have to be happy with a couple of historical buildings today 😊

<em>Let's start out walk! </em>

The oldest building in the city is <strong>The Manor House</strong>. It's about 15 minutes walk from my parents' house.

It is a classicist building that was created by the reconstruction of the original wooden building in <em>1781</em> for <strong>Terezia van Dernathova</strong>. The first mention of the wooden building dates back to <em>1646</em>. The town's rulers from <em>1321 to 1684</em> were from the <strong>Drugeth</strong> family, who came from Salerno near Naples. The wooden building was constructed during their rein. 

After Terezia's death in <em>1799</em>, her sons sold the manor house to <strong>Jozef Rohl</strong> - a mining and metallurgical entrepreneur. His children developed the region until <em>1857</em>. They built an iron and steel works in the valley in <em>1809</em>. The region was booming during that time. 

After <em>1857</em>, the manor house changed the owners a few times until it was abandoned to ruin and decay. The city bought it in <em>2009</em> and the complete reconstruction was finished in <em>2013</em>. 

Today, it serves as a museum and library. There are also various interesting events held in the manor house such as concerts, various exhibitions, and so on. 

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This is how it looked before:

![kastiel.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/cWQ41jPr-kastiel.jpg)
<a href="http://www.magistra-historia.sk/kastiel-snina-neuveritelna-premena/">source</a>

Behind the manor house is a smaller house that was used to accommodate servants in the past. This house is still waiting for its reconstruction. When I was there in the summer, the building looked like ruins and it was quite spooky. 

The elementary schools in the city helped to improve its looks by making various paintings and attaching them to window frames. I like how it looks now 😊

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The most precious monument in the city is <strong>The Statue of Hercules</strong>. The statue depicts Hercules in the fight with the Hydra. 

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ISO 250 1/160 Sek. f/7.1 24 mm

There were three statues cast from iron in <em>1841</em>. One is in my hometown, the second one is in Uzhhorod and the third one is probably somewhere in Hungary. 

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ISO 250 1/160 Sek. f/7.1 38 mm

The areal is open to public but it looked like there was no one for at least two days as there were no foot prints in snow 😊 I walked around a lot and left many of them behind 😊 

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ISO 250 1/160 Sek. f/7.1 50 mm

We will probably have to wait until spring to take a seat... 

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Just before I walked back home I saw this pretty green plant covered in snow. It was melting already and I thought it was a nice place to take some photos.

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ISO 160 1/160 Sek. f/3.2 70 mm

![_DSC05712.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/qseCp6ly-_DSC0571-2.jpg)
ISO 160 1/160 Sek. f/3.2 70 mm

![_DSC05762.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/E1FTNytU-_DSC0576-2.jpg)
ISO 160 1/160 Sek. f/3.2 70 mm

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

That's it for today 😊 I hope you enjoyed this winter walk with me.

Thank you for reading,
Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 48.987139 lat 22.146825 long A winter walk in my hometown d3scr)




A winter walk in my hometown

I've been vegan for two years already. I usually only talk about it when someone asks me but today I'd like to share with you my very first experience with vegan activism (without you asking me 😊).

Many people think of meat, eggs or cheese as an item from the supermarket or a product from the local butcher or fresh-market. It looks good, is easy to buy and these days does not have to be very expensive. And above all, people know what they want to make of it and that thought alone often already creates nice memories and expectations. 

Eating can be a social thing, but it can be just a quick necessity too to take in the much-needed nutrition on a daily basis. 

Regardless of eating pattern and priorities, most people around us grow up eating meat, fish, eggs or cheese without really knowing about the suffering animals have to go through. Some people may be curious where these products come from and go and browse the internet or look for other means of information in books or magazines. But otherwise, there’s not really a trigger or perceived need to find out more about this. 

![1.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/2Txp2XZk-1.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

The global organisation **“Anonymous for the Voiceless”** is making this more accessible to the public by what they call the **“Cube of Truth”**. Last Saturday was the first time ever that me and my husband have participated in this Cube of Truth in a nearby city. 

<em>A group of activists forms a square in a public place facing outwards and hold video equipment on which they show footage of slaughterhouses, factory farming, the egg industry and fur farms. </em>

Passers-by can stop and watch the footage and other activists are available to engage with them and answer questions they may have about the footage. 

