West Point Museum

Just right next to the West Point Visitors Center is the West Point Museum. Admission is free, and you can view the exhibit inside about the history of war and weaponry, considered to be "the oldest and largest diversified public collection of militaria in the Western Hemisphere."

miss iggy and the millenary monument

Euro Iggy in front of the Millenary Monument

A few things Miss Iggy learned about this impressive pillar:

- it is located at the center of Hősök tere or Heroes' Square
- it is 36 meters high
- on top of the pillar is Angel Gabriel holding the Hungarian crown and a cross
- it is also known as the Millennium Monument
- at the base of the column is a group of seven mounted figures representing the Magyar chieftains who led the Hungarian people into the Carpathian basin

euro iggy and the thermal bath

Stepping into the Gellért Thermal Baths and Swimming Pool was quite a breathtaking experience for Miss Iggy - she could immediately see why it was considered the most beautiful and luxurious bath in Budapest. Miss Iggy was impressed with its stained glass windows and mosaic tiles.

The thermal baths (with separate sections for men and women), contain water from Gellért hill's mineral hot springs. Not only are they relaxing with their warm temperature, one being 36 degrees Celsius and the other 38, they're also good for joint pains, arthritis and blood circulation.

In the outdoor area, Miss Iggy relaxed for a while at the whirlpool and then moved on to the most exciting part of the Bath: the wave pool! The waves were strong and fast and lasted for about 15 fun-filled minutes. Whoosh!

A must-swim area, too, was the world-famous effervescent pool.

Needless to say, Euro Iggy felt squeaky clean after visiting Gellért Baths!

Shopping at Woodbury Common

After visiting West Point, Miss Iggy dropped by the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, located in Central Valley, New York, which wasn't too far. This outlet shopping area is so vast that the shops are grouped according to color-coded areas and you need a map from the Information Center (above) to help navigate your way in this maze of designer shops.

Coach, Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, just to name a few, are there to "cure" your shopaholic fix. If you're diligent enough, you might find some super bargains, sometimes up to 75% off or more.

Tourists come here by the busful just to shop! Don't believe me? Just look at the welcome sign posted everywhere: they're in multiple languages. So are the announcements you keep hearing throughout the area. It's like being in an international airport!

la la la

Vienna Vixen Iggy felt like singing when she saw this flowery G-Clef at the Burggarten in Vienna. What better place to sing and make music than in the center of classical music? 

PS: Miss Iggy's posed for this photo in March, when the flowers of the G-clef were still yellow. In May they were red. Now they're pink. Colorful! 

euro iggy and the fisherman´s bastion

Miss Iggy had a great time posing in front of the medieval-looking Fisherman's Bastion located on the Castle Hill of the Buda side of Budapest. She was surprised however, to find out that it wasn't medieval at all! With its neo-gothic style, it was built in 1905 as a viewing platform. Why "Fisherman's" you ask? The bastion got its name from the guild of fishermen who defended the stretch of the wall in the Middle Ages. 

Make Love, Not War!

So pleads Miss Igorota when she saw this war tank situated at the West Point Visitors Center in West Point, New York last April.

Miss Iggy is against violence and weapons of all sorts.

Go West Point, Young Man! (or Lady!)

West Point Academy is a prestigious and historic military academy nestled in the Hudson Valley region in upstate New York. Among its alumni is the Philippines' very own former President Fidel V. Ramos, who is often mentioned in the guided tour provided by the Visitors Center. There is a bus that leaves at scheduled times of the day that goes inside the campus grounds and each passenger has to bring a photo ID for security reasons.

Inside the Visitors Center is a mini exhibit about West Point, and of course, a souvenir shop!