<div class="pull-left">https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/ckHRbTZb-mask.jpg</div>

This is a low effort but high impact activity since it is completely voluntary, **none of the passers-by are approached**, they determine whether they want to see it and if they are interested to know more about it. People of all kinds are attracted, young and old, couples and singles, families and friends, locals and visitors.

This footage was from Switzerland, a highly regulated country, with stringent laws for animal welfare. It shows practices from the slaughterhouses. I never watch it myself because it is just too much for me. Such practices are totally unnecessary today. Just the mere fact that nowadays we have access to so many products which we’ve never had before, there is no need any more for animals to get slaughtered to get the necessary nutrition.

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

There was quite a group of people, but we pretty much only knew the organizer. The action took **three hours** and we’ve had a lot of attention from curious people, despite the cold and gloomy weather. 

One can imagine that not everyone who’s looking at the footage is shocked or interested, some may be looking away and move on, others start a confrontation and then there’s those who are vegan and just stop by for a chat.

<em>The strength of this cube is that the activists standing in the square all wear masks, are dressed in black and don’t move or speak throughout the action. They just hold a laptop showing the footage or hold a sign that says “TRUTH” – which focuses attention on the faith of the actual animals instead of the people standing there.</em> 

Nevertheless, having people standing there sends a strong message of personal engagement and commitment of these activists to bring out the truth. After three ours of not moving at all and holding the sign I couldn't feel my legs anymore...

![2.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/3NwbgLMk-2.jpg)

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

The group on Saturday was very diverse. There were die-hard activists who’ve done this and other activism for many years. Then there were some new starters, just like me and my husband. And there may have been also a couple of one-off participants who just wanted to try it out and see how this goes. 

We had different nationalities as well, Swiss of course, then some Germans, a Spanish, English, Slovak (me) and Dutch (my husband). 

Although the cube itself is not meant as a social event for activists, there was plenty of time afterwards for networking. I am even potentially looking to work with some of them when I am opening my restaurant but I have to see how this evolves. 

I am so proud that we took part in the Cube and I'm sure that we will be doing it regularly now. 

Thank you for reading,

Cheers,
Martina

<em>The photos are not taken by me (as I was in the Cube) but are shared with the permission.</em>

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png






Anonymous for the Voiceless - The Cube of Truth

I know it's the second week of 2019 already but as I was with my family I haven't had time yet to think about what I want to achieve this year. 

I'm back in Switzerland and now it's the right time for me to think about the last year and set my plans for 2019. I actually stopped with the resolutions when I realized that it is demotivating to put such pressure on myself knowing that I probably won't be able to achieve all of them.

However it is still good for me to set some goals and work towards them as I feel that it helps me grow. So instead of resolutions I make some 'plans' nowadays. 

![New-Year-Plan.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdhVo3pKJNjvvsdTB1YaHeAKwb4C5SSR66mpn84tpn4j9/New-Year-Plan.jpg)
<a href="https://youthincmag.com/new-years-eve-plans-for-people-who-dont-care-about-new-years-eve">source</a>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>Let's start with the highlights of 2018:</h4>

- I traveled at least once a month, visited many places and met many new friends. I traveled alone for the first time in my life! I was so nervous but loved it at the end and now I'm planning a few more solo trips. 

- I opened my Steemit account in March and started to use it in May. I didn't know what I should write about and now I can't imagine my life without writing 😊 I fell in love with Steemit and found many friends who I would love to meet in person too! And it gave me a chance to share my travel adventures with you as well! 

- I struggled with my health for the bigger part of the year but recovered well and ended 2018 without any aches. I was feeling so good that I finally started to go to the gym towards the end of the year again. 

2018 was not the best year ever for me but it was a good year. I collected a lot of memories and learned important life lessons as well. I'm happy to say that there were more positive moments than the negative ones and I ended the year on a good note. 

![memories.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmScUPV5TogQxiiP4rXuy8XnrsaY2NgD2BAMP7sNPwvKX3/memories.jpg)
<a href="https://www.81metalart.com/listing/580955426/memories-script-memories-metal-sign">source</a>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

<h4>What are my plans for 2019?</h4>

- First of all I want to be a better person. It might sound cliche but I do try to be a better version of myself every day. I would like to do more charitable work and help our local community. 

- My <strong>ultimate</strong> goal for 2019 is to open <strong>a VEGAN restaurant</strong> in Switzerland. I've been thinking about it for a few years already and now my ideas are changing into actions and turning into reality. I will be sharing details of my <strong>adventure</strong> with you as well. 

- I definitely want to attend SteemFest 4 as I was not able to go to SteemFest 3 this year. 

- Last but not least - I have to maintain good health 😊

![warning.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYXzkoBcFkQ6kouRHiZjUKvZmq6oNe1NcYKLd1PTmimrt/warning.jpg)
<a href="https://www.hwca.com/accountants-reading/brexit-vat-future/">sourc</a>

![text16.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png)

Thank you for your amazing support in 2018! Let's make 2019 the best year ever! 

Cheers,
Martina

<center>![Power House Creatives Logos FINAL_float.png](https://steemitimages.com/350x250/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd3ZgczWd8wzLLhwBJ9WkGqf46kfizUHL9qq5zV4Z56gZ/Power%20House%20Creatives%20Logos%20FINAL_float.png)</center>

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

Flash back and flash forward

Yesterday, we enjoyed a long walk in the forest. It was snowing all day so it was difficult to take some photos, but I had my 'crew' with me and someone was always holding an umbrella above me and my camera when I was taking photos 😊 

This is an advantage of being back home - there is always someone willing (or not really) to help. But they don't do it for free - I had to invite all of them for a cup of tea afterwards 😊 

I'm enjoying my time here and I'm happy that we're staying a bit longer than usually. I will keep this post short as I don't want to take too much of your time during the holidays.

I would like to show you some impressions from yesterday and I hope you will enjoy them 😊

![_DSC0491.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/QMmpOR3V-_DSC0491.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 26 mm

![_DSC0439.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/SuA2dtse-_DSC0439.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![_DSC0445.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/2o0tKVWW-_DSC0445.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/3.2 62 mm

![_DSC0447.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/tq38Fns1-_DSC0447.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/3.2 62 mm

![_DSC0461.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/gmgfOsQ7-_DSC0461.jpg)
ISO 200 1/160 sec. f/3.2 24 mm

![_DSC0467.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/Yj90Q2zY-_DSC0467.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 55 mm

![_DSC0471.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/dtW6hLVi-_DSC0471.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 60 mm

![_DSC0475.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/KCuGQeqn-_DSC0475.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 70 mm

![_DSC0480.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/TZYmxBhn-_DSC0480.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 55 mm

![_DSC0482.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/o6E6Ktdv-_DSC0482.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 45 mm

![_DSC0493.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/i1EFKkpi-_DSC0493.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.2 24 mm

![_DSC0499.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/f5d84uFh-_DSC0499.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

![_DSC0515.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/gHeaiMQT-_DSC0515.jpg)
ISO 400 1/160 sec. f/3.5 70 mm

Have a lovely day,
Cheers,
Martina

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Join us @steemitbloggers
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https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474553622282240010/475041568101761034/DelishtreatsLogo.png

[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 48.986013 lat 22.151632 long Impressions of Winter Wonderland d3scr)

Impressions of Winter Wonderland

<center>![challenge_of_the_week.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNYHoWrQSqSWmAJuaHjsd7bLERAB4g4jGCoFUEASGTnbq/challenge_of_the_week.png)</center>


__Welcome to the first official challenge of @vegansofsteemit, partnered with our friends on Whaleshares.__

__This contest will be held on both platforms to get the best of both worlds and rewards, so feel free to participate in both with your entry and double your chances of winning!__

The following contest is authored by @moonunit and sponsored by @evecab and @vegansofsteemit. 

### The Rewards
_______

The winners of this contest will earn the following:
- first place: 10 steem
- second place: 5 steem
- third place: 3 steem

The winners will be announced after the payout in 7 days, and the deadline is December 28th at midnight GMT

Now let's dive into this week's topic!

![divider/line](https://i.imgur.com/JxeayYo.png)


## Just because its made from plants doesn't mean it can't be FILTHY!
__________

A lot of people still believe that Vegans only eat plants, when I say plants I of course mean salads or raw carrots etc. This typically couldn't be further from the truth. Believe it or not but most Vegans are just like you! We love a big dirty, greasy mess of cheesy gooeyness to chow down on and get that Mmmmmmmm feeling. This gives me an idea for our next contest! But before we get into that, have a look at some of the filth @moonunit has chowed down on in the last year!

That's a pound of seitan steak cheese melt in a garlic and bazil pesto heaven!

![cheese.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZZzipEvvAu5nKJxnDfLvuomCVahNvyQMM8a2KCR3Mfuc/cheese.png)

CFC (cruelty free chicken) Burger with facon and lashings of coleslaw

![chicken.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme3eizt3LtXt13MMBZJeHUzzBhjbrq26PxJGZ44in7pbf/chicken.png)

Pulled BBQ Jackfruit and pepper pizza!

![pizza.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmasC7qdtDZ2Bj1qM33Ycd4JiGKDsWdLXqU8dsgaKiMdaK/pizza.png)

Sliders!!!

![sliders.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNbBXAfXzMrk1uS5EmfwyMm58YMPKYF6SgB5YjSTWhdBq/sliders.png)

Crispy hot wings, so hot, so crispy!

![wings.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbX6unSUVm5ZZFgo7kaAwZkvupiueiWVsSFdhDfVSmjxf/wings.png)

Marinated king oyster Facon mushroom and jalapeno pizza!

![last one.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSaddDc1tisLkAW1KnonYLocbMQkJohfBwkk3bU5AME47/last%20one.png)

Now that your appetites are wet lets get on with the contest. We know that Christmas or Holidays are coming so we know that people will be busy eating as much junk food as possible in the next week. We totally get it! In fact we get it so much that we geared this contest to suit all your filthy, filthy eating!

### What you need to do

We want you to go out or stay in, order or make something filthy, take a snap and stick it in the comments section. No extra post, no tags, nothing, except for good FILTHY food snaps. 

To find the contest on whaleshares, check out @that-vegan-whale page [here](https://whaleshares.io/contest/@that-vegan-whale/filty-dirty-vegans-that-vegan-whale-and-vegans-of-steemit-cross-platform-contest).

### There are just a couple of rules (there always are, right?) but not too many:

- Plant based only, no animal based foods please!
- Share & upvote this post so that we can reach as many people as possible.
- Tag two friends who would enjoy participating or try some vegan junk food!

__Good luck!__

![divider/line](https://i.imgur.com/JxeayYo.png)


_Post reward distribution: 40% to the main account, 30% to the author and 30% to the fund for future contests._

<center>

![logo+join](https://i.imgur.com/AsvjP1r.png)

[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/GyYHutK.png">]( https://discord.gg/bAbDAqh) [<img src="https://i.imgur.com/M8xDipd.png">]( https://steemit.com/@vegansofsteemit)

</center>

Challenge of the week #1 - Filty Dirty Vegans, get your junk on contest!!

We arrived in my hometown two days ago even though we planned to come last night. We were supposed to stay in Budapest until yesterday but we decided to drive to Slovakia on Saturday evening as it was raining all day and the atmosphere was not very festive. And it was a good decision! Instead of driving yesterday we enjoyed a very nice day with our family.

We prepared our Christmas dinner, decorated the Christmas tree and visited my grandma which was the best part of the day. Today, we are playing board games and watching old Christmas movies. In a couple of hours we will be serving the Christmas dinner as we're celebrating the Christmas Eve today 😊

![_DSC0388.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/delishtreats/mayHdApE-_DSC0388.jpg)

I have also spent some time looking back at this year and I must say that 2018 has been a year full of changes. Some of them were good and I've learned from the ones that were not very positive. 

I've met many new people which you are also a part of and now it's time to spend time with those people that I know all my life which means that I will not spend much time online for a couple of weeks. 

I do realize that not everyone is celebrating Christmas and that not everyone is celebrating New Year at the same time, but I believe we all have our moments throughout the year at which we come together with our most loved ones to spend some quality time with them. 

<strong>For me this is now and therefore I wish you, your family and friends a wonderful end of 2018.</strong>

Cheers,
Martina 


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